National Forum

Donegal GAA thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To shaggykev:  "Agreed. Paddy Power have Mayo 7/2 to top the group and that looks an insane price.

Cavan haven't beaten Tyrone since 1983 and Donegal haven't beaten Mayo since 2012.

Mayo have not lost in The Hyde since 2001.

Obviously I hope I'm tearing up the docket on Sunday but couldn't resist a small wager at those odds.

I'll be pig sick if it wins or of course the worst scenario and Mayo win and Cavan win or draw v Tyrone."
Yeah and for the reasons you outlined, I think it would be a statement win if we can beat them.
If we're genuine All Ireland contenders as a lot of pundits would have us, then these are the type of tough matches we need to be winning. We might still squeak through to the prelims if we lose, but it wouldn't exactly bode well for further tests which lie ahead.

A tight one or two point win against a Mayo team fighting for their lives would be a statement of intent.
Easier said than done of course.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9803 - 12/06/2025 09:00:07    2616841

Link

Replying To Lockjaw:  "The more I think of it, the more this game is primed for Mayo,

I'd be fairly sure Tyrone will do the business against Cavan.
So, if Mayo win they then top the group based on head-to-head.
But if they lose, they're out completely on the head-to-head.

They thrive on these do-or-die scenarios. But sooner or later, relying on that edge will bite them. Hoepfully it's us that can do the job on Sunday."
Yeah Mayo have themselves in a situation that seems to suit them, but also its why they wont win the big one, its kind of like the playing to the level of the opposition mentality and you wont win overall with that mentality.
I can see why Donegal are slightly worried cause you never know what type of performance Mayo will bring, but I do think the Tyrone game was the big shock result this year and they have struggled for few years to pull off two good results in a row. Mayo are lacking the power and pace to compete with the top teams and of course the scoring power is lacking also. Mayo could do with having 3 or 4 Durcans back..

What will help is how Donegal approach it or even during the game would McGuinness change players if Tyrone are well ahead in other game. While he will want to be winning games, it could be going into 3 weekends in a row, ye have been hit with injuries already and this weekend isn't a must win, if Tyrone win, and the following two weekends will be must win. Its a theory that could be completely wrong but you never know.

If I was backing anyone at the start of the year, it would have been Donegal, ye haven't hit the performances I thought they would yet but that can easily change and I think Croke Park will suit the tactics alot more. Really hope the rumors i read there of McGee being out for rest of championship are false, Langan and McGee fully fit are probably the best midfield in the country.

tommy132 (Mayo) - Posts: 642 - 12/06/2025 09:38:27    2616848

Link

Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yeah and for the reasons you outlined, I think it would be a statement win if we can beat them.
If we're genuine All Ireland contenders as a lot of pundits would have us, then these are the type of tough matches we need to be winning. We might still squeak through to the prelims if we lose, but it wouldn't exactly bode well for further tests which lie ahead.

A tight one or two point win against a Mayo team fighting for their lives would be a statement of intent.
Easier said than done of course."
Donegal should be excited at this opportunity, this a great chance to test where we are at in a knock-out scenario against a Mayo team who when the turn it on, are a great team.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1371 - 12/06/2025 10:08:43    2616855

Link

Replying To WeGoAgain:  "Seriously, will you ever give it a rest. This is the Donegal gaa thread. I personally think Donegal are a better side man for man and should have the beating of this current Mayo team failing a total systems failure. I don't give two monkeys if you think that's arrogant and and not properly respecting "your guys". Paddy durcan is an absolute fine player. I will not say the Mayo team is dependent on him, like you said with Murphy, as that would be disrespectful to the rest of the Mayo team. If you want to read disrespect for the Donegal team, head on over to the Mayo blog. Apparently we're massively overrated, all down to the McGuinness hype, an ok team but not great, dependent on Murphy (yawn) etc etc. The difference is, we don't feel the need to go on there and correct every single comment expressing a confidence in their team. Donegal by 6!"
Just on this dependency on Murphy chat. Did 2024 not happen? Where we won Ulster and made an All Ireland semi-final? Without Murphy? Surely not.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9803 - 12/06/2025 10:09:31    2616856

Link

Replying To greenfan:  "I never said 'if you can't beat Mayo no chance of winning sam" . That was someone else. I never said Paddy Duncan 'may need marking'. Get your facts straight before you go on a ridiculous rant and have a go at me."
I said that if we can't beat mayo we can forget about winning an all Ireland this year. And I stand by it. It's my opinion and probably the opinion of alot of people. I'm not running down mayo a fabulous gaa county but this team is nowhere near the team of a few years ago. You can't win an all Ireland without marquee forwards.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2624 - 12/06/2025 10:23:22    2616861

Link

The Tyrone game was an anomaly for me based on evidence so far. IF we can produce another performance and get a result v Donegal then I'll sit up and take notice but for now all signs points towards a Donegal victory. Ye are just further developed than us and in reality have more better players. You also have the McGuinness factor. Yes Tyrone beat Donegal but two weeks rest. Most teams are having bad days out this year due to the condensed nature of this championship. The only team cruising along in 3rd gear as usual are Kerry.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11637 - 12/06/2025 10:25:07    2616862

Link

Replying To Lockjaw:  "Just on this dependency on Murphy chat. Did 2024 not happen? Where we won Ulster and made an All Ireland semi-final? Without Murphy? Surely not."
Precisely. For what it's worth, I think it's stemming this year somewhat from the last ten mins of the Tyrone match when we looked to go long to Murphy every time and probably expected too much at that stage of a tiring game. I might add that we pretty much secured our division one status this year too prior to Murphy's return to play, albeit he added massively when introduced against both Armagh and Derry.

WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 81 - 12/06/2025 11:23:52    2616885

Link

Replying To rorysboys:  "I said that if we can't beat mayo we can forget about winning an all Ireland this year. And I stand by it. It's my opinion and probably the opinion of alot of people. I'm not running down mayo a fabulous gaa county but this team is nowhere near the team of a few years ago. You can't win an all Ireland without marquee forwards."
You are correct. They don't have the firepower needed to win the all ireland. Looks like their great fans think the same judging by the small crowds at most of their games so far this year.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 668 - 12/06/2025 12:36:46    2616909

Link

Replying To rorysboys:  "I said that if we can't beat mayo we can forget about winning an all Ireland this year. And I stand by it. It's my opinion and probably the opinion of alot of people. I'm not running down mayo a fabulous gaa county but this team is nowhere near the team of a few years ago. You can't win an all Ireland without marquee forwards."
Still a ridiculous statement. If you can't beat Mayo you can forget about sam how arrogant.
We are not as good as the team who put it up to the Dubs 6 in a row. Obviously not as we are a team in transition one of the youngest teams in the country .

Yet we are still in division 1 so can hardly be as bad you make us out to be . Came within a grasp of beating Galway in connacht final who are also favourites for sam to .
Write us off at your peril love the arrogance from you lot for Sunday and the dismissal of our young guys hope it spurs them on and it will !

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 196 - 12/06/2025 13:01:48    2616920

Link

Replying To WeGoAgain:  "Precisely. For what it's worth, I think it's stemming this year somewhat from the last ten mins of the Tyrone match when we looked to go long to Murphy every time and probably expected too much at that stage of a tiring game. I might add that we pretty much secured our division one status this year too prior to Murphy's return to play, albeit he added massively when introduced against both Armagh and Derry."
Tyrone pressed up on Donegal kickouts late in the 2nd half and realised Gavin Mulreaney was struggling to get them away, in which case he repeatedly just kicked long to Murphy as nobody else was showing.
McGuinness addressed that against Cavan, I noticed they had a workaround to help Mulreaney and it was much better kickout display from us.

There is no doubting Murphy's influence, but I think Michael Langan, Jason McGee, Shaun Patton and Caolan McGonigle are just as important and it was after Jason McGee went off injured against Galway last year that Galway started to get on top around the middle late in the 2nd half of that AI SF. We badly need these guys all fit, as otherwise we face an uphill midfield battle.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1371 - 12/06/2025 13:09:36    2616924

Link

Replying To tommy132:  "Yeah Mayo have themselves in a situation that seems to suit them, but also its why they wont win the big one, its kind of like the playing to the level of the opposition mentality and you wont win overall with that mentality.
I can see why Donegal are slightly worried cause you never know what type of performance Mayo will bring, but I do think the Tyrone game was the big shock result this year and they have struggled for few years to pull off two good results in a row. Mayo are lacking the power and pace to compete with the top teams and of course the scoring power is lacking also. Mayo could do with having 3 or 4 Durcans back..

What will help is how Donegal approach it or even during the game would McGuinness change players if Tyrone are well ahead in other game. While he will want to be winning games, it could be going into 3 weekends in a row, ye have been hit with injuries already and this weekend isn't a must win, if Tyrone win, and the following two weekends will be must win. Its a theory that could be completely wrong but you never know.

If I was backing anyone at the start of the year, it would have been Donegal, ye haven't hit the performances I thought they would yet but that can easily change and I think Croke Park will suit the tactics alot more. Really hope the rumors i read there of McGee being out for rest of championship are false, Langan and McGee fully fit are probably the best midfield in the country."
The problem we have is we put too much into winning Ulster, that extra time win over Armagh and the celebration after it and then we were very flat against Tyrone who had the perfect prep for that game, 4 weeks to prepare and even then as bad as we played that day we still could have won.
We recovered well against Cavan and now we have Mayo fighting for survival, a dangerous team always and they are better when their back is to the wall, I can see it being a draw, also can't see Jim resting players, he wants to win every game.
I think if our focus was winning Sam we should have forgotten about Ulster but that's not going to happen with Jim either.
If we get the wind in our sails and the injured men back we have a team capable of winning Sam but it's a tough ask given how much football we've played already.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3246 - 12/06/2025 13:25:55    2616933

Link

Replying To S1234:  "Still a ridiculous statement. If you can't beat Mayo you can forget about sam how arrogant.
We are not as good as the team who put it up to the Dubs 6 in a row. Obviously not as we are a team in transition one of the youngest teams in the country .

