Muckross . yes of course you are right league and championship are completely different. But if I was a Donegal man I'd worry about Derry getting beat by Longford who in turn get beat by tipp and antrim getting turned over too . I think Donegals advantage is that monaghan have had hard games , but at home in clones swings it for them IMO.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 08/07/2014 08:23:04    1615520

Yet another Ulster football final too close to call, this is what makes our provincial championship that bit special, especally when you see what the other three provinces are dishing up these days. Monaghan being my second team will have my full support on the day, however thats not an endorsement that they will win, so I've decided I will make no forecasts and just enjoy the occasion. May the best team win and give Sam a damned good rattle at the same time.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 08/07/2014 09:08:34    1615530

222 uk. Patk
Just gone through the Gaelic life again ( Joe brolly article))

Now he states the following about Donegal
He starts by saying ::::leaving out the Mayo game in 2013 at which point he says Donegal were a ghost team He offers up the following stats
In 19 championship games under JMcG Donegal conceded four goals. In 13 Ulster championship games Donegal conceded 2 goals, one a rebound from a penalty.
Three years in a row 2011/2012/2013 Tyrone failed to raise a green flag against Donegal in the Ulster championship.
In 20 championship games under JMcG only once have they been beaten when they scored a goal
He goes on to state that if JMcG gets Donegal through The Ulster Final, which He says will be a delight for puke football lovers then they are almost certain to meet the team that can't be beat in the AI semi final ::::::::Dublin.
Now 222uk if you take the domination Monaghan had last year on the field of play you could not say it showed on the score board as I thought Monaghan should have had more then 13points. To me the Donegal defence done well last year considering our Forwards were well held plus it was the third Ulster final in a row without conceding a goal
But back to Brolly and it is still some achievement by Donegal He also states their defensive system/setup is the best ever in 125 years of the GAA (now that's his opinion ) so really that's what I'm pinning my hopes on ::::: we have regained our form , we are getting near the 2012 levels again but as I say I HOPE.
Things can grange from game to game , take Kerry for instance,, when they beat Clare nobody were impressed , pushed out to 12/1 for Sam Now after Sunday they are now 5/1 second fav. Now I could not see this Kerry team beating Monaghan never mind Donegal. There was not a hand put on them Sunday and do you think they would get the time/space they got Sunday against either Mon/Don

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 08/07/2014 09:31:17    1615538

Should be good and competitive 2 top division 2 sides
Hopefully better than that final

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1764 - 08/07/2014 10:04:21    1615548

shaggylegend
County: Monaghan
Posts: 1077

1615519 I cant figure how Donegal supporters are so confident and claiming Donegal have improved and in a better place than last year. Donegal have been a Derry team than crumbled against Dublin and that knocked them for six. Beating an Antrim team missing 6 of their best players is no mean feat either, but then again you can only beat whats in front of you. That doubt in Murphy McFadden and McBrearty head wondering can they finally show up against Monaghan. Kieran Hughes has roasted Eamon McGee in their 3 last duals once for jordanstown and twice for Monaghan. I believe monaghan will have the mental edge.


Football isn't always about who you beat but the manner in which you do it. In Both Championship games to date Donegal won pulling up despite not having to play for long periods of the game. When Donegal needed to push on they did and they did it with a lot of conviction something we didn't see at all last year. I know we made it to the same stage last year but we fell over the line in all games. This year we have an almost full selection to pick from and with a full pre season training done (neither of which we had last year), coupled with the fact that we have our underdogs tag back on makes Donegal very dangerous.

Like most people here I cant give any guarantees on the result but barring a Monaghan runaway in the first half I think Donegal can pip it. I feel Monaghans style of play is very much a when their good their very good style. The long range points killed us last year and to a lesser extent in League. but if Donegal can put the pressure on these kicks and Monaghan miss a few I think we can go on from there.

Whatever way you look at it they are 2 very evenly matched teams with a rivalry (I don't believe I have ever seen Donegal beat Monaghan in championship) and the best team on the day will win.

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 08/07/2014 10:09:15    1615551

Shaggylegend
If you have been following football long enough, you should know the ups and downs of championship football and especially in Ulster
Of course Donegal are in a better place than last year, we had injuries to N Gallagher,K Lacy, FmcGlynn and PMcGrath. Plus our tough physical game against Down where two Donegal players suffered concussion. Now we are more or less free of injuries and more importantly all the players are flat out training.
As regards Derry could you say for sure Monaghan could have went to CELTIC park in May and beaten Derry. I don't know anything about Derry /Monaghan games or if one team are a bogey to the other.
As regards E McGee /K Hughes what about the drawn Armagh/Monaghan game Dyas v Corry ?? Did the Armagh player not give Corry the runaround in the first game , different story second game. So don't build your hopes on what happened two /three games ago.
Another example::::saw London lead Mayo here with 3minutes to go by 2points but Mayo got the draw and won in x time That was 2011 and that August Mayo beat the All Ireland champions Cork by , I think 6 points Now most of that Mayo team went on to contest 2ALL Ireland's
To be honest I'd be confident enough of Donegal IF we get near 2012 form. I just posted an article of J Brolly in the GL and you can see how good Donegal were over the last few years. I don't think they are a team to be taken lightly at all.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 08/07/2014 10:34:11    1615567

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 6016

1615520
Muckross . yes of course you are right league and championship are completely different. But if I was a Donegal man I'd worry about Derry getting beat by Longford who in turn get beat by tipp and antrim getting turned over too . I think Donegals advantage is that monaghan have had hard games , but at home in clones swings it for them IMO.

