Donegal v Tyrone.

smashey

Clones on Sunday. We were sh1t against Armagh but I expected that. After all, we have suffered against the orangemen recently. Tyrone will be a different type of game and my totally biased opinion is Donegal can win this.
What say ye?

K-9

Really is 50/50. Any word on Hegarty and Bonner, in local papers says doubtful but in Gaelic Life it said McIvor had no serious injury concerns.

O'Neill and Cavlan doubtful for Tyrone as well.

Again, midfield and breaking ball deciding the game. Cassidy and Gallagher needs a 40/50 minute period of domination, not 30/35 and we need the breaking ball as well. Quick ball into Devenney/McFadden will help as well as not bringing the ball into the tackle like against Armagh.

Something similar to 04, sweet!

Nalced_irl

Agree fully. I think this game could be very very close and has the potential to be a cracker. Would love to see Donegal do it. Still havent forgiven Tyrone for the last, well few times they have done us. Donegal definately have the quality i think and as you said really depends if they can dominate midfield but also all depends on what Tyrone team comes out. They have a tendancy to either come out slowly and really struggle or all guns blazing where they could beat any team in the country.

mise_me_fein

I'm predicting a draw in this game.

smashey

Michael Hegarty is in Dublin today for a check up while according to the People's Press, Bonner is fit. It looks like the only change could be Brendan Devenney starting in place of Hegarty. Not a bad replacement.

blackbelt

If Donegal don't beat Tyrone with skill and determination like they have done all season,they will beat Tyrone with some luck like they did to Armagh.The GAA Gods seem to smiling on Donegal.

smashey

Well, it is God's County. That bit of good luck against Armagh was the first bit of good luck against them in a long long time.

kevmy

Donegal to scrape a win. Tyrone have about 10 top-class players out or out of form. 2 McGuigans, Gormley, O' Neill, Mulligan. Canavan and McAnallen(RIP) still not replaced.
Donegal won't play well imo though they have a bit of a mental thing in Ulster. If they pull through and win Ulster they could be a serious threat as they will open up in the All-Ireland series. Will be in with a chance of Sam providing they keep discipline and fit.
Theres a handy All-Ireland this year, usually Kerry win these but Kerry won't win it this year. A county that wins a handy one usually goes on to do something good, see Galway in 98

blackbelt

A Donegal-Kerry quarter or semi final would really make my day.I'm sure that would be on the Sideline DVD as an extra.

K-9

blackbelt wrote:

A Donegal-Kerry quarter or semi final would really make my day.I'm sure that would be on the Sideline DVD as an extra.

Yeah, strangely enough we've never played them in the Championship though I suppose the new system opens up that possibility more. We played Cork for the first time last year.

Would be a great match. The League match this year was a fine match.

mise_me_fein

Kerry would destroy Donegal in a championship game.

blackbelt

Not necessarily,

Kerry fans or neutrals might have thought the same about Tyrone and then got humiliated in 2003 and were pipped to the post in the final in 05.Donegal are well organised and are a physical team that never give up unlike in the past where they'd fold like a deck chair.

I still think Kerry will win the AI but its very open this year.Sure Dublin are top contenders despite their performance against Meath and you'd have to fancy Galway and Cork of being contenders also along with Mayo.

cruiserweight

blackbelt wrote:

Not necessarily,

Kerry fans or neutrals might have thought the same about Tyrone and then got humiliated in 2003 and were pipped to the post in the final in 05.Donegal are well organised and are a physical team that never give up unlike in the past where they'd fold like a deck chair.

I still think Kerry will win the AI but its very open this year.Sure Dublin are top contenders despite their performance against Meath and you'd have to fancy Galway and Cork of being contenders also along with Mayo.

Don't forget Armagh, Tyrone, and possibly Laois as contenders, and you can take Dublin off of that list

mise_me_fein

Laois? Did you also back Ireland to win the cricket world cup?

Smarmore

mise_me_fein wrote:

Laois? Did you also back Ireland to win the cricket world cup?

Louth are gonna whup them in the semis. John Maughan could be the new Bob Woolmer!!

cruiserweight

mise_me_fein wrote:

Laois? Did you also back Ireland to win the cricket world cup?

