National Forum

Donegal V Dublin

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Replying To JoeSoap:  "I don't see anything other than a comfortable Dublin win here but we've shown a bit of fight in the first 2 matches so I'd be pleased with a good performance mostly. I don't think we have the forwards to really hurt Dublin so you may well see a blanket and hope our pacey lads can strike on the counter from turnovers. I wouldn't want to see this tactic personally as I don't think the young lads are disciplined enough to make it work, but we'll see.

One aspect that has been really disappointing so far this year is our kickouts and when you're facing the best team in the country I don't expect that to improve unfortunately."
Yep kickouts have been very disappointing. McGinley is a fine shot stopper and is comfortable under a high ball. But kickouts are so vital in the modern game and I think he's lacking in this facet of his game. Michael Boyle is surely due some competitive action?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9147 - 22/02/2017 11:31:42    1959513

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yep kickouts have been very disappointing. McGinley is a fine shot stopper and is comfortable under a high ball. But kickouts are so vital in the modern game and I think he's lacking in this facet of his game. Michael Boyle is surely due some competitive action?"
Would like to Michael Boyle back too. He had an excellent varation on his kickouts before injury and I'd assume as long as he has recovered from injury, that should still be the case. Training along with Durcan for all those years wouldn't of done him any harm either.

Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 22/02/2017 11:44:38    1959518

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What's the story with stand tickets ? Is it first come first served or what?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 22/02/2017 12:11:54    1959526

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Donegal will do well to keep this within 5/6 points. When you factor in the loss of Patrick McBrearty then this really is an uphill task.

I'd agree with the other posters that the kick-outs have been a major disappointment. Definitely Michael Boyle should get a chance in goals as he is a fine keeper. It won't be easy for any keeper as we are really short of genuine midfield options.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1876 - 22/02/2017 12:23:07    1959531

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Was talking gaa to a few gaa boys in the local last night, the question came up what would be a good year for donegal. the general concensus was to stay up in div 1 and get a game in croke park. Was strange hearing this because this good few years i would sit down and plan my work around the donegal games. always looked forward to clones on ulster final day and heading to croker in early august. In all honesty i dont think well be in an ulster final this year mainly due to the fact we will prob have to play tyrone in semi final. the one bright spot that came up from our conversation was that somebody mentioned that if all players are fit that we still have eleven of last years starting ulster final team in squad. maybe twelve if anthony thompson comes back. if you add in martin mc elhinney.ciaran thompson. eoin ban. mark mc hugh. young jason mc gee. carroll and young mc brearty then you never know what the year holds.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2410 - 22/02/2017 12:48:16    1959540

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Replying To clondalkindub:  "What's the story with stand tickets ? Is it first come first served or what?"
Yea first come first served. expecting a big crowd, Stand will prob be full 45 min before kick off.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2410 - 22/02/2017 12:52:10    1959541

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Was talking gaa to a few gaa boys in the local last night, the question came up what would be a good year for donegal. the general concensus was to stay up in div 1 and get a game in croke park. Was strange hearing this because this good few years i would sit down and plan my work around the donegal games. always looked forward to clones on ulster final day and heading to croker in early august. In all honesty i dont think well be in an ulster final this year mainly due to the fact we will prob have to play tyrone in semi final. the one bright spot that came up from our conversation was that somebody mentioned that if all players are fit that we still have eleven of last years starting ulster final team in squad. maybe twelve if anthony thompson comes back. if you add in martin mc elhinney.ciaran thompson. eoin ban. mark mc hugh. young jason mc gee. carroll and young mc brearty then you never know what the year holds."
The boom times are back! In the local on a Wednesday night?!? Good man!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9147 - 22/02/2017 13:15:00    1959549

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Donegal I accept your missing a few players but most of them were finished anyway and most of the team that should of bet Tyrone last summer will be playing again this summer so I see no reason why you can't win Ulster , Tyrone are nowhere near as good as people think and Donegal are more than capable of beating them on a one off game.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 22/02/2017 13:29:32    1959560

