Preliminary round at Ulster SFC: Fermanahi – Tyrone (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., Brewster Park)
Brian Ducher says survival is Tyrone’s goal as they open their defense of Ulster and Ireland against Fermanag in Brewster Park this weekend.
Tyrone returns from the “good” league, as Duher says they “didn’t light up the world.”
The Reds turned their backs on Mayo and Kerry’s victory to avoid relegation after defeating Armagh, Dublin and Donegal and drawing with Monaghan.
Joint leader Dohr notes that both victories come with caveats, but says Tyrone’s performance has been high.
Meanwhile, Fermanage maintained a three-section position.
Irish double-winner captain Doherr said: “Complacency is important and it’s great every day you go out, especially when you’re the champion of all of Ireland.
“We were a little bit like that at the start of the tournament, so you hope to train hard and compete in training. I think that’s the most important thing.
“You can watch their matches (May and Kerry) in two different ways.
Mayo may not have come to us in full force. I think someone will probably say that.
“Kerry was in the final of the tournament. It was still a great win and we needed it.
“I don’t miss it. They could have been two more difficult tests, but at that point they were just a fitting progression for us.”
“We were constantly improving. We still have a step or two to climb, I guess anyway.”
Dohr was part of a team of three Irish winners, Tyrone, who failed to defend their title.
Their closest point was to 2009 when they lost to Conor Coonehan Cork in the Irish semi-finals.
In 2004, the May team led by John Mawane knocked them all out in the Irish quarter-finals and in 2006 Mick O’Dwyer defeated Laos in the first round of qualifying.
“Hope the lessons from that might be better prepared or not,” Dohr said.
“You have to make sure the training is at the right level, competitive and hopefully you play the way you train.
“You’re not leaving that day. The preparation has to be right and hopefully we can activate it.
(Photo: © INPHO / Brian Keane)
“That’s what you want to do, and if you play as hard as you can, you can’t ask for more. Look where you are being taken and see what happens.
“There are several reasons, not just one, why we didn’t keep it.
“Every little thing becomes a big thing at the end of the day, so try to get all those little things right and hopefully you learn from it.
Cole (Holmes) is there (as coach). Joe (McMahon) is there. Peter Donnelly is out there, so everyone has that experience with me, so there’s a blended learning to share.
“This is a challenge we face and you only hope you will be able to accept and achieve it.”
Fermanagh has traditionally fought against their neighbors, Tyrone, in the league for years and at a youth level.
“You never know what can happen overnight, and there’s always a step between championship and championship, whatever happens,” Dohr said.
“The pace is turning to another level. The fields are stronger and everything is going well and we hope to do better.
“You never know what to expect sometimes in the league.
“I just hope you can save some, move on and get over it. Day by day he gets it.
“You have to treat each game and treat it with your own merits, whether it’s a tournament or a tournament.
“Obviously the championship is more or less or die.
“This is a competition that everyone is looking forward to and this is where you test yourself.”
Source: Belfastlive
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