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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Yea fair points lockjaw but I'm dam sure mc Guinness is drumming nothing less than sam into the players. Maybe that's why we have win only two this inferior complex. You just have to through the 6 teams that I mentioned there's nothing there that stands out unlike a few years ago when Kerry Dublin and mayo were dominating. You definitely need luck with injuries suspension and bad refereeing calls but this is the year. Believe lad we're all nervous but I think Sam will be in hills this summer. But we definitely can't afford Murphy been out long stretches with injuries. Tyrone are going to be dangerous they have done well at under age level this last few years .. can't wait till Kerry game but as long as we stay up I'll be happy we all know what happened Derry last year.."
Oh I agree completely with you there. One of the best things Jim ever did was to shake off the inferiority complex. I'm sure that behind the scenes he is banging the drum every night, planting seeds in the players' heads that they'll have an All Ireland medal in their pocket. If it doesn't happen, and we fall short then it won't be due to lack of effort or being ill-prepared.

That's what was so frustrating under previous management & county board setups - we didn't always put out best foot forward despite having very talented players at our disposal. All we as supporters can really ask for is that the team is well looked after and that they are giving their best. If championship medals come with that then happy days.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9541 - 10/01/2025 14:00:36    2585357

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Oh I agree completely with you there. One of the best things Jim ever did was to shake off the inferiority complex. I'm sure that behind the scenes he is banging the drum every night, planting seeds in the players' heads that they'll have an All Ireland medal in their pocket. If it doesn't happen, and we fall short then it won't be due to lack of effort or being ill-prepared.

That's what was so frustrating under previous management & county board setups - we didn't always put out best foot forward despite having very talented players at our disposal. All we as supporters can really ask for is that the team is well looked after and that they are giving their best. If championship medals come with that then happy days."
Very harsh on previous managers and county boards I must say. I would never underestimate any manager for there efforts especially those who win plenty of silverware. What do you think will happen a few years down the line.. there is a future too

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2580 - 10/01/2025 14:26:34    2585365

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Very harsh on previous managers and county boards I must say. I would never underestimate any manager for there efforts especially those who win plenty of silverware. What do you think will happen a few years down the line.. there is a future too"
I'm not getting into a big debate about previous management again. Anyone who gives up their time to take on any team, be it at club or county level deserves respect. But there was a reason why Croke Park deemed it necessary to audit our set up was there not? Things have been shaken up behind the scenes to the extent that we are the first county ever to appoint three women as the main officers of the county board.

I'm not so short-sighted as to not recognise that Jim won't be around forever. It's vital that we maintain and improve standards on the pitch and off it. But the way we were going two years ago that didn't seem too likely. Indeed, come to think of it, does anyone know the current status of the Academy?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9541 - 10/01/2025 15:02:46    2585371

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "I'm not getting into a big debate about previous management again. Anyone who gives up their time to take on any team, be it at club or county level deserves respect. But there was a reason why Croke Park deemed it necessary to audit our set up was there not? Things have been shaken up behind the scenes to the extent that we are the first county ever to appoint three women as the main officers of the county board.

I'm not so short-sighted as to not recognise that Jim won't be around forever. It's vital that we maintain and improve standards on the pitch and off it. But the way we were going two years ago that didn't seem too likely. Indeed, come to think of it, does anyone know the current status of the Academy?"
You have me confused here what has the audit and the three women got to do with the previous managers.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2580 - 10/01/2025 15:26:08    2585380

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "I'm not getting into a big debate about previous management again. Anyone who gives up their time to take on any team, be it at club or county level deserves respect. But there was a reason why Croke Park deemed it necessary to audit our set up was there not? Things have been shaken up behind the scenes to the extent that we are the first county ever to appoint three women as the main officers of the county board.

I'm not so short-sighted as to not recognise that Jim won't be around forever. It's vital that we maintain and improve standards on the pitch and off it. But the way we were going two years ago that didn't seem too likely. Indeed, come to think of it, does anyone know the current status of the Academy?"
Steady on Lockjaw you're confusing declansboy, we'll see how the new rules suit us soon enough, this year it's a whole new ballgame to coin a phrase,
It's there to be won and there's probably 8 teams or so in with a real chance, most years the league doesn't matter a whole pile but this year is the first time teams get to play under the new rules so it's going to be fascinating especially for us with the maestro McGuinness to get the best out of us, hopefully we can have a great season now.
By the way everyone keeps saying we only have Jim now for 3 years or whatever, where is he going next? I can't see him going back to soccer, maybe his optimal job is managing the Donegal men's senior footballers.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3066 - 10/01/2025 20:47:49    2585411

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The All Ireland race is wide open this year, any of the Div One teams could win it. However we have best manager and with the new rules Jim will be a step ahead of the rest I think. You do need a bit of luck with injuries to your key players. It's great to have Jim back and as supporters we need to enjoy it.

We should have a stronger squad this year. Lads like Odhran and Aaron Doherty should only get better. Oisin Gallen is one of the best forwards in the country and McGee/Langan is as good midfield partnership as there is. I am really optimistic about the year ahead.

