[QUOTE=âIl Bomber Destro, post: 937218, member: 2533â]DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P McMahon, R OâCarroll, J Cooper; J McCarthy, N Devereux, K Nolan; M Dara Macauley, C OâSullivan; P Flynn, P Andrews, D Connolly; A Brogan, E OâGara, B Brogan.
DERRY: T Mallon; O Duffy, C McKaigue, D McBride; K Johnson, G OâKane, A McAlynn; F Doherty, P Bradley; E Lynn, M Lynch (capt) C McFaul; B Heron, E McGuckin, C OâBoyle
MONAGHAN: R Beggan; K Duffy, D Wylie, F Kelly; D Mone, V Corey, K OâConnell; O Lennon, P Finlay; K Hughes, S Gollogly, C McGuinness; D Malone, J McCarron, C McManus.
DONEGAL: P Durcan; E McGee, N McGee, K Lacey; F McGlynn, L McLoone, A Thompson; R Kavanagh, M McElhinney; C Toye, R McHugh, O MacNiallais; C McFadden, M Murphy, P McBrearty.
Is that pretty much Dublin at full strength bar the u-21s? I donât think you could regard Brennan as a guaranteed starter when everyone is fit. They seem to have been doing a lot of chopping and changing with MacAuleyâs midfield partner in the league, the lad they had at midfield with him the last day (OâMahony) was beyond useless.
Sean Leo McGoldrick is a huge loss for Derry as he is one of the elite wing backs in the game, even in his veteran years. Donât see Derry collapsing like Cork did in the second half but they will need to start strongly and build up a lead. I also think they will be looking for the goals, wouldnât be the biggest fan of OâBoyle but he also seems to be able to grab a goal. Iâd imagine McCarthy is likely to pick up Lynn and would suspect him to be rather cynical in fouling him in deep areas, hopefully the referee clamps down on this.
Monaghan are suffering a lot of injuries at the minute, Walsh is a big loss as is Doogan and Darren Hughes is still not fit enough to start the match so there are 3 crucial players missing. Looking forward to seeing young Jack McCarron who I have heard great things about. Good chance to see how good the depth is in the Monaghan squad with these players not available though.
Donegal seem to be at full strength, canât really think of any player coming in that will strengthen this side. Iâve been quite dismissive of them this year, I know MacNiallais and McHugh are relatively new to the panel but it has a very familiar look to a squad who looked really flat last season and there was never much depth to the squad to begin with. McFadden, Toye, Lacey, the two McGees, Kavanagh and Gallagher are all the wrong side of 30 now and are very much key performers in a squad that looks very light on depth. I havenât seem them play yet this year so tomorrow will be an opportunity to qualify my appraisal. I also think the full forward line is very samey, they donât have that elusive quick corner forward there and have no real options to change it. Some people would say itâs the best full forward line in the country but they all seem to be lacking a bit of pace and I think it will be much easier to defend against them with the new rules than forwards like McManus, OâDonoghue and McCurry. Itâs time for McBrearty to step up as well - is this his fourth season as senior starter now? He has yet to deliver for Donegal and a lot of forwards around the same age group have usurped him.
I donât think either Donegal or Monaghan to hold back tomorrow and expect a game played at full Championship intensity.[/QUOTE]
Darren Hughes and McKenna come in for McGuinnes and McCarron.
Will be interesting to see where the Hughes brothers play? Theyâve both been named to start in the half forward line - which would make it a very formidable half forward line.
