Wasn't personal Wayne, no offence intended. Didnt take a mental note of specific posters and who said what. Just talking about some people who were very dismissive of our players.

You refer to our system winning the game, fair enough to a degree, but systems alone don't win matches, just ask Monaghan. McGuinness and the system (and I'm Jim's biggest fan!) are often used as a cover for explaining Donegal's successes when clearly the players should be more celebrated than they are. Certainly some counties' players get a much greater profile.

As for me talking nonsense and proving a point, well I'm as entitled to discuss things as you are. If raising the absurdity of dismissing our players in a Roy Curtis-style fashion while lauding the Super Dubs to God-like fashion is 'nonsense', then fair enough.

But it's time to celebrate the quality of our lads.

Karl Lacey, 4 time all star and possibly the most versatile defender in Ireland.

Michael Murphy, is there a greater leader? And still just 25 years old.

Neil and Eamon McGee, two outstanding defenders who have kept the best attackers in Ireland consistently quiet over the past four years.

Ryan McHugh, phenomenal energy, pace, ball skills and finishing.

These guys would make any team in the country.

I have no qualms about highlighting the quality of our players as we are brainwashed with the media darlings of some counties on an all too frequent basis.

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 01/09/2014 18:55:27    1646336

Don't worry about Donegal fans getting ahead of ourselves heresam We're well aware we have to face Kerry in 3 weeks. They deserve heir place in the final just as much as Donegal. You won't find any Donegal posters disrespecting as was the case with some Dubs. Sure we were told Murphy might make the Dubs bench.

You should look closer to home for folks licking their lips etc. some Dubs were counting down the games to 5 in a row. This was to be merely a coronation in September.

We had to endure endless posts that this was the greatest team ever and Donegal wouldn't stay within 15 points. Special mention to Hurlingdub and Clondalkin.

The Donegal performance yesterday was breathtaking. The intensity, skill, composure, fitness and mental strength were awesome. I've never derived such joy from a performance. Once again this group of players have delivered.

I think the Dublin players deserve credit also, they flew out of the blocks yesterday and scored some spectacular points. In they end they were beaten by a better team. However this wasn't an easy victory, it took absolutely everything Donegal had to come out on top. Also thought the Dub fans were magnanimous after the game. Certainly didn't experience any of the tripe that some Dub posters specialize in. More in the mould of realdub who tends to be balanced in his opinions.

Don't know what to say about Jim. Over 4 years he has transformed this team into what we saw yesterday.

RD. Saw your posts yesterday on you're state of happiness at the Dubs exit. Few months back you posted your opinion on where counties were at. Think you had the Dubs in front....then Mayo and Kerry .... Cork ..... Followed by Meath and Donegal neck and neck. When can we expect an update!!!!!!!

Cleatus (Donegal) - Posts: 125 - 01/09/2014 19:04:41    1646340

The number of Donegal players who would make the Dublin team & vice versa is, I believe, a false argument.

Given the way Dublin play, I wouldn't have many of the Donegal players on it as they aren't fast enough. But neither would I have many of the Dublin players on the Donegal team due to the way JMcG has set his team up.

Apples & oranges.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 01/09/2014 19:19:36    1646351

Muckrosshead

I would concur!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 01/09/2014 19:23:54    1646354

I think some posters on this forum need to distinguish between journalism and the ordinary man. Most of the hype was spun by journalism.

The notion that donegal was in some way disrespected by others is a bit touchy 2bh. The reality is that JMG doesnt work on emotion anyway. It is all tactics and he wouldnt be flagging newspapers in the dressing rooms to motivate players. It is all down to pure statistics.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 01/09/2014 19:30:04    1646357

That's a fair enough analogy Muck and in fact where I used the Italy Ireland example in my post the same is probably true there. Charlton's players wouldn't have suited Italy's system and vice versa.

