Lads Dublin are a top, top side. Are they unbeatable? No. You should have heard Brolly on the radio yesterday talking about splitting Dublin in 2, cringey stuff. If Dublin win the All Ireland fair play to them, they play football the right way but talk of them being unbeatable and splitting the county in 2 is beyond embarrassing. This Dublin team is no better than the Kerry team of 04-06. The fact is the standard of football this year has been very average.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7907 - 10/08/2014 11:41:23    1634179

Don't believe the hype! Dublin will destroy this Donegal team by 10 points +. At best Donegal might keep it tight a little bit longer than Monaghan but they won't hold this Dublin side for 70 minutes - no way. Of course, if Dublin get a fast start then this could be a really embarrassing washout. I simply don't believe the Donegal of 2014 are the same vintage of Donegal 11/12 despite the propaganda some might try and push. Dublin are a far better side now and getting even better. Wait and see!

JamesH (Mayo) - Posts: 465 - 10/08/2014 11:48:34    1634181

If Donegal keep it tight as Monaghan did in the first 20 minutes of yesterdays game, then they have a great chance. They simply can't allow Dublin to score goals, Donegals game plan isn't set up to recover from first half opposition leads. If they manage to keep it in the melting pot after the trademark 3rd quarter performance from Dublin then they have a great chance.
Easier said than done though. Donegal might defend better than Monaghan but Armagh still carved open a number of chances that Dublins forwards would probably nail.

keithlemon (Australia) - Posts: 920 - 10/08/2014 11:58:20    1634189

Geyoverthebar. That's the thing they will relish playing Donegal, the only other game they got up was Meath and they tore threw us. Now they faced with the next team that they could be given a test by. Lets be honest Dublin played badly yesterday and still won by 17 I'll tell you what those saying Dublin are not unbeatable will you all come on and say in mid September , you know what royal was right?
I understand the dubs playing it down as I would in 99 but like I knew that gg would lift Sam that year the dubs know it would take the greatest shock in gaa history if they were to be beat this year.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 10/08/2014 12:11:07    1634199

Flaker. Trust me they are unbeatable THIS year. Its blind optimism to say otherwise (I've done it myself). But split them in 2 bs is just that ,bull. Its up to other counties to stop them winning next year by reaching their level.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 10/08/2014 12:22:30    1634204

After Dublins display yesterday i pity poor Mayo
in the final

wfkerry (USA) - Posts: 933 - 10/08/2014 12:27:55    1634209

I'm confident.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 10/08/2014 12:30:20    1634211

Genuine Question for Dublin Posters who keep referring to the Donegal style of football
Did any of you look at the adublin set up in both the 2011 semi final and final ?

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 10/08/2014 12:41:42    1634216

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 6259

1634204
Flaker. Trust me they are unbeatable THIS year. Its blind optimism to say otherwise (I've done it myself). But split them in 2 bs is just that ,bull. Its up to other counties to stop them winning next year by reaching their level.


It has been blind optimism to think anyone would get near them up until now. Some people on here predicting a Meath upset and within weeks of that are now saying they are unbeatable, how can we take those people serious? They may well beat Donegal, but it will be a game IMO. And if my own county makes the final, you can be damn sure it will be a game. They will earn it if they are to win it.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7907 - 10/08/2014 12:44:39    1634219

No one in the world is as blind in his devotion as I am to JMcG.

But if he manages to pull this one off I think then I truly think he is the second coming.

It is not so much Dublin's demolition of Monaghan that concerns me. Monaghan were leggy early on & the previous week's extra time game clearly had take a toll. A bigger problem for Monaghan was that they looked like they didn't think they could win the game from the off. They did well until Dublin scored their first goal & then it was as if all the strength, intensity & belief just washed out of them. No better team than the Dubs to put doubters to the sword.

No, what concerned me more was Donegal's performance. Poor shooting, poor kickouts, poor decision making & McFadden still not firing.

For Donegal to win this game, every facet of their play must be 100%. On top of that they have to be convinced that the system they employ will work on the day.

