Donegal GAA Discussion Thread

babybuilder

Costly misses. Especially McBreartys taking the worst option. Rarely passes to someone in a better position than him.

Minister Boyce

What a balls. I am but a mere hurler on the ditch, however, the vibes aren't good with the team and don't appear to have been for a while. The departures in particular, no matter how magnanimous they were, just don't sit right. Declan needs to do a Davy Fitz and get the Mi Wadi orange and biscuits out... a clear the air meeting with his team is needed asap before our Summer goes bang before it even begins.

squareball1988

There are obvious problems but what I wasn't able to get my head around (until now) is why can't we hold onto a lead? Why can't we do what Mayo did in the last 10 minutes? Or do what Monahan did to Dublin today? Why are we so soft?

It's that, since 2016, we've been kidding ourselves by thinking we're a Division 1 team. We only ever performed against the teams that got eventually relegated. But this year we were found out. Kerry are sh*the, which puts that match into perspective. Monaghan and Tyrone hammered us. Dublin beat us with ease and in 1st gear.

We're a Division 2 team. Today's result was thoroughly deserved and wasn't the sole reason we're in Division 2 next year. It's a reality check. Hopefully we can learn, and come back up, and somehow do what Monaghan are able (but shouldn't be able) to do.

squareball1988

County board is also pure pish.

doc_17

Relax men. Declan said relegation wouldn’t be a disaster. Declan forced out the managers of a better minor team than he had dispite espousing the benefits of having the same team all the way up. Declan also says Cavan are now favourites.

doc_17

Goooooooo Declan.

boxer.fan

Be grand lads. Tis all smoke & mirrors. League - shmeague.
Season starts now.

Minister Boyce

The timing of a sub to replace a forward with a defender/sweeper (J. Brennan - M. McHugh) was a bit premature. From memory there was at least 15 minutes left and we were 0.11 to 0.08 up and playing fairly well, we appeared to sit back and defend or lead a bit after that.

I thought J Brennan was very good today. The S&C is working - He's stronger and almost everything kicked into him and at him today stuck. Has a lightning quick turn too.

Murphy14

For all our footballing talent we severely lack managerial talent the substitutions and the timing of them were baffling Brennan & Thompson going well , Why was O' Reilly not put on when we needed pace and direct runners . Worrying times ahead

doc_17

Cautious manager. He got what he deserved

Minister Boyce

doc_17 wrote: »

Cautious manager. He got what he deserved

Deja vu - Ulster Finals of 15, and 16 spring to mind

Murphy14

The folly of playing our home games outside of Mac Cumhaill Park came home to roost yesterday particularly in a season where we only had 3 home games

charlie14

Murphy14 wrote: »

The folly of playing our home games outside of Mac Cumhaill Park came home to roost yesterday particularly in a season where we only had 3 home games

O Donnell Park where we could not beat a decent junior B club side has got to go. Ballyshannon`s record is not too bad, but the elements there it is often a game of two halves.
All games should be played in Mac Cumhaill Park end of story.

squareball1988

As much as we want to believe O'Donnell park is cursed, it really isn't. It is an away ground and all it has really served to do is preserve our good record at home.

It's actually a fine venue otherwise.

squareball1988

squareball1988 wrote:

As much as we want to believe O'Donnell park is cursed, it really isn't. It is an away ground and all it has really served to do is preserve our good record at home.

squareball1988 wrote:

It's actually a fine venue otherwise.

Unless it is cursed. What do I know.

bob skunkhouse

Murphy14 wrote: »

The folly of playing our home games outside of Mac Cumhaill Park came home to roost yesterday particularly in a season where we only had 3 home games

The venue has nothing to do with it. Throwing away a 3 point lead against an average (at best) Mayo team is inexcusable. Not pushing up on Mayo's kickout was ridiculous. The platform for the initial comeback was based on attacking their kickouts. why stop it in the second half? That only provided Mayo with a platform to attack. Thought it a strange move to sub Brennan for McHugh. I thought Niall O'D was doing ok as well. Bar the superb point from OMacN I didn't see much else he did. Not too much comment on Murphy starting in MF despite the lambasting Gallagher got for playing him there last year. It just shows that in midfield we still struggle badly. Div 2 FFS!!!

On another note, poor enough form keeping Mullins on the sideline waiting to join the game for nearly a full 5 mins. The warm up done, the paperwork done all he needed was the final nod to join the game. That sort of man management is how we lose players. I wouldn't be surprised to see the fella leave the panel after that.

