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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To panamasam:  "I wasn't surprised after reading reports about their first match and witnessing Maynooth first hand through the fog last Saturday. Maynooth were impressive in the second half last Saturday coming from 4 points back but Athlone kept finding a way to tag on a couple of scores to keep them in it against the run of play before finding a second wind in the second half. The standard was very good despite the conditions and both teams had strong physical players. Outside of Luke McGlynn there doesn't seem to be the x factor LK had a couple of years ago."
Yeah in years previous they've had Jason McGee and Michael Langan as real star players, it can be very difficult to keep it going in Sigerson year after year for a pretty isolated college that doesn't get many players from outside the county. Maybe a Trench cup run will do the younger players some good next year.

NPadraigAbu (Donegal) - Posts: 89 - 16/01/2025 18:37:34    2586126

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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."
i think mayo will not be near this year . I am not convinced dublin will either this , think kerry donegal tyrone derry galway my top 5 in that order.

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 547 - 16/01/2025 19:09:41    2586131

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Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "i think mayo will not be near this year . I am not convinced dublin will either this , think kerry donegal tyrone derry galway my top 5 in that order."
Don't know where you're going with Derry, I think that ship has sailed, I think Tyrone Kerry Galway Armagh Dublin and ourselves also in a serious shout but we have to get near everything right and avoid injuries to be in with a chance. Just my opinion, I think mayo are rebuilding and can't see a winner outside of the 6 teams I mentioned. If I was having a bet it would be on Tyrone.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3071 - 16/01/2025 22:24:25    2586147

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Don't know where you're going with Derry, I think that ship has sailed, I think Tyrone Kerry Galway Armagh Dublin and ourselves also in a serious shout but we have to get near everything right and avoid injuries to be in with a chance. Just my opinion, I think mayo are rebuilding and can't see a winner outside of the 6 teams I mentioned. If I was having a bet it would be on Tyrone."
I think the new rules have made this upcoming season more unpredictable than ever before, we can't use previous seasons as a yard stick for where teams are at, because the game has been turned on its head and its essentially a new game, so past strengths may actually now be a weakness.

Teams who transition quickly should be in a strong position, but I think its an open board, anybody could emerge and take the All Ireland.

Derry have one of the strongest squads in Ulster, if not the strongest squad, with plenty of quality players coming through. I wouldn't write them off, if they were to adapt to these new rules better, they have the steel to plough on and win it.

Monaghan are another team who could re-emerge sooner than expected, they have that quick transition ability.

Down never really adapted or did well since the advent of blanket defence football, perhaps the new rules will play to their strengths and they will re-emerge as frontrunner.

I agree about Tyrone, they certainly have quality to adapt quickly.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1222 - 17/01/2025 08:00:17    2586162

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Tyrone can definitely improve massively in any given year. We've seen it before and we know they have the talent. They've won a number of U20 All-Irelands and Hogan Cups in recent years, so there are plenty of quality players coming through. Most importantly, they have quality forwards.
If they can get their house in order, they can be a match for anyone.
It's shaping up to be the most open All-Ireland in many years, which is exciting. This would be the case even without the new rules. With those added in to the mix, there seems to be even more unpredictability.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2226 - 17/01/2025 09:33:24    2586169

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "Tyrone can definitely improve massively in any given year. We've seen it before and we know they have the talent. They've won a number of U20 All-Irelands and Hogan Cups in recent years, so there are plenty of quality players coming through. Most importantly, they have quality forwards.
If they can get their house in order, they can be a match for anyone.
It's shaping up to be the most open All-Ireland in many years, which is exciting. This would be the case even without the new rules. With those added in to the mix, there seems to be even more unpredictability."
Yep if there's one county that can quickly emerge and get themselves ahead of the pack it's Tyrone. They have the quality. But perhaps more importantly they have that arrogance/thickness to go with it. If they get on a run, get some momentum and confidence up, then they can upset any team's day. The Canavan lads are developing into genuine elite category players. If O'Rourke can get the tune right with them then they'll be a very dangerous outfit.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9546 - 17/01/2025 10:21:56    2586175

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Replying To panamasam:  "I wasn't surprised after reading reports about their first match and witnessing Maynooth first hand through the fog last Saturday. Maynooth were impressive in the second half last Saturday coming from 4 points back but Athlone kept finding a way to tag on a couple of scores to keep them in it against the run of play before finding a second wind in the second half. The standard was very good despite the conditions and both teams had strong physical players. Outside of Luke McGlynn there doesn't seem to be the x factor LK had a couple of years ago."
Apologies I meant extra time not the second half in the above post.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2822 - 17/01/2025 21:30:57    2586245

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What a result for Southwest Donegal beating Omagh CBS, unbelievable to have two Donegal sides in the MacRory semi finals. I believe they play eachother in the semi final, so atleast one guaranteed finalist however would've loved for them to have met in the final.

NPadraigAbu (Donegal) - Posts: 89 - 19/01/2025 20:00:01    2586427

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Replying To NPadraigAbu:  "What a result for Southwest Donegal beating Omagh CBS, unbelievable to have two Donegal sides in the MacRory semi finals. I believe they play eachother in the semi final, so atleast one guaranteed finalist however would've loved for them to have met in the final."
Fantastic result against one of the powerhouses of school football in recent years. The have not 1 but 2 Donegal schools in the semi final is unthinkable really. It is a shame they are playing each other but better to have one representative in the final rather than none. Hopefully we'll see the knock on effect for the county minors and under 20's as these experiences should really stand to the development of the young men involved and build a strong belief and confidence in those squads.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2822 - 19/01/2025 22:05:48    2586461

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Any of you folk know how the Donegal Cavan challenge match went over the weekend?

