its funny to see the Donegal lads talking down meath, only a few months ago meath should've beaten Donegal in the league only because of a couple of refereeing decisions it ended in a draw. Donegal are nowhere near the team they were in 2012 and I would be very confident that if meath were to meet Donegal in the quarter final we would win.

Now don't get me wrong I think Meath are actually a good side and will do well this year and would be a tough draw in a quarter final for sure and will at least give Dublin a good run in leinster. But beware reading anything into league games. Jack O'Connor said after Donegal won AI in 2012 that before their quarter final in Croke Park he was very confident they would beat Donegal because they had beaten them 2-16 to 1-8 in the league in Killarney that spring. Look what happened then in August. League and championship = chalk and cheese

supporter (Donegal) - Posts: 205 - 04/07/2014 16:32:31    1613845

meathalltheway
County: Meath
Posts: 726

1613829
its funny to see the Donegal lads talking down meath, only a few months ago meath should've beaten Donegal in the league only because of a couple of refereeing decisions it ended in a draw. Donegal are nowhere near the team they were in 2012 and I would be very confident that if meath were to meet Donegal in the quarter final we would win.

I don't talk down any team. Meath are a proud footballing county with many's a good player. But if you're basing your conclusions on Donegal's league campaign then I'm afraid you're a wee bit wide ofF the mark. I would be quietly confident of our chances if Donegal were to meet Meath in this year's QF.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9774 - 04/07/2014 16:42:50    1613851

Naysayer
County: Antrim
Posts: 657

1613762
S Goldrick is of course correct and wins the crisps but if you dont eat them all can you give the rest to legendzxix as he is correct when he states that Armagh were Ulster Champions in 2000 but since my question did say since the qualifiers came in I cannot accept that and I also did say first one in.
---------------------------------
01 was the first year of the qualifiers anyways.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8834 - 04/07/2014 17:02:33    1613863

This must be the first time in a long time that a county is odds on to win the AI before they have even got out of their own province.

JP91 (Armagh) - Posts: 316 - 04/07/2014 17:15:20    1613873

meathalltheway
County: Meath
Posts: 726

1613829
its funny to see the Donegal lads talking down meath, only a few months ago meath should've beaten Donegal in the league only because of a couple of refereeing decisions it ended in a draw. Donegal are nowhere near the team they were in 2012 and I would be very confident that if meath were to meet Donegal in the quarter final we would win.

+1

Yes I'm sure Donegal has improved since league, but then so has Meath. I'd be very confident if we were to meet in cf. This year.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 04/07/2014 17:22:10    1613876

clondalkindub
County: Dublin
Posts: 5077

1613830
Hahaha I'm only having a laugh jaysus Lads , your all allowed to set up these silly threads but when we hit back you's don't like it ha.

Au contraire clondalkin, au contraire. I love reading your meanderings, they brighten up my day to no end!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 04/07/2014 17:27:50    1613878

meathalltheway
County: Meath
Posts: 726

1613829
its funny to see the Donegal lads talking down meath, only a few months ago meath should've beaten Donegal in the league only because of a couple of refereeing decisions it ended in a draw. Donegal are nowhere near the team they were in 2012 and I would be very confident that if meath were to meet Donegal in the quarter final we would win.

You obviously weren't at that game. The only reason it went the way it did was because JMcG went off on one of his experimental notions, which he tends to do now and again in the league, & tried to play without a midfield of any description for the first 20 mins at which point Meath were nearly out of sight. Common sense reared it's head, a midfield was put in & normal service was resumed.
I always think it's a sign of the truly desperate when refereeing decisions are put up as reasons for failure, in this case it was a couple of them, enough said.
As for Meath winning any championship meeting based on a league game played in winter, I wouldn't be putting the house on it.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 04/07/2014 17:35:34    1613881

meathalltheway
County: Meath
Posts: 726

1613829
its funny to see the Donegal lads talking down meath, only a few months ago meath should've beaten Donegal in the league only because of a couple of refereeing decisions it ended in a draw. Donegal are nowhere near the team they were in 2012 and I would be very confident that if meath were to meet Donegal in the quarter final we would win.

I disagree, I was at that game and ended up sitting amongst a small group of Meath fans. After the game some where dissapointed, and were saying they left that game behind them. But I didn't agree, and felt that while it was a valiant performance by Meath, It was the Donegal men that threw it away.

