Ulster says yes to Tyrone

Down’s Mark Poland was the only one of our seven respondents who plucked for Donegal to come up trumps in the Ulster Final

Seven Ulster men were asked who would lift the Anglo-Celt, and all but one pipped for Tyrone to overcome Donegal:

Chris Kerr (Antrim)

Tyrone are the team to beat. I just think that they way that they have been playing, they have brought their game to another level. I can see them winning by two or three points. So many teams have tried to go down the route of copying Donegal and Jim McGuinness’s teams by trying to get as many men behind the ball as possible but then they don’t know what to do after that. But Tyrone have their game down to a tee. They break with pace, everyone attacks together and everyone defends together. The pace that they have is scary. Donegal have been very good, a lot of people have been writing them off, but I think that Rory has done a good job. But I think that Tyrone will win it. I can see them getting to an All-Ireland semi-final.

Verdict: Tyrone

Charlie Vernon (Armagh)

I’m expecting a close encounter and an intriguing battle between two quality teams. It will be interesting to see how Donegal’s experience, strength and system copes with the energy and pace of Tyrone. Donegal’s win over Monaghan will leave them better prepared for a close battle and if Donegal can summon the desire they showed a few years ago they will be very difficult to beat. A big test for this group of Tyrone players but I expect their hunger for an Ulster title and their efficiency in attack to be the deciding factors on the day.

Verdict: Tyrone

Rory Dunne (Cavan)

It will be very close, and I think that it will be a very tactical game. I can’t see there being a whole pile in it. I don’t think there is a whole pile between the two teams. Tactics will be very important. Everyone will expect it to be quite a defensive game, but I think the last day showed that Tyrone are quite an attacking side. They will set out their stall early and try to get turnovers and then go on the attack. I can see it being quite high scoring. I think that it will be a good game. I think it will be close at the end, but after the last day I would say that Tyrone will edge it.

Verdict: Tyrone

Ciaran McFaul (Derry)

It’s a hard one to call. Tyrone look to be the better team at the moment. But for the last five years Donegal have got the rub against them. Tyrone have more pace though I think that it will come down to who wins the middle of the field. I would fancy Tyrone to win by a couple of points. I think it will be a very defensive game. It will be very low scoring, but it will also be a hard hitting game as well. But Tyrone’s pace will give them an advantage.

Verdict: Tyrone

Mark Poland (Down)

I think that Donegal will win. I just think that in previous years they have had the indian sign over Tyrone. With Neil McGee back for the final, he will add something to them. So I have a sneaking feeling that Donegal win. It will be nip and tuck. I don’t think that Tyrone will get it as open as they did against Cavan. They won’t get to score five goals. Donegal will be a lot tougher to play against. Tyrone will have to be a lot more economical with their scores. Free taking could come in to play, and in Michael Murphy Donegal have one of the most reliable. But then again my predictions are usually terrible. It will be fantastic game though, and one that we can’t miss.

Verdict: Donegal

Kieran Donnelly (Fermanagh)

It is going to be a fascinating game. Both teams are quite similar in terms of the style of football they play. Both teams look to build from deep. Donegal have players like Ryan McHugh, his cousin Eoin, and Frank McGlynn. For Tyrone it is Peter Harte and Tiernan McCann doing the same thing. I feel that Tyrone have been playing the most consistent football. The Cavan result showed that they have honed their style. I expect them to win by a couple of points, in what will be a tactical battle. Both teams will be hard to break down, and the winner will be the team that is the most patient.

Tyrone have more experience, with the likes of Sean Cavanagh stepping up. And they have a greater range of scoring forwards, with the likes of Ronan O’Neill playing well this year.

Verdict: Tyrone

Ray McCarron (Monaghan)

I think it will be close. Tyrone were very impressive against Cavan, but it is hard to know how much to read into that result. Were Cavan just bad on the day, or are Tyrone that far ahead? But I think that with their experience it will be a different game against Donegal. It will be an intriguing contest. Donegal did well to get over the line against Monaghan. That game will have brought them on. They will relish the challenge of playing Tyrone, because everyone is talking about how they have been so impressed by Tyrone. But Donegal will relish the challenge of taking Tyrone on. I do think that Tyrone will win, but only by a couple of points. It will be closer than a lot of people think.

Verdict: Tyrone