SamOnErrigal
County: Donegal
Posts: 545

1637436
Dubjohn
About Donegal staying with Dublin for 70 minutes plus does not worry me at all What would concern me more would be if Dublin get an early goal or two or build up a good lead in the first half. I think Donegal are fit enough, conditioned enough and physical strong enough to withstand Dublin Keeping out goals is a must for Donegal and they would need to score a goal or two themselves but I can see us really testing Dublin
Which brings me back to last years AI when Dublin were all out at the finish. To me Mayo finished as strongly and in my book bad defending cost Mayo.
I honestly think this will be Dublin's first big test since last year. The longer the game stays tight the better for us.


If it stays tight until half time, then I would fancy Donegal to push on. If Dublin open up a big lead in the first half, then I expect they will progress.

The last 2 All Ireland champions facing off is an exciting propect, and a tight game that goes to the wire will probably shut up critics of both sides.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 15/08/2014 21:29:04    1637471

Great to see some realistic talk about the semis at last. People elsewhere already talking about a kerry - Dublin final!!? Still Dublin by 2 or 3 for me, not much more. Going to be two excellent semis.

FullyForward (Kerry) - Posts: 13 - 17/08/2014 10:44:00    1637784

I think the mood in Donegal reflects where many people are at generally in advance of this game. Nobody is really overly enthused about the prospect of taking on the Dubs in their current form. Yes we are pleased and proud of to be where we are at in terms of an All Ireland semi final. However nobody that I've spoken to all week has predicted a win. It's very much a case of going in hope. For us, getting within 6 points of Dublin by the final whistle will be a mark of a brave performance and hopefully garner some respect across the country. It's very much bonus territory for Donegal at this stage, Dublin's destructions of all before them is ominous for us. It's already been a great campaign for Doneg with an Ulster title and promotion to Division One in the league. Will always be proud of what the lads have achieved this last few years, this is more than likely one hurdle too far though.

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1478 - 17/08/2014 12:17:45    1637807

Can we not take heart from the way Cork hurlers played today, could the same happen Dublin and they underperformance in two weeks time. Look at Donegal last year vMayo, Kerry v Down in 2010 and Dublin v Kerry in 2009. On each occasion a team has not performed like it was expected. But I do admit things are really going for Dublin this year , winning all their games easily.
On the other hand Donegal came through dogfights against Monaghan and Armagh. I'm putting this game down to the two forward lines , for Donegal to win then the Dublin forward line must be shackled and our forward line or patrt- time forward line must take their chances.
What does please me is over the four games we played so far we have created a lot of chances, but our finishing was not great
I also think the team will be glad to at last meet a team from outside Ulster. I can still see a Donegal victory but everything seems to be against us, we are wrote off all over the place , the odds suggest an easy Dublin win but to me it could be a small chance to make a few bob with Donegal 7/1 and a small bet at 18/1 the draw to cover the main bet.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 17/08/2014 20:57:07    1638096

Yep, the 7/1 odds are ludicrous!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8812 - 17/08/2014 21:07:15    1638108

Sam , 7/1 is very generous and your right in many sporting encounters there are upsets ,especially if the favourite doesn't have the hunger and right frame of mind going into the encounter.
Dublin will need a huge effort to keep battling against a stern Donegal defence. Although what i'm most impressed about Dublin this year so far is their application to the jobs they are asked to do for 70 plus minutes.

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 17/08/2014 21:45:30    1638132

For Donegal to win this match they need to commit more men forward. They cannot play with essentially 2 men in the Dublin half and must have Murphy as high up the pitch as possible, 2 main reason for this:

1) The Cluxton kick-out - if Donegal aren't closing down space in the Dublin half you might as well just give the ball to the Dublin half back line and say start from there. The stats show that Dublin will create scoring chances and the only way to stop that is cutting off their primary source of possession. If Murphy plays out between the middle and his own 45 its a simple game for Dublin, for me Murphy is probably the best all rounder in the country and him in his own half is just where you want to see him he is most of what Donegal do well going forward. If Donegal put Murphy in the full forward line, or even around the 45 (not his own one), Cluxton will have to think twice about giving the short ball and may be forced to try picking out Flynn and Connelly more often. Again the stats show that Donegal win more than their fair share of 50/50 kickouts.

