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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To ThroughTheGap:  "MacCumhaills were down a few alright, might not get all of them back either any time soon. Dungloe, St Michaels, MacCumhaills, Glenswilly, Four Masters all on 4 points…..what were the odds on that!"
Not very high considering there fixtures..

eunans4ever (Donegal) - Posts: 1662 - 21/08/2024 10:50:47    2566117

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Replying To dgcrusader:  "Any mention of Eunans and you're on the defensive. You need to chill out haha"
Not much me ruin of Eunans on here - you've just randomly made that up…

eunans4ever (Donegal) - Posts: 1662 - 21/08/2024 10:51:52    2566119

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Replying To HEREBENJI:  "His father Michael Hegarty played for Donegal & Kilcar for many years. Kilcar are 1 of the strongest senior teams in the County, Naomh Ultan play junior football."
Wasn't in the loop on who it was at all.

If it's Mick Hegarty son then that's a ridiculous call - let the lad go and play for his fathers club..

eunans4ever (Donegal) - Posts: 1662 - 21/08/2024 10:53:24    2566120

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Took in the glenswilly game first on Sunday b4 travelling (rather quickly may I add) over to Glenties for our game.

I missed the reserve game and only just landed in time for senior and all the talk on the sideline was off a rather serious incident that occurred in the reserve game.

It would be unfair of me to form an opinion on something I didn't witness myself so am asking if any of the neutrals attending possibly witnessed it and could comment on it - no sense us or the home club doing so as will obviously be biased.

If it's true it's a rather shocking incident and not the first time it's happened the player involved either.

eunans4ever (Donegal) - Posts: 1662 - 21/08/2024 11:00:21    2566121

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Replying To fionmaccumhaill:  "I think to describe it as the Big Transfer is being very unfair to all involved. The young lad wanted to transfer down the road to the home club of his father, a legend at the Kilcar club and the current manager of Kilcar. Young Hegarty wasn't allowed to do so as he was deemed to be not working or living in Kilcar which is fair enough. The county boards of the country are trying to protect small clubs to help them keep their players which is good policy but they are doing nothing to counteract the large clubs from becoming stronger and stronger. Let me explain.
Kilcar like many rural clubs is not a big club. Like many small clubs they have a serious deficit in player numbers. They have been punching above their weight for many years now. They have apparently only the one small national school in the parish and are really struggling to field underage teams and in getting a competitive reserve team out.
This is not their fault. Nearly all rural clubs in Donegal are facing the same problem. Succesive governments have taken a policy decision to centralise populations in various hub towns while allowing rural areas to run down. You can clearly see it in club football in the county at the moment. St Eunans, the clubs around Letterkenny, Naomh Conaill, Four Masters and you could argue ourselves are the only vibrant clubs in the county at the moment. This is purely because of the player power that these clubs have with the exception of Naomh Conaill who are again punching above their weight.
It is easy to be doing well at underage and senior when you have the numbers. Overwhelming numbers. All the while, the rest of the clubs in the county are dying on their feet and nothing is being done about it.
Many good potential players are leaving their rural clubs and being forced to move to the hub towns with their families. They become involved in their new clubs instead and so the cycle goes on.
So yes, Jack Hegarty wasn't allowed to join his father's club because of the residency and work rules. And yet, St Eunans, who are already coming down with players and numbers, are able to welcome and sign Pauric Boyle from Clontibret in Monaghan because I take it he's living and working in Letterkenny. This was another transfer which was deemed to be legal by the GAA.
We will soon have a situation in all counties in the country where you will have a few viable clubs in the population centres only and the small rural clubs will be forced to amalgamate to survive."
Padraig Howley and Conor McManus never worked nor stayed a night in Kilcar yet played for them. Only so long a club will get away with cute *******.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 965 - 21/08/2024 11:07:50    2566124

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Replying To eunans4ever:  "Wasn't in the loop on who it was at all.

If it's Mick Hegarty son then that's a ridiculous call - let the lad go and play for his fathers club.."
Absolutely ridiculous position to take. The rules are the rules unless it's some related to Michael Hegarty?

ThroughTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 30 - 21/08/2024 11:28:49    2566128

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Replying To eunans4ever:  "Wasn't in the loop on who it was at all.

If it's Mick Hegarty son then that's a ridiculous call - let the lad go and play for his fathers club.."
I have the height of respect for Michael Hegarty & what he has achieved in the game, and given to Donegal football.

But I think you're very wrong in this instance. If this is allowed, where do we stand?

"All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" springs to mind.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9449 - 21/08/2024 11:53:28    2566138

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Replying To fionmaccumhaill:  "I think to describe it as the Big Transfer is being very unfair to all involved. The young lad wanted to transfer down the road to the home club of his father, a legend at the Kilcar club and the current manager of Kilcar. Young Hegarty wasn't allowed to do so as he was deemed to be not working or living in Kilcar which is fair enough. The county boards of the country are trying to protect small clubs to help them keep their players which is good policy but they are doing nothing to counteract the large clubs from becoming stronger and stronger. Let me explain.
Kilcar like many rural clubs is not a big club. Like many small clubs they have a serious deficit in player numbers. They have been punching above their weight for many years now. They have apparently only the one small national school in the parish and are really struggling to field underage teams and in getting a competitive reserve team out.
This is not their fault. Nearly all rural clubs in Donegal are facing the same problem. Succesive governments have taken a policy decision to centralise populations in various hub towns while allowing rural areas to run down. You can clearly see it in club football in the county at the moment. St Eunans, the clubs around Letterkenny, Naomh Conaill, Four Masters and you could argue ourselves are the only vibrant clubs in the county at the moment. This is purely because of the player power that these clubs have with the exception of Naomh Conaill who are again punching above their weight.
It is easy to be doing well at underage and senior when you have the numbers. Overwhelming numbers. All the while, the rest of the clubs in the county are dying on their feet and nothing is being done about it.
Many good potential players are leaving their rural clubs and being forced to move to the hub towns with their families. They become involved in their new clubs instead and so the cycle goes on.
So yes, Jack Hegarty wasn't allowed to join his father's club because of the residency and work rules. And yet, St Eunans, who are already coming down with players and numbers, are able to welcome and sign Pauric Boyle from Clontibret in Monaghan because I take it he's living and working in Letterkenny. This was another transfer which was deemed to be legal by the GAA.
We will soon have a situation in all counties in the country where you will have a few viable clubs in the population centres only and the small rural clubs will be forced to amalgamate to survive."
I agree with you Fionn. I think in years to come, due to rural depopulation, that many clubs will find it difficult to survive. I can see many amalgamations taking place, in south and south west I can see maybe Kicar and Glen, St Nauls and Naomh Ultan, Naomh Bríd and Pettigo, Ballyshannon and Bundoran all having to amalgamate in years to come.

However, on the other side of the coin, in the urban centres there will be scope for new clubs to form. The population in Letterkenny at present should surely support at least 4 clubs. If we don't have them, the GAA in big towns will cede numbers to soccer, rugby as well as to individual sports.

I was particularly struck by the Cavan Gaels team that played Four Masters in the Ulster Minor Final. They had at least 4 or 5 New Irish on their starting 15, and maybe the same again in the squad. Cavan Town is a lot smaller than Letterkenny, and although Cavan Gaels are a town team, they have at least two other clubs whose area is also in the town.

What do people think about the future of clubs in their areas?

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 680 - 21/08/2024 12:04:04    2566140

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Replying To eunans4ever:  "I wouldn't read anything into our game.

Glenties/fintown won't panic at all and will regroup.

1 major difference between the last few meetings was we looked much sharper, fitter and stronger aswell as actually kicking the ball a lot more - putting that down to an improved set up on the line.

Can't remember the last time we or anyone for that matter won over there back to back.

Be interesting to see if we can back it up when it matters in straight knock out against them…"
Hi eunans4ever: Solid victory. With Patton and Moore to come in to the first 15 that team only gets stronger which obviously strengthens the subs bench further.
When you see a heavy scorer like COD jnr demoted to 5th choice sub you know the team has kicked on to a higher level.

