So it's Donegal against the team they fear the most. Bar the Ulster final last Monaghan have had the Indian sign over Donegal. No matter how well Donegal play the always seem to fear the wee men from the farney. Here hoping Donegal don't turn up yet again against Monaghan

shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1928 - 28/06/2015 11:41:14    1743681

shaggylegend
County: Monaghan
Posts: 1395

1743681

So it's Donegal against the team they fear the most. Bar the Ulster final last Monaghan have had the Indian sign over Donegal. No matter how well Donegal play the always seem to fear the wee men from the farney. Here hoping Donegal don't turn up yet again against Monaghan

In fairness, this Donegal side have broken all Indian Signs of old. Especially in Ulster, where they have beaten everybody in the Ulster Championship, apart from Fermanagh, who they haven't played. Beating Monaghan twice last year, literally put to bed any Indian sign chat.

Further south they have beaten all the top dogs of Dublin, Kerry, Mayo, Cork, Kildare in the All Ireland series too in this era. And reached 2 x All Ireland finals in the past 4 seasons, winning 1 of those. No arguing that Donegal have been by far Ulster's top side over the previous 4 seasons, and Monaghan have been tough opposition within Ulster as past 3.

So I think we are all expecting another very tough tight Ulster Final, probably a bit like last seasons.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 28/06/2015 11:53:19    1743687

I'd be confident of a better show this year than last year when two of our main player mcmanus and Kieran Hughes went into the final clearly not fit on the day although Donegal were much the better side. Agree there is no Indian sign over them but we certainly won't fear them and don't really think we will pay much attention to their long list of achievements through laudable over past few years. Will be tight tough and tense. Looking forward to it.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1799 - 28/06/2015 12:17:34    1743698

Shaggy, whistling past the graveyard as usual. If some "Indian Sign" helps you sleep at night then fire away.

Neither team has looked impressive in the semi finals & it will be all to play for.

Home advantage will be a big plus for Monaghan & Donegal will have to compensate for that. A big ask but all we can do is give it our best shot.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 28/06/2015 12:42:46    1743707

MuckrossHead
County: Donegal
Posts: 3540

1743707
Shaggy, whistling past the graveyard as usual. If some "Indian Sign" helps you sleep at night then fire away.

Neither team has looked impressive in the semi finals & it will be all to play for.

Home advantage will be a big plus for Monaghan & Donegal will have to compensate for that. A big ask but all we can do is give it our best shot.

Clones is nearly home for you guys these days!

I think both sides will fancy it as its clear neither side fear the other at this stage. If we win then there is little or nothing to separate us in Ulster terms. I still think though that you guys have the better squad and experience to push forward after the Ulster championship. We really need to make an AI semi this year to show we really are a top side. The loss of Wylie is something I think tells its all....we need the extra bit of good luck.

seanfinn (Monaghan) - Posts: 360 - 28/06/2015 12:50:19    1743713

seanfinn
County: Monaghan
Posts: 103

Clones is nearly home for you guys these days!

I think both sides will fancy it as its clear neither side fear the other at this stage. If we win then there is little or nothing to separate us in Ulster terms. I still think though that you guys have the better squad and experience to push forward after the Ulster championship. We really need to make an AI semi this year to show we really are a top side. The loss of Wylie is something I think tells its all....we need the extra bit of good luck.

We play there a fair bit sean but it is still home for you. A bit like knowing the in-laws house well but home is home.

Combine that with shaggy's Indian Sign & I would say we are in big trouble!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 28/06/2015 13:07:27    1743718

Well after' What I can only Describe as a Strange evening in Clones lastnight and my opinion that Monaghan seemed to be Struggling and well off the pace in this yrs championship' I think this one is going to be a very close contest for the Anglo Celt.

Really bewildered with that Donegal performance lastnight. Taking nothing away from Derry' they had their tactics right and Could well have caused the Upset some posters talked about' but not so much for anything Derry done but more the lacklustre approach by ourselves.