Why not? They are in a strong position to make the Leinster final, they have a number of quality players and a number of younger players coming through. I will wait until I see a bit more of them in the Leinster semi-finals before I write them off

blackbelt

I know I'll be ridiculed beyond obsession :rolleyes: but nobody could ever truly take Dublin off the list.Even if we lose to Meath,we can still progress nicely through the qualifiers but I don't think that will happen.:D

Laois...aah,nothing too special there.They haven't staked their claim yet.Drawing with Kildare and Westmeath and getting past Longford when they should have been hammered is not an encouraging side for them although they have some very gifted players.

Armagh,an aged side with lots of experience.If they meet Mayo in the qualifiers,they are most likely done for.I don't understand the fear Mayo fans have for Armagh.

Tyrone,well you never know.Injuries plague them on and off and they were dreadful against Fermanagh.They'll most likely turn the "style" on against Dublin.Galway seem to have picked up their game after a slow start to the League.Hammering Mayo the way they did will send a message to the other 30 counties.

Cork,will always be there as they only have one competitive match before the knockout stages.A lot of people,mainly the pundits,say Cork showed some promise in the League but I can't see it.Sure if people say that then what does that say for Dublin?The two in the exact same boat.

As for Wexford....well,no comment.:D

cruiserweight

Smarmore wrote:

Louth are gonna whup them in the semis. John Maughan could be the new Bob Woolmer!!

Is Liam Kerins not the Laois manager? Anyway it turns out that Mr Woolmer died of natural causes

blackbelt wrote:

As for Wexford....well,no comment

I would be happy with a first Leinster final since the fifties, and a first Leinster title since the fourties, we will see after that

kevmy

blackbelt wrote:

If they meet Mayo in the qualifiers,they are most likely done for.I don't understand the fear Mayo fans have for Armagh.

I don't fear Armagh but I think first out the gate would be a bad time to meet them. Mayo are a confidence team. Also we ain't a backdoor team, both of our recent Final appearances have come through front door. After the mauling against Galway, morale will be low so a game against an average team is whats needed.
If they win that they can take on anyone (bar Kerry who dumped us out in each of the last 3 years).
Dublin, Donegal, Tyrone, Kerry, Armagh, Galway, Cork and Mayo have a chance everyone else can plot for next year. At this stage no-one has shown through probably the most impressive win was by Galway. I don't like the look of any of the teams so far none playing Championship form. Donegal seem the best bet at this stage. Kerry won't win 3 Finals in a row, O' Connor (the best manager they had since Micko and hugely underrated) gone and Moynihan and McCarthy retired - all points towards them not winning

blackbelt

Well I must say Mayo have the players to down Armagh and we must take into account that Armaghs confidence will be at an all time low.Having rescued themselves from Division 3 and going into the qualifiers which is unusual territory for them as they won 3 Ulster championships,Armagh will be at their weakest.

Donegal are going strength to strength and look unstoppable.They have beaten all the big teams this year bar Galway who were fortunate enough not to meet them.However,history may repeat itself this year with numerous people writing Kerry off before they go on to win Sam.I hope they are on the opposite side of the draw to Cork,Dublin,Mayo etc.

Macca206

Does anyone know if its pay on the gate or all ticket? If all ticket whats the chance of getting one outside?

smashey

Ticket only for the stand. Pay at the gate for the terraces.

Macca206

smashey wrote:

Ticket only for the stand. Pay at the gate for the terraces.

Cheers.. may pop up to it as great venue for the big games. Cant beat the atmosphere in the town before the game, Croke just doesnt have the same buzz about it.

cruiserweight

Both teams have named their lineups for Sunday. No O'Neill for Tyrone could be a big blow

Donegal (SF v Tyrone): P Durcan; N McGee, P Campbell, K Lacey; P McConigley, B Monaghan, B Dunnion; N Gallagher, K Cassidy; B Roper, C Bonner, R Kavanagh; C McFadden, B Devenney, M Hegarty

Tyrone (SF v Donegal): J Devine, R McMenamin, C McGinley, D Carlin, D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan, K Hughes, S Cavanagh, B Dooher, R Mulgrew, E McGinley, C McCullagh, C Cavanagh, O Mulligan

K-9

I think Hegarty could be doubtful though and I read Toye is as well.

