Tyrone v Down: RECENT MEETINGS between these two sides have been heavily dominated by Tyrone. There is little to suggest a change in that trend tomorrow.
In the last two meetings alone, Tyrone have thumped Down by an average of eight points, and when they last met in the Ulster final replay of 2003, Tyrone won 0-23 to 1-5. Considering Tyrone held up in Division One while Down failed to get out of Division Three, that sort of margin may be maintained.
Tyrone are missing two first-choice forwards in Owen Mulligan and Raymond Mulgrew but more than make for that with the return of captain Brian Dooher, and Brian McGuigan - who will make his first championship appearance since the 2005 All-Ireland win.McGuigan starts at centre forward, alongside Dooher and Enda McGinley. Justin McMahon is the sole debutant at full back, and with Seán Cavanagh also fully fit at midfield alongside Colin Holmes, there is a real threatening look to the Tyrone team.
Down's Liam Doyle and Benny Coulter are passed fit to play, with Coulter named at left corner forward. Dan Gordon captains the team from midfield alongside Jack Lynch. Gordon's influence will prove crucial. If he can steer that battle in Down's favour, and fire possession into Coulter, John Clarke and Ronan Sexton, goals may well follow, and that's the best chance of taking down Tyrone.
Otherwise, Tyrone can use their greater spread of scoring talent, their experience, and inevitable confidence, to come through.
TYRONE: P McConnell, R McMenamin, J McMahon, D McCaul, D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan, C Holmes, S Cavanagh, B Dooher, B McGuigan, E McGinley, M Penrose, C Cavanagh, C McCullagh.
DOWN: B McVeigh; L Howard, M Cole, C Murney; A Carr, L Doyle, D Rafferty; D Gordon (Captain), J Lynch; J Fegan, R Murtagh, D Hughes; J Clarke, R Sexton, B Coulter.
In the last episode: An easy 1-13 to 1-6 win for Tyrone in the quarter-final of 2005 (ironically, with Dooher and McGuigan), and Down have yet to beat Tyrone this decade - their last win coming back in 1999.
You bet: Despite the minor injury concerns of Mulligan and Mulgrew, Mickey Harte's Tyrone are well priced with Boylesports at 4/11 with Down at 11/4 and the draw at 8/1.
On your marks: It's been a long wait for both teams since the league, and Down can't afford to let their disappointing end to that spill over into this. Tyrone's hunger will surely be tested but with Dooher reportedly "flying fit" there should be no problem there.
Gaining ground: Healy Park is now one of the best venues in Ulster, with room for around 25,000. Although Tyrone lost their first match here to Derry in 2006, home support is always heavily partisan.
Just the ticket: Covered stand tickets (€27/£20) are virtually sold out and family tickets (adults €25 and children €5) have all been distributed through the clubs. Terrace admission (€18/£13) is still available.
Crystal gazing: Talking to Mickey Harte this week it was impossible not to sense his optimism about his team's form, whereas it's harder to know if Down are up for this one (pardon the unavoidable pun).
