Looking at past Donegal games and the way they panned out is a fruitless exercise.

Donegal change their patterns of play within the game depending on hoe the game is going. Take the All Ireland Final in 2012 for example. Donegal got the early goals and then sat back and absorbed Mayo, picking off some scores when Mayo got closer. Has we not got those early goals we would have had a different approach. The last time we played Kerry was the same. Someone says we were hanging on late in the game but truth be told we were comfortable and the late goal did rock us but we managed to regain composure within 5 minutes to finish the game. The Armagh game this year was similar with a late goal nearly catching us out.

We have also heard that if you get in front against Donegal then they wouldn't be able to win the game but that was put to bed the last day also when the Dubs had a great start against us and we didn't panic.

Both managers in this game will be tested during the game. They will have played out every scenario in their heads but they probably won't know until the game is in full swing what way each team are setting up. Kerry have shown a new side to their play under EF and where they were reluctant in other years to set up defensively they have now added that to their armour.

I really don't know how the game will pan out but I can see a hero emerging on some team to win in what will be a bruising encounter with little more than a score or two between them in the end. Could we be heading for a replay in the football final too?

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 09/09/2014 11:03:15    1649975

I always thought that the kerry game 2 years ago was our toughest game. Not over 70, but over the last 6 minutes. Yes we got a lucky goal, yes kerry had a few lads leave the pitch with injury, but all in all, it set us up to win our remaining matches against cork and mayo. The final minutes gave us supporters the fright of our lives, quirk should have pointed to level, and then who knows what would have happened. The lesson learned from this is that kerry are serious serious lads over 70 minutes. The first semi v mayo was a carbon copy of this. They clawed back a 5 point deficit and should have won the game in the end.

The news of eddie kinsella getting the game rather than marty duffy has made my week. Fair choice, kinsella was in charge of a tough ulster clash between monaghan and tyrone this year, which he did a great job in.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 09/09/2014 11:04:07    1649976

5 days. Difficult opponent no doubt. Defensive triangles and lethal attack.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7869 - 09/09/2014 12:08:50    1650011

I also thought the game two years ago was our toughest, especially given the psychological aspect to it. The Tyrone match was also very tough granted, but we'd beaten them the year before and I was always quietly confident we'd beat them again. Correct me if I'm wrong but if Penrose had scored that goal it would only have tied up the match? As it was, after Durcan's save, Tyrone pointed the resultant 45 and we ended up winning by 2 points.

On the other hand, we'd never met Kerry before in Championship football. Beating them I think was crucial on the road to winning the All Ireland that year. As Eamon McGee said in the documentary, they'd previously only watched on as the likes of Gooch and Donaghy won All Irelands. All of a sudden Donegal had beaten them and any inferiority complex was well and truly banished. Donegal can draw on that experience in this year's final and use it to their advantage I feel. The mindset could have been a wee bit different if we were meeting them in our first ever Championship clash, in the biggest game of all.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9154 - 09/09/2014 12:10:52    1650014

Muckrosshead
They say the only thing worse than been talked about is not been talked about :-) I'm sure Kieran will be fine, he's been down this road many a time , sometimes as a winner and sometimes as a loser unfortunately .

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 09/09/2014 12:37:45    1650027

Donegal, while bringing their own defensive triangle and lethal attacking play to a game, have shown themselves to being quite adept to reacting to what their opponents are doing.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7869 - 09/09/2014 18:12:02    1650264

Hopefully they will stay away from the pool tables in fermanagh, and stick to the golf.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 09/09/2014 18:23:45    1650270

Donegal probably slight favourites I'd imagine with the bookies after beating Dubs but most people who know anything about football would probably say Kerry think this one is theirs.They will be thinking they have a great chance after the tougher semi and the extra game to help them prepare.

BallBearing (USA) - Posts: 72 - 09/09/2014 18:36:28    1650277

I'd be inclined to agree with Kerry being favourites and probably have the slightly better panel also but Donegal will take beating.

SLLY (Dublin) - Posts: 463 - 09/09/2014 18:47:17    1650279

09/09/2014 18:36:28
BallBearing
County: USA
Donegal probably slight favourites I'd imagine with the bookies after beating Dubs but most people who know anything about football would probably say Kerry think this one is theirs.They will be thinking they have a great chance after the tougher semi and the extra game to help them prepare.

I'm not so sure about that. If you look at Donegal's performance in their semi-final and then Kerry's, you would have to say Donegal's performance and approach will win out. Obviously every game is different and team's react and approach the game in a certain way based on their respective opponents.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7869 - 09/09/2014 19:19:59    1650295

There are no certainties of course but I just think Kerrys tussle with Mayo could prove vital as the other semi wasn't as competitive.
Ideal preparation really.

BallBearing (USA) - Posts: 72 - 09/09/2014 19:38:26    1650299

BallBearing
County: USA
Posts: 4

1650277
Donegal probably slight favourites I'd imagine with the bookies after beating Dubs but most people who know anything about football would probably say Kerry think this one is theirs.They will be thinking they have a great chance after the tougher semi and the extra game to help them prepare.