It would affect our strength in depth if these two didn't make it. Would be limited to Sweeney and McMenamin on the bench. Not bad I suppose too.

smashey

Any Tyrone people reading this?

If so, bring it on.

smashey

To say the best team won would be the biggest understatement of all time. So, congratulations Tyrone and if they keep playing like this, they'll take some beating.

Donegal??? Where to start. Clueless and leaderless. Tyrone didn't have too far to look for leadership - Brian Dooher (duracell bunny). I think Rory Kavanagh, Barry Monaghan and possibly Karl Lacey/Ciaran Bonner are the only players to take any positives out of today's game. Paddy Campbell was never in the game at full back, and was replaced eventually by Niall McCready, a player I thought wasn't in the panel anymore. The midfielders started winning some ball when it was too late. Devenney spent too much time crying to anybody who would listen while Colm McFadden and Kevin McMenamin let everybody down with their total stupidity.

After today, I wouldn't be too confident about the qualifiers either.

Haven't a Clue

Bad day. And with the strengths of the qualifiers this year with potential matches against Mayo or Meath, I wouldn't fancy our chances to get to the quarters now.

fester

Donegal were making life hard for themselves... no direct balls down the field.. always short passes into traffic... terrible!

What's the path now if we want to get in through the back door?

Kojak

Donegal just seemed to implode today, for whatever reason.

Maybe the turning point in the game was the disallowed goal, penalty save. I was thinking that Donegal had to score a goal from the penalty to keep their confidence up

They seemed to have reverted back to their old familiar style of play of short hand-passing which got them into huge trouble with the Tyrone swarm defence as it gave the Tyrone defenders the opportunity to close in and apply pressure.

I found it strange that Donegal started Sweeney - I thought he would have been better as an impact sub for the last 20 minutes. Also Tyrone seemed to be way fitter that Donegal, maybe the league took more out of Donegal than they realised themselves. For whatever reason, they were slower to many 50/50 balls.

Brian Dooher should be given the MOTM award, as he covered miles today and also scored 5 points from play (which is a bit unusual for him). Tyrone, in this form, will more than likey win Ulster and be second favourites (behind Kerry) to win Sam.

As for Donegal, if they are drawn against a tough team in the qualifiers then they could be gone out of the championship in a few weeks time. They will be missing McFadden, and if they "drown their sorrows" this evening well then that will be the end of them for this year.

smashey

We'll just take the qualifying draw and hope for a home game. Michael Hegarty, Christy Toye and Barry Dunnion were badly missed today. At least they all have a bit of vision.

Redsoxfan

Another year, another false dawn.

We had a brief moment in the first half when we were on top and if we had made the most of it, Tyrone might have faded.

You could argue that the ref should have let our goal stand-but hey-we couldn't score the penalty, and

However, it looked like we hadn't a clue what we were doing. Taking short kick outs and trying to run at Tyrone from you full back line is idiocy. Add to that the fact that our intensity is a million miles away from that displayed by Tyrone-some of the efforts at tackles were pathetic.

We paid for our 'bad winner' attitude at the league game-Tyrone fans really stuck it to us in the second half.

They have now beaten us handsomely twice this year with less than their first choice 15-I think that is a true indication of where this Donegal team is at-not to take away from our NFL title and victory over Armagh, but if we are the real deal, we have to win an Ulster title at some stage.

Dunnion was a big loss-he is a playmaker and McGee was a disaster-I didn't hear what happened-is it serious?

And why bring back Niall McCready????

Will Woppa be back the next day or will we start with one full forward again (like v. Armagh)?

Best of luck to Tyrone-their second goal was terrific and their work ethic (1-15) is something else. A final v. Kerry is what I would like to see in September (Donegal WON'T be there.......)

kaimera

Bah, ffs Donegal.

There goes my football pools.

smashey

kaimera wrote:

Bah, ffs Donegal.

There goes my football pools.

It could be worse. I'm married to a Tyrone woman.

kaimera

It could be worse. I'm married to a Tyrone woman.

