Donegal GAA thread

One thing I've noticed this year - in both county and club games here, is the amount of pads being subbed only to be brought back on again. Happened more so yesterday with extra time but I have seen it in other club games as well as the game against Dublin in Croke Park.

For me it raises two issues:

1. Player welfare/injury prevention. In a time when player welfare is rightly front and centre, surely sending a player back on having already played increases his risk of injury. It's not like the NFL or rugby where you see them keeping warm on a stationary bike at the side of the pitch.

2. It must absolutely default the confident of the subs who don't get on at all. Slogging away, in most cases, since January only to be told that a player who has already exhausted himself for at least 40 minutes is still a better option than you. Might explain the turnover of players we see in some squads.

Just something I have observed this past while. Can be helped if a team only has two of three fresh subs, but both teams had a least 10 togged yesterday and both reserve teams are gone from Championship so no fear of players being burned.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1746 - 05/10/2026 17:29:57    2696320

The keeper (Donegal) - Posts: 747 - 05/10/2026 17:43:04    2696323