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Replying To clondalkindub:  "Donegal I accept your missing a few players but most of them were finished anyway and most of the team that should of bet Tyrone last summer will be playing again this summer so I see no reason why you can't win Ulster , Tyrone are nowhere near as good as people think and Donegal are more than capable of beating them on a one off game."
Maybe so but it still takes a few years to get the younger lads up to speed at senior level. There are exceptions of course, like Murphy and McBrearty who made their senior debuts as 17 year olds but I don't think any of the current young crop are of that physical or footballing stature just yet.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9147 - 22/02/2017 14:02:21    1959569

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I kind of both agree and disagree wit Clondalkin. I think it is both a blessing and a curse when you lose experienced players through retirement. It allows youth to come through by necessity. But so many retirements at once presents a lot of challenges in terms of schooling in a new batch. They have to hit the ground running without help.

I think that our lads are more than capable of doing this, but we have a huge gap at mid field that is going to have to be filled somehow and I dont know where or how we are going to do this.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 22/02/2017 14:52:46    1959577

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Replying To clondalkindub:  "Donegal I accept your missing a few players but most of them were finished anyway and most of the team that should of bet Tyrone last summer will be playing again this summer so I see no reason why you can't win Ulster , Tyrone are nowhere near as good as people think and Donegal are more than capable of beating them on a one off game."
I'd agree that we are capable of beating Tyrone, but Monaghan or Cavan (most likely) will also be waiting in the final for whoever comes out of our side of the draw. I think we're good enough to win Ulster but it's whether the bounce of the ball goes for us on the day and whether the young lads bed in quickly. Senior championship is a whole other level for a lot of these boys.

Saying all that I really am worried about our kickouts in general, we don't have a big team now so accurate kickouts and a strategy are essential, but I've not seen much of that so far this year or even last.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 22/02/2017 15:01:12    1959581

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Also just to add, while a lot of the retirements were expected, some of them are still big losses in terms of the squad like McGee and Toye, never mind losing Gallagher - that's a real body blow for us in midfield.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 22/02/2017 15:02:37    1959582

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Despite our record in Ballybofey the 2/5 on dublin looks vgood and -3 at 10/11 will be well covered I'm afraid. No paddy, michael at midfield, older players given an extended rest in the early stages of the league,,the younger players just settling in. Could be a long afternoon. A big if, but if we make it to croke park during the summer, we have a lot of pace in this team.

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1142 - 22/02/2017 15:18:26    1959590

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Replying To TakeyourPoint.:  "I admire your optimism TheRightStuff, but i honestly think Donegal are in trouble. 9 players is to much to lose in a single year. 2018 is very optimistic for Donegal to be a force again - it will take many years for these young players to transition into senior football, if they ever can.

Also i have seen a fair bit of these U21 players over the past years and i dont understand the hype in Donegal surrounding them. I feel a lot of them are only average players and nowhere near the standard of the 2010 team.

Admittedly there are a few strong lads with potential like Jigger and Stephen McBrearty but without many experienced players helping guide them, aswell as having totally inept managers in RG and Bonnar, then their potential could easily be wasted."
I agree. Thought they were still decent last year against ourselves..No match for Dublin in Croker. Donegal 2011-2014 were a very good team. This year they may find themselves in line with the Galways and Roscommons of the world with all the players they are down(All priced in or around the same by the bookies).A good team but no more than that until the younger lads can prove otherwise. I can't see them giving Dublin anything to worry about this weekend what so ever; nor ourselves this year in Ulster.

