i reakon itll be a tight game if not only for the solid donegal defence.. one thisg i am suprised about though is some peoples amazing confidence in derry. It seems to me that by hammering a poor armagh team derry all of a sudden are supossed to be world beaters... i think that if u put things in perpective, that same armagh team were very lucky to scrape a draw at home to wicklow.. (no offence to wicklow but youre no world beaters) and i think that shows the real level of that team... donegal, on the other hand, beat the always solid tyrone.. a team that no one are writing off to go all the way.. seems a bit incongruent to me this derry favouritism...

ogi (Donegal) - Posts: 14 - 13/07/2011 21:39:52    983772

eoin bradley is obviously a loss but the return of okane a massive boost , who will go full forward in bradleys absence is the main dilema for brennan , derry have achance regradless of bradleys loss and if they beat donegal the season is an automatic success , donegal are the moe likely team to go on and contest sam , an intriging contest in prospect great to see no armagh/tyrone teams involved , a massive day for the two counties ...........michael murphy to have an absolute stormer and shade it for the tir chonail men , firts time since 91

stekhli (Dublin) - Posts: 3121 - 14/07/2011 09:43:38    983838

A dangerous logic ogi, just look at Connacht & Leinster last year, Sligo beating Mayo & Galway only to lose the final, Meath hockeying the Dubs and only for a refereeing balls-up would have lost the final against Louth

This will be a final where both teams will be fighting for a first provincial title in years, Derry won't give a monkeys about you guys beating Tyrone, all they'll want is to beat ye - and if Donegal get complacent just because they beat Tyrone instead of paying Derry the proper respect, well, it may not be good news for Donegal

It will be a hard fought game with all to play for and it will be all in the 70 minutes

gigoer (Wexford) - Posts: 1998 - 14/07/2011 10:08:34    983853

The final would have meant more if Derry had to beat Tyrone. Donegal are no big shakes.

Don't forget there have been other teams in these other Ulster finals since 1998. Monaghan, Donegal, Fermanagh, Derry, Cavan, Down and Antrim have all had a shot. They just weren't good enough to beat whatever Tyrone or Armagh team was out that day.

OGarmaile (Tyrone) - Posts: 248 - 14/07/2011 10:28:29    983874

The losers of this game should not be asked to play a Round 4 Qualifier six days after losing a provincial final.

It won't matter much to Jim McGuinness or John Brennan right now but come Sunday evening, it'll be an issue of much contention.

So make the decision to put it back by a week now, before it's too late?

Loyal2TheRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 4522 - 14/07/2011 10:56:20    983900

13/07/2011 21:39:52
ogi
County: Donegal
Posts: 1

983772
i reakon itll be a tight game if not only for the solid donegal defence.. one thisg i am suprised about though is some peoples amazing confidence in derry. It seems to me that by hammering a poor armagh team derry all of a sudden are supossed to be world beaters... i think that if u put things in perpective, that same armagh team were very lucky to scrape a draw at home to wicklow.. (no offence to wicklow but youre no world beaters) and i think that shows the real level of that team... donegal, on the other hand, beat the always solid tyrone.. a team that no one are writing off to go all the way.. seems a bit incongruent to me this derry favouritism...

Big comments for someone's first post! Ogi i think you should change your name to "World beaters" you just keep calling teams no world beaters lol dont get me started on this Donegal team you fail to mention Donegal making hard work of Antrim & Cavan with no disrespect to these two countys their not, wait for it......."world beaters"! Donegal went ultra defensive against Antrim and Cavan who would maybe just get into the top 20 in Ireland so its hard to imagine that if Donegal didnt seem to want to play attacking football against these two they are hardly likely to break ranks and play a more attacking game against us. And if peter harte was at the races Donegal would not be in the final, Tyrone kicked themselves out of it, Donegal did not out play the red hands. The country is waiting for this so called big game in Donegal maybe they have played too much football after all only Armagh have won Ulster going through the preliminary round remember you also played the extra game in the league final and the way McGuinness play's ball it is a very energy sapping game plan, so maybe the men from Donegal have too many miles clocked up in 2011?

brolly_4_pres (Derry) - Posts: 356 - 14/07/2011 11:36:26    983957

Loyal2TheRoyal
County: Meath
Posts: 4085

983900 The losers of this game should not be asked to play a Round 4 Qualifier six days after losing a provincial final.

It won't matter much to Jim McGuinness or John Brennan right now but come Sunday evening, it'll be an issue of much contention.

So make the decision to put it back by a week now, before it's too late?

Loyal, this is the GAA we're talking about. That would make way too much sense.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9955 - 14/07/2011 11:37:14    983960

its novel alright- theer is a slight chance that this game could be more than a weird game of rugby league- here is hoping anyways. it would be nice to see some football in ulster i waiting more than a decade to find anything there that my resembles gaelic football, fingers crossed, at least there isnt out and outhants playing so that is at least some saving grace

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 14/07/2011 13:43:38    984145

liathroidboy
County: Mayo
Posts: 3766

984145 its novel alright- theer is a slight chance that this game could be more than a weird game of rugby league- here is hoping anyways. it would be nice to see some football in ulster i waiting more than a decade to find anything there that my resembles gaelic football, fingers crossed, at least there isnt out and outhants playing so that is at least some saving grace

I'm struggling to find any semblance of sense or logic to that post...

