Was a great win for us at Pairc Esler
over Armagh and a very good
performance. The match against
Monaghan will be a much tougher
task. Are the Farney county heading
to the Ulster or can Down cause an
upset??

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1700 - 16/06/2017 13:16:04    2000324

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 16/06/2017 13:30:34    2000331

Down were quite impressive against Armagh, unrecognisable from last year. Eamon burns has done a very creditable job so far. Mcgeeneys team were shambolic on the day all the same.
Darragh ohanlon and caolan mooney are a big threat raiding from half back. Jerome johnston and harrison are very hard to handle on a good day. A player that has surprised me is shay millar. He looks a most 'un-Down like' half forward yet everything he did against Armagh was effective and he was everywhere at once. Mckernans fitness will be a big factor for them.
All told if MOR works on the right match-ups in defence Monaghan will have the edge. Mccarron and at least 1 more other forward need to step up too.
But as our more illustrious neighbours to the west keep reminding us, you cant ever 100% rely on Monaghan to get the job done. I am still inclined to agree with them.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1183 - 16/06/2017 14:48:36    2000373

Monaghan easy .

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 16/06/2017 18:24:14    2000449

Think Monaghan will win well. Down had a great win in first round but a poor Armagh were only 2 points off them and Armagh folk would reckon they didn't show up at all for one reason or another.

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 16/06/2017 21:25:52    2000496

I heard one commentator indicating today that monaghan will be tougher test for tyrone in the final. Monaghan did thrash Down by 19 points last year and as someone already pointed out down stumbled past a poor Armagh team in the first round. It feels like this match is a bit of an inconvenience for Monaghan. MOR will do his best to prepare his charges against complacency but it is difficult when you are such overwhelming superior to your opponents...

downtothecore (Down) - Posts: 349 - 18/06/2017 19:52:59    2001337

Down have 5 Sam's...... We (Monaghan) have 0...... respect where its due!.... NO, we d'ont underestimate Down ..... never , ever have!

Monaghan Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 443 - 18/06/2017 21:31:55    2001412

PeggyGordon (Antrim) - Posts: 13 - 18/06/2017 22:09:48    2001443

I'd like to see Down get back to being serious contenders again, always liked their style of play, I think though that whoever wins this doesn't really matter,Tyrone are back and I think they will be unstoppable come the Ulster final.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3170 - 18/06/2017 23:53:20    2001513

Hopefully Down will win this cos they usually put it up to Tyrone.

Killarney.87 (Tipperary) - Posts: 2513 - 19/06/2017 00:57:12    2001541

Unfortunately what happened in Clones yesterday puts our game very much in the shadows. Almost 23 thousand people were in Clones yesterday on a very hot day. At our game against cavan there were less than 8 thousand. I suppose there was so much of a mystery about yesterday? Were the new look Donegal squad going to put the final nail in the Tyrone coffin? Or as happened were Tyrone going to bring something new to the table and show their talents. We only had to wait 15 minutes into the game until the first surge up the field and it had happened without anyone there to cut the ribbon.
We need a lot more support on Sunday as this could be a banana skin.

border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 906 - 19/06/2017 11:46:42    2001701

Iamlegion666 (Monaghan) - Posts: 285 - 19/06/2017 19:08:42    2002071

Nobody likes a cute hoor so I'm not going to pretend to be one. All due respect to Down and they're a great footballing county, but with the way both teams are at the moment I'd be disappointed if we didn't win with a few to spare. A lot of room for improvement after the last day but I doubt we'll be as wasteful in attack again.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 937 - 19/06/2017 21:44:52    2002165

Monaghan are playing at a different level and should pull away for a 5/6 point win in the end. Down will want to show considerable improvement from last years defeat so they can take something into the back door.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1792 - 20/06/2017 13:30:03    2002507

I always believe Down can win any game but it would have to start with sorting out the full back line. If we cough up the same amount of goal chances as against Armagh, you just know McManus will bury them.

Suas Sios (None) - Posts: 1558 - 20/06/2017 16:01:53    2002625

IrishGael3 (USA) - Posts: 1092 - 20/06/2017 16:25:26    2002642

Have a feeling we might need to play better than first two matches to win on Saturday night and think we will. Down will be out to prove a point after last year. Didn't think them great value Armagh but important thing is they got the win and that will do a lot for confidence. We should just remember last time counties met at this stage. Ulster semi finals are rarely a walk in the park cavan took this tyrone side everyone raving about to a replay last year. Monaghan by three.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1880 - 20/06/2017 20:49:10    2002781

Monaghan Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 443 - 22/06/2017 19:37:47    2003715

I hope Down can manage to win this, though I don't think it's going to matter as regards the Anglo Celt, Tyrone have shown they are back and I can't see anyone stopping them,they might even go all the way and win Sam this year, not much hope of Monaghan or Down doing that.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3170 - 22/06/2017 19:48:28    2003717

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 937 - 22/06/2017 19:52:15    2003719