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Donegal GAA thread

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I think he can play in the full back line, but not in the traditional sense. I wouldn't leave him inside one v one with a dangerous sharpshooter like Shane McGuigan or Darragh Canavan. But if the opposition were playing one of their full forward line in the roving role, Moore would be ideal, he would cover the ground and really put his opponent on the back foot.

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 722 - 10/03/2024 20:37:54    2530656

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Any news on the injury front? It will be interesting to see whether the likes of Ban, Jason McGee, Niall and Conor O'Donnell make an appearance in these last couple of league fixtures (and possibly league final). For some reason I have it in my head that Conor is a long term absentee? That might be wrong though.

McCole's fitness is perhaps the most worrying/important though. I think it's safe to assume that if fit he will be given the task of man-marking the opposition's main danger man.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9551 - 11/03/2024 14:12:47    2530754

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Any news on the injury front? It will be interesting to see whether the likes of Ban, Jason McGee, Niall and Conor O'Donnell make an appearance in these last couple of league fixtures (and possibly league final). For some reason I have it in my head that Conor is a long term absentee? That might be wrong though.

McCole's fitness is perhaps the most worrying/important though. I think it's safe to assume that if fit he will be given the task of man-marking the opposition's main danger man."
Unless there's been some sort of setback C O'Donnell should be due to make a return soon enough. The injury is a foot issue, the one he came off with in the Monaghan game last summer and then the warm up in the Tyrone game. Think he had an op some months back and hopefully should be back sooner than later.

WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 55 - 11/03/2024 16:20:38    2530772

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Also think I heard Jim say Ban was a bit longer term but Jason was to be back at full training last week. McCole was to get a scan last Wednesday on the big toe but never heard anything since that

WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 55 - 11/03/2024 16:23:32    2530774

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Replying To WeGoAgain:  "Also think I heard Jim say Ban was a bit longer term but Jason was to be back at full training last week. McCole was to get a scan last Wednesday on the big toe but never heard anything since that"
A fit McGee would be a big boost. langan and MCGee with McGonagle behind them at centre back would be a seriously mobile unit that could make hay on the counter attack. I was very impressed with McColgan from Naomh Padraig Muff last year, hopefully he's back in before too long.

BeardedBorderGael (Donegal) - Posts: 49 - 11/03/2024 21:01:23    2530820

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Congrats to the Abbey school on their win at the end and commiserations to Scoil Mhuire on their narrow loss. Both schools did the county proud regardless of results.

Is the County Voactionals Schools competition still on the go? We used to do quite well in it with John Joe O'Shea at the helm.

One would have thought this year's team would have been particularly strong.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1084 - 12/03/2024 08:51:08    2530838

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Replying To BeardedBorderGael:  "A fit McGee would be a big boost. langan and MCGee with McGonagle behind them at centre back would be a seriously mobile unit that could make hay on the counter attack. I was very impressed with McColgan from Naomh Padraig Muff last year, hopefully he's back in before too long."
For sure. I forgot about McColgan when I went through my injury list in my previous post. A very capable player who will strengthen the squad whenever he's injury free.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9551 - 12/03/2024 10:54:31    2530858

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Replying To BeardedBorderGael:  "A fit McGee would be a big boost. langan and MCGee with McGonagle behind them at centre back would be a seriously mobile unit that could make hay on the counter attack. I was very impressed with McColgan from Naomh Padraig Muff last year, hopefully he's back in before too long."
For sure. I'm fairly certain McColgan isn't a million miles away from a return too. He was excellent last year and strikes me as the type of player Jim would love to work with.

WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 55 - 12/03/2024 11:18:37    2530874

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "Congrats to the Abbey school on their win at the end and commiserations to Scoil Mhuire on their narrow loss. Both schools did the county proud regardless of results.

Is the County Voactionals Schools competition still on the go? We used to do quite well in it with John Joe O'Shea at the helm.

