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Replying To CCFabu: "I hope this doesn't come across as bitter but watching Cork yesterday really hammered home how poor we were in Ballybofey. That match is the big question for me this year. Dublin in Croke Park will always be a battle and they kept fighting last Sunday and were just beaten by the better team on the day.
But Cork at home we were cruising, to lose it like we did... who knows maybe we'd have been beaten out the gate this weekend anyway but there will be questions about that game in my mind for a long time." Yeah it's annoying. We're a better side than them. What could have been.
eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 445 - 28/06/2026 16:49:45
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Replying To Jack L: "The new rules do not suit Ulster teams as the last 2 weekends proved." An ulster team got to the final in 2025 with the new rules
eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 445 - 28/06/2026 17:49:01
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Replying To eddieSize5Balls: "An ulster team got to the final in 2025 with the new rules" Got to the final and were mauled
Jack L (None) - Posts: 3233 - 28/06/2026 18:06:42
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Replying To farneygael3: "You heading up Sunday" I for one am glad I don't have to drive home from Dublin after watching my team mismanage a game as badly as that . An extra player for nearly the full game. So so poor. Just not at the level.
WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 216 - 28/06/2026 18:14:22
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Replying To CCFabu: "I hope this doesn't come across as bitter but watching Cork yesterday really hammered home how poor we were in Ballybofey. That match is the big question for me this year. Dublin in Croke Park will always be a battle and they kept fighting last Sunday and were just beaten by the better team on the day.
But Cork at home we were cruising, to lose it like we did... who knows maybe we'd have been beaten out the gate this weekend anyway but there will be questions about that game in my mind for a long time." If Cork had backed up their win after having two weeks to prepare, you might have thought they were finally on the way up. Instead, they reverted to being the Cork we've seen too often.
Regardless of what anyone says about style of play or changes to the backroom team, that was simply a very poor performance from Donegal. The players were well below their usual standards. Scoring just 1-13 was not a good return, and no home team in the All-Ireland series scored less. In front of around 16,000 Donegal supporters and only a few hundred Cork fans, it was hugely disappointing. Though in truth, based on that display, any of the teams playing this weekend would probably have beaten them.
I trust the players have had a few days to switch off and recharge. Now it's over to the club championship and hopefully it's a good one. And with a proper break, hopefully the county team can come back later in the year refreshed, reset, and ready to go again.
Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 1030 - 28/06/2026 18:50:02
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I don't want to sound like a broken record, but this weekend provided even more evidence that we need to put the "foot" in football in 2027.
Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10404 - 28/06/2026 20:41:22
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Replying To Jack L: "Got to the final and were mauled" Whoever plays Kerry in this years final will also be mauled
eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 445 - 28/06/2026 20:45:41
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Replying To farneygael3: "You heading up Sunday" Yous couldn't even best 14 men today good man.
peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1691 - 28/06/2026 21:16:00
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Replying To farneygael3: "You heading up Sunday" No I was busy with the club u12s today.
How did yez get on?
Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10404 - 28/06/2026 21:32:12
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My last posts after the cork game were not allowed so trying again.
For whatever reason, we seemed out on our feet against cork. Had a challenge match feeling in the first half at times, as in they thought they only had to go through the motions, even with a narrow lead. Hard to raise the fight then when it did come. Were we all too expectant of the result? Everyone knows Cork will run at you and take 2 pointers?
Was more disappointed after Cork than Down due to our performance to be honest.
Not to be seen as negative, but sometimes constructive criticism/discussion is required to learn from mistakes etc and see where the improvements can be made.
In game management I feel is an issue, eg last year's final, Down and Cork. I think we need help here, but not sure if that'll happen.
Kerry game hard to read as we used the extra man well, but a decent performance overall.
We don't really seem to have plan B never mind C.
General play way too predictable. We have to kick it more, sometimes at least. If we are are leggy, let the ball do the work, at least makes the other team think.
