Thompson and McFadden were outstanding, when you have a man who can consistently kick points from 45 metres like McFadden does it is massive especially in Donegals system.

Down were fantastic but they really had a great chance to win today because Donegal were poor. They overplayed the ball far too often when shots were on and gave the ball to the wrong man or played one pass too much, it was tough to watch. They were a simple handpass away from being 1 v 1 with Durkan at one stage as well. Down's indecision probably cost them 4 or 5 points today.

If Donegal play like this later on in the championship they will be beaten, but I highly doubt they will play that badly again. I can only guess that Lacey and Gallagher being injured had a big influence on the poor performance.

CaisleanCnucha (Dublin) - Posts: 1379 - 23/06/2013 15:50:24    1413313

God that was puke football at it's best, what has happened to our game lads?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 23/06/2013 15:50:44    1413314

At the end of the day despite some questionable frees to Donegal Down had the winning of the game but they spilled too much ball in scoring areas. If Down had someone like McFadden it would have been a different result. Good to see that Donegal are beatable.

OntheWhiteSide (Kildare) - Posts: 452 - 23/06/2013 15:51:40    1413315

Very unlucky Down; with a bit more composure and luck they could have won that game. They got nothing from the referee who was clearly out of his depth at this level. Donegal have looked very mortal in their last two games and that will give Dublin, Mayo and Kerry a great boost. Donegal are looking beatable but to be fair their best player Lacey is their most important figure and they are a different side when he plays. On the negative side Donegal were shockingly cynical and dirty at times and they frustrated and stopped Down in every underhand way imaginable. Although in the greater scheme I am still against them it is hard to argue against the black card being introduced in these circumstances.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9816 - 23/06/2013 15:51:44    1413316

Donegal will not will Sam.

How they get away with that type of tackling is beyond me it's no wonder the black card rule is coming in.

Correct me if I'm wrong but did McHugh say on commentary today " fouling is now part of the Gaelic Football and the purests may not like it but we should rejoice! "

Sorry I will never rejoice in that, it's not football.

westkerry (Kerry) - Posts: 1250 - 23/06/2013 15:52:06    1413317

Great performance from Down, but for some very
poor refereeing decisions they would have won
this game! A dark day for football!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 23/06/2013 15:52:44    1413319

Mayo, Dublin, Kerry and Cork would have beaten Donegal out the gate today, they've been exposed for having a small squad with no depth, nothing without Lacey and Gallagher. Nonetheless, its a sign of a good team when you can play badly and still grind out a win. Down have no forwards.

Sergeant_Slash (Cavan) - Posts: 2182 - 23/06/2013 15:53:39    1413320

waynoI
County: Dublin
Posts: 6249

1413309 A game that ultimately Down managed to beat themselves in. Donegal where average. The problem is teams have this block against them I reckon. They don't have the confidence to beat them. I reckon if you put a team with belief in their ability and a calmness to their approach they would beat Donegal. Dublin are still the only team Donegal have yet to beat under McGuinness in competitive football. I'd have total confidence that Dublin would beat Donegal if they played them this year. Obviously we have to worry about Kildare and that's all we are looking at at the moment. But if we do come up against Donegal. I reckon we would beat them.

Donegal greatly improved after Dublin beat them in 2011...I doubt Dublin could do it again although that's not saying I wouldn't want them Dublin to of course

Game2Halves (Tyrone) - Posts: 265 - 23/06/2013 15:54:14    1413322

Correct me if I'm wrong but did McHugh say on commentary today " fouling is now part of the Gaelic Football and the purests may not like it but we should rejoice! "

_______________________

He was talking about the defensive/short handpassing styles of the teams in general if I remember correctly, not the fouling.

CaisleanCnucha (Dublin) - Posts: 1379 - 23/06/2013 15:54:49    1413323

The Dubs will be licking their lips after watching that match. Donegal spent 6 months getting ready for the Tyrone game while Tyrone were working on other things. Sams going nowhere yet.

border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 906 - 23/06/2013 15:56:06    1413324

clondalkindub County: Dublin Posts: 3648

1413314

God that was puke football at it's best, what has happened to our game lads?