GameOfTyrones (Tyrone) - Posts: 469 - 23/02/2017 02:49:47    1959753

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yep kickouts have been very disappointing. McGinley is a fine shot stopper and is comfortable under a high ball. But kickouts are so vital in the modern game and I think he's lacking in this facet of his game. Michael Boyle is surely due some competitive action?"
Completely disagree about McGinley under high ball- he was awful and looked lost under it 5or6 times down in Hyde park 2 weeks ago....

eunans4ever (Donegal) - Posts: 1595 - 23/02/2017 11:55:26    1959833

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Replying To eunans4ever:  "Completely disagree about McGinley under high ball- he was awful and looked lost under it 5or6 times down in Hyde park 2 weeks ago...."
I didn't get to see the Roscommon game as I was out of the country. But anytime I saw him deal with high balls last year he looked competent enough to me.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9147 - 23/02/2017 12:57:29    1959857

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Replying To GameOfTyrones:  "I agree. Thought they were still decent last year against ourselves..No match for Dublin in Croker. Donegal 2011-2014 were a very good team. This year they may find themselves in line with the Galways and Roscommons of the world with all the players they are down(All priced in or around the same by the bookies).A good team but no more than that until the younger lads can prove otherwise. I can't see them giving Dublin anything to worry about this weekend what so ever; nor ourselves this year in Ulster."
I'm not sure I understand the confidence that Tyrone posters seem to have about beating Donegal. Since the turn of the century Donegal's record versus Tyrone in the Championship is won 5, lost 2. This includes last year's Ulster final victory, which Donegal led for the majority of and lost due to some incredible points at the death. Aside from that you have to go back 10 years for Tyrone's only other victory over them.

For all the hype Tyrone's inability to win big games in Croke Park is what for me separates them from Dublin, Mayo, Kerry. Until they do they're still some way off Donegal 2011 - 2014.

greatpoint (USA) - Posts: 427 - 23/02/2017 18:16:40    1959982

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Replying To greatpoint:  "I'm not sure I understand the confidence that Tyrone posters seem to have about beating Donegal. Since the turn of the century Donegal's record versus Tyrone in the Championship is won 5, lost 2. This includes last year's Ulster final victory, which Donegal led for the majority of and lost due to some incredible points at the death. Aside from that you have to go back 10 years for Tyrone's only other victory over them.

For all the hype Tyrone's inability to win big games in Croke Park is what for me separates them from Dublin, Mayo, Kerry. Until they do they're still some way off Donegal 2011 - 2014."
Your living in the past greatpoint, stop living in the past.

The reason for our confidence in Tyrone beating Donegal is that Donegal have lost 9 senior players this year, they are relying on U21s and Minors that haven't proven themselves yet and Tyrone's performances this year, seem to be on par with last year, if not slightly better. I thought Donegal were poor last year and with all the changes this year i expect them to be even worse.

But this thread isn't about Tyrone V Donegal.

Dublin by 10+

TakeyourPoint. (Tyrone) - Posts: 133 - 23/02/2017 19:14:52    1960008

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If Dublin win by 10 points it wouldnt be totally unrealistic, but if it does happen, I think our lads will learn a lot from it.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 23/02/2017 19:51:28    1960021

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Replying To TakeyourPoint.:  "Your living in the past greatpoint, stop living in the past.

The reason for our confidence in Tyrone beating Donegal is that Donegal have lost 9 senior players this year, they are relying on U21s and Minors that haven't proven themselves yet and Tyrone's performances this year, seem to be on par with last year, if not slightly better. I thought Donegal were poor last year and with all the changes this year i expect them to be even worse.

But this thread isn't about Tyrone V Donegal.

Dublin by 10+"
This really has nothing to do with anyone living in the past, I'm a neutral observer in this so you're wasting your time trying to get a rise.

You mention this thread not being about Tyrone vs. Donegal, you do understand it was your comment about Tyrone vs. Donegal that I replied to?

If Donegal were poor last year then what exactly does that say about your county? Donegal controlled the game for long periods before letting Tyrone back in late on, and considering that was your only notable result last year it's tough for an outsider to take this hyperbole seriously.

If you're simply going to be a blind cheerleader for your county on here no one is going to what you say seriously. You need to think a little bit deeper than that.

greatpoint (USA) - Posts: 427 - 23/02/2017 20:16:56    1960028

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