Congrats to Donegal. I was at the game and it went very well for us. Derry were good in spells, caused us some problems but not enough to stay in the game.

I think Donegal should learn a few things from the past couple of games.

We should kick the ball out long as our mid field are well able to field the ball. The short kick outs is a redundant tactic when you factor this in. Yes you could have it as an option now and again, but please, sparingly.

We are going to leak scores against teams, especially against the Dubs. The worst thing we could see is a blanket Donegal arriving in breffni on saturday. We will lose out on our attacking options if we do this. Conceding scores is the trade off when you have a team that like to run and attack.

Finally, it is this. That if our lads run at the opposition, it is inevitable that they will get fouled as it seems to be the only way of stopping a fast skillful player. I think the more of this we do, the harder it will be for teams that play against us. The seniors hopefully can learn something from this penetration as the u21s dont do the lateral game, only very sparingly.

Re the price at the beginning of the season, kerry were 6/4. The dubs were I think 6/1 and we were out somewhere at 12/1 with a bunch of other teams like tyrone. While I dont subscribe to playing poor mouth about odds and our chances, I think that despite being behind the Dubs for the next game, but I would call it more of a 50/50 game to be entirely honest.

It will be a fab game. Well done lads.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 11/04/2017 00:23:07    1978192

HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 520 - 11/04/2017 09:43:28    1978232

I watched from about 15 minutes in to about 50 minutes, it was only a matter of time before Donegal pulled away. They are a very good team but can't say I enjoyed watching them.

TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 11/04/2017 09:55:43    1978236

First off a huge congratulations to all the players on a magnificent Ulster title win last night. I thought we were a wee bit casual in the first half but was always confident that if they upped the intensity second half we'd pull away and win comfortably. The final score line maybe did flatter us a wee bit because Derry battled hard and never let the heads drop. I hope we haven't picked up any injuries and the lads can get some good recovery in before Dublin at the weekend. It will be a step up for them but I think if we can stay calm and composed the lads are well able to push on and reach the final. It won't be easy but Donegal look a very well drilled outfit with a nice balance of power and pace to the team.

I'd also like to commend Declan Bonner and his staff. He has drawn criticism from some quarters in the past about his tactics but in fairness he has brought these lads all the up from u16/17 level. We look like we'll have a strong senior team in the years to come if these lads stick at it. So a big well done to Declan and his staff once again.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 11/04/2017 10:27:56    1978252

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 11/04/2017 10:40:05    1978262

GDL (Galway) - Posts: 721 - 11/04/2017 10:50:14    1978272

Well done Donegal!

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12120 - 11/04/2017 11:07:58    1978280

