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Donegal GAA Discussion Thread

harpsman

Thought I d throw this up see if theres any interest.
Opinions on new backroom team,reasons for departure of old one, McGuinness claim that his players had 9 games in 11 weeks during championship season, possible new players or anything else!!

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ghostfacekilla

I couldn't help but notice how Hughie was looking at Murphy as they lifted the cup.

Well done the lads. Showed great steel and resolve. With all the talk of McBrearty's comeback from injury, the return of Gillespie would be welcomed when he does. I hope he stays injury free, especially with Neil putting mileage up and our defensive issues.
Great shooting from young Oisin, what a dream start to a first day out in Croker with the seniors.
I can't see this team doing anymore than last year but will be a force to be reckoned with in 2-3yrs if everyone commits.

babybuilder

Rubbish first half much better second. No pressure on Meath outfield players put our back line under serious pressure. When we started to contest totally different result. Best play of game was a meath first half point. Three kick passes and a point. Not too keen on our tendency to solo out from our defense until we come into contact. Much prefer we kick long into open spaces. Very impressed with gallen and Jamie Brennan. Murphy unreal second half. Roll on Fermanagh game.

Redsoxfan

downthemiddle wrote:

OisÃn Gallen made a shaky start and showed poor decision making with the wide from the endline. By the time the final whistle blew he was revelling in the space around Croke Park. He never shirked responsibility and his work rate is impressive. He'll be some player by the time he starts shaving.

Good post, lol, aye Gallen needs to fill out a bit, doesn't he.

Was a very satisfying day after all. Most of the first hslf was very disturbing, with McCole getting skinned every time Meath kicked the ball in. Yeah, he needs to shoulder some of the blame, but there was no pressure on the pass and we needed a full time sweeper to cut it out. A lot of development needed if he is to be our full back for the future.

Gallen, O'Donnell and Jamie Brennan the highlights for me. Great to see the confidence even after bad starts. Lovely goal. When we click, we can play some really nice football.

Hugh McFadden put in a big shift. Can't fault the effort. We need to get better at managing things when he knocks the ball down however. Too much lost that way.

Patton had two bad moments. One of those skimmed kicks to the wing that we saw a few times last year and will haunt him one of these days. And then he kicked the ball to Ryan McHugh in a scenario that looked too like the ****e we saw in Tipperary. Still, some very good kicks too. Will never have the presence of Papa but not many will.

Eoghan BÃ¡n vital to us.

Ryan was poor by his standards. A number of bad errors that cost us. In fairness to him, he was signaling to come off at least 5 minutes before he was finally subbed.

O'Baoil needs to start every game now.

Was Leo injured? Couldn't really understand that switch - Doherty is overrated as a man marker tbh. I'd rather see McFadden Ferry thrown in.

Don't get or like the Eoin McHugh substitutions mind you. Would be good to see Carroll back in that role or even Marty O'Reilly, who seems to be out of favour.

And we had Paddy McBrearty in the warm up. Looked in good shape.

Still rely a lot on Michael. And that's fine, supporting cast will develop, but nobody like him on the horizon. Need to get him one more crack at the big one.

downthemiddle

Well that was harmless fun. In the end it was men against boys, even though some of our men are still boys. Oisín Gallen made a shaky start and showed poor decision making with the wide from the endline. By the time the final whistle blew he was revelling in the space around Croke Park. He never shirked responsibility and his work rate is impressive. He'll be some player by the time he starts shaving.
Jason McGee and Niall O'Donnell put in effective shifts. They kicked nice scores, used the ball well and O'Donnell's pass for the goal was sublime.
I never like seeing a player hauled ashore early, especially a young lad. Brendan McCole has had a good campaign but he was all at sea tonight. Declan was ruthless in making the changed but it was necessary otherwise the outcome may have been different. It is appropriate that Neil broke the record in Croke Park. He has been a great servant for the county and one of the best players ever to grace the jersey.
Our forward options are exciting. With a full compliment we could match any county. There are still a few issues to be resolved defensively but we are moving in the right direction. Our workrate is good, we have a nice mixture of physicality and pace although we still struggle to contain direct runners.
It may only be in years to come that the full extent of what Michael Murphy has given our county. He makes the game look easy but, more importantly, he is totally selfless in his approach. He is the ultimate team player. It was good to see Hughie lift the cup alongside him. Hugh is as honest as they come.
The shadow boxing is over, let the games begin.

charlie14

Cavan_King wrote: »

I thought Ryan McHugh had a great game and did damage for ye. He would have been my man of the match.

Maybe I`m that used to seeing him ghost past opposition players that I didn`t full appreciate his contribution, but for me Neil McGee putting the clamps on Newman, who was running riot until he was brought on, was a major turning point. And while I could not fault anything he did in the first half, when Michael Murphy moved up front he was outstanding and created havoc. So for me he was a very deserving man of the match.

Cavan_King

MactheKnife90 wrote: »

Really?

Yep, Meath were playing with a lot of men behind the ball and his running opened them up IMO.

