Absolutely clondalkin, they're still a nightmare to play against, but if you have penetration and more than a couple of scoring forwards they will struggle, but they have lots of time to sharpen their knife!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 25/05/2014 16:27:45    1593135

Never understand all these 'poor standard', 'two average teams', 'won't be winning the All-Ireland on that performance' comments. You don't need to be the best team in the world every time you play. You just need to be better than the team you're playing. Teams have lost in their provinces and still won the All-Ireland. It's not a league, it's a knock-out competition. Both teams are well capable of having plenty more to say this summer.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 25/05/2014 16:37:10    1593142

25/05/2014 16:08:09
Ned_Stormcrow
County: Cavan
Posts: 349

1593116
Didn't see that result coming, but there you go some things never change, Derry are a league team through and through. As for Donegal, well they won't be next nor near Mayo, Cork or Dublin this year. The standard in Ulster is distinctly average lately, albeit it is the most competitive championship by far. Looking at both Donegal and Tyrone they are not the teams they once were, and Cavan and Monaghan will more than fancy their chances of winning Ulster this year. Intriguing Ulster championship so far, still impossible to pick a winner. Donegal should have enough for Fermanagh/Antrim, but the other side of the draw is wide open. Tyrone, Monaghan and Cavan all in with a shout of making the final



Armagh still in it also on our side of the draw

Muineachain76 (Monaghan) - Posts: 180 - 25/05/2014 16:41:01    1593145

Donegal will be very happy to have survived that challenge away to Derry. Not the greatest of matches but interesting to watch all the same.
Ulster football shifts a lot of criticism but in fairness they do have have a competitive provincial championship - 10,000+ attendance in all matches with just 2-3 points deciding the outcome in most games. At least five of the remaining teams will fancy their chances in Ulster while its difficult to see past Mayo, Cork/Kerry and Dublin in the other three provinces .. Enjoy the contest !

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 507 - 25/05/2014 16:43:55    1593149

Happy to get the win today. When Lynch is shackeled Derry are average. To be honest we played poorly for the entire first half, brillant gor 15 then closed it out. Would love to have aeen us keeping up the pace we set at the start of the second half. What about Murphys point. Thing of beauty!!
Not bad result when you think we started with none of our midfielders and Mc Brearty getting a gurt in the warm up. We will need to improve though to threaten winning anything.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 25/05/2014 17:02:20    1593169

Would agree with Clondalkin , Donegal are still a dangerous Team, In Murphy they have a class act, for 10mins in second half they looked very powerful, I think after last year and the league semi disappointments that win will spur them on. Very disappointed in Derry .

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 25/05/2014 17:04:02    1593175

Donegal were poor but it's a great result to get over the line here. That's ulster rough, tough and get the job done. For the Donegal of 4-5 years ago this would have been an amazing result. It's all about getting as fat as you can through the front door and peaking at the right time. This suits donegal this year I fully expect us to be in another all Ireland QF which I would have bit your hand off for 2010. 4 QF in a row and maybe more

Donegalboy23 (Donegal) - Posts: 36 - 25/05/2014 17:14:26    1593188

Trying to make sense of today`s match preview by Roy Curtis (SW), turned out to be a very personal rant against Jim Mc Guinness.
Seems to be obsessed with unhealthy negative thoughts of Jim (he was imagining Jim being trapped in an operating car crusher at one stage ) .. does he realize he is writing about an amateur participant ???

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 507 - 25/05/2014 17:23:42    1593195

You would think Derry got absolutely hammered today, well a goal decided the game. One of the best forwards in Ireland had a 10 minute purple patch and that determined the outcome of the game. Players have an off today and unfortunately two of our best players over the league campaign failed to perform today. People talking about Derry being a one man team is nonsense, we had this for years when Bradley was playing, so I don't buy this at all.

Donegal are a very well drilled outfit, Michael Murphy said it in his post match interview by saying 'we try to concede as little as possible and be efficient at the other end'.

Disappointed to say the least but we will live to fight another day.

OakGael (Derry) - Posts: 293 - 25/05/2014 17:27:23    1593197

Shows the value of using the National League as a gauge for the Championship. Like using an lump of coal to measure the volume of a V8 engine!

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 25/05/2014 17:33:20    1593201

Ulster still contains 5 of the top 10 teams in the country...so standard is not as poor as some people are making out

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 25/05/2014 17:33:22    1593202

mayotyroneman I would say this year and the last few the overall standard has been lower than what we have had a different points on the past. True that Ulster still has 5 of the top 10 teams but it will be the best of an average lot that wins the All Ireland this year.