One would have thought this year's team would have been particularly strong."
No vocational school competition anymore. Most of these lads on the school teams would have been available for county minors in 2022 and 2023.

ryan (Donegal) - Posts: 747 - 12/03/2024 11:23:35    2530875

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Just had a look at the u20 panel, I think this is could be a very very strong team at that level. Loads of lads with senior championship experience and have had time with the senior team, plenty of lads have also been rewarded for good club form. Good luck to them and to SP Barrett because I would struggle to pick a starting 15 from the panel.

NPadraigAbu (Donegal) - Posts: 90 - 12/03/2024 20:14:58    2530959

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Anyone know when League D2 final is, Saturday or Sunday, if Donegal v Armagh could it be in Clones.

jacktheboy (Donegal) - Posts: 453 - 12/03/2024 21:38:47    2530969

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Replying To jacktheboy:  "Anyone know when League D2 final is, Saturday or Sunday, if Donegal v Armagh could it be in Clones."
I think that it's almost certain to be on Sunday 31st (Easter Sunday) alongside the Division 1 Final. There were calls to change them last year when the Division 2 Final of Dublin and Derry was put on alongside the Mayo and Galway Division 1 Final, whilst the Division 3 and 4 Finals were on the Saturday evening with Cavan V Fermanagh and Sligo V Wicklow. There were 45 thousand on the Sunday alone, but almost empty on the Saturday evening.

Dublin V Derry and Donegal V Armagh would be a good crowd puller, even for neutrals.

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 722 - 12/03/2024 22:12:49    2530971

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Replying To SouthOfTheGap:  "I think that it's almost certain to be on Sunday 31st (Easter Sunday) alongside the Division 1 Final. There were calls to change them last year when the Division 2 Final of Dublin and Derry was put on alongside the Mayo and Galway Division 1 Final, whilst the Division 3 and 4 Finals were on the Saturday evening with Cavan V Fermanagh and Sligo V Wicklow. There were 45 thousand on the Sunday alone, but almost empty on the Saturday evening.

Dublin V Derry and Donegal V Armagh would be a good crowd puller, even for neutrals."
I can see the logic but I'm not so sure.

The very fact that the last round of Div. 2 games are on the Saturday evening would lead me to think that the Div. 2 final will be on the following Saturday. Like you said there was calls to change them last year and they may have taken heed of that and try and spread out the attendances across the two days.

Time will tell.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1084 - 13/03/2024 08:08:42    2530982

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "I can see the logic but I'm not so sure.

The very fact that the last round of Div. 2 games are on the Saturday evening would lead me to think that the Div. 2 final will be on the following Saturday. Like you said there was calls to change them last year and they may have taken heed of that and try and spread out the attendances across the two days.

Time will tell."
Croke Park website has div 1 and 2 final down for the Sunday.

WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 55 - 13/03/2024 10:09:13    2530998

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Replying To SouthOfTheGap:  "I think that it's almost certain to be on Sunday 31st (Easter Sunday) alongside the Division 1 Final. There were calls to change them last year when the Division 2 Final of Dublin and Derry was put on alongside the Mayo and Galway Division 1 Final, whilst the Division 3 and 4 Finals were on the Saturday evening with Cavan V Fermanagh and Sligo V Wicklow. There were 45 thousand on the Sunday alone, but almost empty on the Saturday evening.

Dublin V Derry and Donegal V Armagh would be a good crowd puller, even for neutrals."
Not if it's Easter Sunday.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2583 - 13/03/2024 10:21:29    2531001

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "I can see the logic but I'm not so sure.

The very fact that the last round of Div. 2 games are on the Saturday evening would lead me to think that the Div. 2 final will be on the following Saturday. Like you said there was calls to change them last year and they may have taken heed of that and try and spread out the attendances across the two days.

Time will tell."
Yeah on the GAA website it just says that all 4 league finals are to be played over the 30th and 31st. I suppose they will wait and see what teams get to the respective league finals before they decide.

Donegal v Armagh if it happens should be in Clones. But then again, maybe both managers wouldn't mind a wee run-out at Croke Park ahead of the summer? Anyway, getting ahead of myself here. We have Kildare and Meath to take care of first.

