loyal82royal: what's wrong with Carrick-on-Shannon? First up it's a neutral province, which should be the first prerequisite, secondly despite what some people might think it's pretty even distance-wise. Because I'm bored and today is a slow day after yesterday's disaster, I did some research on Google maps………..might surprise you there Meath man? (these distances are approximations using shortest routes on Google maps).

Laois furthest point from C.O.S. - 176 km, closest point 94 km.
Donegal furthest point from C.O.S. - 210 km, closest point 76 km.

So Donegal is at its closest point 18 km closer to C.O.S. than Laois at its closest point, but Donegal is also 34 km further away than Laois at each counties respective furthest points! Finally to reinforce the point, if we take the two largest population centres in each county, namely Letterkenny and Portlaoise, Letterkenny is 150km from C.O.S. and Portlaoise is 149 km, another big difference there.

So what's your problem with Carrick-on-Shannon being selected for the venue for the game next Saturday? #slowday!!!!

LetterkennyMan (Donegal) - Posts: 393 - 22/07/2013 13:13:13    1438605

i agree actually, just thought carrick on shannon was a lot closer to donegal than it actually is, also being bored, had a look at the aa route planner. buncrana is further to carrick on shannon than durrow is so i take it all back. apologies. An Mhi abu

loyal82royal (Meath) - Posts: 260 - 22/07/2013 13:21:53    1438621

You have to hit Donegal early, just like Monaghan, they're not set up to chase a game!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8790 - 22/07/2013 13:34:53    1438648

Referee ? ?

Malonemagic (Laois) - Posts: 817 - 22/07/2013 13:55:53    1438700

Donegalman

Yous should've beaten Monaghan. That's no disrespect to Monaghan but if Donegal could've brought the same level of play that they're capable of then no matter what Monaghan did they would've been beaten.

Monaghan got their tactics right and implemented it superbly and they caught Donegal on a very bad day. A repeat of the same level of performance from Donegal against Laois will see yous beaten as I'd think that Laois are at least as good as Monaghan.

I don't expect Donegal to be as poor again and they should do to Laois what they should've done to Monaghan.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13825 - 22/07/2013 14:06:16    1438731

Donegal WILL be playing football at the end of August. They get past Laois and that's where the run starts. Marking Murphy, McFadden & McBrearty in the open spaces of Croke will be like trying to stop a train.

gaelic_life (Down) - Posts: 286 - 22/07/2013 14:08:06    1438741

gaelic_life
County: Down
Posts: 281

1438741 Donegal WILL be playing football at the end of August. They get past Laois and that's where the run starts. Marking Murphy, McFadden & McBrearty in the open spaces of Croke will be like trying to stop a train.

we will be beating them up in carrick laaaaadd

Horse (Laois) - Posts: 1146 - 22/07/2013 14:22:02    1438774

And with the roads, COS will be a lot closer to Laois. Going to take me 3 hours to get there. Couldn't be much more than 2 hours for the furthest away Laois fans.

donegalboy (Donegal) - Posts: 120 - 22/07/2013 14:59:54    1438857

What does Carrick hold capacity wise?
Was there when Dublin played Leitrim few years back and was very small.they have three games in croker that will get 20 thousand max yet play a game that should get a decent crowd in a ground with limited capacity

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 22/07/2013 15:12:17    1438885

Tough game. I would have been confident enough on tackling Monaghan after beating them last year but a hurt Donegal team is a whole different story.
I think Laois got a lot of tough press after the Wexford game, some insinuating that Laois had some sort of an embarrassing win in Wexford park, if there is such a thing. With the benefit of being there i think we were the superior team for most of the game.
It took a lot of character to grind out a win away from home after conceding two goals against the run of play. Wexford played with the wind in the first half and as any team would they shot for points to make use of it, but hit 12 of their 16 wides in that period.

Laois stuck to their defensive game plan and limited Wexford to 4 points a half. Had Wexford managed to sneak a win i feel they would have been given more of a chance against Donegal than we are. Laois and Donegal have met 3 times since McGuinness took charge and we've won 2 and pushed them close in the league final in 2011, so unfamiliarity or fear should not be an issue.

I believe if Donegal score a goal in the first half to steady themselves they will push on and win comfortably. If Laois show the same determination and hunger they have showed to date by avoiding bannana skins in Carlow and Ennis, grinding out a hard win in Wexford and even their containment job against the Dubs last year, they can push Donegal all the way.

If we keep them away from our net memories could emerge of the last time Laois met hurting All Ireland Champions....

Markymark (Laois) - Posts: 644 - 22/07/2013 15:22:10    1438906

9331 capacity for carrick on Shannon it says surely they expect more then that

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 22/07/2013 15:26:54    1438919

Capacity of Pairc Sean is circa 13,500...not the 9331 Wikipedia says

DJBunnitt (Leitrim) - Posts: 29 - 22/07/2013 15:47:46    1438962

MesAmis, I hope you are right. We should have gone out there and beaten Monaghan yesterday but they "out Donegaled" us...let's hope Laois haven't been taking any tips from them.

DonegalDoll (Donegal) - Posts: 3 - 22/07/2013 15:49:36    1438969

But I would worry if I was Donegal supporter if people agree that Monaghan our donegaled them as to me that would mean Donegals players are average enough team that basically it was there system that was all that was winning games for them

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 22/07/2013 15:58:18    1438984

hill16

The 'system' is not a tangible object, it doesn't win any games. It's the players who go out there and win games.

Monaghan are a damn good team with many excellent players and won the game on merit. Look down on them at your peril but they will take some stopping based on yesterday's performance.

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 22/07/2013 16:06:29    1439004

DJ bunnitt

OK thanks. still seems thight for tickets I would say considering the other 3 games on in croker

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 22/07/2013 16:10:44    1439012

22/07/2013 14:08:06
gaelic_life
County: Down
Posts: 281

1438741
Donegal WILL be playing football at the end of August. They get past Laois and that's where the run starts. Marking Murphy, McFadden & McBrearty in the open spaces of Croke will be like trying to stop a train.


Funny ya say that... because they where also dead certs for Ulster by most peoples reckoning. If I was Donegal I'd be taking nothing for granted (which I am sure they are not). BUt Laois will be up for this.

bluedubstar (Dublin) - Posts: 835 - 22/07/2013 16:11:38    1439014

Pairc Sean holds 15,000, should be a good atmosphere around for the match, Laois supporters probably should come in the N4 from Mullingar as opposed to via Athlone as there could be a bottle neck before crossing the bridge where you will join up with some of the Donegal supporters. Donegal crowd better travelling down through Manorhamilton.

Nelson (Leitrim) - Posts: 142 - 22/07/2013 16:12:17    1439016

The system is a big thing for Donegal. But a system will only work if you have players that are intelligent enough to implement it. I think that the likes of Karl Lacey, Murphy, McFadden, Rory Kavanagh are fantastic footballers that any county would be glad to have, irrespective of what system they are played in.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9827 - 22/07/2013 16:14:53    1439021

Donegal may get over Laois however they are on borrowed time now. They are in the same shape and mindset as Dublin were last year they won't win quarter final tie and even Mayo will beat them Kerry,Dublin will win pulling up against them.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3660 - 22/07/2013 16:20:12    1439032