An Ulster may be beyond them this year...but a good run through the qualifiers I can see them doing this summer alright. But I would like to see Donegal win Ulster this year.

Dubsfan08 (Dublin) - Posts: 619 - 20/03/2011 12:05:49    891966

Donegal aren't as impressive as people are making them out to be, from what I could see that had a full strength team out against a poor and experimental Derry side. They will probably get promoted but I wouldn't be so sure as to how this form will transfer to championship.

Fr.Ted.Crilly (Derry) - Posts: 449 - 20/03/2011 12:19:26    891977

Another thing, Michael Murphy is a superb talent but does anyone think he gets away with an incredible amount of foul play, i.e. over carrying, he must take about ten steps between every tip but never gets blown up for it.

Fr.Ted.Crilly (Derry) - Posts: 449 - 20/03/2011 12:21:30    891978

Them grapes look a bit off there Fr Ted. What you claim to be an extremely experimental Derry side had around 10 of your championship 15 and subs were made to bring the rest of the available lads in. Donegal are missing Leo McLoone, Barry Dunnion, Christy Toye, Neil Gallagher(came on last night) from their starting 15. Derry are usually hard to beat at home or away. Not so last night. Also, is discipline an issue for this Derry side now they've been reduced to 14 two weeks on the bounce?

DLGael (Donegal) - Posts: 111 - 20/03/2011 13:34:25    892030

The grapes aren't sour at all, we did not deserve the win, why must this line always be traipsed out when someone tries to analyse a game?

When you say team of our championship 15 how do you work that one out? When 9 of those who started last night weren't even on last years panel. Mc Cloy, Mc Bride, O'Kane and Sean Leo Mc Goldrick were the only players who had a starting places last year with Muldoon and O'Boyle featuring on the panel but then leaving the team due to Injury or other commitments. We were starting without out captain, the 2 Bradleys, any recognised midfielders, and 2 new players on the half back line. Yes Donegal were good but Derry were very poor and still were well in the game until Donegals 2nd goal. Hegarty and Murphy were brilliant for Donegal. I'm not trying to make excuses but when you analyse it it wasn't a bad result against an improving Donegal side.

Fr.Ted.Crilly (Derry) - Posts: 449 - 20/03/2011 14:00:47    892049

ziggy32001
County: Meath
Posts: 326

891946
Didn't Donegal win the league a few years back and then lose their only 2 championship games? So approach with caution.. Saw them against Meath wasn't really impressed with Donegal in fairness that day in general,can they win an Ulster?? It's possible but I don't see it,I think Down or Tyrone will do that..

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You're not very knowledgeable about your football ziggy are you...

For the record Donegal beat Armagh in the first round in Ulster in 2007 before losing out to Tyrone in the Ulster semi final. Donegal then went on to beat Leitrim and Westmeath in Rounds 1 and 2 of the qualifiers before losing out to Monaghan in Round 3.

A very different story to the one you painted.

You say you werent impressed by Donegal against Meath .... fair enough.... you're entitled to your opinion.....its just that that comment didn't really tally with the opinions of Meath supporters I spoke to that day nor with the Meath posters on the Meath board of Hogan Stand.....but as I said you're entitled to your opinion....so far we've beaten Tyrone, Meath and Derry on the road by a cumulative total of 17 points....we must be doing something right...!!

Lifford Gael (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 20/03/2011 20:50:37    892544

Let's not get too carried away lads!! As an avid Donegal fan I'm delighted with the start this year. The team are playing as a unit, defending well, scoring well and have a game plan (something missing for a few years) BUT we played a Tyrone team at a time their manager's life was in turmoil, a Meath team that have a manager trying to change the way they play football and it doesn't seem to be working and a Derry team that are far from full strength, lucky to get a point against Sligo and threw away a 4 point lead with minutes left against Kildare.

We are definitely progressing under Mc Guinness and I feel that NEXT year we will be in a better position to challenge come championship time but this year I'm just happy seeing decent performances and blooding of new players to give them the experience they need.

One of the worries I have about our current team is the lack of height in defence. Mc Loone is a massive loss at centre half back and when Mc Gee went off injured at full back against Derry we looked frail in defence. Against a larger team like Cork we would struggle under a high ball!!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 21/03/2011 09:39:13    892693

We will win Div 2, Ulster and then the AI. Then we will go on a bender like no other. It will be like Nicholas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas, except we mightn't bother with the brassers - too busy at the bar.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 21/03/2011 11:39:18    892799

Donegal for Sam!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13718 - 21/03/2011 15:02:12    893008

''This Donegal team will give someone a big fright this Summer I hope its Not us though we do meet in the Ulster Championship and its one a piece this year so far''

Donegal and Tyrone will only meet should we get through the Preliminary Round and Quarter Final meeting....lets not get carried away with ourselves just yet!

supporter (Donegal) - Posts: 205 - 21/03/2011 15:26:20    893034

MesAmis
County: Dublin
Posts: 2935

893008 Donegal for Sam!

Dublin for Sam, Donegal for the session!

Or as an Armagh fan quipped to me outside The Big Tree after the 15 point mauling they gave us in the 2004 Ulster Final in Croker - "Armagh for SAM, Donegal for the holidays!"

Break_er (Donegal) - Posts: 798 - 21/03/2011 15:58:04    893075

I don't think Jim will let the session syndrome get to the squad this year, although no doubt it'll effect the fans

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 01/04/2011 11:01:40    900577

JoeSoap
County: Donegal
Posts: 274

900577 I don't think Jim will let the session syndrome get to the squad this year, although no doubt it'll effect the fans.

True. I once heard us playfully described as wild goats.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 01/04/2011 12:04:12    900660

I would love to see Donegal go a good bit the year but all us Donegal wans want is an Ulster title really,
theyre going great in the league and jim has taking young bucks on board which can only be good for the future,
but i think it a year or two early before we start contesting the big guns,we should have a decent year anyway pease god

ger2 (Donegal) - Posts: 9 - 01/04/2011 12:07:32    900665

wel wil win the league we will make the all-ireland q/f and we will get beating by antrim

iwasthere (Donegal) - Posts: 100 - 01/04/2011 12:25:01    900677

Ah Lockjaw wild goats would be an insult to goats considering some of the folk I meet in Drumcondra if we make it to Croker!

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 01/04/2011 12:43:08    900702

If we make it to the league final Easter Sunday will be a lot different to previous years alright!!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 01/04/2011 12:57:09    900719

i reckon the only thing donegal will win this years is the most penalty points for bad driving in the country - they are a shoe in. in football terms they would be as well of wearing t shirts saying 'im only here for the beer'

liathroidboy (Mayo) - Posts: 4921 - 01/04/2011 13:41:07    900755

Sure if you're making tee shirts liathroid how about making a Mayo one? Simply 'Bottlers'

Break_er (Donegal) - Posts: 798 - 01/04/2011 14:11:57    900789

Donegal going along rather nicely - One big performace away from a major achievement by Jim Mc in his first full year in charge of the team.

Tyrone may be a step too far? but without question Donegal have recently proven that they can beat Tyrone... and they certainly have the game plan to beat Tyrone.

It worked for the Dubs last year - Both in the league and the championship - The Dubs took great heart from that victory in Omagh and took that confidence into the Championship.

Can Donegal pull off a similar set of circumstances...? I wouldnt back against them...

JinxyPoop (UK) - Posts: 1162 - 14/06/2011 13:13:58    956032