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Donegal GAA thread

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https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2022/11/22/news/kicking_out_donegal_had_nothing_left_to_offer_murphy_not_the_other_way_round-2913140/

Cahair O'Kane puts it very well.

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 584 - 22/11/2022 17:36:58    2448455

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Is there anything to the rumours?

Shaun Patton, Michael Lynch, Peadar Mogan, Caolan Ward, Conor Morrison, Daire O'Baoil, Shane O'Donnell, Niall O'Donnell, Peter McEniff, Oisin Gallen all unable/unwilling to commit for 2023.

Would be a huge blow considering Michael and Neil's retirement and Paul Brennan and Odhran McFF out with lengthy injuries too.

Hearing rumours suggesting doubts surrounding the availability of Stephen McMenamin, Hugh McFadden and even Michael Langan too.

Hopefully this is all hyperbole, because if there's truth to only 10/12 players reporting for meetings and collective sessions, lack of a backroom team and communication and identification issues between players and management we could be in trouble.

Maguiresman (Fermanagh) - Posts: 6 - 22/11/2022 20:52:07    2448467

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Replying To SouthOfTheGap:  "https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2022/11/22/news/kicking_out_donegal_had_nothing_left_to_offer_murphy_not_the_other_way_round-2913140/

Cahair O'Kane puts it very well."
Excellent article about the great man.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2401 - 23/11/2022 07:46:07    2448475

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I read that article too and I found myself agreeing with a lot of it. There was an assumption that Murphy would be best deployed in and around the square in his latter county years and that everything would be great because we could just pump balls into him and he'd do the rest. Our best club teams play risk averse football in the main. Yes you do see the odd instance of a quality long ball being sent in, e.g. McGuinness goal in county final. The obvious question then is why this tactic isn't used more often? I realize that the long direct ball isn't on every time, and there's no point kicking away possession needlessly. But at the same time it would take something of a culture change in Donegal football in general for us to make progress I think.

I've heard people say that the windy weather up here forces us to play a handpassing game. But the likes of Kerry and Galway aren't exactly in the Canary Islands. If the county adopted a more direct approach and used kick passing more often it would surely filter down to the club game as well.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9132 - 23/11/2022 09:58:40    2448485

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "I read that article too and I found myself agreeing with a lot of it. There was an assumption that Murphy would be best deployed in and around the square in his latter county years and that everything would be great because we could just pump balls into him and he'd do the rest. Our best club teams play risk averse football in the main. Yes you do see the odd instance of a quality long ball being sent in, e.g. McGuinness goal in county final. The obvious question then is why this tactic isn't used more often? I realize that the long direct ball isn't on every time, and there's no point kicking away possession needlessly. But at the same time it would take something of a culture change in Donegal football in general for us to make progress I think.

I've heard people say that the windy weather up here forces us to play a handpassing game. But the likes of Kerry and Galway aren't exactly in the Canary Islands. If the county adopted a more direct approach and used kick passing more often it would surely filter down to the club game as well."
The problem is now the way the game is played has got so bad I'd imagine many fans are so sick of it they don't go to games anymore unless your own club or a family member is involved. it's a total bore fest to look at.
You'd go to a game to see certain players in action the likes of Michael Murphy etc, but the way we play Gaelic football in this county is a cul de sac and race to the bottom it seems to me.
Don't know if there's any truth to all the rumours but if even some of it is true it's no wonder the greatest player we ever had or will have has called it a day,
he gave his all for us and he owes this county nothing, a living legend as I said before, thanks to Michael and the team he led we had a fantastic run. got a hat full of Ulsters and another All Ireland in 2012, it will be long time till we see Sam in Donegal again I'm afraid.
Hard to believe when you think of all the optimism that was around the county team in in 2018-2020 period.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2746 - 23/11/2022 11:40:35    2448505

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Replying To Maguiresman:  "Is there anything to the rumours?

Shaun Patton, Michael Lynch, Peadar Mogan, Caolan Ward, Conor Morrison, Daire O'Baoil, Shane O'Donnell, Niall O'Donnell, Peter McEniff, Oisin Gallen all unable/unwilling to commit for 2023.

Would be a huge blow considering Michael and Neil's retirement and Paul Brennan and Odhran McFF out with lengthy injuries too.

