Hard Luck to Jim and the boys yesterday, better team won on the day, Dublin had a huge amount of wides also.
Shea Malone, Max Campbell got great experience this year which will stand to them. Ciaran Thompson will be fully recovered for next year. Jason McGee had an injury free season and showed his class.

We will be back stronger next season. I hope the team enjoys the break .

ulsterrules (Donegal) - Posts: 307 - 22/06/2026 09:17:05    2681116

Donegal are an excellent team - they have always struggled to go week on week as their particular running game and counter attacking takes it out of the legs.

They need to look at the style of play and let the ball do more of the work.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1907 - 22/06/2026 09:36:21    2681123

LowerHogan (Meath) - Posts: 105 - 22/06/2026 09:41:31    2681125

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 494 - 22/06/2026 09:54:58    2681133

Samforthehills26 (Donegal) - Posts: 12 - 22/06/2026 10:00:15    2681136

JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 213 - 22/06/2026 10:04:27    2681139

ulsterrules (Donegal) - Posts: 307 - 22/06/2026 10:24:12    2681146

gahfan (Wexford) - Posts: 641 - 22/06/2026 10:34:17    2681150

LowerHogan (Meath) - Posts: 105 - 22/06/2026 11:09:23    2681166

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4190 - 22/06/2026 11:30:01    2681171

Will Michael Murphy come back next year? We will make a deal, if he comes back next year, we will take back mc manus, oh wait, we have moved on.

monaghanmad (Monaghan) - Posts: 504 - 22/06/2026 12:04:08    2681183

Very disappointing result yesterday. It felt similar to last week against Cork were our legs were gone and we were lacking rhythm in our play. Even when we got the goal and a few points and went 5 up, we didn't build on it. Something similar happened last week were we went ahead by 7 against Cork but didn't build on it too. Something just didn't feel right but the lads tried their hardest and it took a lot to even pull it back level at full time. Dublin were deserving of their win at the end and it will be interesting to see them against Galway next week. I think we looked like a team that was training really hard but it was similar vibe this year to 2013 as many have mentioned. Hopefully we can bounce back next year.

What really shocked me yesterday and for the last while is the hatred for Donegal and particularly Murphy and McGuinness. Murphy was booed again and nearly as bad as Killarney. This I feel has no place in the game. I spoke to a Dublin supporter after the game and they said he was fully deserving of it after the League final. I said to them, do you think Michael Burns will be booed by Donegal and opposition fans once he serves his suspension? Similarly Kelly for Armagh wasn't subjected to anything like this after serving a suspension for a very serious incident. Also some of the stuff on Twitter was shocking and people calling him some horrible remarks which is way over the top. The GAA made a tribute post to him for his 200th appearance and it was littered with disgusting comments. I have watched Murphy since his debut at 17 and he has been a pleasure to watch. He plays with an edge but he does not have this dirty streak to his game that people are saying that he is been at for years supposedly. This year i do feel he has been more aggressive and did it take it too far in the league final but again it is literally the only significant incident in his career that people can cite. He has been a legend of the game and is contributed so much to Donegal and it turns my stomach to see the abuse he is receiving. Furthermore, everyone in the county or anyone knows him on a personal level are aware of the incredible person he is and let's hope he has another year in the Donegal jersey. Also I hope this new soccer culture coming into the GAA and social media abuse doesn't creep more into the game..

User93 (Donegal) - Posts: 1 - 22/06/2026 12:04:20    2681184

Congrats to Dublin on a well deserved win yesterday. The game should never have gone to extra time but looking at the body language of our players when they returned to the pitch there was only going to be one winner. Added to the two black cards especially McGee who was probably our best player on the day. I could not fault their effort on the day but it just wasn't there in the second half. Of course getting murdered on the kick outs didn't help. I felt in the build up we could really have an advantage in this regard with our men around the middle and going after Comerford but I couldn't have been more wrong. Comerford was excellent and pulled off a great one handed save in extra time. I'm guessing Patton must've aggravated something as playing him last week and not this was a strange call. I actually thought he might have got subbed at half time last weekend when Mulreaney was warming up. I liked that Jim pulled back Farrah and Ryan to have something to come off the bench but the timing of bringing them on at half time didn't make sense to me especially as Campbell and Shea had done quite well. Shea actually scored the goal and played a significant part in the second......an odd call. Murphy taking a point when a goal looked a certainty just after the first goal was another strange call.

We've been on some journey the last 3 years since Jim has come back. I'd like to thank him and everyone of the players for the excitement and pride they've brought. I really hope he stays on and I'm hopeful he will. His record speaks for itself and we've had some fun days including this year after the league. Maybe that masked over some of the disappointment of last year's All Ireland. It's very hard to figure out what's gone wrong since but anyone at the Cork would not have been surprised by yesterday's result. Some players just haven't produced the form they've consistently shown. Lots of time for post mortems but I hope the players enjoy a good rest their bodies deserve.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2960 - 22/06/2026 12:37:02    2681194

Disappointing to see the Dublin decline isnt as extreme as most of us wanted it to be. A professional setup will always have an advantage at the stage of the championship when attrition starts to kick in.

But credit to them for taking that weird decision on the chin to move the free up, and once it became 13/13 they were always going to run around Donegal. Interesting to see it wasnt just Con kicking their 2 pointers. Would be a pity for Con to be out again, a class act.

