Donegal v Tyrone Ulster Championship

[Minder]

Will the supporters be segregated for this game ?

[endk17]

i think there would be a lot of disappointed people if this was the case. but only having 12,000 people into see this fascinating game would be shooting themselves in the foot. If the match went to Clones could the Donegal board still not get all the gate receipts? They would get 36,000 easily.

Im over the moon that we are at home, Celtic Park to my knowledge has not been packed since 1994 for a game, when indeed we played Down! this game may not be a sell out but it'll be the best crowd we would have had for years.

Absolutely there will be a lot of disappointed people but wasn't there lots of very disappointed people only 11 days ago trying to get tickets for the final. It happened in 2005 with Armagh but this time round being champs surely Donegal would possess a bit more clout and tell the Ulster council to get te. Not sure how much or what % they would stand to net from gates at Clones. But in this case it wouldn't be about that; running out onto your home pitch as Champs would be special and in my view should not be relinquished regardless. 

If the DL county board were to act quickly on this one it wouldn't take much to sort out the few things that the Slattery report wants fixing, meaning that the effective capacity of Ballybofey would be just under 20K. And there is time like.

[endk17]

Would love this to take place in Ballybofey.

Exactly, hope that's the way it tunes out.

[cadence]

tyrone up first should make donegal think twice about partying like it's 1992.

[theticklemister]

i think there would be a lot of disappointed people if this was the case. but only having 12,000 people into see this fascinating game would be shooting themselves in the foot. If the match went to Clones could the Donegal board still not get all the gate receipts? They would get 36,000 easily.

Im over the moon that we are at home, Celtic Park to my knowledge has not been packed since 1994 for a game, when indeed we played Down! this game may not be a sell out but it'll be the best crowd we would have had for years.

Absolutely there will be a lot of disappointed people but wasn't there lots of very disappointed people only 11 days ago trying to get tickets for the final. It happened in 2005 with Armagh but this time round being champs surely Donegal would possess a bit more clout and tell the Ulster council to get te. Not sure how much or what % they would stand to net from gates at Clones. But in this case it wouldn't be about that; running out onto your home pitch as Champs would be special and in my view should not be relinquished regardless. 

If the DL county board were to act quickly on this one it wouldn't take much to sort out the few things that the Slattery report wants fixing, meaning that the effective capacity of Ballybofey would be just under 20K. And there is time like.

I WAS THINKING THERE WITH MY COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN'S HAT ON THERE! I WOULD BE ALL FOR A HOME TIE FOR DONEGAL, LIKE EVERY OTHER COUNTY.

What can they do to the ground? there is limited space around the actual area to make bigger or indeed safer.

[RMDrive]

Any money we have must be pumped into the COE in convoy. McCool park will have to wait.

[endk17]

I WAS THINKING THERE WITH MY COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN'S HAT ON THERE! I WOULD BE ALL FOR A HOME TIE FOR DONEGAL, LIKE EVERY OTHER COUNTY.

What can they do to the ground? there is limited space around the actual area to make bigger or indeed safer.

I'm not certain on this now, and would happily be corrected if someone knows more, but I think that the capacity was reduced on health and safety grounds relating to the lack of 'proper' exits and surfacing of the entrance roads.

[drici]

Donegal plan upgrade to ensure Tyrone home tie


Donegal chairman PJ McGowan has vowed the county will fight to retain home advantage for next year's Ulster championship showdown with Tyrone.

The stand-out fixture from Thursday night's draw has paired the All-Ireland champions against the team they have displaced as the new superpower in Ulster, and with a huge attendance expected, there has been early speculation that the tie will be switched from Ballybofey to Clones.

Donegal have fared well in the draw in recent years, playing an Ulster championship game in MacCumhaill Park every year since 2006.

Despite the fact the Slattery Report reduced the capacity of the venue to around 12,500 this year, McGowan is confident county chiefs can get it back up to around 18,000, which he feels will satisfy the demand.

He said: "It is a massive game. Tyrone will be absolutely huge opponents in the first round, but it's difficult to estimate the attendance. Would the attendance be much more than 18,000 for a first round game? I wonder.