Congrats to Donegal ,super team and their future is very bright

ulster83 (Tyrone) - Posts: 114 - 11/04/2017 11:31:41    1978295

Big congrats to the team and management. There was huge pressure and expectation on them last night given recent results in the immediate preceding years at the grade and of course losing an Ulster minor semi final in 2015 with a squad that should have been contenders to win an AI. The final scoreline was flattering certainly aided by the black card and following red card. The decisions were the correct ones but harsh on Derry who were in no way dirty. The game was in the melting pot for the majority of the first half and I did feel that Donegal could be in for one of those nights the way Derry were competing. Their tackling was excellent and must give special mention to their 5th point (at least I think it was) which was one of the scores of the night and a real team effort. It would have being very interesting to see how events turned out if Donegal's nemesis No 1 Conor Glass was still playing in the country. This lad is a terrific talent and a massive loss to Derry football. Imagine where Donegal football might be now if Michael Murphy had followed a similar path all those years ago. However once Donegal got the opening goal there was only going to be one winner. This side is at its best breaking forward at pace into space so you don't really want to be chasing a game when down by 4 points or more. Unlike the senior side these lads are relentless and once they smell blood there is no resting on their laurels. On the night Jason McGee was a worthy MOTM but cannot argue with Jamie Brennan getting it who was also excellent. In Jason's case you have a guy who is eligible for the grade for the next 2 years if it remained at U-21 yet will miss out on those 2 years, as well as miss out on next years U-20 championship as he will be with the seniors. I wonder how Jason and his peers feel about these rule changes inflicted on them by the biased suits in headquarters? I imagine he would much rather be able to play and achieve success with his county and guys he has developed with as u don't know what might happen in years to come. Michael Langon, Connor Morrison, Eoghan Ban (not in the betting for young player of the year amazingly enough especially when you see some of the names that are), Michael Carroll, Lorcan Connor and an outstanding cameo from Niall O'Donnell were other players to standout. Donegal looked far from watertight at the back. On another day could have conceded 2 or 3 goals which is a worry. Looked susceptible to quick forward passes into the full forward line especially. Looking forward Kieran Gillespie will be a big loss against Dublin. If playing he would probably mark Con O'Callaghan. It would have being some match up with 2 of the best young players in their positions going head to head. In saying that Stephen McMenamin has being excellent for Donegal so is an able deputy. Roll on Saturday, like I said previously Dublin are very hard to gauge as Leinster was piss poor. But they won it at a saunter. The worry for them is the step up they will face where I see Donegal being more battle hardened at this stage. In saying that it is going to be a step up for Donegal especially facing a side that will in all likelihood present more attacking menace than what they have faced before possibly putting the full backline under pressure, one without the outstanding Gillespie.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 11/04/2017 12:42:32    1978328

Come on lads I'm not knocking the team I'm just stating their hardly great to watch. I fully expect it to be a Kerry & Donegal final and for it to be a close match.

Anyone else think Donegal were very physically developed? Jason McGee is some size lad for a minor last year.

TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 11/04/2017 13:11:20    1978349

Can the remaining 4 counties refrain from the sound byte comments between now and the weekend?

It is a step up for Galway, Dublin, Donegal and Kerry also.
A lot of this is on the day...for everyone.
Injury problems is what a squad is there for and a squad is the core of the team
We will leave out the ref as I think that most of this competition seems to be self regulating in terms of how the game is played. The game last night was full of running and had no stops.

Finally, beware the bookies and their pricing. For instance, Kerry were 14/1 to win the league before their home fixture against Tyrone. They were waiting on a result in Mayo which was a home fixture and they took their chance. The bookies dont always get it right.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 11/04/2017 13:25:23    1978357

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 11/04/2017 13:57:33    1978383

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2215 - 11/04/2017 13:59:00    1978385

They are a great bunch of lads but that running game isn't for everyone. I think it's fantastic, there was a brilliant team move that ended up with a Derry lad saving on the line, it was high paced off the shoulder hand passing and thrilling to watch. But again, not for everyone. It's our way of playing though so nice to see it coming back.

Would like to see a bit more variation although you did see a few kick passes into Connors and Brennan there last night as well.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 11/04/2017 14:23:13    1978398

I beg anyone to watch Niall O'Donnell for the time he came on and then argue that Donegal play football that is not great to watch. Still only in secondary school he gave a masterclass in his brief cameo role that was worth paying in for alone. Yes it was against a drunk punch Derry side down a man but his awareness of space and his opponents positioning, timing and passing was a joy to watch.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 11/04/2017 14:39:13    1978409

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 11/04/2017 14:41:08    1978410

I would also argue that if the Donegal lads were wearing different colours and from a different province would we be getting the same rhetoric. Amazing that a team who scores a combined 6-34 in 2 games are accused of not being great to watch. At least they cannot be accused of having old legs and too much mileage on the clocks.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 11/04/2017 14:42:54    1978413

Just wondering what Galway posters views are on the Kerry semi-final on Saturday? Would ye see yourselves as underdogs or do you reckon you have a good chance?

Kerry looked awesome in the Munster final but Cork were so poor, somebody was saying the Cork minors had actually beaten them in a challenge game a few days before.

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 11/04/2017 14:51:21    1978420

Belclare1 (Galway) - Posts: 1626 - 11/04/2017 14:56:48    1978423

greatpoint (USA) - Posts: 427 - 11/04/2017 15:07:23    1978430