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I love the town on a big match day the buzz around the place is great, there's something magical about it and while I'd be a big advocate of a good Casement Park as I think Belfast could be a great host of big games too, I'd hate to lose that aspect of the Ulster final day in Clones. JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 22/05/2022 13:10:30 2419381 Link 0 |
Yeah Clones definitely does have a lot of charm on big match days like the Ulster final. It's comical the oneupmanship that goes on when it comes to getting in and out of Clones. Men do get fierce proud chatting about some obscure route taken where they were easily able to get parked up and will easily get away home afterwards. All part of the day's craic though. It isn't as much craic if you've lost though & the run home is horrible! The journey home after the 2016 Ulster final was a particularly sore one. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9073 - 23/05/2022 10:29:23 2419606 Link 0 |
Looks like there will be no more tickets for sale....If anyone has any spare I would greatly appreciate it! thebronze14 (Donegal) - Posts: 41 - 23/05/2022 13:35:13 2419703 Link 0 |
I would think monaghan could be very busy though I'd guess a lot of derry ones will be making their way early. It could very busy getting out again. The monaghan road could have cars parked way out too. On that basis I'd seriously consider that R183 through newbliss if I were you. And maybe plug it into Google maps on the day as its the good way if finding that best "obscure route" into clones.
Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 677 - 23/05/2022 19:32:05 2419857 Link 1 |
Yes Joe, if I were coming from Belfast I'd head down the motorway as far as Dundalk, then head for Castleblayney, Ballybay, hang a right in Newbliss. Then when you come into Clones, just after the Garda Station take a right. Then on your left there is a large free car park at the rear of the Credit Union. There should be very little traffic coming that way, maybe a few Dublin based supporters. Its about 7 or 8 minute walk to the Paragon or Creighton.
SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 550 - 24/05/2022 10:00:42 2419884 Link 1 |
God it's going to be a slow week leading up to Sunday. No news from the Donegal camp really other than confirmation that Gallen will miss out. The forecast looks to be decent and Clones is a sell out. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9073 - 24/05/2022 16:18:46 2420019 Link 4 |
The Ulster final should be played in Belfast. It is the capital of Ulster. Clones is well outdated, dangerous and so hard to get to on match day. A shiny new venue would be great for Ulster football. It would also give the people of the 9 counties that represent Ulster football a chance to get away on a weekend break as Belfast has the facilities in terms of hotels and restaurants to do this.
Ronanthehammer (Down) - Posts: 48 - 24/05/2022 16:46:45 2420022 Link 0 |
I was reared outside Clones and that route down is not a bad call at all. Your other option would be to head the main route from Belfast to Enniskillen and swing off at Fivemiletown and come in over Carn Rock Mountain. This will take you into Clones via the Lackey Road which is the road the Pitch is actually on. Although that runs the risk of getting caught meeting traffic coming via Omagh at the Ballygawley Roundabout. Speaking of Fivemiletown, if we are heading to a match in Omagh, we usually go from Clones to Omagh via Fivemiletown and Fintona, not great roads but avoids Monaghan, Aughnacloy and Ballygawley. If anyone has to come down that way, its a route worth considering. TheHunter (Monaghan) - Posts: 14 - 24/05/2022 16:47:08 2420023 Link 1 |
Hope your right lockjaw. Just hoping that Murphy lifts another Anglo Celt and that bonner if he decides to call it a day has the honour of managing another Ulster championship team. Two great Donegal men. It's not to be easy but we live in hope. Come on Donegal.
rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2364 - 24/05/2022 17:07:02 2420032 Link 0 |
You may listen to it again, mackey and Hanley went for Donegal, Darren O'Sullivan went for Derry.
blueman1903 (Cavan) - Posts: 877 - 24/05/2022 17:41:49 2420041 Link 0 |
And best of luck Sunday.
blueman1903 (Cavan) - Posts: 877 - 24/05/2022 17:42:51 2420042 Link 0 |
ardmhacha (Armagh) - Posts: 172 - 24/05/2022 21:29:06 2420065 Link 0 |
I love Clones. Not that we get to go there much nowadays lol, but always thought the "traffic woes" were very over-stated. Mind you, coming from SW Tyrone, v handy - back roads past Magheraveely; and we always used to park behind "Tony's Gym". essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 25/05/2022 09:25:18 2420080 Link 2 |
Casement will be built for your next Ulster Final appearance. It could also host the Northern section of the Tailteann Cup.
SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 550 - 25/05/2022 10:19:18 2420100 Link 0 |
Fantastic piece on Brendan McCole in the Irish News, I had no idea about his early years in America or about the loss of his brother. It's been mentioned about the tough time he had against Lynch in the first half there against Cavan but overall he's been one of our best players in 2022 and I'm excited to see how he gets on against McGuigan. JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 25/05/2022 10:43:21 2420106 Link 0 |
Easy on, Oisin McConville!
Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1317 - 25/05/2022 11:01:47 2420116 Link 1 |
Did they change their minds again?!? I must confess I was listening to it between work calls! But it just further emphasises the point that this is a match that is very hard to predict the outome with any sort of certainty. I do remember O'Sullivan asking one particular question though - and it's something I've been wondering a lot myself. He feels that Donegal might have another gear or level that they haven't shown yet. But he also has a nagging doubt - that perhaps what we've seen from Donegal so far is exactly their level. Good enough to reach and possibly win Ulster, but doing anything of note beyond that will be beyond them. I am optimistic that our lads can deliver a higher performance level. I'd also be confident enough that if they do reach Croke Park for the QFs that it would suit them. Last time they played there in Championship football they went toe to toe with Kerry in an epic encounter. But look, Derry pose a significant challenge before we start thinking about Croke Park. I cannot wait for Sunday, how is it only frigging Wednesday yet?!? Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9073 - 25/05/2022 11:13:10 2420117 Link 0 |
Derry can win Ulster and depending on the Quarter final and Semi final draw, we could make it to an All Ireland final, as Kerry and Dublin are on the other side of the draw this year. I try to be optimistic, but think beating one of those two at this stage in our development might be a big ask. Donegal are a tricky opponent though, they have the potential to rival Dublin, Kerry, Mayo etc, but looked patchy during the National League and made work of Armagh and Cavan. Derry can beat Donegal, but I have a feeling this will be the biggest test of the year so far, expecting Donegal to learn a lot from the Monaghan match. GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 25/05/2022 13:02:20 2420147 Link 0 |
I believe Donegal do have more 'gears' in them, I'm following football a long time and I know we have it in us to beat anybody, it's just producing that performance when it's called for, this is a strange week, I can never remember a feeling like this leading into a big game, we have be become used to being in Ulster finals now. I think the RG factor is big, seeing his team defeated is a big motivator for me anyway, also I'd love to see Murph hold the Anglo Celt aloft again and push on them to have a good run at the All ireland, no coincidence that our great run of 10 Ulster finals in 12 years has coincided with Michael Murphy's intercounty career. Still 5 days to go, this is like when you were a child waiting for Christmas, The Anglo Celts for the hills!! Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2705 - 25/05/2022 13:18:33 2420152 Link 1 |
Thanks Lockjaw, I haven't as much time in recent years, apart from arguing with Antrim posters about the New Casement Park a few times or commenting on Dublin's dominance, otherwise work and family commitments limit my free time to be on here posting and there hadn't been much to discuss most of the time. You're right about Donegal Intensity levels needing to be high at the start, as Rory Gallagher has this Derry team primed to start each game at full tilt, open up a lead and force the other team to chase it. Its bit like how Donegal under Jim McGuinness. I don't think Donegal are bottlers, I seen comments like that from some Pundits recently, but its lazy analysis. Donegal had one eye firmly on Dublin in 2020 and got caught by a very hungry Cavan team who benefited from that tight Athletic Ground pitch in Armagh. I think had Donegal won that, they would have beat Dublin in that SF and probably would have won SAM 2020. I think first half incidents last year against Tyrone took that game away from Donegal and there was no backdoor, but those incidents with Neil McGee injury, missed Penalty and Michael Murphy red had Donegal on the backfoot early on and in that heat it was a big ask. Derry have better momentum going into this game, probably 2/3rds of the crowd will be Derry fans and I think it might give us an edge. We know from the Ballybofey match last year that we have the measure of Donegal. GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 25/05/2022 13:31:37 2420159 Link 0 |