once again cant wait for this a very exciting day for gaa fans as everybodies hopes for their counties are still intact unlike the last day (football final).I think it'll be a lot closer than most here our predicting, I think the fact that antrim spent the spring in division 2 will definitely stand to them ,i think it will be a close game plenty of good players on either side just please god it isnt as bad as the derry aramgh match last year as that set last years championship off on a bad note ,you would have to fancy donegal though they look a powerful unit play much like dublin last year , the use of kicking seems to have come into their game a lot more since the doherty era , they look set for an extended championship run , wouldnt be surprised to see them reach the all ireland semis

haz (Dublin) - Posts: 213 - 06/05/2011 11:15:12    924884

two very poor teams this will be like watching paint dry

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 06/05/2011 11:32:30    924903

I would love to think we could put it up to Donegal and repeat the heroics (miracle?) of a couple of years ago when we made the journey back from Donegal delighted if not somehow amazed with the victory. However, I've a wardrobe full of T-Shirts that tell me otherwise. Too many times have we had our swallow and believed the summer was on its way only for the reality and clouds of doom to be cast over the county again. I think Ulsterman has summed up our counties problem quite well and the egos always seem to be to the detriment of progress when things look like they could be turning and the 'Sleeping Giant' is finally rising out of its slumber. Sadly I think someone has slipped a few tablets in to its morning juice and its fallen into another rest period.

I hope I'm wrong and would love to be proved so but unfortunately I think we'll get 2 Championship games this year unless the Gods of the Back Door (not the Elton John type) smile kindly on us for once and give us a team who we might have a chance of beating.

Personally I'll be saving the diesel and entrance fee and taking up my seat in front of the telly this year.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 06/05/2011 11:37:07    924910

liathroidboy
County: Mayo
Posts: 2871

924903 two very poor teams this will be like watching paint dry.

Away back to your rugby if ya don't like it then.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9788 - 06/05/2011 11:53:34    924944

I find it quite strange how people are tipping Donegal to do really well this year. I reckon the vast majority of Donegal people will be happy if we beat Antrim, go down fighting against Tyrone and have a good run in the qualifiers. People from other counties are talking about QF and SF appearances! The reality is that we were fortunate to win division 2. We had poor performances against Sligo, Kildare and Laois and only really played well against Meath and Tyrone.
I know people love to see new teams step forward and do well but I think you will have to look elsewhere than Donegal this year. It's a strange situation where the expectations of people from outside the county are higher than those of the county itself.

RMDrive (Donegal) - Posts: 2202 - 06/05/2011 12:41:33    925002

RMDrive
County: Donegal
Posts: 2161

925002 I find it quite strange how people are tipping Donegal to do really well this year. I reckon the vast majority of Donegal people will be happy if we beat Antrim, go down fighting against Tyrone and have a good run in the qualifiers. People from other counties are talking about QF and SF appearances! The reality is that we were fortunate to win division 2. We had poor performances against Sligo, Kildare and Laois and only really played well against Meath and Tyrone.
I know people love to see new teams step forward and do well but I think you will have to look elsewhere than Donegal this year. It's a strange situation where the expectations of people from outside the county are higher than those of the county itself.

We're gonna love ambushing ye in quarters!!!

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12378 - 06/05/2011 12:47:33    925014

06/05/2011 12:47:33
Breffni39
County: Cavan
Posts: 5278

925014 RMDrive
County: Donegal
Posts: 2161

925002 I find it quite strange how people are tipping Donegal to do really well this year. I reckon the vast majority of Donegal people will be happy if we beat Antrim, go down fighting against Tyrone and have a good run in the qualifiers. People from other counties are talking about QF and SF appearances! The reality is that we were fortunate to win division 2. We had poor performances against Sligo, Kildare and Laois and only really played well against Meath and Tyrone.
I know people love to see new teams step forward and do well but I think you will have to look elsewhere than Donegal this year. It's a strange situation where the expectations of people from outside the county are higher than those of the county itself.

