National Forum

Donegal GAA thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Jamie Brennan was not in the 26 at the weekend.Is he injured or has he fallen back that far back in the pecking order?

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1250 - 29/04/2026 10:34:15    2669702

Link

Replying To Whyme923:  "Will we see any squad players in action this weekend ?"
No idea, but I'd be releasing all players to clubs for the next few weeks. Would limit play-time for the likes of Murphy, McFadden, McGee, McHugh, Gallen.

One- it's important for the club game and match practice for county players, and two- gives club players a yardstick to prove themselves against over the next three weeks. I want to see county starters held scoreless by the club full-back and the county corner backs roasted by the overlooked inside forwards. Two weeks of scouting opportunities to find players in-form right now for the selectors if they do it right.

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 523 - 29/04/2026 14:44:23    2669775

Link

Replying To SurelyToGod:  "No idea, but I'd be releasing all players to clubs for the next few weeks. Would limit play-time for the likes of Murphy, McFadden, McGee, McHugh, Gallen.

One- it's important for the club game and match practice for county players, and two- gives club players a yardstick to prove themselves against over the next three weeks. I want to see county starters held scoreless by the club full-back and the county corner backs roasted by the overlooked inside forwards. Two weeks of scouting opportunities to find players in-form right now for the selectors if they do it right."
And risk more injuries? No.
Would make more sense to arrange a challenge game.
There's going to be no more additions to the panel either.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 346 - 29/04/2026 15:16:20    2669792

Link

It was interesting to hear Laverty say after the match they were aware on Thursday that Langan was out and also that Caolan McGonigle would would step into midfield to mark Murdock. McGonigles influence at 6 may go under the radar. Maybe a coincidence as energy was certainly lacking, but we are now on the wrong side of results on Sunday and in AI final when he was not there.

Easy to say after the fact but never like to see multiple moves to address 1 injury as it can impact the overall structure.

Donegalexile (Donegal) - Posts: 6 - 29/04/2026 16:23:34    2669821

Link

Replying To Donegalexile:  "It was interesting to hear Laverty say after the match they were aware on Thursday that Langan was out and also that Caolan McGonigle would would step into midfield to mark Murdock. McGonigles influence at 6 may go under the radar. Maybe a coincidence as energy was certainly lacking, but we are now on the wrong side of results on Sunday and in AI final when he was not there.

Easy to say after the fact but never like to see multiple moves to address 1 injury as it can impact the overall structure."
Would have to agree. We were wide open down the middle at times. McGonagle going off injured against tyrone last year was a big turning point in that game and going forward . Having him at 6 makes such a difference.

WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 167 - 29/04/2026 16:46:58    2669824

Link

Replying To Donegalexile:  "It was interesting to hear Laverty say after the match they were aware on Thursday that Langan was out and also that Caolan McGonigle would would step into midfield to mark Murdock. McGonigles influence at 6 may go under the radar. Maybe a coincidence as energy was certainly lacking, but we are now on the wrong side of results on Sunday and in AI final when he was not there.

Easy to say after the fact but never like to see multiple moves to address 1 injury as it can impact the overall structure."
I would have thought big Gallagher from Naomh Conaill could have came in to mark him, free Caolan up.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1794 - 29/04/2026 16:51:18    2669825

Link

Replying To Donegalexile:  "It was interesting to hear Laverty say after the match they were aware on Thursday that Langan was out and also that Caolan McGonigle would would step into midfield to mark Murdock. McGonigles influence at 6 may go under the radar. Maybe a coincidence as energy was certainly lacking, but we are now on the wrong side of results on Sunday and in AI final when he was not there.

Easy to say after the fact but never like to see multiple moves to address 1 injury as it can impact the overall structure."
I'd be more concerned how the word made its way out of camp to Down on Thursday when it wasn't known in Donegal until Sunday morning.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1582 - 29/04/2026 17:23:56    2669831

Link

Another u20 Ulster title for Tyrone *sigh*

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10310 - 29/04/2026 21:01:03    2669854

Link

If I was a Donegal fan I wouldn't be too worried about the result against Down. Fair enough it looks like an over reliance on Langon was partially ti blame but now is the time to find this out on not on AI day like last year. Donegal will learn much more from this than from winning Ulster - all in the name of winning Sam. Winning the league, Ulster and and AI this year is simply too heavy a load. Last year Donegal were back up in div 1 and a lot of early work went into survival but then winning an Ulster and getting to AI final was simply too much for this team and Murphy and Langon were off colour in the final. It the gruelling Ulster campaign that tips the scales. Kerry learned a lot from from their defeat to Meath last year, Donegal had no defeat like that and therefore didnt have to dig as deep as theres more learning in defeat than victory. Look what happened to Kerry when they eventually got going. Anyway I feel its Donegals year to win Sam with only Kerry in the way.

