seanie08
County: Monaghan
Posts: 732

1614859
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.

I still think that replay will hurt Monaghan in the Ulster final, If only by delaying their preparations.

I think overall there is little between these two teams, and there is very little between their style of football system.
And for that reason alone, I believe that Monaghan having less than 2 weeks to prepare will hurt them.
However I must say I was Impressed by the long range kicking of the Monaghan players, with Paul Finlay and Darren Hughes derserving a special mention. I have to say it was exceptional kicking, and something that will play to their advantage in the Ulster Final.

Armagh's direct running caused major problems for Monaghan in the first game, and It is something Donegal are much better at. Donegal are a fair bit stronger than when they played the Division 2 final, definitely in a stronger place mentally too.
It should be a cracking final, and I don't think that many can really argue against the fact that Ulster's strongest two teams are playing in it.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 07/07/2014 13:16:24    1615125

Hope this game don't fall flat, love to see a real tactical game , which I think will happen. Hope to see Ulster football at its best and May one of the two teams go and win Sam.
If we loose won't have no problem, we have no divine right to win, we have to do it on the field of play But I'm sure most people would agree it's as good a pairing as any of us could ask for at present in Ulster.
Coming back for the final and love heading to Clones on Ulster final day. Of course I'm hoping Donegal wins but if we end up with nothing it will be good luck,well done to Armagh minors,Monaghan seniors.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 07/07/2014 13:31:14    1615138

prideof85
County: Monaghan
Posts: 292

1615096
Before the chestbeating starts, to Donegal and there supporters good luck, good supporters win lose or draw

Cheers pride & the best of everything to the Monaghan folk too.

Mind you all this bonhomie between the two counties feels a bit unnatural & it can only be a matter of time before blood & fur are flying!!

Still, let's enjoy the civility while it lasts.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 07/07/2014 13:38:55    1615144

Ha let's not go down the Dublin Meath love-in route here.

This will be a hard-hitting, tactical battle that is pretty hard to call at this stage. Monaghan are the only team in Ulster who I cannot remember us beating in championship football. If you were to offer me a scrappy one point win, in an out and out puke-fest that caused Pat Spillane an aneurysm I'd snap your hand off right now!

Monaghan deservedly won last year and their supporters have laughed off the 'tired' Donegal excuses. It looks as though we'll be at full strength this year. I sincerely hope Hughes and Lennon are fit in time so that there are no excuses this time. Roll on July 20th!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9151 - 07/07/2014 14:24:03    1615173

Lockjaw.
1983 when Donegal Won Ulster beating Cavan in the final , we beat Monaghan in the semi final. I think that was the game that Charlie Mulgrew got his jaw broke.
That was the year Seamus Bonner (rip) became the only Donegal man to win three Ulster medals.
Can 20 odd Donegal players equal that record this year in 2weeks time.
If this lives up to expectations this will be a hard, hard game. But Donegal have plenty of experience of games like that ::::: I thought 2012 semi final against Tyrone was one of the hardest, toughest and closes game I ever saw. We just about got over the line and to be truthful I don't think Tyrone played anything near to what they played that day since.
Monaghan have also been in tough battles, a few of them played really well against Kerry a few years ago , they don't lack experience so I'd say whoever collects The Anglo -Celt on Sunday week( less a draw) will be deserving of it. It's a really massive challenge for Donegal to regain Sam but that's why we are all heading to Clones on Sunday week. Same story applies to Monaghan.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 07/07/2014 14:49:07    1615202

Lockjaw
County: Donegal
Posts: 3452

Monaghan are the only team in Ulster who I cannot remember us beating in championship football. If you were to offer me a scrappy one point win, in an out and out puke-fest that caused Pat Spillane an aneurysm I'd snap your hand off right now!

Monaghan deservedly won last year and their supporters have laughed off the 'tired' Donegal excuses. It looks as though we'll be at full strength this year. I sincerely hope Hughes and Lennon are fit in time so that there are no excuses this time. Roll on July 20th!


Last time we beat monaghan was in 1983, in irvenstown. We won by 2 points in a bruising game. Charlie Mulgrew got his jaw broken. It has been all monaghan since that game. The last time we had a close match with them, was in ballybofey in 2008. It went to extra time, and monaghan prevailed.