Donegal spent the opening 10 mins of that game trying new tactics, and this allowed Meath to open up a large 5 or 6 point lead. Then Donegal went back to business, and the next 60 mins seen Donegal grind down Meaths lead and they really looked the better team over 70mins. Although Meath midfield Impressed me that day, especially Colm O'Rourkes son. And I said afterwards that this Meath team are going places.

But without having blinkers on, Meath struggled once Donegal adjusted and started playing. That opening 10 minutes was poor from Donegal, as were experimenting with different things, specifically Midfield split and Murphy running back to win the kick out.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 04/07/2014 17:58:16    1613886

im not completely basing my opinion on the league game I only used that as an example because we have not played Donegal in championship in years so I can hardly compare a championship game. the reason why I referred to that game was because a few Donegal lads were saying its funny that meath could be considered a danger to Dublin and that Donegal would pose a bigger challenge, even though the only game where we can compare Donegal and meath is the league game this year and if that's anything to go by Donegal are not much better than meath as a lot of Donegal supporters seem to think they are, based on what ive seen of Donegal this year they are nothing compared to the team they were in 2012,
Im confident with the way this meath team is progressing, I think if we were to play Donegal our lads would have absolutely no fear and I think we could win. obviously I know that league and championship are two totally different things, meath more so than most countys are widely known for being a completely different prospect to play against come championship because their attitudes are so much better and they take the championship a lot more seriously.

meathalltheway (Meath) - Posts: 789 - 04/07/2014 18:36:40    1613897

SamOnErrigal
County: Donegal
Posts: 393

1613659 Realdub
I'm suprised Legendzxix is not referring to Donegal, ArmaghDown and Tyrone as the Ulster region. After all they killed off lots of Kerry dreams of winning Sam over the last 12 Years

I was thinking the same, we were County Dublin when Kerry were winning All Irelands, now we are Dublin Region .I think it makes it easier for legendzxix to accept losing that way ;0)

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 04/07/2014 21:00:04    1613964

meathalltheway
County: Meath
Posts: 727

1613897
im not completely basing my opinion on the league game I only used that as an example because we have not played Donegal in championship in years so I can hardly compare a championship game. the reason why I referred to that game was because a few Donegal lads were saying its funny that meath could be considered a danger to Dublin and that Donegal would pose a bigger challenge, even though the only game where we can compare Donegal and meath is the league game this year and if that's anything to go by Donegal are not much better than meath as a lot of Donegal supporters seem to think they are, based on what ive seen of Donegal this year they are nothing compared to the team they were in 2012,

I think Meath can beat Dublin, although I couldn't see them beating Dublin in an All Ireland final this year. Meath will be a force in the next few years, they are a team on the up. They Just aren't quite there yet, but clearly aren't far off.

We seen the likes of Mayo, Kerry, Cork, Tyrone, Kildare and Meath fall short against Dublin in big games as past 2 seasons. So naturally seeing all those fail, I would look at what teams are left and try and see who could trouble Dublin. A team is needed who have the physical stature, the Intensity, the tactical setup and the mental ability to challenge a formidable Dublin outfit.

Step forward Donegal.

Donegal have something in common with Dublin, practically all of their players have won an All Ireland title. The current Tyrone, Kerry and Cork teams ( The next 3 most recent All Ireland winners after Dublin and Donegal ), they have very few left with All Ireland winning experience.

This kind of experience brings with it a level of Mental strength, a belief in themselves and their ability as a team. Add to this their disciplined defending, proven ability to see out big games and absorb massive pressure. And it is easy to see why some pundits have suggested Donegal could be the answer to the Dublin riddle.

But I feel Donegal need to win Ulster in order to gain the necessary momentum to kick on,

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 05/07/2014 09:46:29    1614012

Meathalltheway----- Royaldunn

If we were to meet( Donegal v Meath) do you think that the Meath forwards would get the same space as they got against Kildare last Sunday. I don't think so.
Now of course Meath could beat Donegal as could any other team but so could Donegal beat Meath. Now I'd like to think we have a very settled team, a team when they click are well able to score, well ABLE to defend plus we have the big time experience.
I think the whole Country are dismissive of Donegal due to defeats last year against Monaghan and especially Mayo. Now whatever was the matter that team was well below what they were and what they are capable off Now if you take the league meeting in Ballybofey to say Meath are as good as Donegal just because they drew with Donegal I could not have that at all
I think you will find out that Donegal are more of a danger to Dublin than Meath. What I expect and hope to see happening with Donegal this year is down to the man who started it all JIM MCGUINNESS. HE is the man that makes Donegal tick. Wish all you Meath people all the best in the Leinster final. Could yet be a Donegal /Meath semi. Remember the last time in the Semi , just before we won Sam for the first time, in 1990 when a few mistakes cost Donegal that day.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 05/07/2014 10:15:12    1614021

