National Forum

Donegal "Won't Have A Team" On Sunday

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Replying To culmore:  "Bonner just playing game sand looking for attention. He had over 40 players in training for the last few months , 13 of them playing for Collages at weekend and another few with under 20 team also at weekend , but still over 20 players available for him ."
So he should play without a full panel and risk injuries etc etc to fulfill a fixture in a preseason game?

He is dead right and with the additional importance placed on the league and retaining division 1 he should absolutely prioritise.

The real farce is the gaa not deferring by 48hrs as requested to allow this game go ahead, archaic decision making. Yet Dublin were allowed skip the group phase of the o byrne and her a bye to a semi for no good reason

Thejoeshow (Meath) - Posts: 687 - 10/01/2020 07:56:42    2258593

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Replying To Tir Conaill Abu:  "Well Done Declan. It's easy for posters here to say that he should line out club players but the reality is that club players have been lying about all Christmas and to expect them to pull on the Donegal jersey against what is a decent team is unfair on them. We also have players injured and on the sicknote at the minute. It's a nothing competition that will be forgot about in a few weeks. Well done Declan. Put the players first."
The Naomh Connaill lads alone would be in decent shape. They've basically had a month off after 22 months on the go.

Like mentioned in above posts, he would still have many of the senior squad available, even accounting for u20s, sigerson and injuries. He would surely still have 10-12 senior players. So it's not a big ask to start 3 or 4 club lads and fill the bench with the rest. It's basically what a lot of other counties are doing anyway!

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 10/01/2020 08:12:09    2258594

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U20s have about 30 training, will be plenty of unused players there after the game on Saturday.

angaeltacht (Donegal) - Posts: 5 - 10/01/2020 08:22:51    2258596

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Was there not a set of fixtures out before the competition started? Surely there was and surely someone in Donegal had the cop on to see it was clashing with the u20s and Sigerson? Anyway Bonner coming across like a big baby shouldnt have entered it if were not in a position to fulfill fixtures. Very bad form from Donegal

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1144 - 10/01/2020 09:06:26    2258601

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People seem to be overlooking the fact the managers etc were given the option to move the McKenna Cup so this wouldn't happen so they can't really have too many complants

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1380 - 10/01/2020 09:32:30    2258603

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Replying To cavanman47:  "The Naomh Connaill lads alone would be in decent shape. They've basically had a month off after 22 months on the go.

Like mentioned in above posts, he would still have many of the senior squad available, even accounting for u20s, sigerson and injuries. He would surely still have 10-12 senior players. So it's not a big ask to start 3 or 4 club lads and fill the bench with the rest. It's basically what a lot of other counties are doing anyway!"
Could even give Lockjaw a start

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12116 - 10/01/2020 10:03:37    2258616

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Replying To Breffni39:  "Could even give Lockjaw a start"
We'd have to organise a HS road trip to watch that!

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 10/01/2020 10:12:31    2258619

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Replying To Breffni39:  "Could even give Lockjaw a start"
This week I have been sleeping with my eyes wide open & the phone fully charged on the pillow. Bitterly disappointed to say the least... ;)

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9132 - 10/01/2020 10:33:44    2258628

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Replying To TomReilly:  "Forget about the u20s. Couldn't he name a completely experimental team of decent club players, who have never played county football, and win, lose, or draw it makes absolutely no odds whatsoever, he may even spot some decent talent to promote to the county panel. In this way, he would still be getting his dig in to the GAA, by showing complete disregard for the competition/fixture schedule."
But sure the GAA and the Ulster Council showed complete disregard by not moving by 48 hours? They are incapable of doing a simple thing like scheduling fixtures in a correct manner and have shown time and time again how inflexible they are. Sure there were Corofin lads trying to play 2 games in a day only in the last couple of years ludicrous stuff. Plus as I already mentioned Declan was the manager of the county under 21's who were shown no respect or regard. The fact is the GAA are a shambles and completely amateur in relation to fixture scheduling. You would not see the likes in local school boy or junior football.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2781 - 10/01/2020 11:21:11    2258645

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Replying To MesAmis:  "We'd have to organise a HS road trip to watch that!"
I would be the missing piece in the jigsaw...

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9132 - 10/01/2020 11:51:42    2258654

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How does the "pick club players" idea actually work in reality?