Yet we are still in division 1 so can hardly be as bad you make us out to be . Came within a grasp of beating Galway in connacht final who are also favourites for sam to .
Write us off at your peril love the arrogance from you lot for Sunday and the dismissal of our young guys hope it spurs them on and it will !"
You put it up to the Dubs 6 in a row.. but didn't beat them. Came within a grasp of beating Galway.. but didn't ....

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 668 - 12/06/2025 13:55:59    2616941

Link

Replying To S1234:  "Still a ridiculous statement. If you can't beat Mayo you can forget about sam how arrogant.
We are not as good as the team who put it up to the Dubs 6 in a row. Obviously not as we are a team in transition one of the youngest teams in the country .

Yet we are still in division 1 so can hardly be as bad you make us out to be . Came within a grasp of beating Galway in connacht final who are also favourites for sam to .
Write us off at your peril love the arrogance from you lot for Sunday and the dismissal of our young guys hope it spurs them on and it will !"
Your not making a lot of sense?
You first of all say its arrogant of people to say " if Donegal cannot beat Mayo they can forget about sam"
You then say Mayo are not as good as they used to be as they are a team in transition. That's a bit of a contradiction?

If Donegal loose on Sunday I think they will find it hard to recover within a week to play a preliminary quarter final away from home and if they win that match play a quarter final a week later and that's assuming Tyrone beat Cavan.

As for Galway they are lucky to have 1 point after 2 matches in their group so I wouldn't be used them as a benchmark to any kind of form.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 542 - 12/06/2025 14:10:12    2616945

Link

Replying To S1234:  "Still a ridiculous statement. If you can't beat Mayo you can forget about sam how arrogant.
We are not as good as the team who put it up to the Dubs 6 in a row. Obviously not as we are a team in transition one of the youngest teams in the country .

Yet we are still in division 1 so can hardly be as bad you make us out to be . Came within a grasp of beating Galway in connacht final who are also favourites for sam to .
Write us off at your peril love the arrogance from you lot for Sunday and the dismissal of our young guys hope it spurs them on and it will !"
Mayo are one of the youngest teams in the country? You just made that up didn't you.

WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 81 - 12/06/2025 14:17:09    2616949

Link

Replying To Scenicparish:  "Your not making a lot of sense?
You first of all say its arrogant of people to say " if Donegal cannot beat Mayo they can forget about sam"
You then say Mayo are not as good as they used to be as they are a team in transition. That's a bit of a contradiction?

If Donegal loose on Sunday I think they will find it hard to recover within a week to play a preliminary quarter final away from home and if they win that match play a quarter final a week later and that's assuming Tyrone beat Cavan.

As for Galway they are lucky to have 1 point after 2 matches in their group so I wouldn't be used them as a benchmark to any kind of form."
Why are you all keep responding to that multi account troll? the Mayo fellas told us she was 'Claire' from the Mayo thread, also posts as Jim1191 or some similar name.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3246 - 12/06/2025 14:36:56    2616953

Link

Replying To S1234:  "Still a ridiculous statement. If you can't beat Mayo you can forget about sam how arrogant.
We are not as good as the team who put it up to the Dubs 6 in a row. Obviously not as we are a team in transition one of the youngest teams in the country .

Yet we are still in division 1 so can hardly be as bad you make us out to be . Came within a grasp of beating Galway in connacht final who are also favourites for sam to .
Write us off at your peril love the arrogance from you lot for Sunday and the dismissal of our young guys hope it spurs them on and it will !"
I doubt if the players or management read this forum. Your paltry support in the first games show that the mayo fanbase doesn't believe. Hopefully we'll travel in big numbers surprised that it hasn't sold out already.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2624 - 12/06/2025 15:16:43    2616966

Link

Replying To Tirchonaill1:  "Why are you all keep responding to that multi account troll? the Mayo fellas told us she was 'Claire' from the Mayo thread, also posts as Jim1191 or some similar name."
Anyone posting nonsense will be clipped up..

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 542 - 12/06/2025 15:53:13    2616984

Link

Michael Murphy wins player of the month, what a player he is to come out of retirement and get himself back in top condition again and playing the way he is, lot of fellas could take lessons from him.
https://www.donegaldaily.com/2025/06/12/murphy-wins-gaa-player-of-the-month/

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3246 - 12/06/2025 17:32:18    2617014

Link

If Tyrone are battering Cavan and Galway finish 2nd in group 4, i wonder could word filter down to players 2nd half and Mayo and Donegal settle for a draw?

Gets both through and keeps a little in tank for prelims.

If Galway finish 2nd, it means Mayo would be looking at Meath or Down the following week, neither which would strike much fear.

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 360 - 12/06/2025 17:49:33    2617015

Link

Looks like an easy win for Donegal on all form guides.

jacktheboy (Donegal) - Posts: 484 - 12/06/2025 19:19:59    2617032

Link