It's funny, before the weekend this was the game everyone was eagerly anticipating. But now it looks a foregone conclusion. I have to say I'm a bit worried, I have a feeling that the Dublin players will not be lacking in motivation. All the chat about Donegal's system being able to negate Dublin's style must have irritated the Dublin players a bit. Brolly tells the story of how Bernard Brogan remarked that they'd have beaten us in the final in 2012. Also, Paul Flynn told Brolly to "keep bigging up Donegal", or words to those effect.

No doubt Jimmy will be thinking long and hard on a gameplan. But the thing is, no matter how well it may work, Dublin have the intensity, the skill and perhaps most importantly the reinforcements to bludgeon through any tactical setup they may face. Another poster mentioned the risks Dublin take in order to set up goal chances that other teams don't. That was a very good point. If Donegal set up a fantastic defensive screen that works for an hour Dublin still have the players who can quickly handpass and create goal scoring chances.

It could be a long day in HQ for us.

But the beauty of sport means there's always a chance...

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9898 - 11/08/2014 12:51:12    1634888

Relieved to see Donegal fans are more realistic than the Monaghan fans on here last week.

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 11/08/2014 12:54:43    1634892

tirawleybaron
County: Mayo
Posts: 23

Thats exactly how i read the game. If Donegal step up on the Dublin kickout they can't play a 'blanket' defense as it takes up to 8 players to force Cluxton to kick long. If Donegal tried this and lost midfield they would be in trouble. I think Donegal will limit the amount of scores they conceede but bar a glut of goals its difficult to see where they will score enough to win based upon how they currently play. Dublin will not allow the Donegal backs walk out with the ball like they are used to in Ulster or the last time we played in 2011. That change of tactic from Gavin cannot be underestimated in my view.

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1663 - 11/08/2014 12:58:40    1634897

No team that scores 1 - 12 against Armagh is going to get within ten points of Dublin. Simple as that.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 11/08/2014 13:06:48    1634906

Dublin reduced monaghans blanket to little more than a handkerchief and i believe they will do something similar to donegal! Also the amount of people on here saying dublin haven't been tested that they've only beat division 2 or division 3 teams well thats not their fault i know it's a cliché but they can only play what's in front of them! And by the way donegal were division 2 runners up this year we've already beaten the d2 champions what makes people think donegal will put it up to dublin sure they were only a d2 team as well sure wasn't it the dubs getting a last minute point up there to snatch a draw that relegated donegal! Dublin by at least 9 or 10 points! Just saying!

DUBJOHN (Dublin) - Posts: 941 - 11/08/2014 13:21:15    1634919

Donegal have Jim. He's some man. There's always a chance.

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 11/08/2014 13:27:59    1634926

To the people who keep telling us Dublin havent been tested yet have younot thought once thought that maybe just maybe this Dublin team is that good. And the reason they "havent been tested" is because they are blowing teams away because tehy are much better. Monaghan ulster champions 2013 ulster finalists 2014, all of a sudden now they arent thatg ood are tehy not? Thats a very good Monaghan side that were blwon away. If Dublin hammer Donegal and Kerry/Mayo what will be said then? They havent been tested?

Brianmac78 (Dublin) - Posts: 1168 - 11/08/2014 13:37:17    1634938

There's no scope for Donegal to play a different way. It'd be suicidal to try something new against the Dubs when their players have a well developed game plan. Trouble with Donegal 2014 is like other posters point out, key players have lost form and these are guys of national standing ability wise...

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 11/08/2014 13:50:30    1634953

Much and all as I hate to admit it I can't see us winning this.

I always felt that we had a chance if everything went 100% our way & everyone was on top form. However everyone isn't on top form & some of our decision making on Sat was poor by out standards.

Another factor is that Dublin have kicked on since the start of the year & are, to my eyes, the best the game has seen.

However, all Donegal can do is give it their best shot & if we do go down then it will be with our heads held high.

Mind you JMcG is as close to God as anyone I have ever met, so who knows...........

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 11/08/2014 13:53:28    1634958

Heard chat today that Mark McHugh has returned or is returning from the US within days, although I hardly Imagine he would be thinking of returning to the Donegal setup this season.

I couldn't see him making the Donegal squad, Not with having missed so much training. Although I suppose he was present up until just before the Derry game, so he would in theory have all the winter training done.

Unless he could act as an Impact sub

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 11/08/2014 14:07:05    1634971

Brianmac78

Dublin have yet to face a division 1 team. If they beat Donegal, they will meet a division 1 team for the first time in the final. The lack of top level opposition up to now could yet count against them.

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5305 - 11/08/2014 14:10:28    1634973

Brianmac78
County: Dublin
Posts: 709

1634938
To the people who keep telling us Dublin havent been tested yet have younot thought once thought that maybe just maybe this Dublin team is that good. And the reason they "havent been tested" is because they are blowing teams away because tehy are much better. Monaghan ulster champions 2013 ulster finalists 2014, all of a sudden now they arent thatg ood are tehy not? Thats a very good Monaghan side that were blwon away. If Dublin hammer Donegal and Kerry/Mayo what will be said then? They havent been tested?

