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Replying To Lockjaw: "How would we rank the senior clubs now? Inevitable arguement and debate but here's mine for what it's worth. 1. Naomh Conaill 2. St Eunans 3. Gaoth Dobhair 4. MacCumhaills 5. Kilcar 6. Aodh Ruadh 7. Glenswilly 8. Ardara 9. Dungloe 10. St Michaels 11. CCF 12. Glenfin 13. Four Masters 14. Killybegs 15. St Nauls 16. Downings Positions 8-16 are very inter-changable. I would say that on their day, any of those teams would fancy themselves of beating another in that category." I'd probably have Kilcar 4th, Ballyshannon 5th and then MacCumhaills 6th. SignTheContract (Donegal) - Posts: 197 - 25/10/2023 17:03:59 2510305 Link
Replying To BeardedBorderGael: "I didn't see where anyone claimed Convoy were a "Powerhouse". They have done okay in recent years though with a Junior A, Intermediate B and a couple of Junior B wins. It feels like you have some issues with them, you made some critical comments about a player in their drawn final and said I was "crowing" when I simply congratulated their reserves on their win over a senior team (which was accurate). There's no question that the smaller clubs in the east of the county (of which Convoy is one) face huge challenges to try to compete at a higher level, there is a very strong soccer tradition with many soccer clubs recruiting from a small pool of players and of course emigration. I would be of the opinion though that clubs that drop down voluntarily whether it be Emmet's, Pettigo or whoever may in the long run actually be hurting their prospects of developing. Seasons pass by quickly and clubs/players can become comfortable and content with where they are at. I noticed Lifford voluntarily moved back up to Junior A this season and looked to be more competitive than they had been in recent years. Anyway, good luck to all the smaller clubs and good luck to N.Conaill, Downings and N.Rossa in Ulster." Junior A championship 2023 Na Rossa 9.17 Lifford 3.05 More competitive, seriously????? Are you trying to tell people that is a good result for the weaker team. That happened to be Lifford it could just as easily have been R Emmets, N Colmcille, Pettigo or a few more smaller teams. While I would agree that teams should not get complacent or go for an easy title but you lose confidence and interest if your team are out of their depth and getting heavy beatings week in week out. Clubs go into competitions lower than their ability at underage to win handy trophies but this doesn't happen in adult football. Most teams want to play in as high a competition as they can, however in some cases for whatever reason they have to step down to a lower competition to rebuild. I would suggest the Junior B championship is the level R Emmets are at currently and the Junior C was the level that Pettigo were at. R Emmets didn't win the Junior B if they had hammered Convoy I'd agree with you that they only wanted an easy championship. Pettigo only won by a point so again they weren't being cute hos. When there were four divisions the regular winners of the Junior championship were Div 3 teams and sometimes a Div 2 team. Division 4 teams didn't really compete If we really want to promote football we should be having a structure that allows everyone to be competitive. One upmanship will not help Donegal GAA in the long term but clubs being competitive at their own level will be what's best for our game. Whateveryourhavingyourself (Donegal)** - Posts: 59 - 25/10/2023 17:32:14 2510313 Link
Replying To Donegalabroad: "Ethan O'Donell and Jack McKelvey have both been involved with the Donegal senior squad for at least 3 years now and none of them could establish themselves in the team so although they are great club footballers they are not county standard and if they were they would have nailed down a position on the team." My alter ego is it? Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1389 - 25/10/2023 19:50:20 2510328 Link
Eamonn McGee, Neil Gallagher, Rory Kavanagh, Colm McFadden etc... these were all players that were doubted. Who would have thought they would win an All-Ireland when Jim came in originally. Cork defeat in 2009, Armagh in 2010, we had written these boys off. Add Ryan Bradley and David Walsh, two lads you would not have thought would be integral players and look at the performances they gave in 2012. It will be interesting to see who will come to the fore this time round. It's dangerous but getting excited about 2023 :) ballboy101 (Donegal) - Posts: 225 - 25/10/2023 21:19:45 2510338 Link
