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A strange atmosphere in Clones with I'd say more Donegal support that Monaghan fans which was sad to see. Not a surprise though given Monaghan's form. Sliver linings though from the performance and I was talking to someone before the game who was at Cloghan that morning and nearly all the players recovering from injury were out doing light training. Also Irwin has left the panel. Monaghan did a lot right in this game. They moved the ball quicker. It was a better balanced line out. Carey is a better fit at half back than in the forwards, he has a tendency to slow down play when in the forwards. McCarron is best as an impact sub. Jack was never pacy but in his advancing years he has slowed down a bit more and though his close control is still amazing he's finding it tougher to find space. Carolan was very good yesterday. Works hard, brings pace and good positional awareness. O'Hanlon has been very ineffective in the past couple of games - recycling the ball rather than using his electrifying pace to punch holes or make space for other. A couple of times yesterday, his finishing was wonky and he defo needs to improve on that and one blind pass he made led to a Donegal score. But his goal was sensational and he caused havoc to Donegal. He needs to be this more consistently. Noticeably the team went more man to man yesterday and they were better defensively for it. Turn overs and technical fouls were less than another game this year but still room for improvement. Kelly didn't go off injured which is a plus. Still a lot of problems - Jason McGee was mismatch with his size for anyone on him. Something that hopefully Lavelle can solve when he returns. We struggled hugely in the middle on kick outs. While turnovers were less, what ones Monaghan did make, killed them. Some kick passing from Monaghan was very shoddy. Undercooked passes going short. Garland was making excellent runs of the ball, but passes to him were not worthy of the run he made. sleater (Monaghan) - Posts: 196 - 23/03/2026 10:08:42 2662440 Link
A sad day to see Monaghans hard working players disowned by their own fans on a sunny day in a close to empty Clones. NORTHMEN (Donegal) - Posts: 31 - 23/03/2026 13:49:44 2662528 Link
Replying To NORTHMEN: "A sad day to see Monaghans hard working players disowned by their own fans on a sunny day in a close to empty Clones." Expecting a hammering that never came. Questions to be asked in Donegal camp rather than Monaghan i would say. Are Donegal just a winter team this year? time will tell farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 580 - 23/03/2026 16:19:00 2662605 Link
Replying To NORTHMEN: "A sad day to see Monaghans hard working players disowned by their own fans on a sunny day in a close to empty Clones." Cop on Blackcardnot (USA) - Posts: 85 - 23/03/2026 16:21:57 2662606 Link
Replying To NORTHMEN: "A sad day to see Monaghans hard working players disowned by their own fans on a sunny day in a close to empty Clones." Omagh in 2023 comes to mind..... or even Tyrone in Ballybofey that same year. Not long ago many supporters from Donegal disowned Paddy Carr, Aidan O'Rourke & the soldiering Donegal panel. Ironically, the big financial donors abandoned the hard-working players too until a modern day great in McGuinness returned. Short, short memories. ConyersHill04 (Monaghan) - Posts: 59 - 23/03/2026 16:45:10 2662619 Link
Monaghan always play better with fast direct ball into the forwards like they did yesterday. No harm playing with a bit of a chip on the shoulder going into Ulster either. Being written will suit them. Need a few big men back through. Johnny Maher and Jason McGee have had field days in recent weeks. seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1967 - 23/03/2026 16:48:59 2662621 Link
Was McCarville injured yesterday? Any news on big players missing? Clock ticking now. Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1294 - 23/03/2026 21:32:56 2662690 Link
Replying To farneygael3: "Expecting a hammering that never came. Questions to be asked in Donegal camp rather than Monaghan i would say. Are Donegal just a winter team this year? time will tell" It was great to be on the pitch in Clones after the game celebrating us reaching a League Final appearance. After the last League game in Clones there is usually a Monaghan pitch invasion to celebrate staying up. Questions need to be asked of the Donegal camp; we started 6 of the All Ireland Final starting 15. SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 900 - 23/03/2026 22:43:14 2662721 Link
Replying To ConyersHill04: "Omagh in 2023 comes to mind..... or even Tyrone in Ballybofey that same year. Not long ago many supporters from Donegal disowned Paddy Carr, Aidan O'Rourke & the soldiering Donegal panel. Ironically, the big financial donors abandoned the hard-working players too until a modern day great in McGuinness returned. Short, short memories." Your point is? ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 976 - 23/03/2026 23:31:51 2662727 Link
League fixtures out. Be looking forward to seeing Castleblayney v scotstown. Re ignite the rivalry Monaghan_football (Monaghan) - Posts: 107 - 23/03/2026 23:33:15 2662728 Link
Replying To ORIELMAN85: "Your point is?" Its quite simple. Its easy for others to criticise our support when they are in a position of strength. If you read my comment you'd see that Donegal were in their own turmoil not that long ago and there wasn't thousands of fans following them queueing outside grounds then. McGuinness had the aura and swagger to swing the momentum. ConyersHill04 (Monaghan) - Posts: 59 - 24/03/2026 11:12:50 2662790 Link