Crusty_Ring (Kildare) - Posts: 19 - 22/06/2026 12:56:01    2681211

Congratulations to Dublin GAA on their deserved win and best of luck to the Dublin footballers and management for the rest of the Championship.

I would say neither team would be overly happy with how we performed, lots of wides and mistakes, but it made for a entertaining game in a lot of ways.

Something definitely felt off about Donegal in the 2nd half of the Cork match, a lot of sloppy play that we don't associate with Donegal at this time of year usually, and that continued into this match. Definitely needs to be an in-depth post-mortem to understand what went wrong.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1893 - 22/06/2026 12:56:41    2681212

Jim has a few few issues to tackle. And before anyone piles on i would have taken him as Mayo manager this year or any year in fact but he's definitely a bit too strong willed and is a believer that his way is the right way but it clearly isn't. There are 2 or 3 players not involved in the panel that should be. One in particular stepped away after being poorly treated. The likes of Jamie Brennan and O Baoill should not be in a panel when the likes of Doherty and O Donnell are not.

Also the online abuse of Jim and Murphy is ridiculous but let's not pretend Jim is universally liked in Donegal especially in certain areas. Plenty of comments on Twitter and Facebook after Down and Cork game almost gloating. And these are not anonymous trolls. Some are lads involved in coaching within Donegal.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8873 - 22/06/2026 13:07:44    2681217

inthru (Donegal) - Posts: 5 - 22/06/2026 13:15:32    2681222

Firstly, congratulations to Dublin - they deserved their victory , and best of luck in the rest of the championship.
From a Donegal perspective, there's disappointment, but also reflection.
There's no doubt Jim McGuinness has transformed Donegal football over the years and remains one of the greatest managers we've ever had. But moving forward, there are definitely things that need to improve.
For me, the first thing is the backroom team.
Jim needs a stronger voice beside him - a stronger number two. Someone with real county management experience who can challenge him, offer a different viewpoint, and bring another layer of analysis. Every top manager needs that.
Secondly, I believe he needs more tactical support.
Last year, young Barrett was involved heavily in the tactical side, and from what I've heard, the workload expected was colossal, completely unsustainable, that's why he walked away. If that's true, it's understandable why replacing that role wasn't easy. But if Jim has had to take that responsibility on himself this year, it's clear looking at the results he could do with some help.
Because tactically, I think this is where Donegal are falling short.
Declan Bogue wrote on The 42 yesterday that after the game he saw Michael Murphy standing alone at the side of the pitch, staring into the distance. He said it felt like he was taking it all in - maybe for the last time.
Michael Murphy owes Donegal absolutely nothing. He has given everything to this county and will go down as one of our greatest ever. But if this is the end, it leaves a huge gap.
Others now have to step up.
Oisín Gallen will have to carry even more.
Conor O'Donnell has had a difficult championship by his own standards, but he's young and talented and can bounce back.
But my biggest concern is Donegal's style of play.
This isn't personal criticism of Jim - it's tactical.
Donegal's game is built around relentless hand-passing, support running, and carrying the ball through the lines. Under the old rules, you could justify it. But under this condensed championship schedule, where amateur players are playing every six or seven days, it's becoming too demanding physically.
And you could see it this year.
Donegal looked flat.
Lethargic.
Heavy-legged.
That's not coincidence.
The running game takes a massive toll.
And in my opinion, it's madness to rely on it so heavily in this new championship format.
Look at the analysis last night. O'Shea pointed out that Donegal and Armagh (both got knocked out this wend) rarely kick quick ball into the inside line. Then they showed clips of Kerry and Westmeath doing exactly that - kicking through the lines and giving their forwards proper one-on-one chances. Paddy Andrews on 'Off the ball' yesterday said the sme thing, he cant understand why Donegal refuse to kick the ball into their top-class forwards.
That's the direction modern football is going
The frustrating thing is Donegal actually have the forwards to do it.
But how often do they get quality ball?
Rarely if ever.
Most of the time they're receiving possession with their backs to goal, moving out towards the arch, with a defender on their heels. Then it becomes hand pass, recycle, hand pass, recycle.
How are they meant to score from play in that system?
It's nearly impossible.
You could put Jesus in at 14 and St Peter corner forward and they'd struggle.
The issue isn't that Donegal lack forwards.
The issue is they aren't being given the opportunities.
And for me, that has been the case under multiple managers over the last 10-15 years.
Donegal have to mix it up.
Keep the running game - absolutely.
But add variety.
Kick quick ball.
Break lines earlier.
Trust your forwards.
Give them one-on-one chances.
Jim said himself after the game that everything has to be reviewed.
That's encouraging.
Because I do believe he has the ability to evolve.
The question now is:
Can he look at himself and say:
"What worked before may not be good enough anymore"
There was talk a few weeks ago that Jim was a brilliant manager under the old rules, but under the new rules.... - and maybe there's some truth in that.
But the very best managers adapt.
And for Donegal to take the next step, I think adaptation is now essential.
Because the talent is there.
But unless the tactics evolve, we risk being in the same situation next year.
And with the squad likely weakening next year rather than strengthening, time is running out unfortunately.
I believe this team is good enough to win the All Ireland, but big changes need to be made.

gaeltacht81 (Donegal) - Posts: 38 - 22/06/2026 13:35:28    2681225

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1139 - 22/06/2026 13:36:08    2681226

iTHINK TRATMENT OF Murphy Jim and Donegal in general is brutal from media pods social media its becoming deranged

highdropingball (Donegal) - Posts: 130 - 22/06/2026 13:38:42    2681228