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Replying To shaggykev: "Excellent to get the win. Tyrone a hard nut to crack. Individually they were better but collectively we found a way to win. Think overall though it will cool chat about Sam itself. It should be noted winning Ulster used to mean you'd be 3 wins away from the holy grail but now we could still be 6 or 7 games away. However I think that winning Ulster will actually be essential if we want to sustain any possible chances of said holy grail. Win and you have top seed thereby avoid Kerry, Dublin and one of Mayo/Galway. Not sure if previous pairings are kept apart in groups as it would be a huge advantage to also avoid Derry and Tyrone too. You could end up with a group like Donegal, Louth, Roscommon & Cavan. 66% chance of getting either Louth or Clare so would make it odds in to qualify. Easier to top group and avoid a killer prelim qualifier and topping it likely to continue avoiding Kerry or Dublin to semi final. Lose it and chances of a group of death are high." Only repeat pairings of provincial finalists are avoided so we could well play Tyrone or Derry again in the groups NPadraigAbu (Donegal) - Posts: 44 - 28/04/2024 18:55:54 2541249 Link
Replying To shaggykev: "Excellent to get the win. Tyrone a hard nut to crack. Individually they were better but collectively we found a way to win. Think overall though it will cool chat about Sam itself. It should be noted winning Ulster used to mean you'd be 3 wins away from the holy grail but now we could still be 6 or 7 games away. However I think that winning Ulster will actually be essential if we want to sustain any possible chances of said holy grail. Win and you have top seed thereby avoid Kerry, Dublin and one of Mayo/Galway. Not sure if previous pairings are kept apart in groups as it would be a huge advantage to also avoid Derry and Tyrone too. You could end up with a group like Donegal, Louth, Roscommon & Cavan. 66% chance of getting either Louth or Clare so would make it odds in to qualify. Easier to top group and avoid a killer prelim qualifier and topping it likely to continue avoiding Kerry or Dublin to semi final. Lose it and chances of a group of death are high." But you could also get a group of one of Mayo/Galway, Derry (or even Armagh) and Cavan. That would be some reward for winning Ulster. Just using Donegal as a hypothetical example, let's say they win Ulster. Having to beat Derry, Tyrone and Armagh in Ulster and then to play Mayo, Derry and Cavan in a group, then Kerry and Dublin next is crazy. I wish it went back to the old school knockout approach myself. Well done Donegal today, a real battle with Tyrone which it always is. Armagh will be just the same. You can just look back to the previous 2 games we played them this year except they have a few men back in the fold since then. Will be a seriously close final, just like today's game. I'd say Armagh will be ever so slight favourites but wouldn't be surprised if the bookies had both teams priced around 4/5. FootballGuy (Donegal) - Posts: 230 - 28/04/2024 18:56:19 2541250 Link
Glad to get the win and pull it out of the fire, performance didn't meet the heights of last week but never anything easy against Tyrone. Hope Oisin Gallen can get more into this championship, he can be the difference in us making the leap to competing with your Dublins and Kerrys. On an aside the support today was absolutely excellent, completely outnumbered Tyrone and were in good voice, felt like our best support in quite a while. NPadraigAbu (Donegal) - Posts: 44 - 28/04/2024 19:48:28 2541268 Link
If everyone had to pick a team for armagh what would it be Patton Curran Mccole Moore Ban Mcgonagle Mchugh Mcgee Langan Mogan Thompon D obaoill S o d N o d Gallen Gaelicislife (Donegal) - Posts: 6 - 28/04/2024 20:05:52 2541275 Link
Feel like a broken record, but Curran & McCole were once again instrumental today. Although the attacking play hasn't fully clicked yet, the defence have comfortably won all their match-ups so far. The re-integration of McHugh and introduction of Moore has steeled our half-back line, and drastically cut the amount of overloads the full-back line has had to face. A far cry from last year. SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 396 - 28/04/2024 20:27:46 2541282 Link
