Donegal GAA Discussion Thread

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Great news. Didn't see it happening myself. It's a pity it took this long but hopefully he will make an impact.

Great impact sub to have for Monaghan and hopefully match sharp for whatever may come after the final.
Who knows maybe he is up to speed and ready to start on the 19th but cannot see it myself.

overshoot

Thought he withdrew when jigger jumped him in the pecking order. Tbh id rather have brick there than griffen or hmcf. Great news with Leo back, brick would suddenly give us a much better looking bench.

Just to bolster the squad it would be great to get Jigger and even Brick Molloy back in.
Anyone know what the story with Brick is? I know he is limited but the more options we have inside at 13-15 the better.
Any updates on Jigger?

Ceist_Beag

doc_17 wrote: »

On another note, the Co Board have called a fixtures meeting for tomorrow even to discuss the Master Fixtures Plan. It was scandalous, no shock there, what happened some teams at the weekend. And apparently the starting 15 have been told that they are not allowed to play for their clubs again this weekend, even though the 13 day rule doesn't apply and all star fixtures have been played. And that's even before you take last weeks matches, where some teams refused to field because of being told their players couldn't play, into account.

Update now is that all club matches are postponed until after the Ulster final. This probably means all club matches postponed until Donegal are knocked out. Story here. Personally I think this is a bit of a cop out by the county board. Last weekend sounds like a bit of a farce but I see no good reason for postponing matches this coming weekend. All of this will come to a head eventually as it cannot continue.

SO Leo is back...wonder who made the approach.

bob skunkhouse

Nidgeweasel wrote: »

Longer term, my entire concern this year was laid out a few pages back before a ball was even thrown in. We have a tiny panel of players, some of whom have some serious mileage on the clock and were used heavily in the league. Without some fresh blood in there we are going to run out of gas and I expect us to be beaten in round 4/ quarter final against a fresher team with a bit of momentum. The Derry game has reinforced that view.

Just an observation from the Derry game that I find baffling, but lends to the lack of strength in depth of the team. It was pretty obvious Paddy MacB was injured during the game (I think the IT or the Indo reported from the 16th on). He'd minimal impact during the second half. In fact I'd say it was a bit of mind games leaving him on the pitch - lulling Derry into a false sense having one of the best forwards lurking about. Either that, or we'd no reasonable player to bring on (MMcH was already on and McF was brought on towards the end).

Ceist_Beag

Absolutely fantastic news to have Leo back in there.

Jesus that is some boost having Leo back. He's been going well for Glenties by all accounts.

jjdonegal wrote:

When tickets on sale? I'm going to try get two for the Hill to keep my options open as to echo what RSF said the season tickets for the Derry game were a disgrace.

Online/Retail sales start on 7 July (Tuesday) at noon according to Ulster GAA

Great news. Didn't see it happening myself. It's a pity it took this long but hopefully he will make an impact.

henke

Donegal Democrat reporting it also on Facebook. Great news good player to have.

Leo back in the squad for training tonight according to twitter.

Group had good seats for the Tyrone game, I swapped for standing in Armagh, ****e seats last weekend (as well as having to queue for scanner in rain well before minor game when there was no-one looking to use other turnstiles). Another group I know had ****e seats for Tyrone, good seats last weekend.

2013 Ulster Final was the worst. More or less below pitch level, with a TV camera blocking view of far goals.

Would gladly swap seating for standing for every game in Ulster but the size of the group makes it too hard to arrange.

2moreMinutes wrote: »

Apart from sitting in front row at Tyrone game, my groups tickets have been fairly good for the last few years. My major complaint from last weekend about the season ticket is the fact that there was only one scanner for the whole of the GA stand and it was only sporadically working leading to huge delays and queues in actually getting into the good seats.

So I've heard. Thankfully we were going in about 445 so we were straight through. BIt of a shambles only having one scanner.

2moreMinutes

jjdonegal wrote: »

Yeah I was more or less on the 1/2 way line. The Antrim semi I had a great seat on the 65 as I did in Celtic Park for the Derry game.
Tyrone this year was ok; Armagh and Derry were disgraceful. I'm not holding out much hope for the 19th to be honest. Will get a Hill ticket as backup in case I'm stuck in some corner.

Apart from sitting in front row at Tyrone game, my groups tickets have been fairly good for the last few years. My major complaint from last weekend about the season ticket is the fact that there was only one scanner for the whole of the GA stand and it was only sporadically working leading to huge delays and queues in actually getting into the good seats.

doc_17 wrote: »

Last year the season tickets were between the two 65s and it was a pretty good spot. Better than being in the bottom corner of the GA.

Yeah I was more or less on the 1/2 way line. The Antrim semi I had a great seat on the 65 as I did in Celtic Park for the Derry game.
Tyrone this year was ok; Armagh and Derry were disgraceful. I'm not holding out much hope for the 19th to be honest. Will get a Hill ticket as backup in case I'm stuck in some corner.

jjdonegal wrote: »

When tickets on sale? I'm going to try get two for the Hill to keep my options open as to echo what RSF said the season tickets for the Derry game were a disgrace.
No doubt they will be the Pat McGrane for the final but id like then somewhere between the 2 45s; not closer to the goal line than the 45 which was the case

Last year the season tickets were between the two 65s and it was a pretty good spot. Better than being in the bottom corner of the GA.

