TYRONE still have work to do to strike a balance between their new long ball strategy and the team’s long established running game, according to Red Hand midfielder Richie Donnelly.
Despite Ulster Championship wins over Derry and Antrim, and an impressive scoring return in both games, the fusion of styles sought by manager Mickey Harte remains a work in progress.
Decision-making is one area of concern, with confusion evident at times, while an increased emphasis on attack has left them exposed at the back.
Bad goals were conceded to the Oak Leafers and the Saffrons, who hit the net twice in the second half of last weekend’s quarter-final tie, despite being totally outclassed by last year’s beaten All-Ireland finalists.
“That’s one of the things we’ll have to work on going in the next game,” said Donnelly.
“There were times when we were kicking it when we shouldn’t have, and we ran it when we shouldn’t have, so it’s just about that decision-making and getting it right in the final third. It’s the standard that’s required and it wasn’t good enough.
“We’re always striving to improve that. There’s a lot of good play, a lot of good angles running the ball and some good movement, but the key was not taking touches and playing as a team, and it’s hard to mark that when the ball is moving as opposed to one player moving.”
The Trillick ace warned that Tyrone will need to find greater consistency if they are to get past Donegal in Sunday week’s provincial semi-final.
Breathtakingly brilliant at times, worryingly flat at others, the goal is to maintain a consistently high level of performance from start to finish at Kingspan Breffni.
“We have been playing in patches, and in order to get through to an Ulster final, we’ll need to put 70 minutes together, because it’s going to be a massive challenge. That will be a big focus now, putting it all together.”
Tyrone’s depth is one of their greatest strengths, and substitutes have made stunning impacts in the current campaign, ensuring also that competition for starting places is intense.
“That’s what it’s about, the reinforcements coming in off the bench. That’s what this team will be built on, the boys coming in and finishing the job off.
“They’re probably more important than the men that start the game.”
And with no less than 14 different players on the score-sheet against Antrim, the Red Hands are blessed with accomplished finishers in every sector, with Donnelly hailing the work being done by forwards coach Stephen O’Neill.
“It’s good to see, it’s very refreshing. Stevie’s doing good work with us. It’s good to get variety in our attacks and scorers, because in recent years, we may have relied on certain individuals to get us scores.
“So whenever you have variety and good team play, it definitely makes you a harder team to break down.”
Despite the comfort of their facile win over Antrim, Donnelly insisted that the Athletic Grounds rout was of significant value in terms of preparation for a much greater challenge against the Ulster champions.
“It’s still a championship game, we still put a lot of miles on the legs there up and down, and there was times it was intense. It’s still a game of football, it beats training.
“Our whole preparation now in training will be to drive the standard, and we’ll be well prepared and ready for the next one.”