Replying To Gaelicislife: "If everyone had to pick a team for armagh what would it be Patton Curran Mccole Moore Ban Mcgonagle Mchugh Mcgee Langan Mogan Thompon D obaoill S o d N o d Gallen" I think it would be hard to drop any of those lads in fairness. Ban will need to work his way back but once he is 100%, he has to play. Paddy would still have a huge part to play as well even if not on the 1st 15. We need to have subs just as good coming on and I think we are getting to that calibre with McBrearty, Brennan, McKelvey, the 2 Dohertys, McColgan, McMennamin etc. we need to have a fully fit squad to compete anyway. FootballGuy (Donegal) - Posts: 230 - 28/04/2024 20:48:32 2541287 Link
Replying To FootballGuy: "I think it would be hard to drop any of those lads in fairness. Ban will need to work his way back but once he is 100%, he has to play. Paddy would still have a huge part to play as well even if not on the 1st 15. We need to have subs just as good coming on and I think we are getting to that calibre with McBrearty, Brennan, McKelvey, the 2 Dohertys, McColgan, McMennamin etc. we need to have a fully fit squad to compete anyway." I agree 100% I think a squad is as important as the 15 starting I just think paddy mc has no legs anymore and he seems so slow play a little bit Gaelicislife (Donegal) - Posts: 6 - 28/04/2024 21:12:32 2541290 Link
Replying To FootballGuy: "I think it would be hard to drop any of those lads in fairness. Ban will need to work his way back but once he is 100%, he has to play. Paddy would still have a huge part to play as well even if not on the 1st 15. We need to have subs just as good coming on and I think we are getting to that calibre with McBrearty, Brennan, McKelvey, the 2 Dohertys, McColgan, McMennamin etc. we need to have a fully fit squad to compete anyway." Totally agree Ban can't walk straight back into a winning team. Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 297 - 28/04/2024 21:26:48 2541297 Link
Good win didn't look good for us when Tyrone went three up. But the boys battled bravely. Brilliant to see mc Cole get the equaliser. What a player he's turned out to be. No disrespect to Mulraney who was good but hopefully Patton is fit for final. A few points from today mc brearty should be used as an impact sub. The o Donnells are the real deal, we need more from play off gallen . And finally langan is still not the player he was but hopefully he'll show his class in the final. Another wee thing very surprised to see o baoill being substituted straight after scoring. . Anyway well done Jim and the lads. rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2419 - 28/04/2024 21:36:20 2541304 Link
Replying To Gaelicislife: "I agree 100% I think a squad is as important as the 15 starting I just think paddy mc has no legs anymore and he seems so slow play a little bit" Your right if he has no legs I wudnt be starting him. rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2419 - 28/04/2024 22:15:41 2541318 Link
Great result to fight back and get over the line against Tyrone, it was a tough game and the younger players would have learnt more from that game than the Derry game. Young Moore had a battle with a very physical Cathal McShane, but those battles are needed because Armagh will bring much of the same. I think the 1st half was tough for our inside forwards today because of how deep Tyrone were defending,especially from Donegal kick outs.Patrick McBrearty is still a scoring forward, and brings physicality in the inside forward line, so he has still plenty to offer. He's still not 100% after that last injury. I think Farah needs to take his man on more and ask the defenders questions, every defenders nightmare. If you look at the majority of Donegal scorers today from play, they were all running at defenders and taking them on. And also good to see 11 different scorers. Interesting substitutions, McBrearty and O'Baoill off and back on again. Doherty and Brennan, on and off and back on again. The_viewer (Donegal) - Posts: 7 - 29/04/2024 00:12:16 2541340 Link
