National Forum

Donegal GAA thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To JohnMcGru:  "6 starters missing, 1st choice keeper broke his ankle a few weeks before, second choice keeper done his knee in the first half of the game, had to get a fella with no gear to stand in nets for the remainder. I don't think that game is a fair reflection on the competitive of lifford. They lost to Na Rossa by 3 points in the league with close to their full strength squad. They have limited amount of players, so for a small squad to have 6 players missing is a huge loss. I agree that the weaker teams should be able to drop to junior b though, but to say Lifford weren't more competitive this year is wrong."
100% lifford results were a big improvement for this year. Held their own. I like seeing the smaller clubs improve. That championship result against na rossa was probably the one game that people remember . It's great to see teams like lifford and pettigo keeping the clubs going, it can't be easy being a border team.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2579 - 02/11/2023 11:29:29    2511269

Link

Replying To rorysboys:  "100% lifford results were a big improvement for this year. Held their own. I like seeing the smaller clubs improve. That championship result against na rossa was probably the one game that people remember . It's great to see teams like lifford and pettigo keeping the clubs going, it can't be easy being a border team."
Lifford should definitely be doing better than what they are as they have good quality in the team but the lack of number's definitely hinder them and a few players not playing as well as they should be/not fit enough. And they should have bigger numbers than they do. Not sure what the reasoning for the lack of numbers is. They dropped to Junior B 3 years ago on the advice of their previous manager (the current Newton manager) to try and be competitive and bring back a winning mentality. Still didn't manage to win junior B which shows it's not as easy as just dropping down. Liffords win against St Eunans was the first win in Junior A for them since 2013. I know they have lost a few players to emigration too. Some players who would be in and around 25-28 mark which would be a major boost if they were back playing but every club gets hit by it.

JohnMcGru (Donegal) - Posts: 3 - 02/11/2023 13:43:52    2511297

Link

Can I ask the question as an outsider.

Why are Lifford struggling so badly? I can understand how pettigo are struggling but is Lifford not the county town?

Surely they have decent numbers being the county town obviously I know they are not the biggest town in Donegal but it seems strange from an outside perspective why they would be so light on numbers.

drumalee11 (USA) - Posts: 331 - 02/11/2023 14:00:12    2511300

Link

Just seen the new Donegal jersey and it's poor in comparison with the current jersey, not much change at all, the O'Neills design team must be on strike

crnm (Donegal) - Posts: 101 - 02/11/2023 14:06:29    2511302

Link

Replying To crnm:  "Just seen the new Donegal jersey and it's poor in comparison with the current jersey, not much change at all, the O'Neills design team must be on strike"
No need for Gaa teams to be bringing out new jersey's every year putting pressure on families that are already struggling. €75 for a new jersey.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 586 - 02/11/2023 15:14:43    2511313

Link

Replying To drumalee11:  "Can I ask the question as an outsider.

Why are Lifford struggling so badly? I can understand how pettigo are struggling but is Lifford not the county town?

Surely they have decent numbers being the county town obviously I know they are not the biggest town in Donegal but it seems strange from an outside perspective why they would be so light on numbers."
Suppose there's a lot of planters on big farms round the Lifford area that wouldn't be big in to the GAA.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3066 - 02/11/2023 15:55:16    2511325

Link

Replying To drumalee11:  "Can I ask the question as an outsider.

Why are Lifford struggling so badly? I can understand how pettigo are struggling but is Lifford not the county town?

Surely they have decent numbers being the county town obviously I know they are not the biggest town in Donegal but it seems strange from an outside perspective why they would be so light on numbers."
There's plenty of numbers around, but there is a lot of drinking and worse in Lifford also. A lot of fellas seem to have no interest as they'd have to make a commitment not to drink on a Friday/Saturday. There's a lack of youth coming through too which really doesn't help. I think it's simply a case of fellas moving to Australia and a bad drinking culture among the younger people within the parish.

