Fancy Donegal to beat Monaghan.

I stand by my opinion that this replay hurt Monaghan, or will hurt Monaghan moving forward. This was a game they should have won first time around, and then spent 3 weeks preparing for Donegal. Instead they were forced to look at Armagh for another week, and essentially lose a week concentrating on Donegal.

All the while Jim McGuinness & Co have got an additional chance to see Monaghan in action, watch how Malachy O'Rourke reacted to certain challenges that Armagh posed in both games and what changes he made to counter those challenges.

This season Donegal have a refreshed fully fit squad, and there is zero chance of them underestimating Monaghan this year.
That being said, the way both teams set up will mean neither will run away with this game.

Donegal to win by 4 points.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 06/07/2014 20:02:06    1614784

MuckrossHead
County: Donegal
Posts: 2765

1614779
hutto
County: Monaghan
Posts: 99

Donegal supporters have 2 week's to get their excuses ready, the last 2 excuses were in the Ulster final they were tired, in the league final they weren't trying so have a good one ready this time,FEAR OF THE FARNEY.

hutto,

You forgot the excuses that were made after the Donegal's magnificent victory in Letterkenny, way understrength if memory serves me right.

I just thought I would throw that in, for balance like. It is going to be a long two weeks.


Excuses excuses. hard to beat them. Letterkenny nor croke park will mean that much in 2 weeks time.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 06/07/2014 20:02:09    1614786

Well done Monaghan today, easy winners and they really showed Armagh up. Now for the main course. What a different a year makes, Donegal only had to show up last year and the title was theirs, instead their season took a huge blow. Monaghan are probably slight favorites after the trimming they gave Donegal in the league final. Yet can we really take league form seriously. For Donegal to win its time for McFadden and McBrearty to up their game. On the otherhand, Monaghan still need Eoin Lennon and Kieran Hughes. Its going to be tight, will the hurt of last year shade it for Donegal, it might just Donegal by two.

222 (UK) - Posts: 695 - 06/07/2014 20:29:14    1614801

GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 1169

1614784


Fancy Donegal to beat Monaghan.

I stand by my opinion that this replay hurt Monaghan, or will hurt Monaghan moving forward. This was a game they should have won first time around, and then spent 3 weeks preparing for Donegal. Instead they were forced to look at Armagh for another week, and essentially lose a week concentrating on Donegal.

All the while Jim McGuinness & Co have got an additional chance to see Monaghan in action, watch how Malachy O'Rourke reacted to certain challenges that Armagh posed in both games and what changes he made to counter those challenges.

This season Donegal have a refreshed fully fit squad, and there is zero chance of them underestimating Monaghan this year.
That being said, the way both teams set up will mean neither will run away with this game.

Donegal to win by 4 points


The more I read your posts Gary, the move I think you are either Joe Brolly or his ghost writer.

Best of luck to both teams in the next two weeks and hoping for a competitive and even final.

Huge achievement for Monaghan getting to two finals in a row for the first times in over a half a century.

Remember we are on the up and again have a lot to prove against this Donegal team who have all irelands medals in their pockets. we have done nothing of the like yet so will be proving ourselfs until we do the same.

Enjoy the next two weeks it will be a great day out for both sets of supporters and teams.

muckla (UK) - Posts: 366 - 06/07/2014 20:33:32    1614808

That is a powerful Monaghan side. Reminded me a little of Armagh 10 years ago.

Good luck Donegal.

JP91 (Armagh) - Posts: 316 - 06/07/2014 20:34:10    1614809

muckla
County: UK
Posts: 116

1614808 The more I read your posts Gary, the move I think you are either Joe Brolly or his ghost writer.


To be honest I really like Monaghan, and admire what they have done since 2012. I thought had they avoided Tyrone last season, they would have beat Mayo and gave Dublin a good rattle.

While I felt Monaghan were a better side than Tyrone last season, I was aware that Tyrone were a cuter outfit and would exploit everything they could to dismantle Monaghan. From getting Darren Hughes booked, who until that moment had Sean Cavanagh's Influence seriously curbbed, to the rugby tackling Conor McManus goal chance.

I think there is very little between Donegal and Monaghan, and whoever victoriously emerges from that Ulster final will have a serious say in where the All Ireland title is going. In saying that, the runner up would be no pushover either.

But I personally think Donegal will win this game by a narrow enough scoreline, and it should be a tactical masterpiece of which you are unlikely to witness in current day Munster or Connaught ;).