We're gonna love ambushing ye in quarters!!!
Sorry Breff. That wasn't meant at all. Someone else mentioned Tyrone and that put them in my head. Wouldn't be surprised to see a Cavan team turn us over in ulster for the 2nd time this year. And I'm sure Monaghan will be looking to end the Tyrone era also.

RMDrive (Donegal) - Posts: 2202 - 06/05/2011 13:03:35    925031

Exactly RMDrive. The time when you should be most worried about Donegal is when things are looking well!! I fear another self-implosion going down with an avalanche of hand passes and sendings off!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9788 - 06/05/2011 13:09:44    925037

Don't think we much of a chance really. We would need everyone fit and available for this one and it isn't the case. I don't think lightning will strike twice and Donegal should win handy enough. I just hope we put in a good performance to give us a bit of confidence and a good draw so maybe we could have a run in the qualifiers

srb (Antrim) - Posts: 344 - 06/05/2011 18:16:48    925293

05/05/2011 12:30:32
MourneArmy
County: Down
Posts: 333

924134
Definitely fancy Donegal to win this one, don't think Antrim are in for a great season, poor league campaign as well



Antrim beat MEATH in the league.

they are the Leinster champs, and over the last say 4/5 years if we were awarding points for winning the all Ireland, being finalists and semi finalists, you would discover you have Kerry, Cork, Meath and maybe Tyrone as the "big" 4.


So Antrim had their best league since 1976 in my opinion when we reached the quarter final only to lose to Galway.

Despite the great league form, I expect Donegal to win. Unlike O'gall however, I would not rate Donegal above Mayo.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 06/05/2011 19:36:36    925346

Donegal to cruise this one, and then sadly beat us in the next round.

Sergeant_Slash (Cavan) - Posts: 2182 - 06/05/2011 19:53:10    925355

Too many people are tipping us to win this easily - we'll lose so

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 12/05/2011 15:14:17    929209

Looking forward to this now. Hard to beat the Championship! I think (hope) we'll have enough to overcome Antrim given form, home advantage and their injury crisis. Donegal by 4/5 points. Watch out for young McBrearty making a cameo. Michael Murphy mark II.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9788 - 12/05/2011 15:45:20    929251

I think you have it right there RMDrive, I was at the Donegal/Kildare League match and I was very disappointed in Donegal's performance (not to mention Kildare's). I expect you to beat both Antrim and Cavan alright but I can't see you going any further. The lethal forward line mentioned by one poster wasn't much in evidence that day as the team scored only 8 points in all.

OntheWhiteSide (Kildare) - Posts: 452 - 12/05/2011 20:18:19    929572

must be donegal and easily as well. antrim are a shambles and lack any scoring threat other than cunningham from dead balls dont think their sideline are up to it and a good hammering from donegal should sort them out (dont think the pastry chef has the nous or is it that sous for this level of footy). donegal have been rebranded under mcguinness and i suppose a bit of belief instilled but id worry against tyrone that donegal dont have a plan b other than to foul to stop the run, but they will go well in the qualifiers, cant see past a tyrone derry final with the usual result a good derry hammering at least we hope.

weebox (Tyrone) - Posts: 272 - 12/05/2011 21:05:44    929603

I wouldn't rule Down out.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3029 - 12/05/2011 21:11:18    929608

antrim management first to show their hand: 1 oneill 2 brady 3 johnson 4 oboyle 5 scullion 6 crozier 7 healy 8 mccann 9 gallagher 10 murray 11 mccann 12 sweeney 13 cunningham 14 herron 15 niblock , burke , kevin brady , mclean and terry oneill all on the bench cj and kevin mcgourty miss out while michael mcgill , sean kelly and james loughrey have all left the panel over the last year for various reasons , mccann is expected to switch to full forward before throw in with brendan herron moving to midfield alongside gallagher , i think thats a very good side personally might be better balanced if niblock and tomas mccann switched

stekhli (Dublin) - Posts: 3121 - 12/05/2011 21:13:11    929611