Oh schnap

K-9

And I have to listen to Tyrone people in the morning and even worse, Strabane people.:D

Ah they where by far and away the better team. Mickey Harte at an interesting interview in the Tribune. He reckons the hunger is back, and its hard to doubt him after today.

Beaten all over the pitch. Really, other than Kavanagh did we have a half back and half forward line, or actually other than Cassidy's goal, a midfield. Well, I suppose thats where the hunger comes in.

Minor gripes, McFaddens goal was perfectly legit, Durcan made a good save and lost his head. Should have kept the ball and he would have been fouled, but sure there what ifs? Not at the races.

Maybe its agood thing, says he with the glass half full. Bring them down to earth again. McFadden and McMenamin know what they did. We still need them, natural goal scorers. Devenney, still doubtful on the big day, unlike McFadden.

And is Michael Doherty still injured? Surely he's worth a go.

smashey wrote:

We'll just take the qualifying draw and hope for a home game. Michael Hegarty, Christy Toye and Barry Dunnion were badly missed today. At least they all have a bit of vision.

Shows we do have strength and depth, just not the same as Tyrone, but then who as other than Kerry?

Dunnion very much missed. Never fails and is a leader. Roper, tiger as he is, is just too small these days, Toye has the physical side. Maybe Roper as a sub to lift the team? But it's a good point. 3 vary valuable players missed and we will get a good run in the qualifiers if we avoid Armagh and get these players back.

smashey wrote:

and was replaced eventually by Niall McCready, a player I thought wasn't in the panel anymore.

Late addition about 2 months ago after coming abck from America I think. Strange thing is he plays centre half forward for his club, strange if its true. Always thought he was a good corner back, often last man standing when Donegal died, but I wonder could there not have been better substitutions made.

smashey wrote:

Devenney spent too much time crying to anybody who would listen while Colm McFadden and Kevin McMenamin let everybody down with their total stupidity.

No change on Devenney despite his interview in the Independent. Seriously, talented footballer, but keep him away from the media. it doesn't help. One good think was McIvor's reaction to McFadden and McMenamin, total disgust, which is a good sign. He will not like the indiscipline and it wont be forgotten.

Kojak wrote:

They seemed to have reverted back to their old familiar style of play of short hand-passing which got them into huge trouble with the Tyrone swarm defence as it gave the Tyrone defenders the opportunity to close in and apply pressure.

kojak wrote:

I found it strange that Donegal started Sweeney - I thought he would have been better as an impact sub for the last 20 minutes. Also Tyrone seemed to be way fitter that Donegal, maybe the league took more out of Donegal than they realised themselves. For whatever reason, they were slower to many 50/50 balls.

FESTER wrote:

Donegal were making life hard for themselves... no direct balls down the field.. always short passes into traffic... terrible!

What's the path now if we want to get in through the back door?

Yeah, above posts I Have to agree with. How did we beat them 3 years ago, by not doing the above.

Still the qualifiers is everybody bar the provincial finalists and Tommy Murphy Cup.

Looking at the provinces, Connacht, bar Mayo would be ok and if we got a home draw?, interesting if I'm right there's no Munster team bar Limerick and they should be ok, says alot about the big 2 in Munster - Leinster - bar Meath or Laois if they don't make the final - if we play anywhere near our potential we'll be ok, and Ulster same again except Armagh where we would need to fulfil or exceed the potential. Derry/Monaghan could be dodgy though on a good day for them.

Really unless we get Armagh I think we should be ok.

smashey

Seanies32 wrote:

And I have to listen to Tyrone people in the morning and even worse, Strabane people.:D

Exactly.

Anyway, I think Michael Doherty has been playing club football recently.

kevmy

Fair play to Tyrone I didn't think they'd do it. I'm suprised personally by their strength in depth. Players like Mulgrew and the younger Cavanagh had very good games when I didn't think they had it in them. Also Mulligan, O' Neill and older Cavanagh all back to their best.
I knew they would be a threat if they got some of their players back, now it looks like they're a threat anyway. Bit disappointed with Donegal. They should have shown better. Very little excuse, there is only two ways to beat Tyrone. Long ball in around the square or kick points from distance. Donegal done neither after 15 mins