Donegal V Derry, June 1st

[Croí na hÉireann]

Thanks screen

[Wolfe Kevin Toner]

Mc Ivors knoweledge of Derry is vital in this game, if he can raise Donegall's Tempo enough before the game, I wouldn't be surprised with a Win for them, although as said if Derry win midfield thats half th battle won.Surely big Christy is a better option than Roper?

[glenullinabu]

Derry should win regardless of team selections, but a draw wouldnt surprise me nor would a comprehensive Donegal victory.

i think youve covered all possibilities there brick

[Yes I Would]

Get yourself down to the bookies quick Brick!!

[J70]

From the Donegal News...

Life in the old dog yet- Devenney


BY HARRY WALSH

DONEGAL ace forward Brendan Devenney has hit back at claims that he has been dropped from Brian McIver's championship panel.

Speaking to the Donegal News yesterday (Thursday) Devenney said that he has pencilled in the Ulster semi final on Sunday, June 22, to make a come back from his latest injury.

Having limped out of St Eunan's club championship defeat in Glenswilly last weekend, Devenney knew deep down that he wouldn't be available for the Derry match on Sunday week, June 1.

county training

"I trained with Donegal these past couple of weeks and things had been going well. At County training last Thursday I tweaked the groin and when I limped out of the Glenswilly game I knew that I wouldn't make the Derry game.

"I'm not fit enough to play for the club this weekend and, therefore, I'm not fit enough to be part of the Donegal squad for the first game of this year's championship. We'll see what happens after the Derry game but I would like to think that I will play some part to play this summer," he said.

"There's life in the old dog yet," he laughed.

Meanwhile, his club St Eunan's go into this weekend's play-off match with Glenswilly with a number of injury worries. The game will take place in Convoy (thorw-in 4.45pm)with the winners playing Ardara.

[saffron sam2]

I'm supporting Derry.

Remember Drumboe.

[tbrick18]

Derry should win regardless of team selections, but a draw wouldnt surprise me nor would a comprehensive Donegal victory.

i think youve covered all possibilities there brick

I dont like to commit myself 

I think what I was trying to say is that overall Derry have a better set of players than Donegal, but with the McIver/complacency factors added in the game is impossible to call.
Might go for an each way bet... 

[The Voice Of Reason]

1. Durcan or Boyle?
2  Barry Dunnion? (he'll play, but where?)
3. Neil McGee
4. Karl Lacey
5. Frank McGlynn?
6. Eamon McGee
7. Kevin Cassidy
8. Neil Gallagher
9. Kevin Rafferty?
10. Rory Kavanagh
11. Michael Hegarty?
12. Brian Roper?
13. Michael Murphy?
14. Colm McFadden
15. Brendan Devenney?

Other possibilities: Christy Toye, Ryan Bradley, Kevin McMenamin, Michael Doherty, Stephen Griffin, Paddy McDaid, David Walsh, Barry Monaghan etc.

[/i]

I'd like to see Ryan Bradley given a shot in the half forward line or in midfield. I saw him in a game recently, and was very impressed. I've also head that Kevin McMenamin has been playing very well of late too ... however I guess it's very hard to judge anyone based on club form.

I don't understand why there's a feeling of such doom and gloom around Donegal about this match. League and championship are so so different, as we found to our expense last year. I think McIvor will have the players right this time around, we're not as far off the mark as some think in my opinion.

Anyways all will be revealed pretty soon! It should be a good match, and hopefully we'll hit the ground running!

[Donegal Danny]

Barry Dunnion out injuried again with the same groin problem. He went to this specialist in Germany but like Joe Mc Mahon from Tyrone it only seemed to work short term and he may be back to square 1. I think Paddy Mc Daid from Termon will start in the corner. Manus Boyle had a good team in the democrate yesterday but i would go with Neil Mc Gee at full back, and Eamonn at Centre half with Lacey and Mc Daid in the corners and Cassidy and Mc Glynn on the wings, with Gallagher and Kavanagh in midfield.

[J70]

Who did Manus have in the line-up?

[Donegal Danny]

Manus Boyle's team is                 Durkin
                               Lacey   E Mc Gee    N Mc Gee
                               
                               Caddidy   Monaghan    Mc Glynn

                                    Gallagher     Kavanagh

                        Rafferty      Hegarty     Toye

                       Roper        Murphy    Mc Fadden

[screenexile]

I'm really worried about this game after yesterday... feckin favourites tag has never done us any favours and it's the exact same setup as that match yesterday which I had suspected for some time Fermanagh would win.

McIver is every bit as tactically astute as O'Rourke and definitely has an advantage over Crozier here. I just hope the lads have taken notice of what happened yesterday and don't approach this match with any complacency. If we play well we will win but any slip ups and we could well be in trouble!

[J70]

Manus Boyle's team is                 Durkin
                               Lacey   E Mc Gee    N Mc Gee
                               
                               Caddidy   Monaghan    Mc Glynn

                                    Gallagher     Kavanagh

                        Rafferty      Hegarty     Toye

                       Roper        Murphy    Mc Fadden

Interesting. Derry certainly won't havemuch of a height advantage if that is the team!

The half-forward line looks weak enough to me though, unless Hegarty and Toye get the finger out and produce on the day. If Roper has a good day on the breaks, we might have a decent chance of winning a bit of possession.

[charlie stubbs]

think derry are settig themselves up 4 a fall.alot of their supporters are expecting an ulster title and though they do have a good chance donegal in ballyboffey isnt easy for anyone.would def fancy donegal plus a few points

[The Voice Of Reason]

...If we play well we will win but any slip ups and we could well be in trouble!...

The general feeling has been that if Derry perform, they'll win. I'm not so sure it's that simple. If the match was this time last year, people would be saying the exact same about Donegal. I don't think things have changed that much in the last year. Derry will be very tough, but I'm reasonably confident (well as much as you can be in an Ulster championship match against Derry, which isn't much) that Donegal will win on Sunday.

And just a little thing or two for Donegal to sort out:
- The breaking ball; we can't compete with Derry in the air (Gallagher excepted), so mopping up the ball on the ground is where the match will be won or lost.
- A penalty taker (anybody but McFadden!)