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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To Donegal_abroad:  "Agreed. I think Roryboy is miles off comparing yesterday's performance from Glenties to Donegal's Ulster final showing. The manic pressure of the Glenties defence yesterday was a prime example of how we didn't defend under Declan. Manic, disciplined pressure instead of shadowing forwards and hardly laying a hand on them. Pure intensity. You can talk all day about tactics but that crazy intensity is a magical thing and when your team have it anything is possible."
Not the point lad. Are people going to pay in to matches to watch this defensive c**p. Our county played it in the Ulster final because of the way Derry were set up and we're castigated yet on Saturday glenties played same way and are being praised by the same people. Lol make up your minds

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2613 - 18/10/2022 08:13:03    2444445

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As supporters, yes you would pay in regardless of the style of football being played, so long as success followed.

I would gladly take Donegal playing the same way as NC, if it meant they got the same amount of success from it.

And I think they will play similar, Rory if he is the new man also has a very defensive approach, every man back or at most 1 left up front.

FootballGuy (Donegal) - Posts: 265 - 18/10/2022 11:14:09    2444462

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The only reason Donegal were criticised in the ulster final, was number 1, Murphy spent most of the game out the field and his man scored 3 points.
And number 2 was there lack of intensity in our defending and attack.
Against armagh we showed intensity in attack for ten minutes and destroyed armagh. But 10 minutes is not enough. If a club side can play with intensity for the entire game in a county final, then a county side has no excuse.
And the other criticism i had with Donegal was we were mentally weak. Anytime things started to go Against us, we folded.
Look at Naomh conail in the county final, intensity in defending, when they conceded a goal against the run of play twice, they raised there game even more and responded. Its what a well drilled and coached team does.
I dont care whether Donegal play attacking football or counter attacking foorball, as long as its dont with intensity. In your face football.
Donegal the last few years have become mentally weak and soft, and we are to easy bullied.
I can accept defeat against any team as long as long as we leave it all out on the field.
To compare the ulster final, where we were tactically weak and soft, to a well drilled Naomh conail team who left it all out on the field on the day is weak analysis.

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 711 - 18/10/2022 11:38:14    2444465

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Replying To FootballGuy:  "As supporters, yes you would pay in regardless of the style of football being played, so long as success followed.

I would gladly take Donegal playing the same way as NC, if it meant they got the same amount of success from it.

And I think they will play similar, Rory if he is the new man also has a very defensive approach, every man back or at most 1 left up front."
Yeah like that's the thing. In an ideal world you'd like your team winning silverware playing attractive attacking football but that's easier said than done. I don't think there were too many Donegal supporters complaining about our style of play when we were winning Ulsters and the All Ireland. But as I said above in a previous post, the defensive approach works up to a certain point, but the better teams have worked it out by now. There needs to be a better balance and I just feel that currently in Donegal a lot of managers are too far on the cautious defensive side of the line.

In years gone by, I know from speaking to cousins and friends down the country, that they enjoyed tuning into Donegal matches. A lof of the time we played off the cuff and when it worked well we could take down nearly any team on our day. Now, obviously there were bad days too, and we definitely needed someone to put a bit more structure to us. But hand on heart you couldn't say that watching club football these past few years is that enjoyable. Again - no disrespect to Naomh Conaill. If I had the same amount of medals those lads have I probably wouldn't give a damn either.

If it is to be Rory Kavanagh in charge I just hope that with a better squad of players at his disposal that he'd adopt a more progressive style. He's a smart fella so it'll be interesting to see.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9746 - 18/10/2022 11:40:52    2444467

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Replying To FootballGuy:  "As supporters, yes you would pay in regardless of the style of football being played, so long as success followed.

I would gladly take Donegal playing the same way as NC, if it meant they got the same amount of success from it.

And I think they will play similar, Rory if he is the new man also has a very defensive approach, every man back or at most 1 left up front."
I didn't see many paying into watch the Armagh game. The excuse being the terrible Ulster final. So you telling me now that if Rory plays defensive football it's ok

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2613 - 18/10/2022 11:46:09    2444470

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Not the point lad. Are people going to pay in to matches to watch this defensive c**p. Our county played it in the Ulster final because of the way Derry were set up and we're castigated yet on Saturday glenties played same way and are being praised by the same people. Lol make up your minds"
It is the point actually. I didn't castigate our setup in the Ulster final, it was the right way to approach Derry. I was annoyed at the lack of defensive intensity though despite the numbers back and the lack of imagination when the game was in the mixer. We didn't put enough pressure on the ball carrier in the Ulster final and Glenties did at the weekend, it's a very clear difference. And Glenties went at Eunans when they needed to, another lacking from us on Ulster final day. Did people stop going to watch Donegal under McGuinness because of defensive style? No they didn't. You're putting Bonner's reign down to defensive style not working and I'm saying that was far from the full story.

