Allianz Football League 2022 Division 1

William Of Orange

William Of Orange

Well-Known Member
bcb1 said:
I get that but we have a greater chance in my opinion if winning Ulster than anything. If we beat Donegal we have a great chance to make the final. We are definitely on the easier side of the draw and really should be making the final if we beat Donegal. You have Tyrone, Derry, and Monaghan bating lumps out of each other on the other side so you’d hope to be on a better place than any of them. Tyrone will have to make it from the Preliminary match to the final which is a rare event. I’d fancy them to beat Fermanagh but for Derry to beat them as Gallagher will be focusing solely on that game. I’d much prefer an Ulster Championship than a League title.

Could we win both? Possibly but if I were a betting man I know where I’d place my money on.
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You make valid points and obviously winning both is a big ask . I have to be honest I’m not confident of us going up to Donegal and beating them in the championship. Hopefully I’m wrong and while we are on an upward curve and they are stagnant but the Ulster championship turns the form book on its head .The league match between us could also be effectively a semi final into the final , that could be another element to the match as well . Anyway it’s great to be talking about being in this position.
 
William Of Orange

William Of Orange

Well-Known Member
Armagh_paul said:
I get that winning breeds success but that has not been the case in the league or with winning titles. The main thing is keeping the lads grounded and winning a league title might give us that air head mentality like the wins against Dublin and Tyrone did.

Murnin has only just returned so it would be good for him to have a few competitive games without having to go full tilt and get ready for the championship. Turbitt and Oisin O'Neill haven't had a lot of game time either. So there are still players who need to play. Donegal won't get a chance to play against our first choice team, they don't get to develop a plan. That goes for us too. We have just over a month to fix a few problems in our game including kick outs, making the defensive setup even more dynamic, get players up to fitness and even fitter and we can do all of this because we cannot get relegated.
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Fair points as well Murnin , O O Neill and Turbo all need game time if fit , maybe even Donaghy , Cian McConville . as I said previously just putting all the eggs into one basket in such a tight match Worries me a bit .
 
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Armaghball

Well-Known Member
William Of Orange said:
This saving ourselves for Donegal in Ulster …. Obviously the championship is the priority but I think I am right in saying we have been in 4 div 1 League finals in our history winning one , we might be waiting a while for another chance and we should go full tilt at it .
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I’d go full tilt at the Kerry game for sure, can’t wait to see that one. Donegal let lads who havent played at all get a run out- no injuries or suspensions, we have a bigger date with them coming up.
 
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bcb1

Well-Known Member
William Of Orange said:
You make valid points and obviously winning both is a big ask . I have to be honest I’m not confident of us going up to Donegal and beating them in the championship. Hopefully I’m wrong and while we are on an upward curve and they are stagnant but the Ulster championship turns the form book on its head .The league match between us could also be effectively a semi final into the final , that could be another element to the match as well . Anyway it’s great to be talking about being in this position.
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Other thing is that Mayo are in the box seat for the final anyway. They’re ahead of us on the head to head and all they have to do is match us in the last 2 games. They have Tyrone and Kildare. They’ll win at least one of those and I’d say they’ll win both so they’re more than likely going to get the second spot.
 
Armagh_paul

Armagh_paul

Well-Known Member
There are still some aspects of the game where we blow hot and cold. We showed a lot of composure yesterday against Kildare but there is a difference between playing a team like Kildare (no offence intended to them) and playing a team like Kerry/Mayo/Tyrone who have experience of controlling games in the last 10 minutes. A league final with all the pressure on us would help the team develop.

Mayo look to have an easier route but the amount of injuries they pick up they might not want to go to a league final. Tyrone and Kildare and relegation contenders and if Donegal beat mongahan they are safe. I would prefer it if Donegal had to play all their remaining fixtures at full tilt.
 
PatMustard

PatMustard

Well-Known Member
It’s strange that it’s come to it that teams don’t want the hassle of appearing in or winning a league final. Yes, championship is a big priority but as Big Willie said, we’d only been in 4 league finals, and only won one. Let’s go at it. Win as many games as we can. If that means qualifying for the league final, then go win it.

On the reverse, is there any need for the league finals? Should the team who finished top not just get the trophy?
 
Armagh_paul

Armagh_paul

Well-Known Member
PatMustard said:
It’s strange that it’s come to it that teams don’t want the hassle of appearing in or winning a league final. Yes, championship is a big priority but as Big Willie said, we’d only been in 4 league finals, and only won one. Let’s go at it. Win as many games as we can. If that means qualifying for the league final, then go win it.

On the reverse, is there any need for the league finals? Should the team who finished top not just get the trophy?
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The risk/reward balance is marginal in these sorts of games.

The benefits in my eyes to going for the league are:

1. We build momentum
2. Improve how we manage games and our composure
3. Practice makes perfect
4. More experience of playing in Croke park if we do get there
5. Play the top team in the country at the minute
6. An additional game and we won't be as rusty come championship. The first championship games in Ulster are always cagey affairs

The risks

1. Won't have much room for experimenting
2. Risk of injuries
3. We have to remember it is the league nobody will give a shite about the results come championship
4. Is fatigue a risk perhaps not for the Donegal game but later on in the championship should we get there?
5. Have an inflated sense of how good we are and as fans we really are awful for this.
6. Won't be able to develop alternative game plans which we really do need

We should temper expectations and remember the league was not massively important to us in past seasons and whilst we have secured division one status again the championship is where it matters most. Personally, as far as I am concerned the league is over. We have achieved our goal of maintaining division one status and the focus should shift towards the championship. All eyes set on the difficult task of trying to take down Donegal who have well and truly had our number in the championship this past few seasons. Make no mistake about it, they might not be as good as they were a few years ago but we have went up against them before with high expectations and they tore us a new one.
 
ragingbull

ragingbull

Well-Known Member
Huge win for Monaghan Donegal were poor & played like a team that are safe in the division,thank feck we won last night
 
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