If Jim stays, I feel he does need another voice or freshen it up at least to challenge the status quo, in his last stint he did adapt the play, we went from super defensive to counter attacking to actually going for it against the Dubs in 2014. The width of the post was all the difference against Kerry in 2014, but if we actually went for it I feel we would have taken them in the final.
The whole narrative that Jim was part of the new rules and built them to suit him, makes me laugh, would also make me wonder why he has been reluctant to change the system then so.
2 pointers and squad players not used off the bench is a big one, do we not train or develop the 2 pointers at training sessions? Not to be crude, but I don't think we are carrying too many passengers either so what's the issue? Can't blame some of these guys if they say enough is enough, there will be natural progression but hope guys don't leave due to frustration.
Thanks to the Players, extended squad and management team for another year of service to the County and the silverware won. There were good days amongst the bad!
Hope it was mainly due to fatigue/ burnout and injuries and we can come back fresh and rejuvinated again next year.
Up Donegal.
JUNIOR_B_SUB (Donegal) - Posts: 30 - 29/06/2026 00:36:31
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Yes folks sir. We will see yez again next year. Yous need to run that man, he's only good for a bounce and not a long term option as his two tenures have shown. Until then
farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 737 - 29/06/2026 10:25:11
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Does anyone know the league fixtures remaining in Div 1? Are all of the Top 5 in with a shout of making the final?
SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 530 - 29/06/2026 10:51:11
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Replying To farneygael3: "Yes folks sir. We will see yez again next year. Yous need to run that man, he's only good for a bounce and not a long term option as his two tenures have shown. Until then" Id say you'd love a bounce that delivered an all ireland.
greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 794 - 29/06/2026 13:06:18
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Replying To JUNIOR_B_SUB: "My last posts after the cork game were not allowed so trying again.
For whatever reason, we seemed out on our feet against cork. Had a challenge match feeling in the first half at times, as in they thought they only had to go through the motions, even with a narrow lead. Hard to raise the fight then when it did come. Were we all too expectant of the result? Everyone knows Cork will run at you and take 2 pointers?
Was more disappointed after Cork than Down due to our performance to be honest.
Not to be seen as negative, but sometimes constructive criticism/discussion is required to learn from mistakes etc and see where the improvements can be made.
In game management I feel is an issue, eg last year's final, Down and Cork. I think we need help here, but not sure if that'll happen.
Kerry game hard to read as we used the extra man well, but a decent performance overall.
We don't really seem to have plan B never mind C.
General play way too predictable. We have to kick it more, sometimes at least. If we are are leggy, let the ball do the work, at least makes the other team think.
If Jim stays, I feel he does need another voice or freshen it up at least to challenge the status quo, in his last stint he did adapt the play, we went from super defensive to counter attacking to actually going for it against the Dubs in 2014. The width of the post was all the difference against Kerry in 2014, but if we actually went for it I feel we would have taken them in the final.
The whole narrative that Jim was part of the new rules and built them to suit him, makes me laugh, would also make me wonder why he has been reluctant to change the system then so.
2 pointers and squad players not used off the bench is a big one, do we not train or develop the 2 pointers at training sessions? Not to be crude, but I don't think we are carrying too many passengers either so what's the issue? Can't blame some of these guys if they say enough is enough, there will be natural progression but hope guys don't leave due to frustration.
Thanks to the Players, extended squad and management team for another year of service to the County and the silverware won. There were good days amongst the bad!
Hope it was mainly due to fatigue/ burnout and injuries and we can come back fresh and rejuvinated again next year.
Up Donegal." There are a few reasons that Armagh, Cork, Galway and Donegal ran out of road.
They all played a slower tempo game. Louth, Mayo and Dublin all had to abandon early season game plans to inject youth and kick passing into their play.
Michael Murphy was supposed to be an impact player - playing him 70 mins, means the game has to slow down to suit him.
Men in their 30's are for the bench in this new game - and get a middle eight who will move it by foot rather than solo running and hand passing.
