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Another fantastic result for the hurlers today to secure promotion to 2A for next season. They have made incredible progress over the last 10 years. And the fact that it has been built by a Donegal hurling legend in Mickey McCann, with native talent, makes it all the more incredible. The work of those small number of people in our hurling clubs also needs to be acknowledged. SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 673 - 17/03/2024 19:13:54 2531739 Link 1 |
Played for Finn Harps underage for a number of seasons and was highly thought of but didn't break into the senior side. Very talented player, played at 6 for Downings in Intermediate final and ran the show until he got injured. Has been injured since then but is definitely a player that could do the business at County level. Good to see new players breaking through. ballboy101 (Donegal) - Posts: 214 - 17/03/2024 19:17:47 2531743 Link 0 |
I didn't get to see the Derry game today, but have seen them live a number of times in the last few months. You're right about Odhrán Lynch, he is top class. Shaun Patton is a very good keeper, but he just does not possess the skills to compete against Lynch from open play. And we shouldn't try. Armagh done it last year in the Ulster Final with Ethan Rafferty, but we shouldn't try it. Do we allocate another man to follow him when he comes out? And do we position a speed merchant, maybe Peadar Mogan, in our forward line to keep him on the back foot. There will be a lot of conundrums between now and 20th April.
SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 673 - 17/03/2024 19:25:25 2531747 Link 0 |
That's kildare and louth that have pretty much given a 100% of the donegal kick outs. Against louth it was justified for them as donegal were careless in attack and turned the ball over too much. They were much better and controlling the set play yesterday. Admittedly kildare are a poorer team than louth at the minute Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 772 - 17/03/2024 19:37:42 2531753 Link 1 |
We were always in control yesterday although there was some lack of ball control in tight situations and the odd careless pass.We would need to be creating more goal chances against this quality of opposition,the one from the first attack is the only one I can remember which we should have scored When you go 4 or 5 up you would need to be rattling in a goal and not letting them hang in there.On a lighter note the biggest cheer of the day was when the ref gave us a free midway through the second half our first of the day.Sometimes you hear it said that you had to work hard for your frees but no matter how hard we worked yesterday we just were not getting them. gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1105 - 17/03/2024 20:09:06 2531772 Link 0 |
Nice to get promoted. Armagh in croke park great preparation for Derry, and mc Guinness will have another look at Derry hopefully . Derry don't play like a Micky Harte team they seem to go for the jugular at every opportunity.. rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2536 - 18/03/2024 11:11:36 2531884 Link 0 |
Putting Patton on him definitely not an option. Maybe he can be marked by an outfield player or we just need to treat him like an outfield player and hassle and harry him as much as anyone else.
High_and_wide (Donegal) - Posts: 83 - 18/03/2024 18:50:40 2531975 Link 0 |
In the Bonner years we had the problem that we'd get into great positions but lads like Stephen McMenamen or Caolan Ward would end up in front of goal or with space to shoot, and they would not take on the shot. V interesting to see the defences that McGuinness is picking. Mogan scored 5 points from corner back against Kildare. Moore starting in the full back line and causing trouble with his running game. I can see Jim picking a full back line against Derry full of players that are dangerous in attack. Where that leaves our defending/ man marking I don't know... Maybe some of our forwards can be made into sticky defenders.. High_and_wide (Donegal) - Posts: 83 - 18/03/2024 18:57:34 2531977 Link 2 |
Lynch is a very good footballer, but the risk is always there. Ryan O'Donoghue should have finished one into an open net yesterday, after Lynch was caught upfield. That would have levelled the game late on. He obviously got caught out by Comer in the All-Ireland semi-final of 2022 as well. It's probably worth it if they feel he contributes enough in creating chances up the other end of the pitch, but conceding a goal like that can be a real momentum swinger. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2142 - 18/03/2024 19:36:46 2531989 Link 1 |
yeah, it would nearly be worth practicing lobbing the keeper from 50 yards at training, the opportunity will come up this year that often
High_and_wide (Donegal) - Posts: 83 - 18/03/2024 20:33:07 2532004 Link 0 |
The 20's started like a train and Cavan couldn't get to grips with them. Luke Mc Glynn and Oisin Caulfield were very impressive. Paddy mc Elwee was shooting on sight. When Cavan pushed up on our kick outs we had real problems. There was only 1 real outlet, Conor Mc Ginty. A very fortuitous goal before half time gave us a cushion. In the second half, we seemed to lose confidence and started to take all the wrong options. The Cavan captain Lovett caused us no end of problems. we had Donegal Gallagher on him, and ended up with Finbarr Roarty on him. He scored 9 points in total. The subs coming on made a huge difference. Sean Martin coming back from injury made a big difference in the half back line, I think it was a lesson for both management and players. Cian mc Menamin coming back from injury should make a huge difference in the next game.
