Donegal - Kildare preview

Two years ago, I faced into the August Bank Holiday weekend in a confident mood. Donegal had just beaten Derry and Galway in impressive fashion and the tae and hang sandwiches were packed and ready for an assault on Croker.

We played against Cork, who were Munster Champions. They were a strong physical side, who never seemed to win when it really mattered. They were fit, had a determined manager, were strong at midfield, yet lacked a real top class forward line. It was there poor forward line that I, as a young and naive man, believed would be there downfall and I predicted a victory for the green and gold. It wasn't. They won by 14 points, and they're average forward line raised the healthy sum of 1-27.

Kildare in many ways approach this years quarter final in a similar position to Cork two years ago. In Kieran McGeeney, they have a determined, hungry manager. They are excellent at midfield, they are very fit, however, doubts remain over whether their forward line is really top notch. So after the Cork fiasco, you'll forgive me, if I'm a little bit cautious.

Donegal are now Ulster Champions, their objective at the start of the year, and what ever happens from now until the end of the season will be a bonus. But the draw has been kind. Avoiding both Cork and Kerry until the All-Ireland final is a fantastic incentive. Dublin or Tyrone, ( Roscommon haven't a hope) are more than beatable at the semi-final stage, if of course, Donegal can beat the Lilywhites on Saturday.

John Doyle, their talismatic captain, is a superb player, and will take a lot of watching. However, I, like most Donegal supporters, will be delighted to see him playing around midfield, and not closer to the goalposts, where he could cause more damage. With Rory Kavanagh not expected to play, Matin McElhinney will really have to stand up and show if he is capable of playing at this level.

In Tomas O'Connor, Kildare have a traditional full forward. Strong and fast, he links up well with the other forwards. But he will get nothing easy on Saturday. Neil McGee loves a physical tussle with his opponent (I'm reffering to Gaelic football, obviously), and he is more than capable of keeping O'Connor quiet.

Kildare create lots of scoring opportunities, and have posted high tallies throughout the year. But they won't do that this week. Donegal's tackling is tenacious, and they will force Kildare in to positions that their not comfortable in. My main worry from Donegal's perspective, is Emmet Bolton. He will more than likely pick up Mark McHugh and as he drops back, Bolton will have lots of space to influence the game. He has been in excellent form this year, and is a regular scorer for Kildare. If he is allowed to roam the pitch freely on Saturday, Donegal will be in big bother.

Eammon Callaghan is in Ft's opinion the most underrated player in the country. He has pace, skill and always scores a couple of points. He should have to much craft and guile for Anthony Thompson and I believe Donegal should put McGrath on Callaghan to try and curb his influence.

At the other end of the pitch, Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden should have too much ability for their markers. But, Geezer was probably the most effective player in the last twenty years at sweeping in front of danger forwards, and no doubt he'll have some plan to counteract Donegal's dangerous duo.

The game will be tight and tough, and I expect it to be it low scoring. There definately won't be 14 points in it, like the last time Donegal played in a quarter final against Cork. The big question is will Donegal's defensive system work at Croke Park? I think it will, and I for one cannot wait to seen McGeeney's smug face and ridiculous hairstyle knocked well and truly out of the Championship.

All changed, changed utterly

After nineteen long years, the Anglo Celt cup is back within the boundaries of Donegal. It was a magnificent performance from Donegal as they put years of defeat, disappointment and indiscipline behind them, to capture the Ulster title they craved so much.

It comes just over a year from their exit from the 2010 Championship to Armagh. That day Donegal were lethargic, disinterested and passionless. The image of Colm McFadden and co laughing on the bench as their team was getting hammered, left a bitter taste and signalled the end of John Joe donerty's disastrous tenure as bainisteoir. Who could have possibly forseen, as we left deflated from Crossmaglen, that just 12 months later Michael Murphy would be lifting the Anglo Celt?

 One man could, Jim McGuinness.

But things would have to change. The team would have to get fitter, stronger and faster. Jim knew he had talented players, but talent alone was not enough. The best teams had game plans, and McGuinness strategically came up with a game plan to make Donegal difficult to beat. However, more than anything, they needed a change of attitude. They had to get rid of their inferiority complex, give more commitment and start behaving like champions. In just over a year, everything changed. To quote W. B yeats, it has "all changed, changed utterly".

Last Sunday, Donegal were fantastic. Their tackling was tenacious, their workrate ferocious, and their scoretaking was wonderful. Huge credit must go to Michael Hegarty. To say the kilcar man would not have been Ft's most favourite player over the last decade or so, would be a bit of an understatement, yet on Sunday, he really came of age. To play Donegal's system, a link man is crucial. Someone is needed to connect the defence with attack, and Hegarty was superb in this role. His distribution was impeccable, his tackling was good, and he always seemed to be in around the braking ball. He would have been my man of the match.

To traditionalists, Donegal's system may not be pretty, but nobody can deny its effectiveness. It protects the full back line, cuts out the opposition inside forwards, and forces players, uncomfortable in possesion, to shoot under pressure. It also importantly, reduces the oppositions chances sigificantly of scoring goals. The old GAA proverb says that 'Goals win matches', Donegal have conceded one and scored six in four matches. With such a mean defence, it's no surprise Donegal are Ulster champions.