Donegal, Armagh, Down and Tyrone as the Ulster is a suggestion by Donal Óg Cusack. He has a point as well. With the McCarthy limited to 14, there's a place for 3 divisional county teams:
Ulster - 8 counties.
Leinster - Kildare, Meath, Wicklow, Longford and Louth.
Connaught/Munster - Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim and Kerry.

Let them enter the round 1 qualifier along with the 3rd placed qualifier county and draw them against the 4 quarter-final losers.

If Leitrim opt out of senior level, they could work with Kilkenny and enter the qualifiers as a divisional county.

Getting back on topic of the Dublin Region retaining Sam, the Ulster lads are leading this obsession due to being on the same side of the draw. The Leinster final itself should be an intriguing battle.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8834 - 05/07/2014 10:37:20    1614025

Legendzxix.
And are we not happy to be on the same side of the draw as Dublin I'd say if we are going to win the All Ireland ,I like I'm sure most Donegal people would want to beat the best on the way to winning Sam. Same as in 2012 where a list of previous All Ireland champions bit the dust against us. And the one that got away. DUBLIN.
I'm sure other county supporters think the same ::::::beat the best:::: become the best. I'm sure that applies to us all

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 05/07/2014 12:19:40    1614043

Bluedudstar
As regards Danny Hughes in yesterday's Irish News this is more or less what he had to say :::::::
He does not think Dublin are unbeatable
They have not played a team yet who have the players or the discipline of Donegal or perhaps Kerry.
Very reliant on S Cluxon, his kick outs/frees, an injury or bad day at the office could have a major impact on the teams performance
Tha defence concedes chances and a clinical team like Donegal can convert better than those Dublin came up against so far

He then states thatDonegal are not yet back to their clinical best
He also thinks A brogan has not yet discovered his best form, B Brogan is injured and he would not have E O' Gara on the team. He thinks he is very erratic in front of goals. So that is more or less D Hughes opinion
What I take from it is :::::if Donegal meet Dublin this year, Donegal will have to be back to their clinical best.

This is where I'd doubt Monaghan if they were to play Dublin , I don't think they have the forwards to out score Dublin.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 05/07/2014 12:54:47    1614051

@SamOnErrigal - how are preparations going for the Ulster final?

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8834 - 05/07/2014 13:15:58    1614058

The same thing is being said about Dublin this year as this stage last year, They are beatable, have not been tested and are very open at the back. Difference this year is we will be probably be playing more defence minded teams if we progress so only time will tell if our openness at the back will cost us or our attacking play will get us through. The top teams will all feel they can beat us because of our willingness to attack at any chance and leave our full back isolated ,all will feel they have the game plan to disrupt us, JMG more than anyone will relish it. Although at the moment MOD of Meath will feel he has the plan ,he dispatched Kildare with a good game plan and really put it up to us last year. So for us this is a big challenge from a team who have some very good footballers and give everything when they play the Dubs. This for me would be a game where we will be pushed all the way or could find ourselves looking at a qualifying game .

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 05/07/2014 13:22:17    1614061

Perhaps Donegal dont have the forwards either to outscore the Dublin forwards.

fainleog (Limerick) - Posts: 602 - 05/07/2014 13:27:49    1614062

Legendzxix
Should be a press evening very shortly and staying free of injuries as you know yourself is a big plus But things seem to be very quite at the moment.

Fainleog

Well our forwards proved theirselves in 2012, leading scorer C Mc FAdden plus M Murphy .....is he the best full forward in the game???? Couple of newcomers this year plus the reliable Backline/defenders who can score now and again.
Also more importantly we might have the defence who can keep a lid on the scoring of the Dublin forwards. But it's all a big If and at the same time it is highly likely that Dublin/Donegal will clash.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 05/07/2014 15:10:31    1614079

fainleog
County: Limerick
Posts: 93

1614062
Perhaps Donegal dont have the forwards either to outscore the Dublin forwards.

Perhaps Dublin dont have the defenders needed to concede less than the Donegal defenders!!

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 05/07/2014 16:31:45    1614100