fatfrog
County: Donegal
Posts: 159


Jimmy changed for the Dubs in 2011. Donegal had not been as defensive as they were in any of their previous games that year as they were against Dublin in the semi-final.

It was probably their undoing in the end as once Dublin got a grip on the game Donegal couldn't break outta the mould and change up.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13796 - 24/06/2013 11:57:42    1414072

24/06/2013 11:18:17
Game2Halves
County: Tyrone
Posts: 15

1414009 It does look like three in a row for Donegal alright,,,,,they have brought gaelic football to a new low.

**

Lol. How many new lows have there been now?

On the match - McFadden and Murphy have to be two of the best in the game at scoring from distance.
They were a joy to watch yesterday.
Real guts from Down, I can only imagine if either of the above 2 were in the red and black yesterday.
It would have been a different story.

fire_in_belly (Donegal) - Posts: 59 - 24/06/2013 12:01:00    1414077

why did Spillane not slate this game. It was a worse spectacle that the Cavan v fermanagh game. It looked like the RTe men were under instructions not to go into a rant about the state of football. Did anyone raed Eamonn Sweeney in yesterday's Indo regarding Pat Spillane. some very good points raised.
Now as Regards yesterday's game , I knew from the way Down played in the second half against Derry that they are a totally different animal this year. Their Fitness levels have improved dramatically as has their overall physicality. They are like Donegal of 2011. They just need to polish up on their score-taking. They were not able to create the couple of seconds freedom to execute a score yesterday. It looked to some that they were declining opportunities to have a kick at the posts but there literally was no time or space. Thats something they need to work on but it is very very difficult to engineer those precious few seconds and yards to kick scores against this extremely fit Donegal team. Perhaps it's time to start thinking about 13-a-side games or upping the playing time to 80 mins.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5520 - 24/06/2013 12:03:14    1414084

Donegal v Down. Awful spectacle. I felt like switching over to the womens tennis

Leerhode1 (Kerry) - Posts: 4 - 24/06/2013 12:21:45    1414113

It was a bad game but it wasn't nearly as bad as the Cavan - Fermanagh game, I'm still having nightmares about that first half.

CaisleanCnucha (Dublin) - Posts: 1379 - 24/06/2013 12:22:58    1414116

If Down had of been more clinical up front they would of walked away winners yesterday. They had the beaten of donegal just up front tried to play the ball into close to goal before shooting and lost the ball all too easy...

DUB1 (Dublin) - Posts: 5583 - 24/06/2013 12:27:21    1414123

24/06/2013 12:03:14
s goldrick
County: Cavan
Posts: 2106

1414084
why did Spillane not slate this game. It was a worse spectacle that the Cavan v fermanagh game. It looked like the RTe men were under instructions not to go into a rant about the state of football. Did anyone raed Eamonn Sweeney in yesterday's Indo regarding Pat Spillane. some very good points raised.
Now as Regards yesterday's game , I knew from the way Down played in the second half against Derry that they are a totally different animal this year. Their Fitness levels have improved dramatically as has their overall physicality. They are like Donegal of 2011. They just need to polish up on their score-taking. They were not able to create the couple of seconds freedom to execute a score yesterday. It looked to some that they were declining opportunities to have a kick at the posts but there literally was no time or space. Thats something they need to work on but it is very very difficult to engineer those precious few seconds and yards to kick scores against this extremely fit Donegal team. Perhaps it's time to start thinking about 13-a-side games or upping the playing time to 80 mins.

Disappointed with the Sundays Game analysis of the match. Maybe because it was top heavy with Hurling, but I feel McStay had nothing to offer except take up the mantle where Brolly left of. While he is correct about the forward line of Donegal the game itself was there be to debated. Maybe Donegal have transcended and are beyond criticism.

bluedubstar (Dublin) - Posts: 835 - 24/06/2013 12:29:21    1414125

Just another positive aspect on Down's performance yesterday. Can anyone remember Donegal having any goal chances? We shot ourselves in the foot, we had them beaten. Still gutted.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 24/06/2013 12:30:44    1414128

dgl2012
County: Donegal

All the best to Down in the qualifiers, they have lovely supporters with manners and had great banter with them, unfortunately I can't say that about our previous opponents supporters.