"No doubt we will have to sit down and discuss it with the Ulster Council, but obviously we want to retain our home advantage and run out at MacCumhaill Park as defending All-Ireland champions."

Ballybofey's capacity was cut this year because of difficulties with some crush barriers not being continuous and the inconsistent levels of steps.

Donegal County Board spent around €500,000 smackeroonies upgrading MacCumhaill Park several years ago as a result of findings from a previous report and subsequently boasted a capacity of just over 21,000.

However, the reduced capacity venue was still big enough to house the first round clash with Derry this year, which drew just over 11,000 to Ballybofey on a Saturday night.

McGowan claimed: "The capacity of a lot of grounds was reduced because of the Slattery Report — including Clones. We spent a lot of money and complied with the findings of a previous report only to find that the Slattery Report had changed things again.

"We won't make any short-cuts when it comes to the safety of spectators and teams but we believe only minor changes will be needed to get Ballybofey back to its proper capacity of around 18,000. We're confident that will be adequate."

[drici]

Donegal will 'fight tooth and nail' to host Tyrone

DONEGAL GAA Secretary Aodh Mairtín Ó Fearraigh says that the Co Board will 'fight tooth and nail' to ensure that Seán Mac Cumhaill Park in Ballybofey is given the green light to stage Donegal's 2013 Ulster Championship Quarter Final with Tyrone.

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness has already appealed for his players to be given the chance to run out on their home turf as the defending Ulster and All Ireland Champions for a high-octane clash that is already the talk of the town.

The capacity of the venue was slashed recently as the Slattery report docked the top-line figure to around 12,500 from the 18,500 it had previously been able to accommodate.

Despite reports this week that the game was slipping from Ballybofey's clutches, the Co Secretary has re-affirmed an optimistic outlook on the prospects of Donegal staging the game at home.

"There have been attempts to set up a number of meetings and there are works ongoing in the background in relation to the game," he said.

"We will fight tooth and nail to have the Championship game against Tyrone in Ballybofey."

It is understood, however, that there are concerns about a number of aspects. However, the Board is confident that they can overcome any difficulties that arise.

At the July meeting of the Donegal county committee, Donegal's Ulster Council representative Edward Molloy warned that the issue of stewarding had to improve.

"Unless we improve, we will have a fight on our hands to host big Championship games in the future," he said.

"Stewards were asked to be there from 1.30pm to 1.45pm and some only arrived into the ground at 20 minutes to 4. The Ulster Council were not impressed with that at all.

"Some of the indications we have got back say that we have a lot to learn regarding hosting big games."

While the matter was brought up in that report by Mr Molloy, there have been no complaints made through official channels by the provincial council – and the Donegal Board remains confident that they can satisfy infrastructure chiefs about the Finnside venue's suitability.

"I don't know where a lot of the stuff about the Derry game came from," Mr Ó Fearraigh said.

"There were no major issues. There was nothing raised with us and we have not formally been made aware of any problems. I would be very surprised if one was brought up now."

Regarding the slashed capacity of Mac Cumhaill Park, it is understood that a concern of the Slattery report was in relation to the crash barriers, which were only re-installed four years ago in a major refurbishment to the venue.

"At the time, they met all the health and safety standards set down by Croke Park and the Council," Mr Ó Fearraigh noted.

The secretary would not be drawn on what works would be required at the ground, but said that there have been steps taken to set up meetings and it is understood that representatives from Ulster Council and the National Infrastructure Committee will meet with Donegal chiefs to examine the venue.

Mr Ó Fearraigh said: "We are entitled to a home game and we will do what it takes to have the game in Ballybofey."

[give her dixie]

Paddy Heaney: Don't write off Tyrone's young guns just yet

If you asked 100 Tyrone supporters to name their first choice team for this year's championship match against Donegal, you're likely to get 100 very different answers back.
In contrast, if the same question was put to 100 Donegal supporters, there would be minimal variation between the responses. No doubt, the vast majority would list the side that beat Mayo in last year's All-Ireland final as their chosen 15. When the neighbours renew acquaintances in the first round of the Ulster SFC on May 26, these contrasting situations will become obvious.

