I fancy Galway to beat Donegal i think they will do a Kildare on them
Galway gave Mayo the game handing them 1 04 on a platter.
The last 2 occassions they beat Derry they won the AI they have
beaten 2 Ulster teams to date i think it could be a Kerry Galway semi final
Remember they won a couple of AI U21s recently the talent is there

wfkerry (USA) - Posts: 933 - 26/07/2015 18:55:15    1759319

wfkerry, don't think you watched the same Galway v Mayo game I was at in Salthill. They tried to match Mayo in the physical stakes, which was funny to watch,and it spectacularly backed fired on them. Galway had 2 championship games played already and Mayo came to their back yard stone cold and bet them in second gear. Galway are nowhere near the level required to be all ireland contenders. Like Kildare they should direct their energy toward provincial glory first even thought its a long way off.

Always_Mayo (Mayo) - Posts: 29 - 26/07/2015 20:02:02    1759352

I think we will beat Galway with the two week gap. Our big issue then, if we are good enough to beat Galway, is how we cope with a one week gap to the Mayo game. I think we are screwed in that scenario but I hope I wrong of course. Donegal are very consistent and haven't lost two games on the trot in championship football since 2010. Along with the restoration of pride, I fancy us to win and find the posts the next day.. This is Mayo's year or it will never happen!!!

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 26/07/2015 20:08:48    1759358

If I was a Donegal fan Id very much like to see everyone writing off my county

For all of Monaghans good points in the UF

Donegal finished by far the better team and should have drawn that game

Donegal are still very much alive and I think they'll have too much for a very much over blown Galway side

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 26/07/2015 20:25:46    1759372

Donegal will beat Galway with something to spare. When they are a wounded animal they are always in the zone and very focused. Derry competed with Galway for long periods until poor refereeing turned the game.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9701 - 26/07/2015 20:28:38    1759375

Two championship games under their belt? Against New York and Leitrim FFS!

But dismiss us all you like lad, that's the way we like it.

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 26/07/2015 20:32:02    1759376

There aren't too many tipping Galway, there 5/2 for a reason. I don't think anyone in Galway is getting to cocky.

There is talent in the team though and they've made progress, it's the first time in years they've given Mayo a game contrary to what the above Mayo posters comments. Mayo had bullied Glaway in recent years and had to put a stop to it and did.

Derry was a step up from Armagh and Donegal will be a step up from Derry. We've responded well to the 2 challenges so far and who knows how Donegal will respond to the Ulster final defeat both physically and mentally.

TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 26/07/2015 20:48:04    1759383

@AlwaysMayo - We're no great shakes but if I was you, I'd be more worried about the gaping holes we exploited in your full back line for 2 goals and could have got a 3rd. Sligo got 2 against ye and could have had 2 more. Keep leaving those holes at the back and your long wait will continue.

Ailteoir (Galway) - Posts: 859 - 26/07/2015 20:50:05    1759387

Spot on Fest. While Mayo are a more advanced side we handed them a goal on the plate. The usual 'did not have to get out of 2nd gear' was the convenint analysis of the game. We are getting better but of course have a bit to go to get to the cutting edge. Many Donegal fans from the posts are already planning for Mayo. Keep it up. And Jim who exactly are over blowing us?. Not Galway fans anyhow. I think you are confusing us with the Rossies when John Evans made that brave assertion.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1946 - 26/07/2015 20:50:30    1759388

Not sure wfkerry if Galway and Kerry can meet in a semi final

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 506 - 26/07/2015 20:51:13    1759389

Jumbodub
I hope you are right and I do think you are right but we will not underestimate Galway. I don't think they will cope with our style of play especially if we leave them their half of Croke park and our 14 outfield players retreat into our own half I could see Donegal forcing Galway into errors and I can't see us giving away the frees Derry did I think Galway got around 8/9 points from frees and the goal was lucky , in my book Derry had a clear cut penalty.
Maybe we might not set up too defensive, we might go with a three man forward line and attack from the start
Again the ref is important and I thought against Derry Galway got what was going Indeed it was pointed out on the Sunday game plus the black card that was not one ,the Derry no six sent off
On all known form we are a good bit in front of Galway at present , we could be on the way down but then again I think we have enough left to win this game
If it's a typical Ulster type game like Tyrone v Donegal, Derry v Donegal or a game like last Sunday v Monaghan I only can see one winner ---- Donegal

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 26/07/2015 20:51:31    1759390

Galway and other people seem confident Galway have a team to compete on the big stage again. Well the country will be watching next weekend, lets see if their talk really has substance. It would be good for the championship if they are back.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 26/07/2015 21:31:28    1759411

Sam: most Galway supporters would expect a Donegal win, the nice thing about this year is that for the first time in 15ish years we're seeing some consistency and improvement in the team which gives us some reason for hope. We might well lose, but it's already looking better for next year.

