Donegal will be strong favourites for this interesting Tie Saturday week, But can Longford pull yet another Away, Qualifier speciality against stronger opposition? Have to say I didn't hold out much hope beforehand against Louth but I was pleasantly surprised. Im sure Donegal will be hurting after the Tyrone game, what will they come out of the traps?

LongfordSham (Longford) - Posts: 106 - 22/06/2017 13:05:23    2003511

I give them a chance. I don't think they will but I wouldn't write them off completely. Not just yet anyway. They where immense in beating Monaghan last year in a huge shock. So they know how to pull off shocks..

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 22/06/2017 13:23:33    2003522

LongfordSham (Longford) - Posts: 106 - 22/06/2017 13:37:49    2003531

Longford love beating Ulster teams in the qualifiers. Stull

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 22/06/2017 13:43:34    2003536

Longford love beating Ulster teams in the qualifiers. Still though I can't see them beating Donegal here, especially seeing as they've 2 weeks to regroup after the Tyrone defeat. But Longford will give it a good rattle.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 22/06/2017 13:44:43    2003538

Longford gave Cork a torrid time in last year's qualifiers.Beat Louth well this year. Are very difficult to beat at home. Donegal's home advantage should help them swing through though.

Rockies (Cork) - Posts: 947 - 22/06/2017 13:52:31    2003546

I think the 2 weeks that Donegal have to prepare is a big help. If you remember last year Monaghan had only a week between games due to a replay against Donegal. It's always difficult coming from a defeat in the provincial championship so Donegal could be vulnerable. I would still expect Donegal to win but it certainly won't be easy.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1874 - 22/06/2017 14:07:58    2003558

Very wary about this as I've said on the Donegal page. We need to be fully focussed on Longford and in that respect I think the extra week will be a benefit to the lads to get their heads right. I hope anyway - we were very lacklustre in the first half against Antrim and that didn't improve against Tyrone so hopefully that's addressed now. There's also the Ballybofey factor - the boys really enjoy playing on their home patch and we've a proud record to defend.

It's a good test for us to see where we're at. I don't think we're as bad as Tyrone made us look anyway so hopefully we can get the win here and try and put a run together for the summer. I don't think you'll see too many changes from the team that lost to Tyrone to be honest.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 22/06/2017 14:14:31    2003560

I hope for a good performance and improvement. If we do our best and lose then we have nothing to cry about. Longford are a tidy outfit

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 22/06/2017 14:42:22    2003574

Without wanting to sound patronising in anyway, Longford are a great example to 'smaller' counties in the way they conduct themselves. They have a small population but consistently produce quality players and teams that can compete strongly with any opposition, more so in the qualifiers.

One of my abiding memories of watching football over the years is seeing Paul Barden going on a solo run in Ballybofey near the side line in the 03 qualifier. Watching him move away from Ray Sweeney, soloing a good 70 yards was a sight to behold, He was a brilliant footballer as well.

I think that tradition will not be lost on Rory Gallagher and the players. I think we'll need to be tuned in from the get go and not allow Longford to build up a head of steam or any confidence. Because make no mistake about it, they've proven in the past that if they get their tails up they don't care for reputation. If we can be professional about it, I think we'll win it by 5 or 6 points.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9132 - 22/06/2017 14:52:47    2003586

If we had all the players on the panel that should be there,the players that won't play for a RG team that is, we would be fit to give anyone a rattle, without them we are just average and could maybe beat Longford if everything goes well but we are going nowhere major with the current set up.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2746 - 22/06/2017 19:45:30    2003716

Longford love beating Ulster teams in the qualifiers. Still though I can't see them beating Donegal here, especially seeing as they've 2 weeks to regroup after the Tyrone defeat. But Longford will give it a good rattle.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts:534 - 22/06/2017 13:44:43

I agree that the 2 week gap will make this more unlikely, I thought Monaghan were caught off guard because they didn't have time to focus and maybe underestimated Longford. And Longford are well known as a team who tool up for the Qualifiers and are pumped for them, while most Ulster sides set out thinking they can actually win Ulster, and are seriously deflated when they are knocked out and struggle to pick themselves up.

Still this low intensity Donegal worry me, they were a bit flat against Antrim too and could've conceded a few goals early in that game. During the Jim McGuinness era, few wandered free inside the D area without getting clattered. But if this Donegal click, they have unlimited potential and greater scoring ability than Jim's teams.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1110 - 23/06/2017 00:19:28    2003816

If we had all the players on the panel that should be there,the players that won't play for a RG team that is, we would be fit to give anyone a rattle, without them we are just average and could maybe beat Longford if everything goes well but we are going nowhere major with the current set up.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts:36 - 22/06/2017 19:45:30

Aye missing Leo McLoone, Anthony Thompson and the mercurial Odhran MacNiallais this season, players who should be in the starting line-up or thereabouts.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1110 - 23/06/2017 00:25:04    2003818

Donegal win..with a bit to spare..

GGdub (Dublin) - Posts: 260 - 23/06/2017 18:47:11    2004136

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 23/06/2017 20:40:58    2004158

Were those pictures from Ballybofey of flooding the actual county ground? If so, what shape is it in at the moment? Playable?

LongfordSham (Longford) - Posts: 106 - 29/06/2017 11:42:13    2007362

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 29/06/2017 13:59:00    2007460

greatpoint (USA) - Posts: 427 - 29/06/2017 15:17:42    2007505

LongfordSham (Longford) - Posts: 106 - 29/06/2017 16:15:24    2007544

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1874 - 01/07/2017 13:17:10    2008311