Would say they definitely broke sweat against Tyrone, don't think we'll ever see anyone dominate Ulster for 20 years but as county they are in a great place with a more than useful minor team coming along, which is laced with big men who should have no problem stepping up to senior inter county

benched (Tyrone) - Posts: 534 - 14/06/2015 17:08:20    1736719

Very happy with our performance today. Armagh must be very disappointed. As a team they are a lot better than this, and were badly let down today by their line.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 14/06/2015 18:11:15    1736765

A stroll in the park for Donegal as expected.

They barely got outta 1st gear today. Very impressive.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13795 - 14/06/2015 19:41:25    1736852

Looking at the games in Ulster so far, It really looks like Donegal and Monaghan are still the Big dogs in the Ulster yard. I think Donegal have the stronger starting 15, however Monaghan have a stronger bench.

Can Derry overcome Donegal, I think we have an outside chance. I said all along, that Derry would prefer Armagh to Donegal, as Donegal are very comfortable at what they do. Armagh last year Implemented a more defensive system from 2013, while Donegal have won 3 Ulster titles and an All Ireland with their system. It has evolved a little this year, but not that much really.

Donegal didn't allow Armagh to settle in the first half, and the game ran away from them in the first half. The game was nowhere near the physical battle I expected, possibly because Armagh never came close enough for it to be a contest. In saying that, there were a few Armagh chances, but almost all arrived after the game was killed off as a contest.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 14/06/2015 21:36:54    1736968

Armagh really poor after showing a foundation last year which on yesterdays evidence they have not maintained let alone built upon. Yes Donegal were strong but because they met little resistance and Geezer must be really disappointed with what he witnessed. People talked about how poor Tyrone are this year yet they ran Donegal close. I do not think that Ulster is in the bag yet for Donegal but this game will have helped a lot as they have enough hard games on their fixture list so for one of the opposition teams not to show up I am sure is most welcome for their management.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 15/06/2015 08:52:09    1737001

armagh were embarrassed yesterday. cant see that happenong to them again this summer, theyll put up a brave fight in the qualifiers

offtheground1 (Down) - Posts: 128 - 15/06/2015 09:30:29    1737015

A very satisfying result and performance from Donegal yesterday. The days when Armagh bullied us and hammered us out the gate seem a long time ago now.
It was a very strange game in that most people thought it'd be very tight early on with a lot of physicality. As it was, once McBrearty got the goal and we got a few points it was all over more or less. The rest of the game was played out with Donegal conserving energy and keeping Armagh easily at arm's length.

Derry in a few weeks time will be the next hurdle. I don't want to sound over confident but I saw little in Derry's performance against Down that would suggest they'd be capable of beating Donegal in 2 weeks time. At this stage it does look like another Donegal Monaghan final. Word around the campfire is that Drew Wylie's knee is in bad shape and with the way McBrearty is playing that would be a big advantage to Donegal.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9734 - 15/06/2015 10:58:05    1737114

Donegal to win Ulster without breaking sweat. Going to come close to the All Ireland. We are witnessing the glory days of Donegal football, enjoy it whilst it lasts. I predict another 2 All Irelands.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 15/06/2015 11:10:13    1737133

Once McBrearty goaled it was all over.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13795 - 15/06/2015 11:35:00    1737161

I got that one completely wrong, I really did think Armagh would have been better but perhaps it was just listening to all the hype about McGeeney. Donegal were great, they played some lovely stuff and showed the rest of Ireland that they can mix it up. Theyre not just now about the ultra defense but can play the long ball game, they can play some lovely open football aswell now and if they have to mass defend they are happy to do so also. Gallagher must promote this flexibility on the training field.

One thing yesterdays game showed was that Tyrone did really well in Ballybofey to push Donegal all the way till the final whistle. Tyrone arnt too far away and hopefully will have good results in the qualifiers. If we can compete with Donegal who are probably one of the best teams in Ireland then we can do some damage yet.

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 15/06/2015 13:11:24    1737287

Disappointed it was basically a No contest and the Atmosphere was hardly electrifying.
Still a lot of positives to take from the game. Ryan mchugh is getting Stronger and has the ability to terrorize any defence when he takes off on one of his runs. Dont know what karl lacey was at yesterday' especially in the 2nd half. On numerous occasions he over carried whislt fannying about with the ball and ran in to traffic and then struggled to offload. We need to really start kicking on an finish games off without all that silly stuff trying to wind the clock down' it aint easy on the eye and could very easily cost us.

Still need to tighten up at the back..We had the game Won early yesterday and i get we took the foot of the mat but as previously said we need to kick on and finish the games properly. In the players defence' it was a Scorcher in Armagh yesterday and it would have been heavy going for any player no matter how fit.

Not really tested like the Tyrone game but still happy with the Win.

