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How do we see this one going? If it was a home match for Donegal I'd be very confident but the fact that it's in Brewster worries me a small bit. Fermanagh will be extremely fit and well drilled, and Rory will have them revved up to the last to try and get one over on us.
For ourselves we are pretty much at full strength except for missing Odhran of course. Any team would miss his class. It remains to be seen if Paddy McBrearty will be deemed sharp enough just yet for a return to senior county championship football. He has been in good nick at club level of late, but obviously a big step up to county level in terms of intensity.
I wouldn't put too much stock in Fermanagh's victory over us in the league. They were way ahead of us fitness wise that day. Plus we were reduced to 13 players. Fermanagh took full advantage though and fair play to them.
I just think with us up to near full strength and a lot fitter than our last meeting we'll have too much for Fermanagh. I'd imagine it will be a good battle for 50 - 55 minutes but that we'll then pull away to win it by 4 or 5 points. If Fermanagh folks think that's me being cocky it's not. Just an honest assessment of how I see the game going.
Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 21/05/2019 10:03:21
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Replying To Lockjaw: "How do we see this one going? If it was a home match for Donegal I'd be very confident but the fact that it's in Brewster worries me a small bit. Fermanagh will be extremely fit and well drilled, and Rory will have them revved up to the last to try and get one over on us.
For ourselves we are pretty much at full strength except for missing Odhran of course. Any team would miss his class. It remains to be seen if Paddy McBrearty will be deemed sharp enough just yet for a return to senior county championship football. He has been in good nick at club level of late, but obviously a big step up to county level in terms of intensity.
I wouldn't put too much stock in Fermanagh's victory over us in the league. They were way ahead of us fitness wise that day. Plus we were reduced to 13 players. Fermanagh took full advantage though and fair play to them.
I just think with us up to near full strength and a lot fitter than our last meeting we'll have too much for Fermanagh. I'd imagine it will be a good battle for 50 - 55 minutes but that we'll then pull away to win it by 4 or 5 points. If Fermanagh folks think that's me being cocky it's not. Just an honest assessment of how I see the game going." Completely logical thinking Lockjaw, and I'd say most supporters either side of Belleek would agree with you.
However,
I just have a sneaking feeling we can nip this by 2 on Sunday.
The tight Brewster pitch, big home support and the team itself who have been alot more progressive attacking wise this year makes me feel like we are crossing paths at a good time for Fermanagh.
The reality is of course that we could well be licking the wounds of a 6 or 7 point beating on Sunday night, but both the heart AND head (this time around) is making me believe we can cause an upset.
Please God it's an entertaining game either way.
RedRum (Fermanagh) - Posts: 278 - 21/05/2019 11:50:33
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I doubt very much this will be a good game of football, Fermanagh are a hard watch, hope I'm proved wrong though.
sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1053 - 21/05/2019 12:37:06
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Replying To RedRum: "Completely logical thinking Lockjaw, and I'd say most supporters either side of Belleek would agree with you.
However,
I just have a sneaking feeling we can nip this by 2 on Sunday.
The tight Brewster pitch, big home support and the team itself who have been alot more progressive attacking wise this year makes me feel like we are crossing paths at a good time for Fermanagh.
The reality is of course that we could well be licking the wounds of a 6 or 7 point beating on Sunday night, but both the heart AND head (this time around) is making me believe we can cause an upset.
Please God it's an entertaining game either way." Is the pitch really that tight. I've been there a good few times and I never really noticed. Remember getting beat there one year in the championship, the year escapes me. One thing for sure Donegal will not underestimate Fermanagh. The league defeat will make sure of that. A lot of things went on that day which hopefully will make our boys ready for a dog fight this Sunday. Yous will have big support but so will we. I feel referee will have a big bearing on how this game pans out, one thing for sure is ricey and rory will have the Fermanagh men up for it but hopefully we'll be more disciplined than we were in the league game and keep our full compliment of players.. as for rory Gallagher it's funny one the Donegal players mostly speak highly of him but the supporters probably bar myself really don't like him.. his celebrations after the league game in letterkenny still irks a lot of them.
rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2406 - 21/05/2019 13:07:03
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The only way Fermanagh can win this one is if it is very low scoring. I think that we may have learned a lot about ourselves in the league fixture 3 months ago. I think that fermanagh will be dangerous, but they will need to keep donegal from scoring a goal or 2.
