Down v Donegal, Newry - 16 March 2014

Aristo 60 · March 13, 2014, 09:47:58 PM

Well, will we have open football or another game of chess like we saw in breffni park?

Lookin forward to it. Long time since we took a big scalp in newry.

whitegoodman · March 13, 2014, 09:50:40 PM

Did we not beat Dublin in Newry last year or was it the year before ?

Aristo 60 · March 13, 2014, 10:45:49 PM

3 years ago i think? We were on fire that day, battled real hard.

Dublin beat us last year in Croke Park. We stayed with them in first half and they opened us up in the second half. 2 years ago we also in CP, were close to them but mistake cost us near the end

We beat Kildare and Mayo at home last year.

Mourne Rover · March 13, 2014, 11:01:36 PM

We beat Dublin in Newry through an excellent performance in March, 2012, and it will probably take something similar against Donegal on Sunday. There is very little chance of an open game, but hopefully big Kallum will be back to steady us at midfield. Carr's passing ability in tight spaces could be crucial, and there is a case for trying Ryan Johnston, who is quite an athlete, in place of Jerome. Donegal are 4/7, which is probably about right on form, but a defeat would leave us stuck on five points with only the trips to Meath and Laois left and relegation not out of the question. A win puts us back in the promotion frame, so it is a big day.

babarino · March 13, 2014, 11:15:55 PM

It's an interesting game.

Win or lose is make or break for Down in particular. I see a draw. Boring prediction, I know.

orangeman · March 13, 2014, 11:19:02 PM

Down owe Donegal but I think that will have to wait for another game or two.

Mourne Rover · March 15, 2014, 11:48:53 AM

Donegal have named probably their strongest available team. They are only missing McBrearty, who is involved with the u21s, and Gallagher, although both of them are on the bench. The only official chance for Down is Harrison for McVeigh in nets, but it would be surprising if James did not produce another switch or two before the throw-in.

It is going to take a huge effort for Down to get something from this one, but we know from last summer that on our day we are capable of matching Donegal. While we scored from all angles against a poor Louth side earlier in the league, our forwards were pretty disappointing in Galway last week. Donegal have the best defence in the division, so we should have a decent idea about our wider prospects by tomorrow night.

extra time · March 15, 2014, 12:18:54 PM

Quote from: Mourne Rover on March 15, 2014, 11:48:53 AM
Donegal have named probably their strongest available team. They are only missing McBrearty, who is involved with the u21s, and Gallagher, although both of them are on the bench. The only official chance for Down is Harrison for McVeigh in nets, but it would be surprising if James did not produce another switch or two before the throw-in.

It is going to take a huge effort for Down to get something from this one, but we know from last summer that on our day we are capable of matching Donegal. While we scored from all angles against a poor Louth side earlier in the league, our forwards were pretty disappointing in Galway last week. Donegal have the best defence in the division, so we should have a decent idea about our wider prospects by tomorrow night.

Down should be playing their strongest available line up, so McVeigh probably will retain his place in nets. Inexperience there cost us big time last year against Cork. Relegation in fact.

Dubh driocht · March 15, 2014, 08:42:58 PM

Wrong, Extra Time.
It was Mc Comiskey who lost possession that cost us against Cork.
However, Mc Comiskey is one of our stars and had a great game that day apart from a moment of madness. If Tally hadn't taken him off in 2010 we may have had 6 stars on the shirt. Big game tomorrow on the confidence front rather than the ability front. Realistically we are unlikely to be troubling MDO'H this year but we do owe Donegal. It should be tight and 9/1 the draw is a fair bet.

extra time · March 16, 2014, 08:26:37 AM

Quote from: Dubh driocht on March 15, 2014, 08:42:58 PM
Wrong, Extra Time.
It was Mc Comiskey who lost possession that cost us against Cork.
However, Mc Comiskey is one of our stars and had a great game that day apart from a moment of madness. If Tally hadn't taken him off in 2010 we may have had 6 stars on the shirt. Big game tomorrow on the confidence front rather than the ability front. Realistically we are unlikely to be troubling MDO'H this year but we do owe Donegal. It should be tight and 9/1 the draw is a fair bet.

Yes, that was the final mistake but think back to the goals conceded in that game.

Fender · March 16, 2014, 11:58:26 AM

Guys/Ladies any knowledge of a possible live stream of the game?

ballela-angel · March 16, 2014, 01:52:32 PM

Guys/Ladies any knowledge of a possible live stream of the game?

Destination Radio say they are carrying it - I'm also tuned it to Highland Radio out of Donegal as well

orangeman · March 16, 2014, 05:03:05 PM

Big win for Down over a very good Donegal side. Down will give Tyrone all they want in May.

babarino · March 16, 2014, 05:30:33 PM

Well done Down. Needed to win for confidence and took a big scalp.

It's going to be a very competitive Ulster Championship... Derry are in flying form too.

Mourne Rover · March 16, 2014, 05:37:09 PM

Excellent performance from Down today with the only concern that it should not have been so tight in the closing stages. We had a stonewall penalty for Laverty turned down early on and missed a series of chances with the wind at our backs. Donegal also kicked plenty of wides, but they should have finished with 13 men after the ref managed to miss striking offences by McHugh and a particularly ludicrous right hook from Gallagher.

McVeigh's kick-outs were reasonable and he only had to take one catch all day. We had a very solid full back line, with McArdle giving Murphy no space and Costello and McCartan looking the part. Our half backs were also impressive, with Garvey, Boyle and especially Carr doing well.

Turley is getting better and better at midfield, and McKernan worked exceptionally hard, while Maginn popped up just about everywhere and never wasted a pass. Laverty took a while to get involved but was influential towards the end and seemed happy enough to take his black card in injury time. Poland is pure class and Donegal could never handle him.

Madine put in a decent shift and took his goal well, while O'Hare was industrious rather than exceptional. Jerome Johnston suits our style of play but does not take enough scores, while his brother Ryan who replaced him is a fine athlete who needs to avoid handling errors. Benny only appeared in the dying stages but took the last catch in front of our our posts .

It was great to see Ambrose on the bench, and we have the likes of Rooney, O'Hagan and hopefully big Dan to play a role as well, so James deserves full credit for securing division two status and giving us an outside chance of promotion if we win our last two games.