TheGateKeeper
County: Tyrone
Posts: 2667

1591280
4KHDoneill
County: Derry
Posts: 37

1591154
Derry will win this won by 5+ points, Donegal will be running back to the hills in fright, with all due respect their couple of year dominance of Ulster football is over


There is no such thing as dominating ulster any more. We are not ulster champions for a start. But we have done very well in the last 3 years for sure. I will be cheering derry on this year as they lift the anglo celt, beating tyrone/down/monaghan/cavan/armagh to a historic win.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 21/05/2014 13:28:50    1591310

Another great game this.Two excellent teams, will be a great
match.

Derry to win by two points.

REDANDBLACK30 (Down) - Posts: 1618 - 21/05/2014 17:08:10    1591486

We have seen this before in Ulster were a team who have had a good league such as Derry get turned over by a team more hardened in the championship fare and for that reason I go for a Donegal win. Donegal were training flat out for Derry so I think we can disregard the Monaghan result and I just feel Donegal are going to come back this year with a big kick.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 21/05/2014 20:12:47    1591596

I heard a rumour today that Paddy McBrearty may be starting as a half forward, with O'Connor making his county championship debut at full forward.
MacNiallais and R McHugh will likely join him on the half forward line.

Toye and McElhinney are starting midfielders, with Gallagher likely Introduction after HT.

Also chat of Paddy McGrath returning to Corner back, Alongside the McGee brother's. While Karl Lacey, Leo McLoone and Frank McGlynn make up the half back line.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 21/05/2014 20:13:13    1591598

Many people fancy Derry but their lack of championship consistency over the years could be a factor plus Donegal haven't gone away. Looking forward to this one.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2991 - 21/05/2014 20:22:29    1591602

I read the GAA pullout from The Sunday World, and nobody backed Donegal to win Ulster. In fact few pundits believed they will even make the All Ireland series. These Donegal fella's are coming in completely under the radar, and that worries me quite a bit.

I felt Derry could and can win this game, but I suppose I expected Donegal to be clear favourites beforehand. However Derry's good run in Division 1 and Donegal's failure to beat Monaghan has cemented opinion the other way around.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 21/05/2014 20:50:45    1591618

The Gatekeeper
Wonder what will his posts (4khdoneill) be on Sunday night, we probably will be too scared to look at them Anyway it was nice to dominate Ulster as he says and the thing is our dominance might not be over yet. We do not know but if we are short our two midfielders (one is suspended) then it's up to the men coming in to step up. Can't call this game, am afraid of that Tyrone man who is manager of Derry , the man who won us our first Div I title Very good manager and still think we can win but won't be at all surprised if Derry win There will be some interesting posts Sunday evening that's if we (Donegal) don't die of fright.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 21/05/2014 21:21:53    1591648

GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 1073

1591598
I heard a rumour today that Paddy McBrearty may be starting as a half forward, with O'Connor making his county championship debut at full forward.
MacNiallais and R McHugh will likely join him on the half forward line.

Toye and McElhinney are starting midfielders, with Gallagher likely Introduction after HT.

Also chat of Paddy McGrath returning to Corner back, Alongside the McGee brother's. While Karl Lacey, Leo McLoone and Frank McGlynn make up the half back line. Interesting story. If paddy Mc Brearty starts half forward, so be it, he would be very deep up the pitch if this were the case. As for mid field, I dont think we are going to win midfield on sunday, for certain actually, but there will be a lot of bodies in the area and the movement will be interesting. If Mcgrath starts on sunday that is the best news I have heard in a long time, we need a few experienced heads on sunday, no doubt about it.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 21/05/2014 21:42:41    1591667

Toss of a coin on Sunday, but one thing is for sure there will be no walk in the Park like in Ballybofey 2012. Can't wait for the white heat of championship, Tyrone V Down will be like a 10 year olds birthday party compared to the intensity this Sunday.

brolly_4_pres (Derry) - Posts: 356 - 21/05/2014 21:50:13    1591675

Neil Lennon to leave CELTIC , if true where does that leave Jim Does he stay at CELTIC, follow on with Neil or stay with Donegal. Lots of things depending on what Donegal achieves this year.
Myself, I would appoint JMcG as a full time employee looking after Donegal football especially as we are suppose to have a good young minor team coming through. If we have I hope they are not wasted as we had good minor teams before 96/06 and got very few seniors players from them especially the 96 team I think every county should have a full time person helping to develope young players. Any way let's get a result Sunday and things migh start looking up again

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 22/05/2014 12:25:41    1591809

@donegalman

Think the best football I've seen mcbearty play for donegal was with u21s this year and he was playing in the half forward line. I've been saying all year would like to see mcguinness play him there as it gives us a greater scoring threat for the half forward line as it's something we have lacked last few years especially last year. I think its a gamble starting McGrath but it might pay off, he has been a loss to the team and it will allow Lacey to return to the half back line where he probably be given the job of marking mark lynch

