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28th Feb 2023

Peter Canavan: “The Tyrone support has been very poor”

Lee Costello

“In Galway, it was poor and in Castlebar on Saturday night.”

Peter Canavan believes that the Tyrone support has been “very poor” and that needs to change if they are to get a result against Kerry this Sunday.

The Tyrone legend has been “disappointed” with his county’s performances to date as they sit rock bottom of Division One with only one win from three games.

They have lost already to Roscommon, Galway and now Mayo are the latest to take advantage of the 2021 All-Ireland champion’s slump.

Tyrone fans

Kerry got a big win against Armagh at the weekend, and with David Clifford and Sean O’Shea back in the fold, they look like they’re really going to kick into gear now.

What is already a huge task is only getting bigger, as The Kingdom arrives to Healy Park this Sunday.

“I thought Tyrone might have delivered a good performance (against Mayo) because they have in previous years. It’s a ground where they seem to relish performing in,” Canavan told Game On on RTÉ 2fm.

Tyrone fans

“After 10 or 15 minutes, I was sitting with a smile on my face, thinking ‘yep, they’re going to produce a good one here’. They were moving the ball fast. They looked like they really wanted to attack and hurt Mayo and they were.

“They were leading 0-04 to 0-01 with an opportunity to go 0-05 to 0-01 ahead and we went for a goal – Petey Harte tried to fist pass it in for a goal opportunity – they intercepted, went upfield, kicked it over the bar. Next attack, they got a goal.

“And from there on, it was one-way traffic. From a Tyrone point of view, it was very disappointing. But you have to say, it’s as well as Mayo have played against Tyrone in a long time.”

Tyrone fans

“Tyrone have to perform to a level they haven’t performed at yet if they’re going to get over Kerry.

“We’re sitting at the bottom of the table. We have to win at least two of our remaining three games. And we have Monaghan and Armagh after that.

“The Tyrone support has been very poor. In Galway, it was poor and in Castlebar on Saturday night.

“I’m hoping in Tyrone, the supporters come out in their numbers and give the team a bit of backing because it will take a massive performance if they’re going to get one over Kerry.”

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