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Donegal Football Championships

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Replying To jacktheboy:  "After that display today looks like Bonner may go for Caolan Ward as full back for next year. He had a very good game today, good hands,pace and great use of the ball"
Firstly congratulations to Eunans & Rory Kavanagh on a thoroughly deserved win. It was a very accomplished performance from his young team.

Totally agree with you regarding Ward. I felt that he has been somewhat harshly treated in terms of championship minutes these past few years with the county. But Ward was superb at #3 today. It will be interesting to see if Bonner gives him a proper run in 2022.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9116 - 07/11/2021 20:06:05    2388671

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Poor advert today but finals can be strange games sometimes, thought St Eunan's showed some real class but NC were so poor today, I think Donegal football is in a good enough state despite everything, just hope we get a good run next year, hopefully St Eunan's can go on now and win Ulster."
Club football is in a poor state in Donegal, very few teams play the game at pace and on the front foot. Fair at to eunans, they pushed up on the NC kick out and made hay, some talented young players and at at times when they moved the ball at pace they were awesome. Thought caolon ward was very good today pity burns and smithers don't rate him as a starter at county level. NC probably have the best squad in the county but play alot of their football at walking pace. What's also alarming is that I don't think too many new players have put up their hands for inclusion at intercounty level, obviously haven't been to all the games but on what I have seen I think that's where we're at.

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 912 - 07/11/2021 20:18:20    2388673

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Well done St. Eunan's, I didn't see that coming I have to admit I strongly fancied Glenties after them beating GD and Kilcar, fully deserved victory best team by a country mile today, disappointed with McGuinness's antics, he deserves a ban and I hope he learns from it, NC weren't at the races at all, I kept waiting for them to kick into gear but it never happened, some great individual performances today from the ST Eunan's team,
be funny now if Kilcar beat Glenties in the replay of the 2020 final, strange times."
What replay, game is over. And i am sure kilcar players dont want it.
But i imagine thats just posters fishing for a response from NC supporters.
Mcguinness did a silly thing, but he is not the first player and definitely wont be the last to get frustrated and get involved in a moment of madness.
As i said previously, we go beat well and can have no complaints.
But i am super proud of the NC club and players representing us on our 100 year anniversary. We might not be the number 1 team in the county anymore, and need to rebuild, as a lot of the older lads have given so much to NC and Donegal.
But we will continue to compete and produce excellent players.
Big shout out to the three odonnells who won today, all were excellent. There father is a glenties man and a gentleman and i am happy for them.

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 687 - 07/11/2021 20:36:38    2388678

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Fair play to eunans, full value for the big win. As someone said, big difference in the keepers impact. St eunans went to town on the NC kickout and NC had no joy on patton. I have to say I found first 20 mins or so a very hard watch. It's just so low risk. I'm glad the goal went in to open it up or it could ended like the kikcar vs nc final of a few years ago. When you saw it was mcgeehin one on one you'd know he wouldn't miss.
Eunans spine with ward, the o'donnell brothers and mcgettigan were very good and don't think any player underperformed. I wonder should NC have pushed up on ward as he controlled the game a lot from the back. Nc were not at the pitch of the game at all, it's been a long year and seemed to be a game too far.
Eunans do have natural forwards who all delivered. Being a young team you'd imagine eunans can push on over the next few years and become a dominant team. Gweedore seem to have regressed quite a bit since winning ulster and probably lack a forward or two. NC and kilcar still there or thereabouts but no other teams are lined up to push on.
And it was a lovely day for football and glad to see pitch in good shape after it being so bad for the semi.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 688 - 07/11/2021 21:13:43    2388680

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Congrats to St Eunans on a surprisingly easy win. Like most posters I thought NC would win but given I hadn't seen St Eunans all year I restrained from giving a prediction. Saying that given their success recently at underage level winning a county senior title was inevitable. The game itself was poor which I'd say didn't surprise many myself included. The game kinda reminded me of the 2014 AI final in that most expected NC to win despite respecting the threat of St Eunans much like Donegal that day. St Eunans mirrored NC in their set up just like Kerry and a poor kick out had a huge baring on the final result. The resulting ball in couldn't have landed to a better man than McGeehin who buried it. He is a class act and one of the best natural forwards in Donegal.

