MourneRising
County: Down
Posts: 175

However, your trip to Armagh on the last day will be a tough one.

Agreed. I said a couple of weeks ago that promotion for us would hinge either in newry or armagh. Not hugely insightful if you look at the maths of the table, but still the reality of it. To think that going to either venue to automatically pick up points is just not sensible. I think that ourselves, monaghan and down will all be on equal points on the last day. Monaghan are home and hosed. Down away to laois could be very interesting if laois are going to stay up. Still, I am delighted that we have to go to armagh for a win, because we have got to get those games under our belt to prepare properly for derry in june.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3849 - 18/03/2014 12:16:47    1561430

Donegalman you may join me in praying for a win for an Armagh win against Galway, would leave us with nothing to play for. I've a bad feeling about that match though. Could be a promotion/relegation battle on the last weekend for the two of us. That would be a match to look forward to.

JP91 (Armagh) - Posts: 316 - 18/03/2014 13:34:31    1561498

JP91
County: Armagh
Posts: 45

1561498
Donegalman you may join me in praying for a win for an Armagh win against Galway, would leave us with nothing to play for. I've a bad feeling about that match though. Could be a promotion/relegation battle on the last weekend for the two of us. That would be a match to look forward to.

Armagh to stay up. No way will they go down. They were a tad unlucky v monaghan, they let them fly off to a good start, and the sending off finished it. Armagh had a quota of wides at the start of the 2nd half too that will be improved on the next time out. Having said all that, I would worry that armagh will be good either way on the last day, so I would be equally worried about what sort of shape they are in points wise in our fixture. But if we play and take our chances we will go up. I hope anyway,

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3849 - 18/03/2014 15:02:50    1561566

Laois people will hoping Armagh beat Galway too

Malonemagic (Laois) - Posts: 817 - 18/03/2014 15:48:26    1561606

Monaghan may or may not win Ulster this year,but I tell ya,it will take some team to knock them out.Don't be surprised if they get to the All-Ireland semis.. Ulster is so tough,so many good sides up their!

ziggy320001 (Meath) - Posts: 2432 - 18/03/2014 16:40:57    1561651

Yeah Ziggy.
Donegal are allegedly on the easy side of the draw in Ulster this year.
To win ulster they'd have to beat Derry in Celtic Park, overcome what on paper ought to be a facile enough Semi final and then beat whichever team comes through the other side i.e. Tyrone, Down, Armagh, Monaghan or Cavan. Ulster will be Donegals aim this year I'd say but it'll take some performance in May to beat a vibrant Derry side in Celtic Park. Delighted Brian McIver is doing well. I'd just like him to have an off day on 25th May.

DLGael (Donegal) - Posts: 111 - 19/03/2014 17:16:43    1562141

Cleatus
County: Donegal
Posts: 39

1561225
Don't think Mc Fadden will be dropped. Yesterday was the worst I've seen him play in a long time. However he's still our best scoring forward more often than not. As for Mc Brearty he has yet to live up to his billing. Even in 2012 he was inconsistent at best. Molly works hard but is not the required standard. Our best performers in the league have been Thompson and Mc Elhinney. We need to improve substantially just to be competitive against Derry anything less and we'll be beat out the gate. Sleepless nights indeed Muckross.[/b

]

I wouldn't go as far as dropping him, but I think keep him as a sub. He still seems to get away from his marker, but his shooting lacks its normal accuracy.
I think McBrearty and O'Connor could see out the remaining two national league games, along with Brick Molloy.

No Mcfadden will finish the league starting. there is no point in messing around with our 2 best forwards. Brick molloy is not a go to man, nor will he ever be. He is a strong bench player. I think mcneilis is shaping up very well, as is one or 2 others. But Mcfadden had a great day out v monaghan, and the 2 games before it. Dont doubt our key men, they will come good.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3849 - 19/03/2014 19:18:07    1562208

No Mcfadden will finish the league starting. there is no point in messing around with our 2 best forwards. Brick molloy is not a go to man, nor will he ever be. He is a strong bench player. I think mcneilis is shaping up very well, as is one or 2 others. But Mcfadden had a great day out v monaghan, and the 2 games before it. Dont doubt our key men, they will come good.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3849 - 19/03/2014 19:18:08    1562209

Donegal Championship side?
1. Durcan
2. E McGee
3. N McGee
4. R McHugh/McGrath if fit
5. McGlynn
6. Lacey
7. Thompson
8. Gallagher
9. McElhinney
10. Kavanagh
11. Toye/M McHugh
12. MacNíallais
13. McBrearty
14. Murphy
15. McFadden

That'd leave us with Boyle, McLoone, Declan Walsh, David Walsh, O'Connor, Brick, H McFadden etc

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9788 - 20/03/2014 11:56:29    1562430

I think M McHugh will start, because of the specific role he plays, with either Toye or McNialais on the bench.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 20/03/2014 13:03:14    1562479

Donegalman
County: All
Posts: 1139

1562209
No Mcfadden will finish the league starting. there is no point in messing around with our 2 best forwards. Brick molloy is not a go to man, nor will he ever be. He is a strong bench player. I think mcneilis is shaping up very well, as is one or 2 others. But Mcfadden had a great day out v monaghan, and the 2 games before it. Dont doubt our key men, they will come good.

