greatpoint (USA) - Posts: 427 - 08/05/2022 13:16:15    2415537

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1071 - 08/05/2022 13:48:46    2415544

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2391 - 08/05/2022 15:08:54    2415568

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2391 - 08/05/2022 15:15:20    2415572

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2391 - 08/05/2022 15:18:00    2415573

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1071 - 08/05/2022 15:24:54    2415576

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 08/05/2022 15:33:37    2415578

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2391 - 08/05/2022 15:55:28    2415591

Good finish from Donegal and we have sometimes wavered in recent years in these stifling, close contests, so it's good to be able to finish strong. All credit to Cavan, they were excellent for long periods and especially first half. Jamie Brennan, Peader Mogan, Eoin Ban all excellent. Ryan McHugh, Paddy McBrearty lively too. We can be better than this and will have to be for the Ulster final.

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 08/05/2022 17:49:13    2415631

Donegal won with two late goals, where Cavan players didn't deal adequately with high dropping balls. Cavan were competitive, and might have scored two goals from first half chances, when they were causing Donegal problems. Cavan have some excellent players, and will do well in the Tailteann Cup. They will be fancied to be promoted from Division 3, of the league. I think the winners of next week's semi final, can win the Anglo Celt trophy.

thelongridge (Offaly) - Posts: 1745 - 08/05/2022 20:36:20    2415730

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5016 - 08/05/2022 21:07:29    2415743

Thought we didn't play well but we were still in it, with the talent we have I was confident we'd get into our stride though at some stage, Cavan seemed to be missing nothing early on, one of them days when 90% of your shots go over the bar, the goals sealed the victory but I was confident somehow we'd get over the line anyway.
credit to Cavan they produced a great performance, shame now they won't get another day out in the senior Championship, they should be be plying their trade in div 1 or 2 for sure, they made us work a lot harder than Armagh did anyway for all the talk about them,
I hope Cavan stick at it now and win the Tailteann Cup.
We will see now how next Sunday goes, that's a very hard game to call as will the Ulster final no matter which of them comes through against us, we will need to produce our A game to win this Ulster Championship, I'm confident we can do it if we play like we can, can't wait.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2754 - 08/05/2022 21:56:45    2415759

Ultimately a wins a win Donegal will be obviously happy with that. Cavan were very well switched on and were really well drilled. They are a big team with plenty physicality and Graham is a shrewd manager who knows how to prime a team. They moved the big men in and out and created mismatches and should have had goal for Smith. Lynch was excellent in the first half and I think Donegal left mccole a bit exposed as they weren't playing a covering player. You have to put more pressure on the ball if you do that.

I was a bit disappointed by the Donegal energy. Cavan were playing with more intensity and some of the Donegal lads were not at the pitch they needed to be. There were a lot of fumbling errors by the likes of langan and Murphy. It was a bit sloppy.
They did adjusting with McHugh covering at the back and he controlled the game well in the second half. Lynch's influence also faded. The subs helped Donegal and Cavan didn't get the same bounce off the bench. Mcgonagle made a big difference. He's quick and is powerful and caused a lot of problems for Cavan running at them. Mcff added a bit of bite and had one good turnover. And Conor O'Donnell got the goal that won it. Mcmenamin kept McKernan quiet enough particularly in the first half and if he didn't Donegal could have been in real trouble. Also nice to see Jamie Brennan doing really well. The goals were of the fortunate variety and certainly killed the game.
Donegal do have a good bit of work if they want to deliver in the final but they are there.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 696 - 09/05/2022 08:19:35    2415766

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5016 - 09/05/2022 08:53:08    2415772

I have to admit, as bad as Cavan were in the league they really did step it up against Donegal yesterday. If that goal goes in the first half we could all be having different perspectives this morning. In saying that, I thought Donegal were really poor and I just can't see them beating Monaghan in the final (If Monaghan get there) but maybe Donegal are similar to Cavan that they'll step it up against more superior teams. I'm pretty sure this style of play is holding us back but I suppose we have to get used to it this season under Bonner.

All in all well done Donegal, and well done Cavan for making a fight of it and I can't see anyone beating them for the Tailteann Cup if they can keep playing like that.

MurphBalls (Donegal) - Posts: 178 - 09/05/2022 09:01:04    2415777

Can't understand how Donegal played with so little intensity in the first half, far too casual in an ulster championship game. Cavan seemed more 'up for it'. Starting point for any team is to match the other team's Intensity, workrate etc and then the team with the better players should win.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 473 - 09/05/2022 09:42:40    2415797

Whatever about the first goal the other main turning point was McFadden getting injured. McGonigle coming into midfield injected a new lease of life and i though he was brilliant. I was surprised we didn't make changes earlier. That game was run at a savage pace a lot of players got tired in that last quarter.