Hear hear.
The following sentence is something i never ever thought id write. But for the sake of our game Dublin have to win the all ire, i don't believe mayo can same applies to kerry, perhap cork can. But if our game is to continue this utter utter tripe has to be beating. Or football will be destroyed.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 23/06/2013 15:58:33    1413329

Donegal better rap McFadden up in cotton wool or they won't be champions this year!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8744 - 23/06/2013 16:01:50    1413332

Donegal's aura of invincibility has been shattered in this game. Down have adapted well to this new 'system' but have lacked cuteness and killer instinct. Teams like Dublin will feel confident that they can beat this Donegal side with a bit of organisation and clinical attitude

___________


What Aura of invincibility ?

Donegal should never have been looked at as invincible.. or unbeatable.

Dublin have played them 3 times under McGuinness in competitive action and have still not lost to them.

The reason Dublin have done well against them is because they have belief in themselves and aren't mentally weak. They haven't let Donegal bully them.

Down today played very well but they didn't have the bottle to see it out and gave silly ball away. They beat themselves out there because they lacked that bit of belief that they could get over the line. That's the bottom line

You have to have A) The abilty to beat Donegal, B) The composure and C) You need to keep calm and takes your chances when they come... If Dublin/Mayo/Cork/Kerry face Donegal this year and have them 3 things on their side. Donegal will be beaten.

Donegal are bullies. They pick off teams who aren't as strong as them. As brave as them and teams who are intimidated by their system.. Watch when they come up against a top team who (unlike down today), Have the confidence and the belief to beat them..

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 23/06/2013 16:02:56    1413335

Correct me if I'm wrong but did McHugh say on commentary today " fouling is now part of the Gaelic Football and the purests may not like it but we should rejoice! "
_____

I heard that too.. I thought Martin Carney was the guy who said it ?

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 23/06/2013 16:05:12    1413338

Good stuff from Dún na nGall there today. Played at 50%, finished up with a B-team on the field and still beat An Dún by 3 points, despite them playing out of their skins. Lookin like another good year. Thought wee Ryan McHugh did great too.

AnRaibh (Donegal) - Posts: 134 - 23/06/2013 16:09:36    1413340

westkerry
County: Kerry
Posts: 271

1413317
Donegal will not will Sam.

How they get away with that type of tackling is beyond me it's no wonder the black card rule is coming in.

Correct me if I'm wrong but did McHugh say on commentary today " fouling is now part of the Gaelic Football and the purests may not like it but we should rejoice! "

Sorry I will never rejoice in that, it's not football.


I believe the black card is going to be critical to the future of gaelic football. The cynical approach - and let's be honest every team are guilty of it to a greater or lesser extent - is taking over the game and gets worse year after year. The referees next year will have to be strong as they are going to be targeted and criticised by coaches and players alike but they should be given every support by the GAA and us fans - we all want to watch decent football, not the pulling and dragging that is just so common-place now. the

jimski (Kildare) - Posts: 381 - 23/06/2013 16:12:24    1413341

Good stuff from Dún na nGall there today. Played at 50%, finished up with a B-team on the field and still beat An Dún by 3 points, despite them playing out of their skins. Lookin like another good year. Thought wee Ryan McHugh did great too.

______________

A "B" team ?

Explain how ?

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 23/06/2013 16:36:51    1413351

Don't usually bring refs into it but this guy was a joke!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8744 - 23/06/2013 16:41:16    1413355

Finished without Lacey, Gallagher, Bradley, McBrearty, McGlynn, McLoone

AnRaibh (Donegal) - Posts: 134 - 23/06/2013 16:41:52    1413357

Lets not go over the top lads, we are talking about Donegal as if they are invincible. They were given a good game by a good team who played div 1 this year while missing two key players in Lacey and Gallagher - take 2 key players out of any team and they will drop in performance level. I don't think Donegal will perform that badly again this Summer as long as the injuries are sorted, but I will say this - I don't think Donegal are as well equipped to deal with injuries as Dublin or Mayo for example, who have been playing without arguably the counties best players in Alan Brogan and Andy Moran, but haven't really shown a dip in performance. Lacey, McFadden and Murphy in particular are irreplaceable for this Donegal team.

CaisleanCnucha (Dublin) - Posts: 1379 - 23/06/2013 16:45:36    1413359