Hyde Park could host the double header if Croker is considered too big.

Castlebar would be madness bringing Tyrone people that far.

lowballplease (Galway) - Posts: 935 - 20/07/2015 12:34:23    1756283

Sligo is perfectly neutral. In fact, the players will be travelling as a group not individually so that argument goes out the window straight away. The quarter final in 2003 was not a back door game, so there was a big crowd at it. The last time we played Galway in a back door game it was in Sligo, in 2008, at the very same stage as this years competition. About 10000 were at the game. Perfect venue, and equidistant for both counties. If you are talking about south donegal, it only has 2 players represented on the team this year. Most of the support and players comes from up the county.

But I smell a Castlebar fixture all the same.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 20/07/2015 12:51:24    1756299

What is the betting it will be a double header in Clones with Sligo Tyrone?

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1903 - 20/07/2015 12:55:13    1756303

Clones would equally be madness.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 20/07/2015 13:10:50    1756313

Donegalman no issue with the venue in terms of pitch and capacity but the nearest point of Galway to Sligo is 60 miles away. Bundoran is 22 miles away from Sligo. Now if that is equidistant I think we need a word redefinition.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1946 - 20/07/2015 13:21:05    1756322

Confirmed for Croker.

SeppBlatter (Dublin) - Posts: 187 - 20/07/2015 13:26:43    1756330

So the debate ends as I see it is on Sat week in Croker at 6pm as a double header with Sligo Tyrone.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1946 - 20/07/2015 13:28:56    1756333

Thats not bad, we will get to see 2 games.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 20/07/2015 13:35:13    1756342

Real chance for Galway here I think..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 20/07/2015 13:39:38    1756348

Looking forward to this game. Galway have got a bit of momentum after beating 2 Ulster opponents already, they also put it up to Mayo. Will be interesting to see how Donegal react to yesterdays loss. Game fixed for Croker Saturday week. Galway by a few to spare.

ShortGrass_1 (Kildare) - Posts: 223 - 20/07/2015 13:40:03    1756350

Thats not bad, we will get to see 2 games.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 20/07/2015 13:49:19    1756360

Delighted it's in Croker. Donegal will rightly be hot favourites though. There's far too many tipping Galway to win this, we'll be relying on a hangover from Donegal to beat them and a repeat of their performance against Laois in the qualifiers 2 years ago.

TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 20/07/2015 13:58:52    1756370

Yeah I think people are overdoing it on the Galway to win this. If it were announced last Friday, there would be nobody giving us a hope in hell. Granted we've beaten two Ulster teams but neither of those are half as good as Donegal, as shown when Donegal trounced Armagh in first round.

Its division 1, ex all ireland champions vs division 2 team. Donegal simply have to be favourites. Losing to Monaghan in tight claustrophobic Ulster final is completely different to the game that will occur v Galway. I feel they will get their running game back and we will struggle to contain them.

Flanders (Galway) - Posts: 604 - 20/07/2015 14:03:21    1756374

Struggling to see how anyone would make Galway favourites? The real test to see how far we have come will be Saturday week. Hoping for a large Galway following in Croker, the lads deserve it.

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1572 - 20/07/2015 14:27:19    1756393

Donegalman, I remember 2009 in Sligo well. Very poor following from my county that day, must have been 9500 from Donegal and 500 from Galway.

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1572 - 20/07/2015 14:29:44    1756396

Flanders - you need to have fresh legs to play a running game - looking at it yesterday a number of the Donegal lads looked to be out of gas - Lacey, Toye, Murphy in particular. Donegal have been using the same tight bunch of players right through the league and champo and I think they're starting to suffer for it. The brutal draw in ulster also didnt help.
Having said that this is an inexperienced Galway team and Donegal will be tough to break down - if Galway show patience and have the athletism to move Donegal around then I think they are strong enough around the middle to get a foot hold and get at Donegal. Its a huge opportunity for Galway to make a step up - played well V Kerry last year but their game management will need to have improved.

blacknamber (Kerry) - Posts: 267 - 20/07/2015 14:30:48    1756397

Well our game management has improved not only from last year but moreso from the Mayo game this year.. I think we need a realty check though, Donegal are still a top Div 1 team and we are a young team gathering momentum alright. Croke park will suit our pacy players ( Lundy Flynn and shane Walsh had fine games last year v Kerry)however Donegal have lots of quality and the two week break will suit them. They are favourites but i would be quietly confident of an upset!

Belclare1 (Galway) - Posts: 1626 - 20/07/2015 14:39:04    1756404

Has the GAA handed an advantage to Galway, Donegal, Sligo and Tyrone by fixing their qualifier games in Croker Park instead of a provincial venue, they will have 1 game in Croker before the winners play Monaghan and Mayo, Fermanagh and Cork mustn't know what they done wrong, they aren't playing their matches in Croker, Westmeath and Kildare have already played there this year

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 20/07/2015 15:10:44    1756436

BlacknAmber, Belclare1,
I agree with Belclare1, my point is div 1 v div 2 is still the main point. Lads looking tired or not doesnt really matter.....how long have people been saying Kilkenny full back line is slow/old, same with Kerry, but every year they are challenging for silverware.

Its not that long ago Donegal cleaned Mayo is first 15 mins with two goals....we need to be very very wary of this, especially under high ball (note performances v Donaghy O'Shea etc).

I do agree we have a shout, but it would still be considered an upset, as confirmed by the betting 2/5 Donegal, 5/2 Galway http://www.paddypower.com/bet/gaa-sports.

Flanders (Galway) - Posts: 604 - 20/07/2015 15:15:06    1756438

riverboys, you better get on the phone quick to GAA HQ about Dublin then. If one game for Galway/Donegal etc in Croker is an advantage, then surely you should be crowing from the roof about Dublin playing every game there!

Flanders (Galway) - Posts: 604 - 20/07/2015 15:18:12    1756441