HoganStand GAA Football and Hurling

National Forum

Donegal GAA thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post

You need to Login to Post

Yet another Ulster title left behind at this level. A combination of bad wides and slow pedestrian build up. You'll not win many games with either. Best of luck to Tyrone in the final. peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1563 - 22/04/2026 20:55:49 2667966 Link
Another disappointing evening against our neighbours. In total control in the first half but our shooting was abysmal. Unfortunately we lost some of that control in the second half but the shooting and decision making stayed the same. Tyrone sat in and around the arc but we kept coughing up cheap possession mixed with more dreadful shooting. Composure completely deserted them and Tyrone as they do capitalised. It was always a couple of 2 pointers away from them back in it which came their way. The game management was really poor. Rushing things with a lead even though they were sitting in. In truth last year's team had far more swagger and attacking threat but still another massive opportunity wasted. panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2933 - 22/04/2026 21:40:18 2667979 Link
We need to seriously review how we are coaching at underage level everything is too slow, methodical & too lateral. Looked like we were playing under the old rules. Should have been out the gate at half time. Even at times when we did manage to break the cover we turned at went for the low percentage backpass to retain the ball. Afraid to kick or play a direct ball. It looked like we tried to defend the lead in the second half. It was turgid stuff. totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 1216 - 22/04/2026 22:20:51 2667992 Link
Replying To Lockjaw: "I fear we will end up regretting the glut of missed chances in the first half here..." Not wrong! eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 336 - 22/04/2026 22:22:49 2667994 Link
It's crazy how poor we are at u20 level since 2010. There's no excuses here at all. Have the players year in year out and ultimately fail. eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 336 - 22/04/2026 22:23:58 2667995 Link
Replying To panamasam: "Another disappointing evening against our neighbours. In total control in the first half but our shooting was abysmal. Unfortunately we lost some of that control in the second half but the shooting and decision making stayed the same. Tyrone sat in and around the arc but we kept coughing up cheap possession mixed with more dreadful shooting. Composure completely deserted them and Tyrone as they do capitalised. It was always a couple of 2 pointers away from them back in it which came their way. The game management was really poor. Rushing things with a lead even though they were sitting in. In truth last year's team had far more swagger and attacking threat but still another massive opportunity wasted." I almost think you're being too kind. Yeah they missed too much in the first half but the problems run deeper than that. I mentioned earlier that the Donegal under 20s play conservatively, but that doesn't even capture it. It's really is an awful way to play football. What's the point when there's only one kick pass played inside over the entire game? Everything is laboured and slow - endless hand-passing outside the scoring zone, killing momentum, only to finish with low-percentage, hopeful shots. There's no willingness to take a man on, no risk, no spark. There was a way over the top obsession with trying to force two pointers in the first half instead of keeping the scoreboard ticking. It's joyless to watch, and you'd imagine it's just as frustrating to play in. Football at under age should be more expressive and players let play - this is the complete opposite. The only positive is that a defeat like that might finally force a rethink, especially at underage level, and push coaching in a more progressive, attacking direction. If you're going to lose you might as well lose trying to play a bit of football. Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 992 - 22/04/2026 22:24:57 2667996 Link
Oh no! farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 625 - 22/04/2026 23:10:39 2668002 Link
Was the wind really strong as both teams struggled against it and both only scored a single point when playing into it? Donegalabroad (Donegal) - Posts: 17 - 23/04/2026 09:26:58 2668021 Link
Terrible perfomance from 5 on wards. full back line was steady enough for 55 mins, went chasing left gaps then!! Was a bad watch, i mind first half we had a counter attack straight up the middle , the player carrying turned out left and passed a ball out to Carr and he put it wide. The middle was still open, once I seen that, I knew what was coming!! Also looked like certain players passed to club team mates. Is the normal keeper up at senior injured or something? Or is that the GK coach making that decision? Whyme923 (Donegal) - Posts: 140 - 23/04/2026 09:49:20 2668030 Link