Surprised no thread up yet for this, or have all the Down men disappeared from the board? :)
Paddy Power has us 1/4 for this (Down 7/2!), but I'm not sure we should be such strong favourites as we are fairly untested so far. True, we still have a few big name players, but there is still a lot of youth in the team, while we have not exactly been tight at the back this year. Teams were cruising up the middle during the league, while Cavan and Derry scored 1-15 and 0-16 respectively against us, not exactly small scores. On the other hand, we are looking decent going forward, while Patton in goal seems to have finally presented us with a decent successor to Paul Durcan. Our kickouts were an utter disaster last year, but Patton has been very quick and accurate so far, as well as getting huge distance on the long ones. On the whole though, Donegal are very much unproven and we don't really know where we are at. IMO, an Ulster final and, hopefully, Super 8 spot would still represent an excellent first season for Bonner, although that depends on us avoiding the likes of Mayo and Tyrone whenever we eventually hit the qualifiers.
What's the mood like in Down? I saw a headline from Danny Hughes (couldn't read the article with the paywall) saying that this game is not the foregone conclusion that some in the media appear to think.
I've watched Down all year. They are very average to say the least. Antrim were awful. Donegal will beat Down. Not sure by how much but they'll definitely beat them. Far more organised, better structure and better players in almost every position. I'd say 4/5 points win for Donegal
Both teams were relegated. But someone has to win
I also have watch Down this year and I would say below average. They don't have the best players in the county playing for various reasons and the only outcome I can see is a comfortable Donegal win. Heart says its the championship and we will rise to the occasion, head says no chance!
I remember Down at 4/1 for the Ulster Final in 2012 and we all know what happened there. At 7/2 we've closed the gap!
What we'd give for a repeat of Ballybofey 2010!
Down need EVERYTHING to click for them.
Donegal by 7 or 8.. Down's shooting has been appalling this year and has really let us down in matches this year, Donegal with McBrearty, Murphy and McHugh will be too much. Match up will probably be McHugh vs Millar and with McHugh driving on expect Millar to be pinned back most of the match.
Down bet Monaghan in the Ulster semi final last year so i suppose it would be less of surprise if Down beat a Donegal side in transition who aren't as good defensively as they use to be.
Please take steve poacher back all is forgiven what a dose this lad is
Quote from: O moore parklife on May 31, 2018, 07:37:59 PM
Please take steve poacher back all is forgiven what a dose this lad is
#poacherout
I think this will be more like a club final where the winning is having better weak players than the other side
For every McBrearty there are 3 young lads playing for Donegal
Having followed Down for years I have to be honest and say that unfortunately we are miles off even thinking about competing for honours, the reasons being we aren't producing players that are capable of winning major honours plus some of the better players in the county don't seem interested in wearing the jersey, as for the Donegal game, we need Donegal to have an off day and Down to play out of their skins and you just never know!!
I don't think Donegal are all they are made out to be. Porous and lack pace in centre of their defence. Cavan should've scored 3 goals against them. I think down will be closer than people think and who knows what could happen if they get the rub of the green.
Quote from: Itchy on June 01, 2018, 09:06:17 AM
I don't think Donegal are all they are made out to be. Porous and lack pace in centre of their defence. Cavan should've scored 3 goals against them. I think down will be closer than people think and who knows what could happen if they get the rub of the green.
They've got plenty of talent and think the future is bright for Donegal but I can't make a case for them beating any of the top teams this year with the way they set up. I saw some stats from the game yesterday and looked like Derry kicked a lot of wides and shots that dropped short but still scored 16 points.
Quote from: Maroon Manc on June 01, 2018, 10:22:14 AM
Quote from: Itchy on June 01, 2018, 09:06:17 AM
I don't think Donegal are all they are made out to be. Porous and lack pace in centre of their defence. Cavan should've scored 3 goals against them. I think down will be closer than people think and who knows what could happen if they get the rub of the green.
They've got plenty of talent and think the future is bright for Donegal but I can't make a case for them beating any of the top teams this year with the way they set up. I saw some stats from the game yesterday and looked like Derry kicked a lot of wides and shots that dropped short but still scored 16 points.
I agree with both these posts, although it's important to note that within Donegal there is a very realistic view on where we are at.
It's the same old thing, journos are just looking at the results and not at the details of the game. We got a magnificent start against Derry and were able to keep them at arms length. Some of the Derry wides were terrible.
Cavan (and every team in the league) found that we are wide open through the middle; a fact that is unlikely to be remedied this year.
We will score a good bit but will concede a lot too. Against Monaghan, Tyrone etc, we'd be badly exposed. Against Down ... well I expect to win but it'd not be the shock of the century if they beat us.
Quote from: Itchy on June 01, 2018, 09:06:17 AM
I don't think Donegal are all they are made out to be. Porous and lack pace in centre of their defence. Cavan should've scored 3 goals against them. I think down will be closer than people think and who knows what could happen if they get the rub of the green.
I haven't noticed anyone making us out to be anything other than a promising work in progress, a team yet to be tested in championship against a very good or excellent side.
Quote from: O moore parklife on May 31, 2018, 07:37:59 PM
Please take steve poacher back all is forgiven what a dose this lad is
Marty Clarke recently put Steve Poacher forward as the next Down manager. Would he be a realistic candidate, seems like a bit of a loose cannon. Think Donegal will win this narrowly.
