If anything Monaghan proved the theory that Donegal have to be in front in matches fie their gameplan to work as they had no plan b yesterday just like in 2011 against Dublin when they went behind.

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I think a good start is vital against Donegal lads.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 22/07/2013 11:07:38    1438357

Interesting stat: Donegal's defenders in League and Championship 2012 had scored 2-16 at this stage. In 2013 in League and Championship they have scored 0-2.

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Some stat alright.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 22/07/2013 11:08:54    1438362

fortyfive
County: Tyrone
why should it be in a Neutral venue ? Laois should stick to their guns and play it O'Moore park Donegal wans always looking for an edge all the crying they did about Ballybuffet and home advantage ........



+1

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 22/07/2013 11:09:56    1438369

22/07/2013 10:51:09
MesAmis
County: Dublin
Posts: 6142

1438322
Donegal should beat Laois relatively easily. However they should of beaten Monaghan relatively easily.

Another performance like they put in yesterday will see Laois beat them. Don't expect Donegal to be quite so poor again.


I dunno... they looked very tired yesterday when Monaghan took the fight to them and the fitness of McHugh and Lacy has to be of concern. If they come through this match it will be some achievement. To loose your first game in two years and in that fashion would knock the confidence of any team.

Laois will smell blood and they have took big scalps before, not saying they are going to win, but its do or die for them as well and if they show they same commitment as Monaghan... well who knows?

You would have to question as well the 6 day turnaround. Mental.

bluedubstar (Dublin) - Posts: 835 - 22/07/2013 11:09:58    1438370

I don't get when people say they had no Plan B. They had, hitting the long ball into Murphy, but it didn't work. Firstly, the quality of the ball wasn't great (it wasn't good all day) and any ball he got near he was muscled out of. How many more plans can you have? Running the ball didn't work and hitting it long didn't work, what else can you do?

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 22/07/2013 11:11:44    1438373

Wayno

Its half the battle won if you go 4 or 5 points up like Monaghan did as 3 years in and Donegal still have no plan b for when they have to chase a game .surely they would have practised for that scenario in training you would imagined but yesterday they stuck to the same thing and it was never going to work when they were behind

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 22/07/2013 11:17:38    1438385

A good start is vital against any team in any game. All this talk about Donegal have never been a few points behind and won, they have. They were 6-1 down against Tyrone in 2011 and won that game. Obviously, being behind is not a good thing and people point to this as being a weakness. In reality its one of Donegal's strengths, that they have rarely been behind because they have been better. Their weakness yesterday was that Monaghan were better and thats the reason why they went behind and also the reason why they couldn't come back. Beaten by a better team on the day.

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 22/07/2013 11:18:21    1438387

Its half the battle won if you go 4 or 5 points up like Monaghan did as 3 years in and Donegal still have no plan b for when they have to chase a game .surely they would have practised for that scenario in training you would imagined but yesterday they stuck to the same thing and it was never going to work when they were behind

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I agree if you go a few points up against Donegal you have more chance of winning as if you go a few points down.

I think they looked tired and jaded yesterday.

But they will improve I reckon. Still be a very difficult game for anyone who gets them including ourselves. However if we where to get Donegal. What the lads should be looking to do is take care of McFadden and Murphy .. If we do that .. we would win I reckon.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13654 - 22/07/2013 11:23:59    1438396

Hard to see anything but a handy win for Donegal against Laois. Although, stranger things have happened!

FOB (Dublin) - Posts: 912 - 22/07/2013 11:24:08    1438398

benjyyy
County: Donegal
Posts: 773

1438373
I don't get when people say they had no Plan B. They had, hitting the long ball into Murphy, but it didn't work. Firstly, the quality of the ball wasn't great (it wasn't good all day) and any ball he got near he was muscled out of. How many more plans can you have? Running the ball didn't work and hitting it long didn't work, what else can you do?

Thats it exaclty. McGuinness put the right men on at the right times. The ball was played long in for much of the second half, and we had 2 outside chances of goal. There is only so much you can do and if it doesnt work, then there is nothing else you can do. To try to create space where there are 14 men in a tight area, in order to score takes perfectly timed running and support play. We could learn a hell of a lot by watching the way monaghan did this yesterday.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3852 - 22/07/2013 11:24:21    1438400

Benjyy

The point is they didn't have q plan b when they were behind.
Playing an all out defense when your 5 points behind is not going to work when you have to score more then the team your playing. Monaghan aren't world bearers they just simply went point for point and Donegal didn't change their style of play which is very strange as anybody could see 3 points on the board with less then a half an hour to go that they needed to change

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 22/07/2013 11:27:57    1438407

People forget that we walloped that monaghan team last year and have beaten Donegal twice in league since jimmy came

Malonemagic (Laois) - Posts: 817 - 22/07/2013 11:41:44    1438440

22/07/2013 11:41:44
Malonemagic
County: Laois
Posts: 234

1438440
People forget that we walloped that monaghan team last year and have beaten Donegal twice in league since jimmy came


I give Laois every chance. They had the beating of Dublin in the qtrs last year. If Laois can match the intensity of Monaghan they have every chance. Huge week for both teams.

bluedubstar (Dublin) - Posts: 835 - 22/07/2013 11:51:04    1438459

Carrick-on-Shannon?? just why

Laoisman11 (Laois) - Posts: 42 - 22/07/2013 12:18:18    1438502

If there's any team you don't want to play 6 days after being beaten its Laois. Always a hard team beat in the qualifiers and I see no reason why they won't beat Donegal.

Donegal look a very fatigued bunch and I think it might take a little more than 6 days for them to get their heads right. I'm going to go for Laois on this one. Momentum means an awful lot and all the pressure is on Donegal.

RoyalClass (Meath) - Posts: 790 - 22/07/2013 12:29:16    1438519

It will be a tough game. I remember in the league in 2011 Laois beat us in Letterkenny but in reality whipped us that day on for a few late scores glossed over it a bit.
If both teams play to their potential then Donegal will win but there is the hangover from yesterdays defeat and the manner of it that puts extra pressure on Donegal. It could go any way!!!
I'd imagine Donegal won't be doing much physical work this week so I'd expect them to be sharper than yesterday but if Laois put it up to them in the physical stakes then we will know if the desire is there to push on. If Donegal can flick that switch and win then they would need no further motivation than playing Dublin, Mayo or Kerry in the quarters.
Remember that Laois will be competing a division above us next year so they are on paper a better team than Monaghan!!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 22/07/2013 12:40:59    1438535

carrick on shannon? neutral venue? surely this has to be a joke?!

loyal82royal (Meath) - Posts: 260 - 22/07/2013 12:46:41    1438547

really thought navan, cavan or longford would of been chosen for this game. strange

loyal82royal (Meath) - Posts: 260 - 22/07/2013 12:51:03    1438561

Do you know Im happy that people are back thinking Donegal arents good anymore. They havd an off day but being underdogs or atleast not heavy favourites has always suited Donegal. Thats not to say that Laois cant beat Donegal but it would be a surprise (I said the exact same thing last week)

Injurys and lack of strength in depth prove a major point yesterday. If David walsh wasnt deemed fit enough to start how then is he fit enough to come on after 10 minutes. Also Martin McElhenny should have been on earlier instead of wherity.

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 22/07/2013 12:51:12    1438562

I think if it was a stronger team aka tyrone getting them next week but i don't think laois will be strong enough. Donegal looked very laboured but i expect them to just about beat laois.

redhanddefender (Tyrone) - Posts: 913 - 22/07/2013 12:58:06    1438579