InishowenMan (Donegal) - Posts: 216 - 15/06/2015 13:12:48    1737288

Best performance by any team in the championship so far. Not many teams would have beaten Donegal yesterday. Gallagher has made an impressive start in charge and Donegal seem to be even better and more evolved then they were under McGuinness but it is early days.

McBrearty seems to be even a better stronger player then what i have expected, well able to play inside alone and win his own ball, its amazing he was starting in last years final. If Donegal keep that standard of performaces all the way through to the final then only the dubs can stop them provided they alter their tactics a bit and are not so naive again. Two horse race for SAM at the moment.

KY4SAM2015 (Kerry) - Posts: 898 - 15/06/2015 13:49:34    1737323

Donegal did what they had to do, and did it perfectly. The only thing which would have made this game keep your attention at all was if a few of those Armagh goal chances went in in the 2nd half. But they didn't thanks to the woodwork and Durkan's left hand.

Suas Sios (None) - Posts: 1558 - 15/06/2015 15:26:46    1737424

Innisowenman, I would not share your opinion about Karl Lacey yesterday. His job is to run into traffic, it seems to be a tactic to create space, and his offloads worked although they were by the skin of the teeth sometimes. But that is more a reflection on the way the game is played now more than leaving it hard for yourself. I would agree though that against Dublin, Mayo or Kerry and Cork, and of course Monaghan, he might not get the same chance to offload. He did get caught a couple of times v Tyrone, but he didnt yesterday.

If I were to pick one area to improve on, it could be to watch the steps, as we are borderline when it comes to overcarrying the ball while running with it. a couple of refs would nail us for this.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 15/06/2015 15:58:33    1737451

Hi KY4SAM2015
I think you are using the wrong username ( ky4sam2015 as if you think it's a two horse race then I'd suggest ky4sam2016 or 2017
Now you know well that it's not a two horse race, you can throw in Mayo, yourselves, cork with even Tyrone /Monaghan who are all capable of beating of beating any team on a given day
I've followed Donegal football for 50 odd years ( 1964) and never did I think that we would give away a simple as goal as in last year's AI final
So whoever wins again this year will need plenty of luck , there will be a few upsets , there will be drama/ excitement and I'd say not many Dubs or Donegal supporters are thinking about the Saturday night , eve of All Ireland final as they well know the pitfalls ahead
Ky4sam2015 you know well Kerry will be in the mix as they are never far away when it comes to these 2 or3 horse race
But let's hope you are right , it would be great to have Sam back in the hills again but the road ahead is a minefield and right now I'd settle for an Ulster title, anything else would be a bonus

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 15/06/2015 15:59:50    1737453

I admit my username KY4SAM 2015 is a mistake. Ah now Sam Errigal you well know we are still in a bit of a transition period. Young players still being bedded in and the return of a few older players from injury and retirement. We will be happy enough to reach croker and we will take it from there.
Dublin are the best team in the country with their super standard of play and free flowing football not seen since kerry in the nougties and are almost unbeatable unless Donegal repeat or improve on yesterdays brillant display.

We are happy enough to have a crack at regaining our munster title and everything else is a bonus.

KY4SAM2015 (Kerry) - Posts: 898 - 15/06/2015 16:57:42    1737512

Biggest bonus for me yesterday was the form of Mark McHugh, who was back close to his best.

They also seem to have clamped down on the mouthing which I am happy about, never liked it, never will.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 15/06/2015 17:18:14    1737527

MuckrossHead
County: Donegal
Posts: 3515

1737527
Biggest bonus for me yesterday was the form of Mark McHugh, who was back close to his best.

They also seem to have clamped down on the mouthing which I am happy about, never liked it, never will.

I have to agree with you on Mark McHugh yesterday, he definitely showed a glimpse of his old self. However It was a glimpse, and he has still room to Improve yet. But I always said he is the most naturally gifted sweeper in the game, if he can stay off the sauce and the mouthing, he will go far and become an all time great.

Donegal have some weaknesses, but overall they have a superb bunch of very talented footballers. They have a knack of finding naturally gifted youngsters, who adapt quickly and seamlessly to the senior team.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 15/06/2015 20:53:36    1737676

I really enjoyed the Donegal performance yesterday - what a transition the team during Jimmy's first year. Good luck to them for the year

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1467 - 15/06/2015 21:44:11    1737712

Ok the Performance on Sunday was shocking back, they looked like really really bad, but lets put it this way Armagh are not as bad as they looked on Sunday. I have been to Armagh matches for the last 15/20 years i would say i know my football and my Knowledge of football would be very good, I know Armagh will prove a lot of people wrong this year and will challenge the bigger teams. Donegal were unreal on Sunday and played a deadly system, Armagh still got the same chances that Donegal had NEVER took them to be fair but still made chances. Armagh wont be any worse so Bring on the back door and we will see how the rest of the season goes!!!

youngfella27 (Armagh) - Posts: 110 - 16/06/2015 13:51:52    1737991