If Donegal win then the following will happen

Donegal.

We will declare UDI & model our new state on the Goats anthem "Las Vegas" which will of course be our national anthem.

It will be a land of milk & honey with Jim as it's President For Life.

Not a stroke of work will be done and we will live on grants from the GAA that previously went to Dublin.

Dublin

A different story here.

Our capital will resemble a cross between the Cormac McCarthy's novel "The Road" & the battlefields of the First World War.

Grey will be the predominant colour, tumbleweed will blow dwn Drumcondra, the yoga centre of excellence will be rededicated to the music of Daniel O'Donnell, Michael Dara McCauley will apply for a transfer to the land of his forebears & the only activity will be stretcher parties going out looking for the dead.

Household names such as jimbo, clondalkin & dubjohn will go the way of other before them like 51longago & be silent.

A terrible beauty will be born & good solid defensive football will reign.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 28/08/2014 18:34:16    1643678

The 1947 All Ireland is officially recorded as a Cavan win, sounds like sour grapes from Kerry. Get over it Kerry.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1749 - 28/08/2014 18:39:23    1643683

Haha good analogy Donegal_abroad! Sadly I'd tend to agree with you and Ulsterman. I think Mayo playing for 70mins can beat the Dubs - I thought they were by far the better team for the majority of the first half last year and should have been far further ahead.

On topic, I think it would certainly be a bigger shock. The natural measurement would be the bookies odds. 4/1 in 1992 and 7/1 now. So they money says they are nearly twice as unlikely to win.

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1422 - 28/08/2014 18:59:50    1643691

Of course it wouldn't be as big a shock as 92.
When had they won an All Ireland prior to 92 ?

SLLY (Dublin) - Posts: 463 - 28/08/2014 19:00:00    1643692

How could it be as big a surprise. When had they previously won an All Ireland prior to 92 ?

SLLY (Dublin) - Posts: 463 - 28/08/2014 19:08:10    1643697

thelongridge
County: Offaly
Posts: 192

1643683
The 1947 All Ireland is officially recorded as a Cavan win, sounds like sour grapes from Kerry. Get over it Kerry.


Ha ha, relax there, it was tongue in cheek from my Kingdom pal, all in jest I'm sure!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8597 - 28/08/2014 19:37:56    1643705

realdub
County: Dublin
Posts: 3926

1643619
Royaldunne

To compare Dub/Don with Kil/Wes is ludicrous.
No comparison whatsoever. I'd imagine our north western friends will be offended by that!


No offense here real dub.
RD has already predicted wins for Meath against Dublin and Armagh this year. As far as I could make out these predictions were based on a league draw in Ballybofey, the early appearance of the Cuckoo in Collon and his horoscope.

Mildly amused maybe but not offended.

Cleatus (Donegal) - Posts: 125 - 28/08/2014 19:51:32    1643712

No , it would not be a shock and in 1992 after the league quarter final, when Dublin beats us with two late goals I fancied Donegal. Had £80 win on them before the ulster final to win Sam @10/1. Dublin beat Donegal after a replay in the 1993 League final---- not 1992. Indeed we should have won that final, does anybody remember Manus Boyle's disallowed goal Was at all them games

I think at that time Dublin had never lost to an Ulster team in the championship so 1992 AI final would have been the first time.
Mollymalone --- a Donegal win would be great for Donegal and Ulster football ( that's my opinion )

Come on Donegal , your country needs you. Well said gatekeeper and it would be great for all you in Tyrone having the All Ireland champions of 2014(Donegal) play Tyrone in the first round of the Ulster championship.
As regards 1992 it was rumoured that the Wedensday before the final some Dublin players were in Arrnots modelling suits , so if that was true then they were underestimating Donegal.
As regards this game would not worry about the bookmakers odds---- chance for Donegal backers to make money.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 28/08/2014 20:37:06    1643734

While the Dublin Region are clear favourites, I won't regard it as a shock if Donegal were to win. Dublin Region's biggest win in the All-Ireland series over the last 3-4 years prior to their destruction of Monaghan was against us in last year's semi-final. In fairness most from the capital seem knowledgeable that it was a closely fought contest up to the two late clinically taken goals.

The capital are deserved favourites. Even visualising Donegal putting it up to them, the capital have a good record of seizing the day even in closely fought encounters. They showed it in the semi-final and final in '11 and again in last year's quarter-final, semi-final and final. I'm intrigued as to what Donegal have in store on Sunday but all focus is on the Gaelic Grounds only really!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7879 - 28/08/2014 20:48:50    1643739

With regards to the shock of 92 Donegal played Dublin in the league quarter final in Cavan and were 5 up with 2 minutes left and conceded 2 goals to lose. It was pretty much the same teams tvar would play in September and from that day on I knew if we met Dublin again that we would be competitive. After a poor performance vs Mayo (very similar to the Armagh game) they were ready for Dublin. I'm not nuts enough to make comparisons to a team 22 years on merely reminding people that bookies sometimes get it wrong. Very rarely unfortunately.

fintownsuburbs (Donegal) - Posts: 30 - 28/08/2014 20:54:54    1643743

Cletus. I think if you read back you won't see me predicting a win against dubs for Meath, I of course hoped for one and like you and Donegal posters are doing now grasp any straw of hope possible. Yep the armagh game was a surprise as I thought Meath would win, but that happens. Look lad nothing would make me happier than Donegal to beat dubs, but it ain't going to happen. Dublin a far superior to Donegal in every aspect and like ourselves with keoghan only one player would make it into Dublin panel from Donegal. Its been realistic, we can all dream of course but on Sunday afternoon when they carving through you and bringing on subs that would be star players on your team and you can do nothing only sit back and watch, you can say to yourself you know what royaldunne was right them lads are unbeatable.
I'll look forward to chatting to you on Monday, safe journey and enjoy build up as the afterwards is hell.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 28/08/2014 21:02:08    1643746

A lot of the hype for this game died after Donegal struggled past Armagh, and Dublin then slaughtered Monaghan.

