It not nonsense what I said about Donegal being a DivOne team playing in Div two Only for Dublin getting a late point to draw Kerry would have been in Div two. If Kerry were playing in Div two would people still not class them as Div one team And if Kerry were in Div two they would still be classed in the top six in Ireland. Regain 80 percent of our form of 2012 and with the same players who won Sam then We will win promotion and back as you were:::: DIV 1 team And I never said we have a divine right to be superior to either Meath or Monaghan or anybody else for that right. But the truth is WE were superior in 2012 and went all the way. If you are working on last years Ulster Final to make a case for Monaghan to being a superior team to Donegal you are treading on thin ice Look at the record over the last 25 years :::: Donegal:::: two A I ,4Ulster titles,div1and div2 titles Monaghan:::two Ulster and I think one league title. Don't judge Donegal on last years showing. A lot of people on here know they have not gone away and I'll make one prediction :::We will go further than Meath or Monaghan in the championship.

It wasn't just Dublin getting a late point, there were 6 games prior to that where Donegal couldn't gather enough points to stay up so to say it's all because Dublin got a late point is more nonsense. If you are in Division 2 you are a Division 2 team either because the previous year you were too good for Division 3 or not good enough for Division 1 or just good enough to stay where you were. Meath landed in Division 3 because we played utter rubbish in the 2012 league and managed only 4 points, we were in Division 3 because we deserved to be, No matter what county you are, Kerry, Dublin, Cork etc etc (and those counties have experience of Division 2) if you are relegated from Division 1 it's because you weren't good enough, the sooner one accepts that the sooner something can be done about it. Donegal may well get promoted, and I fancy that they will, but to say that they are a Division 1 team when they are not is childish nonsense. Donegal's 25 year record you highlight is good, especially for a county that has lost a lot if players to emigration etc but there were some pretty hard years in there too no more than Meath & Monaghan suffered. I personally believe Donegal missed the boat in a number of years where they had great players and opportunities to win more than they did but didn't always do themselves any favours. I think it's dangerous to predict who will go further than who in the Championship, it will not surprise me if Donegal do well in 2014 but their worth this year has yet to be proven and an injury or two to some players could leave them restricted, the depth in the panel is not extensive, we shall soon see though

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 04/02/2014 12:57:12    1541172

Royal,
First off I agree woth you, Donegal are a Div 2 team,all you have to do is look at the league table & there we are. How we got there is immaterial. We are in Div 2 and that makes us a Div 2 team.

However If I were you I wouldn't compare Donegal of 2013 with the present outfit. Last year's team was badly affected with injuries & in a small squad it was devestating. As things stand everyone is fit, fresh & raring to go.

And for the record Royal, I like you too!!!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 04/02/2014 13:22:35    1541194

Tir Conaill Abu
County: Donegal
Posts: 760

1541155
I wouldn't read into last weeks result against Laois. I was at the game and unless Laois improve 200% they will go through the entire league without a point. They didn't look at all fit and had a very poor game system if any!!

Donegal can only beat what was in front of them and last week that wasn't much. We did look well and are certainly in better shape than this time last year. Being able to give a run out to the fringe players was also a benefit and the likes of the new fellas that started all done well. Looks positive in the camp at the minute but Galway will certainly be a step up, lets hope they don't get 4-11 this weekend.

This is true to a point, laois were very poor, and demoralized too by the body language of them in the second half. but i still saw something in the Donegal team that suggests that they wanted to put in a 70 minute performance regardless. The breaking balls were won our way after a shaky start, and this kept going for the entire game. I hope that laois improve for the sake of their supporters, and their team too. But I for one will not be getting carried away either, i hope that they will continue to show well and we see steady progress and stay injury free for a massive game against derry in june.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 04/02/2014 16:54:24    1541368

One thing that I noticed at Laois was how seriously the Donegal supporters took the game! We were vocal right up until the end. And were great at clapping off our subs.

