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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "You'd wonder how Paddy Carr is feeling at the minute, bad as things are I'd rather it was Paddy there managing us rather than the current set up.
Really is disappointing that this season is written off in truth already, I hope they get things sorted out rapid for next year otherwise we could be heading for the doldrums for a lengthy spell."
Paddy should never had got the job, lovely man by all accounts but the wrong choice. It's better he wasn't in charge as they wouldn't have won a game for rest of the year. It doesn't matter who manages the team this year or next year, the problem is players. The amount of high calibre players that retired in past few years aren't there in Donegal to replace them. The few quality players in Donegal are either injured or not playing for one reason or another this year. The level of club football is so poor at the moment, there is no one worth bringing into the panel that isn't in already. The only hope is to nuture the youth ( Academy) and that is a whole handling itself. Donegal football is going to be in the doldrums for next three to four years minimum, the only hope is that the academy is back up and running and the unearth some talent. Donegal fans have been treated to some great days in past 15 years, it could be another 15 before they get another Ulster or All Ireland.

KerrymanStuckInDonegal (Kerry) - Posts: 269 - 10/05/2023 11:15:05    2477242

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Will Derry have a manager this weekend?

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 912 - 10/05/2023 11:15:15    2477243

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Replying To totalrecall:  "Will Derry have a manager this weekend?"
Didn't stop two clubs in the south west of the county hiring him

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 796 - 10/05/2023 11:58:34    2477263

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "Didn't stop two clubs in the south west of the county hiring him"
Genie is out of the bottle now

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 912 - 10/05/2023 12:38:12    2477280

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Replying To TheRock2121:  "Who has left ?"
Two fringe squad members. Were promised gametime against Fermanagh in a challenge game last week but didn't get any so walked. Fermanagh won handy enough I believe.

PeterQ92 (Donegal) - Posts: 103 - 10/05/2023 15:55:18    2477373

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Replying To PeterQ92:  "Two fringe squad members. Were promised gametime against Fermanagh in a challenge game last week but didn't get any so walked. Fermanagh won handy enough I believe."
We won't beat clare, In truth we would struggle to win a game in tailteann Cup. Will be travelling to Ennis in low expectation

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 912 - 10/05/2023 18:47:31    2477415

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The fact all NC players played over the weekend bar Thommo should indicate who some of the fringe players who have departed are.

naomh_conaill_4 (Donegal) - Posts: 481 - 10/05/2023 21:19:02    2477443

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Replying To PeterQ92:  "Two fringe squad members. Were promised gametime against Fermanagh in a challenge game last week but didn't get any so walked. Fermanagh won handy enough I believe."
Can't be too important of players if they couldn't break into that 15.

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1139 - 10/05/2023 22:37:47    2477456

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Replying To PeterQ92:  "Two fringe squad members. Were promised gametime against Fermanagh in a challenge game last week but didn't get any so walked. Fermanagh won handy enough I believe."
Do you know which players have left? My concern is that we are currently operating with too many inexperienced players at this level and maybe one or two who wouldn't make the cut in other seasons.

I'm not looking forward to this All Ireland series, in previous seasons I would have been confident of us making the breakthrough, but this time I am fearing that we will lose all games heavily. Its not a true reflection of Donegal football sadly, its a reflection of low number of players signing up for the year and last minute management setup, which hasn't worked.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1106 - 11/05/2023 09:37:10    2477484

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The last time we played Clare in Ennis in 2019 we won by 0-16 to 0-13.Neil McGee,Murphy or McBrearty didn't feature that day either.12 of the team that day will play this time too.15 of the 16 points we scored that day were scored by players still on the team viz Langan 0-4f,McGee 0-3,Brennan 0-3,Thompson 0-2,McGonigle 0-1, Eoghan B 0-1 and Hugh McF 0-1.The next tier of players after the above big 3 need to step up and become leaders if it is in them to do so.Obviously the loss of McHugh is a really major blow.How we will do I think depends on the attitude and motivation of the players to do well for themselves and the county.However I think they could do with a bit of more support from everybody and less negativity.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1056 - 11/05/2023 10:37:20    2477518

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Replying To gunman:  "The last time we played Clare in Ennis in 2019 we won by 0-16 to 0-13.Neil McGee,Murphy or McBrearty didn't feature that day either.12 of the team that day will play this time too.15 of the 16 points we scored that day were scored by players still on the team viz Langan 0-4f,McGee 0-3,Brennan 0-3,Thompson 0-2,McGonigle 0-1, Eoghan B 0-1 and Hugh McF 0-1.The next tier of players after the above big 3 need to step up and become leaders if it is in them to do so.Obviously the loss of McHugh is a really major blow.How we will do I think depends on the attitude and motivation of the players to do well for themselves and the county.However I think they could do with a bit of more support from everybody and less negativity."
Fair comment!
Whilst I don't have any expectations and am genuinely fearing the worst, lets face it we are going down to play a relegated Div.3 team who got hammered last week by 15pts. If we can't at least show some fight then we'd be as well pulling out of the competition, and I really mean that.