Great win in the end but was a tough watch at times, especially the first half. I thought Tyrone were very good, they shored up their defence from the previous weekend when they looked very open. Definitely want to avoid both Tyrone and Derry in the league stages of the qualifiers, very good sides. Our shooting was a poor enough in the first half, none of them were easy but you would expect us to nail more of those long range efforts. Credit to the Tyrone defenders, they put serious pressure on our shooters. At half time it wasn't looking good but our second half performance was brilliant, twice coming from 3 points down to level. In extra time we looked the better team. I'd say the extra day rest and Tyrone playing extra time against Cavan last week helped our cause. Shocking that they can't have two weeks between games. In many ways this game was a better win than beating Derry as everything went our way in that game. This was a test of our character and we passed with flying colours. Our full back line has been immense, Mark Curran reminds me of Paddy McGrath. Niall and Shane excellent again, great to have them back. Jason McGee, DOB and Ryan had a great second half when we really needed it. We are predominantly a running team and it's difficult for whoever plays in the full forward line. They are being asked to track runners and tackle. Oisin and Paddy will come good I think but its a bit of slog for them at the minute, fans should bear that in mind before criticizing. Was great to see Paddy fire over that last point. The team are giving it absolutely everything, we can ask no more as fans. You can really see a bond forming between the fans, Jim and the players. It's probably going to be a similar type of game against Armagh in the final. Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1880 - 29/04/2024 11:31:22 2541425 Link
I think our squad depth was essential in getting over the line yesterday. Even though Doherty and brennan and mcbrearty were brought on and off multiple times, I thought Aaron Doherty and Jeaic McKelvey did very well when they came on. Great to see McColgan back in the squad. Very nervey game. Its great to be able to win when we're far from our best and when our number 1 forward is misfiring. The spread of scorers is very encouraging. Patton is a big loss. Mulreany did well but we get so much scores and possession from Pattons kickouts. Was surprised Mulreany didn't kick a few of the long distance frees? If Mulreany plays again in the final I think he'll do better and the experience of this game will stand to him. High_and_wide (Donegal) - Posts: 77 - 29/04/2024 11:43:19 2541431 Link
Replying To High_and_wide: "I think our squad depth was essential in getting over the line yesterday. Even though Doherty and brennan and mcbrearty were brought on and off multiple times, I thought Aaron Doherty and Jeaic McKelvey did very well when they came on. Great to see McColgan back in the squad. Very nervey game. Its great to be able to win when we're far from our best and when our number 1 forward is misfiring. The spread of scorers is very encouraging. Patton is a big loss. Mulreany did well but we get so much scores and possession from Pattons kickouts. Was surprised Mulreany didn't kick a few of the long distance frees? If Mulreany plays again in the final I think he'll do better and the experience of this game will stand to him." He started making his way up to hit one or two of the long range ones more than once and was told to head back. I found that interesting. I'm pretty sure the very last free he was coming up to take it and McHugh told him to go back, he played it short to Langan and that's where Paddy's final score came from. A word on Paddy as well. He wasn't at the races in the first half, a really tough injury and I think it's still playing on him, and the style of game was very tough for inside forwards too. But when the fat is in the fire, he sails that point over - he was demanding the ball as well, he wanted it, put it on his shoulders and nailed it. Proper captain stuff. And just to talk about Mattie Donnelly on the Tyrone side, what a performance he had, we found him near impossible to get a handle on at times. If Philly McMahon was insisting on giving MOTM to a Tyrone man, I don't understand how he didn't give it to Donnelly. Will be some occasion now in 2 weeks time, Armagh always well supported, great football people and there's a buzz in Donegal again so will be a big crowd as well, tickets will be hard got I imagine CCFabu (Donegal) - Posts: 102 - 29/04/2024 12:02:44 2541441 Link
Donegal slight favourites at 5/6 for the final in early odds. Thought Tyrone at 2/1 was badly priced, think Armagh at 7/5 is even worse. To me I think it's a 40/60 game in favour of Armagh. McGeeney's teams have given McGuinness major scares over the years, and they almost knocked us out in the QF in 2014. Donaghy was instrumental in McGuinness's last Championship loss, and it must be noted that Fitzmaurice won the tactical battle that day. I think very highly of Donaghy, and although McGeeney's teams have a habit of coming up short, I think his teams are prepared excellently. I expect McGeeney and Donaghy to have done their homework and highlight key weaknesses in McGuinness's plans which Tyrone (and Derry to a lesser extent) did them a favour in re-exposing. It will be a one-point game, at the moment I'm swinging to Armagh. Back the draw. SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 396 - 29/04/2024 13:01:47 2541463 Link