Ring some lad still bloated from christmas, tell him that he is needed for one game only, that he will go out and get roasted by higher quality players who have actually been training, and then when the game is done he can disappear back to obscurity again?

Like, who is that supposed to help? I would consider it very disrespectful to the club players to be honest. If Bonner wants them on his panel he can call them up to his panel, give them the same training and development given to all intercounty players. Don't just call them only when stuck and pretend that they should be honoured to represent their county or any of that rubbish.

Steve (Fermanagh) - Posts: 293 - 10/01/2020 12:31:02    2258679

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Replying To Steve:  "How does the "pick club players" idea actually work in reality?

Ring some lad still bloated from christmas, tell him that he is needed for one game only, that he will go out and get roasted by higher quality players who have actually been training, and then when the game is done he can disappear back to obscurity again?

Like, who is that supposed to help? I would consider it very disrespectful to the club players to be honest. If Bonner wants them on his panel he can call them up to his panel, give them the same training and development given to all intercounty players. Don't just call them only when stuck and pretend that they should be honoured to represent their county or any of that rubbish."
Well its better than entering a competition and then throwing the toys out of the pram and withdrawing half way through when the original dates of fixtures are kept, which were known weeks back

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1144 - 10/01/2020 12:48:32    2258687

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Replying To Steve:  "How does the "pick club players" idea actually work in reality?

Ring some lad still bloated from christmas, tell him that he is needed for one game only, that he will go out and get roasted by higher quality players who have actually been training, and then when the game is done he can disappear back to obscurity again?

Like, who is that supposed to help? I would consider it very disrespectful to the club players to be honest. If Bonner wants them on his panel he can call them up to his panel, give them the same training and development given to all intercounty players. Don't just call them only when stuck and pretend that they should be honoured to represent their county or any of that rubbish."
Feel for Monaghan, missing a chance to play a competitive game at this time of year and I do believe Donegal could have fielded if they really wanted to. Having said that, this is just another reason for HQ, GPA and CPA to throw agenda out the window and fix the calendar. It is not fair to players at all levels most importantly the club.

FeargalSR (USA) - Posts: 8 - 10/01/2020 12:50:11    2258688

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Replying To panamasam:  "But sure the GAA and the Ulster Council showed complete disregard by not moving by 48 hours? They are incapable of doing a simple thing like scheduling fixtures in a correct manner and have shown time and time again how inflexible they are. Sure there were Corofin lads trying to play 2 games in a day only in the last couple of years ludicrous stuff. Plus as I already mentioned Declan was the manager of the county under 21's who were shown no respect or regard. The fact is the GAA are a shambles and completely amateur in relation to fixture scheduling. You would not see the likes in local school boy or junior football."
We cannot have our cake and eat it. They really are very precious up in Donegal maybe it's why they've never really achieved their potential. What Donegal are asking is to move the game 48 hours so their students can play in the Sigerson cup at the weekend and then line out for their county two days later. And Donegal posters are complaining the Ulster council don't care about welfare. Donegal are very much not looking after players welfare, they're looking after the interests of the county first and foremost. Donegal knew the dates of the competition and understood why Uni's were redrew; now they want to hold the Ulster council to ransom. Play or don't play but in the interests of welfare the Ulster Council are right with their decision; well done to Monaghan for getting to the final and good luck to the Donegal players competing in the Sigerson. If I was the Ulster council I'd elimate Donegal from the 2021 McKenna Cup for failing to fulfil fixtures.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 10/01/2020 13:13:11    2258700

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Supposedly Mcbrearty is gone for them for the league and maybe the whole year. Trying to set up a business in america

Tarismelting22 (Roscommon) - Posts: 760 - 10/01/2020 13:17:04    2258704

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Replying To sourmilk93:  "Was there not a set of fixtures out before the competition started? Surely there was and surely someone in Donegal had the cop on to see it was clashing with the u20s and Sigerson? Anyway Bonner coming across like a big baby shouldnt have entered it if were not in a position to fulfill fixtures. Very bad form from Donegal"
I believe Donegal did make a complaint at the time but this was ignored. Why will the GAA not move the game back by 48 hours? Surely that seems like the most sensible solution.

How would Bonner even go about calling up club players? He would have had to spend today getting phone numbers and asking boys to come along on Sunday. I am sure he has better things to be doing.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1874 - 10/01/2020 13:18:52    2258705

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Replying To Steve:  "How does the "pick club players" idea actually work in reality?

