Messages

Gallagher not expected to make many changes to the team from last week. Major improvement needed as we were terrible against Monaghan. Be disappointed if travel down and don't see an improvement from donegal considering team is at near full strength

Diabolical stuff today from donegal. To only score 1:04 is bad enough but all 4 points were frees and the goal was lucky enough IMO. We looked like a team with no plan at all simply content to pass the ball over and back the pitch with no penetration at all.

The decisions from the management on the sideline didn't make much sense either. Toye was 1 our best players in 1st half yet he was taken off at half time, taking mcbearty off (who been 1 our best players this year) to replace him with McLaughlin was another strange move.

The other thing I've a issue with is sacrificing Ryan mchughs game to accomadate his brother mark. IMO Ryan is being played in the half back line to free up a position in the half forwards for mark which is wrong IMO as Ryan offers so much more to the team in an attacking sense than mark does

Was a decent game for February which could of went either way up until mccaffreys goal. We had enough chances to get something from the game but kicked a lot of bad wides especially in the 2nd half. Thought deegan was very poor especially in the 2nd half were he seemed to lose control of the game

On the 1st goal and durcans kick outs I don't think its as easy to say teams have figured out his kick outs, personally I think he rushes them at times trying to get ball in play when spots a free man instead of taking his time and picking a better option or kicking it long.

How are we 1 day away from this game and still have no topic on it. What's everyone's opinion on it will jim Gavin play a stronger team this weekend or will he continue to experiment with the younger lads

Must say I've not looked forward to a league game as much in a long tine. Great to play in croke park and should be a good crowd to help create a good atmosphere

Onto this Saturday night and an away trip to croke park to play Dublin. Will be interesting to see how both teams line up, will him Gavin played a stronger side than last weekend. Can see us starting with similar team to this week. Meant to be a good crowd travelling down so should make for a good atmosphere as well

[Derry couldn't handle Murphy]

Good second half from Donegal. Could even afford to gift Derry two of their three second half points! Derry couldn't handle Murphy when he went in full forward, Neil Gallagher and Christy Toye were immense and we did very well with the turnovers in the second half.

Two points down, four left to get!

Murphy gave a masterclass on how to 'win' frees / panalties alright. Either lean back into the defender or shake your head and fall to your knees. Duffy fell for it everytime

Penalty was questionable,  but that was about it. The free a few minutes before it was a foul.

Was in the terrace on Saturday night and as soon as it happened we thought penalty. We all agreed I it was soft but "had seen them given before". Anyway the decision wasn't the winning of the game and Derry got a few soft frees in the 1st half.

So a four point win for Derry over QUB would send them through at the expense of Armagh, unless Antrim somehow manage to beat Tyrone by 4?

If Donegal win, will it not depend on how much they beat Fermanagh by?

Will a 3 point win not be enough for Derry to go throw? Are they not on +9 points and Armagh are on +11

If donegal beat Fermanagh then Derry will probably finish top of the group (if they beat queens) then dobegal would need to beat Fermanagh by a massive score to go through as best runner up (roughly 12 point victory I think)

Derry giving do egal a bit of a beating today in Gallagher's 1st game on charge. Ended up Derry 1:16 Donegal 0:8.

Hard to comment on the game as wasn't at it but seems Derry totally dominated us in midfield which set them up for the win. Dobegal kicked a fortune wide and don't know if Rory will take much out of the game at all 

Will it be hard to get tickets for this game (as a neutral)? I see there sold out online. Any ideas where to pick a couple?

There are ones available on tickets.ie now. All upper tier but meant be a limited number available

Ulster Semi finals and Finals are always in Clones, not going to change because it's Monaghan.

Not true we played down in ulster semi final in Cavan just last year.

Even if you dont like Donegal's style of play you really have to admire the way they can repeatedly win games with an almost identical pattern. Time and again they hang in for first half then do an Aussie style 3rd quarter hard press get their noses infront and then strangle the game out. It ain't pretty but its damned effective, its up to the opposition players and managers to find away through it. I think it is unfair to lambast Donegal for playing in a manner that works for them. For years I listened to all the bull about Tyrone and it never bothered me much when where winning AI's.