There was a weariness about us last year, myself included. For every match, except for the Tyrone match in MacCumhaill Park and the Dublin league match, I don't feel we were as vocal as we should have been. This was particularly noticeable in Croker where we were outnumbered by Mayo supporters in each of numbers, volumes and the scoreboard unfortunately.

Well done us! ;-)

squareball_1988 (Donegal) - Posts: 343 - 04/02/2014 17:13:20    1541390

At the end of the day you can look at it like this. Donegal were the best team in Ireland in 2012. It's not that long ago at all. While I'd agree that our squad isn't perhaps quite as strong as others the simple fact is that if Donegal do manage to get to the quarter finals with a fully fit and fresh 1 to 18, then not many sides will fancy facing them. We may not win it but we might upset a few characters along the way.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 04/02/2014 17:24:43    1541405

I can see Donegal steamrolling all opposition in Division 2;
a quality side like them should not be playing in the 2nd
division, and wouldn't be if their manager hadn't put all
his eggs in one basket last year!
Expect a backlash from these lads after their humiliating
defeat to Mayo last year!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 04/02/2014 17:38:49    1541414

on the white side not a fan of lazy commentary and i think your comment was lazy. and if you wish I can stick to the subject snd back it up eith facts. if we are poor then meath must be in that vein as well as we got to the same stage as the championship as them last year and have better underage coming through. or maybe it is a veiled dig at meath. for the record I think meath are a good side but we will improve as well.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1946 - 04/02/2014 19:19:23    1541483

This what ye want, good oul banter about the league , shows how interesting div 2 is this year. A lot of interesting matches.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 04/02/2014 20:31:16    1541525

TheGateKeeper
County: Tyrone
Posts: 2464

1541414 I can see Donegal steamrolling all opposition in Division 2;
a quality side like them should not be playing in the 2nd
division, and wouldn't be if their manager hadn't put all
his eggs in one basket last year!
Expect a backlash from these lads after their humiliating
defeat to Mayo last year!

I don't know about steamrolling all opposition in Division 2, I don't see many teams steamrolling the likes of Meath or Monaghan this year. But there is certainly something simmering in the hills this winter, The Tir Connaill men have fresher legs and a fresh determination.

I watched highlights of Laois v Donegal on TG4 last night, and I was suprised by how dominant Donegal actually looked. Certainly a more vibrant and determined look to them, with new boys Odhran MacNiallais and Hugh McFadden standing out. Though it was Christy Toye who really stood out overall and stole the show, I reckon this will be a massive year for him.

This Laois side are a team who know Jim McGuinness era Donegal better than most, and I was suprised by how Donegal ran riot over them. Laois in recent seasons have been able to trouble Donegal, and are one of the few teams who have gone into Donegal and won a National League game since Jim McGuinness took over !!!
I don't believe Laois became a bad side overnight, certainly their ability didn't drop that much since 6 month ago. What going on?

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 04/02/2014 20:39:16    1541538

TheGateKeeper
County: Tyrone
Posts: 2464

1541414
I can see Donegal steamrolling all opposition in Division 2;
a quality side like them should not be playing in the 2nd
division, and wouldn't be if their manager hadn't put all
his eggs in one basket last year!
Expect a backlash from these lads after their humiliating
defeat to Mayo last year!


I cant see any more steam rollings of teams 2bh.
Meath, Monaghan are thankfully home fixtures. Down is a particularly difficult place to go and get a result in. Armagh are the poorest I remember them being, but we already struggled against them last month in Armagh, I feel that they will improve further for our fixture. Louth are no pushover either, and we are lucky to get them at home. As for Galway, they will be in some trouble if they dont win next week, and they will be very tough nuts to crack at home. So there is quite a lot of football for everyone to see.

As for putting all the eggs in one basket last year, I think that it was a gamble that failed, it came off the year previously, and there was little difference in the results, in fact we showed worse in the league in 2012, Kerry, Dublin and Laois all gave us good trimmings.

