Half-time introductions Peter Harte and Eoin McElholm improved matters for Tyrone, and there were the usual flashes of inspiration from Darragh Canavan, but the Red Hands had left themselves with too much to do.
“You can’t start a game at that tempo and expect to change it midstream,” said McConville.
“They nearly did it. By half time it was going to take something unbelievable to turn it around.
“They’ll be kicking themselves because they’ll realise that if they start with the same mentality as the second half, or if they match Roscommon physically, they would have had the better of them.
“You have to hand it to Roscommon for coming with the ferocity that they did.”
Having not advanced beyond the last eight since lifting Sam Maguire in 2021, McConville believes another early Tyrone exit from the championship was the result of “not being mentally right” on the day against Roscommon.
“It comes down to the attitude with which they started the game,” he added.
“They weren’t as up for it as Roscommon. They weren’t ready for what Roscommon were going to bring and that’s the most shocking thing of all, especially when they’re at home.
“They paid a hefty price for not being mentally right going on to the field.”
