This should be a cracking contest in Breffni on Saturday week. There's no love lost between either side and both teams will feel they can do a number on the other.

In the Super 8's last year Tyrone came out on top in the end but there is a feeling in Donegal that had Patrick McBrearty been available it could have been a different story. He is getting back up to speed after his long lay off so it will be interesting to see how things pan out.

Tyrone are playing in a more open style this year and have been susceptible to teams running hard at them through the middle. Antrim troubled them at times the other day even if the result was never in doubt. I wonder will Mickey Harte revert to type against Donegal?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 27/05/2019 10:30:34    2188002

himachechy (Donegal) - Posts: 293 - 27/05/2019 11:37:57    2188054

Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 27/05/2019 12:20:41    2188074

I think Tyrone will win this one, we are far too soft in defence, if teams run at us we look like giving away goals too easily, if we still had Odhran we would have a much better chance but I think Tyrone are heading for the Ulster final. I hope I'm wrong obviously.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2748 - 27/05/2019 13:35:59    2188116

I would agree with the other Donegal posters, we look porous at the back and if Tyrone run at us they could get goals. However we are very good up front and are capable of getting a big score. I can see both teams going really defensive and it being an arm wrestle of a match. Donegal have only played division 2 teams this year so its really hard to know how good we are. Tyrone are going to be a massive step up in class.

The big question for Donegal is have we improved since last year's defeat to Tyrone. Some of our younger players such as Jason Mcgee, Niall O'Donnell and Daire O'Baoil have improved a lot but is this enough? I would have to make Tyrone favourites, hope I'm wrong.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1874 - 27/05/2019 14:28:36    2188148

Wouldn't it be great if both teams didn't blink and retained their open style for this? Just had a good cut off each other and may the best team win? Both teams have shown vulnerabilities when their defences have been ran at. So instead of reverting to defensive type it would be fantastic if both managers trusted their players to just go out and win it with attacking abandon!

Wishful thinking I know but such an approach would really ignite the Championship. We all know the quality that's there between the two teams. Some real heavy weight players just slugging it out in a typically feisty Ulster encounter.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 27/05/2019 14:34:00    2188151

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2748 - 27/05/2019 14:56:14    2188156

Hard to know. I feel we have had and are having a good season so far. WE have mcBrearty back from injury. We have a couple of concerns after the game yesterday which is not so good. We did a good job yesterday against a team who were preparing methodically for the fixture for months. I think we can beat tyrone, but will depend a hell of a lot on our mid field. I didn't read any specifics about how we faired there yesterday. I think that Jason McGee is hitting nice form and he will need to be at his very best if we have to have a chance against tyrone. Tyrone are seasoned and held their own in division one including beating Dublin in croke park, so I would fancy them to win despite being happy about our own progress.

Interesting that all the posts so far are by Donegal supporters. I wonder what the tyrone support think

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 27/05/2019 15:16:04    2188169

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1874 - 27/05/2019 15:31:44    2188177

Looking forward to it.

Tyrone will probably be slight fav's with bookies but it really is a 50/50 game.

I feel it will be defensive , both teams will revert back to their tried and trusted. Too big a risk to be open at the back, both forward lines could do serious damage if that was the case.

I do feel Tyrone could get some joy off McGee and McGrath. Great players but a lot of miles on the clock. Unfortunately we don't have Mark Bradley who got the better of McGrath before. Maybe McCurry could start to inject a bit of pace.

McBreaty and an in form Murphy worry me. Murphy looks refreshed and fit, something he hasn't been for a while. Add in Brennan and Langan and it's an excellent forward line. Too be fair I could see one of the forwards dropped for a more defensive minded player....probably McGlynn or other Brennan for Thompson or Langan......who will drop in front of full back line with McLoon.