Cleatus, you need to get out more pal and learn the difference between banter and a genuine post. Most Dubs were not expecting a landslide victory although ironically enough most Donegal posters seemed to expect a hiding. Maybe you should comment on their posts rather than taking glee at Dublin posts that were most likely wind-ups in the majority of cases.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 01/09/2014 19:34:59    1646358

Donegal enjoy your time cause you never know when the good days will end just ask counties like Meath Galway Tyrone and Armagh about it, we will always be there or there abouts and after 3 weeks time it's all over and we all start back next May to chase Sam again. 5 in a row was tongue in cheek it's all a bit of Craic it's only a game no ones died, best of look in the final it will be interesting two defensive teams going at it.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 01/09/2014 19:35:19    1646359

@Donegalman Completely agree on the hype. Enjoy the final :)

spmccann (Dublin) - Posts: 209 - 01/09/2014 19:39:14    1646372

@Donegal_abroad Micheal Murphy was immense, he bossed the middle of the park and was everywhere. He may have broke my heart this year, and so has the gouch but hes is also a class player. Judging from the minors you have some good lads coming thru aswell.

spmccann (Dublin) - Posts: 209 - 01/09/2014 19:41:45    1646374

clondalkindub
County: Dublin
Posts: 5366

1646359
Donegal enjoy your time cause you never know when the good days will end just ask counties like Meath Galway Tyrone and Armagh about it, we will always be there or there abouts and after 3 weeks time it's all over and we all start back next May to chase Sam again. 5 in a row was tongue in cheek it's all a bit of Craic it's only a game no ones died, best of look in the final it will be interesting two defensive teams going at it.

Clondalkin, I know you don't really respect Donegal but lumping us in with Meath is stretching it a bit.

As for the two defensive teams, if I was you I would hope Jim Gavin, or his successor, is watching, he might pick up a thing or two!!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 01/09/2014 19:45:49    1646379

Joxer
County: Dublin
Posts: 1801

1639584
Ah Jayzus lads, I'm cringing at some of the posts from my fellow Jacks on here. I hope this is pure WUMing. I think this Donegal team deserves more respect. I'd also ask my fellow dubs to watch last year's AI final again. By 30 mins Mayo should have been out of sight by 8-1. This would have been virtually unrecoverable a la 2012 IMO. Cillian OConnor and a couple of others couldn't point to save their lives. We were absolutely brutal until Bernard popped up with that goal. The worrying thing is that the team that played that day is more or less the same as that which will start against Donegal. Granted Jim McG would have to turn his tactics on their ahead to adopt Mayo's approach but fellas here predicting that Dublin will annihilate Donegal only need to look at last year's final again to see our vulnerabilities all over the park. Dublin remain very beatable and I would agree that we have not been tested so far this year so would put health warnings all over any prediction of an easy Dublin win.

Thanks for your advice Joxer. I will get out more but first I'm going to watch the match on RTE player once more.

However one of your previous posts makes my point much more eloquently than I did. Seems like the arrogance of some Dubs got to you a bit as well.......

Cleatus (Donegal) - Posts: 125 - 01/09/2014 20:06:16    1646388

Don't know about anyone else, I can certainly decipher the difference between journalism and the everyday man. Journalists do the writing and a number of everyday men on this forum seemed to do the reading in terms of idolising players and dismissing others.

Jim McGuinness isn't motivated by newspapers, nobody said he was. I'm talking about what some people on here were saying as regards out players. I know enough about Jim to know that papers and opinions aren't his motivation. Although he obviously pays some attention to them as he threw a few journalists out of his press conference after the 2012 final.

The vast majority of Dublin fans are good people and good sports, like ourselves I hope.

I just wanted to raise a specific point with some posters on the issue of dismissing out players entirely, opinions which were no doubt fuelled by media hype.

Good luck to Dublin next year and hopefully we finish the job now.

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 01/09/2014 20:13:12    1646391

Cleatus first off congrats again on a thoroughly deserved victory. At the time yep that was a accurate call I'd say.
I'd also say that perhaps man for man Dublin would still have a very high quality team, I've given up on Mayo ever doing anything. Kerry actually surprised me this year even perhaps more so than Donegal.
Let a old man give you advice enjoy this final cause you never know when you'll get back to one. If someone told me 13 years ago that in 2014 we wouldn't be back yet I'd have sent the men in white coats for them.
As for my glee?? Well I married a lovely lady from Dublin, andjjust let's say next weekend I can't wait to visit in laws , first time for everything :).