I think Dublin have been tested, but the opposing teams still haven't sussed out the Dublin system. In 2012 most teams really struggled with the Donegal system.

I consider Dublin to be exceptional at the minute, and that is based on their system of play. It's not rocket science, Its non-stop running, Intense tackles, quick passes and quick movements up front.
Dublin like all strong teams Inflict their game on the opposition, and force them to play their way. This again reminds me of Donegal in 2012, forcing teams into their trap.

All styles are beatable, although the question will be how long will it take the others to catch up?

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 11/08/2014 14:22:43    1634989

@pericles
What key donegal players have lost form. ??

red1980 (Donegal) - Posts: 106 - 11/08/2014 14:26:16    1634994

I honestly think right now that Dublin cannot be bet , next year might be different or the year after but right now I can't see them being "beatable". I'm honestly not being cocky it's just my honest opinion and I promise if I were on here in the 00's I would have said the same about Kerry or Tyrone in certain years back then.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 11/08/2014 14:45:36    1635004

In relation to Dublin "" not being tested"" they can only beat what is in front of them. The fact is they haven't let any team test them. They are at the minute the best team by far. It was said that Monaghan didn't perform in the ulster final the fact was they didn't let Monaghan play. Looking forward to the semi final and as eamon mc gee has said it was stupid the comments coming from former players saying that Donegal could beat Dublin. Having seen the first armagh Monaghan game I was really not looking forward to playing them. There was something dangerous about them that day. Even the last league match in which they got relegated they really put it up to us. Anything can happen in the semi final a poor decision from a ref a key player getting injured. However I can't see donegal letting Dublin win every kickout. On Saturday Dublin scored 2:10 from winning kickouts and nearly scored within a minute of each kickout being won. My prediction for Saturday was that Dublin would beat Monaghan by at least 15 points as Monaghan relied to much on frees to win games and Dublin were good in the tackle. My heart says donegal can win but my head says it's going to be hard to see Dublin being beat.

red1980 (Donegal) - Posts: 106 - 11/08/2014 14:45:57    1635005

Aido69
County: Dublin
Posts: 206

1634798
Donegalman
County: All
Posts: 1478

I know there is nothing Donegal would like more than to beat the Dubs in CP so you can be sure they'll up their game. Will they be able to up it enough. I don't think so but you can never tell. Its going to be a long 3 weeks.


Yes a very long 3 weeks, its crawling in now! But again, I will disagree with one of your points. Donegal now have no preference over who they beat or who they play. The notion that we beat armagh on saturday last because we owed them one is folly. Same the ulster final. There was no thoughts of revenge, the team genuinely prepared for the opposition on the day, rather than remembering any history between the sides. Its going to be no different in this regard v dublin. McGuinness is studying the Dubs style and not studying the history books. He will have them focused on 70 minutes, no past and no future. It is pure tunnel vision here, and I believe that if we have any hope at all, this is the way to go about the business. Will it be enough? I dont know for sure, but I would be very worried indeed about meeting a dublin team that even half clicks. We havent clicked yet this year, not really anyway, so am apprehensive about our next outing in croke park.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3853 - 11/08/2014 14:48:13    1635007

I think defensive football is going to die a very painful death in this game. We've already seen how Dublin cope when they come up against a top Ulster team i.e. a 17 point thrashing. Fact is attacking football is winning hands down these days.

We should rejoice.

Ned_Stormcrow (Cavan) - Posts: 1071 - 11/08/2014 15:21:11    1635038

On the evidence so far clondalkindub you're spot on. Mayo assuming they get over Kerry may be the only team to give Dublin a game of it but will likely come up short once again.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 3049 - 11/08/2014 15:36:45    1635056

July 2012 after the Ulster Final, I genuinely felt nothing would touch us and luckily that is ultimately the way it transpired. The realist inside me is roaring that this game is probably beyond us at this stage. I suppose it's nice to dream that maybe, just maybe...ok, ok, dream over.

This is a meer repetitive of what posters have already alluded to; a LOT needs to go right for us to remain competitive in this game. To actually win it; Dublin need to have an off day and we need to be 100% on it; the chances of this happening is probably true with what way the bookies have it and I don't know of any poor bookies, yet.

Hopefully it is a good contest right to the finish and here's hoping we can give a good account of ourselves. If we give it absolutely everything then sure that is all that you can really ask for.

DL17 (Donegal) - Posts: 86 - 11/08/2014 15:47:33    1635063

It's the 2012 All-Ireland Champions versus the 2013 All-Ireland Champions.

Anyone who thinks that that is a foregone conclusion is mad.

Donegal are an excellent team who play a very difficult to break down system.

Dublin need a huge improvement on what they've done to date to beat Donegal if Jimmy McGuinness has Donegal ready.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13833 - 11/08/2014 16:15:42    1635088