I know its only a league game in February but the game this evening feels huge for Donegal, if we win we should be safe, lose and we are bang in a relegation dog fight. Add in the fact that there is a lot of negativity around the teams performances this has the feel of a big game for us. We could do with a positive performance regardless of the result.

Looking forward to going to the game this evening, we need to get behind the team. I just hope we don't start knocking the ball about the back trying to keep possession, the crowd could get restless.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1917 - 26/02/2022 14:40:19    2402482

Anybody else questioning the need for the County Chairman to be in the dugout? What the point?

Does he want to be seen that badly?

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1265 - 26/02/2022 20:46:48    2402581

There's ur big scalp with loads of regs missing

Tyrion (Donegal) - Posts: 170 - 26/02/2022 21:26:00    2402590

Delighted for Conor O'Donnell after the bad injury he overcame. Good to see shane O'Donnell running direct at Tyrone we need more of that. Great second half performance a lot of the lads stood up tonight.

crnm (Donegal) - Posts: 101 - 26/02/2022 21:48:26    2402597

Massive improvement in the second half. Hopefully see more of that going forward.

Well done to the team and management.

Also, our man of the match played Division. 4 league and junior championship for his club last season. There are plenty more like him. Great to see the snobbery from the past in not picking such players has lifted.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1265 - 26/02/2022 21:48:54    2402598

Great win last night, even more important than the win was the urgency after a very poor opening 25 mins. We showed in the second half that when we play the game at pace and in the opposition half what a really good team we can be. Some great displays all round and real leadership from the younger brigade which was fantastic.

Even if we had failed to get something from the game the level of performance was at a completely level to the game in Killarney. Credit to the players and the management for turning it around.

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 1113 - 27/02/2022 08:30:35    2402613

Great credit to the team and management last night, that really got the blood flowing! Much more like it. Maybe we grew up finally as a team last night without Murphy. So many leaders in that second half; Thompson, Mogan, Conor O'Donnell, Shane O'Donnell and much more grit in defence typified by Stephen McMenamin's shut down late in the game.

The first half was in line with the previous weekend and at half time personally I was fairly downbeat. That second half could be the spark for the season, it needs to be. So much potential there with the O'Donnells, Gallen and some big hitters to come back. I never buy this line that we don't have the players, we have as capable a front six when all are fit as you'll get in Ireland. However, that needs fo be married with the directness and the doggedness of that second half last night. Gives me much optimism for this year.

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1478 - 27/02/2022 09:33:28    2402619

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 27/02/2022 09:55:31    2402625

A way better performance this week. I was very critical last weekend, but thar was much better.

Ulsterchamps72 (Donegal) - Posts: 160 - 27/02/2022 10:08:54    2402627

Massive well done to the team and management, so many great individual performances, that victory meant so much and could mean so much for this young team as we get into the Summer, after Killarney it was so good to see that spirit from them last night, it done me a power of good as well tbh, lifted the heart and I'm full of hope again.
I seen Declan's interview with Charlie Collins there and I'm delighted for the man to get the result and performance from his team last night, we can play the best of football when we apply ourselves.
now one swallow doesn't make a Summer make and Tyrone missed a sight of chances too and they are nowhere near full tilt either but the way we performed in that second half was very very encouraging,
Conor O'Donnell's goal has a whiff of a Christy Toye moment about it against the Dubs in that famous 2014 semi final, Paddy done so well to create that goal and it was so vital for us. I thought Hugh McFadden had a great game and showed great grit and leadership throughout. Oisin Gallen looked great when he came on, he is some prospect for the Championship for sure. Sean Patton had some game too, that point into the wind at the start of the second half was one of the scores of the match, his accurate kickouts and long range frees are so vital.
Boys became men last night and that victory will really stand to them on another day when our backs are to the wall.
One more win should secure us in div 1 and with Murphy and Langan etc to come back and hopefully we'll be getting nicely ready for Armagh.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3338 - 27/02/2022 11:09:13    2402639

Good performance. Only the league but we'll take the win and move on. Important not to read too much into the league, just like last week in Kilarney. We could end up in league final vs kerry yet and I think we will beat them if we want to. (2 weeks out from Armagh).

The positives is that a lot of lads stepped up. Mogan, Thompson, Conor O Donnell, Shane O Donnell, Paddy Mc Brearty, Mc Fadden Ferry to name a few.

