This will be Jim's 5th All Ireland semi-final in 6 years - 2011, 2012, 2014, 2024 and 2025, it it some record. Have we been in 6 other semi-finals? 1972, 1974, 1983, 1990, 1992 & 2003 - have I issed any?
Replying To winatallcost: "I think it is not just the Tyrone game. Armagh have proven versus Dublin and Kerry to have had an inadequate midfield yet proved to be more than a match for Donegal. Dublin if anything also were strong in that sector versus Tyrone. I think the big thing with Donegal is their shooting accuracy. They tend to get shots away and are generally accurate but will they get enough ball if the short option is not there. Also by running the ball all the time, it does give teams a chance to get back. Langan and Thompson great shooters and from distance but are they primary possession winners, I'm not sure. Also who are the man to man one on one defenders. Donegal generally defend in numbers but expect from now on it being more a man to man game. Sit back against current teams and they will pick you off from distance. Donegal appear strong favourites for whole lot along with Kerry and given last years defeat against Galway in Croke Park I'm sure lots learned. Ironically Donegal seemed to run out of gas. Maybe it was down to the running game. Galway got a lucky goal but all this is irrelevant as Galway are gone now anyway. Donegal would have been confident of getting over Armagh too last year but that is also irrelevant as Armagh are now gone this year too. With Murphy back it is huge pressure to get over the line for an All-Ireland as perhaps he may not be in a position to return again. No doubt he is putting all into this year. I was hearing he was a full time footballer which for an amature game is hard to understand. Jim Mcguinness coming back when being involved in professional sport is also unique and unheard of but I'm sure they are both well looked after and do it for the love of Donegal. Declan Bonnar had Donegal during players for prime ages and while performing well never reached the 2012 levels. Was this down to tactics, commitment, selection issues or just better teams around including the great Dublin team or Kerry team. An aging Kerry team unexpecedly overcame Donegal in 2014 after Donegal took out Dublin in semi. Was this down to complacency? Probably all irrelevant now as I think only Murphy, McHugh and McBrearty left from that and its essentially a completely different game also with the new rules. Although it was a mistake from keeper on short kickout which proved costly which certainly still applies now."
You seem to have figured a lot out there.....maybe to your own reasoning which is fair enough....I could give alternative thoughts on all your points, but you know what, we'll just see how the game (s) pans out. Looking forward to it.
Things have been eerily quiet in the run up to this Meath game, Meath's Robbie Brennan has signaled that he has significant homework done on Donegal, we are likely to face another stern tactical examination that will be up a level from the Monaghan game as Meath will apply learnings from that game.
I have a nervous feeling going into this game, expecting it to be a cagey match. We need to avoid conceding goals if we are to have a decent chance of winning. Overcoming the high press on short kickouts will be where its at I suspect.
Replying To Bingobus: "I MacCumhaill park pitch is under going a major upgrade and will be closed for a while.
Its well needed pitch looks very bumpy and uneven. Looking forward to seeing it done."
I saw that and it's definitely needed. They've been talking about for a while. Funnily enough it's been better than usual in 2025. The drier spring than normal probably helped.
I think the actual soil there is pretty good so hopefully won't be as expensive as other renovations. It's also prudent to not communicate a target date given the vagaries that the Irish weather brings.
The pitch in Sligo never took and they had to go again and you don't want that. There was a lot of pressure to have mchale park available and it struggled a bit as well. Ballyshannon was given plenty time settle and it really helped.
Replying To Ulsterchamps_32: "I saw that and it's definitely needed. They've been talking about for a while. Funnily enough it's been better than usual in 2025. The drier spring than normal probably helped.
I think the actual soil there is pretty good so hopefully won't be as expensive as other renovations. It's also prudent to not communicate a target date given the vagaries that the Irish weather brings.
The pitch in Sligo never took and they had to go again and you don't want that. There was a lot of pressure to have mchale park available and it struggled a bit as well. Ballyshannon was given plenty time settle and it really helped."
Is it a full new drainage job, or is it just a reseeding job? Prunty usually insist a full 12 month lay off after a new pitch is laid, but maybe other companies have their own terms and conditions.
You'd imagine if we have 4 League games and possible Ulster Championship or Super 8 games next summer, that you're talking about a big revenue hit if it's out of action for 12 months.