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Donegal's big break through was beating Tyrone in the 2011 Ulster Semi Final a team full of All Ireland winners from their 3 triumphs in 03,05 and 08.I know Tyrone were in decline at that stage but whether Derry are better or not has still to be proven.Much of the optimism around Derry is based around their league campaign which is not always a great barometer.Granted they were unlucky not to beat Kerry last year but you could argue that they were lucky enough to beat Armagh in the Ulster Final.Time will tell.
gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1143 - 05/04/2024 12:53:51 2535808 Link 0 |
Thinking of matchups. Do we only man mark McGuigan and Lachlan Murray or is it worth assigning players to watch some of their defenders too? Derry get huge amounts of scores through their defenders. The likes of Mogan would have the speed and tenacity to track Conor McCluskey or McEvoy. Who else? High_and_wide (Donegal) - Posts: 84 - 05/04/2024 13:17:25 2535813 Link 0 |
That's one reading of it. Another way to see it is that Derry have won two Ulsters in a row but both after extra time. They've lost 2 All Ireland semi finals in a row. They've won the league but ask Mayo how their summer went last year after winning a terrific league final against Galway. Derry are brilliant, absolutely don't get me wrong. So many parts to their team and style that is massively likeable, terrific personnel. Tactically smart. Great spine to the team. Look really motivated to get over the line this year. But we can come in and bust the Derry hype train in half. Please God. We have to land with a performance of such intensity that they don't quite believe it. It's theirs to lose in anyone's mind, they're at home, they've the momentum. But Jim is a genius. We have that in our corner and we have a very good group of players with a point to prove. So it's a really interesting game.
Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1403 - 05/04/2024 15:41:42 2535859 Link 1 |
The thing is though it feels like Derry are heading into the peak years now. The first semi-final against Galway came too soon. Last year against Kerry we lacked the ruthlessness to finish the job. Yes we won the league on penalties but performances have been very strong and we have unearthed some excellent young players to supplement what was already there. Baker, Murphy and Gilmore to name a few. I have to be honest and say I wanted to avoid Donegal out of all the teams in Ulster. In Ballybofey it could well have been a real tussle. At Celtic Park though with a full crowd and everyone bang at it after a great league campaign- I would be surprised if Donegal managed to pull it off, Jim McGuinness or not. Jazzyjeff (Derry) - Posts: 212 - 05/04/2024 16:05:55 2535869 Link 1 |
I'd have to agree and I think the bookies have it priced right, one thing about us though is we have massively underperformed in recent years whether through managerial mistakes or injuries to key men and the whole mess at county board level in the background. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3173 - 05/04/2024 18:49:27 2535908 Link 0 |
I wouldn't agree that Derry are a better team than any in Ulster that Donegal met in Jim's last stint as Donegal Manager. Tyrone especially had a great team. Derry were very fortunate to win last year's Ulster Championship. They probably have improved further but time will tell. The fact that we have to play them in Celtic Park is the main reason not to be optimistic of a Donegal victory. It will be interesting to see how we perform against one of the form teams in the country in their own back yard. We shall certainly know how far away we are from the top teams. It is at least a 3 year project so I hope supporters have patience. Maybe Derry are peaking too early as it's practically impossible to remain at such a high level from now until August. That is why Dublin and Kerry have such a huge advantage in the race for Sam. Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 470 - 05/04/2024 18:51:07 2535909 Link 0 |
It's interesting that the Derry team will be very close to the team that played last year. Benny herron has retired, lachlan murray will start in his place and he is developing very well this year as is McEvoy. Mckindless looks the only doubt. If he's fit then they've a decision to make at the back. The rest is very straight forward. Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 800 - 05/04/2024 19:58:09 2535917 Link 0 |
I heard the same just before Christmas but I took with a pinch of salt. Maybe our Mayo man has some intel. However I did notice a few weeks ago when Murphy was doing co com with the BBC on one of the Donegal league games he was asked to interview Jim after the game by one of the presenters. He all of a sudden became very coy and it didn't happen. Maybe is that why? It certainly wouldn't surprise me but pure speculation right now. We don't have to go too far back to see something similar with the Dubs.
panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2849 - 05/04/2024 20:24:07 2535920 Link 1 |
Hi Lockjaw: What price success. Coin easier got when a team going well. Derry basking in the sun, Portugal I'm hearing not Spain as I was initially told. They will be well tanned on the 20th.
AudiMan (Donegal) - Posts: 683 - 06/04/2024 21:46:46 2536111 Link 0 |
These trips to Spain or Portugal are grand, but it's likely they will have to come to play the game in a soggy and windy Celtic Park. SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 763 - 07/04/2024 10:55:14 2536159 Link 0 |
Yeah they will have the Vitamin D topped up anyway. Hopefully we can take them down a peg or two. A big task but not impossible. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9734 - 07/04/2024 11:15:17 2536164 Link 0 |
Hard to find today's results from all-county league games on website. Same old story by the looks of it. ryan (Donegal) - Posts: 748 - 07/04/2024 18:07:48 2536261 Link 0 |
It is very difficult to predict our starting 15 for the Derry game but I'll give it a go. I am assuming that Ban, Conor O Donnell and Caolan Ward will not make it and McCole, Ryan and Paddy will be fit. Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1906 - 08/04/2024 10:47:42 2536498 Link 0 |
Mc Colgan starts. Derry have a lot of backs we have to keep an eye on!
TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1208 - 08/04/2024 11:08:57 2536508 Link 0 |
Some hammering for Termon against Buncrana yesterday. Big statement of intent from the Inishowen side. New favourites for the Intermediate Championship? ballboy101 (Donegal) - Posts: 225 - 08/04/2024 12:13:56 2536536 Link 0 |
I wrote a post Friday regarding Jim's presser last week but obviously deemed too inflammatory for here. Anyways it's worth watching. He makes a lot of good points in relation to provincial championships, changes made for the sake of it and how everything is so financially driven. There was a piece about the Munster and Leinster championships last night and of course there is a Kerry man and a Dub presenting it...... nothing impartial there. panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2849 - 08/04/2024 13:05:30 2536569 Link 3 |
Click 'Fix/Res' and u get a full list of the games played for the last few weeks in all divisions, with the most recent games shown first. On that screen you have the option to view all results or pick a specific division to view. I don't think it could be any easier.
greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 623 - 08/04/2024 13:49:11 2536590 Link 0 |
I found on my old android phone that its hard to navigate but on my laptop it is great. It is definitely an improvement.
Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1906 - 08/04/2024 15:50:22 2536640 Link 0 |
McColgan starts because Derry have backs to keep an eye on?
SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 452 - 08/04/2024 16:20:36 2536656 Link 0 |
I'd guess McFadden starts for McGee, but otherwise if all fit then i'd expect that to be the team yeah. With those doubts in mind, it's hard to work out what you do. I'd expect Mogan to fill McHugh's berth, with McColgan and the two Doherty's each putting forward strong cases for inclusion. Also could see a full championship debut for Luke McGlynn. Only 8 nailed-on first-choice players that are 100% available next weekend (Moore, NOD, SOD etc. nailed-on with injuries in mind): Patton, Curran, Ó Baoill, McGonagle, Langan, Thompson, Mogan, Farrah SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 452 - 08/04/2024 17:11:32 2536670 Link 0 |