I would be happy if we put up a good performance but I can't see any team beating Dublin as they are by far the best squad in the country. We've had 5 very hard games and I think it's starting to show on our players, a lack of intensity in the first half against Kildare is a big worry. With the word that Dick broke a bone in his foot against Kildare and the continuing loss of Lennon we just don't have the back up to replace them. No matter what happen's on Saturday we've had another great year following our team , good luck on Saturday lads.

hutto (Monaghan) - Posts: 171 - 05/08/2014 11:41:11    1631679

I have great respect for the monaghan lads and particularly Malachy o Rourke, I think he is a great manager. I just think Dublin will have too much for them at the end. Dublin have the superior bench and in the last 10-15 minutes might just pull away. The monaghan lads have 5 hard, physical matches in the legs at this stage so it would be hard to see them lasting the 70 minutes!

Looking forward to Saturday all the same, should be a good match, the weather can't be as bad as it was last Saturday! Hopefully we'll have a good atmosphere under the lights in a full enough croke park!

rua29 (Dublin) - Posts: 8 - 05/08/2014 11:48:47    1631687

Supermon, I'm afraid your way off. Yes we have played five tough games and last week went into extra time, and we have only a week to recover from being tired etc etc but that's just getting the excuses in early, as the end result is cast in stone. For a start, we haven't played well all championship ( whatever is wrong but we haven't clicked as a team ), and this Dublin team is a ruthless machine, unstoppable to date and I can't see them being stopped this year . I'm delighted be be getting a crack at them, and we deserve to be there on Saturday evening, and there is a great buzz around the county which really makes the summer memorable in years to come, but I'm afraid that's as far as it goes. Batten down the hatches as the weather last Saturday was the calm before the storm.

drumlinbelt (Monaghan) - Posts: 179 - 05/08/2014 12:10:10    1631703

I don't think the match time Monaghan have had will be a huge factor. Inter county players are so fit now that they recover quickly and there is nothing like actual games to bring a team on. Biggest factor will be missing Clerkin who would pose massive problems for MDM.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 05/08/2014 12:17:25    1631707

Drumlinbelt, I agree, we haven't clicked as a team yet in championship, so we have managed to get to last 8 playing below par.

Its not beyond the realms of possibility that we will finally click on Sat....if we did I think we would pose a serious prospect for Dublin.

supermon (Monaghan) - Posts: 1074 - 05/08/2014 12:50:57    1631746

hurlingdub
County: Dublin
Posts: 6365

1631707
I don't think the match time Monaghan have had will be a huge factor. Inter county players are so fit now that they recover quickly and there is nothing like actual games to bring a team on. Biggest factor will be missing Clerkin who would pose massive problems for MDM.

-----
I agree HD. I'm concerned about our lack of hard games to date. AvB is no substitute for real game time either and come Sat we will be 3 weeks without a competitive game (if you can call that game competitive). Will be interesting to see how we line out. I can see Flynner and possibly DC being instructed to dig the lads out in the middle. As against any team who operates a blanket we need to start quickly and put a few scores up, invite Monaghan on to us and then pick them off with quick counter attacks. Easier said than done of course but the contrasting styles should make this interesting. Monaghan coughed up a lot of chances to Kildare and a more clinical team would have picked the scores off. Could be a tight game but fancy us to pip them with a hard drive in the last quarter.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4748 - 05/08/2014 13:28:34    1631778

I fancied Monaghan to beat Kildare but they made hard work of it. Conditions and the concession of two avoidable goals played their part however.

Like others have said I think that Monaghan will not be found wanting in the hunger and intensity stakes. Dublin have managed a provincial title without a glove being laid on them. Expect Monaghan to be in their faces and a few choice challenges early doors should not be unexpected. Dublin will know that they are in a game have no doubts about that.

However, I would still believe that Dublin's superior strength in depth will stand to them. They have fantastic options available to them and I can see them pulling away in the latter stages to win by about 7 or 8 points.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9904 - 05/08/2014 13:30:23    1631781

Think we will put in a performance on Saturday but it probably wont be good enough to win. If it was 15 v 15 Id give our lads some sort of a chance of being in contention up to the final whistle but its not. Dublin will have their best 15 on for the last 20 minutes not the first 50 and unless we have defenders on the line as good as the six or seven we select who are pretty good in fairness, we wont be able to hang in there till the end. The Dublin bench is their real asset, serious footballers in every position. The match itself is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Monaghan players to compete with lads who are on the tv in the media all year round so its an exciting prospect which hopefully will bring out the performance of a lifetime.

seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1909 - 05/08/2014 13:47:12    1631798

I think Dublin will win this with the 7 day turnaround, after a tough game, telling on the Monaghan men.

One thing for certain though, the Farney men will leave nothing behind them on the field & will earn respect.

