Should be a good final. Not sure how it's going to go. Don't think Tyrone are as good as people think but have not been impressed with Donegal this year either.

Under Rory Donegal do seem to have a disciple issue, don't think anyone can disagree. The positive for Donegal is that Tyrone do not have a reliable free taker. I think it will come down to who scores a goal who can take the frees better.

What are your thoughts?

kevin03 (Tyrone) - Posts: 276 - 03/07/2016 19:38:52    1875572

Tyrone will win by 3 or 4 points.

Donegal should have walloped Monaghan twice and only scraped by them in the end. Not clinical enough this year at all.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 03/07/2016 20:22:57    1875600

Hopefully it's on tv for anyone who can't travel.

Donegal_Man (Donegal) - Posts: 37 - 03/07/2016 20:40:56    1875613

The 2 best teams are in the final and it could be a classic. I am neither going to play up or down our chances, as I think it depends on what donegal team turns up. Tyrone seem to be a bit more consistent. Are they relying to much on Harte to create chances? Still, they scored 5 18 today and that is a marker for the final. One thing I am delighted to see is that we are practising our shooting during the warm up, rather than doing endless running. I think it payed off a good bit yesterday.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 03/07/2016 20:52:37    1875624

Looking forward to this one, Donegal are getting it together and Tyrone seem to have a bit of zip back in them, either way, a big fish will be swimming in the qualifier waters. Careful now!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 03/07/2016 21:06:22    1875630

Massive game and very hard one to call at this stage. Both should have full squads to pick from. Not only is there an Ulster title on the line but the losers have Mayo and Dublin on their side of the draw

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1044 - 03/07/2016 21:11:42    1875636

What I can say is I rather have won the way we won last night ( bit of a dogfight) than won by a big score.
I doubt if Tyrone will get five goals like today against Donegal in the final.
Plus if you go back to 2011 and 2012/2013 /2015 I think Tyrone scored just one goal against us --- last year in Ballybofey.
I had a bit of an argument with a Roscommon guy who tried to tell me Donegal were finished (Friday night that was) but I would like to know where they get their information from.
I know Donegal are introducing new players but I think they will beat a lot of teams. Whether they can beat Tyrone is another thing but I don't think Tyrone will like playing to Donegal's system.
What I would say is , whoever wins it can IMO reach the All Ireland final.
I take Donegal to win as I think they will mark P Hart S Cavanagh Mattie Donnelly and try curtail those players contribution to the game
What I would also say is Cavan must have been terrible. But they did score a fair bit.
I would also bet you will have a card very early in the game-- don't forget both county boards were fined £5000 by the Ulster council which was squashed on appeal but both were warned of their future conduct.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 03/07/2016 21:15:06    1875639

It is a fine achievement for this Donegal side to be in their 6th consecutive provincial final. It would be good to see Tyrone claim this one as it's been a while since they claimed silverware but for all neutrals the main thing is we get a good game and a chance to see if either side are genuine All-Ireland contenders.

Soma (UK) - Posts: 2630 - 03/07/2016 21:19:35    1875644

Can't wait for this game!!!!! Should be a epic game....draw can't be ruled out. Donegal held McManus very well and Tyrone don't have a scoring forward in the calibre of him. And McGee is back to tighten things up. Tyrone's running game will be very important and the match up's from the managers could decide the game. For all the criticism Rory Gallagher gets his match up's were spot on against Monaghan.....Martin O'Reilly been a prime example.

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 03/07/2016 21:27:02    1875656

kevin03 (Tyrone) - Posts: 276 - 03/07/2016 21:44:06    1875675

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 03/07/2016 22:04:12    1875701

Going to be the match of the year so far,can't wait, hard to call but I'm hoping obviously for a Donegal win, we need to tighten up the defense and stop giving easy turnovers away.
They were chatting on the SG about taking the final to Croker, I'd rather it was in Clones myself.
Donegal by 2.

TirChonaillabu2 (Donegal) - Posts: 344 - 03/07/2016 23:22:33    1875739

Tyrone rightfully favourites for the final. They scored enough today to win two games. We do struggle with direct running oppositions and also teams that press high up the pitch. When Monaghan did this last night we coughed up so many chances and looking at the speed of counter attacking of Tyrone we could ship plenty of goals. It won't have gone unnoticed by Tyrone that our free taking this year has been poor so I'd expect plenty of fouls around the 45.
Tyrone certainly owe us a beating and they will need no motivation. Our lads celebrated the win last night a bit more than I like to hear so hopefully they can re focus quick and get prepared for a massive Ulster Final.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 03/07/2016 23:24:11    1875742

Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 04/07/2016 16:20:35    1876196

Well this is the Ulster final I predicted before a Ball was Kicked.

I knew Tyrone would be there as they are playing some Fine stuff and also was confident that we would come out and make a statement that we where far from Finished.

Its going to be a Real Juicey affair and a tough one to call but Im going to stick my neck out and say We/Donegal can add another Ulster title to our record.

Tyrone are looking very good indeed playing great attacting football "but i remember a similiar team playing a great attacking game in 2014 AI semi final..! And I was pretty impressed with our defence even without Neil McGee in the two games against Monaghan but with Neil back I'd be more confident with our defence and also we are playing some nice attacking Stuff ourselves.

It will again be a very intense affair but I said awhile back that Tyrone would not beat Donegal under Mickey Harte and im gonna stick with that.

Theres no love lost between both Teams and Fans and with both teams oin pretty good form it Should make for a Cracker in Clones.

