Overall that was a very impressive performance and a fantastic win. I was very wary going into this game. After the high of last weekend, I thought that it would be just like Tyrone to show up and bring us crashing back down to earth. However, we made them look very ordinary for large stretches of that match. Some of our attacking play was excellent and we forced some great turnovers. I would be worried about how we slowed down so much in the second half. Every team has a purple patch and we are also early into the season, with players looking to up their fitness, so maybe I'm reading too much into it. But when Tyrone started pushing up on us, we found it harder to get out and we caused a lot of problems for ourselves by overplaying the ball. That lull that we find ourselves in, is certainly something we can improve on.
As for the fight, it was certainly building throughout the game. Tyrone are an absolute shower. I will never like them and will never want to see them do well. While they aren't as vile as they used to be, they still have players that are sceptic. For me, those four red cards was just reward for years of slabbering, intimidation and flat out cheating that they have been involved in.
Our best performers were the like of Burns, Kelly, Forker and Grugan. We have lots of players who are in good form at the moment and have given our team a real boost, especially names that would not have always stood out. Ciaran Mackin seems to be an indispensable part of our team all of a sudden, bringing amazing drive and work rate to the team. Jason Duffy has found a place in the side and is kicking scores. Niall Rowland brings play making and great distribution from 6. When you think that players like Michael O'Neill, James Morgan, Conor Turbitt, Niall Grimley, Ross McQuillan, Ben Crealey, Ethan Rafferty, Stefan Campbell, Oisin O'Neill, Andrew Murnin and Ciaron O'Hanlon are on the bench or are out injured, is an incredible strength in depth to have. It's an incredible place to be in.
2 wins from 2. I knew that orange hat in my Christmas cracker was a good omen.
