GaryMc,

Fair play man those stats are impressive.

I'm not trying to take anything away from Donegals achievement.

I think that if Dublin had been playing us in the semi some of that complacency
wouldn't have happened.
Look at Donegal v Armagh they were lucky to get over that and if you were watching
that as a Dub you wouldnt have been to concerned.

Donegal targeted what a lot of us knew to be Dublins weakness, there FB line.
In particular ROC.
I do think the huge difference in that game as well was the loss of Ger Brennan.
That opened up that channel to run through.

Do you think Donegal are better now or in 2012?

I believe the 2012 team to be better, mainly because Lacey was injury free,
McFadden was in top form and you'd Mark McHugh playing great.

I think of all Donegals games that year we were there toughest.
And only a daft goal conceded by us and poor last minute shot selection
who knows...

But that's sport.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 08/09/2014 16:48:17    1649712

The build-up is bubbling along nicely! It will be a weird and wonderful thing in Dublin that weekend meeting up with the Kerry folk in the capital. Meeting Kerry in an All Ireland final was unthinkable only a few years ago and now it's about to happen!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9151 - 08/09/2014 17:17:14    1649727

westkerry

You refer to the daft goal that you conceded in 2012 but don't forget that Donaghy's goal should have been disallowed for a square ball - it would have been a much more comfortable finish but for it.

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1422 - 08/09/2014 17:57:08    1649765

Benjy , come on man we conceeded a goal from a sideline ball!
Kerry were completely ontop in the final quarter and Donegal hanging on.
Look that's sport, I was thrilled Donegal went on to win it after beating us.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 08/09/2014 18:05:18    1649770

I'm just bringing a bit of balance to your argument. Anyway if the ball hadn't gone in from the sideline it should have been a penalty for a blatant push on Murphy.

I'd also argue with your point about being on top in the final quarter. It wasn't until the goal went in that we started to hang on. That was the 65th minute.

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1422 - 08/09/2014 18:12:54    1649779

Benjy sure what's done is done, New chapter in two weeks.

Excitement is building...

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 08/09/2014 18:28:31    1649783

KingdomBoy1
County: Kerry
Posts: 2377

1649287
Ben1977
Jays the wife is worse than I am :-) , is jim staying on with ye after the final?

kingdom old buddy,

How are the uncles bearing up? Are they looking forward to the final?

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 08/09/2014 19:59:09    1649824

Gary Mac
Great stats, I didn't realise div 2 ws

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 08/09/2014 20:40:01    1649854

Gary Mac
Great stats, I didn't realise div 2 was so competitive , you know your stuff .
Muckrosshead
The uncles are doing great thanks, I was up to see one of them this evening and he's enjoying our Indian summer, iv got a confession to make actually , I broke down about 6 weeks ago and got in sky sports, I know I said I wouldn't but I did, and I have to say it's most enjoyable , the pundits are nice and very respectful of every team, I brought the 2 Ould lads back to watch the quarters and they were delighted. So iv got to say I was wrong .

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 08/09/2014 20:49:14    1649860

Westkerry
Now I was at all the Donegal games in 2012 and to me the toughest , hardest game we got was against Tyrone in the Ulster semi final. That was tough hard football and we just scraped through. Remember P Durkin's save against Martin Penrose in the last minute. ??
Did Jack o Connor in his book not say::: that they were fairly confident coming up to Dublin that weekend, as they easily beat Donegal in the league but after 20 minutes he knew different. ? Also did K Donaghy not state that it took the Kerry players almost up to half time to realise what was going on.

Anyway on to next Sunday week and after a lifetime following Donegal I get a chance to see them play Kerry in the All Ireland and also to see the minors play Kerry in their first ALL IRELAND. I am so glad it's worked out like that , win loose or draw. And probably so is the whole of Donegal
Kerry should not have much trouble beating Donegal:::: JUST UNLOCK THE CODE.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 08/09/2014 20:53:18    1649864

i taught donegal struggled against kerry purely cause the amount of possession kerry were able to win at times

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 08/09/2014 21:19:55    1649881

Unlocking the code is the key alright...

