Donegal v Down Ulster Semi June 23

[donegal lad]

It would actually seem that them figures are correct. Down gaa were appealing to supporters to go buy tickets today on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=484242191650829&set=pb.112290905512628.-2207520000.1371769630.&type=3&theater

[armaghniac]

Latest reports are that 4,500 tickets have been sold in Co. Down, so far, and 13,500 sold in Co. Donegal

There wasn't 1350 from Donegal in Cross' 3 years ago. Support seems to be growing in Tír Chonaill! The train from Bundoran will be packed.

[J70]

Latest reports are that 4,500 tickets have been sold in Co. Down, so far, and 13,500 sold in Co. Donegal

There wasn't 1350 from Donegal in Cross' 3 years ago. Support seems to be growing in Tír Chonaill! The train from Bundoran will be packed.

I remember being one of maybe 200 Donegal people in Newbridge for a qualifier in 2001. Like most counties, we have a hard core  of supporters, and various grades who will come out as the team gets more successful.

[donegal lad]

Latest reports are that 4,500 tickets have been sold in Co. Down, so far, and 13,500 sold in Co. Donegal

There wasn't 1350 from Donegal in Cross' 3 years ago. Support seems to be growing in Tír Chonaill! The train from Bundoran will be packed.

Was probably about 500-1000 of us at that game. We were at rock bottom that year and was the hardcore that made the journey

[Syferus]

Latest reports are that 4,500 tickets have been sold in Co. Down, so far, and 13,500 sold in Co. Donegal

There wasn't 1350 from Donegal in Cross' 3 years ago. Support seems to be growing in Tír Chonaill! The train from Bundoran will be packed.

Was probably about 500-1000 of us at that game. We were at rock bottom that year and was the hardcore that made the journey

Ye big lads thinking a few down years are rock bottom. You should ask small counties like Roscommon and Galway about rock bottom.

[snoopdog]

Latest reports are that 4,500 tickets have been sold in Co. Down, so far, and 13,500 sold in Co. Donegal

There wasn't 1350 from Donegal in Cross' 3 years ago. Support seems to be growing in Tír Chonaill! The train from Bundoran will be packed.

Was probably about 500-1000 of us at that game. We were at rock bottom that year and was the hardcore that made the journey

Ye big lads thinking a few down years are rock bottom. You should ask small counties like Roscommon and Galway about rock bottom.

Laughable alright, rockbottom sure didnt you take the All Ireland finalists that year to extra time and could have beaten them.

[DennistheMenace]

Is anyone predicting a Down win? I'm trying to convince myself..

[orangeman]

Is anyone predicting a Down win? I'm trying to convince myself..

It takes a bit of convincing to imagine a Down win.

Bookies have been wrong before.

[southdown]

Any guesses as to how that Down team named will actually line out? Personally, Im a lot more worried about McFadden that Murphy.  Then throw McBrearty into the mix.

A lot will come down to how James and his team go about this game.  If we play our normal game I can only see a Donegal win.

[donegal lad]

Latest reports are that 4,500 tickets have been sold in Co. Down, so far, and 13,500 sold in Co. Donegal

There wasn't 1350 from Donegal in Cross' 3 years ago. Support seems to be growing in Tír Chonaill! The train from Bundoran will be packed.

Was probably about 500-1000 of us at that game. We were at rock bottom that year and was the hardcore that made the journey

Ye big lads thinking a few down years are rock bottom. You should ask small counties like Roscommon and Galway about rock bottom.

Laughable alright, rockbottom sure didnt you take the All Ireland finalists that year to extra time and could have beaten them.

Rock bottom in terms of supporters travelling. Your right we did bring the ai finalist to extra time that year but its a game we should of won and would of only for stupid changes from the management

[Fuzzman]

Whilst I genuinely think Donegal will win this game in 2nd gear, I'd love to see Down come out all guns blazing and try to build up an early lead.
Tyrone have not managed this in the last 3 years mainly because we haven't been accurate enough in front of goals. I think this year particularly there seemed to be the body language of too much respect and fear of the Donegal machine even before the game started.

Hope Down try to rise above that and go hell for leather with nothing to lose.
Frustration for forwards is the biggest problems most teams face when playing Donegal but I suspect Donegal will be much less defensive now they've got past the first round and they'll open up and play a much more attacking brand of football.

Down by 5

[PAULD123]

In February we played Doengal in Ballyboofey. Donegal were not the effective unit that they are famed to be for about the whole of the first half. They started without Gallagher and Lacey. The big change came in the second half when they introduced Neil Gallagher. Then Donegal won midfield and dominated us.

All the players who lined out against Down played against Tyrone except Ryan McHugh at corner back who was replaced by McGrath. Against Tyrone, Donegal brought on Mark McHugh who started against us. They were also able to bring on Lacey. Most importantly Gallagher played the whole match and dominated midfield.

As I said the big change came when Gallagher won midfield, prior to that Down were doing ok against what has now been shown to be about 12-13 of the Donegal championship side.

Since then Gallagher has become unavailable and Lacey will not be there either. But Down have strengthened with the return of Ambrose, Benny (who didn't start in Ballyboofey), the introduction of the strong looking Madine, and the possible availability of Danny Hughes.

Look I am not going to be foolish. I expect a Donegal victory but my point is that we are not so far behind them as is being made out. We are certainly not that far behind Tyrone. Donegal are missing a critical man and Down have several returned. I believe fully that Down could still be in a tight match with ten minutes to go. I think Donegal will have too much but I do not think that it is inevitable that Down will be over-run.

[nrico2006]

In February we played Doengal in Ballyboofey. Donegal were not the effective unit that they are famed to be for about the whole of the first half. They started without Gallagher and Lacey. The big change came in the second half when they introduced Neil Gallagher. Then Donegal won midfield and dominated us.

All the players who lined out against Down played against Tyrone except Ryan McHugh at corner back who was replaced by McGrath. Against Tyrone, Donegal brought on Mark McHugh who started against us. They were also able to bring on Lacey. Most importantly Gallagher played the whole match and dominated midfield.

As I said the big change came when Gallagher won midfield, prior to that Down were doing ok against what has now been shown to be about 12-13 of the Donegal championship side.

Since then Gallagher has become unavailable and Lacey will not be there either. But Down have strengthened with the return of Ambrose, Benny (who didn't start in Ballyboofey), the introduction of the strong looking Madine, and the possible availability of Danny Hughes.

Look I am not going to be foolish. I expect a Donegal victory but my point is that we are not so far behind them as is being made out. We are certainly not that far behind Tyrone. Donegal are missing a critical man and Down have several returned. I believe fully that Down could still be in a tight match with ten minutes to go. I think Donegal will have too much but I do not think that it is inevitable that Down will be over-run.

I just don't see why people even reckon Down will get close to Donegal.  They are an average side who have not beaten any of the top teams over the past 10 years (apart from catching Tyrone on the hop in 2008 and beating a severely understrength Kerry team in 2010).

[southdown]

Bit of a contradiction above.

[nrico2006]

Bit of a contradiction above.

I was simply pointing out the two arguments Down fans would have to try and back up any claims of big wins.  My argument would be that since the new millenium Down have done little of note and apart from beating an under-strength Kerry in 2010 they got a handy run to an All Ireland final.  They have consistently been found out in Ulster when facing the better sides and have not really done anything of note.