Very odd decision to show two games at the same time on both the Saturday and Sunday this weekend in the senior championship. I would've thought it would make more sense to pick different times so the weekend and season passes are more attractive to purchase.
Nonetheless looking forward to some good games to kick off the championship. A few interesting fixtures.
I don't blame young lads going to America for the summer but it goes to show the farce that is the group stages of the Donegal championship. Our reigning county champions, and our new league champions both happy to do without some of their top young players for the opening three games. I know this comes up every year but Donegal should consider the new all Ireland format which is also used in Derry. At least it would introduce some jeapordy to the competition from the beginning.
For those participating in the predictions competition. Make your predcitions like this for example... Gaoth Dobhair x 2 St. Eunans x 7 NC v Downings - DRAW
1 point for getting the winner right, 3 points if you call a draw, 5 points if you call the winner with exact winning margin. I'll be away for a couple of weeks, so I'll put up next weekend's fixtures some day next week. Then when I'm back I'll tot up all the scores from the first two rounds of action.
Senior: Gaoth Dobhair v St. Michaels St. Eunans v Aodh Ruadh Naomh Conaill v Downings Glenswilly v Termon Glenfin v Naomh Columba Dungloe v MacCumhaills Ardara v Kilcar Four Masters v Killybegs
Intermediate: Naomh Mhuire v Milford Carndonagh v Buncrana Fanad Gaels v Burt St. Nauls v Red Hughs Bundoran v Naomh Padraig (UC) Malin v Cloughaneely
Junior: Urris v Naomh Padraig (L) Naomh Ultan v Na Rossa Convoy v Letterkenny Gaels Pettigo v Moville Naomh Colmcille v Robert Emmets
Replying To JimB1991: "You can't look at it like that, Mayo not taking on 2 pointers changes the way that game is played and how Kerry are able to defend If they were not kicking two pointer attempts and trying to work it in, it would have created more opportunities for Kerry to sit in their zonal defensive shape and then engage the man in possession in a tighter, more crowded space and force turnovers."
Couldn't agree more and this is really the heart of our own problems last year. It became so obvious how we wanted our attacks to play out and teams built for it. Down Cork and Dublin all stopped buying the overlapping runs around the arc and teams knew well we weren't going to be putting a big ball into Hugh McFadden, who was only playing inside to make room for shooters on the arc. By comparison look at Kerry in the semi final - they used the inside mark twice which has the small but important role of keeping Dublin honest, and saying to them that if you don't watch the lads playing furthest up the pitch we can catch you sleeping. Same goes on counter attacks; for Kerry and Mayo they might start heaving ball down the pitch to Kobe or Beirne or Geaney or Dave Clifford, or they might charge it up the field with McBrien or Gavin White. Point is it leaves the other team wondering whether to filter back or stay up and mark up sooner rather than later.
Every time we got the ball last year, teams knew to just run back and mark the arc. I honestly don't think we are stuck for forwards at all, it's ideas we are stuck for. Variety in your attack is worth more than any individual forward.