Kerry are defending all ireland champions.

And yet Royaldunne, You have Dublin slightly ahead of them ?

I suppose i better go lie in a dark room and figure the logic behind that one out!

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 28/04/2015 11:19:46    1718373

waynoI
County: Dublin
Posts: 10373

1718301
Inexperienced manager and their poor league form id imagine

Inexperienced manager yes but poor league form?

They got to the semis which isn't bad in all fairness.

A big problem for Donega this year is the path they have to take to navigate Ulster.

Tyrone, Armagh, Down & Monaghan is a possible scenario & I think we would be very lucky to come through that without injuries.

If we do manage to get through in one piece the we will be serious challengers & the odds will tumble.

One game at a time......

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 28/04/2015 11:20:33    1718374

We have a very tough draw but I wouldn't bet against us going far in the Championship with a bit of luck. Have a tough opener on the 17th though first.

DL4SAM (Donegal) - Posts: 19 - 28/04/2015 11:52:35    1718400

It suits everyone to be written off, no one wants fav tag. Donegal have as much chance as anyone else, all teams are beatable, anyone tells you differently is a professional spectator.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4898 - 28/04/2015 12:11:57    1718407

ben1977
County: Donegal
Posts: 264

1718354 I'm not sure we are being written off any more this year than we were last year, we were priced in and around 12/1 for the AI last year aswell which seem fair enough odds based on the route we have to take to even get to Croke park on the August bank holiday w/kend......... For what's its worth I'm pleasantly surprised by how things are going post JMG era..... Our main players seem back to themselves and the younger players like Mc Niallis, Mc Brearty and Mc Hugh are playing really really well....... News from within the camp is that training is going very welll so all in all we are in a good place, but this place could turn very dark in the next 3 weeks as Tyrone come to town very much under the radar and a hungry and focused Tyrone under MH are a dangerous animal.....

Just a note, sure every team in the country are being under estimated bar Kerry, due to Dublins assembalance of the greatest ever team to grace a field, it was the same story this time last year after Dublin walked the league then, some people and the media never learn........ Dublin look good yes, but will they waltz their way to the AI this year, not a hope........


Try telling Nostradamus , sorry I mean Ulsterman , The end is Nigh ,I say Nigh .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 28/04/2015 13:22:31    1718452

Good side, will cause major headache for someone before it's all over, hopefully not for us again though :D

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8597 - 28/04/2015 13:23:16    1718454

http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=236377

Get the money down on Karl for POTY!

80/1 is the current price with PP!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 29/04/2015 10:32:04    1718811

Damothedub
County: Dublin
Posts: 2453

1718346 Donegal IMO are like the Dublin hurlers , well capable of beating anyone on their day , but you need a lot of on your day moments to take ultimate prizes , I wouldn't write them off but I ask can they bring something new to the party to get them over the game line comes sept .

I wouldn't quite agree with that comparison, purely as Donegal have actually won 3 x Ulster titles and 1 x All Ireland in the last 4 seasons, and were also Ulster runners up and have narrowly lost an All Ireland final during that period too.

Three major Issues for Donegal are
1. Colm McFadden - Will he come good for Championship or can they replace him with another man to assist Murphy and McBrearty.
2. Paddy McGrath - A superb defender, however lately has struggled under the high ball, which has been exploited. Playing him at Corner back against top sides could see him targeted again.
3. Despite bringing in talent, they have lost key men like Leo McLoone, Brick Molloy, Declan Walsh, Rory Kavanagh and Luke Keaney etc. This could take its toll if they pick up Injuries.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 30/04/2015 14:29:54    1719224

GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 1729

1719224
Damothedub
County: Dublin
Posts: 2453

1718346 Donegal IMO are like the Dublin hurlers , well capable of beating anyone on their day , but you need a lot of on your day moments to take ultimate prizes , I wouldn't write them off but I ask can they bring something new to the party to get them over the game line comes sept .

I wouldn't quite agree with that comparison, purely as Donegal have actually won 3 x Ulster titles and 1 x All Ireland in the last 4 seasons, and were also Ulster runners up and have narrowly lost an All Ireland final during that period too.

Three major Issues for Donegal are
1. Colm McFadden - Will he come good for Championship or can they replace him with another man to assist Murphy and McBrearty.
2. Paddy McGrath - A superb defender, however lately has struggled under the high ball, which has been exploited. Playing him at Corner back against top sides could see him targeted again.
3. Despite bringing in talent, they have lost key men like Leo McLoone, Brick Molloy, Declan Walsh, Rory Kavanagh and Luke Keaney etc. This could take its toll if they pick up Injuries.

In response to the above I would say:

1. Colm has been a fantastic servant to us and he may yet go on to shoot the lights out this summer. But if he doesn't I feel that Paddy McBrearty is in the form of his life and is ready to step up to the role of scorer-in-chief. I think he'll possibly even take over free-taking duties.

2. Paddy has been a superb and underrated corner back for us. His league form may have been slightly concerning but no better man to roll up the sleeves in training. I'm sure the weaknesses you highlighted have not been lost on Rory Gallagher either. A case of wait and see with this one.