As I say if JMcG can pull all that off over the next 3 weeks then he is even better than I think he is and that's saying something.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 10/08/2014 12:57:29    1634231

Geyoverthebar. That's the thing they will relish playing Donegal, the only other game they got up was Meath and they tore threw us. Now they faced with the next team that they could be given a test by. Lets be honest Dublin played badly yesterday and still won by 17 I'll tell you what those saying Dublin are not unbeatable will you all come on and say in mid September , you know what royal was right?
I understand the dubs playing it down as I would in 99 but like I knew that gg would lift Sam that year the dubs know it would take the greatest shock in gaa history if they were to be beat this year.

Dublin have assembled a great squad and are playing great stuff, but hunger is a great equalizer in sport. Do Dublin have the hunger for 2 in a row? If they do, they win as they certainly are the most talented.

If they don't? Donegal or Mayo will catch them. Maybe I am a little rough on Mayo, as the Flaker said, they will earn it against Mayo (if it is to be them that makes it to the final)

Nobody or no team is unbeatable in Sport - Barcelona were unbeatable until Mourinho showed the world in 2010 that wasn't the case, then Bayern Munich took that mantle only to be hammered themselves, now Real are the only team that will retain the Champions League - which they won't. Anything is possible, you can pick out endless examples.

I acknowledge that Dublin are favorites to win the All Ireland, and your quite welcome to repost this at the end of September. But they've two serious battles ahead and your quite right, they might relish them, they also equally might not...and this is the gamble, do they have the hunger for 2 in a row?

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 10/08/2014 13:02:23    1634232

Since Dublin have become this super team, their fans have become profoundly patronizing . All is rhetoric of 'playing the beautiful ' way . We are seriously limited in comparison to Dublin in so many ways. It's easy for Jim Gavin to play nice football when he has a spate of awesome players in abundance . Some achievement by JMG in reaching another semi final. I suppose if we win there will be cries for ' crimes against Gaelic football ,. Dublin are class and will prob win this easing up however they need to stop degrading good football people who give it their all . Dublin by 7-8!

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 10/08/2014 13:05:51    1634236

I think Donegal will be Dublins toughest test of the year to date, but how far can they take them before Dublin pull away, 20 mins, 35, 45, 55, 60? If it gets to 55/60 and Donegal within a point then we might have a game. Donegal have a few things going for them that other teams haven't so far, namely better players in the Magees, McGlynn, Lacey, Gallagher, Murphy & McBrearty, a more refined defensive system, a match winner in Murphy and a great motivator, planner and tactician in McGuinness. Donegal were at their best yesterday when they squeezed up on Armagh's kickouts and forced them to kick long where Gallagher dominated. I think this is what they will do against Dublin and they may have some success. That is there best chance of making a game of it.

NorthKildare (Kildare) - Posts: 197 - 10/08/2014 13:06:18    1634237

Dublin should win, but hope springs eternal in the human breast..

fire_in_belly (Donegal) - Posts: 59 - 10/08/2014 13:13:16    1634243

We have to be realistic lads. Donegal showed grit and determination to get over the line against the filth yesterday but after that I sat back and watched everything that is good about GAA. Dublin ate a fantastic team. They are all athletes, defend tough and attack in different ways but always at pace. They brought on 4 forwards yesterday that would start for Donegal.
We have a mammoth task, one that the players and management will relish and be prepared for. I just feel that although we will make it tougher than anyone has this year I feel that Dublin ate just better than any team I have seen this or last year and the scary thing is that the gap seems to be widening.
I'm always an optimist and know or lads will give it everything but I'm also a realist and we will be playing a team to could dominate for years.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 10/08/2014 13:14:03    1634244

I don't think mayo would have any chance against dublin actually mayo won't get to have their songs this year as kerry should dispose of them with a bit of ease. If only we were in the west.
Donegal don't bring much of excitement to gaa folk but its effective but won't stop dublin. It may keep them quite for 30 mins. But then they will pull away and win by 10.

foreverroyal (Meath) - Posts: 349 - 10/08/2014 13:39:49    1634267

lads' make no mistake about it' Donegal wont be Throwing the Towel in just yet.