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1403 - 18/10/2022 11:58:56    2444471

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Replying To The keeper:  "The only reason Donegal were criticised in the ulster final, was number 1, Murphy spent most of the game out the field and his man scored 3 points.
And number 2 was there lack of intensity in our defending and attack.
Against armagh we showed intensity in attack for ten minutes and destroyed armagh. But 10 minutes is not enough. If a club side can play with intensity for the entire game in a county final, then a county side has no excuse.
And the other criticism i had with Donegal was we were mentally weak. Anytime things started to go Against us, we folded.
Look at Naomh conail in the county final, intensity in defending, when they conceded a goal against the run of play twice, they raised there game even more and responded. Its what a well drilled and coached team does.
I dont care whether Donegal play attacking football or counter attacking foorball, as long as its dont with intensity. In your face football.
Donegal the last few years have become mentally weak and soft, and we are to easy bullied.
I can accept defeat against any team as long as long as we leave it all out on the field.
To compare the ulster final, where we were tactically weak and soft, to a well drilled Naomh conail team who left it all out on the field on the day is weak analysis."
Nothing weak about the analysis. It's boring football I'm talking about. Donegal football at the moment is a bore fest because of the negativity of club teams.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2613 - 18/10/2022 12:06:21    2444472

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Replying To Donegal_abroad:  "It is the point actually. I didn't castigate our setup in the Ulster final, it was the right way to approach Derry. I was annoyed at the lack of defensive intensity though despite the numbers back and the lack of imagination when the game was in the mixer. We didn't put enough pressure on the ball carrier in the Ulster final and Glenties did at the weekend, it's a very clear difference. And Glenties went at Eunans when they needed to, another lacking from us on Ulster final day. Did people stop going to watch Donegal under McGuinness because of defensive style? No they didn't. You're putting Bonner's reign down to defensive style not working and I'm saying that was far from the full story."
It's all coming down to not having enough good defenders. We can talk till the cows come home but that is the problem. Did we unearth any during the club c ship the best players were the established county players. An exception being Connor Morrison who was on the squad up till his injury. Go through that n Conal defence are they better than what we have. The answer in my mind is no. Big difference in club and county football.. will Rory kavanagh play attacking football, no he won't. In fairness to bonner he did at the start but soon realised that we hadn't the type of defenders that's needed to play that style of football..

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2613 - 18/10/2022 12:20:04    2444475

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Coaches have an awful lot to answer for regarding the state of the modern game and the game in donegal a the weekend was just a snapshot of where the game is at the minute.

No risk taking in attack, defend en masse, handpass for the sake of it, sledge when you get a score or a turnover...awful stuff.

LarryOBrother (Wexford) - Posts: 412 - 18/10/2022 13:20:44    2444489

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Replying To rorysboys:  "I didn't see many paying into watch the Armagh game. The excuse being the terrible Ulster final. So you telling me now that if Rory plays defensive football it's ok"
If Rory wins an Ulster Title I don't think many supporters will care what way Donegal play. The problem is if you are going to play a defensive style you need to have proper defenders with high intensity. You also need proper scoring forwards with Michael and Patrick in the full forward line.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 473 - 18/10/2022 13:47:56    2444495

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Replying To rorysboys:  "It's all coming down to not having enough good defenders. We can talk till the cows come home but that is the problem. Did we unearth any during the club c ship the best players were the established county players. An exception being Connor Morrison who was on the squad up till his injury. Go through that n Conal defence are they better than what we have. The answer in my mind is no. Big difference in club and county football.. will Rory kavanagh play attacking football, no he won't. In fairness to bonner he did at the start but soon realised that we hadn't the type of defenders that's needed to play that style of football.."
Naomh Conaill playing the best defensive style in the county, won 3 of the last 4 County Titles and not one of those defenders can get on the County Team. For the past few years our County team have forwards in the half back line. Trying to play a defensive system makes no sense. You need 6 good defenders at least to play a defensive system.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 473 - 18/10/2022 13:57:39    2444497

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "If Rory wins an Ulster Title I don't think many supporters will care what way Donegal play. The problem is if you are going to play a defensive style you need to have proper defenders with high intensity. You also need proper scoring forwards with Michael and Patrick in the full forward line."
And put Ryan in there as well in the corner that poor lad is getting hammered at half back this past few yrs I don't know how he keeps coming back.

