Donegal GAA Discussion Thread

Nidgeweasel

Alvin Holler wrote: »

Makes me feel really old as all the Donegal team are now younger than me

It won't get any better I'm afraid!

ArnoldJRimmer

Alvin Holler wrote: »

Makes me feel really old as all the Donegal team are now younger than me

Could be worse, you could also be older than the manager. Sure Rory Gallagher's only a young lad!

charlie14

Alvin Holler wrote: »

He hit a couple of nice long range frees and 45's last year for the minors. Think he is right footed. He didn't hit any close ones or at an angle so hard to know how good he is.

Sad to see Rory go but he's been a great servant. Makes me feel really old as all the Donegal team are now younger than me [/QUOTE

If you think that makes you feel old, imagine how I feel after reading that and realising I`m older than all the 92 team

Good luck to Rory Kavanagh. Sad to see him go. A great servant to Donegal who contributed in no small way to some unforgetable days.

Redsoxfan

Some good news as Anthony Thompson has committed to travel over to be available for league games.

To be honest, I'd like to see the likes of Ciaran McGinley and Cory Gallagher get game time during the league to see what they are like, but I'm happy that Thompson still wants to be involved.

Redsoxfan

Alvin Holler wrote: »

He hit a couple of nice long range frees and 45's last year for the minors. Think he is right footed. He didn't hit any close ones or at an angle so hard to know how good he is.

Himself and Campbell were quite the double act for Buncrana in the minors the year before I believe. Campbell is an interesting player also.

I think Lorcan Connor was taking the short range frees for the minors last year.

I see Paul McGonigle is managing the Buncrana minors this year.

Redsoxfan

That was close. Nearly ended up in a semi final in January.

Nidgeweasel

Him from sligo is refereeing our league opener.

Redsoxfan

Nidgeweasel wrote:

Him from sligo is refereeing our league opener.

Wonder if he will find a way to send off Rory Kavanagh?

Redsoxfan

Disappointed to hear that Eoin McHugh won't be available for Saturday (virus).

With Colm McFadden out, Paddy McBrearty gets another chance to show he's ready to assume the bulk of the scoring next to Michael.

As Anthony Thompson only seems to have committed to play recently, I am assuming he won't be considered. Neil McGee is out and I don't know how much Karl Lacey will feature. I would guess a backline of McGrath, E McGee, E Doherty, Frank, Declan Walsh, McGinley?

Nidgeweasel

Bricks dropped out of the panel.

Not content with being a squad player seemingly.

Fair enough I suppose although the reality is he's not good enough to be a starter. Wonder will this have any sort of an impact on Leo.

overshoot

hard to blame him, been a lot of effort for a few cameo appearances and just when mcfadden is starting to fade, o'connor jumps past him which had to be disheartening.
Would probably make a lot of county teams but just not at highest of levels, and we are fortunate to have a few of that calibre at the minute

Ceist_Beag

As you say Nidge, I don't think Brick was good enough. He showed a lot of promise as an u21 but hasn't come on since. He still would have been a good man to have on the bench but given the commitment these days it's not unexpected that he left.

So what do you all want from the League campaign this year? Personally I would like to see us stay safe from relegation but am not too bothered after that. I would be happy if some of the more long serving players were rested as much as possible during the league as it could be a long hard summer ahead. If we can get some more game time for some of the promising young lads all the better - it would be nice to see a couple more like Ryan and Odhran break through this year.

Redsoxfan

Mixed views on Brick. Don't think he was good enough, but showed flashes, still relatively young. Tried hard during the league last year. While we are all hopeful on Jigger, aside from the Antrim game last year, he showed only glimpses of ability. Hopefully he kicks on this year.

I'd like to see the likes of Lacey and possibly others used sparingly during the league, but I suppose the hard yards are done in Convoy (if it's open...) and not really on the pitch so maybe missing a game is of no real benefit unless they are also allowed time out from training.

I'd like to see the likes of Ciaran McGinley, Cory Gallagher and Eoin McHugh in action this spring. I'd like to see Martin McElhinney, Jigger and even Hugh McFadden step up and show more. I'm interested to see how Colm McFadden looks and if Mark McHugh has rediscovered his spark.

I'd be interested to see if we change our set up under Rory, but we won't really know until the summer - Jim McGuinness didn't really show his hand too much during the league.

I'd like to stay in Division One - we should be able to win at least three of four of our home games - I am not expecting to win in Dublin or Castlebar and we are playing Kerry late enough in the day that they might need to points.