I feel a lot of people could be looking a bit to much into Derris run in the league. League and championship are totally different in 2012 we went down to kerry in the league and they give us a hiding by 12+ points yet later on the year in 1/4 final we beat them in the championship. Donegal came within 1 point of being relegated in 2012 and later went on to win the all Ireland. I don't mind going in as the underdogs though. Nobody is talking about ys this year similarly to 2011 and we all know what happened that year (1st ulster title in 19 years :) )

ringerbell (Donegal) - Posts: 39 - 22/05/2014 13:10:39    1591830

Looks like big Neil will be fit to play some part whether it's from the start or not. That's a massive boost. He makes such a difference in the engine room when he's in there and going well. His balling winning ability is vital of course, but he also knits the play together very well. It's an underated facet to his game I feel.

I'm getting a wee bit more confident as the week goes on. This is a team with Ulster and All Ireland winners medals. Maybe in the past we would have been daunted at the prospect of facing Derry in Celtic Park. But these lads have been to the top and know how to win tight games in Ulster.

Donegal by 4 points.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 22/05/2014 14:38:40    1591882

I would also like to see Mc Brearty at half forward. He can take scores from distance and is a strong direct runner which is hard to stop since the black card introduction. If Neil is fit it would be a masdive boost but can't seem him being able for a full 70.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 22/05/2014 14:42:15    1591886

A huge boost if both Neil Gallagher & Paddy McGrath are fit & ready to play.

McGrath taking his place at corner back leaves Lacy at centre half back, his best position & I have always maintained that Neil Gallagher is our most important asset. McBrearty at half forward is interesting, he is a good ball winner & strong runner & putting him there would signal a real change of tack for JMcG.

My only fear would be putting half fit men in out of a case of necessity. We tried that last year & it blew up.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 22/05/2014 15:36:11    1591933

@ Tir Conaill abu

Not to side track the thread but I am wondering who you will support if Donegal win and go on to play Fermanagh? alot of Fermanagh was a part of Tir Conaill you see

4KHDoneill (Derry) - Posts: 182 - 22/05/2014 18:18:53    1592056

very hard to call, 2 good teams, we where destroyed last year, a year to forget not to bad in league, bar Monaghan game, Derry beat last year by Down, Cavan, Derry have a great league, bar Dublin game, this year, both team s have the players to get them over the line, Donegal maybe more experience, who ever has the hunger,will advance, been neighbours ,it will be nothing given,taken, each knowing that a win,will land them in Ulster final, no disrespect to Fermanagh,Antrim, who will be waiting in the long grass to pull of a shock,look s like Derry, but something tells me we have not heard the last of Donegal just yet, all the best to Jim,the team,all got to do with Donegal football on sunday. and good luck to Declan and the Donegal minors.

mchugh11 (Donegal) - Posts: 242 - 22/05/2014 18:23:48    1592060

The indecision is there for us all to chose from.

The donegal that struggled last year, and were beaten last month in croke park, or the donegal that actually turned things around a bit this year in the league.

Having been to most league games, I feel that there are positives to be taken despite the lack of consistency. Donegal went to Armagh the last day of the league, and beat them comprehensively despite armagh needing to get someting in order to stay up. I think that we played really well that day. The meath and down games were weak links apparently, but I was at neither game. Apparently there was a bit of an experiment going on in the first half with our kick outs and our mid field, so i wouldnt get to bogged down by wondering at how good we are from that game. The Down game we were well beaten in, and it is more a testimony to down in newry than anything we did or didnt do. We have struggled in the past there, and I am sure tyrone will get their fill of it there on sat.

Balancing all in my mind, I think that there is a big performance brewing on sunday. I think that we will match derry in most parts of the field, and that we should get going the way we were in 2012, or even v tyrone last year before we eventually wiped out. There is no doubt that derry are deservedly the bookies favorites for the game, and gud luck to them if they beat us, but I really think that we can outfox them over 70 minutes. A good game hopefully.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 22/05/2014 20:14:19    1592107

Aye as Neil McGee said in the paper the other day, not only are people outside the county writing them off, but people within the county aswell. These lads deserve better than that. I will be in Celtic Park on Sunday roaring the lads on and so should every other Donegal supporter.

Tír Chonaill Abú!!!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 22/05/2014 20:34:51    1592115

4khdonnaill
TirCHONNAIL ALSO RULED PART OF Derry at that time also, right up to Antrimand probably included a bit of Antrim. So with O Donnell in TC and O Neill in Tir Eoghan the two counties ruled most of Ulster. Just liked what happened the last five or six years in the Ulster championship.
Anyway looking to Sunday, around 3.30 I think we will be hearing that great song again;;;;;;;; JIMMY'S WINNING MATCHES. What better place to relaunch it again,, along the banks of the Foyle.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 22/05/2014 20:40:50    1592117

As corny as it is SamOnErrigal, it would indeed be class to hear it being belted out again!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 22/05/2014 20:46:04    1592122