Tyrion (Donegal) - Posts: 165 - 18/10/2022 14:26:01    2444501

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "Naomh Conaill playing the best defensive style in the county, won 3 of the last 4 County Titles and not one of those defenders can get on the County Team. For the past few years our County team have forwards in the half back line. Trying to play a defensive system makes no sense. You need 6 good defenders at least to play a defensive system."
Who should be on the county team well. Wade and Thompson too old, Ethan good plenty opportunities. Who's left Mc gettigan a j and Campbell are you telling there better than the defenders we have..

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2613 - 18/10/2022 15:15:10    2444508

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Replying To Tyrion:  "And put Ryan in there as well in the corner that poor lad is getting hammered at half back this past few yrs I don't know how he keeps coming back."
Ryan free man and Murphy full forward, we can only hope for that!

FootballGuy (Donegal) - Posts: 265 - 18/10/2022 16:00:10    2444516

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Who should be on the county team well. Wade and Thompson too old, Ethan good plenty opportunities. Who's left Mc gettigan a j and Campbell are you telling there better than the defenders we have.."
McKelvey although played in midfield this year I think has played in defence before for Naomh Conaill. I would like to see him and Ethan get more opportunities in the half back line.

Play Ryan as a corner forward then but allow him to go wherever neccasary.

FootballGuy (Donegal) - Posts: 265 - 18/10/2022 16:03:18    2444517

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Who should be on the county team well. Wade and Thompson too old, Ethan good plenty opportunities. Who's left Mc gettigan a j and Campbell are you telling there better than the defenders we have.."
Odhran Docherty and Eunan Doherty are probably two of the best backs in the county.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 473 - 18/10/2022 16:07:38    2444518

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "Odhran Docherty and Eunan Doherty are probably two of the best backs in the county."
Are we not talking about natural defenders so both of them lads play as forwards for there club. The argument on here this last few years is that we have too many small light defenders. Playing the Doherty's is not going to improve this.. in my mind jeac Mc kelvey is the only one who could make it as a defender.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2613 - 18/10/2022 16:32:45    2444523

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Ethan/McKelvey/The docs are not defenders in my opinion. They all compliment each other and work hard in zonal spaces and break on the turnover. None of these players would thrive in defense man-marking or in an open defense.

McGettigan on the other hand is underrated and would love to see him try out for the Donegal team he can man mark and bomb forward if needed and kick a score. Ultan Doherty as well is a great man marker is always given the role of marking the oppositions nippy players.

I would just like to make one more point on the red card because NC have got a lot of abuse for "feigning" an injury to get a man off. If anyone remembers the 15 final against Eunans E.McGettigan got sent of for the exact same them when Caolan Ward went down after being pushed but wasn't a talking point cause we still won. My point is every single team given the opportunity will attempt it and that's just a fact.

naomh_conaill_4 (Donegal) - Posts: 502 - 18/10/2022 17:24:08    2444527

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Agree with Rory. No defenders about. The Dohertys got their chance a bit too late in their careers I think and made no impact in county football last year in Mc Kenna cup. Great club lads.
Odhran is young and I like him. Great potential. Pity about lack of height.

Can't see where we are going to find out and out defenders from.

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1208 - 18/10/2022 20:31:21    2444550

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Eunan Doherty is a defensive half forward that gets the odd score, hard as nails and brave. For me one of the best club players this past few years. Never stops working. He reminds me of geary in tryone, not big but hardy and his work ethics are exceptionally high.
Players like that have been getting overlooked.
There's plenty of talent in the county, always has been.
We just need the right management team to bring back that intensity to our game.
I dont care what type of football we play, as long as we start standing up for ourselves and not be mentally weak and soft.
I would rather finish with 13 men and get beat in a dog fight, than finish with 15 men that rolled over and were bullied.

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 711 - 18/10/2022 20:54:58    2444553

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