I think Kerry will fancy their chances against Donegal, where they might have entered a final with Dublin doubting they could win it.

Now I'm not saying Kerry are dismissive of Donegal's challenge, far from it. I just think Kerry will be more confident of beating Donegal than had they got Dublin.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 09/09/2014 19:47:10    1650304

09/09/2014 19:47:10
GaryMc82
County: Derry
I think Kerry will fancy their chances against Donegal, where they might have entered a final with Dublin doubting they could win it.

Now I'm not saying Kerry are dismissive of Donegal's challenge, far from it. I just think Kerry will be more confident of beating Donegal than had they got Dublin.

I's not so sure about that either. My preference was for a capital win to be honest. I did call a Donegal win before the game. Donegal did to the capital what I was hoping we might have if they were our opponent in the final. Obviously we would approached the game differently in some respects. Donegal seemed to be the more difficult opponent of the two to face in a final and it is Donegal who are there. As I keep saying, Donegal are a difficult opponent no doubt.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7869 - 09/09/2014 19:57:42    1650309

Yeah, I think Dubs might have been a bit more daunting alright after recent victories and I wouldn't say dismissive but I think they will think they have a great chance alright.

BallBearing (USA) - Posts: 72 - 09/09/2014 20:02:55    1650311

Since the beginning of the year I have wrote off Kerry but I was wrong so far. Now I was not the only one:::: what were people saying about Cork before the Munster final ??? All this talk about the two games with Mayo and giving Kerry an edge in the Final ::: well I won't have it. A properly organised Mayo team , mentally alert and proper guidance from the sideline and this Kerry team should have been beaten.
What I'd be sure of if Donegal gets in control of the game like Mayo's 14 men did in the second half of the drawn game and get a six or seven point lead then the Kingdom crumbles.
I think a lot of people are still underestimating Donegal::::::: this is a serious team,physical able for any team, the mental toughness they bring to a game, carrying out their game plan to a tee, the organisation of the players on the pitch, the discipline of the defensive unit and indeed throughout the field, the ability to mark and close out top forwards.
Excepting something happens, Donegal have an off day or some kind of a disaster then I can only see one winner :::: Donegal. By how much,,, could be a point but could easily be a lot more.

Oh I forgot someone,, the MAN I have based everything on this year and am still doing(have told ye all this before)) JIM MC GUINNESS

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 09/09/2014 21:09:26    1650344

Article about JMcG in today's Irish News
Dublin have a large population. They have the financial and physical muscle.
Yet Donegal and Kerry , two of the wildest and remote counties in Ireland wii contest both Senior and minor finals. Yes money helps but fanaticism is the key ingredient
Kerry's tradition has created a culture which breeds success.

To create the same environment Donegal has relied on ONE man. ONE MAN who has led them from the front.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 09/09/2014 21:34:01    1650360

So you have been wrong on Kerry and right on Donegal?! Haven't heard many say Kerry's replay has given them an edge. It's good for that group though. Noone is underestimating Donegal at all. The bookies for starters have Donegal as the clear favourites. Secondly then, it will be regarded as a shock if Kerry do win.

Most seem well aware that Donegal are a serious team. Their defensive triangle system is awesome and they are then lethal in attack when they have the ball. JMcG has been getting deserved plaudits. Everyone is in no doubts that he has hatched a plan for the Kingdom and that that is being worked on over this 5 day course they are on.

Donegal will be a difficult opponent no doubt.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7869 - 09/09/2014 21:36:21    1650362

Great description of Donegal which I saw in the local paper.
Donegal sometimes play with the franticness of an ice -hockey team but they possess the deliberateness of a chess player. It's a trait that has come with experience and belief in their manager's procurements

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 09/09/2014 21:40:39    1650367

Keep ye're Messiah Sam, we have Fitzmaurice! Up D mighty Kingdom!

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 09/09/2014 21:57:09    1650379

Legendzxix
Never said I was right about Donegal. Was not sure where they stood after the div 2 final defeat and was worried enough about Derry in CELTIC park. Did not even back them to win Ulster this year. But as the season progressed and especially after the Ulster final I thought Donegal were back to something like 2012. The way they set up in the Ulster final convinced me that it would take a good team to beat them. Now the Armagh game to me was one of them games::: get a result::: was not a great game and lots of little carry one on the field of play
However if you read my posts before the Dublin game I had an idea JMcG would come up with something( could not have forseen all the attacking display by Donegal) and I stuck to my guns and went for a Donegal win. Also asked the question :::could Donegal hammer Dublin??? You probably know what the answers were back then.
Now as regards beating Mayo , do you not think that Kerry have a hoodoo over them ?? It must be 20 years since they beat Kerry in the championship.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 09/09/2014 21:58:01    1650381