Derry vs Donegal USFC Final

Boots played midfield for Meath in the nineties Jayo, and was one of the best midfielders I ever saw. He is the real Jimmy McGuinness and I think that is why you've got your Jimmy McGuinnesss mixed up.

Anyway looks like Eoin Bradley is out for the season. Big loss in the overall scheme of things, but I think Derry have enough forwards to replace him for the Donegal game.

Lacey and McGee might stand out that bit more to the untrained eye because they have an extra five of six defenders falling back in front of them. For proper old-school man to man defending, look no further than Kevin Reilly of Meath. But I agree with Jayo, Lacey has been a very good servant to the Donegal cause in the good times and the bad. If I'm honest I haven't seen him this year, but would say he is more than likely playing as well as ever.

I expect Donegal to win this one. They will smother Derry out of the game. Pity they dont use more direct ball as the full forward line of Murphy,McFadden and Brearty are as good as you get. Eoin Bradley also major loss to Derry. Donegal by 5 points.

Jayo, for 18 years now Donegal have been playing their own brand of football and winning nothing of note when it comes to the Championship.
I couldn't care less what "style" of football we play as long as it brings the success we all yearn in this part of the world.
Anyway, there's a serious bit of analysis around this "style" of Donegals. We've watched Tyrone win 3 all irelands and most notably, Armagh win another, with the advent of the very same "style". Donegal, under McGuinness are proving to be very efficient in how they are implementing these tactics. We are also ideally suited to them, not because our defense is pound for pound superior to others but because our attack is very, very good, with ability in reserve. If you ask me, the whole country can wax lyrical about defensive football and I'll happily stand by and watch us win a long awaited Anglo Celt.

thehillsofdonegal wrote: We've watched Tyrone win 3 all irelands and most notably, Armagh win another, with the advent of the very same "style".

I suggest that you watch some dvds of those sides, because neither of them played in a style resembling Donegal's.

Think this one is very much in the balance - Can't see Donegal playing any other way other than the set-up to date so a lot will depend on whether thats a defensive approach that lets Derry shoot at will from the 45 (like in the first half v tyrone) of a defensive setup with some intensity that lets Derry shoot under pressure from the 45 (like in the second half v tyrone) Either way if Derry can shoot accurately from 40/45 they will win but thats a bigger ask without Bradley.

Donegal team is along way from picking itself - Gallagher is the only natural catcher of the ball but lacks mobility and players like Kavanagh or Bradley are not natural midfielders.

The half forward line (or quarter back line) if you will has been a problem area for years - Toye/Bradley/Dunne/Hegarty/Bonner/Kavanagh/Mccloone all of them have had a go and none of them have scored on a consistent basis. When tyrone played the defensive system Dooher and Mcguigan at their peak are often good for 4-5 points between them something that we seldom see from the Donegal half forward line. Molloy and Mchugh are more recent options - Molloy has had an impact - Mchughs contribution has mainly been in his own half of the field nowithstanding the Antrim game.

As regards Loyals point McGee is having a superb year so far though I am not 100% conviced that is impacted by the fact that help is usually close at hand. as regards Lacey I was convinced a long time ago. Has consisently taken on the job of marking the Benny Coulters, the Paddy Bradleys, The Michael Meehans and always comes out on top.
Against Cavan - Seanie Johnson beat him to one ball but Lacey cooly sheperdad him to the corner flag which was as big a threat as there was all day.


If Kielt and co slot the the first two or three over or sneak a goal Derry could cruise
though all in all The absence of Bradley shades it for me and if Derry start shooting from distance early and missing they will get frustrated with Donegal eventually coming out on top in a war of attrition 1-12 to 1-10.

Derry were 6/4 before Bradley got injured. His absense might edge their price out further. Think I'll have a punt on the day of the game.

But best of luck to the Donegal posters - Omar, Hills and RMD.

Wonder will we get any new Derry posters before Sunday, or maybe some old ones?

thehillsofdonegal wrote:Jayo, for 18 years now Donegal have been playing their own brand of football and winning nothing of note when it comes to the Championship.
I couldn't care less what "style" of football we play as long as it brings the success we all yearn in this part of the world.
Anyway, there's a serious bit of analysis around this "style" of Donegals. We've watched Tyrone win 3 all irelands and most notably, Armagh win another, with the advent of the very same "style". Donegal, under McGuinness are proving to be very efficient in how they are implementing these tactics. We are also ideally suited to them, not because our defense is pound for pound superior to others but because our attack is very, very good, with ability in reserve. If you ask me, the whole country can wax lyrical about defensive football and I'll happily stand by and watch us win a long awaited Anglo Celt.

dont think Jimmy sees it quite like that otherwise he wouldnt be playing the system he is playing - Murphy has thus far played more as a third midfielder than a forward.