Barring injury and misfortune, Donegal should be largely unchanged from last season. Tyrone, however, will be totally overhauled.

Consider the 15 Tyrone players who lined out against Donegal in last year's Ulster semi-final. Mickey Harte's starting team was: Pascal McConnell; Conor Gormley, Conor Clarke, Aidan McCrory; Sean O'Neill, Ryan McMenamin, Dermot Carlin; Joe McMahon, Colm Cavanagh; Mattie Donnelly, Stephen O'Neill, Peter Harte; Martin Penrose, Mark Donnelly and Owen Mulligan.

From that line-up, McMenamin has retired, Sean O'Neill is not in the current squad and Mulligan's future remains uncertain. It must also be remembered that Sean Cavanagh, Kyle Coney, Justin McMahon, Cathal McCarron and Ronan O'Neill missed that fixture through injury.

At a very conservative estimate, it's safe to predict Mickey Harte will make about seven changes. Harte has just 17 weeks to build a new side and have it functioning as a fluid, cohesive unit.

Not only does he have to identify his 15 best players, he must also have them coached to a level capable of competing with a slick Donegal side entering its third year under the McGuinness administration.

At first glance, the odds appear to be stacked against the Red Hands. It could all go pear-shaped quite easily. But a very different scenario could also unfold and this is the picture Harte will be painting for his players. At the final whistle in last year's encounter, Donegal won 0-12 to 0-10. In terms of tactics and teamwork, there wasn't a great deal between the sides.

Ultimately, a lack of firepower proved to be Tyrone's undoing. When they were in their pomp, the individual brilliance of a few key players meant they often won games when the team wasn't functioning well. A blitzkrieg from Sean Cavanagh, Peter Canavan, Stephen O'Neill or Owen Mulligan would be enough to secure victory.

That nucleus of All Star quality just wasn't present in last year's team. Tyrone's forward line managed just 0-4 from play against Donegal, and half of it from Stephen O'Neill. But when Mickey Harte surveys his options, he'll be quietly optimistic his players can close that two-point gap.

The return of four-time All Star Sean Cavanagh is his single biggest boost. After missing last year's championship, he is looking fitter and stronger than ever and was Tyrone's best player in the Dr McKenna Cup.

Furthermore, in Kyle Coney, Darren McCurry and Ronan O'Neill, Tyrone should have a trio of gifted forwards who weren't available for last year's game in Clones.

The outstanding player on the Tyrone minor team, which won the All-Ireland title in 2008, Coney initially struggled to make the transition to senior football. He only found his groove in last year's league. Injury ended his season last April and although he will miss the start of the league with an ankle problem he is in line to start his first championship match in the meeting with Donegal.

Darren McCurry gave notice of his considerable talent for Tyrone's qualifier match against Roscommon with 0-4 from play off the bench in Hyde Park. More recently, the 20-year-old chalked up 0-5 during a man of the match display against Antrim in the McKenna Cup.

While Coney and McCurry are good, no-one in Tyrone has quite the same amount of potential as Ronan O'Neill. The 22-year-old is one of the most gifted young players in the country. A torn cruciate ligament ended O'Neill's season last March.

Last week he was given the green light to return to full training. With 123 days to go before Tyrone take on Donegal, O'Neill should be fit to come on as a sub.

And it's on the bench where Harte might have an advantage over McGuinness. For last year's clash, the Tyrone boss introduced Brian McGuigan, Ronan McNabb, Aidan Cassidy and Niall McKenna. McGuigan has since retired while Cassidy and McKenna are no longer in the current squad.

Given that Stephen O'Neill, Kyle Coney, Ronan O'Neill, Darren McCurry and Conor McAliskey are probably going to be competing for two positions, there is a strong chance three of those players will be in the dug out.

