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Replying To peiledoir20: "They're far from a superpower but at least they have the liathroidi to field in a derby championship game." What is the reason Robert Emmetts can't field a Senior team against Convoy? Is it driven by injuries, Immigration or just lack of participation? Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1212 - 05/09/2024 12:44:56 2568571 Link
Replying To dgcrusader: "Massive loss you're spot on. Langan is off travelling to Thailand from what I've heard." Assumed it was injury as the Donegal News don't provide much beyond a headline online for free, really unfortunate for St. Michaels NPadraigAbu (Donegal) - Posts: 85 - 05/09/2024 12:55:24 2568573 Link
Replying To dgcrusader: "I didn't mean it in an ignorant way, just think they should be trying to compete with the bigger teams of the Junior A. It wasn't so long ago that the likes of yourselves and Emmetts were hammering Convoy in the Junior. Also don't think Convoy are up to much in both grades this year, their reserves only won one game in the Championship so far, they seemed to have lost a good few from previous teams. Seniors were very poor against Carn in the league final and that was without Conor O Donnell also. Can't look past Carn for the Junior A, think they are a good bit ahead of the rest. Next up Muff, Naomh Ultan and Convoy." Your assessment of the teams who have a chance of winning the Junior A championship is spot on. It doesn't seem that long ago since we were winning the junior championship and Ulster but times change and the smaller clubs are just trying to survive. I've said it many times before, the current structures are a disaster especially the league structure. Three divisions create much too big a gulf from the top to bottom teams in each division. It means a lot of the weaker teams never get a chance to be competitive and therefore never get a number of close games or an odd win or two to get momentum going and this lack of hope feeds into the championship preparation Robert Emmets and Pettigo have released the genie out of the bottle and the situation that has happened in this years Junior A championship doesn't help either the weaker or stronger teams when fixtures aren't played and will only continue to result in increased unfulfilled fixtures next year if the system stays as it is. Rather than beating up a few small clubs (that's easy) we really need to look at what is wrong in our structures and what can be done to improve our competitions for all clubs in all divisions to be able to compete with a hope of having some chance of being competitive in or possibly even win a competition that's how we will help clubs survive and prosper. Whateveryourhavingyourself (Donegal) - Posts: 59 - 05/09/2024 13:43:26 2568579 Link
Replying To Whateveryourhavingyourself: "Your assessment of the teams who have a chance of winning the Junior A championship is spot on. It doesn't seem that long ago since we were winning the junior championship and Ulster but times change and the smaller clubs are just trying to survive. I've said it many times before, the current structures are a disaster especially the league structure. Three divisions create much too big a gulf from the top to bottom teams in each division. It means a lot of the weaker teams never get a chance to be competitive and therefore never get a number of close games or an odd win or two to get momentum going and this lack of hope feeds into the championship preparation Robert Emmets and Pettigo have released the genie out of the bottle and the situation that has happened in this years Junior A championship doesn't help either the weaker or stronger teams when fixtures aren't played and will only continue to result in increased unfulfilled fixtures next year if the system stays as it is. Rather than beating up a few small clubs (that's easy) we really need to look at what is wrong in our structures and what can be done to improve our competitions for all clubs in all divisions to be able to compete with a hope of having some chance of being competitive in or possibly even win a competition that's how we will help clubs survive and prosper." Agree about the problems with the structure in the county. I think we could apply a similar system to counties like Galway who have a Junior A B C etc. Would be much easier to keep senior players about and young lads engaged if they have a championship to actually compete in rather than just making up the numbers. I also think this championship structure could help reserve teams find their level rather than get stuffed because their senior team are good. We also definitely need to bring back Division 4 at the very least, massive gulf in qualities between some teams in all divisions. NPadraigAbu (Donegal) - Posts: 85 - 05/09/2024 14:19:21 2568585 Link
Replying To dgcrusader: "No need for that last comment at all. Very spiteful comment, you're obviously a very bitter man, grow up a bit." He might be better having a word with his own clubman than taking a pop at the victim from that incident. peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1066 - 05/09/2024 14:27:08 2568587 Link
With some county men opting to miss the championship to travel, weddings/honeymoon, rehab, or being "advised" not to play due to the county wanting them to rehab, well, we really have a shambles of a club scene at the minute. Leagues are almost pointless and the group stages of the championship are close to being irrelevant. It's sad. ThroughTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 54 - 06/09/2024 11:05:44 2568679 Link