There'll be no 6 in a row for the Mayo lads!!

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 26/07/2015 21:41:08    1759420

SamOnErrigal.

Galway will be fully aware of what to expect from Donegal, as for not facing it before both Armagh and Derry got everyone retreat back into their own half when not in possession. The big difference is the way Donegal counter attack and the pace they do it at.

I didn't see the Sunday game last Sunday night but I bet they didn't point out all the soft frees Derry got, in fact Galway conceded 8 more frees than Derry. As for the penalty appeal it was a dive, when the ball was in the air Hanley hands were in the air and not on O'Boyle.

How will Donegal react to only a break of 2 weeks, they've looked heavy legged against Derry and Monaghan and have had more time to prepare for those matches and off the back of wins.

TheWestIsAwake (UK) - Posts: 529 - 26/07/2015 21:42:21    1759421

Based on the performance against Derry, I don't think Galway football has improved from last year. Donegal will end their season

pdempsey (Mayo) - Posts: 1313 - 27/07/2015 08:26:11    1759434

I dunno....look a county like Galway is too big and have too much talent to be away from contending for the past 14 years. I think they will give Donegal a dam good game but at this stage I can't see them winning. If Donegal only had a week (like Cork) to prepare then I would have tipped Galway. Who know's though, Galway gave Kerry a right game last year in Croke Park.

festinog - IF we manage to end the famine this year then ye can have Connacht next year ;)

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11230 - 27/07/2015 09:01:42    1759456

Donegal will need to be on top of their game to beat Galway.

If they are then they should win, if not........

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 27/07/2015 09:14:51    1759460

Galway are like Down if they get momentum belief won't be an issue so they are very dangerous opponents. Donegal should shake their team up a bit for this one as there seems to be a trend now of provincial losers finding it hard to get going again. Seems better now to exit the provincials round the semi final stage particularly if you don't have a realistic chance of winning the province. Last year when we lost ulster we had a 13 day turnaround and were very flat against Kildare for long spells until we rallied in second half.This won't be easy for Donegal. They should still hopefully win but wouldn't surprise me if result goes the other way.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1799 - 27/07/2015 09:37:49    1759470

I'd be surprised if Galway topple Donegal this year, tbh. There's always a lot of talk about the potential of Galway's young midfield, but I have yet to see any evidence that they can cut it at the highest level ( the two lads struggled versus Mayo in the past two seasons, Kerry last season). While Galway's forward line is very exciting, their defence is poor, and you'd fancy the likes of McBrearty to make hay there.

On the other hand, Donegal have looked a bit leg-weary in the past two games, probably as a tough Ulster campaign took its toll. If Galway can get the first few scores, then a very interesting game could develop. Still fancy Donegal by 4-6 points, though.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 27/07/2015 09:48:58    1759480

Its tough to call it can go either way, with Galway already playing 2 Ulster teams that have tried the Donegal mold and no doubt they will have practiced it in training we will be looking at a tough encounter. Looking at last weekends results it doesnt look good for Provincial losers and the surprise hammering that kildare gave cork. Personally I'd rather a dig at Monaghan in the quarters before i'd take Mayo. Donegal have had a tough route to get where they are at the minute I think they were lucky to beat us in the Ulster prelim, to go and play against Armagh, Derry and then Monaghan, if they were to draw the UF and got beat in the replay they would have had to play last weekend and be out again this weekend. It would all have to go down to the intensity of the training this week do they go all out hammer and tong to re right their wrongs or take the break to recover because they know they are good enough to challenge for an AI challenge. I would write off Galway before Donegal

Find_the_space (Tyrone) - Posts: 313 - 27/07/2015 09:57:30    1759485