ALL IRELAND QUARTER FINAL PREVIEW 

Tyrone ladies will seek a massive reversal this weekend as they tackle Ulster Champions Armagh at Mullingar, the side they lost out to at Clones on July 1^st.

 It’s the last chance saloon for both Ulster sides in this years All Ireland series and Tyrone go into this quarter final tussle buoyed up by three ever improving performances in the new champions league style format.

Jimmy McCloughans side narrowly lost to Leinster champions Laois, beat Donegal and were comfortable winners over last years all Ireland junior champions Sligo to end the group three campaign in second spot.

Always set to come out against one of the group winners Tyrone management and players were delighted to come out against the beaten all Ireland finalists and the side that accounted for themselves in the Ulster outing.

“ It’s the ideal situation for us” said manager McCloughan as he prepared his side to take on the Hayley Boyle led Orchard side.

“ The girls were talking last week ahead of the draw and they all said Armagh would be their chosen opponents, we have improved and you will see a different Tyrone from the one that lost to Armagh earlier in the Summer”

So far its been two meetings and two losses against Armagh this term but as the Tyrone supremo said as he surveyed a confident team at training this week, its Tyrone who are on the upward curve.

Granted Armagh have come through their group stages unbeaten, but they were pressed all the way by Kildare and the Down challenge was weak enough to say the least. That said Armagh will start as favourites for this outing that will be televised live on TG4 this Saturday afternoon, the venue choice rather bizarre when its not only Armagh and Tyrone from the nine counties that is in  action, Monaghan will face the Cora Staunton led Mayo also in Westmeath.

With Clones, Cavan or even Casement more likely staging posts for what is the weekends star attraction, the only losers this weekend whatever the results will be the girls and ladies football overall.

Last Saturday Tyrone saw of the challenge of Sligo at Cavan with only a handful of spectators in the ground, yet Jimmy McCloughan described the encounter as one of the best and competitive in this year’s championship clar,

“ I thought the game at Breffni was a good one, there was some great scores, great defending and an outstanding display by Gemma Begley, the only thing that wasn’t there was atmosphere, the timing of the game left a lot to be desired. I doubt if it will be any different this Saturday, but it wont affect us , we are focused on what will be a massive game for Tyrone”

Las time out against Armagh, Tyrone huffed and puffed after a dream start that saw the much improved Gemma Begley find the net in the opening minutes, some poor defending, wasteful distribution and wayward shooting were Tyrone’s downfall and manger McCloughan will certainly have been watching the video of that encounter.

Tyrone will, if they are to progress in the championship to the last four, counter the threat of several key Armagh performers, the play maker and chief orchestrator  Bronagh O’Donnell must be kept under wraps, while Alma O’Donnell can not be allowed to stroll around and cut through the defence at will as she did at Clones. Tyrone’s defenders must also be well aware of the Matthews Moriarty threat , between them they hit 1-8 in the final.

Its certain though that Armagh will not have it all there own way this time. Joline Donnelly, Cathy Donnelly and Gemma Begley have formed quite a formidable partnership on the full forward line while the inclusion of Eilish Gormley again has added the all important experience that maybe was lacking in the Ulster final. There’s changes though expected in defence, Eimear Teague is out long term and her replacement last week Sinead McLaughlin has been carrying a niggling injury, in the other corner Marie Gallagher is out of the mix so the door will be opened for either Omaghs Christiane Hunter, Dungannons Carol McClinchey or Claire Donnelly from Beragh, The Aodh Ruadh player though expected to get the nod. Lynda Donnelly and Maura Kelly have been superb of late while Neamh Woods and her probing runs that were certainly a problem for Armagh at Clones could once again prove a key to unlocking the Armagh defence.

Its been an ever improving Tyrone too, the national league campaign was a building ground, the Ulster championship saw a turn around and in this management teams first year and with this new look championship its been the best return for Tyrone in several years, its been a team effort too says the manager

“ The girls have been a vital component in this move forward, certainly they have all been as one as to what they expect of each other and us and of course what they want to achieve, the ability I have said has always been there and the hunger is very evident, I know everyone of our squad is itching to face Armagh again, the girls and us all have a point to prove on Saturday”

Throw in time on Saturday is 5-15 and the game is live on TG4.