Tyrone joint-manager Feargal Logan was disappointed in how his side finished in their opening Allianz Football League Division 1 clash to Roscommon.
The 2021 All-Ireland champions had turned around a three-point deficit to lead 1-09 to 0-09 by the 47th minute but then shipped goals to the Murtagh brothers, Ciaráin and Diarmuid, and Ben Carroll as the Rossies ran out five-point winners at Dr Hyde Park.
"It's difficult and it’s a sore one," Logan told RTÉ Sport. "Midway through the second half we felt we were in good shape.
"The breeze was with us, though the breeze is maybe less [significant] than it was years ago. We thought we were well-positioned and we had a chance maybe to seal it when we went through on the net. That didn’t happen.
"Roscommon just picked us off. Enda Smith came in, a quality footballer, and shook the thing for them.
"Goals into that breeze were going to be painful and they scored two [in quick succession]. But even with those two goals there was still possible redemption in that game. It just evaded us. We struggled at the end."
Logan took some solace in a strong third quarter showing but expects to see a reaction against Donegal, who beat All-Ireland champions Kerry, next weekend.
"There was only the kick of a ball between us, three points, at half-time so it wasn't brilliant but it wasn’t very poor.
"First 10-20 minutes of the second half were very good and then it seemed to turn on its head for us. That’s what we’re going to have to learn to work out and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
"It’s a setback. There’s no point saying otherwise. But there’s still all to play for. It’s a long enough journey over the seven games so we just have to get up and at it and attack the Donegal game.
"We do have a couple of new players in there and they stood up well, generally speaking. You also need some form and patterns of play. It’s a good testing ground for a county team and we’re now up against it but let’s see how we react."
It was a dream start for Roscommon manager Davy Burke in what was his first competitive game in charge.
"I loved that today. With the Hyde crowd behind us in full flight, that was a very enjoyable hour.
"Nearly every game in this division is 50-50. I knew we had a chance today. We have two points on the board now, which is brilliant but Galway won't think too much of that this time next week. We have a lot of work to do to keep going, many facets of the game we need to get better in.
"It was great to see Ben [O'Carroll] step up at this level. He has been playing well at Sigerson and this is the next level up. He has done it today but he has done it for one day so let’s see it again from Ben.
"Ciarain and Diarmuid are two stalwarts of the team for a long time now and brilliant to see them playing well. Diarmuid Murtagh has been training like an animal since the first day we’ve been back so I was delighted to see him put in that shift today.
"Niall Daly was immense. It’s a privilege to work with some of these boys."
"It's a tricky balance. You want to get points on the board but you want to get lads in"
Burke handed out four debuts but sees staying in Division 1 as an equal priority with blooding new talent.
"It's a tricky balance. You want to get points on the board but you want to get lads in.
"We blooded the keeper there, Conor Carroll's debut, Robbie Dolan's debut, Ben O’Carroll, Daire Cregg. We had four starting debuts, I think, and experience coming off the bench then.
"I’m hoping to be here for a while so I need Robbie next year and these boys coming through.
"I want to get new lads through and minutes into our senior players. I want to end up at the end of the league with 25/26 players who can play against Mayo on 9 April."