Even Sean Cavanagh's deployment at midfield isn't a foregone conclusion. During Tyrone's McKenna Cup game against Jordanstown, the 29-year-old demonstrated that he is still a viable option at full-forward.

Any Tyrone supporter who sits down and tries to pick a championship 15 will quickly realise the headache facing Mickey. Over the next three months, it will be fascinating to watch how he shapes and moulds this new generation.

Saturday's night's McKenna Cup final, and the seven Division 1 games will provide many answers. Closed door matches will answer many more.

En route to lifting Sam, Donegal enjoyed two-point victories over Tyrone, Kerry and Cork. Evidently, there is little to choose between these four teams, yet the bookmakers have rated Tyrone as 20/1 shots for the All-Ireland behind Kerry (7/2), Dublin (7/2), Donegal (4/1), Cork (4/1) and Mayo (10/1).

But, unlike many of their rivals, Tyrone have a much bigger capacity for improvement. Sean Cavanagh is back.

And if players like Kyle Coney, Ronan O'Neill and Darren McCurry can make the grade, then Tyrone will not be that far from the top table.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/columnists/paddy-heaney/paddy-heaney-dont-write-off-tyrones-young-guns-just-yet-220565.html#.UQazthKR6bg.twitter

[cadence]

nice bit of fishing there.

[EC Unique]

I have watched Tyrone a few times this year already. There is some serious talent on that panel. I would say there is as much individual talent as there has ever been. If Mickey can gel the team and stay injury free 20-1 is serious value.

[nrico2006]

Paddy Heaney: Don't write off Tyrone's young guns just yet

If you asked 100 Tyrone supporters to name their first choice team for this year's championship match against Donegal, you're likely to get 100 very different answers back.
In contrast, if the same question was put to 100 Donegal supporters, there would be minimal variation between the responses. No doubt, the vast majority would list the side that beat Mayo in last year's All-Ireland final as their chosen 15. When the neighbours renew acquaintances in the first round of the Ulster SFC on May 26, these contrasting situations will become obvious.

Barring injury and misfortune, Donegal should be largely unchanged from last season. Tyrone, however, will be totally overhauled.

Consider the 15 Tyrone players who lined out against Donegal in last year's Ulster semi-final. Mickey Harte's starting team was: Pascal McConnell; Conor Gormley, Conor Clarke, Aidan McCrory; Sean O'Neill, Ryan McMenamin, Dermot Carlin; Joe McMahon, Colm Cavanagh; Mattie Donnelly, Stephen O'Neill, Peter Harte; Martin Penrose, Mark Donnelly and Owen Mulligan.

From that line-up, McMenamin has retired, Sean O'Neill is not in the current squad and Mulligan's future remains uncertain. It must also be remembered that Sean Cavanagh, Kyle Coney, Justin McMahon, Cathal McCarron and Ronan O'Neill missed that fixture through injury.

At a very conservative estimate, it's safe to predict Mickey Harte will make about seven changes. Harte has just 17 weeks to build a new side and have it functioning as a fluid, cohesive unit.

Not only does he have to identify his 15 best players, he must also have them coached to a level capable of competing with a slick Donegal side entering its third year under the McGuinness administration.

At first glance, the odds appear to be stacked against the Red Hands. It could all go pear-shaped quite easily. But a very different scenario could also unfold and this is the picture Harte will be painting for his players. At the final whistle in last year's encounter, Donegal won 0-12 to 0-10. In terms of tactics and teamwork, there wasn't a great deal between the sides.

Ultimately, a lack of firepower proved to be Tyrone's undoing. When they were in their pomp, the individual brilliance of a few key players meant they often won games when the team wasn't functioning well. A blitzkrieg from Sean Cavanagh, Peter Canavan, Stephen O'Neill or Owen Mulligan would be enough to secure victory.

That nucleus of All Star quality just wasn't present in last year's team. Tyrone's forward line managed just 0-4 from play against Donegal, and half of it from Stephen O'Neill. But when Mickey Harte surveys his options, he'll be quietly optimistic his players can close that two-point gap.