We really should have been out of sight in the 1st half' We played the better football but Due to some really bad decisions,poor finishing and some superb blocks by the Derry defence' it allowed Derry to settle into the game. Few hairy moments right from the Whistle and Big Papa yet again proved his worth. Derry's Big Midfileders were supposed to be a attribute for them But Big Neil Gobbled up most of the contested balls or pawed them down to lacey.Great safe from Mallon also from Murphy and from my position I really thought it was in the net.

I suppose the fact that it wasnt a fullhouse' might have added to the strangeness ' but the game overall was very flat. The pitch looked in Superb condition' But i noticed alot of players Slipping and was left pondering if it had anything to do with the late kickoff time and possibly an Early Dew left the pitch slippery. Certainly after the Shower of Rain it was obvious that it was affecting ball Handling.

I thought Christy Toye played very well lastnight' and what a beast of a point by MM early in the 2nd half.
A lot of of play and decision making left me scratching my head lastnight and the Arseing about again in Which McFadden got dispossessed and hurt in the process which lead to Derry breaking forward and scoring..Are they ever going to learn..? I seen it coming a mile away.

On a side note' did anyone notice a fan getting injured after a Derry score lastnight in the 2nd half.?. It must have been a child or older person in the crowd behind the Goals.

We will take the Win' but not in a very convincing Manner and their will certainly be no Clear favourites leading up to the UF with Both teams needing lots of Improvements to get the Job Done. Could go anyway.

InishowenMan (Donegal) - Posts: 216 - 28/06/2015 15:29:46    1743775

Inishowenman
It was a wee girl bout 4 or 5 and the ball caught her full in the face knocking her flying over the steps with a bust nose. There really should be ball stops behind the goals.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 28/06/2015 16:49:55    1743881

Looking forward to the final now. Monaghan have seen us in 2 very competitive games and we have shown a lot of our hand. WE have only seen them v Cavan in terms of how they operate in a tight game. I would give Monaghan a serious advantage there. Plus they are on familiar turf too. But we are by no means going into the game fearing them either. Lots to look forward to.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 28/06/2015 17:04:56    1743899

Both teams struggled in their respective semi-finals so difficult to tell who is the form team. We can expect a tough and close game, with no more than a few points separating them. Hopefully Patrick McBrarty will have recovered from his knock in the Derry game. I would expect Monaghan to improve big time from their performances so far in the championship. They have some great players McManus, Moane and the Hughes brothers. Don't expect a high scoring game.

JimTheLegend (Donegal) - Posts: 247 - 28/06/2015 17:57:29    1743937

JimTheLegend
County: Donegal
Posts: 107

1743937
Both teams struggled in their respective semi-finals so difficult to tell who is the form team. We can expect a tough and close game, with no more than a few points separating them. Hopefully Patrick McBrarty will have recovered from his knock in the Derry game. I would expect Monaghan to improve big time from their performances so far in the championship. They have some great players McManus, Moane and the Hughes brothers. Don't expect a high scoring game.

Monaghan will be as good as they were 2 years ago. The question is can we match them this time.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 28/06/2015 18:47:33    1743986

Monaghan will take some beating. We will have to be on top form to get through this. It will be intense and physical & hard-hitting: a war of attrition, just what we have come to expect of our recent meetings with the Farney men. I seriously hope we come out on the right side but we'll have to raise our game from last night's performance in order to do that. I'm glad we didn't breeze through the Derry match tho. It puts us in a better position now. I think between Tyrone & Derry we've been tested a bit more than Monaghan so hopefully that will stand to us also. Whoever wins this will have a great platform to reach the semis & maybe further. On a side note, was in Croke Park today & Dublin looked phenomenal. They toyed with Kildare & I know we always say it but the bench they have is unreal. They are a serious prospect this year & it's hard to see anyone beating them. Great to see Westmeath's epic comeback: a thoroughly deserved victory.

Glynners (Donegal) - Posts: 109 - 28/06/2015 19:46:16    1744066

I think Donegal will win this came comfortably in the region of 3-5 points.Why? Unlike 2013 when lets be honest Monaghan caught a tired Donegal team on the hop, Donegal are a much better force. They have picked up about 3-5 players since 2013 that are quality. Monaghans problem is they only have Mc Manus, yes they beat Fermanagh without him doing much but Fermanagh are a poor team. Donegal have the strength and depth to prevail but Monaghan should still make the quaters as Sligo/Westmeath wont count come then. Mind you they could still draw Cork/Kerry. Donegal to prevail,they have been the most consistent team in Ireland since 2011.