PeterQ92 (Donegal) - Posts: 103 - 11/05/2023 13:25:04    2477587

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First Holy Communions will rule me out of any trip to Ennis. But even if I was free I'd hard to justify the long trip down. Now rorysboys - don't come at me with your pitch fork! In normal times with the Donegal senior team going anyway well at all it would've been a great weekend away. Ennis is a lively town and I'd imagine some folk would have made a nice weekend of it.

Anyway - lets hope the lads can show plenty of pride and get a better performance in. Would us beating Clare and Monaghan be major shocks? Unlikely yes but far from unachievable.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9116 - 11/05/2023 13:50:27    2477604

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Cant see you not beating clare lads, bit like derry a few years ago, 2 -3 okay players if locked out they are no threat

DCFCGAA (Derry) - Posts: 65 - 11/05/2023 13:54:40    2477609

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Replying To DCFCGAA:  "Cant see you not beating clare lads, bit like derry a few years ago, 2 -3 okay players if locked out they are no threat"
I think ordinarily that would be the case. But these are far from ordinary times in Donegal GAA.
Clare will be eager to show that they are better than what they showed in the Munster final, they're at home and playing against a team bereft of confidence who haven't won a match in months.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9116 - 11/05/2023 15:47:36    2477663

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Replying To gunman:  "The last time we played Clare in Ennis in 2019 we won by 0-16 to 0-13.Neil McGee,Murphy or McBrearty didn't feature that day either.12 of the team that day will play this time too.15 of the 16 points we scored that day were scored by players still on the team viz Langan 0-4f,McGee 0-3,Brennan 0-3,Thompson 0-2,McGonigle 0-1, Eoghan B 0-1 and Hugh McF 0-1.The next tier of players after the above big 3 need to step up and become leaders if it is in them to do so.Obviously the loss of McHugh is a really major blow.How we will do I think depends on the attitude and motivation of the players to do well for themselves and the county.However I think they could do with a bit of more support from everybody and less negativity."
Will Patrick McBrearty and Oisin Gallen be fit for the trip to Ennis?

While you listed some talent who are still about, its the gaps around those players including the bench that leaves us weakened.

When you consider players who have been in and about the teams for the last 3-4 years who are still in their prime and could be playing, you can see why Donegal is struggling so much at the moment, I've listed 18 players below who opted out or are injured, adding these lads would make Donegal a different beast.

Michael Murphy - Retired
Ryan McHugh
Niall O'Donnell
Shane O'Donnell

Eoghan McGettigan
Ethan O'Donnell
Odhran MacNiallais dropped out after 202
Stephen McBrearty
Peadar Mogan - Injured

Eoin McHugh
Andrew McClean
Jack McKelvey
Paul Brennan - Injured
Tony McClenaghan

Eunan Doherty
Odhran McFadden Ferry
Conor Morrison
Aaron Deeney


We have currently zero impact from the bench, we have inexperienced gaps in our talent around the pitch, which puts the rest of the players on the backfoot. So while we have some big name players still sprinkled across the team, the gaps is where we are sinking.

I'm expecting us to get well beat in all 3 games unfortunately, its heartbreaking, as its not an accurate reflection of what Donegal at full strength looks like.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1106 - 11/05/2023 16:12:52    2477675

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Replying To KerrymanStuckInDonegal:  "Paddy should never had got the job, lovely man by all accounts but the wrong choice. It's better he wasn't in charge as they wouldn't have won a game for rest of the year. It doesn't matter who manages the team this year or next year, the problem is players. The amount of high calibre players that retired in past few years aren't there in Donegal to replace them. The few quality players in Donegal are either injured or not playing for one reason or another this year. The level of club football is so poor at the moment, there is no one worth bringing into the panel that isn't in already. The only hope is to nuture the youth ( Academy) and that is a whole handling itself. Donegal football is going to be in the doldrums for next three to four years minimum, the only hope is that the academy is back up and running and the unearth some talent. Donegal fans have been treated to some great days in past 15 years, it could be another 15 before they get another Ulster or All Ireland."
I knew very little about Paddy Carr before he got the job and I know about as much about him now. He seems a very decent honourable man though from what I seen of him when he had the job, the only game we won worth talking about was beating Kerry in McCumhaill park when Paddy was in charge.
I wish the man all the best in the future anyway.
I think if we don't beat Clare it will be a new low point for us, no disrespect to Clare but I think we should be beating them if we are at ourselves at all.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2739 - 11/05/2023 16:17:41    2477680

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Replying To DCFCGAA:  "Cant see you not beating clare lads, bit like derry a few years ago, 2 -3 okay players if locked out they are no threat"
We're likely to get hammered in all 3 games, 18 or 19 experienced players have opted out or are injured in 2023, this leaves us with nothing on the bench but inexperienced and underdeveloped players, no bench, so substitutions severely weaken the team unless Aidan O'Rourke starts with a weaker starting 15.