The return of four-time All Star Sean Cavanagh is his single biggest boost. After missing last year's championship, he is looking fitter and stronger than ever and was Tyrone's best player in the Dr McKenna Cup.

Furthermore, in Kyle Coney, Darren McCurry and Ronan O'Neill, Tyrone should have a trio of gifted forwards who weren't available for last year's game in Clones.

The outstanding player on the Tyrone minor team, which won the All-Ireland title in 2008, Coney initially struggled to make the transition to senior football. He only found his groove in last year's league. Injury ended his season last April and although he will miss the start of the league with an ankle problem he is in line to start his first championship match in the meeting with Donegal.

Darren McCurry gave notice of his considerable talent for Tyrone's qualifier match against Roscommon with 0-4 from play off the bench in Hyde Park. More recently, the 20-year-old chalked up 0-5 during a man of the match display against Antrim in the McKenna Cup.

While Coney and McCurry are good, no-one in Tyrone has quite the same amount of potential as Ronan O'Neill. The 22-year-old is one of the most gifted young players in the country. A torn cruciate ligament ended O'Neill's season last March.

Last week he was given the green light to return to full training. With 123 days to go before Tyrone take on Donegal, O'Neill should be fit to come on as a sub.

And it's on the bench where Harte might have an advantage over McGuinness. For last year's clash, the Tyrone boss introduced Brian McGuigan, Ronan McNabb, Aidan Cassidy and Niall McKenna. McGuigan has since retired while Cassidy and McKenna are no longer in the current squad.

Given that Stephen O'Neill, Kyle Coney, Ronan O'Neill, Darren McCurry and Conor McAliskey are probably going to be competing for two positions, there is a strong chance three of those players will be in the dug out.

Even Sean Cavanagh's deployment at midfield isn't a foregone conclusion. During Tyrone's McKenna Cup game against Jordanstown, the 29-year-old demonstrated that he is still a viable option at full-forward.

Any Tyrone supporter who sits down and tries to pick a championship 15 will quickly realise the headache facing Mickey. Over the next three months, it will be fascinating to watch how he shapes and moulds this new generation.

Saturday's night's McKenna Cup final, and the seven Division 1 games will provide many answers. Closed door matches will answer many more.

En route to lifting Sam, Donegal enjoyed two-point victories over Tyrone, Kerry and Cork. Evidently, there is little to choose between these four teams, yet the bookmakers have rated Tyrone as 20/1 shots for the All-Ireland behind Kerry (7/2), Dublin (7/2), Donegal (4/1), Cork (4/1) and Mayo (10/1).

But, unlike many of their rivals, Tyrone have a much bigger capacity for improvement. Sean Cavanagh is back.

And if players like Kyle Coney, Ronan O'Neill and Darren McCurry can make the grade, then Tyrone will not be that far from the top table.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/columnists/paddy-heaney/paddy-heaney-dont-write-off-tyrones-young-guns-just-yet-220565.html#.UQazthKR6bg.twitter

Is Ronan O'Neill not still U-21 this year?

[Redhand Santa]

Yep he is. Started in the 2010 All Ireland minor winning team. Looking forward to seeing him and McCurry in the full forward line for the u21s this year.

[yellowcard]

I have watched Tyrone a few times this year already. There is some serious talent on that panel. I would say there is as much individual talent as there has ever been. If Mickey can gel the team and stay injury free 20-1 is serious value.

I would be amazed if Tyrone were capable of winning an All Ireland this year. I would give nothing for them winning a pre-season competition like the McKenna Cup since they were probably the only county taking it seriously in terms of trying to win it. Come championship time it will be irrelevant as to who was flying in January. I think they MIGHT challenge in 2-3 years but at the minute they have far too many untried rookie players to actually challenge for an All Ireland. They haven't seriously competed for Sam in about 4-5 years and it would take a huge leap of faith to think they could do it this year.

I think the All Ireland will be fought out between Dublin, Cork and Donegal with a slight preference for Dublin. In terms of the Ulster title I would see the winner of Tyrone v Donegal going on to lift provincial honours. I would expect Donegal to win this game.