Tactics aside i think are 15 will b stronger than armaghs , i thibk patton is essential although mulreany did decent apart from a few kick outs , mckeeney will have a plan i think they will target ryan mchugh as he is our vital cog , would i b wrong in saying that armagh are better suited for us to play then tyrone was or derry Gaelicislife (Donegal) - Posts: 6 - 29/04/2024 13:36:14 2541479 Link
It was a tight game as expected, but I was a bit frustrated by the performance at times, particularly in the first half and even halfway through the 2nd half.. However we only had 1 week to prepare and this is a new look Tyrone team with no settled system of play yet, so it was hard to gauge match ups or exploit weaknesses. While we might have had 11 scorers, I was frustrated with the number of wide's, similar to the Derry game and something that needs to be addressed. Like the 4 goals against Derry glossed over that we only scored 11 points and hit a lot of wide's. Armagh will be stronger than when we met in the Division 2 final and they don't cough up goals easily, so our point scoring needs to be better. On a positive note, we got over another tight battle and that will stand to this team, we never gave up and clawed our way back into it and that aspect was very impressive. Armagh are an absolute beast of a team, I expect they will be favourites going into this regardless of Division 2 final. Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1123 - 29/04/2024 13:37:32 2541481 Link
There was a big jump in support for Donegal over the two games. Some difference in traffic around Nixon's corner. And as much as you'd like more general support when times are a bit tougher it was fantastic to win the game and see all the children on the field at the end. It creates a real bond and there will be some young girls and boys hooked to Donegal and Gaelic football after it. It's just great to see that buzz again. The players and management were very good with their time to the fans and the media. Donegal has a very large sports media presence and it can't be that easy. You got a real sense of perspective from the players, knowing about their shot inefficiency particularly in the first half and they know they have plenty to work on. There will be a nice two week lead time and hopefully the buzz will be created around the county in the schools in the lead up to the final. Up Donegal. Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 701 - 29/04/2024 13:38:31 2541482 Link
After the game yesterday I was thinking that last year wasn't a total write off. Mark Curran got a start last year and hasn't looked back. Caolan McColgan is another who got experience last year and is a great player for the future if he can stay injury free. The other positive about last year was Daire O'Baoil getting an extended run in the team and nailing his place. Now I'm not saying we don't need Jim at the helm lol. Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1880 - 29/04/2024 14:02:28 2541494 Link
Replying To SurelyToGod: "Donegal slight favourites at 5/6 for the final in early odds. Thought Tyrone at 2/1 was badly priced, think Armagh at 7/5 is even worse. To me I think it's a 40/60 game in favour of Armagh. McGeeney's teams have given McGuinness major scares over the years, and they almost knocked us out in the QF in 2014. Donaghy was instrumental in McGuinness's last Championship loss, and it must be noted that Fitzmaurice won the tactical battle that day. I think very highly of Donaghy, and although McGeeney's teams have a habit of coming up short, I think his teams are prepared excellently. I expect McGeeney and Donaghy to have done their homework and highlight key weaknesses in McGuinness's plans which Tyrone (and Derry to a lesser extent) did them a favour in re-exposing. It will be a one-point game, at the moment I'm swinging to Armagh. Back the draw." How long has Kieran Donaghey been part of the Armagh backroom team now? Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1123 - 29/04/2024 14:07:02 2541497 Link