Listen there is no point starting a Key man who isn't playing well, at the expense of a sub who is playing out of his skin.

Colm McFadden as past few games hasn't been playing well, and it is nothing to do with his fitness or speed. Michael Murphy on the other hand has been a workhorse. Start McBrearty, O'Connor and Murphy at full forward, only for the last 2 games to see what happens.

The one thing opposition know about Donegal, is who will be playing at each corner forward position. Shake it up a little, and maybe Colm will up his game a little.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 20/03/2014 13:18:53    1562485

GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 957

1562485
Donegalman
County: All
Posts: 1139

1562209


Listen there is no point starting a Key man who isn't playing well, at the expense of a sub who is playing out of his skin.

Colm McFadden as past few games hasn't been playing well, and it is nothing to do with his fitness or speed. Michael Murphy on the other hand has been a workhorse. Start McBrearty, O'Connor and Murphy at full forward, only for the last 2 games to see what happens.

The one thing opposition know about Donegal, is who will be playing at each corner forward position. Shake it up a little, and maybe Colm will up his game a little.


Good idea, but the only man that is capable of replacing him to start is young Mcbrearty. After last nights u21 game he looks like he is back in business. But Molloy is not the man for the job. I saw him a few times this year, and although he tries hard, he just seems to make the crucial mistakes going forward, over carrying or the wrong option. Might be harsh to say, but that is the reality as far as I can see. He is also a tad small and less capable of roughing it out the way mcfadden can when the going gets tough. Still, I wouldnt be surprised if your idea of starting someone different materializes, but it would take a serious push to fill his place.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3849 - 20/03/2014 14:11:55    1562518

GaryMc82
County: Derry
Posts: 9571

Listen there is no point starting a Key man who isn't playing well, at the expense of a sub who is playing out of his skin.

I would agree with you if we had a sub who was playing out of his skin, we don't.

Colm McFadden as past few games hasn't been playing well, and it is nothing to do with his fitness or speed. Michael Murphy on the other hand has been a workhorse. Start McBrearty, O'Connor and Murphy at full forward, only for the last 2 games to see what happens.
McFadden hasn't been playing well but I'm not convinced that sitting him on the bench is the answer. Neither do I think that young O'Connor is a suitable replacement as he is a completely different type of player.
No, I would like to see McBrearty, Murphy & McFadden together with the first two doing the bulk of the ball winning & McFadden finishing off.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 20/03/2014 14:20:42    1562528

Yep, I'd say that McFadden is still the best finisher we have. Even on an off day he's worth a few points at least.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9788 - 20/03/2014 16:15:33    1562608

My suggestion for the Louth game is as follows

Full forwards Murphy, McBrearty, MacNiallais.
Half Forwards Toye, R Kavanagh, David Walsh.
Midfield Gallagher, McElhinney
Half back McGlynn, Lacey, Thompson
Full back E McGee, N McGee, R McHugh.

David Walsh deserves a run in the team, And his attacking play is excellent.

I don't see why Rory Kavanagh can't revert to his old half forward role and allow McElhinney to partner Neil Gallagher in midfield. Odhran MacNiallais has firepower and pace, why not add him to corner or full forward with Murphy and McBrearty.

As a jigsaw, Donegal certainly have the pieces. But maybe don't assemble them correctly just yet.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 20/03/2014 18:15:46    1562697

Colm McFadden won't be dropped nor should he be dropped. There's no other Donegal player that will match him on the scoreboard and that includes Murphy.
Brian Mc Ivor will be the happiest man in Ulster if Molloy or O Connor are named in the starting 15 come May.
It's no coincidence that Gary Mc wants him on the bench.

Cleatus (Donegal) - Posts: 125 - 20/03/2014 20:31:15    1562786

Cleatus
County: Donegal
Posts: 40

1562786 Colm McFadden won't be dropped nor should he be dropped. There's no other Donegal player that will match him on the scoreboard and that includes Murphy.
Brian Mc Ivor will be the happiest man in Ulster if Molloy or O Connor are named in the starting 15 come May.
It's no coincidence that Gary Mc wants him on the bench.

No I don't mean drop Colm McFadden from the team completely. I meant considering he hasn't played well in the last two game, maybe make him a sub rather than start him and play him the whole 70mins in the next two league games. More so to give the other forwards more game time, especially if they are playing or training well.

I reckon Odhran MacNiallais could step up to the full forward line, with either himself or Patrick McBrearty moving to corner forward. I don't think Molloy or O'Connor would be capable of replacing McFadden, especially come championship football.
But nobody should ever be above being dropped, especially if they aren't playing at their best.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 20/03/2014 21:43:22    1562837

It will all come out of the wash over the next 2 games who is going to be starting on the donegal forward line. It is great that mcbrearty is showing well. Mcneillis is likewise. Other than that, young Oconnor is a great find, but too young to start v derry. It will be an experienced team to start there is no question about that. The prospect of coming away from celtic park with a result in june will only be possible if our experienced players line out. Mcivor would smell blood if he saw a team of rookies starting.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3849 - 24/03/2014 12:26:24    1564102

Does head to head count before score diff?

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1231 - 24/03/2014 13:44:31    1564167