Dothesimplethingswell (Sligo) - Posts: 62 - 29/04/2026 22:37:19    2669880

Link

Replying To foreveryoung:  "No disrespect intended to Down here (It was great to see them win), but does anyone think that Jim engineered this loss? Donegal have their Ulster medals and Jim Mc Guinness knows it's almost impossible to peak 3 times in the one year. Donegal put a effort into winning the league and the last thing they need is a hard Ulster campaign unlike Kerry who can basically be at 60% in Munster and still be in the final.

Just a hunch/suspicion!"
I can definitely see where you're coming from but it's no secret the emphasis Jim puts on Ulster. There is no way he engineered to lose. He probably played a couple of players who he thought were ready but we're under cooked and the loss of Langan was huge as Caolan had to move leaving the big gaps up the middle. I also think a couple of regulars looked way off especially in the backline. That's as poor as I've seen McCole in a long time and Ban wasn't at it similar to the Monaghan league game.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2945 - 30/04/2026 00:13:25    2669887

Link

Replying To Lockjaw:  "Another u20 Ulster title for Tyrone *sigh*"
Sigh indeed mo chara. That's 3 times we've let them off the hook and I wouldn't bet against them going on an winning the AI again. To think a week ago we should've been 14 or 15 points to 1 up at HT

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2945 - 30/04/2026 00:15:48    2669888

Link

Replying To CCFabu:  "yeah and I have been guilty of the rumour mill myself and players proving me wrong week in week out after I've been told something as 100% fact, so I hope it is just that a load of rumours and online stuff"
Yeah I hear ya. I don't use twitter but had people messaging me he was out for the season but I was scratching my head thinking really after watching him walk into the ground. If it was really bad he'd be in a boot so I'd be hopeful he'll be back the next day especially after Jim's comments.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2945 - 30/04/2026 00:20:26    2669890

Link

Replying To Commodore:  "I would have thought big Gallagher from Naomh Conaill could have came in to mark him, free Caolan up."
Thought the same that evening
If there ever was a job/game for him it was on Sunday

Samforthehills26 (Donegal) - Posts: 5 - 30/04/2026 09:56:25    2669917

Link

Left Footed Free Taker
When you seen it on Sunday, McBrearty is a loss from dead balls on the left foot and something Jim will need to address. If Ciaran Thompson was back in the fold he's good but until then what options have we:
Conor O'Donnell has a decent left foot and for the closer in free's is surely an option.
Farah can kick well off his left, could he be an option?
If Conor McCahill gets his injury cleared up and is on the pitch he is also an option but maybe too big a responsibility for a young lad in championship.
One way or another Jim needs to have some option for the next outing. Would be great to see Thompson back!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1685 - 30/04/2026 11:01:40    2669942

Link

Replying To eddieSize5Balls:  "And risk more injuries? No.
Would make more sense to arrange a challenge game.
There's going to be no more additions to the panel either."
Eddie , injury? Is it only at club players get injured or something? Look at what happened with the challenge game v the 20s, didn't help either. Club games are there so why not release lads to get games?

Whyme923 (Donegal) - Posts: 142 - 30/04/2026 11:07:58    2669945

Link

Replying To eddieSize5Balls:  "And risk more injuries? No.
Would make more sense to arrange a challenge game.
There's going to be no more additions to the panel either."
If you haven't noticed, our lads are getting injured at county training and even whilst doing their day jobs.

We've got it all wrong in Donegal. We play our club championship in the wind and rain, and make our selections and call ups based on that and trials in the middle of winter.

The All-Ireland is summer football and we've got a winter squad. How can nobody in the set-up see that?

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 523 - 30/04/2026 12:01:46    2669967

Link

Replying To Whyme923:  "Eddie , injury? Is it only at club players get injured or something? Look at what happened with the challenge game v the 20s, didn't help either. Club games are there so why not release lads to get games?"
In house games or challenge games are taken at 50%.
A club game will have players going full hoke and risking more injury. Absolutely no chance Jim allows players to play club unless it's some of the squad players who have no hope of playing for Donegal anyway.


On another note, Gildea said today we play a beaten finalist in our first game. I thought it was an open draw between all 16 teams ?

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 346 - 30/04/2026 15:16:12    2670021

Link

Replying To Samforthehills26:  "Thought the same that evening
If there ever was a job/game for him it was on Sunday"
I think kieran gallagher has played 2 nfl games at the start of this year and then got injured. It's not a realistic option to have him marking a player who is definitely top 10 in the country and maybe even better than that. Murdoch is one serious operator.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 1002 - 30/04/2026 15:54:13    2670026

Link