Replying To ConyersHill04: "Its quite simple. Its easy for others to criticise our support when they are in a position of strength. If you read my comment you'd see that Donegal were in their own turmoil not that long ago and there wasn't thousands of fans following them queueing outside grounds then. McGuinness had the aura and swagger to swing the momentum." Whats that got to do with Monaghan. Sitting in Clones was embarrassing on Sunday. Sunny day fans are not true Monaghan supporters. If you truly support the lads that go out snd give their time to the Monaghan cause, then you show up on the bad days as well as the good days. There might have been an excuse for not being in Killarney but none for not being in Clones on a beautiful Spring day. ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 976 - 24/03/2026 11:44:07 2662802 Link
Replying To ORIELMAN85: "Whats that got to do with Monaghan. Sitting in Clones was embarrassing on Sunday. Sunny day fans are not true Monaghan supporters. If you truly support the lads that go out snd give their time to the Monaghan cause, then you show up on the bad days as well as the good days. There might have been an excuse for not being in Killarney but none for not being in Clones on a beautiful Spring day." As is evident above, I was replying to a comment made by a Donegal affiliated account. You're talking to the wall here, there isn't a county in the country that experiences supporter drop off when the form of the county team dips, frustrating absolutely because if we were lucky enough to reach an All Ireland semi final again for example you'd find the bandwagon would return. You also must take into account how volatile the economy is, especially for families travelling to games. Supporters from successful counties i.e Donegal more like to splash the cash. ConyersHill04 (Monaghan) - Posts: 59 - 24/03/2026 13:54:21 2662862 Link
Replying To seanie08: "Monaghan always play better with fast direct ball into the forwards like they did yesterday. No harm playing with a bit of a chip on the shoulder going into Ulster either. Being written will suit them. Need a few big men back through. Johnny Maher and Jason McGee have had field days in recent weeks." Jason McGee had some match,, he was unplayable and was away ahead of everyone on the field. I've never seen him play as well.. If he keeps that up he will be some weapon for Donegal this year. Farney (Monaghan) - Posts: 825 - 24/03/2026 18:36:24 2662940 Link
Replying To Eddie the Exile: "Was McCarville injured yesterday? Any news on big players missing? Clock ticking now." Being kept in cold storage for El Classico Eddie seanie08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 1967 - 24/03/2026 19:32:19 2662956 Link
Ye it was a strange game Sunday. Challenge match feel at times, not entirely sure donegal wanted to win to much but they got the job done. We played better, more direct and our defending was sharper and more discplined. O Toole woods and carey were all very good. Midfield again an issue, we got hammered there as the game wore on. Overall a fairly poor league, 6 heavy beatings and a moral victory in a dead rubber. Hopefully now we can beat cavan and get our house in order for a decent championship. 222 (UK) - Posts: 917 - 24/03/2026 21:00:52 2662966 Link
Replying To 222: "Ye it was a strange game Sunday. Challenge match feel at times, not entirely sure donegal wanted to win to much but they got the job done. We played better, more direct and our defending was sharper and more discplined. O Toole woods and carey were all very good. Midfield again an issue, we got hammered there as the game wore on. Overall a fairly poor league, 6 heavy beatings and a moral victory in a dead rubber. Hopefully now we can beat cavan and get our house in order for a decent championship." roscommon wasnt a heavy beating and they are a certified div1 team now...also i think im the only one who thought the 1st half of the galway game wasnt too bad in defence and midfield at least - however attack was shockingly poor still - 7 beatings is as bad as it gets...i said before that id take relegation and a win against cavan over the opposite and im sticking with my story MalsBalls (Monaghan) - Posts: 272 - 25/03/2026 10:54:05 2663043 Link
Is the league results enough to justify new management next year? Championships not taken into account, good or bad. MonaghanMan44life (Monaghan) - Posts: 182 - 25/03/2026 12:49:00 2663072 Link
Replying To MonaghanMan44life: "Is the league results enough to justify new management next year? Championships not taken into account, good or bad." People mightn't like it but there's a very obvious candidate waiting in the wings. Succession plan in place with members of the minor management, finances and the potential for limited interest when Gabriel calls it a day. Take three............ ConyersHill04 (Monaghan) - Posts: 59 - 25/03/2026 14:04:54 2663087 Link
Replying To MonaghanMan44life: "Is the league results enough to justify new management next year? Championships not taken into account, good or bad." Malone is probably being lined up for it to succeed Gabriel. Has worked with minors and 20s over the last few years. First refusal would have to be McCaugue. farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 580 - 25/03/2026 14:19:43 2663093 Link