Messages

Re funding - not all is coming from Stormont.

A sizeable chunk, is to come from GAA HQ. This money is conditional on the development reaching a certain capacity - which the revised plans, reduced to 34,500, do easily. It's not a coincidence that this figure is greater than the current capacity of Clones.

watched this yesterday. Thought Scotstown were impressive enough and they are still missing McCarthy. They'll be a threat particularly if they get him back. ..

Will McCarthy be back for the Kilcoo game?

Do you Monaghan lads think Donegal stepped it up a level or did ye fall back a step?...

I think Donegal have gone up a level in many aspects of their play. Monaghan likewise are better than last year but as has been pointed out, we were a too rigid in our tactical approach to the game. Not for the first time you could say. Tyrone should present more of a challenge to them in the final. Very hard one to call.

See the Sunday Game were pitching to get this game played in Croke Park

Noted. WTF has it to do with them where it's played?

Mickey Harte hasn't spoken to them for years and they're putting words in his mouth about where the final should be played.

Good opening salvo from Shamrock Shore. Like Longford's attitude. Looking forward to Saturday's game.

[Is that so?]

For those who were there, I missed the couple of minutes where Monaghan got their first goal - it sounded, in retrospect, similar to one Tommy Freeman got against Down in 2012, with the free taken quickly while the defenders complained. Is that so? If so, bad for Donegal to get caught with their trousers down like that, and maybe a lesson to ease off on the bitching to the referee.

I was at the back of the goals so had a very good view J70. It was as you say. Donegal players arguing with ref and linesman, Monaghan took advantage and registered an easy goal when the scoreboard wasn't looking good for us.

Just back from the game. Thought we were lucky to finish only 1 down. Overall it was a poor Monaghan performance tonight. Donegal won midfield and their passing and possession game was much more controlled.

Now it's the backdoor against Longford. Hopefully we get to HQ and play better.

[Will any supporters be bold enough to do a live cam or stream whatever will make those who cannot attend watch game.]

This is defiantly not on tv correct.

Will any supporters be bold enough to do a live cam or stream whatever will make those who cannot attend watch game. Hard to fathom what conflict is between the two sets of supporters. My guess is that only die hard hurling fans will be tuning into to hurling on Saturday.

Didn't someone Periscope the Roscommon v New York game? Some of the Mayo & Leitrim players were watching it. Hard to see how the GAA could crack down on it, or stop it. Good luck wending your way through a packed terrace or stand, during a game, looking for the one lad with the iPhone propped on his knee.

would love to somehow watch it live or delayed, V the three minutes you will be luck to get on the Sunday Game the next evening.

The Ulster U21 final was periscoped too.. It was well done, steady, given the low light conditions. I'm assuming it was a mini tripod job and not just on the knee..

Do Sky do a catchup service? I only have SkyGo,thanks to the father-in-law..

Just to be sure how this might work...4 of us go to the game and broadcast via Periscope. If we are using the same Twitter account, would this allow followers choose from different positions in Breiffne?

Most counties have average facilities at best. I don't know much about Down football but I do know they have tradition and pedigree therefore should have good club structures in place. Sometimes this can breed arrogance and contempt.
I have no doubt the good people of Down will turn it around but it'll take time and hard graft.

Most counties are average at best. Tradition, pedigree, hard graft - dream on...

It's a big part of the problem.The large population bases in the county arn't pulling their weight in terms of providing county standard players.Its not just downpatrick but also south belfast(Carryduff and Bredagh),but most alarmingly newry.

Is Downpatrick considered a big club in Down? It's the rural clubs that have provided the most talent; same as in most of Ulster.

Newry's funny in that it's divided between Down and Armagh. Bosco seem to produce good teams at underage but lose them at 18-21.

Don't know much about Bredagh and Carryduff - have these 2 clubs not gained big spike in players / members in the last few years and haven't hit senior yet?

There's no quick fix for Down football even if the style of footballer is very good and the clubs of a high standard. A few things strike me about them from observing them over the years:

• Expectations are very high because of a very proud history. Morale plummets with a run of bad results.
• Consequently the turnover of managers and players is high. Some of Down's best players don't want to play - Conor Laverty being the obvious example.
• There isn't a centre of excellence - this is a given for any county with aspirations to be in the top tier. The county board needs to get its act together.

Experience tells us that if you're going to go via the back door this is the time to do it...not that either Donegal or Monaghan will want to go that route.

Losing an Ulster final is far more risky given the unfair turnaround. But who'd trade a tie with Longford (no disrespect to them) for an Ulster Final in Clones?

On the positive thought we were that bit sharper for most of the game. Attitude was spot on, we weren't going to take a beaten. We've added pace to midfield, winning more primary possession and there's a better spread of scorers.

On the negative side the pace and angle of the some of the Donegal runners definitely caused problems. Not always legal but very effective and not many would be able to handle it.

We're both asking each other questions neither of us were asking last year.

Generally a good game played in the right spirit. The time wasting was identified by Darren Hughes who made it known and the ref duly added the time. Won't always happen but let's leave it at that.

Fintan Kelly, Owen Duffy and Kieran Duffy put in particularly good shifts for Monaghan.

Let's blow the cobwebs off this one..

Will yesterday's game have influenced either or both? I reckon this game will be as intense, and hopefully not cynical, as yesterday's wasn't overly.

Any other oul craic?

I'd imagine both sides are thinking that there could be a relatively handy Ulster title to be won if they win this game.

Both sides would be very wrong to think there's a handy Ulster title for the winner. Mattie Donnelly is the stand out play maker in this years U.C.

Tommy Freeman, not long gone, in his prime alongside McManus and Hughes would make for a formidable attack. Nudie Hughes in at half forward and Ray McCarron, from the same era, would do nicely as well.