If Donegal were playing at full strength under a well organized management team who had time pre-season to prepare, then we should have been in the mix for Ulster and qualifying from the All Ireland group. But right now I can't see how we can beat Clare, Monaghan and Armagh / Derry.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1106 - 11/05/2023 16:30:46    2477686

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "First Holy Communions will rule me out of any trip to Ennis. But even if I was free I'd hard to justify the long trip down. Now rorysboys - don't come at me with your pitch fork! In normal times with the Donegal senior team going anyway well at all it would've been a great weekend away. Ennis is a lively town and I'd imagine some folk would have made a nice weekend of it.

Anyway - lets hope the lads can show plenty of pride and get a better performance in. Would us beating Clare and Monaghan be major shocks? Unlikely yes but far from unachievable."
Your excused lad I'm mellowing down with age. Heading up and down Saturday week, no word who's in or who's out. But I'll always support the lads who put in so much effort.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2392 - 11/05/2023 16:39:59    2477691

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Replying To Commodore:  "Will Patrick McBrearty and Oisin Gallen be fit for the trip to Ennis?

While you listed some talent who are still about, its the gaps around those players including the bench that leaves us weakened.

When you consider players who have been in and about the teams for the last 3-4 years who are still in their prime and could be playing, you can see why Donegal is struggling so much at the moment, I've listed 18 players below who opted out or are injured, adding these lads would make Donegal a different beast.

Michael Murphy - Retired
Ryan McHugh
Niall O'Donnell
Shane O'Donnell

Eoghan McGettigan
Ethan O'Donnell
Odhran MacNiallais dropped out after 202
Stephen McBrearty
Peadar Mogan - Injured

Eoin McHugh
Andrew McClean
Jack McKelvey
Paul Brennan - Injured
Tony McClenaghan

Eunan Doherty
Odhran McFadden Ferry
Conor Morrison
Aaron Deeney


We have currently zero impact from the bench, we have inexperienced gaps in our talent around the pitch, which puts the rest of the players on the backfoot. So while we have some big name players still sprinkled across the team, the gaps is where we are sinking.

I'm expecting us to get well beat in all 3 games unfortunately, its heartbreaking, as its not an accurate reflection of what Donegal at full strength looks like."
Our defence is much the same as last year.Some would say that Curran has improved it.Connor O'Donnell is equally as good as Shane O'Donnell.If Gallen is 100% that will be a plus from last year.There is no point talking about players that are retired or not interested in playing (before any handlin)If we had everybody that was interested in playing only for injury there is no doubt we would have a stronger panel and bench.McHugh is the biggest loss being one man who can punch holes.On paper we have a reasonable 15 but I agree we lack impact from the bench.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1056 - 11/05/2023 16:52:01    2477693

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Replying To Commodore:  "Will Patrick McBrearty and Oisin Gallen be fit for the trip to Ennis?

While you listed some talent who are still about, its the gaps around those players including the bench that leaves us weakened.

When you consider players who have been in and about the teams for the last 3-4 years who are still in their prime and could be playing, you can see why Donegal is struggling so much at the moment, I've listed 18 players below who opted out or are injured, adding these lads would make Donegal a different beast.

Michael Murphy - Retired
Ryan McHugh
Niall O'Donnell
Shane O'Donnell

Eoghan McGettigan
Ethan O'Donnell
Odhran MacNiallais dropped out after 202
Stephen McBrearty
Peadar Mogan - Injured

Eoin McHugh
Andrew McClean
Jack McKelvey
Paul Brennan - Injured
Tony McClenaghan

Eunan Doherty
Odhran McFadden Ferry
Conor Morrison
Aaron Deeney


We have currently zero impact from the bench, we have inexperienced gaps in our talent around the pitch, which puts the rest of the players on the backfoot. So while we have some big name players still sprinkled across the team, the gaps is where we are sinking.

I'm expecting us to get well beat in all 3 games unfortunately, its heartbreaking, as its not an accurate reflection of what Donegal at full strength looks like."
Well said. Can't see MC Brearty back.

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1139 - 11/05/2023 16:53:24    2477696

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