Your final point about Mayo has actually the least bearing on the lads this year. They probably had lost that game in their minds before the throw in so they wernt too disappointed, although it probably was an uncomfortable experience for them at the same time. The reality is that good old Mayo played thier final when it didnt count, as they normally do, had they kept a bit up their sleve a la kerry style they would have progressed to the final in better shape, but that is for another thread

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 04/02/2014 21:28:20    1541574

Regarding Donegal, I would say that football has changed enormously in the last 12 months. As ever has been the way styles evolve and as Armagh/Tyrone changed the game in 02/03, the Dubs have moved the goalposts again last year away from a defensive led game to a pacey attacking game which moves in relentless waves from half back and half forward lines.

I for one am quiet eager to see how McGuinness will react this year tactically, in Div 2 they will be tested against the likes of Down, Monaghan, Meath. The game against Laois offers no barometer as that was a poor Laois team in transition with a new manager finding his feet.
A place in the league final and promotion surely beckon, but i feel that for Donegal people the key question will be, with what style will this be achieved?

highking12 (Meath) - Posts: 184 - 05/02/2014 10:29:19    1541636

I think all counties now take the league seriously - and those who do not pay the price as Dún na nGall did last year.

Culann (Dublin) - Posts: 2306 - 05/02/2014 11:01:46    1541649

A lot of disrespect being shown towards some of the counties playing in division 2 by some posters here.

Looks like there are only 4 teams in the division going by some of the comments posted here.

There are six more rounds of games to be played a lot can and most likely will happen before the campaign ends.

Any county that takes another county for granted in this division could well pay the price for doing so.

Donegal may well have had a big win over Laois last week down in Portlaoise but remember this, Louth beat Laois by 10 points in the championship at the same venue last year, they also beat Galway by 6 points in the league in Drogheda. Only a fool would take these two counties for granted this year, can't see too many in Louth being that foolish.

Armagh, Down, Monaghan and Meath will all take points off each other in my opinion and I don't believe Donegal will have it all their own way with any of them either. Louth, Laois and Galway will all accumulate points before the league ends and don't be surprised if a few surprise results occurs also.

Too early to call who'll go up or down in this division.

THE_SNAPPER (Louth) - Posts: 2019 - 05/02/2014 11:28:51    1541664

I couldnt agree more Snapper, there is a hell of a lot of football to be played over the next while. As for football evolving over the last 12 months, I can only see one team who have tweaked the system and that is dublin. If you look at any other team, with the exception of mayo v donegal in the quarters last year, there was nothing new on the table. Yes dublin have speed and mobility all over the pitch now, but I think that this has just as much to do with players as it has to do with a system. They are able to run at speed all afternoon, and can score from a wide array of options. I did notice them on the last day of the league in ballybofey last year struggling against a blanket system, especially in the first half when they utterly could not cope with it. But there was nothing at stake for them that day so it is a bit off the point i suppose.

Ultimately, I can see our lads playing a running game this year, and the black card system will help the players express themselves better. Not just donegal, but all teams.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 05/02/2014 11:45:17    1541677

highking12
County: Meath
Posts: 87

1541636
Regarding Donegal, I would say that football has changed enormously in the last 12 months. As ever has been the way styles evolve and as Armagh/Tyrone changed the game in 02/03, the Dubs have moved the goalposts again last year away from a defensive led game to a pacey attacking game which moves in relentless waves from half back and half forward lines.

I for one am quiet eager to see how McGuinness will react this year tactically, in Div 2 they will be tested against the likes of Down, Monaghan, Meath. The game against Laois offers no barometer as that was a poor Laois team in transition with a new manager finding his feet.
A place in the league final and promotion surely beckon, but i feel that for Donegal people the key question will be, with what style will this be achieved?

Wouldn't argue with any of that higiking except that I don't think the change is as big as you think.