Then again, who knows? Cavan tore up the form book last week to beat Monaghan. Thank god for the competitiveness of ulster football.
Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 21/05/2019 14:40:36
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Replying To rorysboys: "Is the pitch really that tight. I've been there a good few times and I never really noticed. Remember getting beat there one year in the championship, the year escapes me. One thing for sure Donegal will not underestimate Fermanagh. The league defeat will make sure of that. A lot of things went on that day which hopefully will make our boys ready for a dog fight this Sunday. Yous will have big support but so will we. I feel referee will have a big bearing on how this game pans out, one thing for sure is ricey and rory will have the Fermanagh men up for it but hopefully we'll be more disciplined than we were in the league game and keep our full compliment of players.. as for rory Gallagher it's funny one the Donegal players mostly speak highly of him but the supporters probably bar myself really don't like him.. his celebrations after the league game in letterkenny still irks a lot of them." We lost by 4 there in 2003, it was a rotten day I remember. McEniff was in charge and brought us to the All-Ireland semi that year through the qualifiers!
JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 21/05/2019 14:54:29
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Replying To rorysboys: "Is the pitch really that tight. I've been there a good few times and I never really noticed. Remember getting beat there one year in the championship, the year escapes me. One thing for sure Donegal will not underestimate Fermanagh. The league defeat will make sure of that. A lot of things went on that day which hopefully will make our boys ready for a dog fight this Sunday. Yous will have big support but so will we. I feel referee will have a big bearing on how this game pans out, one thing for sure is ricey and rory will have the Fermanagh men up for it but hopefully we'll be more disciplined than we were in the league game and keep our full compliment of players.. as for rory Gallagher it's funny one the Donegal players mostly speak highly of him but the supporters probably bar myself really don't like him.. his celebrations after the league game in letterkenny still irks a lot of them." It was 2003. It was a woeful match. Funnily enough we regrouped well that year and ended up in the AI semi final. Fermanagh were a coming team though. The year after they themselves had that fantastic run to the AI semi finals.
Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 21/05/2019 14:56:02
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Lockjaw, id agree with alot that you say, in the league game in Letterkenny the 2 red cards had a major impact on Fermanagh winning plus will ensure zero complacency this weekend(Cavans slight shock last week a further reminder what can happen if team takes eye off the ball)
There is no doubt that for Fermanagh to win this game they need to keep it fairly low scoring and get a good start similar to Cavan last weekend. If Donegal get ahead by 3/4 points early on then Fermanagh will be chasing game which doesnt suit their style.
Fermanaghs style isnt to the purists liking, no denying that and i think management know that our attacking play needs to evolve as we need a balance between defence and attack to beat better teams and achieve silverware. During the league we had low scoring games which got lots of negativity but in most games creating substantial chances but didnt take them,we have lost some of our more natural forwards in the squad from last year which has left options lacking in attack. So management have to work with what they have to increase chance of winning.
Before Gallagher came in Fermanagh defence had been very porous so first aim last year was to tighten that up which has done. Supporters obviously want entertained, in 2014 Antrim beat Fermanagh in Ulster Championship by 2-18 to 3-13, Pat Spillane called it game of the championship but you can be sure no Fermanagh players or supporters felt great after the game.
Donegal look at full strength too,so its going to be a tough ask, Fermanagh will be prepared to the maximum and will give it a serious rattle but would expect Donegal to shade it in the closing stages(hope im wrong)
macca999 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 1098 - 21/05/2019 21:59:13
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Replying To macca999: "Lockjaw, id agree with alot that you say, in the league game in Letterkenny the 2 red cards had a major impact on Fermanagh winning plus will ensure zero complacency this weekend(Cavans slight shock last week a further reminder what can happen if team takes eye off the ball)
There is no doubt that for Fermanagh to win this game they need to keep it fairly low scoring and get a good start similar to Cavan last weekend. If Donegal get ahead by 3/4 points early on then Fermanagh will be chasing game which doesnt suit their style.
Fermanaghs style isnt to the purists liking, no denying that and i think management know that our attacking play needs to evolve as we need a balance between defence and attack to beat better teams and achieve silverware. During the league we had low scoring games which got lots of negativity but in most games creating substantial chances but didnt take them,we have lost some of our more natural forwards in the squad from last year which has left options lacking in attack. So management have to work with what they have to increase chance of winning.
