Survival at stake in Tyrone derby with Monaghan

TWO more points on the Division One table just might be enough to secure Tyrone’s top flight survival as they prepare to meet Monaghan in this weekend’s crucial National League clash.

It’s rare for the Red Hands to be heading into the final two rounds still in danger of the relegation zone. It’s 2015 since the team last dropped to Division Two, and that’s a fate that the players and everyone concerned with the management team will be anxious to avoid.

But they are facing a Monaghan team at O’Neill’s Healy Park on Saturday with impressive credentials in the last chance saloon. Recent years have seen the Farney county make a number of very notable escapes, and they’ll see this weekend’s clash against their old rivals from Tyrone as another golden opportunity.

Both counties know exactly what’s at stake. Tyrone have, of course missed the services of a number of experienced and high profile players in recent weeks. Now, though, the return of the likes of Kieran McGeary, Frank Burns and Conor Meyler is a positive as this league campaign reaches its climax.

Nothing less than a win against Monaghan is going to suffice. Home advantage will hopefully provide them with an edge, and assistant manager, Joe McMahon, has no doubts about the importance of this tie and the difficulities that they’ll face against opponents who have experienced a nightmare campaign so far.

“Obviously, the Monaghan game is going to be massive. We’ll get the heads down and look at what we bneed to improve on. Hopefully, then we’ll take that into our performance,” he said.

“It’s always got a derby element and Monaghan are a difficult team to play against. There’s always a kick in them, as we saw in their performances in the past few years.

“People feel that there’s a chance that they could go down. But they will feel that they’ve a chance of staying up. It’s going to be dangerous in that respect, when you have a lot to play for.

“We’re going to have to match their workrate and intensity and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Tyrone’s situation might not be just as precarious as Monaghan’s is at the moment. Nevertheless, there’s nothing been taken for granted within the Red Hand camp, especially considering what’s head of them in round seven. Croke Park will be the venue for that tasty clash against the All-Ireland champions. Tyrone will deal with this weekend’s tie first, and then put the focus on the Dubs. Supporters will hope that the Croker date is not do or die.

But, whatever happens, this sixth round clash against Monaghan is where the concentration is on, and there will be a sense of relief in both counties whoever comes out on top.

“We’ll definitely be focused on this Monaghan game before we look ahead to Croke Park,” added the two-time All-Ireland winner.

“I think we have definitely a lot of areas where we can improve upon and a lot of good stuff there too. It’s just getting the consistency to it all.”

As for the overall outlook, the hope is that more of the senior players will be back on board, as they recover from injuries which Joe McMahon feels are part and parcel of the modern game.

“The intesnity that the game is being played at now in league football and how quick the turnaround is probably lends to more injuries,” he adds.

“We’ve had three games on the bounce and three very tough games and we were maxing out. But that’s one thing, it’s an opportunity for other men to come in and show the quality that they possess, and stake a claim.

“Down the line, you’re trying to build a squad for the championship and it’s a good chance for the young lads to come in and get more experience, get that mix and blend and hopefully we can build on that.”

Tyrone’s introduction of so many young and new players to the ranks this season has been a talking point. The visit to Killarney a fortnight ago was a big one for them, especially considering how they fought back from a nine point deficit at one stage.

Ciaran Daly, Seanie O’Donnell, Niall Devlin and Ben Cullen are among those who have impressed with a series of good displays which augur well for the future.

“We’re very happy with how they have come on. I mean, to cut your teeth in Division One,” adds McMahon.

“There’s a lot of talk that we’re in transition, and there has been a big turnover of players – coming in to Division One against any of these teams, the likes of playing against Kerry, a seasoned team and the quality that they possess – it can only serve these lads well.

“In terms of their career, let’s hope it’s something they can take experience from and build on. We’re always trying to get the boys focused and the heads right, and in terms of the Kerry game, we took a lot of positives from it.”

Now, as they have one eye on the future, the present demands the type of display required to clinch two vital points against a Monaghan team coming to Omagh with little to lose.