A lot of people here are saying that this will be a chance for Dublin to try themselves out against the "blanket" defence. I think this is simplistic thinking as Monaghan's style of defence is very different to what Donegal do. Yes the numbers are there but there are also big differences.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 05/08/2014 14:05:58    1631819

For a small county with just 30 clubs, Monaghan are punching above their weight and should be commended instead of slated. Dublin in comparison has 223 clubs. I REST MY CASE

MuineachanAbu (Monaghan) - Posts: 661 - 05/08/2014 14:22:11    1631828

Wee glimmer of hope for us, Marty Duffy never done us any harm. Was afraid we'd get mc Quillan.

hutto (Monaghan) - Posts: 171 - 05/08/2014 14:29:05    1631836

It will take a miracle of bilical proportions for Monaghan to win against this Dublin team. Bar dublin getting a severe bout of fo0d poisoning or some freakish occurance.
I do believe Monaghan will compete in the first half and could even lead at HT but the second half will unleash Dublin's wrath and they will pull away with ease.

Dublin have all the attributes of a cat who caught a mouse. They seem to play with it even tease it, then the cats bores of this charade and swiftly inflicts the killer blow. I fear Monaghan are the next prey.

Realityhurts11 (UK) - Posts: 1 - 05/08/2014 14:42:43    1631846

Monaghan vs Armagh semi - you heard it here first.. (or heard it last here!!) what's the odds on that?

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 05/08/2014 15:06:07    1631864

All this talk of " The Dubs will know they've been in a game"

Lads...

This Dublin are no softies. If Monaghan are feeling it in their legs and don't give everything to a tackle

They are going to find themselves on their bottom... quick, fast.

We have had Ulster in our pocket for a fair bit of time now...

Respect will be shown but I'd watch out if you think you can push this Dubs team around

Dublin can give it out.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 05/08/2014 15:14:23    1631875

A nailed on draw. When will the replay be?

mhunicean_abu (Monaghan) - Posts: 1076 - 05/08/2014 15:16:57    1631876

Monaghan vs Armagh semi - you heard it here first.. (or heard it last here!!) what's the odds on that?

Sure we may as well make it a trilogy this summer.

JP91 (Armagh) - Posts: 316 - 05/08/2014 15:21:47    1631882

Dublin are obviously red hot favourites. Better financed, bigger playing numbers, stronger panel, Croke Pk is their home for championship games, they are the in-form team, they are the All-Ireland champions, they are Div1 champions etc.. etc.. but in sport there is always the chance…... Monaghan are in the last 8 for the 2nd yr in a row, have achieved Div1 status & are no mugs. They have a game plan and are well organized but Monaghan simply don't score enough & don't take enough of their opportunities, eg should have bagged 02:02 in the drawn game v Armagh before eventually scoring. Wastefulness like that on Sat will be punished & Monaghan will need an 80%+ strikerate against Dublin while Monaghan's "blanket" defence must not go to sleep & gift Dublin the easy goals that they afforded Kildare. Monaghan have not reached the same level of performance as they did in 2013 particularly in the Ulster final when they tore Donegal apart for 30 minutes. They have a couple of monkey's off their back in the last 13mths - Ulster championship win, Championship win v Tyrone, Championship win in Croke Park but this year they struggled v a poor Tyrone side, struggled v a poor Armagh (although Armagh have been improving throughout the year), fell flat against Donegal (admittedly Donegal were on a mission & have been eyeing Monaghan for 12mths) & were too loose against Kildare. Given their resources they should be very proud of what they have achieved, 60K people in Monaghan, 180K in Meath, 200K in Kildare. They will put it up to Dublin for 45~50mins before fatigue sets in and Dublin introduce fresh legs & eventually pull away.

MeathGAAHead (Meath) - Posts: 87 - 05/08/2014 15:26:11    1631891

jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 12907


Respect will be shown but I'd watch out if you think you can push this Dubs team around

Dublin can give it out.

No question that this Dublin team can give it out jimbo, the issue would be in the way they give it out.

There is more than one player in that Dublin team working on a very short leash & their tendency to lose the head will be tested in the next couple of games by teams who will go out to frustrate them & goad them.

Discpline will be a key factor over the next couple of weeks & Dublin can be got at in this department.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 05/08/2014 15:30:42    1631897

Aye JP - that would be some craic!! My fear though is that we could get beat well as the dubs step it up a gear towards the end of the first half. Thought we looked leggy on Saturday vs Kildare. If we hang in for as long as possible then who knows!
Think you guys have a great chance against Donegal though think you really need Ciaran McKeever for this one!

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 05/08/2014 15:30:48    1631899

Well lads one thing I will say about the game is the atmosphere should be brilliant all the teams playing bring big crowds and hopefully Monaghan will have a few fellow ulster men and women to give them a few cheers... I think Monaghan are prepared for this game and being an underdog suits them Im not saying monaghan will win as this dublin team are a pleasure to watch but this monaghan team understand how much this means to the fans and will try their absolute best to dethrone the champs..... see you all in croker!

mickmon42 (Monaghan) - Posts: 5 - 05/08/2014 15:43:19    1631907