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I was also impressed by Donegal in the league, especially when they attacked . A source of frustration for supporters that I know of was the careless concession of scoreable frees, losing league points to Galway, Kerry and Mayo in injury time and fading away in the last 10 minutes of other matches. All of those issues can be improved upon by staying positive and experience will bring that extra confidence to back themselves to 'go for it' in a close fought tight match. I expect Donegal to be in the last eight if they can make the necessary adjustments to maximise returns on all their talent and ability. Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 505 - 13/04/2018 13:40:03 2092831 Link 0 |
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Cavan have a lot of experienced heads in the panel at this stage, but the big 3 from an attacking viewpoint - Mackey, Johnson and McKiernan- are best kept in reserve. That will mean a lightweight starting forward line on paper, nonetheless these are the lads that performed so well to secure promotion. They will need to hang in for the cavalry to arrive. MadgeKing (Cavan) - Posts: 493 - 13/04/2018 16:34:58 2092876 Link 0 |
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I wouldn't be surprised if Cavan beat us and we get an early enough exit from the Championship, our league form was a bit pathetic when you study it, we might have kicked some great scores etc. but we seem to have lost the instinct to close out games, looks to me like we are going back to the way we used to be in the noughties, lots of talent and potential but not really a serious dangerous team, Jim coached the hell out of us and made us winners, the party boys scenario may be gone but I don't know I remain to be convinced that Declan is the man for the job. I think it will be a long time till we get another serious crack at Sam, the Anglo Celt maybe if things go well in the next few years, I hope I'm wrong. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2745 - 13/04/2018 23:29:20 2092947 Link 1 |
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Harsh words TirC. I don't think pathetic is the correct word to use. Supporters have to be realistic and have patience. You could be right regarding Bonner and I would have reservations myself but he has done reasonably well. The league was not brilliant for Donegal but certainly not pathetic either. The back 6 was experimental throughout the league but will prove to be invaluable to the younger lads in the next couple of years. Look at how much Ban and Brennan came on from last year for example. We are miles away from Dublin but not so far from the rest. You are right in that we need to develop more of a killer instinct rather then the dilly dally approach keeping our opponents in games that should be over. Throughout the league our option taking was at times questionable. Look at Dublin for example. Not only are they a great team who are adaptable but their option taking is supreme. They will always generally give the ball to the player in the best position to score. If there is a player in a position with a higher percentage of scoring they work the ball to that player and generally recycle rather than taking pot shots. Donegal should learn massively from this. Cavan will be no walkovers but given Donegal's record in Ballybofey I think they should and will win. The draw then opens up for the winners.
panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2781 - 14/04/2018 11:32:16 2092971 Link 0 |
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There is no alternative to Bonner. If there was one their would have been more than one application for the job. There wasn't. End of discussion. Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 14/04/2018 12:00:37 2092976 Link 0 |
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Exactly and to be fair he has done ok. Given plenty of players game time including experience for alot of the younger lads from last years U-21's. He has being able to bring back the players that for various reasons were not available the last year or 2. Like I said as supporters we need to be patient and realistic. At the start of the year most would have agreed that relegation would not have been the end of the world provided we seen some improvements in how we play. I think we seen glimmers of that and the squad as a whole looks much stronger than last year. It was never going to be an easy job given what happened last year and the general negativity in how the previous regime approached games. I still have the feeling that like the last time he was in charge that Declan is probably setting it up for whoever comes in next. But regardless he was the best candidate from those who had applied.
panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2781 - 14/04/2018 16:30:57 2092994 Link 0 |
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Tomsmith here from Cavan Town the Home of Cavan Gaels the second best team in Ulster. tomsmith (Cavan) - Posts: 3856 - 14/04/2018 16:49:30 2092997 Link 0 |
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You obviously weren't at many league games if you called our league form pathetic. For the first four games we rested all the older lads which I think was right and played a very young team. These young lads impressed me anyway players like Mc glenehan. Mc menamin. Stephen Mc brearty. Caolan Mc gonagle etc. this league in my eyes was for to introduce new players into the set up and to see them in action iagainst top teams. We might have went down but there's no reason why we can't bounce back. We have very good young lads coming thru who I feel will bring the Anglo Celt back to the county in the next few years.
rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2399 - 14/04/2018 20:58:57 2093020 Link 1 |
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Well as I said I hope I'm wrong, we have always had plenty of talent, but you need more than that to win matches, we had Mayo beat but for some reason took our foot of the gas, I would like to see Murphy stay in at FF, he is slowing the play down too much around the middle, it would be great to have him inside, that long ball would always be on and Brennan and Paddy could feed off him, if we are adopting this more traditional style now then we need to start kicking the ball in long and early, mix it up too with diagonal ones, this slow passing over and back and backways is rubbish, maybe pathetic was too strong a word, but we were very lucky to get that win in Ballyshannon against Kildare, losing is a habit just like winning is, it's time we started winning. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2745 - 14/04/2018 21:48:31 2093028 Link 0 |
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Overly harsh Tirchonail and not accurate. Donegals league was decent given the high number of players introduced and new attacking system. They were competitive in every game and will have learned a lot. I think we see an exciting Donegal side come championship and likely to be much more defensive. As for Bonner. The jury is out. He has an excellent backroom team and if they get enough control then it'll be to Donegals benefit. fatkeeper (Dublin) - Posts: 316 - 15/04/2018 05:50:55 2093054 Link 0 |
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Playing murphy at full forward sound good but I think the problem then is that Mc brearty seems to go missing. Prob because he doesn't get enough ball into him. I would love to see the two inside with Jamie Brennan. But I think It'll it will only happen occasionally during a game. But it could very well happen quite frequently against Cavan it's a horses for courses thing depending on the opposition and I feel Bonner will hope to exploit the Cavan full back line which at times were porous in the league final. In saying that Cavan will prob be thinking the same about our full back line. If we keep murphy and paddy closer to goal it'll definety make cavan more defensive. Midfield is a problem for both teams we haven't really had a settled mid field during the league Hugh Mc fadden s form is a big plus but who will play with him that'll be the problem.
rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2399 - 15/04/2018 07:23:20 2093056 Link 0 |
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As I said in a previous thread that was high jacked I am looking forward to some really competitive games this year and this is going to be one of them. Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 15/04/2018 12:22:55 2093078 Link 0 |
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Donegal just I would say. But will be close. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 15/04/2018 16:40:59 2093111 Link 0 |
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Think it will be a nice game with a narrow Cavan win. oakleafersir (Derry) - Posts: 808 - 15/04/2018 20:11:04 2093142 Link 0 |
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Mattie has installed a great comrade in the panel in according to a man close to the Park ( Not SOR) fellows are not enjoying training and getting together. MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 16/04/2018 15:23:16 2093318 Link 0 |
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Take no heed Muckross. Looney bin must've been closed for the weekend
cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 16/04/2018 19:29:44 2093376 Link 0 |
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Quite simply, I reckon Donegal will win this. Cavan_Shambles (Cavan) - Posts: 575 - 26/04/2018 12:54:15 2095072 Link 0 |
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Donegal should win this. Please don't put Monaghan at the same level as Cavan. We are way ahead of Cavan and have been for some time as result will show. The only reason you cannot beat other teams is because they are better. You got a few go,s at Roscommon this year so far and it looks like they have gotten better than Cavan.
mon07 (Monaghan) - Posts: 139 - 26/04/2018 17:29:43 2095138 Link 0 |
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Bloody hell Mon07 cool the jets. Monanaghan off the back of having one of the best forwards in Ireland have punched above their weight for the last number of years. Albeit in poorer quality ulster championships and retaining their status in Division 1 of the league. When it comes down to the business end of the cahmpionship (lets face it when it really matters) there true level has been found out. So yes, credit where it is due, would Cavan like to be in the same situation yes we bloody well would. Take mc Manus out of Monaghan then they move from holding onto the coat tails of the All ireland contenters and supposed big 6 to the chasing pack. To say they are "way ahead of Cavan" by virtue of having one outstanding palyer is understandable and usual nonsence from some Monaghan supporters.
offtheditch (Cavan) - Posts: 157 - 27/04/2018 08:42:01 2095214 Link 2 |
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Donegal beat Mayo in a challenge match the other night apparently. Not much news forthcoming from either camp for obvious reasons. Where Donegal are concerned it really will be the case that we won't know the exact starting 15 for definite until the ball is thrown in! Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9128 - 27/04/2018 10:53:58 2095234 Link 0 |