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Donegal GAA thread

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It still amazes me how people still fall for this wide open spaces of croke park thing.

The pitch dimensions are the same as Ballybofey and O Donnell park in letterkenny.

eunans4ever (Donegal) - Posts: 1693 - 06/03/2023 19:32:21    2462420

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Armagh were very poor and look slightly overrated
Donegal dominated possession but lack directness and took the wrong option numerous times
Plenty to work on but tough losing 2 top forwards in Paddy and Micheal from last year
Second Half showing was heartening and a positive

Alas Ulster football is now at a lower level than previous years, not enough quality forwards in the province

Hopefully i am wrong but no real stars

thereporter (Donegal) - Posts: 38 - 06/03/2023 19:57:41    2462428

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Interesting take on donegals defensive issues on square d with Stephen oMeara and Paddy McGill on YouTube. Look at Donegal from analyst view and some interesting stuff. Reckons that our issues more defensive than offensive only last few games our shooting stats dropped but defensively still conceding a lot. In analysing about Donegal 70% of scores we conceding caused same by 3-4 players, so may need personnel changes at back. Looked at some examples where players covering areas where no need to cover and leaving shooting chances. Saw elsewhere way we tackling leaving hands in give refs causing some of the soft free count. Interesting view that he not negative on them and believes if we can get Aaron Doherty back at 6 (for positional reading- I thought he ) Ethan o donnell (underrated defensively in county) and Jamie Grant we can fix . Also said rates mcgonagle as one of best defensive midfielders. In attack , if two o donnells Niall and Shane to link play better , we may get attacking numbers up. I know some lads not available but if we can get lads back as other posters saying we mightn't as bad as they feel now

DonegalDanny92 (Donegal) - Posts: 39 - 07/03/2023 09:35:40    2462460

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Replying To thereporter:  "Armagh were very poor and look slightly overrated
Donegal dominated possession but lack directness and took the wrong option numerous times
Plenty to work on but tough losing 2 top forwards in Paddy and Micheal from last year
Second Half showing was heartening and a positive

Alas Ulster football is now at a lower level than previous years, not enough quality forwards in the province

Hopefully i am wrong but no real stars"
Ulster Football is actually in the best shape it has been since the early 90's. Last Ten years it was Donegal Tyrone and Monaghan dominating. The decade before that it was Tyrone and Armagh dominating. Now you have three very strong teams, Derry, Armagh, Tyrone. Three teams slightly below in Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan. Down are showing signs of recovery as are Fermanagh. Ulster always was and will be the toughest province and this year I think is going to be the most competitive yet. Fancy a Derry / Armagh final that will be tactical and methodical, which means everyone outside of those two counties will slate the game as rubbish

KerrymanStuckInDonegal (Kerry) - Posts: 271 - 07/03/2023 09:54:53    2462465

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Replying To Green_Gold:  "I found the first half a tough watch, all the old bad habits to the fore, slow lateral build up play, no ball going into the inside forwards. The inside forwards then go roaming out the field to get the ball, at one stage Stephen McMenamin was our sole full forward. It was like a repeat of last years Ulster final. Thankfully the second half was much better, Hugh McFadden made a huge impact, great to see him back to form. Why did we not keep Hugh at full forward for the rest of the match? He was making a difference there, giving us an option to go long. We moved the ball much faster in the second half, we are a purely running team so it's vital we do it at pace.

We are definitely lacking a bit of confidence, we were very tentative at the start of the game. The defence are doing really well but our attack is toothless. I wouldn't blame the forwards, our build up play is so slow that it allows the opposition to filter everyone back. At least we know what we have to do now, beat Mayo and Roscommon and we will be safe. A lot will depend on what Mayo team turn up in Ballybofey, if they pick their best 15 we are in trouble."
Hugh at full forward is Donegals only option currently. He is an excellent fielder and him in there keeps the full back line honest, they will stay toins him. A two man full forward line either Brennan or Gallen inside with Hugh and let the other corner forward come out around the middle. Bonner tried this with Ryan McHugh a couple of times in the league last year. Tyrone in Ballybofey comes to mind ....
Defensively I think they should concentrate on not shipping any goals, if they can do that then they won't be far away.
I predicted a very hard year for Donegal and ended up with a lot of egg on my face after the Kerry game but I stick by my statement. Scores are going be hard got come championship and the bench isn't what it used to be. But as Donegal are my second team, I hope the give everything in every game they are a great bunch of lads. They are being measured against the previous teams which were in 10 of the last 12 Ulster Finals...that's not fair on them.