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9955 - 14/07/2011 14:03:27    984191

Going by newspapers internet etc donegal fans are extremely over confident of victory it was 50/50 a week ago until we lost eoin bradley 2 injury,i would rather be coming as underdogs into the game anyway ,bookies pundits media all predicted an armagh win in the semi,the same applies on sunday we havent gave up hope of winning yet.foolish 2 right brennans players yet

93vintageyear (Derry) - Posts: 301 - 14/07/2011 18:41:08    984637

thats funny cause all the donegal fans on here are predicting a tight game, which is fairly honest given how donegal are playing these days. personally i think that if we can stifle derrys powerful mid-field then we have a great chance.. a lot of that also depends on our keeper and his kickouts.
On another note, i do find it funny how noone is tipping the two ulster finalists to be in with a shout while at the same time giving tyrone, kildare and dublin great chances.....

ogi (Donegal) - Posts: 14 - 14/07/2011 19:05:39    984665

Lockjaw
County: Donegal
Posts: 1945

984191 liathroidboy
County: Mayo
Posts: 3766

984145 its novel alright- theer is a slight chance that this game could be more than a weird game of rugby league- here is hoping anyways. it would be nice to see some football in ulster i waiting more than a decade to find anything there that my resembles gaelic football, fingers crossed, at least there isnt out and outhants playing so that is at least some saving grace

I'm struggling to find any semblance of sense or logic to that post...

Liathroidboy is fond of winding up other provinces & Dubs in particular but to be fair he takes a lot of guff from other posters about Connacht football too. I guess he has to throw it out there whenever he can. Take it on the chin, I'm not declaring it as fact, but it is at least, a valid argument that the football in Ulster may ot be the most attractive in the country, but also we both know Ulster is the most competitive province in football. Good luck to both teams in the final, hope it's a good one

gigoer (Wexford) - Posts: 1998 - 15/07/2011 09:31:38    984891

I'm well aware of the bb's proclivities gigoer. I guess when you have it all; multi-billion euro business empire, helicopters for each day of the week, every bar in Castlebar, Ballina & Wesport, the solutions to Ireland's economic crisis etc you can afford the spare time to type like a cretin all the live long day on HS.

Anyways back to the game. Getting very excited about it now. I'm torn between cautious optimism and downright scepticism about our chances! For both teams it's a chance of long overdue meaningful silverware. I'd say there'll be some nervous tension around Clones on Sunday! Luckily the Paragon will be there to assist!!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9955 - 15/07/2011 10:11:43    984915

I wouldn't rule out a draw actually, I wonder what odds you'd get for that....

Hard game to call Lockjaw, I think Donegal are more cautious and better in terms of defence but I think Derry are better in attack. Derry will NOT lie down without the Bradleys, there are plenty of good footballers up there so Donegal would not want to get complacent. It's also a matter of how the sides handle the occasion, the crowds, the anticipation, you only have to ask a Wexford man back in 2008 when the big occasion got to us....we did much better this year having learned from that

Ah hell I'm going to go for it and I'll predict:

Donegal 1-14
Derry 2-09

gigoer (Wexford) - Posts: 1998 - 15/07/2011 10:47:19    984956

thanks lockjow- i know im great too :)

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 15/07/2011 10:50:02    984960

Everyone seems to think donegal will win this game not many backing derry to prevail,eoin bradley wouldnt have won this game on his own he would have contributed to the game with maybe a couple of scores he would have been doubled marked crowded out etc.media pundits have got it wrong before ie armagh derry game /wicklow/leitrim sligo/armagh down/carlow louth/ donegal firm favourites tag weighing heavily on them over confidence also,so heres hoping 2 a good final BEST OF LUCK 2 DERRY AND THEIR PLAYERS for sunday. DOIRE ABU

93vintageyear (Derry) - Posts: 301 - 15/07/2011 14:21:01    985257

Anyone know what team Jim picked ? Didn't hear ir anywhere yet and he used to announce it after trainin on Thursdays.

up_donegal (Donegal) - Posts: 659 - 15/07/2011 14:39:00    985281

The talking is over everyone and their granny has had there say massive underdogs for the final but sure we might just turn up at clones and give it a lash.

93vintageyear (Derry) - Posts: 301 - 16/07/2011 11:29:45    986010

Hopefully that both of them are out of the championship soon in any case so we wont have to listen to their whining about parking in Dublin etc

N16Calling (UK) - Posts: 260 - 16/07/2011 15:59:35    986277

up_donegal
County: Donegal
Posts: 22

985281
Anyone know what team Jim picked ? Didn't hear ir anywhere yet and he used to announce it after trainin on Thursdays.

the team that takes the field is usually different to what's picked so we'll have to wait and see at 4pm on sunday.

Alvin (Donegal) - Posts: 218 - 16/07/2011 16:58:24    986343