Kevin Cassidy: I expected a lot more from Tyrone

MOST of us were like kids in a sweet shop last weekend as on-field competitive action returned. It was great to see so many games being shown on TV and there was a feel of normality again as we sat down to watch the highlights on Sunday night.

I was one of the lucky ones in that I got to attend the Donegal versus Tyrone game in Omagh due to my work commitments, and I must admit I really enjoyed the game.

From a Donegal point of view, we would have to be happy with the overall outcome of the game. Declan Bonner started with a verystrong team, of which probably 12 or 13 will start come championship.

I felt it was a very assured performance with some impressive individual displays from the likes of the evergreen Michael Murphy and the returning Patrick McBrearty. Michael gave a tremendous display of leadership and kicked some vital scores just when they were needed.

In defence I thought we were solid, with Neil McGee leading the line tremendously. Donegal were particularly strong around the middle eight and I thought Hugh McFadden was going particularly well until he had to leave the field after a head collision.

I’m sure Declan Bonner will be happy with what he saw on opening day. When you consider that the likes of Odhran MacNiallais and Eoghan ‘Ban’ Gallagher have to come in to the team, I’m sure he will be happy at where they are at.

Now that the two points are in the bag, the pressure eases a little as they take on Monaghan this weekend. The easing of that pressure allows Declen Bonner to maybe try one or two more players this weekend to see if they are up to the task. It will help decide whether or not he will be able to call upon them come summertime.

From a Tyrone perspective, I fully understand that this was the first competitive game under the new management team of Feargal Logan and Brian Dooher but I expected a lot more from them. Now perhaps it was a case that they didn’t want to show their hand fully with one eye on the summer campaign, but some of the play left a lot to be desired.

The Tyrone forward line failed to create anything worth talking about apart from a few half chances that Conor McKenna snatched at. So I’m sure that will be an area where the Tyrone team and management will look to improve on this weekend. For me, Tyrone’s big players didn’t have enough influence on the game and scores seemed hard to come by.

We must, of course, give a special mention to Paul Donaghy who on his debut single-handedly kept Tyrone in the contest. Paul’s performance was probably the only shining light for Tyrone as they left Healy Park last Saturday evening. Some of his scores were straight out of the top drawer and he seemed extremely comfortable at this level.

The target for Tyrone will now be to get Cathal McShane back on the pitch and try to get that forward unit moving.

Tyrone now face Armagh this weekend who will be buoyed from their win over Monaghan, so the Orchard county should make a game of it.

Elsewhere in the league, Kerry flexed their muscles with a comprehensive win over a lacklustre Galway and in doing so I’m sure the rest of the country sat up and took note.

Galway were poor but at times Kerry’s play was breath-taking. David Clifford stole the show with his 3-6 tally, but the likes of his brother Paudi and Sean O Shea were also on fire.

Kerry look like they are turning that hurt of last year’s defeat to Cork into motivation for this year and at this point it looks like they won’t be far away at the end of the season.

Elsewhere the Dubs strolled to another easy win down in Roscommon with Cormac Costello beginning to step up for them on a constant basis.

This weekend we will get to see more teams in action to see where they are at in terms of championship preparations.