Sam odds 2024

[JoG2]

Donegal have one of the best keepers in ireland, probably the best in my opinion  - Patton

Defensively is where Jim excels, rest assured Jimmy will have the defense water tight. take it as given

Donegal have the best selection of midfielders in Ulster. Lots of big tree's! Jason McGee, McFadden ferry, Hugh mcFadden, McGonagle etc

IF they can get their best forwards fit and on the field of play at the same time, they will be a force for sure. Murphy static at 14. Oisin Gallen, McBrearty, Daire Ó Baoill, Jamie brennan, peadar mogan...

They had some cracking young forwards in their u20 side back in 2022. McGettigan was one name i remember

Jim McGuinness isnt back unless he see's something and believes in it....! If i was Derry i would be fearful

100%. Will be a very interesting Ulster Championship, well 1 side of the draw any road

[imtommygunn]

None of those midfielders are fantastic though. They're all ok but no real out and out stars there. Is murphy back? Gallen could be very good but not sure mcbrearty top level at county any more.

[screenexile]

I honestly don't care if Donegal beat us in Ulster. Our side of the draw is a minefield sure to include injury along with physically and emotionally sapping games. So feck that when we need to compete against Kerry/Dublin/Galway who won't have faced anyone before the round robin!

My main thing is we need to show some progression in our play from the last 2 years.

I'm hoping Harte can unearth a scoring forward from somewhere and we can get to an AIQF with a clean bill of health where anything can happen. That and staying in Div1 are the main goals for the season I'd say!!

[Blowitupref]

I honestly don't care if Donegal beat us in Ulster. Our side of the draw is a minefield sure to include injury along with physically and emotionally sapping games. So feck that when we need to compete against Kerry/Dublin/Galway who won't have faced anyone before the round robin!

My main thing is we need to show some progression in our play from the last 2 years.

I'm hoping Harte can unearth a scoring forward from somewhere and we can get to an AIQF with a clean bill of health where anything can happen. That and staying in Div1 are the main goals for the season I'd say!!

Galway will be facing a Div 1 team in the Connacht final two teams they have lost against recently.

Let's say Derry are knocked out by Donegal. It would mean they'll be 3rd seeds in the group whereby making it harder to top that group.  And not topping the group would mean playing against a rested Kerry,Dublin or the Connacht champion in the Quarter final and Derry facing into their 3rd match in 3 weeks.

[Wildweasel74]

I don't know what people are watching, Donegal ain't great, new manager back or not!

[Wildweasel74]

Derry not win Ulster as there only been 1 three in a row since the 1960's. It's finding players in the league and go full tilt in the All-Ireland series, The league, I be happy if we just manage to stay up. But wouldn't be too worried if we went down again, as the league importance fell away badly, been too close to the championship.

[imtommygunn]

I don't know what people are watching, Donegal ain't great, new manager back or not!

Agree with this. They'll be harder to beat but people forget how goo the players were under McGuinness initially and I don't think the same can be said here. They had 3 very good scoring forwards, Lacey, McGees, Durcan, McGlynn etc etc. They don't have close to that level of player now. Gallen is very good and Jamie Brennan on his day is decent. Murphy carried them for a long time so if he's not back I still think they'll struggle. If McGuinness hadn't come in I think they'd have gone to division 3 but don't think they will now.

(BTW I like Donegal and happy to be proven wrong but McGuinness didn't make a silk purse out of sow's ear the first time etc. Also they still have a chance of beating Derry    Derry need to win this IMO to win AI as it would make their path too much harder.)

[Mario]

Derry not win Ulster as there only been 1 three in a row since the 1960's. It's finding players in the league and go full tilt in the All-Ireland series, The league, I be happy if we just manage to stay up. But wouldn't be too worried if we went down again, as the league importance fell away badly, been too close to the championship.

So you don't care about ulster and you don't care about the league. Is it AI final or nothing? I tell myself ulster is a minefield and you might be better off not getting to the final but I don't want any of those teams to beat Derry either. I think the biggest occasion of last year was the Ulster final, even more so than the AI semi. The hype around that game was unreal, especially with the RG incident in the week leading up to it. Good chance Armagh will get to the final this year again so it will be very similar as they bring a massive support and are desperate to win it. You'd be sick if two other teams were in it this year.

[tbrick18]

Derry not win Ulster as there only been 1 three in a row since the 1960's. It's finding players in the league and go full tilt in the All-Ireland series, The league, I be happy if we just manage to stay up. But wouldn't be too worried if we went down again, as the league importance fell away badly, been too close to the championship.

So you don't care about ulster and you don't care about the league. Is it AI final or nothing? I tell myself ulster is a minefield and you might be better off not getting to the final but I don't want any of those teams to beat Derry either. I think the biggest occasion of last year was the Ulster final, even more so than the AI semi. The hype around that game was unreal, especially with the RG incident in the week leading up to it. Good chance Armagh will get to the final this year again so it will be very similar as they bring a massive support and are desperate to win it. You'd be sick if two other teams were in it this year.