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2453 - 20/01/2025 10:16:13    2586518

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Galway v Armagh.....Galway by 6
Tyrone v Derry.... Tyrone by 6
Dublin v Mayo....Dublin by 6
Kerry v Donegal.... Donegal by 2

Cork v Meath....Cork by 6
Cavan v Monaghan.... Monaghan by 4
Roscommon v Down....Ros by 8
Westmeath v Louth....Louth by 6

Leitrim v Laois...Laois by 6
Kildare v Fermanagh....Kildare by 6
Antrim v Clare....Clare by 2
Offaly v Sligo....Sligo by 6

Carlow v Tipperary....Draw
Wexford v London....Wexford by 4
Wicklow v Waterford.....Wicklow by 6
Longford v Limerick....Limerick by 4

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1197 - 20/01/2025 10:52:55    2586529

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Replying To TheRock2121:  "Galway v Armagh.....Galway by 6
Tyrone v Derry.... Tyrone by 6
Dublin v Mayo....Dublin by 6
Kerry v Donegal.... Donegal by 2

Cork v Meath....Cork by 6
Cavan v Monaghan.... Monaghan by 4
Roscommon v Down....Ros by 8
Westmeath v Louth....Louth by 6

Leitrim v Laois...Laois by 6
Kildare v Fermanagh....Kildare by 6
Antrim v Clare....Clare by 2
Offaly v Sligo....Sligo by 6

Carlow v Tipperary....Draw
Wexford v London....Wexford by 4
Wicklow v Waterford.....Wicklow by 6
Longford v Limerick....Limerick by 4"
wrong thread lad, could you please copy and paste these into the other thread? Good man. GRMA

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9546 - 20/01/2025 11:04:24    2586534

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Replying To panamasam:  "Fantastic result against one of the powerhouses of school football in recent years. The have not 1 but 2 Donegal schools in the semi final is unthinkable really. It is a shame they are playing each other but better to have one representative in the final rather than none. Hopefully we'll see the knock on effect for the county minors and under 20's as these experiences should really stand to the development of the young men involved and build a strong belief and confidence in those squads."
Hi panamasam: Great result. Donegal SW had 4 on the line last night, I recognised Murrin, Boyle and Friel but there was another man who seemed very prominent and really driving them on. Who Is this 4th man do you know?

AudiMan (Donegal) - Posts: 677 - 20/01/2025 12:15:00    2586561

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Ahead of the National League Division 1 campaign, its strange this year not having a McKenna Cup as a warm up, particularly with the new rules to test out.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1222 - 20/01/2025 13:09:37    2586572

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Replying To Commodore:  "Ahead of the National League Division 1 campaign, its strange this year not having a McKenna Cup as a warm up, particularly with the new rules to test out."
Suppose there's been plenty of challenge games played, going to be some craic to see how it goes against Kerry.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3071 - 20/01/2025 18:30:27    2586651

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I think it's great for The Abbey to get into the semi but they'd be utterly devastated, and rightly so, if they were put out by an amalgamation that is drawing from a student body twice the size of them. I don't think that's fair on the Abbey. But, we'll see how it goes.

ThroughTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 60 - 20/01/2025 21:06:50    2586673

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Replying To ThroughTheGap:  "I think it's great for The Abbey to get into the semi but they'd be utterly devastated, and rightly so, if they were put out by an amalgamation that is drawing from a student body twice the size of them. I don't think that's fair on the Abbey. But, we'll see how it goes."
Ah I think that's sour grapes before the match is played. To compete with other teams in the MacRory Cup the South West is an amalgamation of schools in that area. Why deprive young students in the South West of a chance to compete with other teams in the MacRory Cup? They are not breaking any law.
I think it's great that 2 teams from Donegal are in the MacRory Cup semifinal.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 412 - 20/01/2025 22:36:48    2586684

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "Ah I think that's sour grapes before the match is played. To compete with other teams in the MacRory Cup the South West is an amalgamation of schools in that area. Why deprive young students in the South West of a chance to compete with other teams in the MacRory Cup? They are not breaking any law.
I think it's great that 2 teams from Donegal are in the MacRory Cup semifinal."
Great to see 2 Donegal teams in the semi final. Super achievement.
However the success of SW Donegal could spell the end of amalgamations altogether, or a sharp uptick in amalgamations from other counties who will look to emulate the SW Donegal model.

donegalgael-12 (Donegal) - Posts: 12 - 21/01/2025 09:59:12    2586734

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Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Suppose there's been plenty of challenge games played, going to be some craic to see how it goes against Kerry."
I suppose even if we had the McKenna Cup this year instead of Challenge matches, its still impossible to gauge where we are at with the new rules until we play all the other Division 1 sides.

Looking at the Fixture list, there are no easy league games and it will be a huge battle to get 6 points to stay up I think.
Round 1 - Kerry v Donegal
Round 2 - Donegal v Dublin
Round 3 - Donegal v Armagh
Round 4 - Galway v Donegal
Round 5 - Donegal v Derry
Round 6 - Donegal v Tyrone
Round 7 - Mayo v Donegal

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1222 - 21/01/2025 12:47:34    2586779

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Replying To ThroughTheGap:  "I think it's great for The Abbey to get into the semi but they'd be utterly devastated, and rightly so, if they were put out by an amalgamation that is drawing from a student body twice the size of them. I don't think that's fair on the Abbey. But, we'll see how it goes."
Great to see 2 teams in McRory Cup Semi Final. I guess this is a sign of how strong underage football in the county?? Yet this doesnt seem to be transferring to county level as we are not seeing Minor or U20 success. Why is this?

PeterQ92 (Donegal) - Posts: 119 - 21/01/2025 13:42:11    2586791

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