They did very well without O'Neill in the league final
ulsterman!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 19/05/2013 21:11:09    1386872

I fancy Tyrone to win this, not by much but to pick up the win none the less. I don't think Tyrone were as good as some made out to be against Dublin but what they did show was that they still have that stubbornness about them in sticking to their game plan. Lets not forget, Stephen O'Neill wasn't playing against Dublin and you'd wonder how many of those chances Tyrone had that dropped short may have gone over had Stephen been the man shooting. The teams that will do best against Donegal are the teams that are stubborn and not worried about how the performance looks. Tyrone were unlucky not to pick up a win against them last year, and, the year before that, Dublin beat them by simply playing them at their own game and grinding them down. Tyrone showed against Dublin that they're ready to defend in great numbers and make life very hard for the opposition. Tyrone still have the players with that dogged will to win and if O'Neill and Cavanagh are in form I think Donegal will find them hard to live with.
That being said, a Donegal loss is no harm as I'd expect them to regroup well and be in the mix for the August Bank Holiday weekend

keithlemon (Australia) - Posts: 920 - 19/05/2013 21:18:31    1386882

TheGateKeeper
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1680

1386867 That's it Gary, keep trying to convince yourself! ;)
It will be a draw in Ballybofey, and Tyrone will win
the replay in Clones! This will be Donegal's fate, a
sort of karma, for denying the mass of supporters
(from Tyrone, Donegal and others) the opportunity to
attend this battle! Justice not revenge will be served
gary! ;)

I was kinda split on that decision myself. Like Clones would be logical in terms of allowing the majority of fans to attend the game.
However part of me kinda agreed that Donegal should be allowed one home championship game as All Ireland Champions. Like It's unfortunate that they got Tyrone in the Ulster QF as few other opponents would have attracted such big Interest.

Last seasons Ulster SF game between Tyrone and Donegal in Clones attracted 17500 people approx, with Ballybofey allowing a similar capacity this season. But seems to be even bigger demand this season.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3057 - 19/05/2013 21:26:02    1386892

keithlemon
County: Australia
Posts: 74

I don't think Tyrone were unlucky last season, I think Paul Durkin's last gasp save gave the perception that Tyrone were unlucky.
But in reality Tyrone were bested by that stage of the game, and Donegal were actually unlucky not to be further ahead.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3057 - 19/05/2013 21:34:25    1386902

The Ballybofey decision highlights an essential difference between the 2 managers. Mickey Harte has embraced opportunities to take the big games to the biggest venues wherever possible, demonstrating a confidence and trust in his teams that his opposite number seems to lack. Jim McGuinness's approach has paid dividends so far, but management through control and fear has a limited lifespan.

Tyrone are on an upward curve - from Division 2 to the National League Final in successive seasons, while Donegal are going in the opposite direction. Of course, it's far from clear whether their trajectories have crossed. Donegal could go on to back to back titles, but certainly won't win another in 2014 from the depths of the 2nd division. There's a stat that no team has won an AI after losing in May, so Sunday's losers are likely to have an unsuccessful summer. This could be a year early in the evolution of the Tyrone team; on the other hand, Donegal may yet regret putting all their eggs in the 2013 All Ireland basket.

Tyrone to win the replay in Clones.

joemo (Tyrone) - Posts: 37 - 20/05/2013 11:16:31    1387083

JoeMo
Heres another stat for you. Up until last year no team had won Ulster back to back from the preliminary round, and low and behold, Donegal did. We can all look for stats that say this and that. Both managers definitely approach things differently but there is no right and wrong way, only a successful way!! The game on Sunday could go either way, could be defined by a moment of madness, genius or ref decision. The post mortem will either say that Mc Guinness was wrong to put all the emphasis on the championship or Mickey Harte was wrong to put emphasis on the league. Personally I think it won't matter to either what the media are saying next Monday as the losers will just switch attention very quickly to the qualifiers. Both these teams will make the AI quarter finals and although I'd love to see Donegal do three in a row in Ulster, I'd much prefer to see back to back Sam's BUT that certainly is a long way off!!!
My prediction - Donegal by 4

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1686 - 20/05/2013 11:53:20    1387120

joemo- thought first round matches go to extra time now or has it changed back again ?

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 20/05/2013 12:04:48    1387134

First round matches do not go to extra time. The back door games go to extra time. As far as I know, quarter finals likewise do.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3858 - 20/05/2013 13:20:46    1387235

Bricking it. Too close to call. Always are. Cant wait.

DLlegends (Donegal) - Posts: 503 - 20/05/2013 13:23:46    1387240

joemo
County: Tyrone
Posts: 35

1387083
The Ballybofey decision highlights an essential difference between the 2 managers. Mickey Harte has embraced opportunities to take the big games to the biggest venues wherever possible, demonstrating a confidence and trust in his teams that his opposite number seems to lack. Jim McGuinness's approach has paid dividends so far, but management through control and fear has a limited lifespan.

Joemo
I would agree that Harte & McGuinness are very different in their characters & philosophy but that doesn't make one wrong & the other right, they are just different that's all. As for McGuinness managing through "control & fear" well that is just laughable. What he does do is inspire trust from the players, in themselves, their teammates & the management.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5030 - 20/05/2013 13:38:46    1387266

This is going to be a LONG week!!

squareball_1988 (Donegal) - Posts: 343 - 20/05/2013 13:42:59    1387272

I have to agree with muckross on that one, them Donegal lads
would leave blood on the field for McGuiness, and its not a
fear thing, its loyalty among a host of other virtues!
Now that is the niceties over, what do you think now muckross,
still confident?
Where will the game be won?