MactheKnife90

Cavan_King wrote: »

I thought Ryan McHugh had a great game and did damage for ye. He would have been my man of the match.

Really? Now I was at the match so might have missed a lot. I really didnt feel he was that good. Did I totally miss it?

Cavan_King

charlie14 wrote: »

Without wishing to take anything away from Meath but between ourselves in the first 15 mins and the ref, we did our best to make a game of it. Neil McGee coming on for a new appearance record settled us down and we went on to play some lovely football even if our kick-out strategy (or lack off ) was a problem as was mid-field at times.
Some lovely scores, Gallen, Jamie Brennan were really on song. Murphy yet again was unreal. Room for improvement in certain areas but to go negative on the day that`s in it after coming back from 8 down to win by 2 would be a bit churlish.
Nice to see Frank Mc Glynn making an appearance.

Not to tempt fate this far out, but with everyone available we could be looking at a long summer.

I thought Ryan McHugh had a great game and did damage for ye. He would have been my man of the match.

charlie14

Without wishing to take anything away from Meath but between ourselves in the first 15 mins and the ref, we did our best to make a game of it. Neil McGee coming on for a new appearance record settled us down and we went on to play some lovely football even if our kick-out strategy (or lack off ) was a problem as was mid-field at times.
Some lovely scores, Gallen, Jamie Brennan were really on song. Murphy yet again was unreal. Room for improvement in certain areas but to go negative on the day that`s in it after coming back from 8 down to win by 2 would be a bit churlish.
Nice to see Frank Mc Glynn making an appearance.

Not to tempt fate this far out, but with everyone available we could be looking at a long summer.

MactheKnife90

Nidgeweasel wrote: »

Michael Murphy.

Jesus that was tough going for 74 minutes.

Nidgeweasel

Michael Murphy.

Lofidelity

5 lower Cusack, section 303 row RR for sale. €15 each.

Redsoxfan

Atmosphere will be pure ****e.

Given the teams involved, Clones would have had plenty of capacity.

Leitrim probably want and deserve their day in Croke Park which is fair enough.

doc_17

I'd say they will be 20,000 there on Saturday between the 4 teams. And they'll never be there at the one time!

If Donegal's preparation is right we should have a little too much for Meath.

Redsoxfan

DSH reporting Paddy McBrearty will play for Kilcar in the opening round of the league on Sunday week.

Read it and weep Rory.

Alvin Holler

Redsoxfan wrote: »

But would I love to see Papa back in action this summer? Yes, yes I would. Assuming he is as good as he was in 2014 (one moment aside).

It's a shame he didn't get a game in the league as it's impossible to know what level he's at. Could he play on Saturday?

I like Patton as a keeper and think he'll improve as he gets more experience. Papa had the big advantage of being able to thump a kick out in the general direction of Big Neil odd the short one wasn't on. Last year year we were cleaned by Dublin and Tyrone when we went long which wasn't really Patton's fault.

Ceist_Beag

I wouldn't really be expecting much on Saturday tbh. No matter what Declan (or McEntee) says, this is a non event and will be used to try out a few things but will lack any real intensity. Leitrim fans aside I wouldn't think there will be much enthusiasm in the stands either. I know the players all want to play in Croke Park so would never agree to move it but I don't think too many will make the journey from the north west somehow.

mayo.mick

Any season ticket holders here? I've 3 adult tickets for free for Saturday if anyone has 3 to swap for Sunday?

Redsoxfan

babybuilder wrote:

Wasn't at the game but by all accounts a good performance and improvements in different facets of our play. Great to hear that there was more use of the kick pass especially between the defensive lines. Going to croker on Saturday. Meath were unlucky in ballybofey so would be nice if the team could show that result wasn't a fluke. Also, every game in croke park is important for the younger fellas. Btw, anyone know when Patrick Mc brearty is back?

I'm hoping Saturday is more like Laois in 2011 than Monaghan in 2014.

Well, according to Donal Reid a few weeks ago, Paddy was back in training.

His fellow Red Hughs clubman confirmed same in an interview with the 42 this week. Running at least.

Would we start him against Fermanagh? Do we need to?

babybuilder

Wasn't at the game but by all accounts a good performance and improvements in different facets of our play. Great to hear that there was more use of the kick pass especially between the defensive lines. Going to croker on Saturday. Meath were unlucky in ballybofey so would be nice if the team could show that result wasn't a fluke. Also, every game in croke park is important for the younger fellas.
Btw, anyone know when Patrick Mc brearty is back?

Redsoxfan

Papa had his 'Playoff Beard' on Sunday.

MAMG gone by all accounts. Papa being announced on the bench got a bigger cheer than any of the starting 15!

Wonder what the story is. Happy to compete for his place or has DB made some promises?

Patton is decent. Maybe takes too many chances with some of his kicks, but has makings of a really good GAA keeper (already a decent shot stopper from his time playing Foreign Sports). I'd put him ahead of Papa at the same stage of his career (based on my dodgy memory).