Proud of the Cavan team I though they really took it to Donegal and while we got the goal 2 years ago, Donegal got the it today and once it went in that was that.

As for Donegal i'm not so sure. Yeah they just had enough in the end for us but there was no extra gear. I seen nothing new there yesterday compared to previous years that would make you think they're serious contenders.

Tailteann me ****

ponger (Cavan) - Posts: 541 - 09/05/2022 10:04:27    2415805

Game went kinda as I expected and predicted, Cavan performed really well as expected and showed the quality of talent they really have. The National League is a shambles at best, anybody who talks about Cavan (Or Tipperary) as Division 4 teams at Championship time needs their heads looked at. We knew from 2018, 2019 and particularly 2020 that Cavan are are quality team and anybody following underage football for the last 12-15 years knows they have developed a lot of quality.

As for the game, first half was tit for tat stuff, I thought Cavan settled better and were willing to take on scores from distance more than Donegal. We seemed to struggle in midfield a little and Lynch was hard to handle and we struggled to get to grips with him.

Second half introduction of Caolan McGonigle for me was a turning point, Donegal seemed to take control and opened up a lead, but Cavan remained in touching in distance, but even before the first goal I felt confident that Donegal were stronger and would see it out. After the first goal we seemed to take our foot of the gas slightly or maybe Cavan just upped the tempo, we definitely could have pulled away and put the game to bed, but seemed happy to slow up and keep ticking along.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1118 - 09/05/2022 10:04:32    2415806

Firstly well done to both teams on a good, sporting contest. The result was uncertain for long parts of the match yesterday and Donegal's fortuitous goal was the crucial score. The fact that Cavan were unfortunate with a couple of similar chances probably only added to their frustration & disappointment.

I had Cavan as the better team in the first half. They played with great intensity and varied their attacking play well. They deserved a half time lead and should have been ahead only for Patton's fantastic save. I thought our ball skills were poor at times and we were unneccessarily turned over on a number of occasions. Special word to Eoghan Ban Gallagher who consistently drove us on and kept us in touch. He loves the wide spaces of Clones. It was great to see Jamie Brennan finding his mojo again too. Hopefully he has overcome all of his injury problems now and can push on.

Our subs had a good impact. Big McGonigle is very deceptive in the way he can power up a head of steam and get into good scoring postitons. McFadden-Ferry added a bit of bite too.

Young Lynch is a very exciting forward for Cavan. I hope they go on to do well in the Tailteann Cup. I fully expect him to light up that compeititon. Although he might think twice next time before he takes on Murphy in a physical challenge :P

I think we're in a decent place. We've reached an Ulster final without being all that impressive. Our performances all year have been patchy. If we can get a full 70 minute performance out of the lads then an Ulster title is there for the taking. It won't be easy though against Monaghan or Derry.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9147 - 09/05/2022 10:28:20    2415819

its tough in one way yet a simple game to analyse. Donegal got two goals and cavan missed there's.
cavan also had a good shout for a penalty but there's no point crying over spilt milk.
credit has to go to Patton he got his hand to smiths shot. but what a lovely bit of fielding from smith.
as the game wore on you could see that a goal was going to change the game and its such a thin line. Donegal were fortunate that they got them, especially given the fact that both high balls appeared to be miss kicks rather than testing high balls. ironically Donegal probably would've known better than to kick high ball in there as cavan are generally very reliable under the high ball in the full back line. but two goals like that is just sickening to concede.
from a Donegal pov you'll be hearing all week now about how inconsistent and poor Donegal can be (Armagh game taken in to consideration) but i wouldn't read much in to that. Cavan are a better side than Armagh so yesterday was always going to be a step up. the final will be interesting, i don't think either Derry or Monaghan are just as good defensively as Cavan but having said that i may probably have a different opinion after next week especially on Monaghan.
for Cavan, they should and will win the Tailteann cup IF they want to. they probably wont be the poster boys the gaa will want to win it though and that's understandable in its inaugural year. i think the future is bright for us, i think defensively we have a good culture so any lad coming in will know how we defend, we have Galligan, Smith and Lynch who are all young and look powerful who i think can also be the spine of the team for years to come, throw in some of the u20's from this year also. we'll be back and hopefully to take another ulster title soon.

theweanling (Cavan) - Posts: 414 - 09/05/2022 10:34:04    2415825