I won't make it to Ballybofey this week - hopefully it's the only game I'll miss this year (aside from the McKenna Cup of course...). Good job it's on Setanta.

Looking forward to reading a review from anyone who makes it to Ballybofey.

Nidgeweasel

And to be fair to brick, he has contributed in his own way over the last four years and you can tell how much he loves being involved with Donegal.

Could have contributed in a similar way again I suppose but good luck to him.

Redsoxfan

I believe that a team will be named tomorrow. What sort of nonsense is that.

Redsoxfan

If anyone has not got it yet, I'd recommend picking up a copy of Four Summers. Doesn't go into anything in great detail, but a good summary of the McGuinness era. Lest we forget...

Nidgeweasel

Redsoxfan wrote: »

If anyone has not got it yet, I'd recommend picking up a copy of Four Summers. Doesn't go into anything in great detail, but a good summary of the McGuinness era. Lest we forget...

I got it there off for Christmas. In truth I was slightly disappointed in it as I assumed it would be something similar to "Sams for the hills" by the same two.

Still well worth the few pound though.

You know, I don't like to keep saying it. But Jim McGuinness. Fúck me, it was a bit special wasn't it.

I think as time goes on and we look back it'll be a shake of the head and a sigh.

Redsoxfan

So team named for Derry (from Highland)

Durcan
McGrath
E McGee
McGlynn
R McHugh
Lacey
McGinley
Gallagher
Toye
M McHugh
McElhinney
MacNiallais
McBrearty
Murphy
O'Reilly

If everyone is fit enough, we should be good enough to win.

Redsoxfan

Nidge - I get what you are saying about Four Summers. Luckily enough, I was warned what to expect so wasn't really disappointed. Given when it came out, it was never going to have any great depth. Hopefully we get some more insight into McGuinness at a later stage but I'd say that will take a while.

It's just a nice remembrance of the last four years. Even looking at line ups and team photos is interesting to me. Some great photos within too.

A fierce amount of sniping at the national meeja too!

Much to my disappointment, I have never read Sams for the Hills. If anyone knows where I can get a copy or wants to lend me theirs, please let me know!

johnohanlon

Derry will get relegated this year so I would expect Donegal to win

Redsoxfan

johnohanlon wrote: »

Derry will get relegated this year so I would expect Donegal to win

Are Donegal for the drop too?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=93988755&postcount=48

Only advantage Derry might have on Saturday night is fitness.

johnohanlon

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Are Donegal for the drop too?


Only advantage Derry might have on Saturday night is fitness.

That post was just wishful thinking but I also expect Donegal to be relegated

ghostfacekilla

Hahaha caught out badly.

I have a sneaking suspicion that we may see a serious tactical tweak come championship time and the league devoted to a game of grinding out results in our old school championship manner. I just have a tingling suspicion that the tactical nous of Rory Gallagher went unaccredited. I could be a 100km off the mark but I've a feeling this was what he was brought on board for initially as well as his well documented forensic knowledge of the weak spots of every intercounty player in the country. Mystic meg/eternal optimist moment

Redsoxfan

ghostfacekilla wrote:

I just have a tingling suspicion that the tactical nous of Rory Gallagher went unaccredited.

He has got a lot of credit for the as far as I can see, especially given he wasn't even the main man.

I hope you are right. We still have the core of an All Ireland winning team, the right manager will surely be able to do well with them.

RMDrive

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Much to my disappointment, I have never read Sams for the Hills. If anyone knows where I can get a copy or wants to lend me theirs, please let me know!

I'll bring it with me one of the days and you can dive in.

ghostfacekilla

Redsoxfan wrote: »

He has got a lot of credit for the as far as I can see, especially given he wasn't even the main man.

I do suppose that the only number two that got anywhere near as much coverage in recent years was McGeeney in Armagh with Grimley superficially at the helm.

On that note, no team in the country will relish a meeting with the orchard men this year. I have a feeling that they'll come out of the tunnel with the collective physique of the Irish rugby team.

charlie14

ghostfacekilla wrote: »

Redsoxfan wrote: »

He has got a lot of credit for the as far as I can see, especially given he wasn't even the main man.

I do suppose that the only number two that got anywhere near as much coverage in recent years was McGeeney in Armagh with Grimley superficially at the helm.

On that note, no team in the country will relish a meeting with the orchard men this year. I have a feeling that they'll come out of the tunnel with the collective physique of the Irish rugby team.

Well McGeeney produced a lot of athletes in Kildare, whether they were footballers is another question. I`d wish him the same success with Armagh as he had with Kildare.:D

Nidgeweasel

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Nidge - I get what you are saying about Four Summers. Luckily enough, I was warned what to expect so wasn't really disappointed. Given when it came out, it was never going to have any great depth. Hopefully we get some more insight into McGuinness at a later stage but I'd say that will take a while.

