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Derry V Donegal Ulster Final

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Replying To naomh_conaill_4: "Donegal by 5-6. Derry can't have that performance 3 games in a row and our boys have plenty of experience in finals." Think Derry's big plus is the quiet men in the full-back line. McKaigue & Rogers are serious footballers which gives the other corner back and the half-back line a lot of confidence going forward knowing it'll take a lot to beat the two boys behind. Never thought I'd see a Gallagher team pushing forward but there it is. I think Donegal might pip Derry due to experience but will be tight. Newman21 (Donegal) - Posts: 36 - 25/05/2022 13:54:34 2420165 Link
Replying To GaryMc82: "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." Derry certainly pushed us to the pin of our collars last year alright. Benny Heron's inexplicable missed goal chance probably saved us. They had a couple of other goal opportunities that day as well. I remember one chance was blasted straight at Hugh McFadden. One player I'm glad Derry are without is big McFaul. He was brilliant against us last year and landed 3 lovely points from play. Not sure what happened with him dropping off the panel but definitely one player I'd have been worried about. I think Jamie Brennan could be a key palyer for us. A lot of Derry's attention will be focussed on the likes of Murphy, McBrearty and Langan. Brennan had a very disrupted league and was quiet enough against Armagh. But he showed promising signs of a return to form against Cavan last time out. He is very pacey and is usually very quick to get his shots off accurately, which could be vital in the congested defensive shape Derry are likely to operate. He'll have had 3 good weeks of training to sharpen up further. He is 14/1 for MOTM. I might have a wee bite of that. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9133 - 25/05/2022 14:05:29 2420171 Link
Replying To GaryMc82: "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." I agree with most of your points in fact the one I probably don't agree with is Derry having 2/3 Rds of the support. That won't happen Donegal are always a well supported team. If it does happen there's a major flaw in the system. I know a lot of good supporters who up to yesterday haven't got a ticket. rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2401 - 25/05/2022 14:07:40 2420172 Link
Donegal Co board saying we have sold 15.000 tickets. John haran saying the clubs got 7.000. . Big difference rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2401 - 25/05/2022 16:13:37 2420212 Link
Replying To Lockjaw: "Derry certainly pushed us to the pin of our collars last year alright. Benny Heron's inexplicable missed goal chance probably saved us. They had a couple of other goal opportunities that day as well. I remember one chance was blasted straight at Hugh McFadden. One player I'm glad Derry are without is big McFaul. He was brilliant against us last year and landed 3 lovely points from play. Not sure what happened with him dropping off the panel but definitely one player I'd have been worried about. I think Jamie Brennan could be a key palyer for us. A lot of Derry's attention will be focussed on the likes of Murphy, McBrearty and Langan. Brennan had a very disrupted league and was quiet enough against Armagh. But he showed promising signs of a return to form against Cavan last time out. He is very pacey and is usually very quick to get his shots off accurately, which could be vital in the congested defensive shape Derry are likely to operate. He'll have had 3 good weeks of training to sharpen up further. He is 14/1 for MOTM. I might have a wee bite of that." Ciaran McFaul decided to go to the States for the summer, heard there was a substantial offer on the table, so he dropped out after the National League. It is a pity, he is a quality player and last year he was on fire against Donegal. Jamie Brennan is pacey, but I think he will struggle against the blanket defence Derry have setup. GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 25/05/2022 16:21:38 2420217 Link
Replying To rorysboys: "Donegal Co board saying we have sold 15.000 tickets. John haran saying the clubs got 7.000. . Big difference" Why would the clubs only get 7k vs. what the county board are saying was sold? Derry had said they sold out their club allocation of 13k? There's hardly 8,000 friends of the county board? I'd have thought if we only had an order of 7k from the clubs then the general sale should've lasted much longer than it did JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 25/05/2022 16:54:57 2420228 Link
I think this will be a close contest… Donegal will have to play a lot better than they did v Cavan and I'm sure they will…. Derry will not give up as many goal scoring chances as Cavan did and not as many frees either… Donegals experience in Ulster Finals will surely be a big help to them as they have seen it all before…. The big occasion might get to Derry but I'm looking forward to what should be an intriguing encounter….!! ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1924 - 26/05/2022 13:24:45 2420341 Link
Looking forward to a great contest here , very difficult to call it. A Derry friend is hoping that Joe Brolly will stay quiet before the match and not repeat his mantra of the past year that "Donegal are not a serious team anymore , spineless and quitters" . This might work against his Oak Leaf warriors but you can be sure that we will read those sentiments again should Derry win. Donegal contacts are hoping to see Michael Murphy lift the Anglo Celt for the 6th time as a fitting tribute to the team that won an Ulster title for the very first time 50 years ago this year. They apparently had a more talented squad in the 60s but training wasn't as organised then and Down were very dominant. Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 506 - 26/05/2022 14:09:41 2420350 Link
From the Ulster gaa Facebook page......There will be a VERY limited general release of Ulster Final tickets at 11am this morning(Friday) Buy here ........ulster.gaa.ie/tickets greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 469 - 27/05/2022 09:34:20 2420434 Link