Replying To ballboy101: "Eamonn McGee, Neil Gallagher, Rory Kavanagh, Colm McFadden etc... these were all players that were doubted. Who would have thought they would win an All-Ireland when Jim came in originally. Cork defeat in 2009, Armagh in 2010, we had written these boys off. Add Ryan Bradley and David Walsh, two lads you would not have thought would be integral players and look at the performances they gave in 2012. It will be interesting to see who will come to the fore this time round. It's dangerous but getting excited about 2023 :)" I hope Jim has put the soccer thing out of his head completely now while he's Donegal manager, the only thing that bothered me last time was after 2012 he had his head half turned towards Celtic and Neil Lennon, you can't blame the man for providing for his family and cashing in on his success but I hope he gives us 100% this time and has left the soccer world behind for now anyway. No doubt Jim will unearth new talent and adapt the players he has to suit, as much as we liked Bonner and there is no better Donegal GAA man than him he never had the X factor McGuinness has. Hoping for a big improvement in 2024 and that Derry game in Celtic Park in April will be something to look forward to all Spring. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3066 - 26/10/2023 11:18:02 2510389 Link
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "I hope Jim has put the soccer thing out of his head completely now while he's Donegal manager, the only thing that bothered me last time was after 2012 he had his head half turned towards Celtic and Neil Lennon, you can't blame the man for providing for his family and cashing in on his success but I hope he gives us 100% this time and has left the soccer world behind for now anyway. No doubt Jim will unearth new talent and adapt the players he has to suit, as much as we liked Bonner and there is no better Donegal GAA man than him he never had the X factor McGuinness has. Hoping for a big improvement in 2024 and that Derry game in Celtic Park in April will be something to look forward to all Spring." Yeah it does remind me of 2014. If I remember rightly Derry made the Div1 league final that year, and were tipped as dark horses for the All Ireland. We were in Div2 and also made that league final, losing to Monaghan and having Rory Kavanagh sent off. In the championship, we were drawn away to Derry with many predicting that Derry would beat us. But the lads put in a great display. I remember Leo McLoone scoring a lovely goal, and it was also the day that Murphy booted over a side-line ball with the outside of his right foot. Imagine the lift it would give Donegal GAA if we were able to beat high,y fancied Derry in their own back yard. A tough ask, but by no means impossible. Throw in the Mickey Harte v Jim McGuinness factor as well and it all adds up to being a potentailly cracking Ulster Championship match. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9535 - 26/10/2023 11:43:57 2510398 Link
interesting point mentioned on Charlie Collins podcast... will Shaun Patton be suspended for the Derry game following his red card against Tyrone in the last game of this season? If he is.. does another keeper need to play in most of the league games greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 586 - 26/10/2023 12:12:49 2510415 Link
Replying To Lockjaw: "Yeah it does remind me of 2014. If I remember rightly Derry made the Div1 league final that year, and were tipped as dark horses for the All Ireland. We were in Div2 and also made that league final, losing to Monaghan and having Rory Kavanagh sent off. In the championship, we were drawn away to Derry with many predicting that Derry would beat us. But the lads put in a great display. I remember Leo McLoone scoring a lovely goal, and it was also the day that Murphy booted over a side-line ball with the outside of his right foot. Imagine the lift it would give Donegal GAA if we were able to beat high,y fancied Derry in their own back yard. A tough ask, but by no means impossible. Throw in the Mickey Harte v Jim McGuinness factor as well and it all adds up to being a potentailly cracking Ulster Championship match." Wouldn't put it past Jim manufacturing a win v Derry. Nothing to lose. Mickey Harte has taken over a Derry team operating at close to full potential with their current crop. Donegal probably operating at 50% of their capability or less. Its only 2 or 3 three years ago that many considered Donegal to be the best team on paper outside of Dublin If Jim gets the best players in Donegal committing he could achieve great things again. drumalee11 (USA) - Posts: 331 - 26/10/2023 12:13:15 2510416 Link