JohnMcGru (Donegal) - Posts: 3 - 02/11/2023 17:42:55    2511333

Link

Replying To crnm:  "Just seen the new Donegal jersey and it's poor in comparison with the current jersey, not much change at all, the O'Neills design team must be on strike"
Agreed very little difference, no imagination at all

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 1000 - 02/11/2023 23:05:17    2511365

Link

Replying To totalrecall:  "Agreed very little difference, no imagination at all"
It's what's in the jersey that matters. It's only a money racket any way. O Neil's ain't the cheapest. I'll be keeping to my Magee tailored one for this year.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2579 - 03/11/2023 10:36:43    2511384

Link

SP Barrett back managing the county u20's after managing Downings to the intermediate title.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 586 - 03/11/2023 11:04:05    2511396

Link

Replying To greenfan:  "SP Barrett back managing the county u20's after managing Downings to the intermediate title."
He didn't manage downings he was in training them. Surprised he got the job I was sure Luke would take it especially with him in with Jim. Good luck to sp anyway we should have a decent team.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2579 - 03/11/2023 12:01:00    2511408

Link

There is a lot of talk about the quality of teams in East Donegal.The fact that the Finn Valley teams are on the border makes no difference to the quality of the teams.There are 4 teams on that road ie McCools,Red Hughs,R.Emmets and lifford and there are 4 teams across the fields from them ie Aghyaran,Castlederg,Urney and Strabane.
McCools Big town . On the way back ,should have been doing better
Red Hughs Sort of steady at Intermediate grade,Probably ok for half a parish.Strong GAA tradition for over 100 years
Lifford No strong GAA tradition
R Emmets.The big puzzle.Castlefinn was always traditionally a GAA town going back over one hundred years.It is hard to understand how they have gone so far down.They must have taken their eye off the ball with the underage or something.Granted they are only half a parish too with Urney in the other half of the Parish another area with over 100 yrs of GAA behind them.There is enough population in the area to be doing better than they are

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1126 - 03/11/2023 12:54:49    2511418

Link

Replying To rorysboys:  "He didn't manage downings he was in training them. Surprised he got the job I was sure Luke would take it especially with him in with Jim. Good luck to sp anyway we should have a decent team."
Anyone who saw any of Downings games this year will tell who was managing the team, making the calls and decisions. I notice also that MCR are back as a sponsor on the county jersey after pulling out when SP was overlooked for the senior job.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 586 - 03/11/2023 13:07:46    2511421

Link

Replying To greenfan:  "Anyone who saw any of Downings games this year will tell who was managing the team, making the calls and decisions. I notice also that MCR are back as a sponsor on the county jersey after pulling out when SP was overlooked for the senior job."
Cookie will not thank you for that.. see ballyshannon will probably be looking for a new manager with John mc nulty taking the senior ladies job. Be a tempting job for a lot of managers.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2579 - 03/11/2023 14:56:48    2511443

Link

Replying To gunman:  "There is a lot of talk about the quality of teams in East Donegal.The fact that the Finn Valley teams are on the border makes no difference to the quality of the teams.There are 4 teams on that road ie McCools,Red Hughs,R.Emmets and lifford and there are 4 teams across the fields from them ie Aghyaran,Castlederg,Urney and Strabane.
McCools Big town . On the way back ,should have been doing better
Red Hughs Sort of steady at Intermediate grade,Probably ok for half a parish.Strong GAA tradition for over 100 years
Lifford No strong GAA tradition
R Emmets.The big puzzle.Castlefinn was always traditionally a GAA town going back over one hundred years.It is hard to understand how they have gone so far down.They must have taken their eye off the ball with the underage or something.Granted they are only half a parish too with Urney in the other half of the Parish another area with over 100 yrs of GAA behind them.There is enough population in the area to be doing better than they are"
Gunman,

What kind of numbers would be in each club catchment area. From talking to Castlefinn people at the junior B finals they were saying that their actual club area is quite small, in their opinion one of the smallest in the county.

I don't know the area very well other than to pass through the village so I rang someone I know who lives there and they said their club area goes to
Ballylast where it meets the border and the Lifford club area,
Doneyloop where it meets the border and Urney,
kilclean where it meets the border and the Castlederg club area,
Liscooly where it meets Red Hughs area,
Carnowen crossroads where it meets the Convoy club area.

I don't know the townlands but my contact said that isn't that big an area. They also said they only have two schools who affiliate to the club with around 200 pupils in total.

Mc Cools are a vast area who can't be compared to the other three clubs in numbers. They have a big population pool to pull from and good luck to them.

Red Hughs aren't really a steady intermediate side if the league was structured properly they would be a mid table div 3 team and when there were 4 divisions the junior A champions normally came from div 3 so in reality they are a good junior team. They also have a big club area despite the disputes with Mc Cools.

Lifford are hampered by their closeness to Strabane and maybe as you suggest lack of tradition.