Hearing rumours suggesting doubts surrounding the availability of Stephen McMenamin, Hugh McFadden and even Michael Langan too.

Hopefully this is all hyperbole, because if there's truth to only 10/12 players reporting for meetings and collective sessions, lack of a backroom team and communication and identification issues between players and management we could be in trouble."
Maybe we should opt out of all competitions this year!!.There is a lot of St Eunans men on that list.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1056 - 23/11/2022 11:47:15    2448506

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Replying To gunman:  "Maybe we should opt out of all competitions this year!!.There is a lot of St Eunans men on that list."
Both Mogan and McMenamin are UK based now but that is an extensive list and if true could decimate the panel.

Is it just a coincidence that all the Eunans players are named or is there more to it?

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 800 - 23/11/2022 14:27:33    2448532

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If players want to leave, let them. Too many players on county panels nowadays think they are doing the county a favour by playing . It should be an honour and a privilege to wear a county Jersey and represent the people of Donegal. How many times have we heard Michael Murphy say that. Plenty of the names supposedly leaving haven't exactly set the world alight with their performances. Get men in who want to represent Donegal, as long as they are giving 100% they deserve everyone's support.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 469 - 23/11/2022 15:43:53    2448543

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Paddy Bradley from Derry coming in as coach with Aidan o Rourke from Armagh.
Manager is Paddy Carr from Meath.
Full-time S&C is Mattie Brady from Tyrone who has a full-time contract working 24/7 with the team. Mike mcGurn from Fermanagh and who works in Queens is coming in to oversee Mattie Brady. Ruarai Cleary from Letterkenny is also going to work alongside the the full-time S&C coach. He is the only one from Donegal so far and don't know who he is.
Have not heard of any other Donegal coaches involved.
Apparently 12/15 players from last year's panel have yet to commit.
Players who have been brought in to train with panel are
Ultan Doherty
Hugh o Donnell
Philip Doherty
Eamonn McGrath
Kealan Dunleavy

Questions need to be asked by our clubs to see what on earth is going on? County board seems to be run by 4/5 people and there is little or no communication with the clubs. How are these decisions made? If people care about Donegal football, questions need to start being asked and accountability taken by the board.

ryan (Donegal) - Posts: 724 - 23/11/2022 19:24:13    2448564

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Replying To ryan:  "Paddy Bradley from Derry coming in as coach with Aidan o Rourke from Armagh.
Manager is Paddy Carr from Meath.
Full-time S&C is Mattie Brady from Tyrone who has a full-time contract working 24/7 with the team. Mike mcGurn from Fermanagh and who works in Queens is coming in to oversee Mattie Brady. Ruarai Cleary from Letterkenny is also going to work alongside the the full-time S&C coach. He is the only one from Donegal so far and don't know who he is.
Have not heard of any other Donegal coaches involved.
Apparently 12/15 players from last year's panel have yet to commit.
Players who have been brought in to train with panel are
Ultan Doherty
Hugh o Donnell
Philip Doherty
Eamonn McGrath
Kealan Dunleavy

Questions need to be asked by our clubs to see what on earth is going on? County board seems to be run by 4/5 people and there is little or no communication with the clubs. How are these decisions made? If people care about Donegal football, questions need to start being asked and accountability taken by the board."
Now you're talking...

So, who was it that called up these players?

And with Aidan O'Rourke being parachuted in from Queens, now alongside with Mike McGurn also from Queens, you'd wonder has someone in the County Board some affiliation with Queens?

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 584 - 24/11/2022 10:55:29    2448587

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Replying To SouthOfTheGap:  "Now you're talking...

So, who was it that called up these players?

And with Aidan O'Rourke being parachuted in from Queens, now alongside with Mike McGurn also from Queens, you'd wonder has someone in the County Board some affiliation with Queens?"
Hi SouthOfTheGap: There are Ballyshannon connections with Queens.

AudiMan (Donegal) - Posts: 648 - 24/11/2022 12:53:34    2448606

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Great to see Mc Gonigle going for chair.