Replying To drumalee11: "Wouldn't put it past Jim manufacturing a win v Derry. Nothing to lose. Mickey Harte has taken over a Derry team operating at close to full potential with their current crop. Donegal probably operating at 50% of their capability or less. Its only 2 or 3 three years ago that many considered Donegal to be the best team on paper outside of Dublin If Jim gets the best players in Donegal committing he could achieve great things again." Agreed. Jim has the capacity through coaching and building players confidence to really transform the current county set up. That's what great managers do. That's why I'm excited to see what might happen with a player like Ethan O'Donnell if he stays around. If he does you can be sure that Jim has already tapped into him. panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2813 - 26/10/2023 12:39:19 2510424 Link
Great to see Jim leaving the soccer and going back to his first love. rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2579 - 26/10/2023 13:35:17 2510446 Link
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "I hope Jim has put the soccer thing out of his head completely now while he's Donegal manager, the only thing that bothered me last time was after 2012 he had his head half turned towards Celtic and Neil Lennon, you can't blame the man for providing for his family and cashing in on his success but I hope he gives us 100% this time and has left the soccer world behind for now anyway. No doubt Jim will unearth new talent and adapt the players he has to suit, as much as we liked Bonner and there is no better Donegal GAA man than him he never had the X factor McGuinness has. Hoping for a big improvement in 2024 and that Derry game in Celtic Park in April will be something to look forward to all Spring." I think not getting the Harps job at the end of last year was the final straw for Jim, to the benefit of Donegal GAA. Fair play to him for having the stones to pursue his dreams but I'm delighted to see him back where he belongs. peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1072 - 26/10/2023 14:06:02 2510460 Link
I really hope Ethan does reconsider and opt-in to the County setup. He has a lot to offer and careers are short - be a shame to see it pass him by. FairWeatherFan (Donegal) - Posts: 39 - 26/10/2023 14:14:19 2510463 Link
Replying To drumalee11: "Wouldn't put it past Jim manufacturing a win v Derry. Nothing to lose. Mickey Harte has taken over a Derry team operating at close to full potential with their current crop. Donegal probably operating at 50% of their capability or less. Its only 2 or 3 three years ago that many considered Donegal to be the best team on paper outside of Dublin If Jim gets the best players in Donegal committing he could achieve great things again." I'm sorry but nobody really thought we had the 2nd best team outside Dublin 2 or 3 years ago? Kerry, Mayo, Tyrone and even Galway were well ahead 2 and 3 years ago. More recently we have Derry and even Armagh fighting it out as well who hav probably passed us out. Ulster is seriously competitive ans no tougher first championship game for Jim than away to Derry. Hopefully he can pull off a shock. It might take some time though for us to reach top form though, will even even see if year 1? FootballGuy (Donegal) - Posts: 260 - 26/10/2023 14:23:16 2510470 Link
Replying To FootballGuy: "I'm sorry but nobody really thought we had the 2nd best team outside Dublin 2 or 3 years ago? Kerry, Mayo, Tyrone and even Galway were well ahead 2 and 3 years ago. More recently we have Derry and even Armagh fighting it out as well who hav probably passed us out. Ulster is seriously competitive ans no tougher first championship game for Jim than away to Derry. Hopefully he can pull off a shock. It might take some time though for us to reach top form though, will even even see if year 1?" There was lots of people that was of that opinion. It may have been 4 to 5 years ago but there definitely was a period when Donegal were seen as the main challenger to Dublin. Bonner underachieved massively with the squad he had. drumalee11 (USA) - Posts: 331 - 26/10/2023 14:30:17 2510471 Link