Cloughaneely played a big get out of jail card in yesterday's intermediate final. Dungloe were largely much the better side but 11 wides in the first half was their achilles heel. I think both penalties for Cloughaneely were contentious enough but without the aid of a replay hard to judge conclusively. The other goal seemed a bit of a fluke in that the ball either came off the post or Rogers before coming off a flailing cloughaneely leg. Daniel Ward hit a fantastic point which looked that it might be a winner till Cloughaneely leveled again. Again Dungloe could have won it but shot wide. With an eye to the replay Cloughaneely will need to up it big time as a repeat of yesterday's performance won't cut it. Saying that John Fitzgerald came on yesterday and had a big impact. If he is fit to start next week they can find that improvement but would still make Dungloe strong favourites.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2779 - 07/11/2021 21:15:46    2388681

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Big congratulations to St Eunans on their win yesterday. They got their tactics 100% right in not going into contact while Glenties tally of one score from ply must be some kind of record.
I do think that Glenties played their final against Kilcar and the scenes after that game led me to believe that Kilcar had gotten under their skins, because of the appeal, and that maybe they would struggle to reach the same heights again.
I still thought they would win and nothing prepared me for how poor they were.
As for St Eunans they can now look forward to a golden spell, they have some great young players and the fact that they have cleaned up titles wise in Donegal this year shows that they will be tough to beat in the immediate future.
To my old sparring partner e4e I say well done. You have suffered over the last few years and I hope you enjoy this one!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 08/11/2021 08:32:10    2388701

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Congratulations to St Eunans on a deserved win yesterday. They cleaned Naomh Conaill out in midfield, brought more intensity and physicality that what NC seemed to expect.

NC struggled to get scores because of how they were set up, this was actually quite similar to the Kilcar game, the only difference here was that St Eunans had the physicality to match them and dominating all kick-outs left NC penned in for play after play. When they did get down the field, the lack of inside options forced them to shoot from unrealistic angles and distances, they were really tactically hammered here.

From a Donegal selection point of view, I agree Caolan Ward looked outstanding, but we should remember that NC had few inside and the St Eunans backline had a very quiet day at the office, so this was probably not an accurate indicator of where players are at. But there are definitely a few St Eunans players who should be in the Donegal squad now, Eoin McGeehin, Tobin etc, quite a few actually.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1106 - 08/11/2021 09:45:07    2388715

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Caolan Ward put in some performance yesterday.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1057 - 08/11/2021 10:10:29    2388717

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Well done to the Letterkenny men. If NC lose to Kilcar now in the final for 2020 all 4 teams would have won a senior title since 2017 whoever wins this game will have 2 titles in 5 years.
2017 - Kilcar
2018 - GD
2019- Glenties
2020?
2021. Eunans

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1139 - 08/11/2021 10:39:31    2388723

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Replying To TheRock2121:  "Well done to the Letterkenny men. If NC lose to Kilcar now in the final for 2020 all 4 teams would have won a senior title since 2017 whoever wins this game will have 2 titles in 5 years.
2017 - Kilcar
2018 - GD
2019- Glenties
2020?
2021. Eunans"
2017 - Kilcar
2018 - Gweedore
2019- Naomh conaill
2020 - Naomh conaill
2021 - Eunans
2022 is the next one to be decided, can only see Eunans getting stronger and can see this team lifting a few.
Naomh conaill will lose a few players with age profile, but have a good underage setup, so will be there or thereabouts, maybe take a few years to won it again.
Kilcar have gone backwards, over dependent on mcbreartys, mchughs and mccleans. And when there gone will struggle. Might be another championship in them, as one is a poor return with the players they have. But for the size of the pick, they are doing well to compete with Eunans, Naomh conaill and Gweedore.
Gweedore were disappointing this year, and lost it on the sideline, no gameplan against NC. I think they need to do what eunans did a few years ago, get rid of the older lads and trust the younger players coming up.
That was the first championship defeat for Naomh conaill in three year's which is some going. Won the league this year, and made the final of the championship.
Lets hope Donegal can get the act together and roll on 2022

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 687 - 08/11/2021 11:45:48    2388741

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Replying To The keeper:  "2017 - Kilcar
2018 - Gweedore
2019- Naomh conaill
2020 - Naomh conaill
2021 - Eunans
2022 is the next one to be decided, can only see Eunans getting stronger and can see this team lifting a few.
Naomh conaill will lose a few players with age profile, but have a good underage setup, so will be there or thereabouts, maybe take a few years to won it again.
Kilcar have gone backwards, over dependent on mcbreartys, mchughs and mccleans. And when there gone will struggle. Might be another championship in them, as one is a poor return with the players they have. But for the size of the pick, they are doing well to compete with Eunans, Naomh conaill and Gweedore.
Gweedore were disappointing this year, and lost it on the sideline, no gameplan against NC. I think they need to do what eunans did a few years ago, get rid of the older lads and trust the younger players coming up.
That was the first championship defeat for Naomh conaill in three year's which is some going. Won the league this year, and made the final of the championship.
Lets hope Donegal can get the act together and roll on 2022"
I think 2020 still has to be decided? Kilcar wouldn't have appealed if they didn't want the game replayed, the decision was to replay the match after the 2021 Championship was over, you have to play within the rules.
I'd fancy Kilcar now to win the 2020 Championship, NC will be rocked by that display yesterday.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2739 - 08/11/2021 13:02:59    2388758

