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Donegal GAA thread

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I can understand people being frustrated at the moment but the fact is that if we're all heading to Clones for the Ulster final in a few months time noone will be bringing up a league game played in a hurricane against Kerry minus 5 or 6 automatic starting players.

Managers live and die by the Championship sword. Armagh at home will be tough. They're moving well at the moment but I'd take that with a wee pinch of salt. The word is they've been training since September. I'll reserve full judgement on them until other teams have upped the ante in terms of fitness and preparation. I think they'll still have their work cut out to beat us in Ballybofey with a full deck to choose from.

If get over them it's Antrim/Cavan. If it ends up being Cavan then it's obviously a brillaint opportunity to avenge the 2020 Ultser final defeat - well within our capabilities. Then it's an Ulster final against Derry/Tyrone/Monaghan where anything can happen.

So whilst the football on show presently isn't pretty, there's time to get things right. If we maintain Div 1 status with an injury free squad and a few more expansive performances under the belt I'd be happy enough.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9884 - 22/02/2022 15:21:19    2401913

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Take your point I don't have any problem with you. The people I respond too are the faceless low life people, who never appeared after we beat Kildare but as soon as last Sundays game was over attacking a real Donegal gaa man. I don't take that and some of my posts have been omitted since Sunday. To answer a few of your questions I know we should have pushed up more in the second half. That half was crying out for a Murphy langan type player. I don't know why Mc brearty was coming out the field in second half looking for ball. Ryan has completely gone off his game. He spend a while shouting at the line last Sunday to get a few balls down to the bottom goals, I was hoping management would take him off, I respect Ryan but worry about your own game. Another point going to Kerry without at least 5 regulars did we honestly think we would beat them. I'm sick saying it our squad is not good enough we can't afford to be missing big players .. we need Murphy Jamie Brennan caolan and langan plus the lads who played there first game at weekend back playing at full fitness to have a chance then you can judge managers not in a thunderstorm in Killarney.."
Fair enough and I agree with you on Ryan and McBrearty. I also wasn't expecting a win, far from it especially when I saw the two teams that were playing, but dhia I expected a little more than what we got. To address another point you made about no movement from the forwards on Sunday I agree with that too, but I suppose my frustration here is either the management aren't getting that message to the players or, worse, the players are getting the message but aren't listening and just ignoring it.

It was a rotten day and a lot of our lads looked very leggy as well but I was just disappointed by the manner of that 2nd half, and I feel like how we finished Mayo and Kildare matches coupled with that 2nd half, conditions or no, that's a worry to me going forward.

Of course we can't really afford to be missing the lads we are missing, but it feels like this has been the story every year for a long time now. But I've more of an issue with that slow lateral style of play than I do with losing a match when we're missing a third of our starting team.

I don't mean to come off as overly negative it's not my nature, I've really enjoyed watching Conor O'Donnell so far this year and Jason McGee looks like he is starting to fill out and was playing great against Kildare and solid enough there on Sunday. The defence looks solid in my opinion as well. But it was septic stuff there on Sunday and I just thought how Kerry played vs how we did, both of us dealing with the same conditions, it was just a really stark contrast.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 22/02/2022 15:30:04    2401917

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I suppose another way of looking at it is if Kerry were missing Clifford and Sean O'Shea (their best players), as we were with Murphy & Langan, would the result and post match analysis be different? Very likely.

I'm not blindly defending Bonner and Rochford here either. Both should face scrutiny when performances are sub par. But there has to be a wee bit of balance too all things considered.

Fingers crossed we can approach the Armagh game with the likes of Murphy, Langan, McMenamin, Gallen, McGee, Brennan & McGonagle fully fit. Then we'll see if the Orchard boys are all they're cracked up to be. By my reckong we've lost one Championship game in Ballybofey since 2010. That is a formidable record and one we'd all like to see us retain.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9884 - 22/02/2022 15:47:05    2401923

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Replying To JoeSoap:  "Fair enough and I agree with you on Ryan and McBrearty. I also wasn't expecting a win, far from it especially when I saw the two teams that were playing, but dhia I expected a little more than what we got. To address another point you made about no movement from the forwards on Sunday I agree with that too, but I suppose my frustration here is either the management aren't getting that message to the players or, worse, the players are getting the message but aren't listening and just ignoring it.