Minister Boyce

bob skunkhouse wrote: »

On another note, poor enough form keeping Mullins on the sideline waiting to join the game for nearly a full 5 mins. The warm up done, the paperwork done all he needed was the final nod to join the game. That sort of man management is how we lose players. I wouldn't be surprised to see the fella leave the panel after that.

Agreed. What has gone wrong? There could well be more departures at this rate alright.

Don't agree with O'Donnell Park though Its some freaking roadshow hauling the Team around the County for 'home games'.

charlie14

squareball1988 wrote: »

As much as we want to believe O'Donnell park is cursed, it really isn't. It is an away ground and all it has really served to do is preserve our good record at home.

It's actually a fine venue otherwise.

That is the problem with it far as I`m concerned. It may be a fine venue, but it feels like an away ground and we seem to play as if it is with the corresponding results

doc_17

Stand in O’Donnell park doesn’t cover the whole sideline, the terrace isn’t sloped at a proper angle and behind the goals is brutal to look at and offers no vantage point. All these things contribute to there being no atmosphere and if there’s no atmosphere or feeing of the crowd behind you then you lose some of the key elements of home advantage.

Redsoxfan

squareball1988 wrote: »

As much as we want to believe O'Donnell park is cursed, it really isn't. It is an away ground and all it has really served to do is preserve our good record at home.

It's actually a fine venue otherwise.

Have you ever stood? It's awful. If they develop a terrace, it will be a good job.

Redsoxfan

Right, well that was a complete ****ing balls.

When you factor in

Players Mayo were missing
Strength of team we were able to field
Playing at our true home venue
That we led by 3 points and looked comfortable/they looked beaten

There are NO EXCUSES for not winning that game as far as I am concerned. No time for whining about 13 steps or cynical play etc.

Other than Ryan McHugh for Niall O'Donnell, how many more changes would you expect to see for our Championship side?

The fact that he 'risked' Paddy McBrearty and kept him on the pitch for 70 minutes meant that the objective was to win the game. The fact that we failed to do so is black mark against all concerned.

For all the great things he did yesterday and in many other games, Paddy McBrearty's failure to score/pass/run away/kick the ball dead was inexcusable. That was just one moment, there were others, so it's not all on him of course.

Finally some game time for Neil McGee. Am sure he needs it.

I've seen reports suggesting that Eoin Ban and Jamie Brennan were 'unearthed' this year - bull****e - in fairness to Gallagher, they got plenty of game time last year. Eoin Ban has probably been our most consistent/best player throughout the League. Jamie Brennan was very good yesterday aside from one wayward shot. And he's replaced by Mark McHugh? Jebus wept.

Look at goal chances created yesterday - I make it that Mayo had at least 3 decent chances, did we even have one? Worrying at both ends.

Hard to know how the rest of the year plays out. It sure looks like there is a lot of work to do in the next 7 weeks. How that will all happen if April is to be a month for the clubs remains to be seen.

squareball1988

Redsoxfan wrote:

Have you ever stood? It's awful. If they develop a terrace, it will be a good job.

I make a habit of not standing, when possible.

ArnoldJRimmer

All this talk of sitting or standing brings me back to the replay against Cavan in Ballybofey in 1992. Sitting on a cold wet concrete slab in an uncovered stand while it was lashing rain. Probably the most drenched I'd been leaving a match, but would take a repeat of that result in May

Having calmed down from Sunday, its onwards an upwards. Pressure is now on for Declan. He's stated all along that the Cavan game is his priority, now he simply has to win it. Games every two weeks if they manage to squeeze through that, although it will now be against a division 4 team, followed by a division 3/4 team in order to reach the final. But as they say, no easy games in Ulster

Redsoxfan

squareball1988 wrote:

I make a habit of not standing, when possible.

I see.

Solomon Pleasant

If Donegal fail in a similar fashion to recent years, it will certainly appear that Donegal football has, once again, gone soft.

Steve The Barman

Solomon Pleasant wrote: »

If Donegal fail in a similar fashion to recent years, it will certainly appear that Donegal football has, once again, gone soft.

Flaccid

rightyabe

Well it looks like Jim will not be back coaching Donegal anytime soon. Hard to turn down a Man Utd academy role.

All the best Jim

babybuilder

rightyabe wrote: »

Well it looks like Jim will not be back coaching Donegal anytime soon. Hard to turn down a Man Utd academy role.

All the best Jim

Nice one😉

charlie14

I hope that Cavan defensive unit is kept for the championship. Absolutely clueless.

squareball1988

charlie14 wrote:

I hope that Cavan defensive unit is kept for the championship. Absolutely clueless.

Our own is not much better.