Donegal v Dublin AISF 31st Aug 2014

[StephenC]

Was the other thread locked because this is a foregone conclusion? Or has J70's ongoing attempts to usurp the Mods finally come back to haunt him?

[macdanger2]

The whole thing was discussed in less than 2 pages, dubs are just waiting for the final thread now

[The Aristocrat]

Was the other thread locked because this is a foregone conclusion? Or has J70's ongoing attempts to usurp the Mods finally come back to haunt him?

Because people just started arguing over Finances, populations etc. Perhaps football can be talked about in the new thread and leave the bull to the other 3 or 4 threads of bull.

Il start: two contrasting styles, should be epic viewing. Id say O Carroll will pick up McFadden as Murphy will roam. It will be a close enough game. Dubs wont get it all their own way. Hearing tickets flying out the door. Donegal bring huge support, fair play to them, a good auld distance.

[J70]

Its rather ironic how things have changed in three years: McGuinness was public enemy no. 1 after the 2011 semi-final! Condemnation from all quarters, he was going to be the death of football! Now, for the past month, everyone is banging on about how Donegal's defensive system might pose a serious test to Dublin for the first time this season (at least they were until the weekend just gone!  ) and how much they're looking forward to seeing how this match-up plays out! Has the remorseless and merciless and seemingly unconquerable, in the medium term, excellence of the Dubs made the press/average GAA supporter that desperate that they're willing to embrace the supposed evil Soviet tactics of Donegal? 

[Halfquarter]

Yes, most gaa fans would like to see Dublin tested before they reach the All Ireland final, is there something wrong with that ?

[Ohtoohtobe]

What's this talk of finances all about?

[blewuporstuffed]

Was the other thread locked because this is a foregone conclusion? Or has J70's ongoing attempts to usurp the Mods finally come back to haunt him?

Because people just started arguing over Finances, populations etc. Perhaps football can be talked about in the new thread and leave the bull to the other 3 or 4 threads of bull.

Il start: two contrasting styles, should be epic viewing. Id say O Carroll will pick up McFadden as Murphy will roam. It will be a close enough game. Dubs wont get it all their own way. Hearing tickets flying out the door. Donegal bring huge support, fair play to them, a good auld distance.

McFadden has actually been very poor so far this year, Donegal will need to get more out of him if they are to have a chance of turning over dublin

[Thisonegoesto11]

Was the other thread locked because this is a foregone conclusion? Or has J70's ongoing attempts to usurp the Mods finally come back to haunt him?

Because people just started arguing over Finances, populations etc. Perhaps football can be talked about in the new thread and leave the bull to the other 3 or 4 threads of bull.

Il start: two contrasting styles, should be epic viewing. Id say O Carroll will pick up McFadden as Murphy will roam. It will be a close enough game. Dubs wont get it all their own way. Hearing tickets flying out the door. Donegal bring huge support, fair play to them, a good auld distance.

Amen to that.

Had a great session with Donegal fans on Sunday, good lads.

On the game itself. Going to be tight. Best thing for Donegal is they have not peaked . Never been more than efficient in getting the job done. So they still have that one big game in them. Dublin not been tested but they have played at a very high intensity from the go. Trick of course is to produce that every game but the competition for places keeps the team fresh and focussed. I see a cat and mouse first half with Dublin having to show a lot of patience.  Hopefully they have the winning of the game in the 50-70 min period.  Not going to be a one sided affair but Dublin should have enough to make the final.

[heffo]

What's this talk of finances all about?

I think it's to do with the foreign training camp Donegal had. How can the rest of us compete with that?

[thewobbler]

Watching the Dublin vs Monaghan game at the weekend was so disheartening, and I do fear for Donegal in this game.

Donegal have an edge on Monaghan in terms of natural talent, and probably an edge too in terms of physique and athleticism: so they should get a little closer to Dublin than the Farney men did.

The problem Donegal face, which is the same as what Monaghan faced on Saturday, is that if the Dubs push 3 or 4 points ahead, how long do they wait before coming out of their cage?

Monaghan if truth be told, didn't so much come out fighting as go and die in a heap in front of their own goal, but I'm guessing that their players saw what happened when they opened up even a tad, and really just weren't prepared to see what happened if they opened up any more. They were never going to have the scoring power needed to reel Dublin back in, and they knew it. So they gave up early.

Donegal have a similar issue. For all of their now legendary attitude, work ethic, and willingness to play their system, if it wasn't for the outstanding brilliance of Michael Murphy, they simply wouldn't have the silverware to reward such efforts. They're not a one-man team, but their ability to hit the highest peaks is entirely related to that one man.

So if Dublin push ahead by 3-4 points, and at the same time manage to marginalise Murphy's contribution, then what do Donegal do? I'm not sure. But capitulation seems to be the normal response from teams in this situation.

[Rossfan]

Watching the Dublin vs Monaghan game at the weekend was so disheartening, and I do fear for Donegal in this game.

+1.
Dublin by at least 7 points and every chance it could go to double that.

[Main Street]

I think Dublin at 1/10 is just about right.
The Dubs were excellent at defending from the front and any team will find it hard to play out of their own half.
If the kick outs go long, it just resembles a calvary charge once the Dubs get their hands on the ball.
KO in round 4.

[J70]

Yes, most gaa fans would like to see Dublin tested before they reach the All Ireland final, is there something wrong with that ?

Didn't say there was anything wrong with it.

I said it was "ironic", given the completely over the top reaction to the 2011 semi-final.

[J70]

Apparently Lacey did his hamstring early in the Armagh game and is possibly a doubt for the semi. Thought he was less dominant than usual against Armagh, but hopefully he makes it back to full fitness.  We are up against it either way, but we can't afford to be without him!

[AZOffaly]

He can't have done his hamstring too badly if he played on. Must have just been a tweak. A full tear and he'd have been gone.