The Donegal players are excellent at implementing their game plan, they are the best men for the kind of job required. Pride alone will see that they don't roll over, they will bust their balls to ensure that they don't need to come from behind because that will pose them big problems if that happens.

They will hope to frustrate Dublin to the point of taking pot shots and wrong options. I think Dublin are very well coached regarding patience and game plan. Up front, Donegal have men who can do serious damage, top players, not yet set the world on fire but their potential is a worry for our defence in a one on one.

Deep down I feel we have the patience to read the Donegal jigsaw but sport being sport, to suggest a Dublin win with certainty is foolhardy IMO.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 20/08/2014 21:10:40    1639654

Last years final Mayo started well but after 20 minutes we took over and won comfortably in the end considering we'd 13 fit players, don't forget the 4 one in one goal chances we missed that day aswell so a one point win really flattered Mayo. Yes it's more or less the same team but were so much better than last year cause of the confidence of winning and the belief we've gotten in our game plan and knowing we can win playing all out attacking football, plus Alan Brogan is back as good as ever.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 20/08/2014 21:11:57    1639656

If Dublin get a dry day they could win by 10. But if its a wet day and handling errors give Donegal those vital seconds to plug the gaps it could be a kick of a ball. McFadden would either have to have the kind of game he hasn't had since Tyrone in last years championship or don't play him. 2 fascinating semi finals. Can't wait.

The Face (Monaghan) - Posts: 890 - 20/08/2014 21:20:16    1639659

After 24 mins of last year's final Dublin had 3 scores Mayo had 8. Mayo had 5 wides, all easy at that point and should have been 13 to 1-2 ahead at that point. O'Connor and McLoughlin were the main culprits for Mayo and Dublin were all over the place. Granted we won by one in the end, bizarre O'Connor decision when they could have attempted a goal and won the game by 2. Anyway the fact remains that this was Dublin's last real test and we didn't perform well. I'm with Realdub here and won't be counting any chickens ahead of the semi.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 20/08/2014 21:35:12    1639673

After 24 mins you reckon it should have been 13 points to 1-2 ha are you being serious? They started well but like I said we took over and the rest is history, if we'd 15 fit players we would have won by more. A lot of ifs and buts from both of us but anyone at that game knew half way tru the 2nd half there was only going to be one winner.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 20/08/2014 21:48:24    1639680

Joxer, it is all a bit of crack.

How in the name of Jaysus do any of us know what might happen to ourselves tomorrow or next week, never mind in a football we are not playing in :-)

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 20/08/2014 21:49:59    1639682

"Dublin are very beatable " what planet are you on joxer !! We have won 2 last 3 all Irelands , back to back league titles and are knocking scoring records out of the park.The bookies have us 10/1 on to win next Sunday .The team has improved from last year

trueblue4ever (None) - Posts: 30 - 20/08/2014 22:04:08    1639698

"we'd 13 fit players,"

clondalkin what are you on about man? All I've heard for about the last 2 years is the strength of Dublin's bench. 13 fit players mo thóin.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9151 - 21/08/2014 10:04:21    1639743

benjyyy
County: Donegal
Posts: 1058

1639615
Gary I'm having a good laugh at your posts now. After the quarters your posts were saying that you couldn't see how Donegal would win and now you are saying they "can and will" win! I wish I shared your optimism but nothing has happened in the last couple of weeks to change opinions. We certainly can win but the bookies odds say it all - it will take a lot of things to fall into place nicely.

I don't follow your arguments on why we "will" win. Our system may have evolved but is it more effective? We haven't performed at the top of our game in 2 years now and theres nothing apart from the cliched "they will be up for this" argument to suggest that will change on the 31st. Any other argument like 'JMG has been planning for the Dubs all year' etc is just spurious. The fact of the matter is that we will need to play a whole lot better than we have to date this year and probably rely on the Dubs missing a few goal chances and a bit of luck thrown in for good measure.

I pray that it happens but I can't see any argument based on current logic to suggest we "will" win.

Your right, I wasn't too optimistic about Donegal's chances Immediately after the Quarter finals. However I started to analyse the game and potential match ups, and something struck me about some tactics Donegal had tried out in earlier games which changed my thinking.

Under Jim McGuinness, Donegal since 2011 have been fairly predictable in how they lineout and especially in 2012 when their starting 15 didnt change game to game.

This year despite being at full strength all season, they have actually been very unpredictable in a lot of positions. On May 25th in Celtic Park, I remember Donegal fans being confused when the team was announced prior to throw in. Everybody had their Match Programmes out trying to pencil in the changes, and they weren't sure what was going on. The Ulster SF against Antrim was another strange affair, as Karl Lacey was warming up on the pitch, but didn't even make the bench despite him fully taking part in the warm up.

Last week I spoke with a Tyrone Gael, who Is not what you might call a JMG era Donegal fan. I spoke with him about the upcoming AI SF's, and said how unpredictable Donegal have been so far this year. He said he had kopped this too, and he was of the opinion that Donegal had one eye on Dublin since the long before the Ulster final.
I didn't agree, as I reckoned it was unlikely that Jim McGuinness would have looked beyond the Derry or Monaghan games. The Tyrone Gael's exact words where "Donegal knew they had the measure of Derry and Monaghan, and Donegal knew they would beat Armagh, and when Armagh got a goal to give them a shock lead, Donegal upped the tempo enough to retake the lead". He was right, Donegal found those high gears very easily when they needed them, then once calm was restored they wound down their game.