222 (UK) - Posts: 693 - 28/06/2015 20:05:14    1744081

I think last nights match will have done us a power of good What if we had to have won easy, and after the Armagh game imagine all the talk would have been about Donegal
The hype would have been hard to manage but after last night I should think all supporters of Donegal should take nothing for granted.
It was a very poor game IMO Donegal passing, handling and shooting was very poor and it was probably their worst display in a long time
That said it was hard to play against Derry and the way they set up , indeed they will pose a treat to a lot of teams yet in the championship.
Still we have lost only one game in Ulster over the last five years and I fully expect us to win the Anglo Celt again
I think we are better off than Monaghan are as regards scoring forwards as if CmcManus is closed down then Monaghan might have problems getting scores( I'd say that's Monaghan biggest problem as else where they are fairly strong.
Monaghan , I suppose have not been that impressive so far in the championship but then again they could hit top form on the19
I think it will be all tactics on the day so whoever is going to win will also need a bit of luck
I hope to see Donegal win one more Ulster as I would imagine we might have a different team next year with maybe 5 to6 newcomers in next year
Anyway it's great getting back to Clones again and I think the 1990 Ulster winning Donegal team will be honoured.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 28/06/2015 20:30:11    1744114

What do Donegal think of Clones ?

MonaghanGlory (Monaghan) - Posts: 738 - 28/06/2015 20:36:50    1744119

MonaghanGlory
County: Monaghan
Posts: 317

1744119
What do Donegal think of Clones ?

Some lovely pavements.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 28/06/2015 21:20:01    1744174

Donegal's dominance of Ulster to continue for me.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 28/06/2015 21:26:29    1744182

I really love going to Clones( have been on other occasions) especially on Ulster final day. Fantastic atmosphere around the town and I've been there when Donegal played Cavan 1983, Tyrone 1989, Armagh1990, Down1991,Derry1992,again Derry1993,Derry again1998, Armagh 2002,Derry 2011,down 2012, Monaghan2013 and last year again Monaghan.
Suffered a few defeats along the way but to me I'm really happy to be going back again on the 19 July
The road we take might not be the best and takes us around two hours but always leave Donegal looking forward to a great day and I must say I had some good ones there as of course a few bad ones
Still would be happy enough to keep Clones as the Venus for the Ulster final and I don't think Monaghan has any advantage by playing there on Ulster final day even it is sort of home advantage to them Best of luck Monaghan fans and good to see Monaghan staying in the top two in Ulster and I hope that we are still no one in Ulster after the final

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 28/06/2015 21:28:08    1744186

MesAmis
County: Dublin
Posts: 8796

1744182
Donegal's dominance of Ulster to continue for me.

I think the Ulster final definitely reflects the 2 strongest sides in Ulster, however the Ulster Championship this year has also shown that a few other sides are not that far off the pace. The likes of Tyrone, Cavan, Derry and Fermanagh all played exceptionally well against the current big two, and Armagh were maybe caught cold and didn't give an accurate account of themselves.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 28/06/2015 21:42:20    1744201

3rd final in a row between these two which is rare, and really it could and should be 4, only for our 2nd half collapse against Down in 2012. Although the form Donegal were in that year perhaps it's for the best!

Donegal's below par performance yesterday was probably the best thing for them, winning while not playing well and showing that they can still work on a few things. Despite that all the talk will still be about Donegal and they'll be strong favourites, a big difference from last year when it was pretty even(and we might even have been slight favourites on the day).That should suit us as we can come in a bit under the radar while not performing any way well so far, so we have alot to work on too. I fully expect Donegal to improve significantly ahead of the final, they'll have been confident of getting there from the start. But Malachy and co. will have watched on with great interest and see that, even allowing for Donegal improving, they're certainly beatable. Plenty to work on in the next few weeks and hopefully we'll get it right on the day.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 28/06/2015 22:00:55    1744221