Well fair enough, the first thing I said is that Dublin have refined their defensive system more than Donegal but I would still maintain that if the opposition does come out with posession in open-play Dublin don't push up the field to get it back but still have a tendancy to invite teams onto them.

doublehop (Kildare) - Posts: 4172 - 23/08/2011 10:56:23    1016972

DONEGAL v DUBLIN - Paths to the Semi-final

Donegal
Donegal 1-10 Antrim 0-7 (Ulster 1st round)
Donegal 2-14 Cavan 1-8 (Ulster quarter-final)
Donegal 2-6 Tyrone 0-9 (Ulster semi-final)
Donegal 1-11 Derry 0-8 (Ulster final)
Donegal 1-12 Kildare 0-14 (All-Ireland quarter-final); (After extra-time)
Average For: 1-12 Average Against: 0-10

Dublin
Dublin 1-16 Laois 0-11 (Leinster quarter-final)
Dublin 1-12 Kildare 1-11 (Leinster semi-final)
Dublin 2-12 Wexford 1-12 (Leinster final)
Dublin 0-22 Tyrone 0-15 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Average For: 1-16 Average Against: 0-14

Very interesting stats, both teams have the same scoring difference in their games (average win of 4 points) and they have both played kildare and tyrone. Laois and wexford are equal to derry and antrim so as far as I see the stats have these two teams neck and neck.

Too close to call I would hate to be a betting man.

BettystownRoyal (Meath) - Posts: 3353 - 23/08/2011 11:51:49    1017045

Im really looking forward to sunday, it will be interesting to see how Dublin counteract Donegal's defensive system. If you look at the Kildare game, their tactics suited Donegal perfectly, they either ran straight into a Donegl player or launched the ball aimlessly into the full forward line. I expect Dublin to shade it but i would not be reading anything into the Tyrone game, as Dublin were given far to much space that night.

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1664 - 23/08/2011 12:52:15    1017125

Listen if were not good enough to beat donegal then we have no business playing Kerry in an all Ireland final.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 23/08/2011 13:08:51    1017138

Clondalkindub:

Was only thinking the same thing myself....

If we're not good enough to beat Dublin in the semi then we have no business playing Kerry in the final...:)

Lifford Gael (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 23/08/2011 13:16:52    1017150

Lifford Gael
County: Donegal
Posts: 1183

1016724 Dub Fans:

Spoiler Alert......

The Men from the Hills are coming to get ya.......:)


There's only one Hill and you'll be hearing a lot from it this weekend :)

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4748 - 23/08/2011 13:18:54    1017153

irishtom
County: Donegal
Posts: 136

1016942
@thistle_harps Perhaps you shouldn't have joined a Gaa Club in Glasgow set up by Donegal people! How was your life made "hell"?

I mean purely in a sporting rivalry context don't take it too seriously. I lived in a multi cultural part of the city which was full of dunnies. They used to say everyone was either from Bengal or Donegal. The shops were Asian and the pubs were Irish. I enjoyed many free holidays and my wife's relations houses in Donegal and was involved ins several trips over to Donegal clubs with underage teams. I still have the video of the 92. Unfortunately, I don't have a betamax video recorder to watch it on!!!!!!!

thistle_harps (UK) - Posts: 879 - 23/08/2011 13:30:51    1017171

thistle_harps Was just jokin! Aye made a few trips over to play against harps teams myself when i was under 14-16. Had great time in Glasgow. Have family in Glasgow (then again who from Donegal doesn't) Spent many a happy day in the Snooker Club on Byres Road in Partick!

irishtom (Donegal) - Posts: 219 - 23/08/2011 14:00:37    1017204

I reluctantly have to say that i can see Donegal not only beating Dublin but going on to win the All Ireland. It is simply too much of an effort to score against Donegal unless you can shoot from way out before the 45 and do this accurately for 70 minutes. Furthermore, once they get the ball up front they have a number of good forwards with pace and accuracy. Combined with a very high level of fitness, youth and hunger, Donegal look like all ireland Champs to me. If you dont like this post well fair enough, as a neutral im not blinded by loyalty.