I thought back to the Derry game, and Donegal opened up enough to blast Derry out of the water and then slowed all down. Likewise against Antrim, and they really kept Monaghan at arms length during the Ulster final. Even when Monaghan got a very lucky goal, Donegal just kept ticking over and didn't panic.

A full strength Donegal are a very dangerous team, and I suspect they haven't shown their full hand just yet. The Tyrone Gael I spoke to believed Donegal will shock everybody and beat Dublin, and I also think they just might.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 21/08/2014 10:05:35    1639744

hurlingdub
County: Dublin
Posts: 6494

1639682
Joxer, it is all a bit of crack.

How in the name of Jaysus do any of us know what might happen to ourselves tomorrow or next week, never mind in a football we are not playing in :-)

-----
Ah I know HD. Just don't like tempting faith. In the 00s I went in to games against Tyrone and Kerry in a very positive frame of mnd and ended up in Lowrys afterwards crying into me pint. The pain softened several boozers later and by the time I reached Bruxelles mind you...but that's besides the point :)

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 21/08/2014 10:30:58    1639760

trueblue4ever
County: All
Posts: 29

1639698
"Dublin are very beatable " what planet are you on joxer !! We have won 2 last 3 all Irelands , back to back league titles and are knocking scoring records out of the park.The bookies have us 10/1 on to win next Sunday .The team has improved from last year

-----
Alright well maybe I slightly exagerated. We are beatable not very beatable. Cricket scores against counties who are 'rebuilding' mean nothing. We won those AIs by one point in each instance. By the way I never said that we won't win. Just concerned about some Dubs saying that this is going to be a massacre. The lads from the hills 'ain't going to roll over like Monaghan did and I'm the eternal pessimist but at the same time I have great faith in the lads and think we will grind out a win.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 21/08/2014 10:38:19    1639764

Lockjaw
County: Donegal
Posts: 3540

1639743
"we'd 13 fit players,"

clondalkin what are you on about man? All I've heard for about the last 2 years is the strength of Dublin's bench. 13 fit players mo thóin.

---
Clondalkin is right. All subs were used but Johnny and Rory both had severe concussion. Johnny was taken off but Rory was controversially told to keep playing.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 21/08/2014 10:40:35    1639765

Joxer
County: Dublin
Posts: 1733

1639765 Lockjaw
County: Donegal
Posts: 3540

1639743
"we'd 13 fit players,"

clondalkin what are you on about man? All I've heard for about the last 2 years is the strength of Dublin's bench. 13 fit players mo thóin.

---
Clondalkin is right. All subs were used but Johnny and Rory both had severe concussion. Johnny was taken off but Rory was controversially told to keep playing.

And EOG had torn his Hamstring with about 9.mins left...! But he couldn't be sub'd either.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3733 - 21/08/2014 10:51:48    1639768

Agree realdub,
Key for Dublin is movement and quick hand passes to keep possession when they run into the yellow wall.
Cant leave MDMA isolated if he has possession, he'll be swamped. half backs to support him to try to make in roads.
If Mccaffrey doesnt start id like to see him introduced early enough for his pace and penetration.
James mccarthy will be an important player too.

Cant wait - wish it was on this weekend

HenryHill16 (Dublin) - Posts: 249 - 21/08/2014 10:53:34    1639769

I share your deep pessimism joxer. Hurlers encourage that!

However, this is remarkable football team and is going to take a remarkable performance to take them down, as they will be at some stage this year or next. In the meantime, we can look forward and talk nonsense on the interweb :-)

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 21/08/2014 10:57:20    1639773

Joxer - Maths is not your strong area. If Mayo had gone for a goal at the end and scored a goal instead of scoring a point, Mayo would have won by a point and not by two as you suggest. In any event it would have been most unlikely that Mayo would have scored a goal in the circumstances.

fainleog (Limerick) - Posts: 598 - 21/08/2014 11:03:20    1639776

Lockjaw we'd used up all our subs; in the 53rd minute EOG done his hammer and on the 60th minute The Roc was concussed both players couldn't play on but as I've said already we had use all our subs so they stayed on, The Roc went wing forward and Paul Flynn went full back. Does that clear it up for you lockjaw?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 21/08/2014 11:10:27    1639783

Think of it this way, as GaryMc has already pointed out - have Donegal needed to go at absolute full tilt thus far? Now I realise I might upset a few characters here when I say this but looking back over Donegal's games so far, I'd say we've only played in fits and starts but it was enough to beat what was in front of us. When the nature of the game demanded it, Donegal were able to increase the tempo, get the scores and do enough to get over the line.

To illustrate:

Derry - 10 to 12 minutes at the beginning of the second half.
Antrim - 10 to 20 minutes blitz in the second half.
Monaghan - after the goal, had the wherewithal to calmly restore the 3 or 4 point cushion.
Armagh - similar to the Ulster final, the team didn't panic, raised the tempo and got the scores needed to secure the win.

Now I'm not suggesting that for a minute we can magically flick a switch and return to 2012 levels of intensity for 70 minutes as we did against Cork for example. But, as there seems to be a consensus that this could be Jimmy's last game in charge, that possibly he's been planning for this game all year, I think we can take it as given that the Donegal lads will give the proverbial 110%! So if Dublin are to progress as expected they will know they've been in a game, there is nothing surer.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9151 - 21/08/2014 11:19:43    1639787

Fair enough I stand corrected clondalkin... re: Dublin in last year's final.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9151 - 21/08/2014 11:21:06    1639789

UP DA DUBS...

DUB1 (Dublin) - Posts: 5583 - 21/08/2014 11:52:07    1639817