It's just a nice remembrance of the last four years. Even looking at line ups and team photos is interesting to me. Some great photos within too.

A fierce amount of sniping at the national meeja too!

Much to my disappointment, I have never read Sams for the Hills. If anyone knows where I can get a copy or wants to lend me theirs, please let me know!

Ah you see I was the opposite! I only seen the photo and thought great, cause I had tweeted them earlier in the year half in jest to get another book out. Then I seen the format of it which was totally different. It's wrote from our point of view though which is fantastic. Tos great to be biased. That's what's been great about the past 4 years too though everybody has been on the same page.

I'll happily send you a copy of my SFTH. There should be a copy at my folks. I'll dig it out when I'm back down the road in a fortnight or so.

Redsoxfan

That was good. Wish we could play Derry every week.

seligehgit

Excellent second half performance by Donegal. Gallagher had a stormer,switch inside of Murphy made a big difference in the second half.Paddy McBrearty was sublime.

Nidgeweasel

I try not to read too much into the league but that was a satisfying 2nd half performance and result. I wasn't at the game and was dealt a great hand when the lights went out in Healy park and the publican then finally decided to put on our match, he'd probably gotten sick of looking at me with a face like thunder.

Early points on the board and look, it's always nice to beat Derry.

Slightly porous at times at the back but that's to be expected. Murphy played close to goal for periods from what I can gather and looking dangerous, Paddy was great. We moved the ball well. Christy chipped in well. Plenty to be happy about not withstanding the fact (again) it's the first game and 'only' Derry. Odhrans goal was a thing of real beauty, maybe I'm eulogising somewhat but I thought it was a sublime piece of finishing. Sold the far corner to the keeper and brilliantly executed near side. We looked comfortable on the ball and wound the game down well too.

Going back briefly to the Tyrone game. They were a shambles, Monaghan looked decent. Again, trying desperately not to get in anyway carried away with one game in the league but I've thought abit about Ulster this evening (which is where our main priority really ought to lie). It's a pig of a draw no question but even post Jim we shouldn't be unduly worrying ourselves. That though is for another day and one that is several months down the line.


Finally, did the sligo man really give a rather soft penalty to Donegal or should I expect to wake up shortly with my head in a bowl of cornflakes?


Additional disclaimer *its still the first league game*

Redsoxfan

The Donegal penalty was probably the worst decision of the night!

RMDrive

Can't complain about much tonight .... the result, the performance, the refereeing decisions ... good way to kick things off.

Nib

charlie14 wrote: »

ghostfacekilla wrote: »

Well McGeeney produced a lot of athletes in Kildare, whether they were footballers is another question. I`d wish him the same success with Armagh as he had with Kildare.:D

Idiotic comment.

Success is subjective. Look where Kildare were before McGeeney came along, we were a mess and a laughing stock. He reached four All Ireland QFs in a row and only lost one game in the qualifiers in five years. We would have reached an All Ireland final but for a terrible call on a Benny Coulter square ball.

Only one team can win Sam every year and he was in a province which included a very good Dublin team playing in their back yard every game.

Love him or loathe, McGeeney is an excellent manager. He will do very well with Armagh.

johnohanlon

Martin McHugh talks some drivel on the wireless with the Daniel O'Donell tongue of him

windy shepard henderson

johnohanlon wrote: »

Martin McHugh talks some drivel on the wireless with the Daniel O'Donell tongue of him

he is terrible although his under studies from kilcar make up for it ....but yeah i cant stand him

charlie14

Redsoxfan wrote: »

The Donegal penalty was probably the worst decision of the night!

Dodgy enough in fairness, but after the sending off against Cavan in Breffini in 2011 Murphy wont have felt too bad about selling it to the dwarf from Sligo I`d imagine.;)

charlie14

johnohanlon wrote: »

Martin McHugh talks some drivel on the wireless with the Daniel O'Donell tongue of him

The wee man can talk sh***e for Ireland at times alright, but that`s what you need to be a paid pundit nowadays it seems.
Would we have won 92 without him or even got out of Ulster? Would we have won 2012 without the fruit of his loins in, or would we have beaten Dublin in 2014 (for me, the best buzz I have ever had walking away after a Donegal game) without the later fruit of those same loins.
I just look on hts comments as doing what he has to do to make a few bob, but when he was needed he was there, and he has given us two young fellas that any county wold be more than delighted to have in their ranks

RGM

Speaking of that Dublin game, is there any way to get hands on a copy of it? Doesn't appear to be anywhere online.