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 06/07/2014 20:59:03    1614821

GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 1172

1614821
muckla
County: UK
Posts: 116

1614808 The more I read your posts Gary, the move I think you are either Joe Brolly or his ghost writer.


To be honest I really like Monaghan, and admire what they have done since 2012. I thought had they avoided Tyrone last season, they would have beat Mayo and gave Dublin a good rattle.

While I felt Monaghan were a better side than Tyrone last season, I was aware that Tyrone were a cuter outfit and would exploit everything they could to dismantle Monaghan. From getting Darren Hughes booked, who until that moment had Sean Cavanagh's Influence seriously curbbed, to the rugby tackling Conor McManus goal chance.

I think there is very little between Donegal and Monaghan, and whoever victoriously emerges from that Ulster final will have a serious say in where the All Ireland title is going. In saying that, the runner up would be no pushover either.

But I personally think Donegal will win this game by a narrow enough scoreline, and it should be a tactical masterpiece of which you are unlikely to witness in current day Munster or Connaught ;)

Thanks Gary that is a very balanced and good post and you are right there is nothing between both teams but the fact that Donegal have won all ireland and we havent so that is to their advantage.

Not letting that be an excuse Monaghan will go into this game like any other with the objective to win and what an achievement that would be so this is a big day for both counties.

Donegal set the standard in 2011,2012 in ulster, Monaghan set the standard in 2013 so this is game presents a big opportunity for both teams.

Can Monaghan progress or can Donegal reclaim the form of prior years.

Hoping for a great day out in two weeks.

muckla (UK) - Posts: 366 - 06/07/2014 21:14:13    1614833

The game from hell, seriously though, intriguing match, look forward to it!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 06/07/2014 21:15:16    1614836

muckla
County: UK
Posts: 117

1614833 Thanks Gary that is a very balanced and good post and you are right there is nothing between both teams but the fact that Donegal have won all ireland and we havent so that is to their advantage.

Not letting that be an excuse Monaghan will go into this game like any other with the objective to win and what an achievement that would be so this is a big day for both counties.
Donegal set the standard in 2011,2012 in ulster, Monaghan set the standard in 2013 so this is game presents a big opportunity for both teams.
Can Monaghan progress or can Donegal reclaim the form of prior years.

Hoping for a great day out in two weeks.


I don't think having recently won an All Ireland will matter in this Ulster Final, but It probably would help if playing Dublin in a packed out 82,500 capacity Croke park on All Ireland SF or Final day. But as we have seen too often in the past, winning All Ireland titles won't save you from a tanking in Ulster.

By backing Donegal for the Ulster final, I wasn't writing Monaghan off for an All Ireland this year. I reckon they are a team that could lose Ulster and still give the All Ireland a rattle. I definitely think Monaghan have an All Ireland in them, they have currently a nice blend of experience, strength and Skill.

I would really like to see Monaghan play a Cork, Mayo or Kerry this year, I do genuinely think Monaghan would roast them. But from what I can gather from the Qualifier mess, that is unlikely to happen until the All Ireland Final. Although I may have read that wrong.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 06/07/2014 21:47:39    1614854

Am happy man we are through to another Ulster Final and won't be favourites again this season no matter who we play. This team thrives on being written off. You could hear some of the players after the match today talking about how the media all week was praising Armagh and deriding Monaghan. Donegal are a fine team but are they the side of 2012 ? The media will bill this as the chance for them for revenge and trot out the same stuff about how they underestimated us last year but this won't be allowed happen again. In short the lack of respect from certain media pundits towards Monaghan will continue. I heard Oisin McConville saying this evening we were punching above our weight considering the players we had. Last year ahead of the final apparently the best we could hope for was a six point defeat. Don't agree with earlier poster saying this replay will hurt us. We needed that performance today as we hadn't played well since the div 2 league final although of course donegal were tired as well that day. It is going to be a great final and in truth could go either way but one thing am sure of is this Monaghan side is not going to go quietly for anybody.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1802 - 06/07/2014 21:51:27    1614859