Neil McGee was steady at full back, while Anthony Thompson had a great 70 minutes. Paddy McGrath and Frank McGlynn have really lifted their performaces this year. They get stronger and stronger with each game, and their improvement has allowed Karl Lacey to push out the field. For too long, he has been confined to the corner, Lacey has far too much ability to be played there. He is excellent at tackling, good at carrying the ball and superb at reading the game. And at 40/1 with PP to win footballer of the year, he could be a very worthwhile investment.

Neil Gallagher had a fine game in the middle, while McFadden has come a long way from his laughter in Crossmaglen.Michael Murphy rediscovered his form and showed why McGuinness entrusted him with the captaincy. He showed real leadership, as he won the ball after ball and contributed two points to the tally. He also had the liathroidí to stick away the penalty when it came.

John Brennan and Dery were unhappy, but i believe the decision to award a penalty was the correct one. Murphy won the ball, and Devlin's mommentum brought Murphy down. If it happened in any other position in the field, a free kick would be given. Derry were very unlucky not to be given a penalty of their own, yet I still think Donegal would have held on for victory. It meant too much to let it slip.

Donegal now move forward into the All-Ireland Championship, and they don't fear anyone. And why should they? They have earned the right to be there, and it is going to take a very good side to defeat them. Crossmaglen is now a distant memory, Donegal are Ulster Champions. They are all changed, changed utterly.

5 crucial areas where the Ulster Final will be won and lost

The performance of Michael Murphy.

Murphy has been quiet by his high standards in the Ulster campaign so far, and his role on Sunday will be crucial in determining who takes home the Anglo Celt Cup. Entrusted with the captaincy at the start of the year, Murphy impressed during the league, but has found the going tough during the Championship. However, the former young player of the year’s confidence will be high after playing a pivitol role in helping Glenswilly defeat Naomh Conaill in the Donegal Senior Championship two weeks ago. The Derry Defence will worry about Murphy, after he scored 0-5 in their Championship encounter in 2009, while he caused havoc scoring 1-5 against them in the league earlier this term. Donegal will need another big performance from their captain if they are to be victorious on Sunday.

Midfield battle

The most important position on the field and a sector where Derry are strong. Traditionally, Derry have always produced excellent midfielders. Brian McGilligan and Anthony Tohill were two of the finest midfielders of their generation, while more recently Fergal Doherty was unlucky not to collect an All-Star. Their current partnership of Joe Diver and Michael Friel dismantled Armagh’s midfield in the semi-final, and with the evergreen Enda Muldoon helping out in this area too, the Derry midfield is a formidable opponent. The Donegal midfield of Rory Kavanagh and Kevin Rafferty struggled against Tyrone in the semi-final, and with both men carrying injuries into the game, it may prove a difficult task to break Derry’s stranglehold in the middle of the park.

Neil McGee v Caolan O’Boyle

With Eoin Bradley ruled out of the game through injury, much of the attention will be on who fills the number 14 jersey. Mark Lynch could occupy the position, but it is seems unlikely that Derry boss John Brennan would remove him from the half-forward line after his performance against Armagh. Bradley’s likely replacement therefore, is Caolan O’Boyle. O’Boyle, who stands at 6 ft 4”, is relatively untested at this level, but did impress against Donegal in the league when he scored 2-1. Derry used the tactic of kicking in high ball, and this caused the Donegal defence lots of problems. Neil McGee has been in excellent form this year, and he will be determined to ensure Donegal go through their Ulster Campaign without conceding a goal. He coped sufficiently with Cavan’s aerial bombardment in the quarter final, when David Givney was moved to full forward, and he will have to be equally as vigilant to keep out the oak leaf men.

The Substitutes bench

Donegal have put a lot of emphasis on substitutes this year, and their bench looks very strong. With experienced players like Neil Gallagher, Eamon McGee and Christy Toye all available, Donegal have a lot of big match experience in reserve. Marty Boyle showed that he was more than capable of playing inter-county football against Cavan. While Dermot Molloy and Michael Hegarty have both made big impacts when introduced. Derry’s bench appears less strong, with a lot of inexperienced players being called upon so far this year. Emmet McGuckin and Colm McGoldrick are the likely replacements for forwards, while Ciaran Mullan, Kevin McCloy and the returning Gerard O’Kane will provide defensive cover. With the pace of the game expected to be fast and the intensity high, a big onus will be on substitutes to provide the fresh legs to secure victory for their respective teams. Which side’s bench has the biggest effect when introduced, may be a deciding factor.

Derry’s ability to take long-range points.

Donegal’s defensive system has proven to be very successful so far, but perhaps faces it’s most difficult opposition so far this year, in the Ulster Final. With Donegal players flooding back into their own half, and blocking off passes to the Derry inside forwards, Derry will have to look elsewhere for scores. This means that their half forwards, midfielders and half-backs have an added responsibility to provide points. Tyrone struggled against Donegal, as they were forced into kicking wides from difficult angles. However, Donegal’s system will suit Derry, as their half back line of Charlie Kielt, Barry and Sean Leo McGoldrick are all comfortable on the ball and renowned point scorers. Add this to the scoring prowess of Mark lynch, Enda Muldoon and James Kielt, and Derry are more than capable of upsetting Donegal’s defensive system. Donegal will have to prevent them from scoring long range points if they are going to be Ulster Champions.

Verdict: Donegal to win by two points in a tight, tough game. Don't expect a classic.