I take my hat of to McGuinness for getting all the Donegal lads to buy into the system he uses, thats the most important thing as a manager but the system he uses is not the same system Tyrone and Armagh used. It has worked so far but i will be keen to see what plan B is when they need it - i dont think they have one and will be found out before long.

thehillsofdonegal wrote:Jayo, for 18 years now Donegal have been playing their own brand of football and winning nothing of note when it comes to the Championship.
I couldn't care less what "style" of football we play as long as it brings the success we all yearn in this part of the world.
Anyway, there's a serious bit of analysis around this "style" of Donegals. We've watched Tyrone win 3 all irelands and most notably, Armagh win another, with the advent of the very same "style". Donegal, under McGuinness are proving to be very efficient in how they are implementing these tactics. We are also ideally suited to them, not because our defense is pound for pound superior to others but because our attack is very, very good, with ability in reserve. If you ask me, the whole country can wax lyrical about defensive football and I'll happily stand by and watch us win a long awaited Anglo Celt.

Accept that Hills, Though like others here not sure that current 'systems' equate to Armagh or Tyrone - but then the media are lazy basterds and will tell us they are. Some here will tell you that Dublin are playing a Tyrone system!! To be brutally honest I have seen fook all of Donegal this year - yet. But if your defence is as solid as you reckon then I would be using the ability in reserve. Good luck on Sunday - will be an interesting game I think!

Cavan Minors to take on the highly fancied Armagh side in the curtain raiser to this one.. Cavan's first Minor final in 23 years...

well we are fairly sure which Donegal team will turn up as they have been consistent in the two games they have played. The same cant be said for Derry, they can be brilliant at times and other times they leave their supporters pulling their hair out. Derry are very physical and mobile but so too are Donegal.

Donegal will go out with a game plan of stiffling Derry and trying to force them to shoot outside the shooting zone. Derry on the other hand will go out intent on playing their own game and wont be as focused on stopping Donegal.

I think the loss of Bradley may actually work in Derrys favour, with Bradely on the field it gave Donegal a real focus and a reason to stick to the game plan, he was the main threat. Had he played Lacey may well have been given the job of following him and as we all know Lacey more often than not comes out on top. Now that Bradley is out McGuinness must be wondering were the main threat is going to come from and in that sense his planning to date may well be out the window.

On the other hand a few Derry men could have been content to leave the responsibility of scoring to Bradley, now they need to up the ante a bit and take on a bit more responsibility - it also gives Brennan a great excuse to galvanise the team even further with the old 'lets do it for Eoin' line.

its a hard one to call but i fancy Derry to come out on top by 2-3 points.

bocerty wrote:well we are fairly sure which Donegal team will turn up as they have been consistent in the two games they have played. The same cant be said for Derry, they can be brilliant at times and other times they leave their supporters pulling their hair out. Derry are very physical and mobile but so too are Donegal.

Donegal will go out with a game plan of stiffling Derry and trying to force them to shoot outside the shooting zone. Derry on the other hand will go out intent on playing their own game and wont be as focused on stopping Donegal.

I think the loss of Bradley may actually work in Derrys favour, with Bradely on the field it gave Donegal a real focus and a reason to stick to the game plan, he was the main threat. Had he played Lacey may well have been given the job of following him and as we all know Lacey more often than not comes out on top. Now that Bradley is out McGuinness must be wondering were the main threat is going to come from and in that sense his planning to date may well be out the window.

On the other hand a few Derry men could have been content to leave the responsibility of scoring to Bradley, now they need to up the ante a bit and take on a bit more responsibility - it also gives Brennan a great excuse to galvanise the team even further with the old 'lets do it for Eoin' line.

its a hard one to call but i fancy Derry to come out on top by 2-3 points.

To be fair the Antrim game was poor but its still in the record books .

After they lost Paddy Bradley Derry manager John Brennan was quick to point out that it was a massive blow for Paddy but not for Derry. Again Brennan has sympathised with Eoin on his horrible injury but insists that it is quite easy to replace one player and would have the same sympathy if it happened to someone on the fringes of the panel insisting that they'll manage their way through it.