Tyrone have a few men to come back also, Mattie Donnelly, Conor Mc Kenna(played a minute last night), Ronan Mc Namaee, Rory Brennan, Peter Harte. Out of that list only Harte and Mc Namaee are the guaranteed starters in my eyes. Granted Tyrone wouldn't be fit as us this time of year but think that loss will hit them hard.

If you think back over the last few games the players who have caused Tyrone the most bother, Murphy Langan and Brenann, I'm sure Tyrone were very confident going into last night. Add in Mc Gonagle who is a cert to start if fit and I think that win was important in terms of the mentality for both teams.

If we meet them later in the year which is a big if, it will be vital that we have a bench to match their team. They start with a weaker 15 than they finish with. From watching the team this year I feel we have a bench to match theirs. Jamie Brennan, (missed so much time so can't see him starting), Gallan, Shane O Donnell, Conor O Donnell(defo a case for starting both of the O Donnells), Paul Brennan, Dara O Baoill, Ethan O Donnell etc.)

Might be some arguments over the above bench but the point is that we have players to impact games.

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1208 - 27/02/2022 11:32:32    2402643

Great result last night, second half display is what we are capable off, high intensity, speed, and running at teams. No fear, and strong winning mentality.
First half was usual slow paced lateral hand passing, and only brings teams at you. We were lucky we were not more behind in the scoreboard with that first half display.
We need to bring that high intensity football for the full game, we will need that to win ulster.
We not only have the players, we have a panel of players to play that game for the full game.
It was great to see the likes of shane o'donnell step up in the second half and be brave and run at tryone. Conor o'donnell hopefully will only get better. Gallon impressed also when coming on, and has bulked up and looks much stronger physically to look after himself in ulster football.
I hope last nights second half display is a corner turned, and the next day we play that high speed high intensity football from the throw in.
I have been critical of management and still have my doubts that they will bring us Sam.
However management are here for the year, so lets get fully behind the team, and hopefully we continue to play that high intensity, high speed game, and lose the fear of getting defeated, and realise that we are as good, and better that any team in Ireland when playing with no fear and a winning mentality.

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 711 - 27/02/2022 14:31:52    2402692

Great second half last night lads.. I'm just thinking after last night and previous matches how do we leave out Conor ó Donnell and Oisin Gallen from the starting 15??? I'm thinking if everyone is fit you have half forward line of Langan, Thompson and Conor ó Donnell and full forward of Gallen, murphy and mcbrerty.. I think Niall ó Donnell and jamie Brennan have lost their places now.. What yous think?

RoryGall35 (Donegal) - Posts: 193 - 27/02/2022 16:01:43    2402724

It will be a quieter forum for the next few weeks. Fair play to them last night. They really showed heart and leadership in the second half after a poor first half and deserved the result. It was the somewhat unheralded players who stood up. Conor o'donnell didn't do everything right but he kept going and showed real moments of class. I thought shane o'donnell also really delivered in the second half when it mattered. They probably have to try and get him on the ball even more as he's a very clever footballer and playmaker. Farrah also did well when he came on. The point was very high quality and his though ball to mogan at the end was very classy.

In defence I thought mcmenamin showed  good leadership and steel in the second half. Knowing when to nag at an opposition player and take a clever yellow card. You need a player or two like that. Mcfadden ferry did very well on canavan and showed well through the whole game. He maybe has to be a little careful not to run himself into blind alleys. Ward also kept showing all game as well. It has definitely been a challenging time with injuries though it's been more from midfield up. It is giving defence some time to find itself and get players comfortable playing with one another.
Patton kickouts in the second half were great and the long range free was crucial. Kicking into the wind helped him control the kickout.

Tyrone were definitely disappointing in the second half. After a poor donegal performance in the first half maybe they were a little over confident. They also seem to have a few cobwebs from their all ireland. I'd say rory gallagher has them well lined up.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 902 - 27/02/2022 16:06:27    2402726

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1478 - 27/02/2022 16:14:05    2402729

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 902 - 27/02/2022 17:22:03    2402759

RoryGall35 (Donegal) - Posts: 193 - 27/02/2022 17:51:27    2402768

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1208 - 27/02/2022 19:20:35    2402802

naomh_conaill_4 (Donegal) - Posts: 502 - 28/02/2022 09:00:02    2402858

naomh_conaill_4 (Donegal) - Posts: 502 - 28/02/2022 09:01:30    2402860