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 23/08/2011 14:09:37    1017220

cacsmckilly
County: Tyrone
Posts: 15

1017220
I reluctantly have to say that i can see Donegal not only beating Dublin but going on to win the All Ireland. It is simply too much of an effort to score against Donegal unless you can shoot from way out before the 45 and do this accurately for 70 minutes. Furthermore, once they get the ball up front they have a number of good forwards with pace and accuracy. Combined with a very high level of fitness, youth and hunger, Donegal look like all ireland Champs to me. If you dont like this post well fair enough, as a neutral im not blinded by loyalty.

I wish I could agree with you but I feel Dublin have more of all the above attributes and probably a finer tuned system. Still though, stranger things have happened.

Anyways I would fancy Kerry over either team in the final

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1435 - 23/08/2011 14:26:07    1017239

Well whoever plays Kerry in the final, get stuck into them. None of this nice boy football that Mayo showed, standing back and admiring them. Kerry are not invincible if you get in their face.

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 23/08/2011 14:37:43    1017257

This was posted as a new thread but as the subject matter is similar it has been incorporated here.

cacsmckilly

DONEGAL FOR SAM!

I reluctantly have to say that i can see Donegal not only beating Dublin but going on to win the All Ireland. It is simply too much of an effort to score against Donegal unless you can shoot from way out before the 45 and do this accurately for 70 minutes. Furthermore, once they get the ball up front they have a number of good forwards with pace and accuracy. Combined with a very high level of fitness, youth and hunger, Donegal look like all ireland Champs to me. If you dont like this post well fair enough, as a neutral im not blinded by loyalty.

Administrator (None) - Posts: 2275 - 23/08/2011 15:05:57    1017287

clondalkindub
County: Dublin
Posts: 342

1017138
Listen if were not good enough to beat donegal then we have no business playing Kerry in an all Ireland final.

Correct

Think will Giller make any changes?

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 23/08/2011 15:51:06    1017334

No same team starts this Sunday. You confident tom?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 23/08/2011 16:04:32    1017360

dublin for sam and i think 2 or 3 changes for sunday but i wouldnt like to see them.

limeric1973 (Limerick) - Posts: 80 - 23/08/2011 16:11:23    1017375

clondalkindub
County: Dublin
Posts: 343

1017360
No same team starts this Sunday. You confident tom?

Yep i'm confident that this team know what they have to do and will be totally focused on the job_Same team that's a first for a long time....Looking at the Donegal team can't see really where they can hurt us.....Just can't..

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 23/08/2011 16:12:22    1017376

Tom:

Thats been Dublins problem down the years......total underestimating the opposition...:)

Lifford Gael (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 23/08/2011 16:19:41    1017388

He's only giving his opinion lifford

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 23/08/2011 16:31:32    1017403

Lifford Gael
County: Donegal
Posts: 1200

1017388
Tom:

Thats been Dublins problem down the years......total underestimating the opposition...:)

Lifford tell me where you see Donegal winning this,what weak links to you see in the Dublin team that Donegal can exploit......

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 23/08/2011 16:59:45    1017436

Tom:

I do think it'll be a very close game but I do get a sense that a lot of Dublin posters including yourself see this game as a bit of a stroll in the park for the Dubs. Obviously you're entitled to your opinion but I'm just conscious of the fact that Dublin teams and supporters have underestimated teams at this stage of the championship before and ended up with egg on their faces. I mean ye have always been there or thereabouts in August for the last 16 years and should have been in a couple of finals by the law of averages.

I don't think your forwards will get the same space as ye got against Tyrone... in fact I feel ye might be reading far too much into the Tyrone game...theres not a hope in hell ye will put 22 points over on us. I think theres still a tendency for Dublin teams to get frustrated when things don't go their way and theres no better team than Donegal to frustrate teams. Despite what ye think, Donegal have a very potent forward line which has always stood up to the mark if andd when required....

It's a 50/50 game and will be a lot closer than what the bookies are predicting....and may the better team win....which will hopefully be Donegal.....but if it's not I for one will not be begrudging you victory...!!

Lifford Gael (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 23/08/2011 17:08:52    1017452