Re the academy, from what I hear it is up and running but not sure it's at the same level as under Lacey.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1904 - 11/01/2025 12:40:52    2585473

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Best of luck to Naomh Padraig this weekend. Great ambassadors for the county. Great club, demonstrating everything that is good about the GAA.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 586 - 11/01/2025 14:42:40    2585489

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Errigal Ciaran into the All-Ireland final and St. Eunans should've beat them, mad how football works

NPadraigAbu (Donegal) - Posts: 86 - 12/01/2025 00:19:03    2585576

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Replying To greenfan:  "Best of luck to Naomh Padraig this weekend. Great ambassadors for the county. Great club, demonstrating everything that is good about the GAA."
Well done Naomh Pádraig fantastic results, it looked gone a few times but fantastic heart to come through. Brilliant for the club to get playing an all Ireland final in croke park. Stuff of dreams. Caolan mc Colgan outstanding will be hard to Handel in croker.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2580 - 12/01/2025 16:42:07    2585645

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Well done to Abbey VS in beating St Coleman's Newry to get to the semi-final of macrory cup..hopefully Southwest follow them next week..imagine having two Donegal teams in the semi finals..don't think that has ever happened

RoryGall35 (Donegal) - Posts: 189 - 12/01/2025 20:08:56    2585657

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Well done Naomh Pádraig fantastic results, it looked gone a few times but fantastic heart to come through. Brilliant for the club to get playing an all Ireland final in croke park. Stuff of dreams. Caolan mc Colgan outstanding will be hard to Handel in croker."
Couldn't agree more. An immense achievement by the Muff men.

Even more impressive given the age profile of the team. I don't think people realise how young they are. Average age is about 23. They'll be around for a while.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1074 - 13/01/2025 07:17:57    2585673

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "Couldn't agree more. An immense achievement by the Muff men.

Even more impressive given the age profile of the team. I don't think people realise how young they are. Average age is about 23. They'll be around for a while."
Great achievement by Muff team and good luck in final, it's not that long ago the only think in Muff was The Borderland Dance Hall, no sign of Gaelic Football.

jacktheboy (Donegal) - Posts: 452 - 13/01/2025 11:57:58    2585709

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Congratulations to Naomh Padraig, what a journey they've been on. It's great to have a Donegal club side in an AI final, it doesn't happen enough. Showed plenty of guts and determination to keep coming back on Sunday and what a 45. The Cork lads will rightly feel aggrieved with the penalty call as it looked outside the box. However it was one of a multitude of cynical fouls from them.

Similar sentiments to the Abbey lads and of course all at Four Masters after another tremendous club Ulster. I asked the question last year how people thought the Abbey might have done in the top competition such was the ease of most of their victories on route to an AI at the mid tier level. Massive achievement having a Donegal scholl at this stage of the McRoary Cup.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2818 - 14/01/2025 13:18:02    2585848

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Great to see Naomh Padraig going well and hopefully they can seal the deal in two weeks time.
Fair dues to AVS and South-West Donegal going well too. It's great to see. This exposure to top level school's football will stand them in good stead. Ideally it will benefit the county minor and u21 teams going forward. Our underage record is fairly abysmal, so anything that helps to improve that is to be welcomed. Fair play to all the coaches and teachers involved.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9541 - 14/01/2025 14:38:31    2585869

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Great to see Naomh Padraig going well and hopefully they can seal the deal in two weeks time.
Fair dues to AVS and South-West Donegal going well too. It's great to see. This exposure to top level school's football will stand them in good stead. Ideally it will benefit the county minor and u21 teams going forward. Our underage record is fairly abysmal, so anything that helps to improve that is to be welcomed. Fair play to all the coaches and teachers involved."
Getting the centre of excellence back to the levels Karl Lacey had put in place is essential. While we haven't had much to shout about at underage recently I wouldn't agree with it been abysmal. We've had sone great tight tussles with Derry and Tyrone recently which we never seem to come out the right side of so in respect abysmal but not the quality or performance. Ulster has become nearly an AI series on it's own such is the strength of it underage recently with the same Derry and Tyrone sides going onto AI success. Look at last year. Barely a kick between Derry and Donegal and then Derry and Tyrone before sweeped to the AI conclusively. Like us all I really do hope what is happening around Donegal town can be translated to the county at underage over the next couple of years. Donegal haven't helped themselves with some of the management decisions either but that hasn't always been the problem either.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2818 - 14/01/2025 15:37:06    2585884

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Replying To panamasam:  "Getting the centre of excellence back to the levels Karl Lacey had put in place is essential. While we haven't had much to shout about at underage recently I wouldn't agree with it been abysmal. We've had sone great tight tussles with Derry and Tyrone recently which we never seem to come out the right side of so in respect abysmal but not the quality or performance. Ulster has become nearly an AI series on it's own such is the strength of it underage recently with the same Derry and Tyrone sides going onto AI success. Look at last year. Barely a kick between Derry and Donegal and then Derry and Tyrone before sweeped to the AI conclusively. Like us all I really do hope what is happening around Donegal town can be translated to the county at underage over the next couple of years. Donegal haven't helped themselves with some of the management decisions either but that hasn't always been the problem either."
Yeah I didn't mean abysmal in the sense that we didn't have the quality or the coaching, moreso our record of winning titles is abysmal. I really think that if we can continue to improve our underage facilities, coaching, S&C etc, then we can be serious consistent contenders at senior level going forward.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9541 - 14/01/2025 16:04:47    2585892

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yeah I didn't mean abysmal in the sense that we didn't have the quality or the coaching, moreso our record of winning titles is abysmal. I really think that if we can continue to improve our underage facilities, coaching, S&C etc, then we can be serious consistent contenders at senior level going forward."
Yes 100%. Get it right off the pitch and it'll come right on it. Hopefully we might be able to push on with a minor or under twenties team in the next couple of years. It's difficult though as Ulster really is the dominant province at underage at the moment.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2818 - 14/01/2025 21:21:59    2585928

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