Ring some lad still bloated from christmas, tell him that he is needed for one game only, that he will go out and get roasted by higher quality players who have actually been training, and then when the game is done he can disappear back to obscurity again?

Like, who is that supposed to help? I would consider it very disrespectful to the club players to be honest. If Bonner wants them on his panel he can call them up to his panel, give them the same training and development given to all intercounty players. Don't just call them only when stuck and pretend that they should be honoured to represent their county or any of that rubbish."
Plenty of Naomh Conaill players good enough for McKenna Cup.

Clubs are back training, not to the extent of county lads, but 3 or 4 club players could easily slot into the team at the level we're talking.


The above post is bang on - Donegal aren't worried about welfare here, they want the college lads to play 2 games in 48 hours. It's logistics that they're upset about!

It wouldn't be the first time they've gone ****-about-face when challenging the GAA on a legitimate issue (remember how they made a hamed of the super 8s proposal)

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5012 - 10/01/2020 14:12:20    2258723

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Replying To sam1884:  "We cannot have our cake and eat it. They really are very precious up in Donegal maybe it's why they've never really achieved their potential. What Donegal are asking is to move the game 48 hours so their students can play in the Sigerson cup at the weekend and then line out for their county two days later. And Donegal posters are complaining the Ulster council don't care about welfare. Donegal are very much not looking after players welfare, they're looking after the interests of the county first and foremost. Donegal knew the dates of the competition and understood why Uni's were redrew; now they want to hold the Ulster council to ransom. Play or don't play but in the interests of welfare the Ulster Council are right with their decision; well done to Monaghan for getting to the final and good luck to the Donegal players competing in the Sigerson. If I was the Ulster council I'd elimate Donegal from the 2021 McKenna Cup for failing to fulfil fixtures."
Donegal asking to move the game to Tuesday was an attempt to come up with some kind of solution as a way out of this, but Bonnar himself said that it wasn't a good solution either as lads would be playing too many games then. The overall problem is the scheduling of these three competitions at the same time (mckenna, sigerson, u20).

People saying Donegal knew the fixtures when they signed up for the competition, they did, but there are a lot of variable between then and now. I'm sure they thought they could work their way through it somehow, but now that just can't be done due to sickness and injuries along with the fixture clashes

Suggesting that we should just round up any lads to play... I think that is disrespectful to those players, the Jersey and the competition.

I support Declan in this as it highlights the fixtures farce. If we get put out of the 2021 McKenna cup then fair enough, that's Ulster council's call. Think it would be counter productive and cost the council revenue. They should be looking to address the fundamental problem of fixtures

himachechy (Donegal) - Posts: 293 - 10/01/2020 14:15:47    2258728

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Replying To Green_Gold:  "I believe Donegal did make a complaint at the time but this was ignored. Why will the GAA not move the game back by 48 hours? Surely that seems like the most sensible solution.

How would Bonner even go about calling up club players? He would have had to spend today getting phone numbers and asking boys to come along on Sunday. I am sure he has better things to be doing."
If that is the case i can understand the stance taken

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1144 - 10/01/2020 14:28:50    2258733

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Replying To sam1884:  "We cannot have our cake and eat it. They really are very precious up in Donegal maybe it's why they've never really achieved their potential. What Donegal are asking is to move the game 48 hours so their students can play in the Sigerson cup at the weekend and then line out for their county two days later. And Donegal posters are complaining the Ulster council don't care about welfare. Donegal are very much not looking after players welfare, they're looking after the interests of the county first and foremost. Donegal knew the dates of the competition and understood why Uni's were redrew; now they want to hold the Ulster council to ransom. Play or don't play but in the interests of welfare the Ulster Council are right with their decision; well done to Monaghan for getting to the final and good luck to the Donegal players competing in the Sigerson. If I was the Ulster council I'd elimate Donegal from the 2021 McKenna Cup for failing to fulfil fixtures."
Ridiculous post. Anyone with half a brain can see that this is more of a "line in the sand" stance re: fixtures. If anything Declan Bonner should be applauded. All we hear is moaning and crying all the live long day about fixtures and "something" needing to be done. Well at least Donegal have done something. It will probably mean the death knell for the McKenna Cup but who cares really? In 2021 teams can arrange challenge matches on mutually beneficial dates and times as preparation for the League instead.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9132 - 10/01/2020 15:23:31    2258748

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