I thought it was very noticeable today that didn't get our men ahead of the ball, well not quickly enough anyway, especially in transition. When we broke, we had to wait too long for the cavalry to arrive. This could simply be because we have been training really hard, and they don't have it in the legs at the minute.

Although thankful for the draw, I think it has to be seen as a point dropped. Despite the fact we didn't score for 35 minutes, it was still very much there for the taking. Galway were no world beaters either. Matthew Tierney probably won them the point with his performance; a classy player.

We are now level on points with Armagh, and next Saturday evening will be massive. They will outnumber us by at least 8 to 1 on the terraces, so we will have to quieten their supporters who will defo try to influence proceedings. Let's hope we can lift the intensity levels and get what would be a huge result.

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 783 - 26/02/2023 18:54:28    2460401

I think if we'd played that game in Ballybofey we'd have won it, why the hell we are continuing to play important games in Letterkenny anymore is beyond me.
Galway were there for the taking today and it's definitely a point dropped.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3198 - 26/02/2023 20:07:46    2460456

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 637 - 26/02/2023 21:20:51    2460506

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 637 - 27/02/2023 07:21:43    2460525

AudiMan (Donegal) - Posts: 683 - 27/02/2023 10:02:58    2460549

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1346 - 27/02/2023 10:12:57    2460553

We should have won comfortably yesterday, probably by 5+ points when allowing for Galway's misses too, but we kicked the game away. Defensively I think we are learning and getting stronger, our attacking game needs some work, but its great having Oisin Gallen, Michael Langan and Conor O'Donnell on the pitch.

I'm not upset by the result yesterday, there were so many other things we got right on the day, particularly defensively. We need to work on the start of the 2nd half, its when we seem to always concede a lot of points, perhaps the half time gives opposing teams a chance to adapt to us.

At present we lack the depth to have a serious tilt this summer, as others mentioned our transitioning from defense to attack isn't anywhere near the likes of Derry, who right now are probably the best in the Country at it. Lots to work on, but definitely a lot of positives.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1346 - 27/02/2023 10:29:16    2460564

A decent performance yesterday. The fact that we didn't fold when Galway had the momentum in the second half was a good sign. If Conroy had nailed that last second free it would have been a sickener because I think we definitely deserved something out of the game.

For me, the key things were the fact that we conceded a goal so soon after Gallen's penalty and also the missed opportunities to stretch the lead a wee bit before half time. If we had gone in 5 or 6 points up it might have been difficult for Galway to rein that lead in.

Curran and McCole were very good. If we could get MacCeallbhuí and McFadden-Ferry back we might have the makings of a more stingy/mean back line. McMenamin is doing OK at number 6 too and I think Eoghan Ban is best suited at wing back when he can really drive on and hurt the opposition. McColgan had a decent enough outing as well.

The negatives for me yesterday were obviosuly the missed chances and balls dropped short. But I also think we need to try to transition far faster than we currently do. Maybe it's a fitness thing where we just don't quite have it in the legs yet this early in the year? But there were a few times yesterday when we turned over ball and it looked like there was a great oppurtunity to hurt Galway on the counter. But we were too slow to capitalize. I don't want to hark back to McGuinness days, but there was nothing quite like the buzz of the crowd when we counter attacked with pace and numbers back then.

Anyways, we've given ourselves a chance at survival at least. No easy games left by any means but we're certainly capable of getting a result or two which might keep us up.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9768 - 27/02/2023 10:54:22    2460579

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2616 - 27/02/2023 10:59:04    2460585

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 637 - 27/02/2023 14:25:15    2460675

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1208 - 27/02/2023 15:01:54    2460697

I thought we played really well for most of the match, we defended well and the midfield were much better this week. Our shooting was really poor and let us down. We went over 30 minutes without scoring in the second half. We are really struggling up front and finding it difficult to put up decent scores, 9 points isn't going to win many games. We have some really good forwards in Gallen, Conor O'Donnell and Langan so what is the issue? I feel our build up play is too slow, by the time we get the ball moved into the forward line the opposition are all back. We rarely score a point where a pass goes into the full forwards quickly and he turns his man and scores. Daire O'Baoil is trying to kick pass the ball and that has to be be welcomed but the other players need to follow suit.

It will be a tall order to avoid relegation now but as long as our performances are good I won't be complaining. Paddy Carr has been dealt a poor hand, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong and most of it not his fault. From talking to supporters, most are behind Paddy and want the team to do well.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1906 - 27/02/2023 15:08:26    2460700

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1153 - 27/02/2023 16:42:19    2460760

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 494 - 27/02/2023 18:03:40    2460800

The goal we conceeded was criminal. Stephen Mc attempts to stops the Galway midfielder after the mark just outside the 45, the Ref punishes us by letting the Galway midfielder (Conroy I think) run to the half way line before kicking it, I think that is more than the allowed 10 metres, after that it is just shocking, Hughie facing the wrong way, he then doesn't pick up the ball or kick it away,we then don't stop Tierney, he should have been fouled on the 20 metre line, we have totally lost our street smarts. There was also a time in the game when Langan should have been put to the edge of the square and ball launched in as that Galway keeper is the worst in the country, just watch Armagh, Monaghan and Kerry pressurising him in the next few weeks. He'd remind you of that Karius lad at Liverpool. We dropped a point yesterday for sure.

Ulsterchamps72 (Donegal) - Posts: 107 - 27/02/2023 18:43:41    2460804

It might not be popular to say it, but I think Donegal need to learn to be more cynical. All the top teams do it, tactical fouling , cynical play, whatever you want to call it after a player is turned over, basically make sure u stop the counter attack until we get men back. We've conceded a good few scores straight from turnovers. Nice guys win nothing

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 637 - 27/02/2023 18:55:24    2460806

SignTheContract (Donegal) - Posts: 197 - 27/02/2023 21:09:08    2460840

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 783 - 28/02/2023 09:14:49    2460871

As some poster said our bench did look a bit inexperienced and maybe lacking in serious impact.When McHugh and Thompson come back in to the team there will be 2 decent players reverting to the bench.McKelvey was back on Sunday and of the new boys I think Tobin and McGroddy are good players.Overall if McHugh comes back fully fit it will make a huge difference to the team and Thompson will be needed for left footed frees in the absence of McBrearty.Hopefully Paddy might be a good impact sub for the group stages of the All Ireland.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1153 - 28/02/2023 10:39:38    2460893

County board has released a statement re the Academy situation 2 page letter. In the middle of reading it.....

KerrymanStuckInDonegal (Kerry) - Posts: 271 - 28/02/2023 13:39:33    2460948