I wouldnt worry one bit about these sort of statistics. 2 weeks in football is half a lifetime. Derry effectively threw in the towel after they got beaten at home in the first round of the championship. There was no post match huddle on the pitch. They walked into the dressing rooms with their heads bowed and in ones. Game over for the year. I think that longford were always going to have a great advantage in that case. AS for antrim, I think that their game was a lot closer than the score suggested. In any event, this a = c because a = b, and b = c stuff just doesnt work for me. there are more numerous examples of form flying out the window when it comes to a match on a given day, as u should know being a meath man who has seen this happen time and time again against the dubs.

What I am sure of is that our lads will be turning up to win this one, and they will be giving it the big one.. as will monaghan. I am really looking forward to it, and it is on days like this that I am glad I am a season ticket holder!

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 08/07/2014 10:56:03    1615581

Royal - it's a weak analysis when one claims that A only beat B and B lost to C and so on , it doesn't work like that . Donegal V Monaghan shouldn't go back to Limerick V Antrim FFS!

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 08/07/2014 11:28:01    1615603

Royaldunn
Now Royaldunn they way you are looking at things don't work out at all True Derry and Antrim are gone out of the championship but what is important is Donegal are not.
A lot of posts here are talking about Donegal and defeats they suffered in the last 12 months, how some of the defenders are getting the runaround by certain players, forwards off form etc, etc.
but for me that won't have any bearing on Sundays weeks final.
Let's look at Donegal another way :::: 2009 beaten by Antrim in Ballybofey.
2010 hammered out of Crossmaglen by Armagh. Now all that is very poor form. Bit similar to last year v Monaghan/vMayo. So people on here have been assuming Donegal can't get back to 2012 form and won't beat Monaghan/Dublin or any other team They could be well right.
But if we take 09/10 form of Donegal and how bad they were , I ask the question ;;;; how did we win the 2012 All Ireland ??? Don't forget we came through 4 games in Ulster , beat all the top southern teams( most players on those teams had CELTIC xs plus we beat a very good Tyrone team with AI winners among them. Plus we won the 2011 ulster championship after very poor displays in 2010.
The point I'm trying to make is if you are going to base your predictions on previous games and what happened in them , then Donegal never should have won Ulster or All Ireland titles especially as around 11players played in Crossmaglen. We don't know how this U final will go but I'm giving Donegal at the very least 50/50

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 08/07/2014 11:30:15    1615608

Midlu1
County: Louth
Posts: 645

1615466
Its gonna be a repeat of last years final Monaghan in a different league than Donegal at the moment.

Good old midlu, the Mystic Meg of the wee county!!! Gazing into his crystal ball and coming up with.....nonsense.

They are not in a different league, we were both Div2 last year & are both in Div1 next year.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 08/07/2014 12:10:03    1615649

shaggylegend
County: Monaghan
Posts: 1077

1615519
I cant figure how Donegal supporters are so confident and claiming Donegal have improved and in a better place than last year.
Donegal are in a better place than last year simply because we have strengthened the squad & are almost 100% fit.
That doubt in Murphy McFadden and McBrearty head wondering can they finally show up against Monaghan.
Maybe they will maybe they won't, they showed up well in Letterkenny. Besides which Donegal don't rely on them the way they used to. Ahainst Antrim the half forward line scored 2-10 from play, the full forward line 0-2. More options this year.
Kieran Hughes has roasted Eamon McGee in their 3 last duals once for jordanstown and twice for Monaghan.
Kieran roasted nobody in Letterkenny or does that game no longer count? As for Jordanstown, you are having a laugh. Next thing we will be quoting U14 games!!
As for the mental edge , you may well be right, add in home advantage & you have an even match.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 08/07/2014 12:19:03    1615661

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 6017

1615520
Muckross . yes of course you are right league and championship are completely different. But if I was a Donegal man I'd worry about Derry getting beat by Longford who in turn get beat by tipp and antrim getting turned over too . I think Donegals advantage is that monaghan have had hard games , but at home in clones swings it for them IMO.
I'm not basing anything at all on those games except insofar as how Donegal went about their business. I don't think there is anything much between the two counties & it should be a great game. One thing I don't expect is an easy win for either.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 08/07/2014 12:21:48    1615664

Shaggy... All of your posts are hardly earth shattering statistics. We all know that already... About previous results, previous roastings, who beat who. Who cares? It's all in the past.

What has transpired in the past will have absolutely no bearing on the outcome in 2 weeks. Both teams in very different places with very different points to prove. To say that you can confidently call it is ridiculous.