Yes Dublin are playing a great open brand of football but that is only because it suits them in that their forwards are fantastic wheras at the back they are more ordinary. Not every team is the same & it would be folly for counties to imagine that by aping Dublin success will follow.

At their best Donegal also played a fast game sweeping from defence to attack very quickly. However injuries to key players last year meant that they did not have the personnel to carry it out & they were put to the sword.

Laois were poor last Sunday & I expect Galway, who scored 4-11 against Meath, to tell a truer story of where we are.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 05/02/2014 13:33:49    1541739

I did not see Donegal v Laois game but what my brother told me was , Donegal with 11 men behind the ball , three men in , in front of the goals and when the defence got possession Donegal attacked in waves , the man on the ball plus options either side of him. If we get the tackle right and that we must do I think Donegal will be hard to beat As a Donegal post said about last years league game against Dublin(I was at the game)our defensive system in the first half had the upper hand on Dublin But for some terrible shooting by Donegal we had the game won at half time. I would bet my life JMcG will still use 9/11 men behind the ball this year, it's been his style all along lie back ,put up the barricades around 50 mats out from goal and let the other team come at you. But as I say we must get the tackle right otherwise with giving away frees and also the black card could cost us.
My guess is JMcG is going flat out for promotion and rumour had it that when the Glenswilly boys rejoined the panel in mid November they were well off pace comparing to the boys who had been training with the county panel. I don't care what anybody says on here if we can't top this div after all we done over the last 3 years then it's a poor outlook for Donegal football
According ti P Power (bookmaker)we are around fifth in the betting for Sam , I think around ten or twelve to one while most or all of the other teams are twenty bar

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 05/02/2014 13:35:01    1541740

I think injuries also play a big part in these league games. For instance Galway had the likes of Bradshaw, Meehan, Cummins, Doherty, O'Brien and O'Donnell out injured the last day against Meath and they probably would have made a big difference to the final scoreline (not to mention other players that were playing out of position e.g. Sice and Duane).

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3326 - 05/02/2014 13:50:36    1541750

Indeed there are many interesting questions, it's potentially fascinating stuff tactically. Obviously the art of good tackling with the advent of the black card will be absolutley key.
This should reward good teams going forward like Dublin in theory, but in tandem will also benefit a team like Donegal who when fully fit are gifted with a talented backs unit who can carry out a well executed tackle and turnover. This looks like it could become a rarity!
Meath/Galway cricket score was from 2 teams with good forward play and gaping holes in the rear. From a Meath perspective they attack in a fashion similar to Dublin. Young and sharp, running at pace, good feet and quick hands, able to kick a score, it's the back 6 which have the most questions to answer.

As a Meath man having a fit and hungry Donegal as a barometer is nothing but a good thing. Nothing like a thorough examination from a top team to highlight where gains are needed.

As for giving other teams a lack of respect I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder. For me, Donegal and Monaghan are strong favourites, Meath, Down, Louth, Galway in a tight squeeze with Armagh and Laois bring up the rear.
The picture will be a whole lot clearer after this weekend.

highking12 (Meath) - Posts: 184 - 05/02/2014 14:17:34    1541770

Well said highking. ::::it's potentially fascinating stuff tactically
You hit the nail on the head here The team that harbours any ambition of winning any thing, Provincal or National title will in my book have to have a serious look at this Black card business they will HAVE to get the tackle right Defenders will really have to get everything spot on Teams will have to have a lot better discipline than before and I think the top few teams will be in the running for Sam come August. To me Donegal v Dublin would be as fascinating a battle tactically as we might see I know we had a few with M Hart and Co but would really look forward to meeting Dublin again

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 05/02/2014 14:38:45    1541783

As it happens I obviously hope for a Meath win on Sunday but its very difficult. Monaghan have become a bogey team for Meath and in this regard the same can be said of Monahan and Donegal. This is why I feel Monaghan are well placed to go up, if they beat Meath and Donegal then surely they will progress.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 05/02/2014 14:54:06    1541800