Before Gallagher came in Fermanagh defence had been very porous so first aim last year was to tighten that up which has done. Supporters obviously want entertained, in 2014 Antrim beat Fermanagh in Ulster Championship by 2-18 to 3-13, Pat Spillane called it game of the championship but you can be sure no Fermanagh players or supporters felt great after the game.
Donegal look at full strength too,so its going to be a tough ask, Fermanagh will be prepared to the maximum and will give it a serious rattle but would expect Donegal to shade it in the closing stages(hope im wrong)" The quality of football on display that day was shocking.
gotmilk (Fermanagh) - Posts: 4971 - 22/05/2019 17:36:25
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Expect Donegal to win by 4/5 and set up a meeting with the aul foes from the Black Country across the River Finn...
The main way Fermanagh can win this is by keeping it very low scoring and hoping that Donegal's younger performers bottle it on the day. However I expect Murphy, McHugh and McBrearty if he's playing to lead by example and drive the younger players on.
Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 22/05/2019 23:14:42
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Replying To gotmilk: "The quality of football on display that day was shocking." Yeah it was dire enough stuff alright. While I was disappointed with the result I have to admit I admired the way Fermanagh went for the jugular once they had the numerical advantage. I did not see them being able to kick the 6 or 7 consecutive points to get into a winning lead but that's exactly what they did. Our response was feeble enough. I think it was two points we got in the second half.
By all accounts Fermanagh have been targeting this game big time. They had a four day training camp recently and you just know that Rory and Ricey will have them ready to run through walls for the cause. If they get ahead early on and can get set into their defensive/counter attacking system then it could be very tricky afternoon for Donegal.
Then again, if we get ahead early it could be a different story altogether.
Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 23/05/2019 08:55:03
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Hard to call this one. Probably a dower affair. If I was forced to get off the fence, I think Donegal will pull away in the end & win.
greysoil (Monaghan) - Posts: 965 - 24/05/2019 21:46:46
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Going to be a borefest with Fermanagh hoping to score on the break, our long range kickers should pick them off and hopefully we'll run out with a 4 or 5 point win without over straining ourselves, Fermanagh are basically spoilers and they won't go far playing this all out defensive stuff.
Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2749 - 25/05/2019 16:04:38
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I can honestly see this being a romp for donegal, I think they'll start on fire and have Fermanagh out of sight at half time. Management and players will be well aware of the antics that went on in Letterkenny and will answer them with attitude.Hopefully Daire o baoill starts and has a good game.
Tyrion (Donegal) - Posts: 160 - 25/05/2019 19:37:01
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Replying To Tyrion: "I can honestly see this being a romp for donegal, I think they'll start on fire and have Fermanagh out of sight at half time. Management and players will be well aware of the antics that went on in Letterkenny and will answer them with attitude.Hopefully Daire o baoill starts and has a good game." This game will be a lot of things but a romp for Donegal won't be one of them.
An already small Brewster has had the sidelines move in to limit space & Fermanagh will frustrate with a 14 or 15 man defence which Donegal will have to work really hard to break down.
Granted a couple of early goals would change everything but I can see nothing but a hard earned win for Donegal.
MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 26/05/2019 12:56:01
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Replying To MuckrossHead: "This game will be a lot of things but a romp for Donegal won't be one of them.
An already small Brewster has had the sidelines move in to limit space & Fermanagh will frustrate with a 14 or 15 man defence which Donegal will have to work really hard to break down.
Granted a couple of early goals would change everything but I can see nothing but a hard earned win for Donegal." Lasted less than 10 minutes, dire.
sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1053 - 26/05/2019 14:10:24
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Fermanagh should be banned from the telly.
summerof09 (Meath) - Posts: 315 - 26/05/2019 14:25:39
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Nice to see it being competitive anyways.
waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 26/05/2019 14:34:24
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Shocking stuff here
superbluedub (Dublin) - Posts: 2837 - 26/05/2019 14:39:51
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Replying To waynoI: "Nice to see it being competitive anyways." There's absolutely nothing nice about it give me the cricket score in portlaoise last night any day at least we were looking at how the game should be played.
dubarra (Wicklow) - Posts: 541 - 26/05/2019 14:55:02
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