It was a rotten day and a lot of our lads looked very leggy as well but I was just disappointed by the manner of that 2nd half, and I feel like how we finished Mayo and Kildare matches coupled with that 2nd half, conditions or no, that's a worry to me going forward.

Of course we can't really afford to be missing the lads we are missing, but it feels like this has been the story every year for a long time now. But I've more of an issue with that slow lateral style of play than I do with losing a match when we're missing a third of our starting team.

I don't mean to come off as overly negative it's not my nature, I've really enjoyed watching Conor O'Donnell so far this year and Jason McGee looks like he is starting to fill out and was playing great against Kildare and solid enough there on Sunday. The defence looks solid in my opinion as well. But it was septic stuff there on Sunday and I just thought how Kerry played vs how we did, both of us dealing with the same conditions, it was just a really stark contrast."
Yea Kerry looked a step above us but when you look at the players they were talking off the bench it did help. A few of our subs were playing there way back into it and wouldn't have had the match sharpness. The difference in Donegal and Kerry with the wind is that Kerry had forwards looking for the ball.. I watched on Sunday a time in second half we had the ball attacking and I think it was Mc fadden ferry he was looking to kick it in but there was nobody looking so he had to kick it back . You don't kick it in if there's nothing on and it happened a few time s.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2643 - 22/02/2022 16:00:52    2401929

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Like most of you I found Sunday a hard watch and I am concerned about where this year is heading. However given the time of year I wouldn't be putting the final nails in the coffin of the management just yet. Saying that I am struggling to get my head around how we have gone from trying to bring more variation to how we play when Declan came in to what on Sunday was a return to the dark days of the previous management. The other aspect I am struggling with is what exactly is Rochford's input into this as this doesn't feel like how a team he would coach would play. I thoroughly agree that what we are seeing isn't just down to the management but a systematic problem in Donegal football as a whole. I witnessed LYIT a couple of times this year and it was the exact same apart from when they let the shackles off against Carlow when looking dead and buried and the same for the game against UL. How do we change that? I really don't have the answer but I am seeing players over coached and a lack of individual expression. Another question I must ask is the chairman a member of the backroom team now too? I find it very strange seeing him on the sideline beside the manager to be honest and would make me very pessimistic about any change coming in the future especially if this year goes the way I have a feeling it will.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2883 - 22/02/2022 17:00:19    2401947

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Yea Kerry looked a step above us but when you look at the players they were talking off the bench it did help. A few of our subs were playing there way back into it and wouldn't have had the match sharpness. The difference in Donegal and Kerry with the wind is that Kerry had forwards looking for the ball.. I watched on Sunday a time in second half we had the ball attacking and I think it was Mc fadden ferry he was looking to kick it in but there was nobody looking so he had to kick it back . You don't kick it in if there's nothing on and it happened a few time s."
Rorysboys I was sitting in the stand at the town end 2nd half and honestly at half time was quite content thinking to myself this is the end now we're all the actions going to be second half, that's what was so disappointing from looking at our inside line there was very little movement atall and senior players just looked lazy tbh. Only when gallen came on there seemed to be a bit of jizz but then he was left to plough a lone furrow. The two young odonnells worked hard but had to go well out the field to look for any supply, we've no target man in front atall and the day that was in it was crying out for one. Look I honestly didn't believe we were going to get a result up there the other day but just your hoping your senior lads would lead by example and that's annoying. Wouldn't it be great sometime up there to rattle them and come down the Rd smiling with the points.
Maybe you know we should just reflect and remember what paidi said about the kerry fans when he was managing are we going the same way.

