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I know there are a lot of posters on here who have a very poor opinion of Declan Bonner but do they honestly think his judgement is so poor as to consider dropping one of the best players in the country in Ryan McHugh.
gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1057 - 22/04/2022 16:27:53
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Replying To Curlew66: "Interesting team with plenty of options and thoughts for debate. Some thoughts from a neutral who has watched your county team a fair bit and familiar with many of your players at underage and college level. Very few would argue with a full forward line of McBrearty, Murphy and Brennan as they can do damage given a decent supply of ball. Will be good to see Michael Langan fit and lining out again after his injury. Hope Stephen McMeniman is 100% fit again as he and Oisin Gallen have had no luck atall in the past few years. Patton's restarts are great to watch and he will be more direct for the championship, getting it forward quickly to talented forwards reaps more rewards than over indulging in recycling which invites trouble and allows the opposition to regroup. Caolan Ward is an intelligent footballer and uses the ball very well, always thought he more suited to right half back than a tight marking corner back position..then again you might not be spoiled for options at corner back. Jeaic McCeallabhui is a superb man marker and can do a job at number 4 or 7 , I wouldn't be demanding too much from him as an attacking force despite his 80m dash to finish against Tyrone .. would be happy with him keeping his opponent scores to a minimum. Caolan McGonigle was one the most improved attacking mid fielders in the country up to his hand injury . His direct running sees him surge forward and pick off a score or two on a regular basis, nothing beats that for giving the team a lift. Hugh McFadden seems to do his best work behind midfield in a sweeping role , his energy sapping runs tend to be diagonal before unloading. It's a big ask to expect talented players like Ryan McHugh and Peadar Mogan to launch attacks from deep inside their own half, having them in those positions means that they will end up defending and man marking which might not be their strong points and we can expect exchanges in the first 20 minutes to be very physical. Would be great to have the luxury of introducing a player of Morgan's pace around 50mins when the game becomes more open and some players begin to tire.
McFadden Ferry is a big loss but it's good to see supporters moving on from suspensions/appeals and focusing on your starting 15. Your panel won't need all that to motivate them as dwelling on it too much could lead to I'll discipline ." Great analysis of our strengths and challenges for Sunday and the season.
Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 22/04/2022 18:22:22
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Replying To SouthOfTheGap: "Very well said Curlew, i couldnt disagree with anything you have said, and you have excellent knowledge. I suspect that your better half is a Donegal woman.
I feel with the importance of the physical battle this weekend, that we can't afford to have a defensive set up with Mogan, McHugh and Eoin Ban. They just don't offer that hard hit that'll be required. So McCeallbhui is a good shout.
This will be specially so if we have to relegate one of our big man like McGonigle, Jason McGee or Big Hughie to facilitate a playmaker like Niall O'Donnell.
If we manage the game properly, I feel that we should get enough of a lift off the bench to see us over the line with maybe a couple to spare." I see the programme has been released.
As I said above, Mogan loses out, but instead Paul Brennan comes in for the physical presence.
Also as I predicted, Niall O'Donnell starts, with Caolán McGonagle losing out.
Of course there could be changes before throw in, but I'd say if there are, they'll be McCeallbhui and McGonagle.
SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 584 - 22/04/2022 21:50:48
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Good luck to Declan, Stephen. Paddy and the lads on Sunday. It's goin to be a huge match . Hopefully our supporters will come out in huge numbers and roar the team on. Weather forecast good for tomorrow so most of us have no excuses hopefully. Armagh will come in huge numbers especially after the farce from the gaa during the week. But hopefully our lads are up for it no reason why we shudnt be.
rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2404 - 23/04/2022 08:53:41
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Replying To SouthOfTheGap: "I see the programme has been released.
As I said above, Mogan loses out, but instead Paul Brennan comes in for the physical presence.
Also as I predicted, Niall O'Donnell starts, with Caolán McGonagle losing out.
Of course there could be changes before throw in, but I'd say if there are, they'll be McCeallbhui and McGonagle." I had a quick Google and look at twitter but didn't see the named teams.
Would you have a link by any chance?
Donegal2022 (Donegal) - Posts: 13 - 23/04/2022 09:08:20
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Replying To Donegal2022: "I had a quick Google and look at twitter but didn't see the named teams.
Would you have a link by any chance?" Justin McNulty has a photo of the match programme up on his FB page.
SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 584 - 23/04/2022 11:40:41
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Replying To gunman: "I know there are a lot of posters on here who have a very poor opinion of Declan Bonner but do they honestly think his judgement is so poor as to consider dropping one of the best players in the country in Ryan McHugh." Totally agree if we have 15 players better than Mc Hugh we shudnt be fearing Armagh.
rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2404 - 23/04/2022 17:47:34
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Replying To gunman: "I know there are a lot of posters on here who have a very poor opinion of Declan Bonner but do they honestly think his judgement is so poor as to consider dropping one of the best players in the country in Ryan McHugh." I'm hoping Ryan McHugh will show his obvious class tomorrow with a drier pitch and shorter grass in Ballybofey but he was well below his usual standards for most of our league campaign.
Donegal2022 (Donegal) - Posts: 13 - 23/04/2022 18:13:05
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Replying To Donegal2022: "I'm hoping Ryan McHugh will show his obvious class tomorrow with a drier pitch and shorter grass in Ballybofey but he was well below his usual standards for most of our league campaign." Agreed. We need more from him, he's a brilliant player and I thoroughly enjoy watching the man on form. He's a senior player now in the set-up and we do need him to drive the team on with Murphy, McBrearty and plenty of others too showing leadership.
Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 23/04/2022 18:50:38
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Well done to the minors yesterday. They were a step above Fermanagh. Great workrate all over the field. Derry look strong this year so that will be a tough one.
Best of luck to the seniors today. It wasn't the prevailing wind yesterday so maybe some more scoring to the town end.
When Donegal beat Armagh two years ago they made complete hay on the Armagh kickout. If they push up see Rafferty whacking it long.
They also put pressure on Patton in letterkenny, hopefully the few players back will help with that. Anyhow fingers crossed. Up Donegal
Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 692 - 24/04/2022 09:03:39
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Was at the minors yesterday. Hard to take anything from the game as it was so one sided. Would have expected more from Fermanagh given that they had already beaten in championship. Gildea at full forward looks a decent player.
Thought it was strange that there wasn't 1 St Eunans player in the 24 man panel on programme. This was also the case last year with same management. Does anyone know if there is an issue or just a case of Eunans having poor minor teams 2 years in a row. Given their massive population advantage they are normally strong at under age levels.
HEREBENJI (Donegal) - Posts: 421 - 24/04/2022 09:32:38
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Hopefully our followers come out in colour today, big Armagh contingent up last night all with colours on thus morning, Armagh team stayed in jacksons last night, great to be getting a pound outa them.
Tyrion (Donegal) - Posts: 160 - 24/04/2022 10:28:10
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Judgement day at last. Perfect conditions for football in the twin towns today, I hope to God that we put manners on Armagh now after all their shenanigans.
On the topic of Ryan McHugh, for him to have a good game its key that we get Murphy freed up. The pair of them play with great harmony, and a lot of the games where you would think of Ryan as underachieving came when a) Murphy wasn't available due to injury or b) we played a team that could wrap Michael up, textbook example being against Mayo 2019. Problem is, I can't see Michael having enough freedom today to be able to pull our lads into the game, they'll have to know to do that for themselves.
On that topic, we have some top quality footballers but we just need to see them stand up. You'll not find as lovely footballers as Niall O'Donnell or Ciarán Thompson anywhere in the country, but in the rough and tumble of a big match they can get drowned by the chaos. If the likes of Thompson, O'Donnell, Jamie Brennan can rise above today and stand up to their man to show them that we aren't going to be pushed around in big games anymore, there's no reason we couldn't beat Armagh out the gate.
So it comes down to the same thing again. Unquestionable talent, but questionable application. Fingers crossed after today we'll have no call to question them again.
papa_pump (Donegal) - Posts: 71 - 24/04/2022 10:34:35
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Armagh were never going to win this game, they were winning at start of season when better teams were of the pace but that's 3 losses in a row now.
Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2014 - 24/04/2022 15:42:00
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Well done Donegal - excellent today. Good luck against Cavan which will be a tricky game but this team more than capable of winning an Ulster.
ardmhacha (Armagh) - Posts: 172 - 24/04/2022 15:42:13
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Best we've played in a long while. A lot of men stood up today. Murphy Bán and Langan as always, but they weren't alone. McHugh, Shane O'Donnell and Jason McGee especially put in a shift. Thompson and McCole were solid too. Wasn't a perfect performance by any means but we dealt with the Armagh flurry in the second half well.
Think some of the Armagh men got a bit caught up today in trying to be the hard man. Forker got himself a pointless yellow and that left him on thin ice. A lot of huffing and puffing but overall pretty negative football and you'd have to wonder what Geezer was thinking. Armagh still have an unreal panel and it's not hard to see them making hay in the qualifiers and coming into the all ireland quarters with serious momentum.
Cavan are no slouches, but we shouldn't need any extra motivation to tear into them. Big chance for our boys to exercise a demon. All in all a great day out in the twin towns and a lot to look forward to now I'm the next month which is all we can ask for
papa_pump (Donegal) - Posts: 71 - 24/04/2022 15:59:45
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If we had our shooting boots on that could've been anything
Ryan got MOTM but I want to give a special mention to Jason McGee, in that first half when the game was tit for tat and in the melting pot, he came up with huge fetches in the middle and was our best player. Shane O'Donnell was also extremely positive in possession and is there a better sight than Eoghan Bán Gallagher carrying the ball out of defence?
Really couldn't have asked for more in that there is plenty for us to work on but happy with the win and performance all the same. On to Cavan anois
JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 24/04/2022 16:19:53
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Glad football won out in the end, Armagh need to transfer their form in the boardroom and media on to the pitch.
peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 801 - 24/04/2022 16:24:28
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Replying To ardmhacha: "Well done Donegal - excellent today. Good luck against Cavan which will be a tricky game but this team more than capable of winning an Ulster." Go raibh maith agat, all the best in the qualifiers and hope you enjoyed the day up in Ballybofey
JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 24/04/2022 16:25:35
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Good performance from the team, against a very average armagh team. I always believed this armagh side were getting hyped up way to much over a few early league performances when other teams were not as fit and had injuries. We dominated midfield in first half, and with better shooting, we should have been out of sight.
No doubt we will have much harder tests down the line, but hopefully we will improve also. Getting gallon back, and getting a few players fitter.
The only negative from the performance, was i throught mcfadden seemed to hold on to the ball for to long, and looked slow and off the pace. Lost possession several times. And Mcmenamin looked slow and off the pace. Think i would still have neil mcgee in there if fit before him.
Brennan i am sure will improve with a game behind him. Still think there is a place in the team for niall o'donnell.
Other that that, everyone else did good. And hopefully we are just starting to hit form at the right time.
The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 687 - 24/04/2022 16:27:56
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