2) 2 v 4 - Donegal attack v Dublin defence - In 2011 Dublin kept 6 defenders back at all times and didn't follow the Donegal sweepers. I cant see that being the case in this game. They may commit 2 of their back line to join in with the attack but JG will not be naive enough to let them all forward. even if that means Cian O'Sullivan dropping back in front of the full back line. In any situation 2 of 2 on 4 the attackers will very rarely come out the better over 70mins. Also playing this way means the front men rely heavily on the cavalry arriving at pace to back them up. Does anybody really think that Donegal's cavalry can arrive quicker then Dublin's defence?

For me Donegal's best chance is to push Murphy up in between the 2 full forwards and a one or 2 man half forward line playing one sweeper. IMO this gives Dublin a lot more to think about rather than a mis-firing McFadden and a hot/cold McBrearty, it gives Donegal an outlet when being pressured by Dublin's work-rate in the forwards and also has the main marksman, Murphy, as close to the opposition goals as possible while still being heavily involved in any build up play.

I still think Dublin would have too much for Donegal but if Donegal play with 12 men in their own half and 2 up top I see a big win for the Dubs. I think the bookies are offering -7 or -8 as the handicap? Won't be on it just yet but maybe in-play after 10mins if JMcG doesn't try anything different to what we have seen already!?

Either way it's the game everybody wanted to see - the last 2 champions - Attack v Defence - Jim v Jimmy. I think the winner of this game will go on to win the Sam again. Lets just hope its Dublin :)

GAAHattrick (Dublin) - Posts: 278 - 18/08/2014 09:42:26    1638170

I see Karl Lacey is winning his fitness battle....
As if he was ever going to miss the semi in the first place...!!

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4480 - 18/08/2014 10:21:09    1638201

Any hope Mark McHugh would be drafted back to the panel now he is back from NY?

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11691 - 18/08/2014 10:33:27    1638213

yew_tree
County: Mayo
Posts: 5940
Any hope Mark McHugh would be drafted back to the panel now he is back from NY?

Yew-tree, are you hoping to meet Donegal instead of the Dubs in the AI Final...?? ;o)

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 4480 - 18/08/2014 10:36:51    1638216

GAAHattrick
County: Dublin
Posts: 39


Excellent analysis in your post their GAAHatrick,

I think Donegal will probably feel they can deal with the Dublin full forwards, and will be looking at Dublin's half forward line as a major problem area. Diarmuid Connolly, Paul Flynn, Kevin McManamon, backed up by MD MacAuley running at the defence causes serious issues. I have a feeling they have a plan for this, as a few positional experiments they have carried out in earlier games this season kinda make sense now.

They will probably feel it will be more effective to shutdown the Dublin supply, rather than purely rely on forcing turnover's around their own 45.

But scoring will be the big issue for Donegal, as even if they reduce Dublin's average scoring by 30%, they will still need 18-20 points to win.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 18/08/2014 12:48:09    1638304

I can see Dublin possibly playing with 2 inside forwards, O'Gara and Bernard with Alan dropping out around the 45 to unzip the duvet. Kev Mc is a must start IMO. At his best he is unmarkable and unless the Donegal backs are ultra disciplined, he will draw a lot of fouls. Dublin will need a lot of patience and there is a danger that if we don't get in front by 25 mins that we start over committing bodies forward and Donegal pick us off on the counter. If we get 3 to 4 in front it could be curtains for Donegal but I think this is going to be very tight.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4748 - 18/08/2014 13:37:42    1638327

I'd much rather see Kev Mc coming off the bench for this one Joxer. Although McMennamon has had a great season so far, I think his pace coming off the bench is exactly what we need if the game is there to be won. I'd expect the Dublin game plan to get an early lead and make Donegal come at them but if there is nothing between them with 20 to go, I'd much rather see Kev Mc being an option on the bench.
This might be a bit unpopular but I'd prefer to see Paddy Andrews start at 11 instead, we'll need guys who can get back and be physical in this one. Paddy had a great game against Donegal in the league last year, yes I know there's big difference but I think Paddy is better suited as a starter for this.
The other forward positions are relatively nailed on for the likes of the 2 Brogans, Connolly and Flynn. I'd keep O'Gara in at 14 as we could do with his physical presence up there at the start. O'Gara's distribution has improved really well and wold be my preferred choice to go up against McGee

NavyNBlue (Dublin) - Posts: 1357 - 18/08/2014 13:47:51    1638338

Royaldunne

Meath would have won ulster I'd say at least 3 times in that space of time. You say my posts are wrong yet going on your one Kildare would have won one as they reached a semi final. A tiny bit of research would have also shown you that in last 10 years Meath reached two all ire semi finals twice as many as Kildare. So using your own logic Meath would have won two. Oh BTW the beat the reigning Ulster and all ire champs Tyrone to reach one of them. At least try to use facts that are opposite to my opinion than ones that reinforce them.