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Replying To The keeper:  "What replay, game is over. And i am sure kilcar players dont want it.
But i imagine thats just posters fishing for a response from NC supporters.
Mcguinness did a silly thing, but he is not the first player and definitely wont be the last to get frustrated and get involved in a moment of madness.
As i said previously, we go beat well and can have no complaints.
But i am super proud of the NC club and players representing us on our 100 year anniversary. We might not be the number 1 team in the county anymore, and need to rebuild, as a lot of the older lads have given so much to NC and Donegal.
But we will continue to compete and produce excellent players.
Big shout out to the three odonnells who won today, all were excellent. There father is a glenties man and a gentleman and i am happy for them."
I fear you are misinformed keeper. the process is with the Donegal County Board at the moment after Ulster knocked them back on a technicality. Kilcar are out of the picture but are not withdrawing, why should they?
All they are asking for is a chance to play the game on the pitch fairly, and as for the Kilcar players not wanting to replay, I shouldn't think the Glenties players are hopping with enthusiasm either besides which the word from Glenties is that they will not replay under any circumstances. Not much incentive for Kilcar to withdraw there especially in view of what happened at full time after the semi final.
A huge pity to see such bad blood between two great clubs who both do trojan work but it is what it is.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 08/11/2021 13:17:34    2388761

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Replying To MuckrossHead:  "I fear you are misinformed keeper. the process is with the Donegal County Board at the moment after Ulster knocked them back on a technicality. Kilcar are out of the picture but are not withdrawing, why should they?
All they are asking for is a chance to play the game on the pitch fairly, and as for the Kilcar players not wanting to replay, I shouldn't think the Glenties players are hopping with enthusiasm either besides which the word from Glenties is that they will not replay under any circumstances. Not much incentive for Kilcar to withdraw there especially in view of what happened at full time after the semi final.
A huge pity to see such bad blood between two great clubs who both do trojan work but it is what it is."
Naomh conaill only look forward, as we will do after sunday. We will look to bring in some young players from our great underage system. And look forward to watching our great club in 2022.
Thats what big clubs do, rather than looking back, we look forward, and thats the reason we are competing at the level we have done for a number of years.
Maybe other posters could learn from that, and then maybe you will understand why naomh conaill are such a great club with great community spirit.
Roll on 2022, hopefully Donegal get the act together and start competing again.
And looking forward to watching naomh conaill and some of the younn talent mixed in with the older lads

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 687 - 08/11/2021 17:46:16    2388808

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Replying To MuckrossHead:  "I fear you are misinformed keeper. the process is with the Donegal County Board at the moment after Ulster knocked them back on a technicality. Kilcar are out of the picture but are not withdrawing, why should they?
All they are asking for is a chance to play the game on the pitch fairly, and as for the Kilcar players not wanting to replay, I shouldn't think the Glenties players are hopping with enthusiasm either besides which the word from Glenties is that they will not replay under any circumstances. Not much incentive for Kilcar to withdraw there especially in view of what happened at full time after the semi final.
A huge pity to see such bad blood between two great clubs who both do trojan work but it is what it is."
Game is long over, and 2021 is done now. We in naomh conaill look forward and are looking forward to 2022 and introducing some fresh blood into our squad. There is still the guts of a good team there, with some new additions.
It has been a great year for naomh conaill, league champions, got to final of championship and are celebrating our 100 year anniversary.
Roll and 2022, as naomh conaill are going nowhere, and will come back stronger.

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 687 - 08/11/2021 19:31:14    2388819

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Firstly, let me state that this isn't a pop at any club in particular - more an general observation of the club football played in Donegal. I also concede that teams play to win, especially in finals and don't necessarily care what neutrals or outsiders think.

But let's call a spade a spade here. The first half of the final the other day was a horrible watch and it certainly wasn't the only game over the course of the Championship that I've seen where this risk averse, lateral passing style of play was to the fore. I'm not proposing teams go back to the rudimentary tactics of yesteryear where it was man-on-man, and more often than not, the ball was treated like a hot potato.

