Think this will be a very tight game, and I also believe that the winner from this game will go on to win Ulster. I have to go with my heart on this and say Donegal by 2. I do have a soft spot for Tyrone so if they were to win best of luck to them.

wouldn't say I have a soft spot for Tyrone, Mothers from there and the cousins have been giving me dire stick for the last decade, but now that we're evens on the field of play I'm hoping for a good test. Tyrone on their day, as we all know, can up their game immensely but Donegal should be that bit stronger and I agree donegal by 2 or 3!

All depends though, the first 2 games were no test but then Armagh was hardly a HUGE test for Tyrone either! It will be tight!

The armagh game was a huge test. It was played in armagh, and they had the cross players back in their ranks, missing from the latter stages of the league.

Donegal by at least 5 points. This tyrone team are well past it an should be blown out of the water. I do expect it to be tight untill maybe last 20-25 mins when donegals fitness and conditioning not be mention youth will overpower tyrone. Id be afriad of down in final though.

Clem down there lads. We've only beaten Div 4 and Div 2 teams so far. Cavan lost their manager and introduced about 9 U21's so they would not be expected to be at the races. Derry were lucky not to get relegated to Div 3 on the last day of the lge and were brutally unfit and disorganized... We're on the right track and have great potential but one game at a time...

The Extra man, this is the kind of chat that we heard back in 2007 after donegal won the league and got stuffed by tyrone in clones, then by monaghan in the championship. This in my opinion is when we are at our most exposed, when we are already looking at an ulster final, as you have indicated in your thread. I think that there is none shrewder than Mickey Heart, and the team he has will undoubltably be pumped up for this game as if it were the all ireland final itself. We have not been tested yet, this may be a good thing to get the players a run and to avoid injuries, but we cannot get any idea of our championship form yet. Personally, i dont think we will get hammered, but i think we have a 50 50 chance of winning or losing. nothing better or worse than that, and that is if we play to our max potential

I dont really know what way to think.
I agree with the above that donegal tend not to do great when favourites but then again this is a new donegal team with diferent mentality.

Each game so far I thought could be problematic and donegal ran out easy winners.
Tyrone, However, have won All Irelands and were the first team to play "Total Football".
If anyone know how to beat us its Mickey harte.

Therefore I will again be optimistic but I dont think it will be easy and wouldnt be surprised if we were turned over. This game is very important but I feel Both teams can reach quarter finals anyway so may not have big impact on the AI series. We want the Anglo Celt cup to stay put though.

Donegal man i take your points but i honestly dont think you can compare this donegal team to 07. This is a much younger, fitter and stronger donegal team with a gameplan. I do take your points on board but i just dont think tyrone will match are intensity. Also donegal got to the All ireland semi last year where they did not fall on there faces against dublin. I have noticed a change in donegals attitude in the past number of years in the younger players throughout the county. They seem more hungry, disciplined and focused than the past and this is great for donegal football as we have always had the talent.

I can see Donegal winning this by 3 or 4 points. I'd say it'll be tight for most of the game but this Donegal team doesn't fade and should be strong enough to open up a bit of a lead in the last 15 minutes. Tyrone were great against Armagh and they'll need to do the same again to be in with a chance.

this game will be won on the line!!

Donegal to win by a few to spare. If we hadn't got all our injuries it would be a closer game. But we're rebuilding now and without Kyle Coney (our best forward this year) and Sean Cavanagh we are definately up against it.

However Donegal will have to take this win off Tyrone becos Mickey and Co will certainly not hand it over on a plate.

Lets get it on.... The hillbillies of Erical against the Culties of Pomeroy hills.

Donegal will win by 5 or 6 points and I would also predict the same result even if Tyrone had a full panel to choose from,Tyrone are no longer the team they once were and Donegal are extremely fit and strong and they have a game plan that is extremely hard to play against.

Donegal - 2-13
Tyrone - 1-7

Some very brave match predictions on this thread.

Confidence is a good trait to have folks but delivering the goods on the field of play is another one, and while I think injuries have diminished Tyrone's prospects of a prolonged summer I think Tyrone have proved to be at their best when entering under the radar. Dublin found out to their cost in 08 as did Kerry when everyone bar the Tyrone team had witten off their chances.

Tyrone will relish the underdogs tag on Saturday. It is unfamiliar territory for them and the manner of last years last minute defeat will provide more incentive to push Donegal hard. Donegal are the up and coming team and are deserving favs for this game but beware of the wounded tiger.

Hopefully football is the winner to shut the southern pundits up about the current state of the Ulster Championship! It is by far the most competitive of the provincial championships.

donegal are definitely the favourites but it will depend who gets upperhand early on and if its donegal then there is only one winner.if tyrone get an early lead then this could turn out to be classic

toe2hand
County: Galway
Posts: 81

1204567 donegal are definitely the favourites but it will depend who gets upperhand early on and if its donegal then there is only one winner.if tyrone get an early lead then this could turn out to be classic

It defo has the making of good game say this game will be end to end stuff. Donegal will try frustrate them tyrone will just want to go at them and seek revenge for last year. Makes for great spectacle...

Donegal - 2-13
Tyrone - 1-7
Purdy, Donegal

Thanks Purdy; that was my first belly-laugh of the day! To think that Donegal
could beat Tyrone by 9 points, you must be havin a laugh?! Lol.
It will end more like this:-
Tyrone 1 - 14
Donegal 1 - 10
Tyrone by 4 points.

I hope its a cracker.

Donegal 0-13
Tyrone 1-12

Hope we get away with the team announced in the Irish Times today. Only question is where do we play the 16th man ?

TYRONE : P McConnell; A McCrory, Justin McMahon, D Carlin; C McCarron, C Gormley, Seán ONeill; Joe McMahon, C Cavanagh; R McNabb, M Donnelly, P Harte; M Penrose, Stephen ONeill, O Mulligan.

DONEGAL : P Durcan; P McGrath, N McGee, F McGlynn; E McGee, K Lacey, A Thompson; R Bradley, N Gallagher; D Walsh, L McLoone, M McHugh; R Bradley; P McBrearty, M Murphy, C McFadden.

Well spotted Charlie, it would be hard enough to beat 15 of yis! ;)