Well guys might as well get the ball rolling what are we expecting this weekend...will Donegal play the way they did in the first couple of rounds? Will they revert to type and go defensive? From a Dublin perspective I think the 2 week break will have brought Dublin on an extra couple of weeks training should help them. Looking forward to a good game there won't be more than a couple of pts in it either way I feel.

jacktheDub (Dublin) - Posts: 944 - 21/02/2017 13:59:33    1959153

Hi Jack....Donegal got plenty of bodies back against Roscommon but lacked intensity at times and were often caught on their heels meaning the Rossies found gaps back there. Kerry sliced through time after time and but for poor shot selection and shooting could have put up a cricket score in the first half. This is a very young Donegal side with so much experience lost. There is plenty of pace in the team but with Murphy likely to be deployed out the field there is a real lack of presence and menace in the full forward line. Paddy McB is more a support act than the main act for me and we don't have many other options. Donegal have a great record in Ballybofey but think the Dubs will win comfortably. This year is all about players gaining experience for Donegal. Think they will do well to stay in division 1 but if they don't won't be the worst thing that has ever happened either. Looking forward Donegal are lacking quality inside forwards. Also with big Neil forced to retire midfield is an immediate issue. Saying that I don't think midfield will be a problem looking forward. There will be a young kid called Jason McGee playing there Sunday and this guy is going to be one of the best midfielders in the country in 2 or 3 years time.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2781 - 21/02/2017 14:34:14    1959173

I just think home advantage counts for a lot in the league I fancy Donegal to put in a big performance interesting thing from a dubs perspective is we have only scored 1 goal from our own boot from open play in the last 6 competitive games and that was an injury time goal againt Donegal last year i think we will need to raise a green flag this week if we are going to win.

jacktheDub (Dublin) - Posts: 944 - 21/02/2017 15:14:34    1959189

It'll be a tough game, no doubt.

Think the couple of weeks and the guts shown against Tyrone will have benefited Dublin

Never easy to win away from home when going up north

I'd expect that trend to continue but just feel we'll have the better of this Donegal side

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 21/02/2017 15:39:33    1959205

Great to see gaa stock phrases alive and well

gerund (Mayo) - Posts: 9 - 21/02/2017 15:48:07    1959212

I really hope I am proven wrong but I feel the great rivalry which has existed between Dublin and Donegal has abated somewhat. A lot of the main protagonists on our side have moved on or are taking a break. Dublin fans will see a lot of young & unfamiliar faces in Donegal's lineup on Sunday. It would be expecting a lot for them to overcome a team as formidable as Dublin at this stage of their development. However, it will be a great learning curve for them. Donegal fans will have to be patient and just accept that a few trimmings from top teams will be a distinct possibility in the short term. That said, we are formidable in Ballybofey so I'd expect to see a Dublin win by about 5 or 6 points.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9133 - 21/02/2017 16:39:39    1959242

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 21/02/2017 16:44:12    1959248

Not playing the cute H or anything but Donegal are not anywhere near the levels of 2011, 12, 13 or 14.

I would say we have close to be being the youngest side in Ireland at the moment. We have an 18 year old in the middle and spates of U21s playing.

We have lost some major players, I think 9 in total.

Our future is very bright - we have some very talented young lads coming through but we wont be doing any damage in 2017.

Donegal will be a big force from 2018 on .

Dublin by a comfortable 6 plus im afraid.

This is a class Dublin side.

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 21/02/2017 17:53:34    1959280

I'm actually worried that the final scoreline might not look to good from a Donegal perspective at the end of this game. With McBrearty being ruled out and Murphy having to play at midfield I can't see us causing too many problems for the Dublin defence. Plus we have given up loads of goal chances in our first 2 games especially against Kerry so it's hard not to see a very comfortable win for the Dubs. It will be a huge learning curve for our young lads and I think it's important for us Donegal supporters to stay positive as it will take time for this new team to develop.

Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 21/02/2017 18:01:17    1959283

Couldn't disagree with previous posters. Paddy McBrearty has been ruled out now too which makes a tough ask tougher. I think keeping it to within 5 or 6 points would be a respectable result.

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1422 - 21/02/2017 18:22:00    1959295

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 21/02/2017 18:26:52    1959297

The_Fridge (Tyrone) - Posts: 2088 - 21/02/2017 18:32:20    1959299

TakeyourPoint. (Tyrone) - Posts: 133 - 21/02/2017 19:14:55    1959314

Expecting a very tough game, teams relish playing and trying to beat Dublin and often bring their very best and focus to try and beat the best.

Playing away North is always a tough game and Donegal will always give anyone game, great challenge at this early stage to get 5 points on the board and a fair return for the the colder months. Hoping Donegal employ a blacket defensive system the more tests for that tactic the better.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 21/02/2017 19:28:02    1959319

I think Dublin will win this handy enough, I think Donegal will be a long time waiting for another Anglo Celt and could very well be in division 2 next year.

El_Torro (Tyrone) - Posts: 155 - 21/02/2017 20:35:52    1959342

I can't see anything other than a comfortable win for Dublin here.

Donegal are in rebuilding mode with a lot of talented but light youngsters up against a Dublin team at the height of their powers.

I will be looking at the performance rather than the result.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 21/02/2017 22:12:09    1959388

This week be an experience for our young guns and can't see anything other than a comfortable win for Dublin. The other posters here from Donegal are spot on but like the Tyrone poster suggested 2018 is still a stretch for us to be competitive again with the big guns.

Rory is a fairly conservative coach. He'll not want score difference to take a big hit on Sunday and could think a blanket is the key however I don't think this team can play that game plan and when a team runs at us we are very porous.

The comment about Rory G and Declan B being inept is in my opinion spot on and could destroy the undoubted talent we have coming through however we don't seem to have any coaches lining up within the county to take their place.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 21/02/2017 22:24:01    1959392

Mobot (Donegal) - Posts: 459 - 22/02/2017 09:14:36    1959466

Factoring in all the injures and the 9 retirements in the last few months, I would say it will be a point differential exercise on sunday. Will go and support nonetheless.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 22/02/2017 11:07:32    1959502

I don't see anything other than a comfortable Dublin win here but we've shown a bit of fight in the first 2 matches so I'd be pleased with a good performance mostly. I don't think we have the forwards to really hurt Dublin so you may well see a blanket and hope our pacey lads can strike on the counter from turnovers. I wouldn't want to see this tactic personally as I don't think the young lads are disciplined enough to make it work, but we'll see.

One aspect that has been really disappointing so far this year is our kickouts and when you're facing the best team in the country I don't expect that to improve unfortunately.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 22/02/2017 11:22:56    1959511