This game could be a real cracker. I'll say home advantage to tip the scales for Derry.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 29/05/2013 14:06:27    1394367

Down are sore after getting relegated from Div 1, still have a few handy footballers in their ranks, and Benny is one of the best around. Derry have talent, but they're more of a league team I think. Nonetheless, they contested an Ulster final recently, its a hard one to call, but Down's experience to see them through.

Sergeant_Slash (Cavan) - Posts: 2182 - 29/05/2013 14:18:45    1394378

29/05/2013 14:18:45
Sergeant_Slash
County: Cavan
Posts: 1855

1394378
Down are sore after getting relegated from Div 1, still have a few handy footballers in their ranks, and Benny is one of the best around. Derry have talent, but they're more of a league team I think. Nonetheless, they contested an Ulster final recently, its a hard one to call, but Down's experience to see them through.

Personally speaking, I wouldn't say Down are sore from getting relegated. We've had to deal with a serious amount of injuries to our top players, and we introduced a lot of new faces this year. The experience of playing top sides like Donegal and Dublin will do them no harm at all, and it was great for us to finish off our league campaign with a comprehensive victory over Kildare. Fair enough, it's not ideal preparation being relegated, but it did Donegal no harm.

On another note, the standard of football in Division 1 this year was something else, it was arguably the strongest Division 1 there has ever been and our injury plagued team (Dublin aside) remained competitive in each league encounter. Whereas if you look at Division 2, Armagh, Galway, Longford and Laois are already out of their respective provincial championships already.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 30/05/2013 15:41:54    1395284

Down team v Derry:

Mc Veigh

D Mc Cartan - Mc Ardle - Boyle

Rooney - P Turley - Quinn

Rogers - Mc Kernan

Madine - Poland - Coulter

O Hare - King - Laverty

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 30/05/2013 21:10:57    1395545

I'm going to go with Down to win in this one. They had a right old battle in the league in an ultra competitive Div 1 and I think it will stand to them

That said, Donegal v Tyrone aside, I've been wrong for every single prediction I;ve made so far this year

petejoeduff (Donegal) - Posts: 329 - 30/05/2013 21:23:57    1395554

Looking forward to this game. I was at the 94 game as a youngster and will never forget it, nor the sun burn I got at it!! I think Derry will win it but not by much. On form Derry are on a good run but Down were playing at a higher level in the league and that could sorten the gap between them. Derry's dismal show last year against Donegal was IMO down to poor management and Mc Iver is a very good manager so with the talent at his disposal I think they'll just win by 1 or 2 points in a very open and good game of football.
The bonus for the winners is that they get a crack at Donegal and will have nothing to lose, both teams would go into that as underdogs and both owe us one. They know that if they can beat Donegal they will have a massive chance of winning their first Ulster in a long time, '94 for Down and '98 for Derry!!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 31/05/2013 10:39:18    1395662

Funny enough I'm looking forward to this game moreso than last weekends game. Expect a good battle, I'll side with Down, purely because they've got that bit more experience I think. Ambrose Rodgers playing is a big boost for them.

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 31/05/2013 11:12:31    1395694

I have not seen Derry this year. I saw down in the league in Ballybofey in Feb, and they got in behind our defense a number of times for goal. I feel that they will create enough on this basis to win narrowly on sunday.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3852 - 31/05/2013 12:17:26    1395790

Down by 3

Orlaith (Derry) - Posts: 4282 - 31/05/2013 13:27:26    1395867

This is some tough match to call,bookies have derry as slight favorites,i'll go wit them and say derry by 2!

achara (Monaghan) - Posts: 584 - 31/05/2013 13:42:08    1395883

Comfortable Doire win.

artisan (Down) - Posts: 1794 - 31/05/2013 13:49:37    1395891

Comfortable down win

derryman (Derry) - Posts: 3246 - 31/05/2013 14:04:40    1395908

It's highly unlikely that Benny will play for Down again so he'll inspire the rest, along with the return of Ambrose, to win. Down by 2.

ajdoyle78 (Down) - Posts: 520 - 31/05/2013 14:08:08    1395917

31/05/2013 13:27:26
Orlaith
County: Derry
Posts: 4272

1395867
Down by 3


Mind games. We all know you are expecting a Derry win along with the rest of the Oak Leaf faithful.

No pressure on the Down men this weekend. The expectancy lies completely with yous to produce the goods and beat an injury-plagued, relegated, momentumless Down side. Bring it on! :)

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 31/05/2013 15:43:57    1396042

Close game between the last two Ulster finalist's with home advantage seeing Derry winning by two points.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1792 - 31/05/2013 18:42:33    1396178

Awh lads the nerves are really starting to kick in! 2 more sleeps to the big day!

MissDownFanatic (Down) - Posts: 411 - 31/05/2013 18:56:32    1396185

31/05/2013 18:56:32
MissDownFanatic
County: Down
Posts: 212

1396185
Awh lads the nerves are really starting to kick in! 2 more sleeps to the big day!


I'm buzzing for it, cannot wait! Get yourself there early to the support the minors boys too.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 31/05/2013 21:31:29    1396279

Derry will win this one fairly comfortably I'd say, Derry by 4.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 01/06/2013 13:37:46    1396449

Heart saying my home county but I think Derry have too much for us. Expecting a few goals in this one!

AnDunAbu86 (Antrim) - Posts: 8 - 01/06/2013 16:57:40    1396563

Good entertaining start to this game,

5 mins in - Down lead 0-03 to 0-01.

Few off the ball incidents already, Can see a red card in this game.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 02/06/2013 14:07:09    1396980