donegaldouble (Donegal) - Posts: 313 - 19/03/2024 11:53:33 2532092 Link 0 |
Another good victory on the road at the weekend. By all accounts a professional, competent display without over exerting ourselves. Hard to know how we'll approach the Meath game now that promotion has been secured. Meath are also safe now so it could be a bit of a dead rubber with both teams looking to just see it out and avoid injuries? Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9432 - 19/03/2024 15:45:17 2532178 Link 0 |
Momentum is indeed a big thing in football, saying that I'm sure a few of the fringe players will get a chance to show what they can do against Meath, how will Jim approach the league final? Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2934 - 19/03/2024 17:10:32 2532208 Link 0 |
Yes Derry are going well, but for me, Dublin are clear favourites. I watched their game against Galway on Saturday and they were just in cruise control the whole way through. Eamonn Fitzmaurice made a comment before the match that he was looking forward to seeing how Dublin would do in a dirty, wet day in Salthill with its usual horrible swirling breeze. Answer: they went out and totally outfought Galway, kicking 0-22 in the process. Halfway through the second half when the game was as good as done they threw on McCaffrey, Basquel and Mannion. They still have Cluxton and James McCarthy to come back as well. Everyone was waiting (hoping) for a dropoff in standards when the Brogans, Flynn, McAuley, Rock, Cooper, McMahon etc stepped away but the lads who have stepped up are hungry and extremely talented as well. As it stands I'd have.. 1. Dublin 2. Kerry/Derry Then about 5 or 6 teams like Mayo, Tyrone, Galway, Armagh and ourselves who could give anyone a good game on their day, but are a bit off those top 3 I mention above. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9432 - 20/03/2024 09:33:47 2532288 Link 0 |
Agree.
TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1183 - 20/03/2024 20:37:56 2532402 Link 0 |
Hi Lockjaw: will we get within 6pts of Derry in Celtic Park? They look to be flying with the big picture in mind.
AudiMan (Donegal) - Posts: 664 - 20/03/2024 23:23:07 2532418 Link 0 |
This would be my current ranking and logic for that ranking Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1182 - 21/03/2024 09:26:18 2532445 Link 0 |
It's fair to say that we probably are a rung or two down the ladder yet from the level Derry are currently operating at. They are a slick outfit who are probably thinking now is their time. But in saying that, we are a lot fitter and playing with greater intensity than we were in 2023. Who knows, with a full deck and a fair wind we might trouble them. Donegal beating Derry in a Championship match wouldn't exactly be a massive shock, but understandably the bookies will rightly have Derry as strong favourites. We were probably saying the same things to ourselves around this time in 2011.... Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9432 - 21/03/2024 09:30:40 2532447 Link 0 |
I'm not sure if I fully agree with this. I'd have Armagh and Donegal and possibly Monaghan if they get their act together in a tier above Roscommon. The Rossies have done nothing in recent years to deserve to be in the same tier as the above. I'd argue Cork have a higher ceiling than the Rossies but probably don't deserve to be ranked above them at this point despite beating them in championship last year. Do Galway get too much respect? They had a great year in 2022 but were very slow and ponderous in their play last year. Obviously cant judge them on this year given they are missing 7 or 8 of their best players and will be happy to stay up. drumalee11 (USA) - Posts: 315 - 21/03/2024 09:53:53 2532449 Link 0 |
Galway have been hampered with injuries, at full strength they are a match for anyone and have already shown they can reach an All Ireland final. I would not write them off, they would pose a serious obstable for anyone in the All Ireland series if key players return and get fit. Roscommon are a talented side, Enda Smith is a different level player, They just always seem to be lacking or fall short, but I think they have the potential to do serious damage if prepared right. They got caught badly by Cork last year, but I think a lot of factors went against them and if they played Cork repeatedly 10 x times, they probably would win 7 of them. I agree that Cork ceiling should be higher, but they just aren't producing it for some reason. Armagh are probably in and around the Tier with Mayo, Tyrone and Galway, but this year they need to take the next step, need to win Ulster or scalp the big guns in Croke Park in All Ireland series to show they have progressed, The longer the march on without winning Championship silverware, I think it leads to them losing momentum. Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1182 - 21/03/2024 13:36:50 2532490 Link 0 |