McCann happy with progress since Ulster exit

By Michael McMullan

IT’S a busy week for Darren McCann. If a school sports day in St Ciaran’s, Ballygawley isn’t enough, arranging this weekend Hyrox keeps him busy.

That’s before his role as Tyrone manager this weekend with a date against Westmeath to decide who heads into the quarter-finals as group winners.

It’s been an eventful season. Life in Division One proved too tough but armed with tests against the best every week.

There was an Ulster defeat against Down before a gap ahead of last weekend’s rematch in the All-Ireland series.

The Tyrone camp had a round of club fixtures and a game with Ulster senior finalists Donegal at the opening of a pitch.

“We had plenty of time to work on stuff that we needed to improve on and the five weeks weren’t long going in,” said McCann, in his first season at the helm.

“We felt we left it behind us in the Ulster semi-final. The things that we have been working on over the five weeks, a lot of them of came to fruition on Sunday.”

The workrate was high and the attacking play was slick. Most pleasing of all was the result.

There was never going to be much between the teams. History tells that and this was no different.

If anything, the biggest challenge to teams during a season is a break in the fixtures. It offers a chance to rest or polish up on elements of play.

There is one question. When do you need to peak?

The inter-county league concluded at the end of March. There are clubs games to be factored in.

There is another round of club action before the All-Ireland quarter-final. It’s a balancing act.

“You’re just hoping that the players come back to injury-free and fresh for the next round,” McCann said.

“The five weeks off gave the girls an opportunity to get back to their clubs too, which is really important.

“You’re always out watching the games, hoping everything goes well. Ultimately, you can’t beat playing football.

“You can train how all you want, but you can’t beat the match sharpness.

“We were fortunate enough on that five-week gap to get a couple of friendlies in. Once you cross the white line on a championship Sunday, the intensity, you can’t match it in training.”

Looking ahead to Westmeath, Tyrone are expecting a tough battle against a team who have recent All-Ireland success.

From Tyrone’s point of view, there is always room for improvement. McCann points to Down’s tally from free and the fouls conceded.

“That’s something that we can work on,” he said. “I thought, defensively, we were excellent on Sunday.

“Ultimately, we want to be top of the group. We know it’s going to be extremely difficult. Westmeath were a fantastic side who won the All-Ireland a couple of years ago and have just come out of senior division.”

A tough test and perfect ahead of the last eight. McCann starts listing the teams they can face. There are no gimmes. And there is a strong Ulster contingent with Cavan, Monaghan and Fermanagh still in the race.

“It doesn’t really matter who you play in the All-Ireland quarter-final,” he summed up.

“This will be a championship where anybody can beat anybody. It’s a fierce competition this year.”