Donegal GAA Discussion Thread

bob skunkhouse wrote: »

Very good result yesterday, and great to see us play Div1 next year. Again, I'm not overly impressed with Caolan McGonigle. to his credit he did score a very good point but doesn't do enough overall for me. Is he really county standard?

I thought he did OK myself, one error late on aside. I thought he was better than Thompson and P Brennan for sure. I think he can offer more than either but is not consistent enough.

bob skunkhouse wrote: »

Quick question - is it worth travelling to Tralee next weekend? 12 hour round trip..you'd need a week to recover from that.I dunno why the GAA didn't look at the fixtures and set games mid-point venues for games. Same as Monaghan v Kerry. Especially as there's no supporters allowed in.

Teams still entitled to play at a pitch they know with a short trip. That's worth something imho even with no supporters. If shoe was on the other foot I'd want a home game.

If not for lockdown I'd have liked to see the County Final played on Sunday. Leave the Kilcar and Naomh Conaill players to it, rest of the panel plus U20s could fulfil the fixture.

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Hmm

I see Longford have given a walkover to Cork.

Would we consider doing similar I wonder?

Play a challenge match against Longford in Sligo instead.

You're forgetting that Longford insist on playing at home against Donegal at all times*



*obscure reference to Division 2 in the mid-noughties

Light enough team/squad named.

Actually 9 changes.

****ty goals the difference at half time but we won't be able to kick points from distance in the 2nd half. Kick out will be under pressure too. Not much intensity in defence.

Big game this weekend. We seem to have our first choices to pick from, save for maybe OMCFF and then there has to be some doubt about Paddy McBrearty who hasn't been seen in a while. I'd epxect to see the following:

1 Patton
2 McGrath
3 N McGee
4 McMenamin
5 R McHugh
6 P Brennan
7 EBG
8 McFadden
9 J McGee
10 Thompson
11 Langan
12 McGonigle
13 McBrearty
14 Murphy
15 J Brennan

Personally, I would have Gallen in ahead of J Brennan and O'Baoil instead of P Brennan and we could still see Gallen in ahead of McGonigle.

If not for the return of McKenna and what he's shown in the previous games, the loss of McShane thorugh injury and probable loss of Brennan through suspension and likely loss of AN Other through virus would make us clear favourites. The league is rarely a good predictor for Championship, but the fact that he's shown such good form in the weeks before such a big game suggests McKenna will be able to have an impact.

Our best defender is EBG so maybe he will pick up McKenna. McMenamin also a candidate. I'm sure Hughie will drop back as a sweeper and so we won't leave anyone 1 on 1 with him if he goes inside, but they will likely use him similarly to how we use Murphy. I'm all for double marking him and daring the rest of their 2nd rate forwards to beat us. After McKenna, Mattie Donnelly and Peter Harte will need watching. This is where OMCFF might have come in handy.

Nidgeweasel wrote:

We have lost 2 'must win' games in the past 2 years so it's time for this group to take the next step forward.

This is exactly it. By winning Ulster but not making the AISF it feels like we are winning battles but not the war. Of course, you could argue that if we had the draw others have had, we could well have finished in the top 2 each year, but that's life. This year, it's more straightforward, win Ulster and we are in the AISF. Win on Sunday, and our odds of winning Ulster should shorten further. We have better forwards and are typically more consistent. Any advantage from playing at home is likely to be minimal at this stage with the lack of a crowd and the fact that they are so used to playing in Ballybofey. We have issues - teams have shown they are willing to challenge Patton in the air, and we have a bad habit of fading in games or at last failing to close them out convincingly. Those things make me nervous ahead of Sunday especially considering how the game went 2 weeks ago.

But, I think we are good enough to win and we will, just about.

I think Brennan is a far better option than Oisin Gallen. But both may start if McBrearty doesn’t. Just on PMB, I think a big performance from him is overdue. I know he’s been injured but I think he’s been quiet this past few years. I realise he had the cruciate but I’m not convinced by him lately.

And for what it’s worth, I think Tyrone will beat us. I hope I’m wrong! But I just think we are lacking someone to help Murphy in the big games. And you need help to hear a top 5 team. Harte, Donnelly and McKenna will take stopping and I’m not sure we have the same threat up front because Murphy plays midfield.

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Actually, wouldn't surprise me to see Niall O'Donnell at 11. One of Langan or McGonigle to drop out if he does.

Weather looks poor for weekend, wind and rain

Have they developed a cure for COVID?

Aside from 6, I'd be OK with that team. Mind you I don't think McHugh or Mogan are really defenders.

Jeaic MacCeallbhui and Caolan McGonigle in for Jason McGee and Paddy McBrearty

Worst fears re Paddy confirmed and also suspicions on defence.

Nerves there... We were the better team when able to play but Tyrone did seem to handle the conditions better. Few mistakes fully punished and thought Tyrone might have had another goal in them. Those 2 Tyrone had moved forward were big for us.

Thought langan was excellent today, Thompson good too in play, great frees, gallen when he came on made a good impact. Murphy struggled with Donnelly, EBG poor but on a day like that just glad to still be in the championship.... With winter football it could be the norm now though!
Monaghan and Tyrone gone so fantastic shot now to make it 3 in a row

Ahhhhh, that's a very satisfying outcome.

Some things went our way for sure, but it also seemed like a lot their scores were gifted as a result of our poor decisions and impact of greasy ball.

But after a really poor 1st quarter, we really grew into the game and gave the impression at least that we know what we are about and how we want to play. That wasn't always a good idea in the conditions mind.

Pretty sure I will enjoy the match in 2 weeks a lot more even if it won't mean as much as that win today.

We won't face as tough a match unless we win Ulster.

ghostfacekilla wrote: »

I never thought I’d ever type....

Paul Brennan played well.

Great game. Is Murphy carrying a knock or is he just old now? Hard to believe he’s heading into the winter of his career.

On that note, who are they lining up for the captaincy? I don’t fancy Hughie in that role. Ryan McHugh?

Murphy controlled the tempo of the game in the last ten minutes. Watch the game again and see how he linked play throughout the game. He created space for other players with his selfless running. He also dropped back in front of McKenna in the closing stages of the game to help us close things out.
Hughie is now a key component of this team. He was excellent today.