AudiMan (Donegal) - Posts: 668 - 21/08/2024 12:13:54    2566143

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "I have the height of respect for Michael Hegarty & what he has achieved in the game, and given to Donegal football.

But I think you're very wrong in this instance. If this is allowed, where do we stand?

"All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others" springs to mind."
I thought players were allowed to transfer if they have a link to the club through a parent. Jack McCarron transferred to Scotsown. His father played for the club. Or do each county have their own rules?

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2792 - 21/08/2024 12:35:10    2566146

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "Padraig Howley and Conor McManus never worked nor stayed a night in Kilcar yet played for them. Only so long a club will get away with cute *******."
Padraig Howley worked in the Blue Haven Bar/Restaurant and McManus worked for OGT , both of which are in Kilcar afaik

ModernMaharaja (Donegal) - Posts: 76 - 21/08/2024 13:07:02    2566154

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Replying To FoolsGold:  "I thought players were allowed to transfer if they have a link to the club through a parent. Jack McCarron transferred to Scotsown. His father played for the club. Or do each county have their own rules?"
I think those are bye-laws in each county.

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 680 - 21/08/2024 13:22:26    2566163

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Replying To FoolsGold:  "I thought players were allowed to transfer if they have a link to the club through a parent. Jack McCarron transferred to Scotsown. His father played for the club. Or do each county have their own rules?"
You could be right, think there are bye-laws in each county.

Still doesn't sit right with me though. We make such a big deal telling all and sundry about how great we are, pride of parish/county, amateur ethos etc

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9449 - 21/08/2024 13:34:38    2566166

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Replying To ModernMaharaja:  "Padraig Howley worked in the Blue Haven Bar/Restaurant and McManus worked for OGT , both of which are in Kilcar afaik"
Howley was a bar man in the Bay View in Killybegs. McManus worked in the windmill sector. Not too many of them in Kilcar AFAIK.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 965 - 21/08/2024 13:41:36    2566168

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Let him transfer. At least he has a connection with the club. As someone said Pauric Boyle joining Eunans, a few more spring to mind. Lynch to Gweedore. I think Naomh Conaill have a keeper from Dublin as back up to Mc Grath. Realistically it's not going to make a difference, Kilcar have gone well back.

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1184 - 21/08/2024 14:04:26    2566174

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Replying To FoolsGold:  "I thought players were allowed to transfer if they have a link to the club through a parent. Jack McCarron transferred to Scotsown. His father played for the club. Or do each county have their own rules?"
You could be right, think there are bye-laws in each county.

Still doesn't sit right with me though. We make such a big deal telling all and sundry about how great we are, pride of parish/county, amateur ethos etc

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9449 - 21/08/2024 14:15:06    2566176

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Might make a difference to the club he is trying to leave though?!?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9449 - 21/08/2024 14:16:12    2566177

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Might make a difference to the club he is trying to leave though?!?"
Would you want a player playing for you that doesn't want to be there? don't think it would sit well with the rest of the squad, he has a big connection with Kilcar, not like some of the players we have seen being drafted in by the big club(s) down the years.
Somebody mentioned amalgamations of clubs in years to come, in my opinion the intense local rivalry between these clubs makes that very unlikely.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2937 - 21/08/2024 16:15:40    2566197

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Might make a difference to the club he is trying to leave though?!?"
Think the connection is strong enough for him to leave. If a player wants to leave there's no point stopping him.

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1184 - 21/08/2024 17:53:38    2566214

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Replying To TheRock2121:  "Let him transfer. At least he has a connection with the club. As someone said Pauric Boyle joining Eunans, a few more spring to mind. Lynch to Gweedore. I think Naomh Conaill have a keeper from Dublin as back up to Mc Grath. Realistically it's not going to make a difference, Kilcar have gone well back."
I believe Boyle was commuting from Letterkenny to play for Clontibret for the guts of 6 or 7 years. He was one of the premier club footballers in Monaghan for the last 10+ years and captained Clontibret to a senior championship final success in 2019. I feel as though it's slightly unfair to group his transfer in the same bracket as a man transferring from a Junior club to one of the premier senior clubs in the same county.

HB245 (Monaghan) - Posts: 228 - 21/08/2024 18:15:23    2566219

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