Naysayer (Antrim) - Posts: 2071 - 25/05/2014 17:59:09    1593234

I dont know how Cavan can be slated for defensive football , we never played that defensive but Donegal seemed to need three or four men every time to put in one tackle,I felt bad for Derry .I thought donegal switched Murphy to goalie at one stage he was so far back , nice scores from him all the same but I thought Derry was the only team trying to attack and I thought the whole Donegal back room team and subs was going to run on at one stage to stop Derry scoring ,I would rather Monaghan or Tyrone win ulsterto be honest.

bisto kid (Cavan) - Posts: 492 - 25/05/2014 18:18:41    1593241

icehonesty
County: Wexford
Posts: 1567

1593096
What a disgusting game of football.

It wasn't a great game of open attacking football, but "disgusting", really????

There were some great scores taken & some first class defending.

To call it disgusting betrays the fact that you are from Wexford, a county which has neither footballers or hurlers of any worth.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 25/05/2014 18:24:02    1593245

Curlew66
County: Roscommon
Posts: 27

1593195
Trying to make sense of today`s match preview by Roy Curtis (SW), turned out to be a very personal rant against Jim Mc Guinness.
Seems to be obsessed with unhealthy negative thoughts of Jim (he was imagining Jim being trapped in an operating car crusher at one stage ) .. does he realize he is writing about an amateur participant ???

The Sunday World is nothing but toilet paper at the best of times to be honest.

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 25/05/2014 18:24:58    1593246

Just back from my first game in celtic park, derry, and was well impressed with the set up there. The stadium is tidy, and right down on top of the action. The derry wans were very good hosts, i hope they get a run together in the back door, but I doubt it judging by the wyay they left the pitch today.

WEll done our lads, the game wasnt pretty to watch at times but personally, I dont really care that much, the result was the most important thing we got. I think murphys point was something absolutely brilliant, as well as the goal. Very solid all round team performance and tackled like it was do or die for 70 minutes. More of the same next time out.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 25/05/2014 18:27:28    1593249

Steve
County: Fermanagh
Posts: 238

1593099
Problem is that Donegal basically have a bye into the final now. Hopefully somebody gives them a hammering when they get there.

What a hateful small minded little post.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 25/05/2014 18:27:40    1593250

Donegal had 12 minutes of excellent football today helped by an awful ref and they ran out of legs, the rest of the game they were just dreadful. At least six teams would be out of sight against a team which clearly is playing yesterdays game. IMO they won't feature nor will Derry, two very poor teams with some excellant players, but that's not enough anymore.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4898 - 25/05/2014 18:33:37    1593253

Just back from Derry & glad to get the win albeit in a poor enough game.

Donegal did enough in patches especially in the first 10 minutes of the second half to win the game but Derry were very poor & their supporters were hugely disappointed. Fergal Lynch getting injured was a big loss to them.
What I did like was the shape of the Donegal defence which was a lot better than what I have seen recently. We also came through injury free & will have Kavanagh back & hopefully Gallagher fully fit.

Onward & upward.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 25/05/2014 18:38:47    1593254

Just back home from the game. Fantastic to get a result today! I honestly thought Derry would beat us going into today's game.. I don't agree with some people's comments knocking Donegal's game though. Ulster Championship games are always going to be an absolute dog fight, real attritional games and the only important thing is the result.. This is a Derry team that got to a Division One Final. Don't know what it was like on tv but the intensity of todays game was unreal.

I thought Jim got our tactics spot on though. Containing Lynch showed that that is the key to beating Derry. Was very similar to watching Donegal in 2011 bar the 15 mins in the 2nd half where we kicked on playing the sort of football we know Donegal are capable of. It wasn't necessary to do that for 70 minutes but we caught a glimpse of what Donegal can do.

Donegal should have had 4 or 5 more points in the first half.. 2 shots off the post, McBrearty short on 2 occasions and Thompson and McFadden with 2 awful misses. Derry did a great job containing McFadden. I honestly think that if you can stop McFadden , Donegal will struggle to put up scores. On his day he is our biggest threat but Derry completely nullified him today. Was disappointed in McBreaty completely non existant in the 2nd half and few bad misses in the first. Thought Lacey was superb. McGlynn was very good and Murphy was his usual solid self. Ryan Mchugh also had a great 2nd half.. And McElhinney is an absolute BEAST, has to start the next game, our best player in the 2nd half! Fair play to young jigger did well on his Championship debut too.

Overall, I'm delighted to get through today. Hopefullly we will get through the semi unscathed and start hitting peak form for another Ulster Final!!

HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 520 - 25/05/2014 18:40:15    1593255