Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Hands are tooled up for the 8s
TYRONE dangerman
Cathal Mcshane believes the Red Hands now have the variety in their game to be a major force in the Super 8s.
The 25-year-old’s form on the edge of the square has been a big part of Tyrone’s story in 2019 and his ball-winning ability offers them a new attacking threat when they choose to move the ball quickly into the full-forward line.
Another five-point haul in Saturday’s big qualifier win over Cavan took Mcshane’s tally to 2-29 in six Championship games so far this summer, averaging just shy of six points per game.
“This is my fifth year in the panel and that experience is key,” said the Owen Roes man.
“I’m learning always as the days go by and training hard in the gym but we’re playing well as a team now and is really important.
“You have to be able to adapt and be flexible.
“When things aren’t going your way you have to be able to mix things up and we can play it any way, we have variety in our game and can figure it out another way.”
Having been out-foxed by Donegal in the Ulster semi-final, when they tried to play a more direct game and got punished, Tyrone have regathered momentum in the backdoor, as they have done so often before.
“The plan was to get into the Super 8s and had to go the qualifier route, which wasn’t what we intended, but we got to where we wanted in the end,” he told BBC Sport.
“We’re delighted with that scoreline (of 1-20) but it wasn’t just this game, it was Longford, it was Kildare as well.
“We have played different styles and changed it up. We’re capable of playing many ways and we’re happy with that.”