I have to say I agree with what you say about the Ulster Final last year.
Knowing how MH operates, Derry will be going out to win every game in every competition. He doesn't (or didn't) do tactical losses so far as I know.
He wont want to lose to McGuinness, or Tyrone or Armagh. So I can see us going all guns blazing for Ulster again, which I'd have no issue with.
As someone else said though, we've been in the wilderness for 20 odd years (maybe even 30), so I'd take any Ulster title (or any championship win) we can get.
Ultimately, I'd think goals for the year will be progression. Retain Div1 status, win ulster, get to an AI final.
Success will be Retain Div1 and get to an AI SF (beating Donegal, Tyrone and Armagh along the way).
Of course an AI would be dreamland for Derry.

[toby47]

I honestly don't care if Donegal beat us in Ulster. Our side of the draw is a minefield sure to include injury along with physically and emotionally sapping games. So feck that when we need to compete against Kerry/Dublin/Galway who won't have faced anyone before the round robin!

My main thing is we need to show some progression in our play from the last 2 years.

I'm hoping Harte can unearth a scoring forward from somewhere and we can get to an AIQF with a clean bill of health where anything can happen. That and staying in Div1 are the main goals for the season I'd say!!

Any idea who? Or where this could come from in the short term?

[tyrone08]

Derry not win Ulster as there only been 1 three in a row since the 1960's. It's finding players in the league and go full tilt in the All-Ireland series, The league, I be happy if we just manage to stay up. But wouldn't be too worried if we went down again, as the league importance fell away badly, been too close to the championship.

So you don't care about ulster and you don't care about the league. Is it AI final or nothing? I tell myself ulster is a minefield and you might be better off not getting to the final but I don't want any of those teams to beat Derry either. I think the biggest occasion of last year was the Ulster final, even more so than the AI semi. The hype around that game was unreal, especially with the RG incident in the week leading up to it. Good chance Armagh will get to the final this year again so it will be very similar as they bring a massive support and are desperate to win it. You'd be sick if two other teams were in it this year.

I have to say I agree with what you say about the Ulster Final last year.
Knowing how MH operates, Derry will be going out to win every game in every competition. He doesn't (or didn't) do tactical losses so far as I know.
He wont want to lose to McGuinness, or Tyrone or Armagh. So I can see us going all guns blazing for Ulster again, which I'd have no issue with.
As someone else said though, we've been in the wilderness for 20 odd years (maybe even 30), so I'd take any Ulster title (or any championship win) we can get.
Ultimately, I'd think goals for the year will be progression. Retain Div1 status, win ulster, get to an AI final.
Success will be Retain Div1 and get to an AI SF (beating Donegal, Tyrone and Armagh along the way).
Of course an AI would be dreamland for Derry.

How is success the same as the previous years? Its an AI final appearance or derry have gone backwards.

[tbrick18]

Derry not win Ulster as there only been 1 three in a row since the 1960's. It's finding players in the league and go full tilt in the All-Ireland series, The league, I be happy if we just manage to stay up. But wouldn't be too worried if we went down again, as the league importance fell away badly, been too close to the championship.

So you don't care about ulster and you don't care about the league. Is it AI final or nothing? I tell myself ulster is a minefield and you might be better off not getting to the final but I don't want any of those teams to beat Derry either. I think the biggest occasion of last year was the Ulster final, even more so than the AI semi. The hype around that game was unreal, especially with the RG incident in the week leading up to it. Good chance Armagh will get to the final this year again so it will be very similar as they bring a massive support and are desperate to win it. You'd be sick if two other teams were in it this year.

I have to say I agree with what you say about the Ulster Final last year.
Knowing how MH operates, Derry will be going out to win every game in every competition. He doesn't (or didn't) do tactical losses so far as I know.
He wont want to lose to McGuinness, or Tyrone or Armagh. So I can see us going all guns blazing for Ulster again, which I'd have no issue with.
As someone else said though, we've been in the wilderness for 20 odd years (maybe even 30), so I'd take any Ulster title (or any championship win) we can get.
Ultimately, I'd think goals for the year will be progression. Retain Div1 status, win ulster, get to an AI final.
Success will be Retain Div1 and get to an AI SF (beating Donegal, Tyrone and Armagh along the way).
Of course an AI would be dreamland for Derry.

How is success the same as the previous years? Its an AI final appearance or derry have gone backwards.

Like I said, I'm sure that will be one of the goals for the year.
But if we retain Div1 status (for the first time in many years) and make it to the last 4, that has to be considered success given that we will also have a new management team in place and probably adapt the way this team has been playing.

[seafoid]

Provincial does not matter for the endgame.
Teams need to manage energy for key stages eg 3rd game of round robin, provincial final. They need to be fit for qf.
Can Monaghan and Derry kick on?
Can Mayo find something extra ?
Will Kerry fall back like Tyrone ?
Will Molloy and Silke make a difference for Galway?
Are Cork on an upward trend?
Can Kildare move up ?
Are Meath any use? 

[NotedObserver]

If Galway get all their players fit they are a formidable outfit and apart from Kerry/Dublin they are well out in front of the rest of the chasing pack

[statto]

Derry not win Ulster as there only been 1 three in a row since the 1960's. It's finding players in the league and go full tilt in the All-Ireland series, The league, I be happy if we just manage to stay up. But wouldn't be too worried if we went down again, as the league importance fell away badly, been too close to the championship.

Not Harte's style, wants to win every competition enters you never seen a Mickey Harte McKenna cup team in January??