I've notice the last few months when media and TV programs talk about whose going to win Sam no one gives Donegal a hope? Why are they being written off ? I honestly don't get it they came within a goal post of drawing last years final after playing terrible the whole game and gifting Donaghy the most freakish goal you'll ever see but they hammered Dublin in the semi they won the hardest province there is yet Again yet no one gives them a chance? Mchugh is back McFadden looks back to his best Mcbrearty is turning into there best player they have Micheal Murphy and they play the blanket better than anyone else, so can someone explain to me why there being given no chance???

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 27/04/2015 11:25:29    1717866

It suits us better being written off. Maybe it's because more or less the same group of players are being asked to go again? Maybe it's because Jimmy McGuinness is no longer calling the shots?

I think an injury free Donegal team firing on all cylinders will still give any team in the country their fill of it. Whether that's good enough or not for an All-Ireland win remains to be seen.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 27/04/2015 12:17:41    1717903

The Connaught-Leinster half of the draw looks predictable enough, a Dublin Region v Mayo semi-final.

The Munster-Ulster half of the draw is harder to predict. Kerry and Cork will be expected to be the Munster reliables. Ulster impossible to call. Ulster and qualifiers dropping into the Connacht-Leinster section might cause some trouble there.

The expectation will be for 4 Ulster All-Ireland quarter-finalists.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7846 - 27/04/2015 12:20:39    1717905

I wouldn't write Donegal off at all....they will be there or thereabouts in my opinion.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11231 - 27/04/2015 12:31:11    1717910

I wouldn't write them off at all and still see them as favourites for ulster though Monaghan are up there too.
Munster predictable enough if you want to call it like it is and there's only one winner really.

Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 27/04/2015 12:33:33    1717911

At full strength, Donegal are currently the strongest side in Ulster and I would say genuine All Ireland contenders along with Dublin and Kerry. I think most people will say Dublin and Kerry are the main contenders, especially after Cork's poor performance yesterday and the fact that Mayo always tend to fall short despite their quality.

Donegal face a tricky path through Ulster, where avoiding Injuries will be difficult. They face Tyrone in a few weeks, and that will be an arm wrestle match with little space and hard hits.
Then ultra-hard hitters Armagh await them in the Ulster QF, with another arm wrestle with Derry or Down if they reach the Ulster SF.
And if they manage to get by that, they have Monaghan or possibly Cavan or Fermanagh in the Ulster final. Regardless they could be severely weakened by that stage, like 2013 were they had acquired 3 Concussions and plenty of knocks during the Ulster SF & Final matches.

While Mark McHugh has returned, his performances to date have been lacklustre and he hasn't managed to return to his 2011/2012 levels.

This year Donegal lost superb young players Leo McLoone, Brick Molloy, Declan Walsh and Luke Keaney, who have departed for various reasons Including working abroad. They lost Rory Kavanagh to retirement and not to forget they lost the powerful Ryan Bradley last year.
Yet despite losing 6 excellent players, they keep bringing more in and are still exceptionally strong as their key structure is still intact.

I disagree with legendzxix on any expectation of 4 x Ulster Quarter finalists, as the bulk of Ulster's strongest sides are on the same side of Ulster. If anything, they will end up tripping over each other in the Qualifiers.

I expect to see 2 teams from each province in this years All Ireland Quarter finals.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 27/04/2015 12:39:37    1717913

I think a lot of it is down to the fact that JMcG is gone and we have a new young & inexperienced manager in his place.

Having said that Gallagher seems to have thrown off the shackles a bit, Murphy is playing the football of his life, McBrearty is coming good & a slew of new players have made their mark this year.

We would have concerns over the form of Paddy McGrath & Mark McHugh but all in all we are in a very good place at the moment.