Tyrion (Donegal) - Posts: 170 - 22/02/2022 17:42:41    2401964

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Some people say their Bonner out views are nothing personal. Well a lot of reads quite personal. It's also some people ever seem to post about. They are like obsessed.

There is no doubt that Sunday was very frustrating and hard to understand what they were up to in the second half. Though you can't judge bonners style of play uniquely on that match. When taken over the course of his reign Donegal have not been awful to watch. And it's just not correct to say otherwise.

You have to question why they've lost so many big games and there's something not right with that and particularly that Cavan match. Though say Colm McFadden got injured in 2012 would you have been very confident they would have won Sam. What If mcbrearty hadn't done his ACL in 2018? Donegal played some great football in that championship. The likes of mcbrearty, McHugh, Murphy, Neil McGee (no mcniallais) aren't at that level any more.
The division two campaign in 2019 was hardly exceptional. They weren't that far off a relegation battle until Murphy's return. They had lost to Tipperary and Fermanagh!

With all the injuries it does create opportunities and in fairness to cod and sod they're doing well. Cod has a propensity to give the ball away a bit cheaply but matches like Sunday will only help with that. I would also encourage him to just go at the defence. He has running power and ability to kick off both feet. Sod hit a fine point against Kildare and another two on Sunday. They were getting close to forming a good understanding on Sunday. Surprised that sod only came off the bench for DCU. He was good though when he came on.
Also the game time will only help Farrah, McFadden and mcmenamin. Though sad to hear about mcgonagles broken hand.

Irrespective of your views it's still your county team and they could really do with a big support this weekend. If you can at all get out there and support them.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 899 - 22/02/2022 18:44:38    2401972

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If managers live or die by their Championship record then I think Bonner should have got the road after the 2020 Ulster final,
I don't think any of us are losing the bap about one defeat away to Kerry in the league, this has been going on for years, how many times have we folded when the stakes were high in big matches in the last few years? Our style of play is awful. Funny thing was when Bonner came back in first we were playing good attacking football, after the years of ***** under RG it was great to see, what the hell happened to that style of play? how have we ended up playing this fearful lateral backwards hand passing rubbish?
if we stay up in div 1 and get ready to face Armagh with a fairly full squad to choose from there is always hope for this team because of the players we have.
Tyrone this Saturday now, in Mc Guinness's time it would have been a cat and mouse game with Mickey Harte, not wanting to show your hand, rope a dope stuff,
now it's just dope stuff full stop.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3332 - 22/02/2022 19:17:49    2401975

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Slight over reaction. Yes it was frustrating at times but remember Tyrone Lost by 16 points down there last year and ended up winning Sam.
League doesn't mean a wild pile, especially when you're missing your 3 or 4 main players. Let's hope we get everyone back OK and get the rest up to full fitness.

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1208 - 22/02/2022 19:52:04    2401979

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I was at the game sunday and the wind was very strong and conditions were tough.I could understand Donegals tactics for the first half trying to keep ball and play down the clock.It was nt great to watch but it was probably the right thing to do.However in the second half the tactics were crazy.With a good wind behind them they constantly handpassed the ball around instead of letting it in quickly.Donegal won midfield easily and yet did nt capitalise on it.Now in fairness the Donegal ff line came too deep anyway and did nt help. At half time I thought it was anyones game but after a few minutes my mind changed.Now the weather calmed alittle in the second half and Kerry got a very lucky goal but evenstill it was a very flat performance from Donegal.It is along journey down etc but that's no excuse for not using the wind properly.It will be interesting to see how Donegal fare the next day.Hopefully a major improvement.Best of luck for the rest of the league and hope to see Michael Murphy and Langan back soon.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4010 - 22/02/2022 21:42:40    2401995