Had Donegal beat Armagh with more to spare, and Dublin struggled for a bit longer against Monaghan, then we would probably be buzzing now in anticipation of the mother of all battles. But I feel the tie has lost its edge, as Dublin are clearly so far ahead in everybody's opinions.

To be honest, I don't think any of us really know what is going to happen tactically in this game. I find Donegal difficult to read, as they have constantly rotated players in various positions this year and their lineup is hard to read.
I do expect Donegal to give us a performance level they haven't reached so far this year, and I think this will be a tighter game than most have predicted.
I can't see Dublin changing their system too much for Donegal, but I suspect Donegal will deploy a tweaked version of their own system to combat this Jim Gavins side.

I think the current Donegal team is actually better than 2012, they are definitely more versatile tactically and on the bench. Expecting this to be an absorbing battle, but I think Donegal will edge it.


Verdict: Donegal

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 28/08/2014 21:12:33    1643754

As a Dub I was more confident in 92 only because the Donegal Mayo semi final was the worst game I'd ever seen. I would in no way be as shocked this Sunday. Donegal Armagh this year was a classic compared to the 92 Semi final.

CapitalGains (Dublin) - Posts: 40 - 28/08/2014 21:15:09    1643759

@GaryMc82 - you mightn't be far off the mark. The winner on Sunday will be favourite to win the All-Ireland. Donegal have been on the opposite side of the draw these last two years. It'll be interesting to see if they can atone for '11. I'm sure JMcG is firmly focussed on that.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7879 - 28/08/2014 21:52:10    1643782

Thanks for the good wishes RD.

Maybe the Dubs will win on Sunday but it doesn't mean they're unbeatable.

If Donegal can avoid conceding a goal we'll be right there with 15 to go. PP won't be offering 7/1 on a Donegal win then.

On the other hand if we concede early then it's going to be bleak.

Can't wait

Cleatus (Donegal) - Posts: 125 - 28/08/2014 21:57:20    1643786

Nobody knows what Donegal will bring Sunday. Would people on here not agree with me that ALL of the Dublin players MUST perform Sunday if they are to beat Donegal.
What if they get caught like teams did in 2012 and could not handle the defensive system. ??? Sport is littered with shock results, always has been.
Another thing is , I always believe that Donegal play well against Dublin. As they say in financial circles :::past performance is no guide to the future::: so what Dublin done last week , last month or last year should not have any bearing on Sunday's game. What IF Donegal are out of sight at half time???? Anybody think of that:::: that might be a shock but to me Donegal winning would not be a shock.

But whatever happens Sunday it will still be a historic day for Donegal::::: first time we have two teams ( minor/senior ) appearing in CP on All Ireland semi final day. Plus it's great to be playing Dublin, you could not ask for better.
And the possibility that we could hand them out TWO BEATINGS on the ONE day.
Hope all Donegal supporters get in early and support the minor team, give them some reception.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 28/08/2014 21:59:39    1643790

legendzxix
County: Kerry
Posts: 3588

1643782 @GaryMc82 - you mightn't be far off the mark. The winner on Sunday will be favourite to win the All-Ireland. Donegal have been on the opposite side of the draw these last two years. It'll be interesting to see if they can atone for '11. I'm sure JMcG is firmly focussed on that.

I don't think Donegal would be favourites for the All Ireland even if they beat Dublin, however clearly Dublin will be massive favourites if they proceed, regardless of who they face in the final.

I could see Mayo being favourites if they were playing Donegal, while I'm not sure who would be favourites in a Donegal/Kerry AI Final.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 29/08/2014 13:52:46    1644111

SamOnErrigal
County: Donegal
Posts: 577

1643790 Nobody knows what Donegal will bring Sunday. Would people on here not agree with me that ALL of the Dublin players MUST perform Sunday if they are to beat Donegal.
What if they get caught like teams did in 2012 and could not handle the defensive system. ??? Sport is littered with shock results, always has been.
Another thing is , I always believe that Donegal play well against Dublin. As they say in financial circles :::past performance is no guide to the future::: so what Dublin done last week , last month or last year should not have any bearing on Sunday's game. What IF Donegal are out of sight at half time???? Anybody think of that:::: that might be a shock but to me Donegal winning would not be a shock.


I think both teams are full aware that they have a major battle ahead, for Donegal this is possibly their biggest game since the 2012 AI final. And this is a massive game for Dublin too, so I'm don't think complacency will enter it.

I see it remaining tight the whole way through, but I reckon systems will go out the window in the last 15 minutes and it will be end to end stuff until a winner is declared.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 29/08/2014 17:48:59    1644284

Sammyboy you just keep on dreaming there pal because it ain't gonna happen!

DUBJOHN (Dublin) - Posts: 932 - 29/08/2014 18:41:02    1644307

Sam would you go away out of that. I totally disagree that every dub player has to play well. Actually I expect them to hold back a little for final. It does not matter what Donegal do Dublin won't have to be at their best to win with fair bit to spare. Probably 10 or so points. that is not a reflection on Donegal rather one on just how far ahead dubs are.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 29/08/2014 18:48:40    1644314