Am happy man we are through to another Ulster Final and won't be favourites again this season no matter who we play. This team thrives on being written off. You could hear some of the players after the match today talking about how the media all week was praising Armagh and deriding Monaghan. Donegal are a fine team but are they the side of 2012 ? The media will bill this as the chance for them for revenge and trot out the same stuff about how they underestimated us last year but this won't be allowed happen again. In short the lack of respect from certain media pundits towards Monaghan will continue. I heard Oisin McConville saying this evening we were punching above our weight considering the players we had. Last year ahead of the final apparently the best we could hope for was a six point defeat. Don't agree with earlier poster saying this replay will hurt us. We needed that performance today as we hadn't played well since the div 2 league final although of course donegal were tired as well that day. It is going to be a great final and in truth could go either way but one thing am sure of is this Monaghan side is not going to go quietly for anybody.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1802 - 06/07/2014 21:51:28    1614860

It's a good point seanie, it seems Monaghan will always be underdogs in these games no matter what we do, short of actually winning Sam. It's ideal really, nothing better than being written off.

Bit surprised by Oisin's comments, I always thought he was quite a reasoned pundit but I wonder had he the orange-tinted spectacles on while previewing this. By listening to him you'd think Armagh should win easy. Apparently they have better forwards, more scoring options, and better players off the bench! All that considered it seems we're lucky we got near them the first day.

Cracking game in store in two weeks, can't wait.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 06/07/2014 21:59:58    1614865

I hope it is not a draw as a replay wouldn't help either teams chances going forward (especially the loser) as they would have three tough matches in a row in consecutive weeks like the Galway hurlers. May the best team win

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1044 - 07/07/2014 09:12:54    1614891

SamOnErrigal
County: Donegal
Posts: 402
Blessed Jim , please deliver us from this Monaghan team and help Deliver the Anglo -Celt to the Diamond in a Donegal town. no the night of 20/07/14

Donegal Town, no way - it's got to be Letterkenny this time…!

redhandroar (Tyrone) - Posts: 59 - 07/07/2014 09:25:53    1614908

Redhandroar
Won't mind Letterkenny at all. That would be a lot better than Monaghan town

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 07/07/2014 09:36:19    1614922

seanie08
County: Monaghan
Posts: 731

In short the lack of respect from certain media pundits towards Monaghan will continue. I heard Oisin McConville saying this evening we were punching above our weight considering the players we had.

Thats the world of winning. You will never get the credit you deserve no mater how you do, unless you are kerry or dublin, and even then, you will have to put up with begrudgery. We still hear regularly that it is a system that won us the all ireland, and we were a bunch of fairly average players in 2012. Thats fine. Long may that talk continue to be honest. Re the ulster final, it will be 100% on the day. Im not sure that it maters that much any more what is written in the papers, or even on here for that mater. Players are well prepared mentally off the pitch and dont get sucked in by this that much. Monaghan have a poor modern record in ulster, but a very strong tradition, but you have to go back to the 1930s to get the tail end of it. (14 all together)? Those results wont mater in clones, nor will 1988. Because the current team are writing their own history. We have hit an excellent run in ulster too, and will be looking to improve on last years performance, (which wont be hard to do in all fairness). All on the day, and if the papers call it ulster muck or puke football or whatever, it is not going to mater one tiny bit to whoever takes home the silverware. May the best team win and hopefully it will be close.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 07/07/2014 11:01:01    1615009

Before the chestbeating starts, to Donegal and there supporters good luck, good supporters win lose or draw

prideof85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 851 - 07/07/2014 11:22:43    1615025

Good post Donegalman don't think either team will get the credit they deserve no matter what they do.
Looking forward to the 20th and the craic on Fermanagh street before and after the match, and if Donegal win i shall have a pint with you's after the game and wish you all the best as you's did with us last year.
Hope it's a good game and both teams give a good account of themselves and we show all our fellow gaels why it means so much to win an Ulster title.
May the best team win

Pukefootball (Monaghan) - Posts: 377 - 07/07/2014 11:45:27    1615048

Both teams at more or less full strength so a great day is in store for all lovers of football, Ulster style.

Let there be no excuses this time, let the winners be magnaminious in victory, & the losers gracious in defeat.

Clones on Ulster final day is a special place & seeing Fermanagh St thronged with brightly coloured supporters is part of summer. Sorry to see the wee hotel, it's name escapes me, closed. I spent a night there 37 years ago, before starting a year's work in the Ulster Bank in the town, memories memories.........

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 07/07/2014 12:07:34    1615062

Before the chestbeating starts, to Donegal and there supporters good luck, good supporters win lose or draw

prideof85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 851 - 07/07/2014 12:43:47    1615096