Up Donegal..!

InishowenMan (Donegal) - Posts: 216 - 04/07/2016 16:49:24    1876233

benched (Tyrone) - Posts: 534 - 04/07/2016 17:00:01    1876252

This will be an intriguing Ulster final, and having studied both teams very closely, I find both teams are very similar in a lot of ways. Tyrone have the more efficient attack, while Donegal have the more efficient defence. Both sides are capable of strong direct running, and quick passing before shooting.

Tyrone generally play with a 2 man full forward line, with two of the McCurry/O'Neill/McAliskey forwards starting. Their half forwards tend to play wide, whether that be Bradley, Sludden, Colm Cavanagh or McShane, they support runs, but also spread out at key moments to open up central space. Tyrone can then break with a variety of runners, with Peter Harte, Mattie Donnelly and Tiernan McCann being the key central runners, with those wide players running in to support at the last minute. Their main weakness is their defence, they leak goal's and points against teams that are far from strong attacking sides.

Donegal list a 2 man full forward line, with McBrearty normally playing inside alone, as Murphy drifts in and out. This is where the lines get blurry with Donegal positions, as MacNiallais, O'Reilly, E McHugh, R McHugh, McElhinney, McGlynn, Thompson, Kavanagh could officially be listed as playing Half forward, Midfield or Half back, they almost rotate depending on the attack. Like Tyrone, Donegal have exceptional pace breaking forward, and have worked on their attacking game since last year. Their biggest weakness has been kick-outs and moments of ill-discipline, such as yapping to the referee while Monaghan take a quick free and score a goal. In saying that, their discipline is improving game on game, as they review mistakes from earlier games. One of their key strengths, is their abundance of man markers, men who can take out the main scoring threats, while the team system curtails the other lesser threats.

Statistics
Tyrone on average have scored 2.7 goals per game, and 16 points.
Tyrone on average have conceded 1.7 goals and 12 points.
Donegal on average have scored 1 goal per game, and 13.3 points.
Donegal on average have conceded 0.7 goals per game, and 11.6 points.

Match Prediction
Based on statistics and tactical set-up, Donegal's strong defensive system should reduce Tyrone Championship scoring average, while Tyrone's highly efficient attack will increase what Donegal concede on average. Donegal will work on Peter Harte and Mattie Donnelly, limiting what they contribute, and also on Colm Cavanagh, who plays an Integral role in defence as sweeper. Tyrone will attack Donegal's kickouts, and will seek to target Murphy, R McHugh, O MacNiallais and Frank McGlynn as the main play makers. Both sides will hope not to concede goal's, but I think both will concede, with Tyrone statistically more likely to ship more than Donegal. However this will be a really tight game, Statistically Donegal's improved attacking combined with their proven defensive capabilities would put them in pole position to edge this by a point or two, but anything that creates an imbalance could change this very easily. Donegal's discipline issues could contribute in this regard.

Score Prediction
Tyrone 1-15 v 2-13 Donegal

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 04/07/2016 17:57:04    1876317

This reminds me of the early 1990's when Derry had the measure of Tyrone time after time for four years in Championship matches, National League finals, semi-finals and Derry won the All-Ireland and National League during this period. Despite having a very good panel of players Tyrone won nothing. Eventually Tyrone faced up to Derry in the boiling sun of Clones in the 1995 championship and went on to win in a pulsating game. The confidence the players gained from this enable them to go on and win the Ulster Championship in successive years. Tyrone must beat Donegal now. The brand of football they have played over the past 18 months has been very impressive and they may just beat a great Donegal team at their own game.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 04/07/2016 19:49:38    1876403

Yeah I am sure Tyrone will win this.Donegal look like they can concede a few goals.Fermanagh should have managed it too.Tyrone will be more ruthless and I think it is their year in Ulster.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 04/07/2016 20:15:44    1876424

Just checked out the odds. Boyles are 2/1 and PP 15/8. I think this in part is due a to the fact that everyone seen the full replay of the Tyrone v Cavan game and Donegal game only had snippets of highlights. I thought both games were a reverse of the other in the first half in that Donegal went in only 2 points up when they were really 5 or 6 points better team. Then you had Tyrone going in at HT 7 points up when on overall play should really have been 2 points or less. I imagine those odds will come closer to one another when it comes closer to the day as I would price it up as Tyrone at around 10/11 or 5/6 with Donegal at around evens or 11/10. On value basis Donegal definitely worth a few quid at above odds as sure you will be able to lay off closer to the day at shorter odds. Tyrone were impressive yesterday no doubt but I thought that up until the 2 goals in quick succession there was nothing between the teams. While both goals were impressive moves you would have to be very disappointed from a Cavan perspective. For me Mcshane got past the Cavan full back far too easily in setting up the goal. Can you imagine him doing the same against Neil McGee? Very doubtful. The 2nd goal came from a direct turn over from very poor play by the Cavan half back. He ran into a cul de sac and snatched at the ball when he had plenty of options to release the ball. Tyrone get the 3rd goal when Cavan were trying to get one of their own and then the game just became a friendly in terms of how it opened up. Tyrone have yet to meet a division 1 side in all that they have been impressive. Personally I agree with most that this game will be very tight with 2 teams that set up very similar and it will come down to very small margins. Tyrone will want to start well and try to force Donegal to play catch up as they are a very hard side to beat when they get a lead.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 04/07/2016 21:11:34    1876463