How do we see this one going lads?

Donegal will be without big Neil Gallagher and Karl Lacey while Down are also missing a few due to injury.

Donegal might have won last year's Ulster final at a canter in the end, but for a good while Down were right in it. Indeed had they been a bit more clinical with their goal chances that day Donegal could have been in bother. Down enjoyed a fine win in a very open game against Derry. Kevin McKernan scored some beauties from midfield but a couple of them came when the Derry lads were tiring. This will not happen against Donegal.

I can see Donegal soaking up plenty of Down pressure and being able to punish them on the break. The Down fullback line wouldn't be the strongest and I can see Paddy McBrearty doing some damage. He has been on fire of late for his club and was very good last time out against Tyrone. Donegal's ability to get crucial goals could be the deciding factor in this. As renowned as Down ar for finding the net I think they might struggle against Donegal's defence.

Prediction: Donegal 2-10 - 0-11

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9907 - 17/06/2013 14:37:59    1408869

If Down manage to tighten up at the back without sacrificing their normal attacking instincts, and thats a big if, then they could well push Donegal that bit harder than we did. I still expect Donegal to come out on top, Donegal by 3.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 17/06/2013 14:55:54    1408898

Down to win by a point, Donegal peaked too soon! ;)

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 17/06/2013 15:09:30    1408913

Playing classy football only gets you so far in today's game. Said it since the minute the final whistle went up in Celtic Park, Donegal will beat us. But, if we can produce a top performance and put it up to them for the full 70 minutes, I'll go home happy and optimistic of Down putting a run together in the Qualifiers. Looking forward to the day out in Cavan, and banter with the Donegal wans.

UP DOWN!

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 17/06/2013 15:21:12    1408920

MournArmy UP DOWN. Your very indecisive, ;)

UP DONEGAL, LOL

don.ne (Donegal) - Posts: 3 - 17/06/2013 15:29:49    1408931

Not indecisive. I expect Donegal to beat Down, as All-Ireland champions, everyone in Ireland expects the same. But, of course I'll be shouting UP DOWN and hoping that Down can upset the applecart, you just never know :)

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 17/06/2013 15:35:22    1408938

That's wishful thinking TheGateKeeper, you just want to sit beside me waving a flag at the roundabout ;)

MissDownFanatic (Down) - Posts: 411 - 17/06/2013 15:43:29    1408951

I don't think this will be as straightforward as people are suggesting, although one has to fancy Donegal to come out on top eventually. I think Down will have learned an awful lot from last year's drubbing, this is not a Division 3 team they're playing, its a Division 1 team (2013) and Down will have a lot of confidence after a good second half display in Derry.

Salmanneile (Longford) - Posts: 113 - 17/06/2013 15:44:08    1408953

MissDownFanatic
County: Down
Posts: 228

1408951
That's wishful thinking TheGateKeeper, you just want to sit beside me waving a flag at the roundabout ;)
_________________
Oh no, she ain't going to let us forget that, I'm scared now!

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 17/06/2013 15:52:31    1408962

I think it will be a tight affair with not much in it either way. Down are well capable of upsetting the odds and anyone who thinks this is a foregone conclusion is deluded. Its two division 1 2013 teams playing each other (the only other fixture like this thus far in the championship was our opener against Tyrone), so all indications are that it will be a tight affair and we won't see the mauling's we've seen in other championship games by division 1 opposition against lower ranked counties.

If we hit top gear and things go right for us this weekend, I think we will win by a narrow margin. If the aforementioned doesn't happen on the day, Down can definitely knock us off our perch. Donegal by 2 for me.

LetterkennyMan (Donegal) - Posts: 393 - 17/06/2013 16:10:05    1408980

Down are a quality side, and on their day could possibly beat any team in Ireland. They were seriously unfortunate to get relegated from Divsion 1 this year, losing by a whisker to Cork and Tyrone. If Donegal have a bad day at the office, Down will happily punish them.

The problem for Down is that in Donegal, they face possibly the most consistantly solid team in Ireland. This Donegal team don't tend to underestimate anybody they play in Championship football, and don't look past any opponent.
Neil Gallagher and Karl Lacey are massive loss to Donegal, but they are still exceptionally strong all over the pitch and I feel they will cope.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 17/06/2013 16:20:50    1408997

The general consensus amongst most people so far is that Donegal v Down will be a tight enough game. Is it predicted to be a sell out?

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 17/06/2013 16:45:17    1409040

Donegal will win handily without getting outta second gear imo.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13833 - 17/06/2013 16:48:02    1409043

You have got to fancy Donegal as they our the all Ireland champions and the team to beat, but this down team like all down teams can score goals and if and a big if at that they can score 2 then it's game on,think this could be a cracker.

knowtherules (UK) - Posts: 181 - 17/06/2013 16:51:01    1409051

No team in Ireland make me as nervous as Down. With Lacey and Gallagher out as well I'm very nervous about the game.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 17/06/2013 16:51:38    1409052

I don't think the two injuries will upset Donegal too much, injuries in our forward line would be more worrying. When Neil was injured last year Ryan Bradley played his best football while deputising at midfield and could well do the same again. Declan Walsh has shown he is well capable of filling in for Lacey. These injuries haven't just appeared out of the blue and the players that will finn in will have had plenty of time to get ready.
Down are a decent outfit and although they got relegated, like ourselves put in some decent performances in the league and have a good win under their belts. Basing my opinion on the last games I still think we will win though as Down's defence looked very open in the first half and although they double marked skinner they still struggled, and with Donegal's inside 3 of Murphy and the two mac's I'd expect us to get enough scores to win by 3 - 5 points.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 17/06/2013 16:58:01    1409065

Cant see anything but a donegal win no disrespect to down. If Down are to prevail they are going to have to put in one hell of a performance...

DUB1 (Dublin) - Posts: 5583 - 17/06/2013 16:59:38    1409069

MissDownFanatic
County: Down
That's wishful thinking TheGateKeeper, you just want to sit beside me waving a flag at the roundabout ;)


Lets break the suggestion down
Sitting at the Ballygawley roundabout at any time! No thanks!
Sitting at the Ballygawley roundabout with a blathering Down supporter flying down flags! No thanks!
Sitting at the Ballygawley roundabout with a blathering 'tyronehating' Down supporter flying down flags after they have won against the odds! No thanks!
Sitting at the Ballygawley roundabout with a blathering 'tyronehating' Down supporter flying down flags after they have won against the odds and being spotted by the Tyrone faithful committing such a heinous act! NO THANKS!
I hope that clears it up for ya missdown, it aint gonna happen! LOL

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 17/06/2013 17:06:09    1409077

Fine. Looks like I'm sitting solo then....

MissDownFanatic (Down) - Posts: 411 - 17/06/2013 17:16:48    1409095

Donegal with ease, 6-8 points at least.

Mayo opened up that Down defence in q/f last year, Donegal will do the same.

51longago (Mayo) - Posts: 2981 - 17/06/2013 17:28:22    1409113