With regards to Donegals credentials I'd be more concerned now than I was a month ago. Since our success last year teams have seen to possibilities of playing a defensive system and more teams are trying this out now. Our toughest two games in Ulster for the past two years came against Tyrone who played a defensive system and although we deserved to beat them on both occasions teams like Cork would have better personnel so carry out such a system. We really struggled against Cork on Sat night even with 13 of our championship team, we played right into Corks hands by delaying the long ball to Murphy in the first half then in the second we started playing the long ball but he was completely isolated with no one moving into the breakdown area making it very easy for Corks defence.

I know Mc Guinness says we are still trying things and I think we're probably where we were this time last year but last year we didn't have Tyrone on the first day out and our first performance of the championship last year wasn't great against Cavan. With Tyrone beating Dublin, albeit a weaker Dublin their confidence will be building and although I still think we have a better team than Tyrone I think it's very much who is hitting the best form coming into that game and at present I'd say thats Tyrone!!

Joe Brolly in his words of wisdom said "All things being equal the team with the best system will win" Donegal had the best system last year, but if other teams copy that system it will be down to who has the players to best implement the system and the individual talents of all the players as a collective. I think we are certainly in the mix with 4 - 5 other teams and we always knew it was going to be difficult this season but I am certainly feeling that we need to up it by 20 - 30% by championship time against Tyrone.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1686 - 19/03/2013 09:56:55    1351787

Tir Conaill Abu
County: Donegal
Posts: 525

1351787
Joe Brolly in his words of wisdom said "All things being equal the team with the best system will win" Donegal had the best system last year, but if other teams copy that system it will be down to who has the players to best implement the system and the individual talents of all the players as a collective. I think we are certainly in the mix with 4 - 5 other teams and we always knew it was going to be difficult this season but I am certainly feeling that we need to up it by 20 - 30% by championship time against Tyrone.

Your comment or fears would be valid if Donegal were to remain static with last years system.
But I think come championship, you will see a further evolved Donegal side. They look further ahead this year than last, and look particularly more comfortable on the ball. They are also kick passing more than last season.

Last season they staggered through the league, which is why i got odds of 18/1 for them to win Sam last year ( 60euro bet, happy days ).
Yet the team we seen in the Championship was a very different animal, completely different to what was witnessed in the National League. I think they will beat Tyrone in that opening match, and they could be very hard to stop if they get on a roll. Just don't be expecting them to become favourites for the All Ireland.

Donegal will be underdogs this year, no doubt behind Dublin and Cork for most of the Championship season. This may work to their advantage.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3057 - 19/03/2013 16:28:09    1352127

Loss of Colm O Neil will put Cork back the pecking order

corkrebel (Cork) - Posts: 105 - 19/03/2013 18:21:26    1352233

Dublin are the ones to beat, followed closely behind by Cork. Donegal, lucky to make it out of Ulster this year. Most teams have a plan for Jimmy at this stage.

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1779 - 20/03/2013 11:34:45    1352533

ahsure.
County: Galway
Posts: 686

Most teams have a plan for Jimmy at this stage.

Haha, good man ashure. Jimmy's master plan this year is to only play those teams who haven't a plan for him yet. Devilishly cunning.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5030 - 20/03/2013 11:42:50    1352543

Joe Brolly in his words of wisdom said "All things being equal the team with the best system will win"

A nice little ditty, but it ignores the fact that if all things were equal they wouldnt have gone looking for that system in the first place...

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 20/03/2013 11:53:55    1352553

I fear for Brolly's safety if he ever comes across you TheMaster! :P

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10370 - 20/03/2013 12:05:03    1352565

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 6234

1352553
Joe Brolly in his words of wisdom said "All things being equal the team with the best system will win"

A nice little ditty, but it ignores the fact that if all things were equal they wouldnt have gone looking for that system in the first place...
__________________
+1

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 20/03/2013 12:12:19    1352580

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 6236

1352553
Joe Brolly in his words of wisdom said "All things being equal the team with the best system will win"

A nice little ditty, but it ignores the fact that if all things were equal they wouldnt have gone looking for that system in the first place...

Surely not Master. If all other things are equal then each team will try to find something to give them an edge, hence the "system".

"All systems are equal but some systems are more equal than others"

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5030 - 20/03/2013 13:04:24    1352655

MuckrossHead
County: Donegal
Posts: 719

Haha, good man ashure. Jimmy's master plan this year is to only play those teams who haven't a plan for him yet. Devilishly cunning.

------

I'll be seeing you in the first round of the qualifiers, until then, keep planing Jimmy!

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1779 - 20/03/2013 13:45:49    1352686

dublin need to keep b brogan fit.they will go far if they do.i have a sneaky feelin for mayo...horan is nobodys fool and he will erdicate any weaknesses from their play.

kavvie (Clare) - Posts: 506 - 20/03/2013 16:27:59    1352841

ahsure.
County: Galway
Posts: 689

1352686
MuckrossHead
County: Donegal
Posts: 719

Haha, good man ashure. Jimmy's master plan this year is to only play those teams who haven't a plan for him yet. Devilishly cunning.

------

I'll be seeing you in the first round of the qualifiers, until then, keep planing Jimmy!

Is he a carpenter now? Is there nothing this man can't do?

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5030 - 20/03/2013 17:14:37    1352880

Surely this is Mayo's year!

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 20/03/2013 18:24:11    1352917

ahsure.
County: Galway
Posts: 689

1352533 Dublin are the ones to beat, followed closely behind by Cork. Donegal, lucky to make it out of Ulster this year. Most teams have a plan for Jimmy at this stage.

Tyrone are the ones to beat,folllowed by cork donegal mayo and dublin.

superbluedub (Dublin) - Posts: 2901 - 20/03/2013 20:31:28    1353017

DLlegends
County: Donegal
Posts: 134

1348449 1. Dublin A
2. Dublin B
3. Donegal
4. Cork
5. Mayo

The latter two only because they have an easy run into the latter stages. Young Jack Mc Caffery, what a find for the dubs. Quality half back.

Jack Mc Caffery is a quality half back,but like last saturday night v tyrone ,i fear he will get special attention from teams this summer.

superbluedub (Dublin) - Posts: 2901 - 20/03/2013 20:39:13    1353024

I would have Cork infront of them all except for the loss of Colm O'Neill - now out for the year. A huge loss. Every Springtime, before the green shoots appear on the frozen pitches, we had the Dubs asking who were they going to meet in the A.I. Final. That was when they had not a chance. This year they are much quieter which probably means that they now believe they have a very good chance.!!!

nevergivein (Roscommon) - Posts: 115 - 21/03/2013 11:36:08    1353269

Colm O'Neill is as big a loss to Cork as Murphy, Brogan or Gooch would be to others.

He was the player who really caused huge problems to us last year & it is terrible to see him out.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5030 - 21/03/2013 12:03:12    1353306

Surely not Master. If all other things are equal then each team will try to find something to give them an edge, hence the "system".
"All systems are equal but some systems are more equal than others"


If all things were equal, then donegal would have an equal amount of wins as kerry, prior to changing their system. Do they?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 21/03/2013 12:06:23    1353315

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 6257

If all things were equal, then donegal would have an equal amount of wins as kerry, prior to changing their system. Do they?

No they don't. Kerry's system was better.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5030 - 21/03/2013 12:28:14    1353337

this has to be the most pointless thread ever, talking about only 3 possible winners at this time of the year.
Does ANYONE REMEMBER 2009? ANYONE?

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 21/03/2013 12:47:41    1353349