Big weekend in the football championship. Could be like 22nd November 2020 again and wins for Derry and Limerick (and Roscommon) Limerick for me would be the only shock but I give them a chance. tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 28/05/2022 09:52:14 2420558 Link
Best wishes to all the team and management tomorrow. Huge game for both teams. I would love to see Murphy collecting the Anglo Celt tomorrow evening. Ulsters are getting harder to win and for a man who has given us so many great days no better man to lead us. Same goes for bonner and the rest of the team and management we are all behind yous tomorrow, we are been written off by a lot of people. That's the way we like it.. get our colours out tomorrow and hopefully drive the lads home. As I said before this is the one Rory really wants but let's hope we deprive him. Hon Donegal . rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2401 - 28/05/2022 13:02:51 2420587 Link
Replying To rorysboys: "Best wishes to all the team and management tomorrow. Huge game for both teams. I would love to see Murphy collecting the Anglo Celt tomorrow evening. Ulsters are getting harder to win and for a man who has given us so many great days no better man to lead us. Same goes for bonner and the rest of the team and management we are all behind yous tomorrow, we are been written off by a lot of people. That's the way we like it.. get our colours out tomorrow and hopefully drive the lads home. As I said before this is the one Rory really wants but let's hope we deprive him. Hon Donegal ." Well said whoever's going tomorrow bring all the colour you can and make plenty of noise and get behind the team 100%. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2747 - 28/05/2022 13:39:28 2420595 Link
I have an image in my head of the great man Michael Murphy lifting the Anglo Celt with Neil McGee (think this could be Neil's last year) Donegal 0-15 - 0-13 Derry Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9133 - 28/05/2022 18:41:39 2420661 Link
Fancied Donegal to win ulster pre the championship provided they got all their players fit and could play strongest side. However Derry have looked like a side on a mission so far playing with serious conviction and belief completely controlling games v div 1 opposition. A lot will depend on how first 20 mins go. Derry left monaghan shell-shocked with their opening 2 weeks ago. You'd have to expect donegal and bonner to be wide for this and ready from the off but they took a while to get going against cavan and armagh game wasn't a great match. Derry could well put the squeeze on donegal and pull it off. Donegal will need their main men to have big games where monaghans didn't or this final could be played on Derrys terms. seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1799 - 28/05/2022 21:50:35 2420698 Link
Replying To seanie08: "Fancied Donegal to win ulster pre the championship provided they got all their players fit and could play strongest side. However Derry have looked like a side on a mission so far playing with serious conviction and belief completely controlling games v div 1 opposition. A lot will depend on how first 20 mins go. Derry left monaghan shell-shocked with their opening 2 weeks ago. You'd have to expect donegal and bonner to be wide for this and ready from the off but they took a while to get going against cavan and armagh game wasn't a great match. Derry could well put the squeeze on donegal and pull it off. Donegal will need their main men to have big games where monaghans didn't or this final could be played on Derrys terms." Yeah all fair points. A slow start from Donegal or if we aren't at the pace of what Derry bring from the off, it could be disaster. Donegal do have a fit panel which we almost never seem to have, bar Gallen. Though we often keep injuries quiet until the last minute too so fingers crossed we don't have any. Like you, I'm impressed with how Derry are disposing of top level opponents. That's why they concern me. That and the amount of top quality players they have. Difficult system to break down and fast paced attack too. They have a lot of things going for them. As the weeks have gone on, I am veering towards Donegal to win though. They will have had time to figure Derry out and there are no excuses if we haven't done that or if we aren't at the pitch of the game. This group need to come up with answers to these situations or the questions won't go away. I don't subscribe to Kevin McStay that this is last chance saloon stuff as the age profile is too young for that. But the pressure is more on ourselves and we need to handle that if we are a top drawer team which I know we have the footballing ability to be. Donegal by 4. Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 29/05/2022 08:34:29 2420699 Link
Good luck to the Green & Gold today. I came over yesterday from London, stayed in Cavan and watched their game against Down. Just having breakfast before catching the 10.15 bus to Clones. Unfortunately I didn't manage to get a ticket but hoping I may source one today. Otherwise I'll cheers the boys on from the pub and try to get in the stadium at the final whistle to hopefully join in the celebrations. MartinEgan (UK) - Posts: 80 - 29/05/2022 08:38:29 2420700 Link
Hoping for a cracker - am sure Donegal will be ready for Derry but Derry have speed & hunger, so could go either way. Won't be more than a couple of points in & could even be a draw at full time. Anyway to all the Derry & Donegal supporters, safe travels and enjoy Clones on the most special of days! greysoil (Monaghan) - Posts: 965 - 29/05/2022 09:48:27 2420713 Link
Just hitting the road, safe travels to all, have a good feeling we will produce a top performance today, vital we get on top early, HON DONEGAL!!! Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2747 - 29/05/2022 11:15:56 2420731 Link
Managed to source a ticket of a Donegal man for face value. It's written in the stars. MartinEgan (UK) - Posts: 80 - 29/05/2022 12:10:04 2420738 Link
I reckon there is more movement on the wall I just painted than in this match. arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4896 - 29/05/2022 17:52:23 2420813 Link