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 01/09/2014 20:14:49    1646392

To be fair to. clondalkinDub - he was Mark MCHughs biggest critic when Mark won an all star.
Maybe he was right all along. Turns out Mark isn't even the best half forward in his own home let alone in the country

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 01/09/2014 20:49:36    1646420

Cleatus, hands up. I was wrong and fully congratulate you on your win.

My prediction was embarrassingly wrong. I have no problem admitting that. Donegal were brilliant yesterday. Best of luck in the final.

Fully drunk now by the way :-)

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 01/09/2014 21:04:35    1646434

Im not here to rub it into Dublin,it didnt matter to me who won,but there is one poster that has stuck in my mind and that is MesAmis.

Maybe now this person will have alot more respect for teams from Ulster.As regarding soft Ulster Titles......

Last Year we got a raw deal from the same Ref who robbed Mayo Saturday night.......

This year we were tired,same as Donegal last year.......

We will be back next year,and i hope we get another chance to meet the mighty Dubs only this time we might get more than 6 days to get ready for them..then we can give them a better game.

There's noting soft in winning Ulster MesAmis........

hardcore (Monaghan) - Posts: 1366 - 01/09/2014 21:05:13    1646436

Cleatus
County: Donegal
Posts: 119

1646388
Joxer
County: Dublin
Posts: 1801

1639584
Ah Jayzus lads, I'm cringing at some of the posts from my fellow Jacks on here. I hope this is pure WUMing. I think this Donegal team deserves more respect. I'd also ask my fellow dubs to watch last year's AI final again. By 30 mins Mayo should have been out of sight by 8-1. This would have been virtually unrecoverable a la 2012 IMO. Cillian OConnor and a couple of others couldn't point to save their lives. We were absolutely brutal until Bernard popped up with that goal. The worrying thing is that the team that played that day is more or less the same as that which will start against Donegal. Granted Jim McG would have to turn his tactics on their ahead to adopt Mayo's approach but fellas here predicting that Dublin will annihilate Donegal only need to look at last year's final again to see our vulnerabilities all over the park. Dublin remain very beatable and I would agree that we have not been tested so far this year so would put health warnings all over any prediction of an easy Dublin win.

Thanks for your advice Joxer. I will get out more but first I'm going to watch the match on RTE player once more.

However one of your previous posts makes my point much more eloquently than I did. Seems like the arrogance of some Dubs got to you a bit as well.......

--------
Yeah and so I was right Cleatus. In fairness we'll take the two trophies this year, Leinster and League, and come back next year all the better for yesterday's experience. Congratulations on the win by the way. Nothing like being as gracious in defeat as in victory as I'm sure you know.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 01/09/2014 21:35:26    1646464

Just back and one of the best days of my life, day of days sort of thing.
But first of all commiserations to Dublin and all their fans. As I said on here last week this was the game I wanted::::: playing Dublin in CP. And what a game it was looked very scary in the first 25 Minutes and to be honest thought we were going to be hammered. But what a turnaround so must give massive credit to JMcG and all the players/panel and all connected with the team.
All the predictions I made were , as I said on here before based on the JIM MCGUINNESS FACTOR. Under another manager would not have fancied Donegal as much.
To all the Dublin fans take abow , ever so gracious in defeat and saw one Dub fan going around shaking any Donegal person's hand he met as he made his way out. It's hard to take a defeat as us Donegal supporters know well as we suffered many over the years. But this Dublin team are far from finished and I can see them winning more AI 's
Thought the ref done well, early cards for no5 dub and big Neill but in fairness there were no bad challenges.
So thanks to the two sets of fans and the two teams for giving us such value in CP yesterday.
Congratulations to the minors and hope they win the final

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 01/09/2014 21:42:21    1646472

Congrats to Donegal, did themselves & Ulster proud yesterday.

Monaghan Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 442 - 01/09/2014 21:59:18    1646489

Agree RD. AI finals are a rare occasions for Donegal. Hopefully Jim will give us another year.

Dublin will be back next year, still a really good team.

Cleatus (Donegal) - Posts: 125 - 01/09/2014 21:59:55    1646493