When tickets on sale? I'm going to try get two for the Hill to keep my options open as to echo what RSF said the season tickets for the Derry game were a disgrace.
No doubt they will be the Pat McGrane for the final but id like then somewhere between the 2 45s; not closer to the goal line than the 45 which was the case

dog_pig

Some seriously sensitive Dubs knocking about this place!

Alvin Holler

doc_17 wrote: »

I'm not too sure on the whole bench argument when it comes to Monaghan. Monaghan played two weak teams and late in the game their bench made an impact against weaker teams with even weaker benches. And if I recall Fermanagh were also a man down. obviously it would be an issue against Dublin/Kerry if you had to make 4/5 subs before the 60th minute.

I'd agree with this, Clerkin is a great impact sub to bring on, Gollogly is a solid player but I'd be surprised if him or any of the rest of them make a big impact in an ulster final.

I would be tempted to keep toye in reserve and start mark mchugh to keep an extra eye on mcmanus.

doc_17 wrote: »

I'm not too sure on the whole bench argument when it comes to Monaghan. Monaghan played two weak teams and late in the game their bench made an impact against weaker teams with even weaker benches. And if I recall Fermanagh were also a man down. obviously it would be an issue against Dublin/Kerry if you had to make 4/5 subs before the 60th minute.

We've no bench sure!

And just to state that I have no problem with Co players being protected. But there are promotion/relegations issues at stake and it is unfair on clubs.

I'm not too sure on the whole bench argument when it comes to Monaghan. Monaghan played two weak teams and late in the game their bench made an impact against weaker teams with even weaker benches. And if I recall Fermanagh were also a man down. obviously it would be an issue against Dublin/Kerry if you had to make 4/5 subs before the 60th minute.

On another note, the Co Board have called a fixtures meeting for tomorrow even to discuss the Master Fixtures Plan. It was scandalous, no shock there, what happened some teams at the weekend. And apparently the starting 15 have been told that they are not allowed to play for their clubs again this weekend, even though the 13 day rule doesn't apply and all star fixtures have been played. And that's even before you take last weeks matches, where some teams refused to field because of being told their players couldn't play, into account.

Ceist_Beag

Nidgeweasel wrote: »

The main issue is, we don't seem to have learnt anything from that as yet.

+1 ... or is This the new +1 ... it's hard to keep up!

Anyway yeah, that for me is the biggest concern this year. Last year we had Ryan, Odhran and Jigger playing first team championship football and this added to our small squad. This year we're down a couple of options from last years panel in Leo and Brick and Jigger hasn't progressed as we might have hoped. The only new face in the first team really this year is O'Reilly (I know he was involved the past few years but was never a serious contender for a start).
The games to date have just highlighted how much we rely on the main men, the likes of Neil McGee, big Neil, Murphy and even McFadden has shown that we still really need him fit.
Paddy McB has certainly improved this year so that is another positive but as you say Nidge, when you look at our bench compared to Monaghan then they just don't compare.
All that said, we have come this far without really been shaken and the belief in the camp I'd say is very strong so I expect the lads to go into the final knowing how to win and I think the pressure is really on Monaghan to win this moreso than Donegal. If we can rattle them early on it will really put it up to Monaghan and that could play into our hands. Once again I think we will be relying on our top men to be the difference.
One thing is for sure, it won't be easy!

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Go back to trolling the Dubs in the 2015 Championship thread like a good man.
ðŸ˜€

What's the problem?

Nidgeweasel wrote:

I think we are absolutely f*cked.

Nidgeweasel wrote:

Both in respect of the final and in the longer term.

Go back to trolling the Dubs in the 2015 Championship thread like a good man.
ðŸ˜€

charlie14 wrote: »

The real question for me is if Monaghan start with the same players they did against Cavan and Fermanagh, will they be anywhere close to catching Donegal by the time they send for the cavalry.
In their two games to date they were pretty poor without Finlay, Clerkin,Gologley etc. and if Wylie is missing, then starting the teams they did in their two previous against Donegal could be suicidal.

A fair point and that's going to have to be our plan, rattle them hard, as hard as we possibly can in the opening stages. You'd have to imagine that the intensity and divilment will be back in their game for the final though. Hopefully not!

charlie14

Nidgeweasel wrote: »

Well this is the thing isn't it. And it's what Donegal will have to do if they have any chance of winning the game. Get off to a good start, like the final last year and like Monaghan did in 2013 and then dictate the terms of the game themselves thereafter.

I'm not so sure Donegal will be able to do that or more accurately, I don't think Monaghan will let them. The fact is, this game is probably going to be tit for tat and if it's coming into the final throes where both sides will have unquestionably emptied the tank then it's Monaghan who will be in the driving seat given the boost they can get from their subs.

To be able to call on the likes of Finlay, Clerkin, Gologley, McGuinnes..... It's formidable.

The loss of Wiley is huge and we should be looking to exploit that if McBrearty is fit but Monaghan have more than enough to compensate for that.

At the very least it's going to be a full blooded clash between two incredibly honest and committed groups of players. Again.

The real question for me is if Monaghan start with the same players they did against Cavan and Fermanagh, will they be anywhere close to catching Donegal by the time they send for the cavalry.
In their two games to date they were pretty poor without Finlay, Clerkin,Gologley etc. and if Wylie is missing, then starting the teams they did in their two previous against Donegal could be suicidal.