I would include Pettigo as a club that is affected by their closeness to the border.

If you take a look at the teams on the border in Tyrone they aren't doing great either.

Urney and Castlederg bottom of the bottom division
Strabane have been relegated in the season just gone by

The clubs along the East Donegal/West Tyrone border are suffering and just saying what are they doing wrong compared to Mc Cools is ignoring the problems.

Whateveryourhavingyourself (Donegal) - Posts: 59 - 03/11/2023 16:48:25    2511454

Link

Replying To greenfan:  "Anyone who saw any of Downings games this year will tell who was managing the team, making the calls and decisions. I notice also that MCR are back as a sponsor on the county jersey after pulling out when SP was overlooked for the senior job."
Hi greenfan: What is the connection between MCR and the Barretts?

AudiMan (Donegal) - Posts: 676 - 03/11/2023 18:52:57    2511462

Link

The thing about a big town is that it's able to support multiple sports. MacCumhaills are in a town with 2 soccer teams, rugby, golf, a massive athletics club, boxing clubs….Some areas get every able bodied person to the local GAA club. Some clubs are in bigger towns but it's not as simple as that being enough on its own for success.

SignTheContract (Donegal) - Posts: 197 - 05/11/2023 12:32:01    2511562

Link

Replying To SignTheContract:  "The thing about a big town is that it's able to support multiple sports. MacCumhaills are in a town with 2 soccer teams, rugby, golf, a massive athletics club, boxing clubs….Some areas get every able bodied person to the local GAA club. Some clubs are in bigger towns but it's not as simple as that being enough on its own for success."
Those clubs you mention in the twin towns are just based there.Their membership come from all over East Donegal and beyond and if they are having an effect on GAA numbers all clubs in the area are in the same boat.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1126 - 05/11/2023 19:13:15    2511616

Link

Replying To Whateveryourhavingyourself:  "Gunman,

What kind of numbers would be in each club catchment area. From talking to Castlefinn people at the junior B finals they were saying that their actual club area is quite small, in their opinion one of the smallest in the county.

I don't know the area very well other than to pass through the village so I rang someone I know who lives there and they said their club area goes to
Ballylast where it meets the border and the Lifford club area,
Doneyloop where it meets the border and Urney,
kilclean where it meets the border and the Castlederg club area,
Liscooly where it meets Red Hughs area,
Carnowen crossroads where it meets the Convoy club area.

I don't know the townlands but my contact said that isn't that big an area. They also said they only have two schools who affiliate to the club with around 200 pupils in total.

Mc Cools are a vast area who can't be compared to the other three clubs in numbers. They have a big population pool to pull from and good luck to them.

Red Hughs aren't really a steady intermediate side if the league was structured properly they would be a mid table div 3 team and when there were 4 divisions the junior A champions normally came from div 3 so in reality they are a good junior team. They also have a big club area despite the disputes with Mc Cools.

Lifford are hampered by their closeness to Strabane and maybe as you suggest lack of tradition.

I would include Pettigo as a club that is affected by their closeness to the border.

If you take a look at the teams on the border in Tyrone they aren't doing great either.

Urney and Castlederg bottom of the bottom division
Strabane have been relegated in the season just gone by

The clubs along the East Donegal/West Tyrone border are suffering and just saying what are they doing wrong compared to Mc Cools is ignoring the problems."
Could you tell me how being on the border on either side of it hinders a club in any way.On the question of numbers to pick from McCools have a population of around 8000 people.Emmets and Red Hughs have a population of about 2700 each.How that would breakdown for people of playing age I don't know.I would imagine that there are clubs in more sparsely populated areas of the county that have less of a population and are far more successful.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1126 - 05/11/2023 19:26:28    2511620

Link

Replying To gunman:  "Those clubs you mention in the twin towns are just based there.Their membership come from all over East Donegal and beyond and if they are having an effect on GAA numbers all clubs in the area are in the same boat."
Totally correct Gunman.
Golf club membership is from whole Finn Valley.
Red Hughs, Robert Emmets and Lifford all have soccer clubs but much smaller population base than Ballybofey to feed both the soccer and Gaelic teams.
Rugby is also drawing from the whole Finn Valley.

I don't think Mc Cools can be in the equation when looking at the issues with East Donegal/Border GAA problem.

Whateveryourhavingyourself (Donegal) - Posts: 59 - 05/11/2023 20:50:08    2511640

Link