Replying To SignTheContract: "I'd probably have Kilcar 4th, Ballyshannon 5th and then MacCumhaills 6th." Kilcar are third for sure. If they were on Gweedores side of the draw they would have made the final naomh_conaill_4 (Donegal) - Posts: 499 - 26/10/2023 16:07:07 2510494 Link
Replying To drumalee11: "There was lots of people that was of that opinion. It may have been 4 to 5 years ago but there definitely was a period when Donegal were seen as the main challenger to Dublin. Bonner underachieved massively with the squad he had." Yeah I think it was the bad Covid year when we beat Tyrone, then walloped Armagh, and everyone thought we'd beat Cavan handy in the Ulster final. That may have been the year when people thought we might topple Dublin in the semi final. But Cavan put paid to those notions and fair play to them. Very deserving winners that day. Bonner was a wee bit unlucky I feel. He had them playing very well, nice brand of football. But too often we just cracked when the going got tough, Tyrone at home in 2018 was it? Then Mayo away the year after. At various times injuries to key men hampered us. Was it 2019 when we beat Fermanagh in the Ulster final? Paddy McBrearty was in the form of his life til he did the cruciate in that game. Small margins. Plus Oisin Gallen was cursed with injuries in his early years on the panel. All ifs and buts I know, but if Bonner had a fully fit McBrearty, Murphy and emerging Gallen in that time, things might have been different. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9535 - 26/10/2023 17:03:25 2510505 Link
Replying To rorysboys: "Great to see Jim leaving the soccer and going back to his first love." In all fairness I don't think he left any soccer. He was a wannabe soccer coach who was sacked from the only manager job he had, in a USA club that was deemed lower standard than League of Ireland. He's back because the soccer hasn't worked out for him, simple as. I'm sure he's delighted to be back as we are to have him back, but soccer clubs weren't exactly beating his door down. PeterQ92 (Donegal) - Posts: 118 - 26/10/2023 22:54:15 2510555 Link
Replying To AudiMan: "Hi TheRock2121: Do you still say a big 2?" Completely.. two horse race when the media saying the gap was closing. TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1194 - 26/10/2023 23:54:26 2510558 Link
2018 is when we lost Paddy and he was in the form of his life that year. But 2019 and 2020 were the years for me - we drew with Kerry in Croke Park in 2019 and suffered some injuries on the day as well, if I remember right we lost Hugh McFadden and McGee that day in the middle? And think we lost Niall O'Donnell to injury that day too. Had we won that much we were essentially into a semi-final against Dublin. As it was we went to Castlebar in a defacto quarter final and just didn't show up on a rotten day apart from a couple of players. And then 2020, that was the year that got away for me, I'm still sick thinking of it. As Lockjaw says, there was plenty of noise around the country that we were the only ones coming to give Dublin a rattle. Especially after we destroyed Armagh, the feeling was we'd beat Cavan handy in the Ulster final - though I think most of us would say that wasn't coming from Donegal fans, we've been burnt too many times before. Cavan completely outplayed and outfought us to put that whole train of thought to bed. I do think Bonner was unlucky with injuries at times and then 2021 he was unlucky as there was no backdoor - beaten by Tyrone in the Ulster semi final, a day of crazy heat in Ballybofey and we lost Murphy to a red card in the first half after a missed penalty. I thought we battled really well that day until the final 10 minutes or so when we were gassed and Tyrone's fitness shone through. I'm looking forward to seeing what McGuinness does. I've been very positive about this group of players since Bonner took over, thought he did a great job bringing the young lads through and establishing themselves at senior. But I think they've missed a bit of edge and mentality. In the early Bonner years I put that down to them being young. But they're not young any more, so it's no excuse. If Jim of all people can't instill that mentality then you'd have to admit they just don't have it CCFabu (Donegal) - Posts: 129 - 27/10/2023 09:51:51 2510574 Link
Replying To TheRock2121: "Completely.. two horse race when the media saying the gap was closing." I would be thinking it's just a big 1 now. AudiMan (Donegal) - Posts: 676 - 27/10/2023 14:04:39 2510627 Link