KerrymanStuckInDonegal (Kerry) - Posts: 271 - 07/03/2023 10:12:27    2462471

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See Anthony Molloy in the papers today. Fair play to him for calling out the county board and their farce of a statement last week.

ryan (Donegal) - Posts: 748 - 07/03/2023 10:34:16    2462475

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Our coaching officer in Donegal has the following roles.
- was on interview panel for senior manager job and is now on the backroom team.
- is responsible for all academy matters having ousted Lacey.
- is running the county executive.

ryan (Donegal) - Posts: 748 - 07/03/2023 10:46:57    2462481

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Replying To DonegalDanny92:  "Interesting take on donegals defensive issues on square d with Stephen oMeara and Paddy McGill on YouTube. Look at Donegal from analyst view and some interesting stuff. Reckons that our issues more defensive than offensive only last few games our shooting stats dropped but defensively still conceding a lot. In analysing about Donegal 70% of scores we conceding caused same by 3-4 players, so may need personnel changes at back. Looked at some examples where players covering areas where no need to cover and leaving shooting chances. Saw elsewhere way we tackling leaving hands in give refs causing some of the soft free count. Interesting view that he not negative on them and believes if we can get Aaron Doherty back at 6 (for positional reading- I thought he ) Ethan o donnell (underrated defensively in county) and Jamie Grant we can fix . Also said rates mcgonagle as one of best defensive midfielders. In attack , if two o donnells Niall and Shane to link play better , we may get attacking numbers up. I know some lads not available but if we can get lads back as other posters saying we mightn't as bad as they feel now"
i think a good start would be to keep our defenders playing as defenders. In the last 2 games Stephen McMenamin spent most of his time in the forward line. Clearly its what he is being told to do, but I would regard him as one of our better man-markers. I still believe teams should keep their number 6 in his position to stop teams running through them.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 633 - 07/03/2023 11:35:13    2462494

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Replying To DonegalDanny92:  "Interesting take on donegals defensive issues on square d with Stephen oMeara and Paddy McGill on YouTube. Look at Donegal from analyst view and some interesting stuff. Reckons that our issues more defensive than offensive only last few games our shooting stats dropped but defensively still conceding a lot. In analysing about Donegal 70% of scores we conceding caused same by 3-4 players, so may need personnel changes at back. Looked at some examples where players covering areas where no need to cover and leaving shooting chances. Saw elsewhere way we tackling leaving hands in give refs causing some of the soft free count. Interesting view that he not negative on them and believes if we can get Aaron Doherty back at 6 (for positional reading- I thought he ) Ethan o donnell (underrated defensively in county) and Jamie Grant we can fix . Also said rates mcgonagle as one of best defensive midfielders. In attack , if two o donnells Niall and Shane to link play better , we may get attacking numbers up. I know some lads not available but if we can get lads back as other posters saying we mightn't as bad as they feel now"
Easy to say that Doherty, O'Donnell and Grant can fix when there isn't a hope he will ever be proven wrong.

Let me have a go... Donegal could still stay up if we start Stephen Griffin full-forward.

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 452 - 07/03/2023 12:00:25    2462502

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Replying To ryan:  "Our coaching officer in Donegal has the following roles.
- was on interview panel for senior manager job and is now on the backroom team.
- is responsible for all academy matters having ousted Lacey.
- is running the county executive."
And has clearly upset you in the past.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1198 - 07/03/2023 12:14:04    2462505

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Replying To SurelyToGod:  "Easy to say that Doherty, O'Donnell and Grant can fix when there isn't a hope he will ever be proven wrong.

Let me have a go... Donegal could still stay up if we start Stephen Griffin full-forward."
Griffin would be as good as Brennan or Gallen at this stage

KerrymanStuckInDonegal (Kerry) - Posts: 271 - 07/03/2023 12:15:37    2462506

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Replying To SurelyToGod:  "Easy to say that Doherty, O'Donnell and Grant can fix when there isn't a hope he will ever be proven wrong.

Let me have a go... Donegal could still stay up if we start Stephen Griffin full-forward."
Totally agree . Everyone has an opinion just because they have used a podcast doesn't mean they're right. The players mentioned will hardly come back now with championship round the corner. Bonner had Mc menamin since he was 15 years of age he started him at centre back but eventually he settled for him as his main man marker as was proven when he marked Clifford in croke park. There's absolutely no reason to play McMenamin in a follow your man role as he's doing at the moment, teams will let him get the ball because he's unlikely to score.. if there persisting with him at centre back let him hold his position. The lad is a very good player .Can any of the posters inform me what's happening with n Conal not one of there players starting I know that will change next time with ciaran but you would expect more with them being county champions. By the way keeper it's not a dig but a genuine question.. I'm extremely worried about getting relegated a few years it wudnt be too bad but now it's vital we stay up. I wudnt like to be in Kildare shoes at moment another defeat could see them end up in tailteann cup. Hope we get out in huge numbers Sunday week this team deserves it we don't want to be outnumbered at home.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2615 - 07/03/2023 12:30:24    2462512