I have to admire Johns' optimism on this occasion having lost two top class forwards surely weakens their chances with nothing equivalent in the full forward line to replicate what either Bradley has to offer. Derry will be not be matched for passion this sunday and both Kielt and Lynch can take long range points but it won't be enough against likes of Murphy who will surely not have the same horror show that he had against Tyrone. I would have sort have liked to see Brennan manage Derry to an Ulster title but unfortunately for him lady luck has not been kind to him on the injury front no matter how hard he tries to put a brave face on it. Donegal to win by +5 points

Eoin Bradley is a massive loss to Derry. I fancied Donegal before this, and strongly fancy them now.

Bradley is Derry's most important player and, as Mugsy has said, is irreplaceable to them. Aside from his scoring power, his pace and power creates panic in opposition defences, and he makes space for the likes of Lynch and Gilligan, something that both of them need in order to shine. Strangley, it probably won't change the way that Donegal play, as they will still play a lot of men back anyway, but it robs Derry of their one player who can win a ball, beat a man, and fire over a point from 50m.

Donegal can only lose this game by playing ultra-negatively, allowing Derry to hang around, and losing it in a tight finish.

Can't believe all the people saying Donegal. Derry are a far superior outfit. Class footballers.

If players of the calibre of Muldoon, Lynch, Kielt, Gilligan can't break down Donegal under the careful stewardship of Mr. Brennan, then it's likely nobody can.

Only one winner in this game and it won't be the one with fifteen players in their own half.

Derry all the way.

Looks like a A Cold and stiff North Breeze with plenty rain on the horizon - so more likely to be a war of attrition than an exhibition of the finer skills of the game

I don't think this Derry side will be inconvienced too much by the elements. Expect a solid display in rain, hail and snow.

Also I agree with what Martin McHugh said on The Committee Room last night. The losers of this game should not be asked to play six days later. The decision to put that Round 4 qualifier back a week should be taken TODAY. Very unfair, and the losers not nearly at the same advantage as Cork, Wexford and Mayo/Roscommon who have a minimum of 13 days to prepare.

Derry without the Bradley's is like Apple pie without cream, chips without vinegar, Bonnie without Clyde, Butch without Sundance.....Donegal to possibly take advantage.

Nice to see two different teams in the Ulster final but I wonder if it will really do either of them any good ...the loser gets chucked into an imminent qualifier with the awful disappointment hanging over them....and the other will go in to the quarter finals maybe a step ahead of themselves and get beat by a team who has come through the qualifiers......we have seen how difficult it can be for provincial winners. And it could well be all the more difficult for a team unaccustomed to going into the quarters as provincial winners. I'm seriously not convinced by either of them yet...Donegal have their 3 primary scoring threats but I would wonder just how potent they would be if those supplying them are shackled. Derry's potentially huge weakness has been exposed by the fact that the loss of Eoin Bradley has led many to believe that Donegal are going to win. It's fair to say that all teams rely on their top forwards for scores but I think Derry without Bradley are something similar to Down a few tears ago without Coulter.....lacking creativity, tenacity, and fresh ideas. But of course, they are under new management and I guess Brennan will have some sort of contingency plan in place. I think it's going to be a tight game....but neither team should allow their progress to the Ulster final mask the fact that even after the final...they will remain untested by the best.

Fancy a draw or Donegal narrowly. Will be a tight game i think. Good luck to both teams

patrique wrote:Derry without the Bradley's is like Apple pie without cream, chips without vinegar, Bonnie without Clyde, Butch without Sundance.....Donegal to possibly take advantage.

Patrique without booze at 3am

Lamentable refereeing from Deegan. Must have matched my Derry bet because he dosen't look too interested in Derry winning. Having said that, it's a bad game, and that suits Donegal. Conditions are also a disgrace. Clearly favouring Donegal. Hopefully Derry 'up' it in the second half. It'd be a sad day when teams as a negative as Mayo and Donegal win provincial titles.

Ah this is not acceptable. Where did he get that penalty from?

Ah I give up with Gaelic Football.

Can't see any penalty there for Donegal.

Derry player cleaned out of it the other end, and nothing.

I don't know. Going to make Derry play a Qualifier now in six days.

Think I've had it with Gaelic Football. When does the Premier League start?

Asking Derry to play next week to add insult.