Interesting as if you had've done a bit of research you'd recall that Meath beat Tyrone in the 2007 quarter-final when they hadn't won the All-Ireland since 2005. Hey, but let's just at least try and use facts ... and reinforce them

alanfoley79 (Donegal) - Posts: 2 - 18/08/2014 13:55:45    1638344

I was at the Ulster Leinster semi final of the inter provincials in Navan this year where McGee was on O'Gara and it was some battle. I can't think of a more physical full forward in the gam and this match up on its own will be an intriguing sub plot.

fintownsuburbs (Donegal) - Posts: 30 - 18/08/2014 14:49:11    1638377

Royaldunne

You also might notice I said I would make a case for Kildare I never said they would win ulster, so going by my comments i would make a case for meath for those particular years they reached a semi final. Both years you got to the semi finals however you were beaten before the semi final stage in your provincial campaign so there is nothing to suggest you would win ulster in those years. The one year where you may have a case is the year you won leinster but later in that year you were well beaten by kildare who in turn got beaten by ulster opposition. Name the 3 occasions you feel that meath would have one and we can debate that.

SamT2012 (Donegal) - Posts: 66 - 18/08/2014 15:23:44    1638401

Last Year Mayo beat Donegal 4-17 - 1-10. I can see dublin doing even more damage on them this year. If donegal have to chase the game dublin will open the floodgates. This will be Dublin's biggest winning margins of the year

dicey12 (Dublin) - Posts: 13 - 18/08/2014 16:24:15    1638441

dicey12
County: Dublin
Posts: 11

1638441
Last Year Mayo beat Donegal 4-17 - 1-10. I can see dublin doing even more damage on them this year. If donegal have to chase the game dublin will open the floodgates. This will be Dublin's biggest winning margins of the year

Yep but Mayo and more specifically James Horan had a major chip on their shoulders with Donegal, all stemming from the 2012 AI final and the build up to that game. Mayo had studied every aspect of Donegal's game, they had anticipated this game all through the previous winter. It was their chance for revenge, and an Injury riddled Donegal and clearly not fully fit Donegal didn't put up much resistance.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 18/08/2014 16:41:48    1638450

NavyNBlue
County: Dublin
Posts: 1241

1638338
I'd much rather see Kev Mc coming off the bench for this one Joxer. Although McMennamon has had a great season so far, I think his pace coming off the bench is exactly what we need if the game is there to be won. I'd expect the Dublin game plan to get an early lead and make Donegal come at them but if there is nothing between them with 20 to go, I'd much rather see Kev Mc being an option on the bench.
This might be a bit unpopular but I'd prefer to see Paddy Andrews start at 11 instead, we'll need guys who can get back and be physical in this one. Paddy had a great game against Donegal in the league last year, yes I know there's big difference but I think Paddy is better suited as a starter for this.
The other forward positions are relatively nailed on for the likes of the 2 Brogans, Connolly and Flynn. I'd keep O'Gara in at 14 as we could do with his physical presence up there at the start. O'Gara's distribution has improved really well and wold be my preferred choice to go up against McGee

---
Wouldn't disagree with that approach either NnB. Paddy was excellent in Ballybofey last year and would be a thorn in their side to be honest. I think Dermo could struggle as he does his best work when running at space from the 45 but there won't be much room out there. The beauty about having O'Gara in there is that we can vary the approach if needs be. The others pick themselves like you say although you just never know with JG. If a player is doing well in training or AvB then he's in with a shout.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4748 - 18/08/2014 17:47:52    1638494

I was up at the match in Ballybofey last year and Connolly didn't get a kick he was very poor up there and was taken off so you could be right but hopefully your not.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 18/08/2014 21:09:31    1638598