- Hard running breaking tackles
- Win primary possession
- do not get caught with two many lads in attack.

Moran/Maher/Walsh/Buckley should give us the platform to win primary possession.

Quick fast ball into our forwards

I would not start Donaghy , rather O Brien.

My fear is Donegal sit back and just don't come out unless on the break.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 08/09/2014 21:33:24    1649884

Westkerry
And what will the Donegal men marking Moran, Welsh, Maher and Buckley be doing when ye are winning all this possession ;;;;;;; standing by and admiring them.

What if we do sit back, what's all this fear ??? Don't think these games ever pan out the way us fans think they will. Plenty of twists and turns but I'd like to think that Sam is for the hills plus his son TOM

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 08/09/2014 21:56:53    1649894

If Donegal win am I right in thinking it will be first div 2 team to win all ire since armagh in 02? Also kinda puts Micky hartes stance that you win nothing from div 2 in a new light.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/09/2014 08:44:48    1649907

westkerry
County: Kerry
Posts: 405

Kerry were completely ontop in the final quarter and Donegal hanging on.

Westkerry,

On top for the final quarter!!!!! Kerry were on top for about 5 minutes after the goal which caused Donegal to lose their shape & composure for the only time in 2012.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 09/09/2014 08:59:18    1649908

Royaldunne........ Who you fancy to life Sam?

ben1977 (Donegal) - Posts: 364 - 09/09/2014 09:13:58    1649913

Ben genuinely hard one to call. Donegal are rightly fav, but the 2 games against mayo impressed me from Kerry.
I'd have a very slight fancy for Donegal at this stage, but I couldn't write off Kerry.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 09/09/2014 10:00:05    1649940

westkerry
County: Kerry
Posts: 405

1649712
GaryMc,
Do you think Donegal are better now or in 2012?

I believe the 2012 team to be better, mainly because Lacey was injury free,
McFadden was in top form and you'd Mark McHugh playing great.

I think of all Donegals games that year we were there toughest.
And only a daft goal conceded by us and poor last minute shot selection
who knows...

But that's sport.

I stated earlier this season, that this 2014 version of Donegal is in my opinion mentally stronger and more versatile tactically than the 2012 version.
Granted Colm McFadden was firing on all cylinder's back in 2012, and Karl Lacey had that extra yard of pace. However McFadden is now starting to find his feet again, and I think the overall system is more flexible and adapts easier to an alteration of tactics. While Mark McHugh was on fire in 2012, he never launched in 2013 and his brother has now replaced him in the senior panel for this season.

This current side have Gallagher, Kavanagh, McElhinney, MacNiallais, Toye and David Walsh to choose from in midfield/half forwards, which gives a excellent selection depending on the opposition. Even the Donegal fans don't normally know who will start any given game for Donegal anymore.

Donegal against Kerry were leading by 6 points and it looked as if they might run away with it. But that late Kieran Donaghey goal rallied Kerry, and 2 points started to make Donegal sweat alright until Lacey settled it. It was a superbly tight contest, and a Important game for Donegal in their quest to become eventual winners. I actually attended that Ulster SF game against Tyrone in 2012, which was also a seriously tight match.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 09/09/2014 10:01:40    1649941

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 6347

1649940
Ben genuinely hard one to call. Donegal are rightly fav, but the 2 games against mayo impressed me from Kerry.
I'd have a very slight fancy for Donegal at this stage, but I couldn't write off Kerry.

I agree, I reckon this will be a very tight game.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 09/09/2014 10:35:25    1649959

I see Donegal are off to the 5* Lough Erne Resort in Fermanagh for 5 days to prepare for the final.

DVD's of Kerry games will be getting a serious workout & if Kieran Donaghy feels his ears burning at any stage, he'll know why!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 09/09/2014 10:48:19    1649967