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "If managers live or die by their Championship record then I think Bonner should have got the road after the 2020 Ulster final,
I don't think any of us are losing the bap about one defeat away to Kerry in the league, this has been going on for years, how many times have we folded when the stakes were high in big matches in the last few years? Our style of play is awful. Funny thing was when Bonner came back in first we were playing good attacking football, after the years of ***** under RG it was great to see, what the hell happened to that style of play? how have we ended up playing this fearful lateral backwards hand passing rubbish?
if we stay up in div 1 and get ready to face Armagh with a fairly full squad to choose from there is always hope for this team because of the players we have.
Tyrone this Saturday now, in Mc Guinness's time it would have been a cat and mouse game with Mickey Harte, not wanting to show your hand, rope a dope stuff,
now it's just dope stuff full stop."
Few points you make that proves your hatred for bonner this is personal no doubt. You say there is always hope because of the players we have of beating Armagh . In other words to cover yourself if we beat Armagh it's due to the players but if we lose it's Bonner's fault. Secondly you say we should have got rid of bonner after 2020 ulster final. For your information that was Bonner's first defeat in ulster since he became manager. And us in the middle of a pandemic. Don't be coming on here pretending your a big Donegal fan. Seeing you mention dope I won't say but it sounds good. Lol

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2643 - 23/02/2022 10:32:49    2402015

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When murphy does come back, hopefully he is fit. Its been a while since he has been in great shape. But he needs to stay in full forward when back as he has not got the engine to be out the field.
The games murphy has played, he goes out the field to easily and you need a strong manager to instruct him to stay in no matter what. We have plenty of big men and ball winners out the field, so we dont need murphy out there. Have brennan or mcbrearty in beside him, and start using the full forward line. Another problem we have is we have great attacking defenders, however they are not the best at tackling and defensive work. We may have to sacrifice some of the more attacking players to tighten up the defence and play a more out and out defender. Not all of them, but some.
I believe we have the players, and a few adjustments in how we play could solve a lot of problems. Lets hope bonner solves these issues, and we start showing what we are capable of, as mcguinness did in his time. We have as good a footballers as any of the big teams, its about mindset and acting on it.

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 711 - 23/02/2022 10:44:06    2402018

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Not a good showing but maybe not that surprising for all of you that have been attending club football over the past number of years. It's safety first football where not giving the ball away is gospel. It can go sideways and backwards but heaven forbid that you go at a team. Clubs have been doing it for years now and for two reasons. First because it is the easiest thing for a manager to do. To set up a team defensively in order to stop the opposition from scoring. Secondly, when you come up against a team that are set up this way then what do you do? You have to hold the ball and play around in front of them until you hopefully get a weakess in the defensive line. Teams have been having success with this style of non-play and it has become endemic. You will see it in a Junior B game. You will see it in underage and school's football. And creative football has died a death in this county.
That sense of adventure is gone. The creativity and pace. Going at another team. All of what we used to take for granted years ago in Donegal players is gone now. Just look at the pace at which we played the game last Sunday.
We began with a good enough plan to hold possesion against the breeze and to frustrate Kerry. It was all going well while we were winning the kickouts but once Kerry started to win breaks the wheels came quickly off. Once they got the ball they went at us at pace using accurate kick passes quite a lot to open up space. They were well worth their lead at half time. We went back to the football that we played for the last fifteen minutes against Mayo where Patton got more touches than anybody else and him playing at walking pace. We invited Kerry on and they took full advantage.
Then with the wind and the elements at our backs it was up to us to go at them and have a right cut at it. But how do you expect players who play a dull style of club football day in and day out to suddenly flick a switch?
Any talent in the county at the moment is being stifled and we are away behind other teams in the case of having fast pacy and creative players who can open teams up.