Question for all, do these trends mater? I am not sure any more. I am basing this on the recent performances of teams with so called traditions. Such as Cavan. If you can live on the merits of tradition, then why are they so crap when it comes to the crunch? just a thought. I am of the opinion that it is all to do with tactics on the day.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 07/07/2014 14:52:09    1615205

If Hughes and Lennon don't make it you won't here any excuses from me, at the end of the day there's a panel of 30 player's or so if there good enough to be on the panel they should be good enough to step in and do a job when needed.
I expect Hughes to play but I don't think Lennon will due to his lack of gametime.
Really looking forward to this and delighted to be involved in what will probably be the last final in Clones, just won't be the same atmosphere going to Casement, but I'm glad to saythat I seen all 9 teams from Ulster play in finals and always has been a great day.

Pukefootball (Monaghan) - Posts: 377 - 07/07/2014 15:05:23    1615222

Donegal man.
Everything on the day as Monaghan now well know They had not beaten Tyrone for close on 25 years up to a few weeks ago. We are now in the same boat , we have to do what Monaghan done against Tyrone ::::get the Monaghan monkey off our back.
Would not worry about tradition:::just a load of talk. Think back to 1992 .... The biggest game in Donegal football history. Dublin never have being beaten by an Ulster county in an All Ireland final and Donegal in their first final. You know what happened .... Great result for Donegal going in as complete underdogs. Then you had Derry DownArmagh and Tyrone beating Dublin in championship games after that.
To win this years Ulster final every thing must go right ,every player on top of his game and hopefully no errors/black cards/ red cards and of course a bit of luck.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 07/07/2014 15:20:55    1615237

A Michael Murphy placed ball deep into injury time for a one point to nil win !

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 07/07/2014 15:25:43    1615247

Pukefootball
County: Monaghan
Posts: 333

Really looking forward to this and delighted to be involved in what will probably be the last final in Clones, just won't be the same atmosphere going to Casement, but I'm glad to saythat I seen all 9 teams from Ulster play in finals and always has been a great day.

I'm with you there pukefootball, Adams Park just won't have the same history, tradition or atmosphere.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 07/07/2014 15:26:59    1615250

You're right Pukefootball, Casement will never match Clones as an occasion for an Ulster Final.
Really looking forward to the game. Very similar teams with mean defences, some top class forwards and all supremely conditioned. Gonna be a real battle and defeat will be hard to take for either but I have a feeling that both will make the quarters anyway with the way the fixtures are this year.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 07/07/2014 15:27:43    1615251

The Right Stuff
Now that's the score I want if we meet Dublin and would be quite happy to sit all day in CP just to see a finish like that and see the reaction from the hill when they would look at the score board at the final whistle.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 07/07/2014 15:46:43    1615265

Going to be a great match I hope, Goodluck to Donegal on the day , hard to predict it but I'm going to say a Monaghan win and that the game against Armagh woke us up, also looking forward to the tactical battles, will Vinny pick up Murphy again ? Expecting a big game from Darren Hughes he is great to watch and is very under-rated,

MonaghanGlory (Monaghan) - Posts: 738 - 07/07/2014 16:00:44    1615281

MonaghanGlory, given the success we've had with our defensive match-ups against Donegal in the two finals in the past 12 months, it would make sense to keep them like that I'd have thought. But sure you never know what Malachy will have up his sleeve. Walshe on McBrearty, Drew on McFadden and Vinny on Murphy, if it's not broke don't fix it. All three had tough games in the drawn Armagh game, perhaps their toughest under O'Rourke, but in the replay all three won their battles well, especially Vinny who completely nullified the influence Dyas had in the first game. If Donegal start well in there then we can change things.

Another question will be who will Donegal designate to mark McManus and Hughes inside. The McGees I presume but who marking who? I thought our lads did well in the Ulster final last year, Hughes especially who gave Eamon McGee a torrid time, and he impressed in the league final this year aswell. After those two meetings and having the two Armagh games to study aswell I'm sure McGuinness will have something up his sleeve.

Given that both sides generally have mean defences and a couple of clinical forwards up front, the key will probably be winning possession around the middle. I'd hope Lennon will be fit to play a part as he will be needed in a game like this, but in fairness Dick has really done well this year so far, and you can always rely on Darren Hughes to put on a good performance. With the Donegal midfield looking to be at full strength this area will be a right old tussle.

It's bound to be a fierce tactical battle between two astute managers and two well drilled and motivated teams, there won't be more than the kick of a ball between them. Can't wait!

