Donegal GAA Discussion Thread

Sad day for Donegal football.

Out of our misery for another year, that was dreadful. Time to draw up a shortlist for next manager

I can't see the present management looking for another year. The setup needs new blood at the helm. We have been the authors of our misfortune for the last few years, back to the drawing board & we'll see how things go. We were hammered today & the mood in the camp must be rock bottom.

We really need to modify our game in the county. How can these players improve or the team improve when they're playing the same stuff at club level? Our underage set up is playing the same crap football. No one is expected to win their own ball, no one is expected to tackle hard. The kick pass is banned or kicking the ball early. When we've come up against hard physical teams in recent years we've been pummeled. We've had clueless county managers at minor and u20. We know who they are. Repeating the same mistakes over and over etc.

Hard to argue with any of that nudge, Bonner has served us to the best of his ability, played some great stuff as we won 2 Ulsters but trying to fix the defensive issues with the team we've regressed attacking wise. As a whole we are further from competing than we were after year 1/2.

I have no idea who replaces him, the patchy performances would remind of the pre McGuiness days which I hope is management than squad, but when you see recent club results it's a worry too.

Don't really see any departures from the starting line up, but Murphy won't have long left. New management, fresh ideas, squad talent is there (imo) for some more silverware before he goes. We probably have seen the last of Neil McGee, unreal servant. Not sure we will lose anyone else

RE: Underage teams - I agree with your comments on the underage structures but has anybody ever asked the question what exactly do the various roles within the county structure do? We have a coaching officer, we have a Development officer, we have a games development manager and we have a Head of Academy Development? Are none of these guys responsible for the way we play football at underage level? Should we (or they) not be telling the underage management how they want the game played. Let the manager 'manage' the team, but let the coaches 'coach'. Another thing, why does the county underage management prevent players from playing club football? 3 current provincial winners allowed their players to play club football during the county championship timeframe, but yet in Donegal, management - in their wisdom - decided against it.

I have to ask this question also. Many a post mentions stuff like.."we've a great bunch of players", "we've a good squad of players", "They're a very talented bunch of players"....blah blah blah, but we haven't won anything at underage level (including U20's) since the minors in 2016 and U21's in 2017. What evidence is there that this team is so talented? They may be very good club players but there's no underage evidence to suggest that they are as good as people make them out to be. Go back the last 6 or 7 years and you'll see that most of the All Ireland underage finalist have comprised of the big teams - Mayo, Dublin, Kerry, Tyrone and Galway. So based on this evidence it would suggest that Donegal won't win anything in a while. Is it possible that we're looking at things through green and gold tinted glasses?

Possible managers? I'll tell you who I don't want.

Maxi Curran - no thanks - Too defensive with Eunan's when there. Too defensive with the ladies and disastrous result V Armagh ladies. Only an AI win with the ladies would push him back into contention for me, and even then.......

Rory Kavanagh - Having watched the County final last year and game v Glen, equally as defensive as they come.

Paddy Campbell - That Slaughtmanus(?) result a few years back sticks in the mind. Was it 4 points to 3 or some crap like that. Again, too defensive for my liking.

Martin Regan - Given the history and vitriolic nature of the relationship between Glenties and....just about every other senior team, I'm not sure he can gell the players from other clubs together.

Would Mickey Moran have the energy for it again? What about Cian O'Neill? Decent manager with Kildare I thought, just didn't have the players.

Absolutely not. While Declan is the figure head as manager Rochford is running the show in terms of the coaching and style of play.

Entire backroom team needs to go.

What...all 47 of them?

How about Malachy o Rourke?

It's time for change. Hope Declan sees that too. A wonderful servant to the County, but he's taken this team as far as he can.

However, very hard to see who will come in and make the necessary adjustments.

Anytime I heard Rochford interviewed, he's made it pretty clear that he has no interest in intercounty management again. Besides, I think he would have serious questions to answer about the performances under his watch, even if the buck stops with Declan.

Anyone involved with the club scene in Donegal does not strike me as someone to change the way we play. Of course, they would like have more talent available at intercounty than locally, so that might allow them to set up differently, but it's hard to see it.

The one name I have not seen mentioned is Lacey. Is he a candidate? Was involved before. Never managed a senior team, but that's not necessarily an issue. Seems like a strong character. Would he popular with supporters.

Would Murphy throw his hat in as player manager? Seems very unlikely, but it wouldn't surprise me at all. Would be play himself at 14?

I think questions have to be asked about the talent available. Is it as good as we and the national media think it is? I'm not sure. And, as was mentioned, underage success has dried up, although we are competitive. But the way our teams play hardly lends itself to talent development.

It's been a depressing couple of weeks. Teams we had been beating regularly for 10 or so years now have our number. We could be going back to the noughties.

A hammering by Armagh led to the beginning of a glorious revolution in 2010. Not many saw that coming. There is no messiah with the U20s this time though.

Up Donegal.

Lacey doesn’t deserve a shot ahead of the likes of Regan and Kavanagh, he needs experience in my opinion. Whether that’s with the minors or 20s, he needs it.

Nobody is mentioning The Whale. I’m not advocating for him but I wonder would he throw his hat in the ring?

Id offer it to Jim, whether he applies or not. Send out an SOS! After that, Malachy O’Rourke.

Wonder how many will play for their clubs this weekend? Some could badly do with them….

Jim may be focussed on soccer and not interested but given what he achieved it would be gross negligence from the County Board if the question wasn't put to him, but who knows with this County Board and what the relationship between them and Jim is like at present. Unlikely but he has a passion for Donegal GAA so whenever the vacancy is there it would be lunacy not try to tempt him. He did say on a recent podcast with Tomas O'Sé he would never say never on a return to intercounty.

Lacey from what I hear is a highly regarded coach and could well be a future manager but agree probably needs experience. ie Andy Moran at Leitrim who I am sure is eyeing bigger things in future. O'Rourke only other candidate I can think off with a decent CV.

Sums up the malaise in Donegal perfectly.

I just hope Declan doesn’t feel he has a right to ponder as long as he likes on whether he’ll stay on or not.

Amazed to see Gallen playing a league game for MacCumhaills today.