The modern game gives no chance to a full back who is facing a speedy forward 1 v 1. The teams who are in the semi are creating those opportunities. not trucking 11 players up to the 45 and handpassing it around the place.
tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1950 - 29/06/2026 13:28:36
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Replying To eddieSize5Balls: "Whoever plays Kerry in this years final will also be mauled" Tyrone should have beaten Kerry, its amazing how match officials can turn the tide of a game around.
Tyrone vs Kerry
Galway vs Dublin
Donegal v Cork
Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1901 - 29/06/2026 13:29:34
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Replying To tirawleybaron: "There are a few reasons that Armagh, Cork, Galway and Donegal ran out of road.
They all played a slower tempo game. Louth, Mayo and Dublin all had to abandon early season game plans to inject youth and kick passing into their play.
Michael Murphy was supposed to be an impact player - playing him 70 mins, means the game has to slow down to suit him.
Men in their 30's are for the bench in this new game - and get a middle eight who will move it by foot rather than solo running and hand passing.
The modern game gives no chance to a full back who is facing a speedy forward 1 v 1. The teams who are in the semi are creating those opportunities. not trucking 11 players up to the 45 and handpassing it around the place." It's an inside forward's dream playing in these new rules.
IF they can get quality early ball in.
Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10404 - 29/06/2026 14:32:56
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Lots of people have been suggesting shake-up to the background team.
This would be an almighty punt, but what about Cian O'Neill?
I know he's in the Kerry setup now, but could he be enticed by another "project" so to speak? I don't think geography would be a problem as he has been involved with Galway, Mayo and even Tipperary before.
Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10404 - 29/06/2026 14:36:02
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First post since our exit from the championship and it was a really disappointing end losing to Cork and Dublin. In hindsight our season ended by losing to Cork. We seemed to be coasting in that game but couldn't put Cork away. Cork played great stuff in the final 15 minutes and we had no answer. Dublin were much better than us, not sure how we got to extra time. The team gave it everything but we just didn't seem to have any energy. Discipline again an issue, starting a row when we should have been getting ready for extra time.
I watched all the quarter finals this weekend paying particular attention to the differing styles of play. All four winners were using the kick pass to the inside forwards effectively. Dublin in particular. In fact Kerry probably use the kick pass less than the other 3 winners but they dominate kickouts so have lots of possession. Donegal, Armagh, Galway and Roscommon all relied on the running game and got beat. It may have taken a year but the new rules do seem working in terms of the kicking game.
I really hope Jim does stay on. I'd like him to commit for a few years and try to build up a young team with the emphasis on mixing up our style of play. I'm not sure we can rinse and repeat next year and expect a different outcome. We won a National League this year so it wasn't all bad.
Thanks to the management and players for their efforts this year.
Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1949 - 29/06/2026 14:52:51
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Replying To tirawleybaron: "There are a few reasons that Armagh, Cork, Galway and Donegal ran out of road.
They all played a slower tempo game. Louth, Mayo and Dublin all had to abandon early season game plans to inject youth and kick passing into their play.
Michael Murphy was supposed to be an impact player - playing him 70 mins, means the game has to slow down to suit him.
Men in their 30's are for the bench in this new game - and get a middle eight who will move it by foot rather than solo running and hand passing.
The modern game gives no chance to a full back who is facing a speedy forward 1 v 1. The teams who are in the semi are creating those opportunities. not trucking 11 players up to the 45 and handpassing it around the place." Thanks for the advice there and i think we all know Donegal need to shake up the gameplan a bit going forward but I wouldn't be getting ahead of yourselves in Mayo just yet. They've been beaten twice, very comprehensively in connaught and Meath should have been out the gate against them were it not for an awful sending off which turned the game on its head. Cork simply didn't perform against Mayo. I can see Andy is trying to introduce the kicking game but as yet, its very rough and ready and I'd suggest has very little to do with why Mayo has somehow stumbled into a semi final.
WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 216 - 29/06/2026 15:03:00
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