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Replying To ryan:  "Our coaching officer in Donegal has the following roles.
- was on interview panel for senior manager job and is now on the backroom team.
- is responsible for all academy matters having ousted Lacey.
- is running the county executive."
Haha you nailed it. In charge of everything but apparently blameless for the mess.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8384 - 07/03/2023 12:37:02    2462513

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Replying To ryan:  "Our coaching officer in Donegal has the following roles.
- was on interview panel for senior manager job and is now on the backroom team.
- is responsible for all academy matters having ousted Lacey.
- is running the county executive."
Exactly. And is he the same man that insisted to Paddy Carr that Aidan O'Rourke had to be his Assistant? And is now advertising a Coaching seminar where they are going to lecture to Coaches. Oh, and have Aidan O'Rourke as one of the guest speakers... I had nearly given up the Ghost, thanks Ryan for tormenting me again.

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 777 - 07/03/2023 12:51:49    2462518

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This is what we have conceded so far in the league.

Kerry 1-9
Tyrone 0-16
Monaghan 1-20
Galway 1-9
Armagh 0-13

Apart from the Monaghan game those are not big scores to concede. We fell away in the last 20 minutes against Monaghan. I just don't see why anyone would say we are conceding a lot of scores. Are we expecting to keep Div 1 teams below 10 points in a game? This is not 2011. I accept we are probably keeping the scores down as we have everybody behind the ball but the defence are performing very well.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1906 - 07/03/2023 13:05:55    2462522

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Replying To greenfan:  "i think a good start would be to keep our defenders playing as defenders. In the last 2 games Stephen McMenamin spent most of his time in the forward line. Clearly its what he is being told to do, but I would regard him as one of our better man-markers. I still believe teams should keep their number 6 in his position to stop teams running through them."
Last year in the Ulster Final against Derry, they were quite happy to let Stephen McMenamin and Caolan Ward have the ball, they knew that they weren't going to hurt us, and they dragged them out of their natural habitat, leaving the space that area of the pitch exposed for Derry to attack it when they won turnovers. I get the concept of finishing out support runs, but what we are effectively doing is condensing the space for our better ball carriers and shooters to operate in. I might be a dinosaur, but when I was playing ball as a forward, I didn't want support, I wanted space. If I had space I could expose the man marking me. Have things changed that much?

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 777 - 07/03/2023 13:06:18    2462523

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Replying To SouthOfTheGap:  "Exactly. And is he the same man that insisted to Paddy Carr that Aidan O'Rourke had to be his Assistant? And is now advertising a Coaching seminar where they are going to lecture to Coaches. Oh, and have Aidan O'Rourke as one of the guest speakers... I had nearly given up the Ghost, thanks Ryan for tormenting me again."
I did have to laugh at the coaching seminar being hosted at the Academy centre in Convoy. Unfortunately it's no laughing matter. What do the county board intend to do now? Are they going to advertise for a new head for the academy or just leave it to rot?

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1906 - 07/03/2023 13:25:02    2462526

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Replying To Green_Gold:  "This is what we have conceded so far in the league.

Kerry 1-9
Tyrone 0-16
Monaghan 1-20
Galway 1-9
Armagh 0-13

Apart from the Monaghan game those are not big scores to concede. We fell away in the last 20 minutes against Monaghan. I just don't see why anyone would say we are conceding a lot of scores. Are we expecting to keep Div 1 teams below 10 points in a game? This is not 2011. I accept we are probably keeping the scores down as we have everybody behind the ball but the defence are performing very well."
Absolutely agree with you Green_Gold, those scores are pretty impressive from a defensive point of view with all the caveats of teams getting up to speed in the league. But teams are putting up more scores against other teams as far as I can see. I think defensively we are ok, not perfect but ok considering, whereas we are really struggling for scores

CCFabu (Donegal) - Posts: 173 - 07/03/2023 13:34:29    2462532

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Replying To Green_Gold:  "I did have to laugh at the coaching seminar being hosted at the Academy centre in Convoy. Unfortunately it's no laughing matter. What do the county board intend to do now? Are they going to advertise for a new head for the academy or just leave it to rot?"
Strange that Lacey's own club mate is the main point of contact. I take it he didn't walk in support.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1198 - 07/03/2023 13:44:21    2462535

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "And has clearly upset you in the past."
Maybe and maybe not. Maybe he is just concerned about certain individuals leaving the county structures constipated while the rest of Ireland bypasses us.

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1409 - 07/03/2023 13:49:52    2462539

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