HighKing33

ghostfacekilla wrote: »

Redsoxfan wrote: »

He has got a lot of credit for the as far as I can see, especially given he wasn't even the main man.

I do suppose that the only number two that got anywhere near as much coverage in recent years was McGeeney in Armagh with Grimley superficially at the helm.

On that note, no team in the country will relish a meeting with the orchard men this year. I have a feeling that they'll come out of the tunnel with the collective physique of the Irish rugby team.

You might be right but of course they'll be immediately faced with the prospect of playing football not rugby, though you would imagine that McGeeney would have learned a lot from Kildare and his second apprenticeship to Grimley.

Nidgeweasel

windy shepard henderson wrote: »

he is terrible although his under studies from kilcar make up for it ....but yeah i cant stand him

They're not much better. They must talk some dung in that house.

Thankfully however they're all rather good at playing football.

Nidgeweasel

Nib wrote: »

charlie14 wrote: »

Idiotic comment.

Success is subjective. Look where Kildare were before McGeeney came along, we were a mess and a laughing stock. He reached four All Ireland semis in a row and only lost one game in the qualifiers in five years. We would have reached an All Ireland final but for a terrible call on a Benny Coulter square ball.

Only one team can win Sam every year and he was in a province which included a very good Dublin team playing in their back yard every game.

Love him or loathe, McGeeney is an excellent manager. He will do very well with Armagh.

Success is success.

If Geezer stays 4 years with the football terrorists and wins nothing of note as he did in Kildare then I'll be very, very happy.

johnohanlon

charlie14 wrote: »

The wee man can talk sh***e for Ireland at times alright, but that`s what you need to be a paid pundit nowadays it seems.
Would we have won 92 without him or even got out of Ulster? Would we have won 2012 without the fruit of his loins in, or would we have beaten Dublin in 2014 (for me, the best buzz I have ever had walking away after a Donegal game) without the later fruit of those same loins.
I just look on hts comments as doing what he has to do to make a few bob, but when he was needed he was there, and he has given us two young fellas that any county wold be more than delighted to have in their ranks

Well I am from Derry so I prefer Brolly as a pundit as well as Tohill a few years back.

overshoot

Nidgeweasel wrote: »

Success is success.

If Geezer stays 4 years with the football terrorists and wins nothing of note as he did in Kildare then I'll be very, very happy.

charlie also seems to have magiced up an extra 3 AI semis to sugar coat his reign.
I dont think 1 AI semi appearance, 0 leinster titles was particularly successful, wouldnt say a failure either. it was a solid return with a solid team that just lacked a few all star level players to push further. I never remember them beating any team that were realistic AI contenders

in saying that, i wouldnt even wish that success on Armagh!

Neeson

charlie14 wrote: »

Would we have won 2012 without the fruit of his loins in, or would we have beaten Dublin in 2014 without the later fruit of those same loins.

You now have us thinking about Martin having sex.

harpsman

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Nidge - I get what you are saying about Four Summers. Luckily enough, I was warned what to expect so wasn't really disappointed. Given when it came out, it was never going to have any great depth. Hopefully we get some more insight into McGuinness at a later stage but I'd say that will take a while.

It's just a nice remembrance of the last four years. Even looking at line ups and team photos is interesting to me. Some great photos within too.

A fierce amount of sniping at the national meeja too!

Much to my disappointment, I have never read Sams for the Hills. If anyone knows where I can get a copy or wants to lend me theirs, please let me know!

Same here-keep periodically looking it up and then forgetting about it.

Hadnt heard of the other one-must grab a copy. Presume it doesnt go into much detail on the split w RG- on a related topic are there any Glenties men in the panel now?

harpsman

charlie14 wrote: »

ghostfacekilla wrote: »

Well McGeeney produced a lot of athletes in Kildare, whether they were footballers is another question. I`d wish him the same success with Armagh as he had with Kildare.:D

In fairness they did play some pretty good football 09/10. Went backwards after that. Ironically it was their defence which was their achilles heel.

harpsman

Redsoxfan wrote: »

The Donegal penalty was probably the worst decision of the night!

Eh if theres a worse decision all season Id be surprised.

Nidgeweasel

harpsman wrote: »

Eh if theres a worse decision all season Id be surprised.

Give Marty some credit, plenty of time left for him to pull out a show stopper.

RMDrive

Good win for St. Eunan's in the MacRory today. Beat St. Pats of Armagh by a point after ET.