Dublin beat a very fatigued Monaghan side yesterday who have been through some tough physical battles and played an extra time game.
Dublin where far the fresher side have not encountered any real physical Games and this showed and made them look overly impressive.
But was anyone that surprised at the outcome' due to this fact..?

Can Donegal beat this Dublin Team..? Although not impossible I very much Doubt it' even with 3 weeks prep for the Game.
The Dubs will be To fresh..What ever about Splitting the Dubs in two..!! its high time the provincials where scrapped and every team through into the hat at the start of the championship.If the Dubs or Kerry had to travel up here for a few games against any Ulster Team then they would not be as fresh Come this stage of the Championship. And Croke should be only used for the final.
I dont like comparing GAA Sports to Soccer but for the sake of example' look at the FA cup when teams are threw in a hat and the big teams have to play away from home and it gives the underdogs far greater chances as it often proves with big upsets yearly.

This semi final meeting is like Rocky v Ivan Drago' The old battle weary Balboa v the fresh young "Drago" who who never met any real resistance up until the grudge match.

For me' McFadden 'Who has served his County unselfishly and without whom we Wouldnt have Won Sam in 2012 is in my opinion past his best. It has always been the case you have to earn your Jersey' and Starting place' Something for me Im not sure he has done this year..!!

I would start young "Jigger" against the Dubs and have Colm on the bench available for the 2nd half 'I mean no disrespect to the man but he is simply not cutting it this year. Murphy is Well able to take frees and 45's from anyside of the pitch' so will Fill in for Colm in this area.

People keep referring to Donegal 2012' Well I dont think this team is to far away from our 2012 standard' the only problem is other Teams and especially the Dubs are far improved since then.

We all know What happened in Rocky 4..The character Won Through' Donegal have character aplenty 'but will it Be Enough..?

We will find out in 3 weeks time..one things for Sure'We wont go Down without a Scrap.

InishowenMan (Donegal) - Posts: 216 - 10/08/2014 14:05:33    1634282

in response to ''foreverroyal''
what do you mean ''if only we were in the west''
of the 5 Connaught counties you would only beat Leitrim, and maybe Sligo!!!but no guarantee.

7747 (Mayo) - Posts: 23 - 10/08/2014 14:09:29    1634284

For Donegal to win against Dublin you were looking for certain pointers yesterday, one was a performance from Donegal which we didn't see - 15 wides, lots of turnover ball, some poor shot selection and generally only stuttering into 2012 form at certain times. Now granted they were up against a very physical and imposing Armagh team but what I saw still was not encouraging going forward. The second pointer was Monaghan's ability to cause Dublin problems, Monaghan are similar to Donegal in terms of strength and defensive structures and a theory existed that Dublin would not have it as easy against such teams, well that theory was blown out of the water yesterday. Donegal will not win, or I believe come close, unless they change from what we have seen of them so far this year, they have not produced or shown enough to suggest that they will suffer anything other than the fate of all other teams Dublin have played so far. As a staunch Meath man this pains me greatly but after yesterday I can not see any team giving Dublin reason to break sweat, not because their unbeatable but the standard of football elsewhere is not good enough to match them let alone better them

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 10/08/2014 14:17:20    1634286

You will only have a chance to beat this Dublin team if you can give a full 70-73 minute performance. That alone is the Ultimate compliment to Dublin, as no other team in the country has been referred to in such a way in recent times.

Dublin's superb performance against Monaghan, and Donegal's lackluster struggle with Armagh has clearly left Dublin as overwhelming favourite's to reach the All Ireland final.

Can Donegal inflict their game on Dublin? That is the key question, as when Donegal achieve this, they normally control the tempo and possession. If they cannot, then Dublin will win by 10 points or more.

If you compare Donegal and Monaghan this year, I would say Donegal are much meaner in defence and more versatile in attack this season. They are comfortable in possession, and can really slow a game down to suit. They have conceded goal's, but not in any overly worrying manner.

It should be a tactical exhibition, but Donegal will need to bring everything they have.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 10/08/2014 14:18:34    1634287