Sssh man don't be talking like that do you not know that donegal are evil and deserve no praise at all 

Win this semi final and we be in our 4th ulster final in a row. Minors are favourites to win ulster, our u21s are getting to ulster finals regularly. Things might be looking up for donegal and as someone who's been there in the good and the bad times I know which I prefer. We won that game today playing poorly enough. Never a bad signed when your main scorer doesn't score and you still win

Donegal (SFC v Derry) - Paul Durcan; Eamon McGee, Neil McGee, Karl Lacey; Frank McGlynn, Leo McLoone, Anthony Thompson; Neil Gallagher, Martin McElhinney; Christy Toye, Ryan McHugh, Odhran MacNiallais; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Colm McFadden.

This may be the team named but it might not be the one that starts. Was told yesterday by member of back room team that Gallagher would have a fitness test Sunday morning. It be a great boost to the team if he was fit to start

Didn't McKinless do well on Murphy in a recent game?

Might have been in Ulster club.

Yeah think he marked him in the club final. Will be 1 of a few good match ups on Sunday. Can see Lacey marking mark lynch as well

Very excited about this game. Any word on when the Donegal team will be announced? Derrys is to be announced on Friday at the club derry dinner. Will Neil Gallagher be fit? I feel he will be vital in any game plan mcguiness would have and may force him into a different kickouts tat agh as derry would surely do,image if Donegal were without their first choice midfield pairing.

1. Thomas Mallon (The Loup)
2. Gareth Mckinless (Ballinderry)
3. Chrissy Mckaige (Slaughtneil)
4. Dermot McBride (Ballinascreen)
5.Kevin Johnston (Dungiven)
6.Gerard O'Kane (Glenullin)
7.Sean Leo McGoldrick (Coleraine)
8. Fergal Doherty (Bellaghy)
9.Patsy Bradley (Slaughtneil)
10. Ciaran McFaul (Glen)
11. Mark Lynch (c) (Banagher)
12. Enda Lynn (Greenlough)
13. Benny Heron (Ballinascreen)
14. Emmett McGuckin (Magherafelt)
15. Caolan O'Boyle (Lavey)

This is how I would want us to line out and expect us to do so. McKaige on Murphy and Mcbride on McFadden. I don't think the country understands how important Sean Leo is for derry and how huge of a miss he was for the Dublin game. I expect Derry to get the better of the middle of the pitch and hopefully limit the supply into the all star full forward line. With bell and Kielt on the bench, mciver has the option to change his tactics to long range shots if the running game is countered by donegals blanket. Really looking forward to this one and hoping for a win in a very tight, intense game against and brilliant donegal set up.

Mcguinness usually names his team a day or 2 before the game. The team I mentioned above is what is being talked about around here. It would lead you to think mcguinness is going to use few new tactics on Sunday. Neil Gallagher won't start IMO and will come on with 20 or so minutes to go. Really looking forward to it most people are making Derry favs gave even seen people online saying Derry to win by 5+ points. Do think a lot of people are looking a bit to much into the league, it wouldn't be the first time a team went well in the league and did nothing in championship. Mciver did it hear in donegal in 07.

Hopefully it's a good day and il say donegal to win a tight game by 2-3 points

Also the word on the street here in donegal is that donegal could lineup like this
1. Durcan
2. McGrath
3. N McGee
4. E McGee
5. lacey
6. Mcloone
7. Mcglynn
8. Mcelhinney
9. Toye
10. R mchugh
11. Mcbearty
12. Mcnelis
13. McFadden
14. Murphy
15. Oconnor

The big player who would miss out if this is true is Anthony Thompson. Personally think its a bit of a gamble playing McGrath after only coming back from long term injury. Know his recovery has been geared towards this game for a while now.  Mcbearty played at centre half forward for the u21s this year and it's a position I've wanted to see jim try him in as think he be good player to link the play and also gives the half forward line more of a scoring threat which it has been lacking. Young "jigger" oconnor be making his championship debut if this is the team and he's another great young player has a bit of pace about him which rest of our options for the full forward line lack a little

From what I'm hearing Big Neil won't be fit to start the game but it's hoped he be able to play some part