08/06/2012 18:18:52
MourneArmy
County: Down
Posts: 773

Oh I shall sit back and enjoy the sport overload on Sunday. Forget about the Sunday roast, it's an all day session with the lads. Kerry, Armagh and Ireland all for the win!


I don't suppose anyone will be looking the lottery numbers off me in a rush??

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 11/06/2012 20:48:43    1192241

I was going to pull you up on that yesterday mournearmy but was hoping that your salvation would come in the shape of an Ireland win, shame on you!!!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 11/06/2012 20:54:35    1192246

Don't worry, paying for it today with a rotten hangover!!

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 11/06/2012 21:17:51    1192290

So with only Derry to show their hand there has been no surprises so far which is rare for Ulster.
Haven seen all else I believe at this point in time that Tyrone now look best placed to win Ulster. I feel Down may reach the final and I fancy a Tyrone Donegal semi from the other half. Personally I hope & pray Tyrone win through as I have gone totally off Donegal since last year. I know this may annoy some of our friends from the top of the country but I have made my thoughts on their style of play known here before. I just don't fancy Derry to beat them this year, hope I'm wrong though. Perhaps this is the surprise in waiting.
I feel Down without Benny Coulter & Dan Gordon who if available will be nowhere match fit will just fall short again in Ulster. The head ruling the heart for a change!

ballybannongael (Down) - Posts: 547 - 12/06/2012 14:27:02    1192695

Love Donegal or hate them, they are Ulster's best chance of an All Ireland this year. They are the only team that can come close to Dublin, Cork, Kerry or possibly Kildare ( Kerry look shakey, and Kildare have yet to be seen ). I'm basing this on Conditioning, Pace, Stamina and overall organisation.

Tyrone's problems are pace and stamina, which Dublin exposed in a ruthless manner last year. Tyrone have since taken steps to address this, however due to their injury crisis, the rebuilding is on hold. When i say they lack pace/stamina, they are only really lacking against the top 2 or 3 sides in Ireland. In terms of Skill and tactics, i think Tyrone rival or are better than most other teams and fantastic to watch.

Down play a more open direct game, and havent really improved since their 2010 AI final. If anything they look to have taken a step backwards. While they remain a quality team, i would consider them a bit like Mayo. More whipping boys than potential champions. Division 1 side capable of a good run, only to fall short.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3032 - 13/06/2012 11:20:19    1193310

Donegal deifinitely look the part. Confident looking team, well organised, well conditioned and they have outstanding pace and stamina.
If you look at the average age of the players, they are mostly all Under 23 years of age. I think Neil Gallagher is the only player over 30 now, with a handful of others in their late 20's.

I think Tyrone and Donegal are the two best teams in Ulster, with Down and Armagh coming behind them.
We know Tyrone will stick it to Donegal, but we also know Donegal wont allow Tyrone the same space that Armagh gave them.

Donegal need to win, as back to back Ulster titles from the preliminary round would vindicate that they are no fluke or once off.
Tyrone need to win, as if they lose back to back Ulster semi finals to Donegal, they will no longer be considered Ulster's top team.

Any thoughts on this match?

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3032 - 17/06/2012 11:03:36    1195859

Expect Tyrone to right the wrongs of last year! It will be a tactical battle, will Mc Guinness try
to play like Harte or will it be the other way around?! Donegal were very effective yesterday and
are the fittest team in the country. Like Cork, Dublin and Kildare, Donegal are massive men, and
great athletes, what they don't have in technical ability they have in fitness. Tyrone have the greater
firing power and I expect them to win. However Tyrone were suspect in defence at times against
Armagh aho could have scored more goals. Hopefully there will be a better referee than last year for
Leo Mc Clown and co!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 17/06/2012 13:31:25    1195982

Donegal vs Tyrone is the Ulster Final, whoever wins it will win Ulster with a canter.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 17/06/2012 13:46:48    1195994

I see attendance is up by 19%

With the mouth watering Donegal Tyrone semi final next weekend on the back of Sundays roller-coaster, this is where its at in terms of pure championship excitement.

ballybannongael (Down) - Posts: 547 - 25/06/2012 17:09:45    1201963

So its a Donegal vs Down Ulster championship final.

How do we think it will play out now?