Replying To ThroughTheGap: "With some county men opting to miss the championship to travel, weddings/honeymoon, rehab, or being "advised" not to play due to the county wanting them to rehab, well, we really have a shambles of a club scene at the minute. Leagues are almost pointless and the group stages of the championship are close to being irrelevant. It's sad." I agree. It think its as a consequence of there being only two genuine contenders for the Championship. The Leagues need more Divisions, to make them more equitable. There are too many teams that appear to be in between Divisions, too strong for Division 2, yet not strong enough for Division 1. Same applies from Division 3 to 2. And this problem is compounded with the big clubs reserve teams. And the Championship needs to be restructured as well, to have a Kerry type model, where you have a Club Championship and a separate County Chpionship. SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 716 - 06/09/2024 14:53:44 2568723 Link
Need to go back to 4 divisions as it was previously. Too many teams playing in mismatched fixtures. Feel sorry for teams in the lower end of division 3 as its hard to maintain any interest when you're getting hammered regularly. Anyone who is involved in a smaller/weaker club knows how difficult it is to keep the show on the road. Newton were in an Ulster final a few years ago now getting beat by Pettigo. Emmets was a place few wanted to play as you were always guaranteed a tough game. Both teams have fallen badly. It's in the interests of Donegal GAA to get these clubs back up again. Look at Carn, they are making in roads after years of being at the bottom. Help not ridicule is the answer. ballboy101 (Donegal) - Posts: 225 - 06/09/2024 17:39:47 2568752 Link
Replying To SouthOfTheGap: "I agree. It think its as a consequence of there being only two genuine contenders for the Championship. The Leagues need more Divisions, to make them more equitable. There are too many teams that appear to be in between Divisions, too strong for Division 2, yet not strong enough for Division 1. Same applies from Division 3 to 2. And this problem is compounded with the big clubs reserve teams. And the Championship needs to be restructured as well, to have a Kerry type model, where you have a Club Championship and a separate County Chpionship." "And the Championship needs to be restructured as well, to have a Kerry type model, where you have a Club Championship and a separate County Chpionship." That would not work in Donegal, dont see why people are pushing for this. Plenty of teams who were dogshit for years are starting to come good. It comes around in cycles and not everyone can be good, there has to be some weaker teams in every county, its the way it. If anything, get rid of the junior championship and just have intermediate. eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 87 - 06/09/2024 17:52:08 2568755 Link
Replying To dgcrusader: "I didn't mean it in an ignorant way, just think they should be trying to compete with the bigger teams of the Junior A. It wasn't so long ago that the likes of yourselves and Emmetts were hammering Convoy in the Junior. Also don't think Convoy are up to much in both grades this year, their reserves only won one game in the Championship so far, they seemed to have lost a good few from previous teams. Seniors were very poor against Carn in the league final and that was without Conor O Donnell also. Can't look past Carn for the Junior A, think they are a good bit ahead of the rest. Next up Muff, Naomh Ultan and Convoy." It definitely goes in cycles.There are times you will have a good group of players and a few very good players will make a big difference to any team at any level.We were talking about a senior team for the eastern side which might include McCools.When Emmets had the Killygordon players before Red Hughs were formed in 1981 they were well able to compete at Senior level and nearly always beat McCools.The first year Red Hughs were formed they won the Junior Championship and within 5 years they were in the Senior Final and a few years later in another Senior Final.They also won a Div 1 Final.Some years before that Convoy were in an Intermediate Final.The point I am Making is that things were not always as bad as they are now and could change again.It is not that long since Ardara were a top Senior team and Glenties were playing in Div 2 which goes to show that things are cyclical. gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1126 - 06/09/2024 20:49:59 2568773 Link
Replying To SouthOfTheGap: "I agree. It think its as a consequence of there being only two genuine contenders for the Championship. The Leagues need more Divisions, to make them more equitable. There are too many teams that appear to be in between Divisions, too strong for Division 2, yet not strong enough for Division 1. Same applies from Division 3 to 2. And this problem is compounded with the big clubs reserve teams. And the Championship needs to be restructured as well, to have a Kerry type model, where you have a Club Championship and a separate County Chpionship." How would that work? ThroughTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 54 - 06/09/2024 21:08:36 2568774 Link