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 20/05/2013 13:45:44    1387278

Ok Donegalman, I was just thinking of the day we played Down in 2010 where it went to ET in the first round. I know in the past there was always a replay so they went back to original system so. I have never seen opinion so divided on a match. Cannot see it being one for the purist

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 20/05/2013 13:58:09    1387290

Another big performance is long over due for Donegal

They currently have better players than Tyrone and while Tyrone appear to have closed the gap

Donegal are still further down the road... and have more quailty.

Tyrone will struggle big time up front. Donegal wont have the same struggle and will simply score more than Tyrone.

Donegal just need to keep 15 men on the pitch and not get involved

It will be a thumping affair but they need to play like AI champs and keep the head...

Donegal will beat Tyrone by 4+ points

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 20/05/2013 14:01:15    1387296

GaryMc - I get what you're saying there in regards to the last gasp save making it look closer, you're right in that Donegal were on top in most areas throughout the match. But similar to Joe Brolly's point last night, I think Donegal get away with a bit of criticism in regards some of the close calls they get. Against Tyrone, Kerry and Cork, Donegal were dominant over the course of each of those games yet all 3 of those teams were in touch near the end. Its easy to say that the late goals for Cork and Kerry made the result a bit more respectable but the truth is if Donegal were the more dominant team on those occasions they would have shown it on the scoreboard and they would have won each of those games by more than they did. Tyrone didn't look as handy last year as they do this year. I think if they stick to their game plan and play Donegal at their own game it will come down to a bit of a war of attrition.
An early goal against Donegal could really change the way in which Donegal try to do business. We're yet to see how Donegal win games when they go behind by a good few points in matches

keithlemon (Australia) - Posts: 920 - 20/05/2013 14:10:21    1387315

Greetings from sunny Saint Maarten! I don't know if it's delerium from the heat or the Daquiris but I am uber confident of a win. I was just talking to renowned GAA expert Francois by the poolside bar and he is in total agreement. Donegal by 4 points!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10364 - 20/05/2013 14:14:14    1387318

TheGateKeeper
County: Tyrone
Posts: 1689

1387278
I have to agree with muckross on that one, them Donegal lads
would leave blood on the field for McGuiness, and its not a
fear thing, its loyalty among a host of other virtues!
Now that is the niceties over, what do you think now muckross,
still confident?
Where will the game be won?

I'm not that confident truth be told GateKeeper & anyone from Donegal or Tyrone who is doesn't know much about football!!
I think it is a genuine 50/50 game and will be won on the sideline inside the heads of the two best managers in football.
The match ups & substitutions will count hugely & It will probably be a moment of madness or inspiration that will seperate the two teams at the end.
One thing I do know, no player from either team will be found wanting or leave an ounce of energy on the field. This will be championship football at it rawest, most committed & best. I am a bag of nerves already & it's only Monday!!!

What do you think?

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5030 - 20/05/2013 14:40:35    1387359

My county bias would call it for Tyrone,
but that is the heart speaking, truth be
told it could go either way, and the game
will be won by one of 2 great managers.
I honestly think the game will go to a replay
muckross, and I havent been this nervous since
the AI semi against Armagh, this game has all
the ingredients for more of the same!
The losers will have plenty to say through the
backdoor, and I firmly believe that the AI winners
of 2013 will come from this pairing, regardless of
who strikes first blood.
Sunday 26th May is the first battle between Tyrone
Donegal this year, 'there will be blood'! ;)
A draw on Sunday.

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 20/05/2013 15:04:44    1387400

This was posted as a new thread but as the subject already existed it has been incorporated here.

paddyogall
Posts: 4953
Mayo
21/05/2013
11:01

Donegal V Tyrone

I really fear for Tyrone this weekend, I feel a Galway type beating for Tyrone and cant see how they have a possible chance of beating Donegal. Now dont get me wrong Donegal are no world beaters and are possibly one of the worst All Ireland winners in a generation. But I am afraid I cant see Tyrone doing it.

Administrator (None) - Posts: 2275 - 21/05/2013 11:19:52    1388032

This was posted as a new thread but as the subject already existed it has been incorporated here.

paddyogall
Posts: 4953
Mayo
21/05/2013
11:01

Donegal V Tyrone

I really fear for Tyrone this weekend, I feel a Galway type beating for Tyrone and cant see how they have a possible chance of beating Donegal. Now dont get me wrong Donegal are no world beaters and are possibly one of the worst All Ireland winners in a generation. But I am afraid I cant see Tyrone doing it.

Well trolled there Paddy. There's not a hope of Tyrone even remotely taking a beating ofthe likes that Galway got from Mayo, there'll be a point or 2 at the most between the teams and I really can't call who is going to come out the better side of it. There are big names on both sides and if they turn up on the day it could be anyones really.

And I'm trying my best not to rise to it but would love to hearing the reasoning behind your statement "Donegal....are possibly one of the worst All Ireland winners in a generation"

JimmyTheCar (Donegal) - Posts: 6 - 21/05/2013 11:36:42    1388047