Tactics at county level have moved on from the defensive systems. We're seeing more attacking football and higher scores in matches. But here in Donegal, at club level a lot of teams still seem to be stuck in a time warp. We have a lot of talented players here in the county. I think coaching across the board needs tweaking to allow players to flourish. Otherwise we'll just have a load of players who can sit in and play to a system, but is it really football?

Interested in hearing other's views? Does the end result trump the means all the time?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9116 - 09/11/2021 09:50:03    2388851

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I really don't understand were this narrative of NC going into rebuild mode and that the game on Sunday is the end of the road. Sunday was our first loss since 2019 and our first loss in 26 games. We blew every team away in the league and have already played and won a championship in this calendar year. When we beat Kilcar we obviously celebrated and then it was clear that the subsequent games were not good up until Gweedore because we knew we had to pick the performance up again for Kilcar doing it for a fourth time in 3 months was just asking to much.

As for the old brigade they were are best players against Gweedore and Kilcar and are going no where any time soon.

St.Eunans had a game plan on Sunday and stuck to it. Every single player on their team was twice as good as the opposite player for NC. I generally believe if we played to our best we still would've came up short on Sunday thats how good Eunans were. I wish them nothing but luck now in ulster and should have nothing to fear as they are there on merit and fully deserved at that.

NC will be back in 2022 no doubt about it.

naomh_conaill_4 (Donegal) - Posts: 481 - 09/11/2021 12:29:45    2388889

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I agree with that Lockjaw, there is no interest for a neutral to go and watch negative defensive football, thank God there aren't many sticking to that style anymore, I was glad to see the attacking football from St Eunans pay dividends in the 2nd half, that is what people want to see.
At county level we are playing good attacking football a lot of the time but we need to get the balance right and defend better too.
When is the draw for the Ulster Championship does anyone know?

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2739 - 09/11/2021 13:27:51    2388898

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In other news it looks like Jim is going to take up the reins in Down along with Laverty & Clarke. That's a very interesting and exciting managerial ticket. Just a shame we can't have Jim involved in our own setup, even if it was in a coaching capacity.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9116 - 09/11/2021 13:33:56    2388901

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "I agree with that Lockjaw, there is no interest for a neutral to go and watch negative defensive football, thank God there aren't many sticking to that style anymore, I was glad to see the attacking football from St Eunans pay dividends in the 2nd half, that is what people want to see.
At county level we are playing good attacking football a lot of the time but we need to get the balance right and defend better too.
When is the draw for the Ulster Championship does anyone know?"
Yeah balance is the key. Noone is advocating a gung-ho approach and throwing all defensive discipline & responsibility out the window. But this safety first, absolute fear of losing attitude has had a detrimental effect on the quality and entertainment of our club football in my opinion. I know outsiders will scoff and laugh given that a lot of these tactics can trace their origins to the developments that McGuinness brought to the game. But Jim evolved Donegal into a more attacking threat over time.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9116 - 09/11/2021 14:04:35    2388906

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Replying To naomh_conaill_4:  "I really don't understand were this narrative of NC going into rebuild mode and that the game on Sunday is the end of the road. Sunday was our first loss since 2019 and our first loss in 26 games. We blew every team away in the league and have already played and won a championship in this calendar year. When we beat Kilcar we obviously celebrated and then it was clear that the subsequent games were not good up until Gweedore because we knew we had to pick the performance up again for Kilcar doing it for a fourth time in 3 months was just asking to much.

As for the old brigade they were are best players against Gweedore and Kilcar and are going no where any time soon.

St.Eunans had a game plan on Sunday and stuck to it. Every single player on their team was twice as good as the opposite player for NC. I generally believe if we played to our best we still would've came up short on Sunday thats how good Eunans were. I wish them nothing but luck now in ulster and should have nothing to fear as they are there on merit and fully deserved at that.

NC will be back in 2022 no doubt about it."
I agree NC are going nowhere, but we do need to introduce new players. Eunans will get stronger after sunday and some of our older players look well off the pace sunday, i am only chatting about 2, 3 players. Yes they were good against gweedore and kilcar, but for me them teams were very poor on the day and added nothing. Eunans are the team we have to set our standards to now by the looks of sunday, young fit and good on the ball, and strong 1 to 15.
I would still have the older lads around as they are a great example to any young footballers.

As for mcguinness heading to down, well we got what we deserved, thats donegal gaa for you, politicians and secret handshakes.

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 687 - 09/11/2021 15:05:34    2388917

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