Anyone else think Kildare away could be sticky enough? They're in the last-chance saloon and if they've anything about them at all, they'll be fighting for their lives this weekend. I don't think we can afford to sleep-walk our way through the first half. If we come out with serious intensity and establish a lead, Kildare heads may drop and it could turn into a comfortable match. But if Kildare are given a sniff that a result could be achievable, their desperation for a win could makes things awkward.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9551 - 13/03/2024 10:30:57    2531003

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yeah on the GAA website it just says that all 4 league finals are to be played over the 30th and 31st. I suppose they will wait and see what teams get to the respective league finals before they decide.

Donegal v Armagh if it happens should be in Clones. But then again, maybe both managers wouldn't mind a wee run-out at Croke Park ahead of the summer? Anyway, getting ahead of myself here. We have Kildare and Meath to take care of first.

Anyone else think Kildare away could be sticky enough? They're in the last-chance saloon and if they've anything about them at all, they'll be fighting for their lives this weekend. I don't think we can afford to sleep-walk our way through the first half. If we come out with serious intensity and establish a lead, Kildare heads may drop and it could turn into a comfortable match. But if Kildare are given a sniff that a result could be achievable, their desperation for a win could makes things awkward."
There is no way Kildare can be as bad as they have been going so far.Before the league they would have been one of the teams that would have been given a chance of promotion.So we need to be prepared and go full out and get promotion sorted.If we don't Meath might be coming to town Bof with a chance of promotion.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1126 - 13/03/2024 11:46:32    2531015

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Replying To jacktheboy:  "Anyone know when League D2 final is, Saturday or Sunday, if Donegal v Armagh could it be in Clones."
https://crokepark.ie/matchday
Division 1 and 2 finals listed on the croke Park website for the Sunday. Div 3 and 4 listed for Saturday

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 587 - 13/03/2024 12:10:39    2531019

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yeah on the GAA website it just says that all 4 league finals are to be played over the 30th and 31st. I suppose they will wait and see what teams get to the respective league finals before they decide.

Donegal v Armagh if it happens should be in Clones. But then again, maybe both managers wouldn't mind a wee run-out at Croke Park ahead of the summer? Anyway, getting ahead of myself here. We have Kildare and Meath to take care of first.

Anyone else think Kildare away could be sticky enough? They're in the last-chance saloon and if they've anything about them at all, they'll be fighting for their lives this weekend. I don't think we can afford to sleep-walk our way through the first half. If we come out with serious intensity and establish a lead, Kildare heads may drop and it could turn into a comfortable match. But if Kildare are given a sniff that a result could be achievable, their desperation for a win could makes things awkward."
Kildare haven't looked fit in any game they've played so far. Their players have looked gassed after the 50 or so minute mark. Like you said of we can match them in intensity we have the players to beat them. Their players confidence has taken a battering in recent weeks whilst ours are riding the crest of a wave.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1084 - 13/03/2024 12:14:57    2531021

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Any news on the injury front? It will be interesting to see whether the likes of Ban, Jason McGee, Niall and Conor O'Donnell make an appearance in these last couple of league fixtures (and possibly league final). For some reason I have it in my head that Conor is a long term absentee? That might be wrong though.

McCole's fitness is perhaps the most worrying/important though. I think it's safe to assume that if fit he will be given the task of man-marking the opposition's main danger man."
Haven't heard on injury front, and agree McCole's fitness is probably key, but I wouldn't make many assumptions regarding our set-up in full-back line or in man-marking posts. McCole probably will take that role if fit, but with the Derry match firmly in mind that's not a given. McCole did very well against McGuigan in group stage last year, and Curran's marker dropped deep allowing him more attacking freedom. Indeed Curran missed a one-on-one late on between McGrogan and R O'Donnell's goals. I'd love to say that Harte will try switch it up to prevent Donegal picking up those small victories on the pitch, but Derry's midfield and half-back line is so good they wouldn't care if McCole and Curran had 10/10s.

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 443 - 13/03/2024 12:16:53    2531022

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