AudiMan (Donegal) - Posts: 648 - 24/11/2022 12:56:14    2448607

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plenty of fully qualified S & C Coaches living and working in Donegal why not give a few of them the jobs going and keep the work and money in theCounty. Very few from Queens will be spending money in Donegal and buying tickets etc for the local GAA clubs in the county.

jacktheboy (Donegal) - Posts: 405 - 24/11/2022 14:51:05    2448621

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Replying To jacktheboy:  "plenty of fully qualified S & C Coaches living and working in Donegal why not give a few of them the jobs going and keep the work and money in theCounty. Very few from Queens will be spending money in Donegal and buying tickets etc for the local GAA clubs in the county."
Paddy Bradley on the back off a 20 point hammering you couldnt make it up.

neutral (None) - Posts: 358 - 24/11/2022 19:01:03    2448652

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Replying To AudiMan:  "Hi SouthOfTheGap: There are Ballyshannon connections with Queens."
https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaelic-games/43341/Queens-manager-Anthony-McGrath-will-be.html

Aidan O'Rourke was No 2 to Anthony McGrath. So, did Aodh Ruadh officially nominate O'Rourke, or was it just the County Chairman's personal decision that Paddy Carr should take Aidan O'Rourke on his ticket.

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 584 - 25/11/2022 10:21:42    2448668

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Replying To SouthOfTheGap:  "https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaelic-games/43341/Queens-manager-Anthony-McGrath-will-be.html

Aidan O'Rourke was No 2 to Anthony McGrath. So, did Aodh Ruadh officially nominate O'Rourke, or was it just the County Chairman's personal decision that Paddy Carr should take Aidan O'Rourke on his ticket."
The same Anthony McGrath who was 'nominated' for the last management team? Wonders never cease...

Is anyone else baffled that three of the 2012 team are coaching in other county set ups? I don't think this is coincidence.

The convention can't come quick enough..

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 800 - 25/11/2022 10:40:40    2448674

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Replying To SouthOfTheGap:  "https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaelic-games/43341/Queens-manager-Anthony-McGrath-will-be.html

Aidan O'Rourke was No 2 to Anthony McGrath. So, did Aodh Ruadh officially nominate O'Rourke, or was it just the County Chairman's personal decision that Paddy Carr should take Aidan O'Rourke on his ticket."
Anthony McGrath was involved with Donegal minor team in 2014 and also with u21s in 2017 so was involved in underage teams in Donegal. He also played minor and u21 for Donegal. Think he works in Jordanstown. Has served Donegal well for someone who is living outside the county and I am sure he will be back at some stage in the future.
What I would be more worried about is that Eamon McGrath from Aodh Ruadh was at the first training session in Convoy. Aidan o Rourke and Paddy Carr must have been watching a lot of Aodh Ruadh games during the championship.

ryan (Donegal) - Posts: 724 - 25/11/2022 11:38:34    2448681

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Replying To ryan:  "Anthony McGrath was involved with Donegal minor team in 2014 and also with u21s in 2017 so was involved in underage teams in Donegal. He also played minor and u21 for Donegal. Think he works in Jordanstown. Has served Donegal well for someone who is living outside the county and I am sure he will be back at some stage in the future.
What I would be more worried about is that Eamon McGrath from Aodh Ruadh was at the first training session in Convoy. Aidan o Rourke and Paddy Carr must have been watching a lot of Aodh Ruadh games during the championship."
If I remember correctly Eamonn McGrath was very good at minor level for Donegal.I don't know how he has been playing since.Obviously Ballyshannon have not been playing at a high level for a long time.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1056 - 25/11/2022 13:02:46    2448694

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "The same Anthony McGrath who was 'nominated' for the last management team? Wonders never cease...

Is anyone else baffled that three of the 2012 team are coaching in other county set ups? I don't think this is coincidence.

The convention can't come quick enough.."
Things are an absolute mess but we'll be told to go do something about it at our clubs by some posters who think just because you're posting on a forum means you're not doing anything else

change is coming but we'll be in a bad way for a while I feel

CCFabu (Donegal) - Posts: 96 - 25/11/2022 13:56:55    2448705

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I hope the club delegates ask questions on Monday evening and also why we turned down good Donegal men. Strong rumours that McGuinness wanted to get involved but interview panel were not that keen on it. Questions need to be asked over the whole shambles and who exactly is pulling the strings here.

ryan (Donegal) - Posts: 724 - 26/11/2022 17:01:01    2448780

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