As usual the GAA do their best to confuse the simplest things. I've deliberately avoided looking at the qualifier draws and their permutations this year as I knew it would on;y vex me.

Slightly away from topic, and the ridiculous format isn't Kerry's fault, but getting to the last 8 by beating two Div 3 teams at home is an absolute joke.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9163 - 05/07/2016 14:09:30    1876815

Hats off to Donegal

I honestly thought Ulster was going to be between Monaghan and Tyrone

But they very much proved me wrong... they did an awful lot right and will no doubt take quite a bit from that game

A big win for them...

Very hard one to call between Donegal and Tyrone... honestly could end up being v like the last couple of games against Monaghan all over again...

We know that there will be a great emphasis on defending and it could come down to whoever capitalises going forward...

Feck it.. I'm going for a draw!

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20601 - 05/07/2016 14:30:59    1876825

the main thing this match should tell us is if tyrone truly are serious all ireland contenders...my hunch is they are and they are probably the most likely team to beat dublin due to the style they play...certainly if they get their forwards contributing enough and keep up these impressive goal tallys

i have to say that the football tyrone have been playing has been simply stunning

alano12 (Dublin) - Posts: 2208 - 05/07/2016 17:07:10    1876909

I honestly don't understand how Donegal aren't favs after their outing on Saturday but hey, i'm not a bookie.

Obviously as a Tyrone fan I hope we can overcome the current Hoodoo the defeats have been slim but to me that made them all the worse, very much a slow death for the Tyrone teams.

2 things that have been left seemingly unmentioned so far in the build up to this game:

1) This is the first game since 2013 that won't be played in MacCumhail Park in Ballybofey,

2) And this is the most important point, This is the best Tyrone team this Donegal team has played. I don't think you could say the same vice versa. I mean Tyrone will have to put their money where their mouth is but from 2011-2014 at least we were a team very much in transition

Seansy48 (Tyrone) - Posts: 237 - 05/07/2016 17:52:00    1876934

Frederick (Louth) - Posts: 479 - 05/07/2016 17:56:09    1876937

Seansy48 (Tyrone) - Posts: 237 - 05/07/2016 18:01:13    1876939

seanie_boy (Tyrone) - Posts: 4235 - 05/07/2016 19:28:03    1876977

Frederick (Louth) - Posts: 479 - 05/07/2016 19:29:45    1876978

Great piece on the game by Jim McGuinness in the times today. Has to be the match of the season.

wonit1time (Westmeath) - Posts: 450 - 05/07/2016 20:03:49    1876991

Any information on tickets prices yet? I know my own club is taking orders tonight but still no word on prices. Will tickets be available through Supervalu and tickets.ie again?

Antifa (Donegal) - Posts: 143 - 06/07/2016 12:54:24    1877267

KevMcG (Donegal) - Posts: 8 - 06/07/2016 15:45:42    1877402

Donegal are past it, too many miles on the clock. Won't have the legs for Tyrone, they'll never be able to stop Harte, Donnelly and McCann etc.etc.

It's amazing how many times I've heard this sort of stuff over the last few days and no doubt it will continue on up to throw in on sunday week. Now, I know I'm probably biased but I cannot understand why Donegal continuely get written off as past their best. They have over an 80% win rate in championship matches since 2011 so are used to winning big games. I would admit that some parts of their game (defensive side) isn't a good as it was a few years ago but I would also argue that there are aspects of their game that has improved and I actually think that there is more speed in this Donegal team that in previous years. 6 or 7 new faces have been introduced into the side since 2012 and that will continue to happen over the next few years because the quality is there. My point is that Donegal are going nowhere and will continue to challenge for honours but they will probably continue to get written off.

In relation to the upcoming game itself Tyrone are a very good side and are improving all the time. I love their style of play. It's going to be an intriging battle and it's going to be so interesting to see some of the match ups but ironically I think Donegal's experienced players will get them over the line. Murphy will be fitter and sharper come the game, Rory Kavanagh is getting back to his best and Karl Lacey is still one of the best readers of the game. They are a proud bunch of players and I'd imagine they will use things like the match odds of 2/1 for them to win the match as huge motivation. I wouldn't of been surprised if Tyrone or Donegal for that matter were slight favourites but I can't figure why Tyrone are 1/2 favs!! Put it this way, imagine Cork go on a run in the qualifiers and lose out in the all ireland semi final and go on to win Divison 2 in the league next year. Would they be 1/2 favs against Kerry in the Munster Final next year? Doubt it! Not having a go at Tyrone by the way, I do rate them really highly and wouldn't be surpised if they beat Donegal but I also rate Donegal highly.

Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 07/07/2016 17:22:37    1878053

None of us know how this game will go as either side can win it.
I just wonder if Donegal set up very defensive will Tyrone be comfortable playing against Donegal's system. ??
I think a lot of people are rating Tyrone on their display against Kerry last year. Alough Kerry won handy enough in the end , if Tyrone had taken their goal chances they could have won
In the first few minutes a Tyrone forward had a goal chance , he got a point but he did not have the vision to see a better placed team mate who would surly have goaled Had Tyrone scored a goal that early in the game it could have been a different result.
Then when you see what Dublin did to Kerry in the final you would have to ask how good are Tyrone. ?
Maybe they are a team who will show their true worth this season. I still think that they depend on a few players to really get them going so the match up on the day will be interesting
One thing Donegal has is experience and know how to win in a dogfight. And know how to win against Tyrone in a dogfight.
But the time might have come for Tyrone to beat us as after all we have had some run against them.
I still hope to see us winning but would not be suprised if we got beat. Still I think we are playing well and what we were saying back in April about Rory having something up his sleeve , well I think that he still has a bit up his sleeve yet. I exp etc it to be the best of the provincial finals and I expect it to be one of the most competitive , toughest and tightest game of the year. Won't be a game for the faint hearted.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 07/07/2016 21:33:50    1878175

I think we can and will beat Tyrone. It'll be a tight, niggly, cagey match and I just feel our experience will tell in the end. For years Tyrone and Armagh bullied us and laughed at our efforts. Jim McGuinness alluded to it in his book, the fact that we eventually were able to beat Tyrone in 2011 was a massive thing as he had identified them as the standard bearers in Ulster. The shoe is on the other foot somewhat now. These things are definitely cyclical and Tyrone will beat Donegal some time soon. I just don't think it'll be next Sunday.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9163 - 08/07/2016 10:29:04    1878347

This game promises to be a great affair . It will come down to the wire , if Tyrone are allowed or get away with those fierce breaking runs I can only see one winner , mind you seeing how Donegal set up against monaghan and they controlled most of thier scores from the outside .can tyrone expose this and break the Donegal half backs through their frightening runs , we shall see . Tir eoghain abu

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 08/07/2016 19:13:54    1878639

Both these teams are very similar, they both have goalkeepers that are liable to do anything, great pace from half backs, similar midfields and some great talent up front. I think that Donegal will edge the experience stakes and this being their 6th Ulster Final could have a bearing especially if we win the minors cos believe it or not this has an impact on the days events and we have seen Monaghan in 2013 feed of their minors success and Donegal do likewise in 2014 v Dublin.
My fear for Donegal is that when we are pressed high up the field we tend to lose possession and if we do that against Tyrone they will destroy us on the counter. Eoin Mc Hugh has been playing well but I wouldn't start him v Tyrone. It won't have gone un noticed by MH that he lost every ball in contact v Monaghan. I also hope we have a plan for Sean Cavangh. When he plays full forward we are fine with the 2 MC Gee's in there but if he roves out the field, Eamon won't have the legs for him and Neil is out of his best position. My last concern is that we start Karl Lacey. His positioning is brilliant but he seems way off the pace and was easily brushed past for strength v Monaghan. I can see Tyrone highlighting him as a path to goal with 2 or three runners lining up on him.
Should make for a tough game, expect plenty of off the ball stuff, heavy hitting and great scores. It'll be all on the day but I feel the team that gets the goals will probably win by a point or two. With us having both minors and seniors in the final again lets hope its a repeat of 2014!!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 08/07/2016 20:15:25    1878657

I would consider this possibly the Ulster final of the decade so far, a Tyrone side on the up and a refreshed looking Donegal.

I think this will be a melting pot, could turn nasty like the Kerry v Donegal game in the league this year. Both sides are now fairly similar, and I think there will be very little between them.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 09/07/2016 01:14:48    1878743

Tyrone to win it by 3 to 5 points max..

GGdub (Dublin) - Posts: 260 - 09/07/2016 09:22:36    1878771

Great Ulster Final set up and the winners will take great confidence going into the All-Ireland series. I think Tyrone are the up and coming team and they will beat Donegal by four points. I think this Tyrone style of play is made for Croke Park and if they can win Ulster they will really look forward to playing at Croke Park.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 09/07/2016 09:42:20    1878773

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 09/07/2016 11:41:05    1878808