Reprieved McCann set to start in semi for Red Hands

Kevin Cassidy has singled out the midfield battleground as the key area ahead of this weekend’s All-Ireland semi-final clash between Tyrone and Kerry.

The team had talent aplenty but didn’t quite sit squarely with the Mickey Harte style Tyrone senior team and the opposite is likely to be the case with this year’s All-Ireland under-21 winners.

Tyrone have rediscovered a much of their strut and all of their snarl as they marched through the qualifiers picking up wins against Limerick, Meath, Tipp, Sligo and the impressive scalp of Monaghan.

“Now you have players coming who have won an All-Ireland, not only have you got the satisfaction of that but the confidence that comes with that has been very evident in the players that have come in”, added Harte.

The two sweepers take charge of either flank and give plenty of protection to the man-markers in the full-back line. I don’t see sledging if somebody is energised about the game. If they do so this will weaken their threat going forward.

In the league game in Omagh, this was used to good effect with Kieran Donaghy on the edge of the square.

“And I think it has been critical to this year’s success that the under-21s were successful at All-Ireland level”. He is adept he is at finding space in the pocket, he can drag the sweepers out of position, he can score and he is a brilliant creator.

Boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice has showed his ruthlessness again by leaving his three top scorers in the Championship to date on the bench. Mickey will have not had to raise his voice in training.

Kerry also have the option of dropping a midfielder or some of their half-forwards back.

Another weapon they had in Omagh is their ability to kick points from distance.

Bryan Sheehan and Paul Geaney have both lost their places in the Kingdom attack to face Tyrone with Johnny Buckley and Donaghy returning. These two lads are the driving force behind this Kerry team.

Kerry’s strength in depth means that Fitzmaurice has a stronger hand to play with.