3. Of the missing players you mention, only Kavanagh and McLoone were definite starters. Walsh, Brick and Keaney were squad players albeit very useful ones. We may even see McLoone back before long. MacNíallais is taking over Kav's role while McElhinney's superb league form tempers the loss of McLoone somewhat.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 30/04/2015 15:49:08    1719268

Said it here a couple of weeks ago after Donegal hammered Tyrone and I have nothing to base this on at all but I think Tyrone will beat them on 17 May as they are being completely written off by everyone have one of the best managers the game has seen and are keeping a very low profile. Its classic Ulster first round upset build up.Everyone is saying McGuinness who was a great manager leaving is having no impact on Donegal but I aint so sure that can be said until championship.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1803 - 30/04/2015 15:59:54    1719272

Seanie, I agree that Tyrone are in with a shout in this game but Donegal are strong favourites for a number of reasons.

The game is in Ballybofey, they have no injuries & are going well wheras Tyrone are away from home, are praying that Cavanagh can field, & have just been relegated.

I agree that Gallagher is inexperienced at championship but this team has enough miles on the clock & enough leaders on the field not to be depending on him once the game starts.

It might be a factor later in the year but I don't think it will be here.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 30/04/2015 18:13:02    1719316

seanie08
County: Monaghan
Posts: 818

1719272 Said it here a couple of weeks ago after Donegal hammered Tyrone and I have nothing to base this on at all but I think Tyrone will beat them on 17 May as they are being completely written off by everyone have one of the best managers the game has seen and are keeping a very low profile. Its classic Ulster first round upset build up.Everyone is saying McGuinness who was a great manager leaving is having no impact on Donegal but I aint so sure that can be said until championship.

I don't agree, purely as I really don't think anybody with genuine clue about Gaelic Football would be writing Tyrone off.

Tyrone put in some steely performances in this years National League, and were very unlucky to be relegated. They didn't show up in Ballybofey against Donegal, but apart from that they looked tougher and better organised this season.

I see this game being very similar to the Armagh v Donegal game last year in Croke Park, a difficult bottle neck match. I expect the winner to emerge with no more than maybe 2 or 3 points to spare. Tyrone definitely sense a chance to cause an upset, possibly due to McGuinness no longer at the Donegal helm.

The problem for Tyrone is that that Donegal are a team in their prime, and have beaten Tyrone in just about every major game in the past 4 years. Donegal are basically a settled team, who know their roles and know how to close games out calmly. And I see Donegal edging a win, in what should be a tight match.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 30/04/2015 18:30:36    1719320

Lockjaw
County: Donegal
Posts: 3812

Martin McElhinney & Odharan MacNiallais have definitely softened the loss of Rory Kavanagh & Leo McLoone this season, also Martin O'Reilly has looked superb player this year.

Declan Walsh was a capable man, who could come on and do a good job at full or half back, and Luke Keaney had the making of a superb full back given a year or two development and conditioning. Brick Molloy is another man who could come on and offer something a bit different to Darrach O'Connor depending on who you are playing.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 30/04/2015 18:49:33    1719325

Donegal have every chance of winning another All Ireland as they are playing the same style of football with the same panel of footballers apart from Kavanagh who has retired. They will be as well drilled and as fit as they ever were under McGuiness's tenure. One player who I think though has lacked in form is the big forward McFadden. I watch him sometimes and wonder how he gets his place, his confidence is not high.

For me its Donegal for Ulster, and can see them reach another All Ireland final, they are easily favourites for the Tyrone game.

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 01/05/2015 10:16:35    1719394

I think Dublin are the best side in Ireland, I think ourselves, Kerry and Mayo are all very close. Our draw is very difficult so that's why we are written off. Win or lose in Ulster, Id be surprised if we did not make the last eight .

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 01/05/2015 10:58:41    1719408

Where's Leo Mcloone gone...

kerryrowz (Kerry) - Posts: 833 - 01/05/2015 13:08:53    1719467

kerryrowz
County: Kerry
Posts: 803

1719467 Where's Leo Mcloone gone...

Leo McLoone was said to be taking time off to go travelling back around January/February. No word on what his official status is, or whether he return to is club football yet.

Losing Rory Kavanagh and Leo McLoone has been a massive loss for Donegal, especially after losing Ryan Bradley last year ( He got work in Dubai ). Also losing experienced fringe players like Brick Molloy, Declan Walsh and future full back Luke Keaney has got to be a massive blow. Yet they have continued and the success of other new players has definitely softened the blow.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 01/05/2015 14:46:59    1719501

Leo is taking a wee sabbatical as far as I know.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 01/05/2015 14:47:54    1719502

Leo is taking a break so he can get his career going. Big loss.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 01/05/2015 16:00:28    1719537

Aye he's a fair man to break a tackle and is usually very clinical when he gets a goal chance. Hopefully McElhinney can fill the void. His league form was promising anyhow.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 01/05/2015 16:50:57    1719553