fionmaccumhaill (Donegal) - Posts: 45 - 23/02/2022 10:58:29    2402022

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Replying To Tyrion:  "Rorysboys I was sitting in the stand at the town end 2nd half and honestly at half time was quite content thinking to myself this is the end now we're all the actions going to be second half, that's what was so disappointing from looking at our inside line there was very little movement atall and senior players just looked lazy tbh. Only when gallen came on there seemed to be a bit of jizz but then he was left to plough a lone furrow. The two young odonnells worked hard but had to go well out the field to look for any supply, we've no target man in front atall and the day that was in it was crying out for one. Look I honestly didn't believe we were going to get a result up there the other day but just your hoping your senior lads would lead by example and that's annoying. Wouldn't it be great sometime up there to rattle them and come down the Rd smiling with the points.
Maybe you know we should just reflect and remember what paidi said about the kerry fans when he was managing are we going the same way."
We need a big target man but nobody fits the bill bar Murphy. We have a lot of nice footballers but a good no 14 is not one of them. You look at Tyrone they have Cathal Mc Shane. Armagh have roan o neill and Derry have Mc guigan. All natural full forward . We don't seem to produce a good target man anymore . So hopefully Murphy will get back and that we can use him as a target man with boys like Jamie and Oisin playing off him.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2643 - 23/02/2022 11:01:05    2402023

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Few points you make that proves your hatred for bonner this is personal no doubt. You say there is always hope because of the players we have of beating Armagh . In other words to cover yourself if we beat Armagh it's due to the players but if we lose it's Bonner's fault. Secondly you say we should have got rid of bonner after 2020 ulster final. For your information that was Bonner's first defeat in ulster since he became manager. And us in the middle of a pandemic. Don't be coming on here pretending your a big Donegal fan. Seeing you mention dope I won't say but it sounds good. Lol"
Why mention the pandemic? Was there none in Cavan? Is that why they won't?

Yiu haven't many straws left to clutch

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1265 - 23/02/2022 11:09:35    2402025

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "Why mention the pandemic? Was there none in Cavan? Is that why they won't?

Yiu haven't many straws left to clutch"
For your information I'm not clutching at straws. Reason I mention pandemic is that it was not a normal year. Tipperarywinning Munster might prove my point.. I don't see you picking up on some of the c**p that some posters are putting up on this forum. What personnel would you have started up front in the second half last Sunday. Nice simple question.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2643 - 23/02/2022 11:26:16    2402030

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Replying To rorysboys:  "The supporters were not laughing in your face anyway. If Murphy wasn't happy with Bonner I don't think Bonner would be there. How does it feel to be a keyboard warrior abusing good people. Get a life clown"
It's very off putting reading your comments on here.

Do you realise how hypocritical you sound saying abusing good people followed up by abusing the poster calling him a clown.

Can you please show some respect to other posters.

If you don't agree with them - u don't need to call childish names etc.

eunans4ever (Donegal) - Posts: 1698 - 23/02/2022 11:29:06    2402033

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Replying To rorysboys:  "For your information I'm not clutching at straws. Reason I mention pandemic is that it was not a normal year. Tipperarywinning Munster might prove my point.. I don't see you picking up on some of the c**p that some posters are putting up on this forum. What personnel would you have started up front in the second half last Sunday. Nice simple question."
I didn't see them using a pandemic as a reason why we won or lost a game that's why! Sure any team in the world could use that excuse.

Sunday has passed and hopefully lessons will be learned by Saturday evening. If we keep repeating the mistakes from Sunday we are in bother.

Time to move on to the next.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1265 - 23/02/2022 11:38:17    2402035

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Replying To eunans4ever:  "It's very off putting reading your comments on here.

Do you realise how hypocritical you sound saying abusing good people followed up by abusing the poster calling him a clown.

Can you please show some respect to other posters.

If you don't agree with them - u don't need to call childish names etc."
Why have you a nicer name to call him. You come on here every now and again and try to lecture. I've been called a clown on here and worse and I didn't see you commenting. Double standards lad. I don't take you serious because of some of the silly posts you have put up in the past. Have a nice day

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2643 - 23/02/2022 12:08:27    2402045

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There are many posters in this thread who are evidently passionate about Donegal men's senior team, but I must say reading the comments that a large minority of you just don't get it. The sport, the organisation, the players, the people. You just don't. Signing out.

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 473 - 23/02/2022 13:28:22    2402064

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