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 07/07/2014 16:35:52    1615305

The problem Patk is what worked last year and in the div 2final might not work on Sunday week. Also I'd like to know what team will J McG start. The backs are more or less as the last few years :::: McGees.McGrath
McGlynn Lacy Thompson. What about midfield ::::we have the following:::big Neil, Rory MMc Elhinney or even CToye or O McNelis.
R McHugh D o Connor McBreartyMM And McFadden. Now CToye could be No11
Will be interesting how he selects this team but one thing for sure I don't see Donegal going 32 minutes without scoring as what happened in the first half last year. I'd say this is going to be one of the most interesting games of the next few weeks.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 07/07/2014 17:02:01    1615322

McManus being the big threat, I'd say he will be double teamed. Paddy McGrath is playing out of his skin & could get the main marking job.

What has also changed is Donegal's half forward line. Seen as a secondary half back line in the past they scored 2-10 from play against Antrim while the full forward line scored only 0-2 from play. McBrearty is struggling with his form & might not start.

There are so many permutation you would be dizzy trying to figure it all out. The managers, two of the best in the business, will have their work cut out over the next two weeks

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 07/07/2014 17:12:27    1615340

patk
County: Monaghan
Posts: 224

1615305
MonaghanGlory, given the success we've had with our defensive match-ups against Donegal in the two finals in the past 12 months, it would make sense to keep them like that I'd have thought. But sure you never know what Malachy will have up his sleeve. Walshe on McBrearty, Drew on McFadden and Vinny on Murphy, if it's not broke don't fix it. All three had tough games in the drawn Armagh game, perhaps their toughest under O'Rourke, but in the replay all three won their battles well, especially Vinny who completely nullified the influence Dyas had in the first game. If Donegal start well in there then we can change things.

Another question will be who will Donegal designate to mark McManus and Hughes inside. The McGees I presume but who marking who? I thought our lads did well in the Ulster final last year, Hughes especially who gave Eamon McGee a torrid time, and he impressed in the league final this year aswell. After those two meetings and having the two Armagh games to study aswell I'm sure McGuinness will have something up his sleeve.

Given that both sides generally have mean defences and a couple of clinical forwards up front, the key will probably be winning possession around the middle. I'd hope Lennon will be fit to play a part as he will be needed in a game like this, but in fairness Dick has really done well this year so far, and you can always rely on Darren Hughes to put on a good performance. With the Donegal midfield looking to be at full strength this area will be a right old tussle.

It's bound to be a fierce tactical battle between two astute managers and two well drilled and motivated teams, there won't be more than the kick of a ball between them. Can't wait!

Have to agree with you on all there , took the words right out of my mouth, If it's not broke don't fix it,
In your opinion Considering Vinny has been physical with Murphy do you think that the ref will be looking out for such? Kieran Hughes is great at ball winning so I am not sure how McGee will handle him this year , I'm thinking Ryan Wylie will Pick up young O'Connor, he seems to a great player and fast so I think Wylie is the man for him , I agree , Dick has played well this year so I'd say he could start in the final,

MonaghanGlory (Monaghan) - Posts: 738 - 07/07/2014 17:15:21    1615345

Sam I know it might not work again, and I'm not expecting yous to be kept scoreless for so long again, but my point is why wouldn't we stay with the same match-ups that worked well before? I'm certainly expecting the Donegal forwards to be much better this time so our defence will have to improve, but I have faith in all of them doing a job. If the Donegal men get on top early then changes can be made. What will be different is that we will likely have a different player acting as sweeper, either Ryan Wylie or Paudie McKenna I'd imagine, the latter of which did a good job yesterday. Also Fintan Kelly will have a big role to play whereas he didn't feature last year, although he did impress in the league final.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 07/07/2014 17:17:35    1615346

Having seen both teams I feel this is a very hard assignment for Donegal.Monaghan a team on the up should have enough to win with a bit too spare.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 07/07/2014 17:24:12    1615355

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 6013

1615355
Having seen both teams I feel this is a very hard assignment for Donegal.Monaghan a team on the up should have enough to win with a bit too spare.

royal, you haven't seen both teams. This is an Ulster final not a league game in winter & both teams are unrecognisable from then.
I agree that it is a tough assignment, but it will be tough for both teams, the bookies can't seperate them & I feel that is spot on.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 07/07/2014 17:40:00    1615362