Replying To WanPintWin: "What can you say after that? Some very nice stuff to go well ahead, but some of the mistakes we made in the second half were shocking. Completely careless with the ball. Even with all that we would have won it, but two very bad decisions at the end. We're lacking something upstairs and until we get smarter, it's going to be hard to progress. When under pressure on a wet night with no outlet, the last thing a defender should do is hit a floaty ball out in front of his own goal. That ball needs to go long and down the line. If it goes out of play, that's ok. A ball floating out like that is only asking to be attacked, and is an almost certain goal chance if it's won by the opposition. At the very end, I think it was Tierney who took a brilliant catch from the kickout and we had an easy punch to level it. The angle was awful tight get a goal from there. While we did struggle on the kickouts for the last 20, we still had more than enough ball to work a few scores to keep them at bay. Some very poor passes gave the ball black and we got punished on the counter every time. It's a league game on a wet February evening, so not a time for overreaction, but we have to start learning. It's worrying that we make the same mistakes over and over. I'll never question the heart and spirit of this team. They're warriors and put in an incredible amount of work. However, we need to get a lot smarter and show that we're learning or it'll be a short year."
On Fionn McDonagh, he hasn't quite matched the spark of the first two league outings. He seems more effective when he can drift, There's a strong argument for Rob Finnerty wearing 14. He naturally plays on the shoulder and looks more at home operating as the main inside threat. McDonagh feels better suited to the corner where he can roam, while Finnerty gives you that sharper edge in the square, something that could be important against Donegal. Liam O'C was very good. Shane McGrath, he got plenty of mentions on Galway Bay FM, has he done enough to hold his place? As for Charlie Power, you can see potential, but he hasn't really stamped his authority on a game yet, not sure what he offerers. Colm Costello, he's always a goal threat, would have liked to see him given 20 mins. Sometimes you just need someone sniffing around for scraps. Not very optimistic going to into Donegal game.
It is only the league. If that game was in the Hyde today ye could easily take the 2 points on offer. It's shadow boxing for the real thing in the Summer. The depressing weather highlights the real need to look at the calendar and not having teams playing in conditions like that last night. It's no way to treat players and managements.
Replying To WanPintWin: "What can you say after that? Some very nice stuff to go well ahead, but some of the mistakes we made in the second half were shocking. Completely careless with the ball. Even with all that we would have won it, but two very bad decisions at the end. We're lacking something upstairs and until we get smarter, it's going to be hard to progress. When under pressure on a wet night with no outlet, the last thing a defender should do is hit a floaty ball out in front of his own goal. That ball needs to go long and down the line. If it goes out of play, that's ok. A ball floating out like that is only asking to be attacked, and is an almost certain goal chance if it's won by the opposition. At the very end, I think it was Tierney who took a brilliant catch from the kickout and we had an easy punch to level it. The angle was awful tight get a goal from there. While we did struggle on the kickouts for the last 20, we still had more than enough ball to work a few scores to keep them at bay. Some very poor passes gave the ball black and we got punished on the counter every time. It's a league game on a wet February evening, so not a time for overreaction, but we have to start learning. It's worrying that we make the same mistakes over and over. I'll never question the heart and spirit of this team. They're warriors and put in an incredible amount of work. However, we need to get a lot smarter and show that we're learning or it'll be a short year."
Agree with a lot of this. Let's just remember it's February and we are still in Pre Season. I couldn't tell you of the top of my head what results we had in the league this time last year. I think we will stay up but if we do drop it's not that big of a deal. We are building strength and depth in our squad. I'd be worried if we were going super well this time of the year as it's not possible to keep the accelerator down till June/July.
I'd be surprised if Donegal win this evening they don't start to pull the handbrake. Jimmy knows he needs to bring his squad back down before he can bring them back up for Ulster championship etc.
Unless we have everyone fit and firing come the Connacht final we are not going to be competing for an All Ireland. Unfortunately going on the last few years that's not going to happen is it ?