Lads what's the predictions?
Hard enough game to call
Down Captain N McParland wanting to prove the doubters wrong again he says. Well considering how many games Down have won in 3 years and 2 relagations surely the supporters can have a bit of doubt? Not a great interview to give pre match
Quote from: J70 on May 31, 2018, 02:15:30 AM
On the whole though, Donegal are very much unproven and we don't really know where we are at. IMO, an Ulster final and, hopefully, Super 8 spot would still represent an excellent first season for Bonner, although that depends on us avoiding the likes of Mayo and Tyrone whenever we eventually hit the qualifiers.
Being very downbeat there J70; I'm sure you'll be disappointed if you don't beat both Down and Fermanagh with relative ease, thus gaining entry straight into the Super 8's ;)
Quote from: haranguerer on June 06, 2018, 09:19:25 AM
Quote from: J70 on May 31, 2018, 02:15:30 AM
On the whole though, Donegal are very much unproven and we don't really know where we are at. IMO, an Ulster final and, hopefully, Super 8 spot would still represent an excellent first season for Bonner, although that depends on us avoiding the likes of Mayo and Tyrone whenever we eventually hit the qualifiers.
Being very downbeat there J70; I'm sure you'll be disappointed if you don't beat both Down and Fermanagh with relative ease, thus gaining entry straight into the Super 8's ;)
I've honestly no idea what to expect from Down, while Donegal have failed to beat every semi-decent team we've come up against in the past year or so.
The bit you've bolded was written when Monaghan were the presumptive final opponents, but I don't know how anyone could think Fermanagh will be easily beaten either if they watched that game on Sunday.
Donegal are in transition and unproven as a team, including under Bonner, with a lot of defensive concerns ( especially with Neil McGee possibly out). Anyone who thinks this Ulster championship is a cakewalk for them hasn't been paying attention.
Henry Ford said if you believe you can, or if you believe you can't, you're right.
Donegal are hot favourites but Down must believe they can win and I believe they do.
Last year we believed we could beat Armagh and Monaghan but didn't believe we could beat Tyrone and we were well beaten.
Mind you I watched Galway stuff Donegal in the qualifiers last year and when their heads went down, they went down.
This year neither team have done a lot- Donegal very unlucky to drop out of Division 1 and while Down were better in the league, they were still relegated to Division 3.
Donegal conceded 16 points to Derry; if Down hit 16 points on Sunday they can win- if they believe they can.
Quote from: Smurfy123 on June 06, 2018, 08:23:11 AM
Lads what's the predictions?
Hard enough game to call
Down Captain N McParland wanting to prove the doubters wrong again he says. Well considering how many games Down have won in 3 years and 2 relagations surely the supporters can have a bit of doubt? Not a great interview to give pre match
What do you want him to say? Everyone is saying they are better than us and they'll probably prove that on Sunday by giving us a good beating?
Quote from: Dubh driocht on June 08, 2018, 09:18:25 AM
Henry Ford said if you believe you can, or if you believe you can't, you're right.
Donegal are hot favourites but Down must believe they can win and I believe they do.
Last year we believed we could beat Armagh and Monaghan but didn't believe we could beat Tyrone and we were well beaten.
Mind you I watched Galway stuff Donegal in the qualifiers last year and when their heads went down, they went down.
This year neither team have done a lot- Donegal very unlucky to drop out of Division 1 and while Down were better in the league, they were still relegated to Division 3.
Donegal conceded 16 points to Derry; if Down hit 16 points on Sunday they can win- if they believe they can.
Henry also said 'any color so long as it's (red and) black'
I believe.
Yeeeoooow!
Donegal 1-08 Down 0-00
Donegal down to 14 after Neil McGee got a straight red.
Down have a man black-carded.
Sean og warming up on the sideline before halftime. Donegal won't know what hit them in the second half. He's been going well in training.
Down are an absolute shambles. Hard to know how good Donegal are. Down a disgrace.
Dreadful by Down hard to see them picking things up for the qualifiers either. Watching the game on BBC I have lost count to how many Donegal scores came directly from Downs own kick outs.
Quote from: snoopdog on June 10, 2018, 05:38:52 PM
Down are an absolute shambles. Hard to know how good Donegal are. Down a disgrace.
Indeed. Don't think I can recall an easier passage to an Ulster final. Losing Neil McGee after ten minutes (how f**king stupid was he right after being booked??) and you'd swear it was Down who were missing a man (or two). On top of that I don't think I've ever seen a team get so badly hammered on the kickout, although Down had nothing in midfield, so when the short one was closed off, they had nothing to aim for.
Tested or not, it was great to see Ryan McHugh back to his best, despite the usual pounding he takes, while Murphy was majestic. Patton did well in goals again too, with a great save with his feet towards the end, decent kickouts, and a saved point.
Donegal are not the finished article yet but there is the core of a really good Donegal team here.
They still need to tighten up a bit at the back & won't find it so easy against top sides but they are a really enjoyable team to watch going forward & 6 -60 in three games is not to be sniffed at.
Donegal 4 games to win Ulster and doing so without getting out of second gear.