Looking forward to the debate and media for the next two weeks. Will be a fascinating few weeks. And a fascinating match.

squareball_1988 (Donegal) - Posts: 343 - 08/07/2014 12:22:46    1615667

Well the fact that the bookies can't separate them is good news for us neutrals :)

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 08/07/2014 14:18:51    1615735

Realdub
Just checked the odds
Boylesport ::::Monaghan 10/11. Donegal 6/5. Draw 15/2.
Now my bet might be 50 euros@6/5 and 10 euros @15/2 draw. You have two chances You get 110 back if Donegal win You get 85 back if Draw. So you stand to win either 50 or25 euros.
If Monaghan win -- minus 60 euros.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 08/07/2014 14:46:40    1615764

Yes the bookies have the teams split down the middle, so it cuts out the poor mouthing from either side about being underdogs. It is a completely 50/50 game. Form is good on both teams. Arguably, Monaghan have beaten better teams on the way, although going to Derry and beating them must count for something. Monaghan have beaten tyrone (at home), which is always a tough thing to do. And they have beaten Armagh, which arguably should have been easier, but the second day out it was done and dusted. So all will come out in the wash on sunday week, whether Donegal are back to a provincial winning standard, or Monaghan have improved or are maintaining their standard from last year. We will see.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 08/07/2014 14:49:21    1615768

The tough games that Monaghan have had will work both for and against them. The knocks some players have taken might have an effect in the latter stages of the Ulster Final but the experience of playing against a decent defensive performance against Armagh will stand to them. Monaghan have some long range scorers and that could be their winning of the game and give JMG a headache. If we push up further on them we leave that bit more space in the full back line and Monaghan have the players to do damage there but if we sit further back we could be dismantled with long range scores.
Donegal won't win this game unless we start being more economical in front of the posts. We hit far too many bad wides in both games to date. We also can't expect the younger lads to have another performance like against Antrim as we are against a much more seasoned and well drilled team this time.
If we can frustrate Monaghan and get turnovers that result in quick transition to the forwards and reduce the wide count then we have a chance but this will be a real war of attrition and a red or black card could decide the result!!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 08/07/2014 14:52:38    1615771

SamOnErrigal
County: Donegal
Posts: 428

1615764
Realdub
Just checked the odds
Boylesport ::::Monaghan 10/11. Donegal 6/5. Draw 15/2.
Now my bet might be 50 euros@6/5 and 10 euros @15/2 draw. You have two chances You get 110 back if Donegal win You get 85 back if Draw. So you stand to win either 50 or25 euros.
If Monaghan win -- minus 60 euros.


Sounds good, PP have them both at evens!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 08/07/2014 15:26:23    1615796

Well I think We have the Ulster Final that most Donegal Fans were Hoping/wishing for. I am Sure the Current Ulster champions are not to fussy Who they play. I have to say they looked pretty impressive with some beautiful scores in the highlights I watched on Sunday evening.' Although it has to be said the "Star Mans" Goal was an early Christmas Gift'and the result of Diabolical defending'he took it well though.

If the two teams are at their Best then this should be a very good "Scrap".Thankfully I managed to get a babysitter sorted ' so Im looking Forward to a Good day out in Clones' and hope we good some decent weather for the game.

Best of luck to you Farney men' although I am Confident of a Donegal Win' it may just boil down to a Bit of luck on either Side to get the important Edge in the match.

I will leave the team selection and tactics to the managers' because all the talk on here and in the media will mean nothing when the Ref toss's the ball Up.


UP the Men from the Hills.

InishowenMan (Donegal) - Posts: 216 - 08/07/2014 15:44:55    1615817

Shelbourne
County: Monaghan
Posts: 73

1615411 What a load of nonsense GaryMc82. Monaghan way better than Monaghan in League Final. Brilliant goal by Monaghan from way down the field. All agreed Donegal penalty was a joke. You Derry guys have an inferiority complex regarding Donegal...Monaghan certainly don't........different breed you see and we Farney boys will prove our superiority once again in UF!

Derry men have no Inferior complex towards any team in Ulster, or Ireland for that matter. I'm sure despite Donegal's recent successes over Derry, they would be aware that we held sway over them for long enough too.

As for the Division 2 final, I called it as I seen it and without blinkers. Monaghan dominated possession between the 10th minute and maybe the 25th minute, during which period they opened up a substancial lead. I don't deny that, or shy away from that fact that Monaghan played Impressively during that part of the game. But then between the 25th and 53rd minute Donegal clawed back level, however by the stage they drew level with the penalty, being a man down was really starting to take its toll against a we organised Monaghan machine.

And for the penalty Ryan McHugh was in on goal until he was brought down, It was ying for yang really. Likewise Conor McManus should have been awarded a penalty when Sean Cavanagh brought him down in the AI QF last year, but he and Monaghan were badly wronged.

I do think Donegal will beat Monaghan in the Ulster Final, but I think both sides will enter the All Ireland series as a serious threat to anybody they both face. There is little between the two sides in fairness, and I genuinely feel that apart from Dublin that Donegal/Monaghan are the next best in the country.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 08/07/2014 21:28:18    1616065