keithlemon
County: Australia
Posts: 95

1437934
Have the game taped but thanks to people texting me the surprise result of the day the surprise is already gone. But before I press play, and not taking anything away from Monaghans victory, but was it a case that they simply dumped players back and hit Donegal on the counter? You need to be one super fit team to beat Donegal at their own game and you need your forwards to take their chances.
Be interesting to read some of the replies while I watch this
Ps Delighted I recorded it on BBC and not TV3, by the sound of things their coverage was muck again

Monaghan were the match of Donegal all over the field but especially in defence where they were magnificent. The Donegal full forward line were all poor & had enough chances from frees & play to be level but any result other than a Monaghan win would have been an injustice.

Had Neil Gallagher been on from the start & had Mark McHugh not gone off injured the who knows but nothing should take away from Monaghan's win.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 21/07/2013 20:55:01    1437950

just in the door from Clones. Well done Monaghan, we never were able to cope in that game, which you controlled all the way from start to finish. I hope our lads can get a wee bit of regrouping done I would like to think we can finish the year on a good performance, but this thread should b about monaghan and their first ulster championship in 25 years. enjoy it

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 21/07/2013 21:03:16    1437963

Well done and best wishes for the future.

foreverroyal (Meath) - Posts: 349 - 21/07/2013 21:11:23    1437985

Heartiest congratulations to Monaghan....the better team on the day and no excuses from this end. Enjoy the celebrations - fully deserved!

Lifford Gael (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 21/07/2013 21:14:41    1437988

Not forgetting the minor victory as well, some day for Monaghan football,its been a long time coming and no less deserved. Well done to all concerned.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 21/07/2013 21:17:21    1437991

Well done Monaghan . It's great to see a new team winning and I'm delighted for the older players who have suffered lots of disappointment. As Banty said earlier no chickens will be plucked and no mushrooms picked this week.

marita (None) - Posts: 469 - 21/07/2013 21:26:18    1438016

should of been a home match in ballybofey rather than a home match for monaghan. great result but like donegal 2012 starvation a huge factor delighted for paul findlay.

weebox (Tyrone) - Posts: 272 - 21/07/2013 21:29:16    1438023

Monaghan won the match but they didn't beat the system!!!

Sorry folks no offence but I wonder will Mr McHugh's words ring so hollow again

Congrats Monaghan, hard luck Donegal

NavyNBlue (Dublin) - Posts: 1357 - 21/07/2013 21:43:47    1438072

NavyNBlue
County: Dublin
Posts: 1072

1438072
Monaghan won the match but they didn't beat the system!!!

Sorry folks no offence but I wonder will Mr McHugh's words ring so hollow again

Congrats Monaghan, hard luck Donegal

Not so sure about that navy. Monaghan used the "system" themselves today blanket defence followed by fast counter.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 21/07/2013 21:51:48    1438106

Powerful performance and fully deserved. Monaghan have been building nicely for a while and they showed against Meath in the Division 3 final that they are a really decent side. Their workrate is phenomenal, they fear no one. and physically they are up there with any of the top sides; they will be no push over in the last 8..

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 21/07/2013 21:53:18    1438111

Hi guys,

Tactical analysis of Monaghan's stunning Ulster Final win here
http://action81.com/blog/?p=7479

Emmet

emmetryan (Dublin) - Posts: 154 - 22/07/2013 08:00:08    1438144

Well done Monaghan

LohansRedHelmet (Clare) - Posts: 2696 - 22/07/2013 09:17:11    1438180

So you could say that the system beat itself then Muckross?

keithlemon (Australia) - Posts: 920 - 22/07/2013 09:19:56    1438184

Big congratulations to Monaghan on a richly deserved win. I knew they'd go at it hammer and tongs but like a lot of people I thought that Donegal would prevail in the end. I'd say the craic was unbelievable in Monaghan Town last night. There already looked to be a massive crowd gathered for the Nathan Carter concert and the post match celebrations were certainly adding to the fervour. Great to see excitement like that and people thoroughly enjoying themselves in these dreary times.

On the game itself I won't attempt to make too many excuses for Donegal's performance. Monaghan reminded me of ourselves in the way we performed against Kerry and Cork last summer. The irony wasn't lost on me, believe me! It was so frustrating watching Donegal attacks repelled repeatedly, and Monaghan bursting forward at speed taking some great scores. I thought Dessie Mone was absolutely outstanding - his forward raids were a highlight of the game for me. The McManus brothers were superb aswell and big Corey did a fine job marshalling Murphy.

For ourselves it think the loss of Mark McHugh so early on really disrupted our whole game plan. He is a vital cog in the system and I don't think we have anyone else who can replicate what he does. It'll be an anxious wait to see if he'll be available for Laois.

Karl Lacey definitey wasn't up to Championship fitness. It was clear as day. He was missing tackles that he hasn't missed in about 10 years of football. It's no slight on him though, not a bit. Jim obviously felt he needed to play from the beginning but Monaghan's sheer intensity highlighted his lack of match practice.

Anyway, enough about us. Once again a massive congratulations to Monaghan. Thoroughly deserved after so many false dawns in the last 5-10 years. I'd say there will be some Monday clubs in oepration today!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9729 - 22/07/2013 09:28:55    1438193

Fair play to the Conallaigh. Its good to see you all so gracious in defeat.

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 22/07/2013 09:42:48    1438211

Well done to the Farney Army

An_Oifigeach (Meath) - Posts: 220 - 22/07/2013 10:02:25    1438238

Heartiest congratulations to Monaghan, ye fully deserved your victory yesterday and as painful as it was from a Donegal perspective, it was great to see a county starved of success, have such joy and euphoria. Thankfully we know that feeling well in Donegal over the last two years. Your hunger and intensity was first class. Best of luck for the rest of the championship.

LetterkennyMan (Donegal) - Posts: 393 - 22/07/2013 10:07:40    1438245

Well done Monaghan won all of the individual battles and they put in a great shift. Some boys on that panel have been about along time and deserve there Ulster title

tonto21 (Donegal) - Posts: 181 - 22/07/2013 10:10:45    1438255

I think the whole country is celebrating! Great to see Monaghan win and to show up the flaws in this Donegal side....from day one we all knew what Donegal was about, muscle and braun with a lack of natural footballing ability. We all wondered what would Donegal do if they went a few points behind? They couldnt just sit back as they usually do and try to spoil the game with negative tactics they would have to actually go and attack. Well done Monaghan, we salute you!

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 22/07/2013 10:15:16    1438264

Well done Monaghan, just shows the way to beat Donegal is to not play football either, if football is going this way, its a sad state of affairs, from watching the championship so far, its a joy to watch Mannion, Mc Caffrey, and Killkenny great your players playing football not the tripe served up yesterday.

kerryrowz (Kerry) - Posts: 833 - 22/07/2013 10:21:52    1438274