But would I love to see Papa back in action this summer? Yes, yes I would. Assuming he is as good as he was in 2014 (one moment aside).

Nidgeweasel

We were good. Kildare were diabolical.

Happy to get another game and a run out at HQ. #bringbackpapa

bob skunkhouse

So there we go. Leg one of the trifecta up. Best performance of the year so far no question. Kildare where cat malogen altogether but as the man says, we can only beat what's put in front of us. What was refreshing to see is that we mixed up the type of play a lot and use the kick pass more often when needed. It's infinitely more appealing to the eye than that crap we played v Fermanagh earlier in the season. Thought Murphy did alright actually. He gave one horror pass away late in the second half but given the game was done and dusted at that stage together with the ground he covered I can forgive him. His point in the second half was the score of the game.

At the risk of sounding negative given we've just been promoted I've a few comments. Daire O'B is a good (and needed) addition to the team but he needs to reduce his tendency to carry the ball into the opposition.Reminds me of a young EBG in the Ulster final a few years back where he coughed the ball up 4 times v Tyrone. Also, I'm just not convinced on Caolan McG as a starting 15. Of the games I've seen him in this year (McKenna and league) he just...just.....doesn't light the stage up. I think he's the type of player that will never win a MOTM award. If Frank is back to full fitness I'd swap them out, or, what about this, move Daire O'B up to half forward and Ward back into half back or swap CMcG and Ward outright. I think Caolan Ward has had a good season thus far and more dynamic that the Buncrana man.

Brennan needed to score a goal yesterday. If he hadn't, and the possibility of Paddy Mc coming back later in the season his place could be under threat. O'Donnell and OG took some very good long range shots, and in O'Ds case, it's good to see him become more of a team player than his glory hunting days of the McKenna cup. Does Paddy McG warrant a starting slot come championship? I'm not so sure. All in all, I'm delighted we're back playing div 1 football next year. I know some guy posted earlier about not worrying to much about which division we play in, but as a supporter I'd far rather watch us playing Kerry/Mayo/Dublin etc than Tipp/Clare and the sh1te football Fermanagh play.

Redsoxfan

Up we go again.

Definitely the best performance I have seen this year.

At half time, hard to know what to make of it. Donegal had the wind, and made good use of it taking lots of shots and scoring well. Put Kildare kick out under huge pressure. Kildare looked very poor, but you figured some of that was down to the conditions. Second half would surely be a different story.

But, it wasn't really. To be fair, a big reason for this could have been that Kildare wrtee down to 14 and sometimes 13 for most of the half. I didn't see what Doyle got the black card for - Ref seemed to indicate a pull, assume it was off the ball. As for the red card, well somebody certainly deserved a black card for hauling down Murphy off ball, I just wasn't sure that it was Flynn, and I was surprised that he had already been booked.

Anyway, not out problem. Played out the half well. Brennan took his goal well, end of a good move - bit like last week in Cork I believe.

Most pleasing was the form of O'Donnell and Gallen, who both worked hard and struck the ball very well.

Murphy was just OK tbh. Some nice touches, some poor ones too.

Good to see Daire Ã“'Baoil put in a good shift. He will be an asset. Disappointing that no sign of Carroll yet. Not sure what that means for the rest of the year.

I think we should be able for Meath next weekend if we are about ourselves at all. Defence was a bit better today, but still a concern. Midfield got the job done, somehow. A lot of firepower, even without Paddy.

Feel a bit better about going to Enniskillen now. It will be a **** show all the same.

Was a pity Fermanagh didn't win. Would have meant that they would have missed out on promotion despite beating Donegal and Meath.

babybuilder

babybuilder wrote: »

1-17 to 0-8 11 minutes remaining

1-20 to 0-10 final score

babybuilder

1-17 to 0-8 11 minutes remaining

babybuilder

1-16 to 0-5. Kildare down to 14 men

babybuilder

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Hard to tell what the 2nd half will bring with this wind. 12 points could be a dangerous lead....

Bonner should know from playing on a wind swept leitir. Remember playing against Na Rossa in similar wind conditions. We (st. nauls) were 15 to nil down at half time against the wind. We won 16-15 playing with wind.

Redsoxfan

Hard to tell what the 2nd half will bring with this wind. 12 points could be a dangerous lead....

eddie73

Redsoxfan wrote: »

I could be wrong too.

Either way, we should just focus on beating Kildare and forget about Fermanagh.

No you are right. The only circumstance that head to head comes into the equation is if 2 of 3 teams on the same points are level on score differential. Assuming we win by a point v Kildare, Fermanagh would have to beat Meath away by 4 points to level with our points scored, thereby gaining second by their head to head record v us. I cant see that happening, but I could see Kildare beating us or drawing with us on the back of recent form and what is at stake.

Having said that, we showed good character in the 2nd half v cork and Kildare are not playing well by all accounts. We are also in Ballyshannon which has been a good ground for us in the past.

I fancy our chances.