David versus Goliath

After four long, restless weeks, D-day is finally upon us. Thousands of culchies will invade our nation's capital, for Donegal's biggest sporting occasion since the All-Ireland final of 1992.

Ironically, the Dubs were the opposition that day too, and we all know what a historical day that was. Dublin were massive favourites, but were defeated by a far hungrier Donegal side.

Similarly, Donegal aren't given much of a chance this time either. The bookies and pundits are united in their prediction, believing that we will put it up to them, but inevitably, we will lack the firepower to make the final. Little Donegal will be caught out against the big boys.

Their opinions are primarily based on Dublin's emphatic victory over Tyrone in the quarter final. And to be fair, their performance was awesome. Their score-taking, movement, defending, almost ever aspect of their game was top-notch.

But it was only one performance. Apart from that, they have been quite ordinary in their other games. Against Wexford, they were poor, they were lucky against Kildare, they beat Laois without ever getting out of second gear.

If Dublin were playing Kildare this weekend,  I have no doubt that some of the pundits would have backed Kildare to win. Yet, kildare weren't good enough to beat Donegal, so maybe we will get closer than most pundits are predicting.

Of course, it has been said all year that Dublin's aim is to peak for the big games, but the question still remains can they put two excellent performances back to back?

My bet is that they can't. Diarmuid Connolly was fantastic against Tyrone. But he blows hot and cold. For every brilliant performance scoring seven points, there is another dismal performance waiting around the corner, when he's likely to be taking off before half-time. I'd love to see Eamon McGee brought in to the side to mark him, and really test Connolly's questionable temperment.

Dublin looked very impressive against Tyrone, but any team can look good when they get off to a good start. Donegal have to start well. They need to frustrate the Dubs, get in their faces, slow the game down, do what ever they have to do, to kill Dublin's momentum. Then we will see, what Dublin are really made of.

Much of the pre-match excitement has been over the key battles between the Brogans, and Neil McGee and Karl Lacey. However, I'm not convinced that Lacey will mark Alan Brogan. He has been so effective at centre half back, sweeping up in front of the full forward line and driving Donegal out of defence. I think Frank McGlynn will pick up Brogan, and Lacey will stay at no.6.

If Donegal are to win, it is going to take big performances from our key players, especially Michael Murphy. He should have recovered from the injury that stopped him from starting against Kildare, and we really need him to deliver. It was notable last week, that Kerry's captain, Colm Cooper, rose to the big game occasion and sent his team to the final. We need a similar performance from our captain.

Somebody said to me during the week, that they hoped Donegal would be pumped up for the match. If a player could walk out in front of a packed Croke Park, with 60,000 dubs trying their best to intimidate them, and he couldn't get pumped up for the game, then he shouldn't be playing. This is what Sport is all about. Big games, big crowds, big performances.

Shamrock Rovers showed us last night, that underdogs can win. It will take a huge performance from Donegal, but they can do it. After all, David did slay Goliath, and Donegal can slay Dublin.

Summers turning into Autumns

Tension, anxiety, excitement, fear, hope, the most incredible satisfaction, you name it, we felt it. July 30th, 2011, a day that will live long in the memory of every man, woman and child from Donegal.

It was like an action film, that Quentin Tarantino would have been proud to put his name to. Two teams throwing everything they had at each other, under the shining lights of Croker. No team deserved to lose, but someone, somewhere was smiling on the Green and Gold.

People will point to the square ball as the turning point. And it was, Donegal would not have come back from that setback. I have sympathy for kildare, and for the referee David Coldrick. They are hard decisions to call, split second decisions, and he doesn't get a second look at it. In the times that we are now living in, why we don't use technology, that would eliminate human error, is beyond me.

But Kildare were three points up, still in the driving seat, and they should not have let the game slip away. Ironically, in a team so disciplined and organised as kildare, their downfall was not following the simple basics. When a player is substituted, his marker should immediately pick up his replacement. For what ever reason, Hugh McGrillen (who it has to be said, had a great game), decided to give Christy Toye the freedom of Croke Park, and when his chance arrived he buried it to the back of the net.

Donegal defended brilliantly throughout, but they most certainly played their best football when they chased the game. Chances and scoring opportunities arose more frequently, as Donegal players pushed further up the field. This leaves McGuinnessn in a dificult position. Does he leave the effective defensive system the way it is, or does he tweak it slightly in the hope of scoring more?

In my opinion, the two most important scores in the game, bear an uncanny resemblence. Mark McHugh's point with the last kick of the first half, and Karl Lacey's point on the final whistle of the first period of extra time, were hugely significant scores for Donegal. Both kicks were taking from nearly the exact same position, both players showed great determination to score their points, and both men ensured that Donegal went in at those breaks with only a two point deficit. The difference between a two point lead and a three point is massive.

Once again, Lacey and McGee were phenomenal. No point in waiting, they may as well get the tuxedo ready for the All-Star Banquet. Frank McGlynn (after a poor start) and Ryan Bradley put in great shifts, while the leadership shown by Murphy and Cassidy was incredible. I'd imagine that Cassidy will never have to buy a pint in the county again, after his majestic kick.

Obviously, there is a lot of work to do. Croke Park is very unforgiving, and if you're not up to the job, you will soon be found out at Headquarters. McBrearty, McFadden, McGrath and Rafferty, in particular , will not be happy with their showings, and a big improvement is needed if Donegal will be attending on the third Sunday of September. The first half was truly dreadful to watch, and if Donegal play as bad as that again, they will lose.

However, last Saturday night will stand to them. We are now sitting at the top table of Gaelic football, and are awaiting the winners of Dublin and Tyrone in an All-Ireland semi-final. Who would have predicted that at the start of the year?

Don't you just love it when Championship Summers turn into Championship Autumns?