LOL, the feeling is very mutual my friend!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 24/06/2013 12:39:43    1414139

The game yesterday was enjoyable as a close fought battle,
for that reason I watched it all, but at times it did not
resemble anything like Gaelic football! At the moment, we
have a choice between games where one team destroys another
(but plays football doing so) or we have games like yesterday!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 24/06/2013 12:47:26    1414147

Ahh a donegal, down love in, great to see. I would love to get Down in the qualifiers and Donkeygal in Croke Park later in the year!

redhanddefender (Tyrone) - Posts: 913 - 24/06/2013 12:49:21    1414148

Apparently Donegal lost this game due to toothache! ;)

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 24/06/2013 12:54:07    1414153

Have to laugh at the Kerry man on here criticising the standard/type of play. Just go and watch your own county. They do precisely the same as Donegal.

gaelantrim (Antrim) - Posts: 1616 - 24/06/2013 12:56:53    1414156

redhanddefender
County: Tyrone
Posts: 457

1414148
Ahh a donegal, down love in, great to see. I would love to get Down in the qualifiers and Donkeygal in Croke Park later in the year!

Posts like this are the reason Tyrone supporters are not amongst the most loved in the country. We have beaten you 3 years in a row and you still cant accept we are the better team. Always talking about meeting teams later in the year instead of the task at hand. Reminds me of Amir Khan in boxing terms, another much loved sportsman...

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1428 - 24/06/2013 13:03:21    1414168

MourneArmy
County: Down
Posts: 1348

1414128
Just another positive aspect on Down's performance yesterday. Can anyone remember Donegal having any goal chances? We shot ourselves in the foot, we had them beaten. Still gutted.

I understand Down people are happy with the performance and a good performance it was but a bit of perspective is needed! We finished with 33% more scores than you which is a fair amount and you were never closer than 2 points of us. To say you had us beaten is a bit of a stretch

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1428 - 24/06/2013 13:06:42    1414171

I agree with Benjy, people are going a bit over the top. On a day where Down were very clinical and had some more luck from the ref they might have shaded a win, but to say Down had them beaten is wrong. I'm nearly sure Donegal had at least a 2 point at least lead for almost the whole match.

CaisleanCnucha (Dublin) - Posts: 1379 - 24/06/2013 13:10:21    1414179

If there had been a decent referee, Down would
have won the match, Donegal got away with a lot!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 24/06/2013 13:13:59    1414188

Fair enough Benjyyy, perhaps 'we had them beaten' wasn't the best term for me to use. But had we been more clinical in front of goal then we could've ended up with more scores than yourselves, I believe.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 24/06/2013 13:18:55    1414193

Mournearmy you might not have had us beaten but you certainly had us on the rack!! One of the turning points I thought was Benny Coulter having the time and space to shoot for a point in the second half when yous were 2 down and opted to try and play a man in for a goal. Yous got the next score and if Benny had taken that point we could have been level.

I thought we would have been better in the second half but we weren't and it was because of the hard hitting and determination of the Down team and credit to them. It was the transition to scores that let you down much like us against Dublin in 2011. At half time I felt that Down hadn't scored enough with the wind, 4 points and only one from play. I said to a Down supporter beside me that yous would need a goal in the second half to win as another 4 or 5 points would still only leave you with 8 or 9 points and that wouldn't be enough to win most games.

The problem for Down is what system will they continue with? The defensive system almost worked for them yesterday so do they try to fine tune it or go attacking like against Derry. I feel they will stick with yesterdays gameplan as if they can compete with Donegal then they can compete with Cork, Kerry, Mayo and Dublin. They can most definitely beat Tyrone and Kildare.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 24/06/2013 13:35:20    1414227

I was at the game yesterday and chatted with a few Down lads during the game and it was a tough close encounter.

However, what qualifies the statement 'Down had Donegal beaten'??

Donegal were never behind never level after the start. Down had less wides and no clear goal scoring opportunities or glaring misses.

Is it simply because they played well and it was close that people are saying this?

Tyrone supporters. All Ireland semi final vs. Kerry. Its all im saying. Also saying we will see you later in the year, i'd concentrate on getting to the quarter finals first before slobbering here.

argael (Donegal) - Posts: 133 - 24/06/2013 13:39:39    1414234