Very excited for this now, first day of the championship is very exciting for true GAA fans like myself. Donegal look like one of the form teams in the country at the moment and are probably targetting an Ulster final. I see themselves, Tyrone and Down as the top three in Ulster. They have some quality players like Murphy, Kavanagh, Cassidy, Lacey, McGee and McFadden, while the likes of Molloy, McHugh, McElhinney and McGrath are going to really add to the team. Antrim on the other hand I feel have gone back a bit after the progress made in 2009, I feel they are quite synical in the way they manufacture frees as Cunningham is up there with the best. The McCanns, Scullion, O'Boyle and Kev McGourty are good players but CJ, Loughrey and Sean Kellly will undoubtedlyy be losses. I think their hopes of winning are unlikely considering they pulled the same result off two years ago, Donegal should win buoyed by McGuinness and the impressive league they had, the hype and buzz looks to be back in Donegal football, hopefully it will continue as I feel it will with them running out comfortable winners here.

haz (Dublin) - Posts: 213 - 04/05/2011 17:37:49    923678

(Haz, ahem, The Championship began in New York last weekend) B)

I think you've got it off to a tee, I think that Antrim will put it up to Donegal, but lightning doesn't strike twice and Donegal aren't going to allow a repeat of 2 years ago, when they beat Antrim off the park but lost.

I would wager Donegal to reach the AI semis through the front door, if Down don't stop them, they both looked fantastic in the league.

muffin (Antrim) - Posts: 128 - 04/05/2011 18:25:49    923724

haz was the first day of the championship not last weekend?? New York V Roscommon??

Chops (Westmeath) - Posts: 821 - 05/05/2011 10:09:35    924017

I think he means the first of the sunday game. nothing better sitting ida local on a warm summer sunday watching the gaa action. On the day i think donegal will hammer antrim

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11634 - 05/05/2011 10:37:09    924040

sorry my mistake , first game of the championship on irish soil

haz (Dublin) - Posts: 213 - 05/05/2011 11:02:14    924054

just shows how much some people know about the gaa

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 05/05/2011 11:12:23    924069

Yes Donegal are a different outfit this year and will be looking to make the ulster final at least. Although Tyrone stand in their way. They were very impressive during the league and possess a lethal full-forward line. they should be much too strong for Antrim. If they get through that they will be facing cavan and they will be confident of beating us. then they face either Tyrone or Monaghan which will be tough semi-final.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5522 - 05/05/2011 11:28:52    924082

We'd need to stop giving silly frees away in scoring positions. In fairness to the lads they showed more discipline in the tackle in the Div 2 final than they did in the league game against Laois. MJ Tierney had an enjoyable afternoon that day. Paddy Cunningham is one of the best free takers in the game so we'll have to be on our guard.

That said, I think there's a new attitude in Donegal football at the minute. A more professional county setup and I think the club scene has improved aswell. We'll hopefully have learned from 2 years ago and not take Antrim for granted. If we get the shooting boots on I think we should have enough to win by 4/5 points.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9793 - 05/05/2011 11:56:43    924107

Definitely fancy Donegal to win this one, don't think Antrim are in for a great season, poor league campaign as well, and i don't buy into the league not being important, of course it is, it was vital last year in helping Down to find their strongest team come championship, and i don't think Liam Bradley knows his strongest 15 this year because of injuries. Mostly likely will be Donegal vs Tyrone in the semi final, and i think similarly to Down vs Tyrone last year experience will prevail with Tyrone pipping them, but i fancy Donegal for a good run in the qualifiers. On the other side of the draw i would fancy the winner of Armagh vs Down to make it to the ulster final, mainly because i don't think Derry possess great fire power up front without Paddy Bradley, nor do they have strength and depth in their squad. But their best 15 is as good as any in ulster when fit.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 05/05/2011 12:30:32    924134

liathroidboy
Instead of being constructive about anything you just can't help being negative and contentious for the sake of it.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3029 - 05/05/2011 12:45:00    924156

liathroidboy
County: Mayo
Posts: 2842

924069
just shows how much some people know about the gaa



Oh, the irony!

Floops (Dublin) - Posts: 1623 - 05/05/2011 13:14:22    924194

whatever it his about the donegal style of play , they always seem to give tyrone bother and i think the game will be similar to the dublin tyrone ame last year with donegal coming out on top and facing down in the final.I believe they have the best forward in ulster in michael murphy with benny coulter a close second , i cannot put into words how talented murphy is up there with bernard brogan in my view.

stekhli (Dublin) - Posts: 3121 - 05/05/2011 13:19:00    924199

Antrim are once again slipping back and I think there will be 10 points in this at least. Too many egos, big heads and loudmouths running around Antrim football and hurling who are more concerned about their own clubs and wee fiefdoms and kingdoms to worry about the county. Likewise the county players have no real bond because there is a North/South split in the county which will never be healed. The city teams don't like each other, the rural teams don't like each other and the city and country teams hate each other with a passion. The coaches and managers on the county panels are wasting their time.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9819 - 05/05/2011 17:55:33    924471

Ulsterman
That's a great pity after the high of just a couple of years ago.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3029 - 05/05/2011 18:06:46    924492

Antrim are a farce. They played Mayo last week in Kiltimagh they didnt even try to make a game out of it. Mayo pulled up after 15 minutes and emptied the bench otherwise it would of been more then a 12 point victory. In my opinion Donegal are in far better form then Mayo and will do some damage in a championship setting

Donegal 3-16 Antrim 0-05

paddyogall (Mayo) - Posts: 5110 - 05/05/2011 18:13:46    924503

Can't see us getting one over on Donegal this year; Baker will persist in extra defender probably to cover Murphy allowing Donegal extra man to build from the back;Donegal will play a possession game and score at ease unlike the plethora of wides 2 years ago: it will be a repeat of Tyrone in Casement last year: Baker will realise this folly when we are 7-10 points down and then revert to man to man, stage a fightback but Donegal will pull away: hopefully I will be proven wrong

KevHill (Antrim) - Posts: 271 - 05/05/2011 20:40:26    924641

I think Down will win Ulster and Tyrone and Donegal will join them in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Outside Ulster hard to look past Cork, Kerry and Dublin.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1792 - 05/05/2011 20:53:32    924656

It's hard to look past Donegal for this one. It'll be tough on the defeated side having to wait weeks for round 1 of the qualifiers. All provincial preliminaries should be held on the same weekend. The provincial quarter-finals then over the next two weekends after that and then round one qualifiers the week after that. Replays of course can happen but if extra-time isn't played in games, it's going to happen.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8916 - 05/05/2011 21:15:39    924689

Can't wait for this. Always liked McGuinness as a player, hopefully Donegal can break the mould and win an Ulster title this year.

Seamus89 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 3848 - 05/05/2011 21:23:52    924693

I have to agree with most posters , although Paddy I dont know where youre vitriol comes from. It was only a challenge match after all , and the scoreline was 11 points difference if we are being pedantic. Anyway , I would be hoping for a kind qualifier draw this year as we havent had much luck in the last couple of years , drawing Kildare away and Kerry before that. Great to get the Championship up and running. Must get the new size five in for infront of the tele.

gaelantrim (Antrim) - Posts: 1616 - 06/05/2011 10:28:08    924820