It probably won't be pretty at times but whoever beats us will deserve it.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 27/04/2015 12:51:23    1717919

I don't get it at all. Tight defence, most of the time, all-stars all over the park, physical, very experienced and with IMO the best inside forward line in the country. Definitely a top 4 side and capable of going all the way. Coming in under the radar I would say.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 27/04/2015 18:02:45    1718146

I would actually say they are stronger than last year and the year before. players like Marty Reilly,Mcelhennan,MacNialis,o'connor,Hugh mcfadden and one or two others have come in and stepped up to the plate, Frank McGlynn seems to be back to his old self as does Karl Lacey, I wouldn't say Colm Mcfadden is back to his best yet but the 2015 version is certainly an improvement on the 2014 version. Ryan Mchugh has improved with age (not sure about mark). McBrearty is an awsome player and is improving year on year. Michael Murphy is one of the best in the country. The likes of Christy Toye and Neilly gallagher are still very fit, strong running players and the Mcgees are solid at the back. As lockjaw said, Donegal at full strength are a match for anyone in the country. I fully expect them to win ulster and if they stay injury free who knows. They have as good a chance as mayo and Cork of getting to the final.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 27/04/2015 18:14:29    1718150

Donegal will be there or thereabouts come August.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 27/04/2015 18:15:20    1718151

Don't know about winning the whole thing, but they will certainly take a big scalp before it's all over.

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 27/04/2015 18:30:01    1718159

Donegal are a top team, with huge belief in themselves going into big games , winners 3 years ago and finalists last year. For that reason have to be All Ireland contenders .
The championship is unfairly balanced and for that reason Donegal will find it harder to navigate a path to the semifinal than say Dublin ,Kerry or Mayo . (there is always the possibility of a shock in quarters for one of the other 3 but they are getting less frequent now)
For all Dublins percieved advantages (some true, most exagerated to death) If Dublin, Kerry , Donegal ,Mayo make the last 4 . Or even if Monaghon or Cork get there .
None of these teams will want for anything in their preperation for Sam. They all have, top trainers, top physios and top nutritionists.
So Donegal are very much one of the favourites for Sam , just like the Dubs.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 27/04/2015 21:55:22    1718255

Donegal represent Ulsters only hope of landing the big one this year, tall order but certainly doable with the personnel they have.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 28/04/2015 08:03:10    1718265

Something has to give after the Jimmy era, that's why I dont think Donegal will win the AI this year. Can they win Ulster? yes. Can they get to an AI semi? yes. Can they build a team capable of winning the AI in the near future? I wouldn't bet against it.

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2385 - 28/04/2015 09:17:14    1718284

Inexperienced manager and their poor league form id imagine

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 28/04/2015 10:09:19    1718301

Who is writing Donegal off?
Just like people cant write Mayo off.
These teams have a good chance of reaching an all ireland semi final and we know once there anything can happen.

Dublin again look ahead of the rest but there is always a banana skin out there for any team.

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 28/04/2015 10:14:16    1718305

woops
County: Kerry
Posts: 1235

1718305
Who is writing Donegal off?
Just like people cant write Mayo off.
These teams have a good chance of reaching an all ireland semi final and we know once there anything can happen.

Dublin again look ahead of the rest but there is always a banana skin out there for any team.

The bookies for one are writing Donegal off. we are 12/1 with boylesports to win it. Reaching an all ireland semi final is all well and good, but it is a long road between the 15th of may and the last 2 weeks of august. That is why there is little value with us this year.

Dublin look ahead of the rest but remember that Kerry are all ireland champions and are strong second favorites with the bookies to win sam again. Bearing this in mind, the field will be outsiders. I do agree that when we click, it will take a good team to beat us.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 28/04/2015 10:33:53    1718324

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 .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 28/04/2015 10:49:42    1718346

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........

ben1977 (Donegal) - Posts: 364 - 28/04/2015 10:56:27    1718354

I think the odds on winning it are about right for Donegal, but youd have to fancy them reaching semis.
Its a two horse race Imo and even at that Dublin are a bit ahead of Kerry , bit of course anything can happen on the day v

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 28/04/2015 10:56:36    1718355