Michael McKernan: Discipline key ahead of 'hostile' Armagh date

Players leaving the squad, a mixed league campaign and then defeat at the Ulster quarter-final stage. A part summation of All-Ireland champions Tyrone's year so far.

On Sunday next, they, along with neighbours Armagh, will dine in the last-chance saloon that is Round 1 of the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers. It's the third meeting of the year between the counties, with Kieran McGeeney's men coming out on top in the previous two - a Dr McKenna Cup clash in January and then that meeting in the league on the first Sunday in February.

Yes, that game where four Tyrone players and Armagh's Greg McCabe saw red.

A lack of discipline has also characterised Tyrone's adventure so far in 2022. Conor McKenna was red-carded in their Ulster opener against Fermanagh, while Brian Kennedy then got his marching orders against Derry.

It's nearly five weeks since that loss to the side that would go on to lift the Anglo Celt.

Tyrone's Michael McKernan was at Croke Park for the launch of this year's All-Ireland championship and the Coalisland clubman reflected on a below-par campaign for Tyrone so far, when speaking to RTÉ Sport: "We were disappointing against Fermanagh, didn't play to the level that we expect of ourselves and then we learnt a hard lesson against Derry. We did not perform at all but we've had a few hard weeks training since then.

"It's all about getting to the level we were at last year, honing in on the basic skills and getting our discipline right. Training has been good, so hopefully we're getting there. You can go out on any given day and have a bad day, then that's your All-Ireland gone."

In passing, McKernan did mention the word 'discipline'. Emphasising it more, he added: "When you look at the last game against them {Armagh], it's