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3032 - 04/07/2012 21:56:34    1209873

I can only see a Donegal victory here, unless Down have devised some cunning tactial plan to 'out Donegal' Donegal.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 05/07/2012 09:19:01    1209906

.......and I can only see another massive usual aul 'pullin and draggin' ulster football 'borefest'!!!!!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 05/07/2012 09:52:59    1209926

i dont understand what all the fuss is with DONEGAL!!!! they are terrible to watch have about 7 actual footballers with the rest just foulers, if any off you actually watched the tyrone game any time a tyrone man got the ball in his own half or midfield he was professionally fouled so that the sheep of donegal could run back to the defence. A good referee would notice this and start issuing yellow cards therefore making donegal players stop it before they received a red one. another point i would make is that tyrone as good as they have been this last ten years the team that lined out on saturday is miles away from there all ireland winning teams.

now imo down are not going to win the all ireland but then i dont feel anyone outside of cork,kerry will. but if you look at the stats over the last number of years and how league form is becoming more relevant as to where a counties chances of winning the all ireland is, down are not as bad a team as people are making them out to be they finished 3rd in the league with wins over donegal, dublin, mayo, laois. Took hammerings against kerry and cork and got beat by armagh in armagh by 1 point.

to likin down with teams like derry, offaly, longford etc is maddness them teams would be beat 7/7 in div 1.

DOWN TO WIN BY 4 POINTS 2.9 TO 11 POINTS

frankjones (Down) - Posts: 33 - 05/07/2012 10:08:45    1209941

Ah Snuf - nice and constructive post, as per usual! By the way, did I mention that I love the Dubs unlike the rest of the Country ;-)

Baldy.Baker (Antrim) - Posts: 37 - 05/07/2012 10:13:03    1209945

frankjones
County: Down
Posts: 4

Frankie i agree with you to a degree. Donegal are spoilers, horrible to watch and are trhreatening to drive away supporters from attending GAA matches. Down however will not beat them in the final. Unless there is some kind of miracle or wee mccartan has some kind of genius idea overnight there is only going to be one outcome. You see Donegal dont play gaelic football, they play a new hybrid game of Bastekball and rugby league. I feel sorry for you already having to go to clones to watch the tripe Donegal produce. By God i hope you do beat them and maybe they will turn away from their corrupt approach to the game.

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 05/07/2012 10:46:21    1209973

ballybannongael
County: Down
Posts: 333

1201963 I see attendance is up by 19%

I dont know where this figure comes out of? It must be about the Tyrone armagh game or Down and Monaghan maybe. There was nobody hardly at the Tyrone v Donegal match, the place looked half empty. I doubt the final will be breaking any attendance records either and we all know why that is.

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 05/07/2012 10:50:59    1209979

Ah Snuf - nice and constructive post, as per usual! By the way, did I mention that I love the Dubs unlike the rest of the Country ;-)
Baldy.Baker , 05/07/2012 at 10:13
--------------------------------------------------
Well done!!.....My 'care'ometer has shot through the roof!!!!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 05/07/2012 10:52:09    1209982

frankjones I think you will find tyrone were the more cynical foulers and also if an all-ireland final referee doesnt see these "fouls" then who is. just like kildare last year trying to influence the referee and sure we could all see who did the cynical fouling in extra time. donegal like every team will foul if necessary to gain an advantage but just because they are a defensive team with such intense tackling doesnt make them a team of "foulers"

tirchonaill92 (Donegal) - Posts: 156 - 05/07/2012 11:03:49    1209998

The 19% increase is official figures released by the Ulster council.
Clones did look half empty on Saturday which did surprise me. Tyrone usually have a huge following and I would have though Donegal would have enough of a bandwagon rolling by now to have a decent following also?

As for Donegals tackling. This is a big part of their game plan and it just borders on the legal. They know they will get away with 80 - 90% of these which will be OK with them as it gives them possession which is their life's blood.
It really frustrates me when refs allow so much of this. How can two men tackling or in some cases actually holding a man down and physically preventing him from getting on his feet not be a foul against??

ballybannongael (Down) - Posts: 547 - 05/07/2012 12:26:07    1210072

Jesus cacsmckilly that's some chip you have on your shoulder mate…….build a bridge and get over it!

In regards to the attendance last Saturday, there was a healthy crowd in Clones, not too far of 20,000 for a provincial semi-final in this economic climate is not bad at all, and compares very favourably to the other provinces. Donegal outnumbered Tyrone by at least 2:1 in Clones Saturday too, so well have a huge following at the Ulster final, as we try and create our own wee bit of history. Down should have decent enough numbers too, so hopefully it will make for a great atmosphere in two weeks time………….now hopefully the weather Gods will give us a nice sunny day (unlike last year!)

LetterkennyMan (Donegal) - Posts: 393 - 05/07/2012 13:07:19    1210111