Replying To ballboy101: "Need to go back to 4 divisions as it was previously. Too many teams playing in mismatched fixtures. Feel sorry for teams in the lower end of division 3 as its hard to maintain any interest when you're getting hammered regularly. Anyone who is involved in a smaller/weaker club knows how difficult it is to keep the show on the road. Newton were in an Ulster final a few years ago now getting beat by Pettigo. Emmets was a place few wanted to play as you were always guaranteed a tough game. Both teams have fallen badly. It's in the interests of Donegal GAA to get these clubs back up again. Look at Carn, they are making in roads after years of being at the bottom. Help not ridicule is the answer." Totally agree "Help not redicule is the answer" It's easy to be I'm all right jack when your club is doing reasonably well but as another poster said for the smaller clubs these things are cyclical and in a few years time it might be your club struggling. Competition reform is urgently needed to help the whole county Whateveryourhavingyourself (Donegal) - Posts: 59 - 07/09/2024 13:41:08 2568831 Link
Anyone at the red Hugh v termon game last night. Termon probably favourites to win intermediate scoring 6 points and still winning on a lovely evening for football. What has football come too . I watched termon this year and they have very good forwards but only to score 6 points is unreal. rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2569 - 08/09/2024 09:22:06 2568888 Link
Replying To rorysboys: "Anyone at the red Hugh v termon game last night. Termon probably favourites to win intermediate scoring 6 points and still winning on a lovely evening for football. What has football come too . I watched termon this year and they have very good forwards but only to score 6 points is unreal." I wasn't at the game but I imagine lot of it is sue to the championship structure. Red Hughs by avoiding a big defeat got a quarter final place and avoided any relegation games so I can totally understand if they set up accordingly, it is a results business. If the structure was different perhaps it wouldn't have been as low scoring? donegalgael-12 (Donegal) - Posts: 11 - 08/09/2024 11:41:07 2568903 Link
Football is circling the drain. Whether it's the numbing of individuality, all teams playing the same dogs*e system, county players not allowed to play league, county players not really bothering with their clubs in championship either, it's all having the same effect. Termon scoring 6 points against Red Hughs isn't in itself a massive thing, what's worse is that it was enough to win the game. ThroughTheGap (Donegal)** - Posts: 54 - 08/09/2024 11:43:43 2568904 Link
Replying To rorysboys: "Anyone at the red Hugh v termon game last night. Termon probably favourites to win intermediate scoring 6 points and still winning on a lovely evening for football. What has football come too . I watched termon this year and they have very good forwards but only to score 6 points is unreal." Football is dying in Donegal. Heard it was 3-1 to red hughs at half time. From their point of view, looks like they did what they had to do and kept it tight. They qualified for the quarters with 2 points and a minus 4 score difference after Fanad got beaten by LK gaels. greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 584 - 08/09/2024 13:29:33 2568918 Link
Replying To donegalgael-12: "I wasn't at the game but I imagine lot of it is sue to the championship structure. Red Hughs by avoiding a big defeat got a quarter final place and avoided any relegation games so I can totally understand if they set up accordingly, it is a results business. If the structure was different perhaps it wouldn't have been as low scoring?" Exact same in Downings last night conceded both kickouts , tactical fouling inside their own half every time we crossed the line. All to hope to secure a prelim place on score diff. The championship format is not working at all - time to return straight to knockout. eunans4ever (Donegal) - Posts: 1679 - 08/09/2024 14:53:19 2568932 Link
I suppose Downings have to try to do something to close the gap though. If they go all out 15 on 15 they would get hammered by Eunans so hard to blame them. Prefer all knockout games myself to be honest. 2 really low scoring games today as well Ardara and FM and Gweedore and St.Michaels. 5-6 in both games. Wasn't at either, you'd think it was a horrible day's weather in Donegal or something based on seeing those scorelines but it wasn't too bad really to blame that?! Closer to a soccer score line those! FootballGuy (Donegal) - Posts: 260 - 08/09/2024 20:13:31 2568976 Link
Jimmys winning matches, but football is being destroyed, no games are fit to watch now just boring for spectators and cant be much better for the players. future of Gaelic Football looks bleak. jacktheboy (Donegal) - Posts: 450 - 08/09/2024 20:38:22 2568981 Link
Club football is awful, we need a massive change. One time we'd leave a NFL game and go over and see the end of the Finn Harps game and hope they'd get a late winner, now it looks like I'm seeing Finn Harps every week. The county final could be a one nil scoreline, with the fans chanting one nil to the Letterkenny men or Glenties men etc and Mary Coughlin handing over Dr Maguire. Ulsterchamps72 (Donegal) - Posts: 100 - 08/09/2024 20:42:30 2568983 Link