Tyrone to nick it. Just......I hope

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 27/05/2019 16:28:12    2188212

I think we're much too open to really have a chance here. There may be an ebb and flow to it but I think Tyrone will win by 4 or 5 in the end.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 27/05/2019 16:57:43    2188231

Huge step up for Donegal from playing division 2 sides so far. However the in house games should help in coping with the step up. I think Tyrone have the edge in athleticism and power but Donegal have more natural attacking talent. Getting the match ups right and how we cope with the height of some of the Tyrone players in the attacking third will be the winning and losing of the game. Physically I think we are in better shape to cope with what Tyrone bring in that regard. Plus having Paddy back is a big boost. As is the form of Michael Murphy who is back to his best after a few years of mismanagement. Really hard game to call and don't expect much to be between the sides at the end.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 27/05/2019 19:09:49    2188266

Can't disagree with anything that's been said.

I think Tyrone will have a little too much for us mainly because we are still too open at the back. Paddy is not at full throttle either, although the Fermanagh game will have helped him. I also think Tyrone have an edge in midfield.

All In all I am looking forward to it & Donegal should be there or thereabouts but, for me, it's Tyrone by a few in a tight tense game.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 28/05/2019 11:10:01    2188443

I think our own support should also get some perspective from the fermanagh v Monaghan last year. It was an almost identical game to the game on Sunday. Fermanagh were right there with 5 minutes remaining. The only difference being that in the Monaghan fixture, they got the goal they needed at the death, bringing on the target man they did. (same on Sunday btw). Had that same pattern emerged, we would be looking at fermanagh v Tyrone now, even though they would have stolen the game. So bearing this in mind, we did what we had to do, kept our shape and grinded out a result.

I think that we are going to see a more open game v tyrone, but it still be characterised by scores from counter attacks and periods of defending. Mid field is the key imo. We are shaping up ok there. We also have scoring options from many players rather than a few.

I can't see Tyrone giving us a trimming like they do other teams, but I can see them as the form team of the 2.

We will have to wait and see. This is the hardest part of championship football.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 28/05/2019 12:42:44    2188472

Tyrone clear favourites with Paddy rusty and Odhran missing. They look really impressive, hopefully we can win it but think this Tyrone team can not alone beat us, but beat Dublin also.

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1142 - 29/05/2019 01:11:52    2188700

It depends which Tyrone team turns up. The one against Kerry that only seemed capable of moving the ball from side to side or the one against Mayo where the players didn't seem interested, if either one of those performances are reproduced against Donegal we will have serious problems. But then again if we reproduce the performance like we did against the Dubs in Croke Park intensity, hard running and good long ball in or the second half performance against Galway then I could see us winning by 6 or 7 points. That's the great thing about the Championship nobody really knows how their team is going to perform on the day. I'm sure there will be a big crowd in Breffni Park hopefully its a dry day and both teams produce a good game, really looking forward to this game plenty at stake an Ulster Final place is up for grabs..

TyroneUltra (Tyrone) - Posts: 307 - 30/05/2019 13:14:46    2189090

Both these teams should arrive in the Super 8's but I just think Tyrone have turned the corner since 2016 against Donegal and three championship wins in a row should boost confidence. Both teams are more open than previous years and it may well turn out to be one of the games of the championship with one score between them. I expect Tyrone to back up last years All-Ireland run with an Ulster championship win this year which would be the best way to reach the Super 8's.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 30/05/2019 14:44:24    2189121

Donegal did very well getting Brennan and McBrearty into position for their scoring shots. No doubt Micky will have noted it and the 'loop' might not be as effective this time. Donegal should win midfield and this should give a bit of protection to a backline that looks a bit shaky at the moment. Hope it is a good game and may the best team win.

neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 30/05/2019 15:33:08    2189137

Just had a look at Tyrone (2018, 2017) and Donegal's (2018, 2016) last two championship games against Dublin in Croke Park to see how they fared respectively.

Interestingly Tyrone's average losing margin is nearly double that of Donegal's: 9 points compared to 5.

greatpoint (USA) - Posts: 427 - 03/06/2019 13:55:16    2190166

I fancy us quite strongly. Think the game is probably a year too soon for Donegal. Both teams have improved and I'd say neither will fancy going anywhere near the qualifiers. Our recent record beating Donegal three years in a row in championship should stand.

OGarmaile (Tyrone) - Posts: 248 - 03/06/2019 14:26:27    2190181