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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To brayballer:  "Nail on head Trueblue.I work with a few Donegal lads and they cant see any wrong in him.He was a good player but as a manager he constantly thinks everyone is against him.When his players do nasty stuff then no problem but when anyone else does it awful."
Complaint number 20,788

Al_Maguire (Donegal) - Posts: 351 - 27/05/2026 14:46:33    2676038

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Replying To brayballer:  "Nail on head Trueblue.I work with a few Donegal lads and they cant see any wrong in him.He was a good player but as a manager he constantly thinks everyone is against him.When his players do nasty stuff then no problem but when anyone else does it awful."
I think you've just described every manager that ever existed there brayballer. For the record, I have great time for ger Brennan. He got stuck in as a player and he comes across as a sound man and enjoy listening to him. I'd have him all day long over jim gavin. I can only speak for myself when i say I would stick by JmcG through thick and thin because of what he's done for our county over the years. He's always going to have legendary status here, same as MM. Jim has been through an awful lot in his younger life and he is an outstanding person to have come through it and achieved what he has. He has a genuine love of his county, beyond what a lot of people have and I do believe he is genuine when he instills in his players that they are doing it all for the people of donegal. That's maybe not easy to understand if you're not from here and only see the odd interview after a match etc.

WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 196 - 27/05/2026 15:01:39    2676044

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Replying To Al_Maguire:  "Are we not entitled to stick by him or even agree with him on things you disagree with. Sounds like you don't like him so therefore he's fair game to be attacked."
He's not been attacked, again its differing opinions on some of the carry on he's been at over the years. For the record I would have put it in the same light as some of the nonsense Mickey Harte went on with back in the day also. And 100% you can stick with him but in some senses I feel that standards are being sidelined by blind faith if you get me. I genuinely get the impression a lot of Donegal fans would defend him even if he had flattened O'Connor with a box in the aftermath of the brawl as opposed to a push/shove.

You would struggle to find any Dublin supporters for example defending Ger Brennan for his infraction against Galway. Most fans I know rolled their eyes and just thought ah yeah Ger is at it again. You wouldn't have seen Jim Gavin at that sort of stuff in a million years.

TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 339 - 27/05/2026 15:26:23    2676059

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Replying To TrueBlue35:  "He's not been attacked, again its differing opinions on some of the carry on he's been at over the years. For the record I would have put it in the same light as some of the nonsense Mickey Harte went on with back in the day also. And 100% you can stick with him but in some senses I feel that standards are being sidelined by blind faith if you get me. I genuinely get the impression a lot of Donegal fans would defend him even if he had flattened O'Connor with a box in the aftermath of the brawl as opposed to a push/shove.

You would struggle to find any Dublin supporters for example defending Ger Brennan for his infraction against Galway. Most fans I know rolled their eyes and just thought ah yeah Ger is at it again. You wouldn't have seen Jim Gavin at that sort of stuff in a million years."
This has to stop. What Ger did and what Jim did is so far apart and either the people online and the media that keep spouting this line have either not seen both instances or were driven by an agenda to see Jim banned.

Here's the incidents spliced together.

Now cop on

https://youtu.be/2lbIt7gw3KA

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 449 - 27/05/2026 15:46:16    2676070

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Replying To brayballer:  "Nail on head Trueblue.I work with a few Donegal lads and they cant see any wrong in him.He was a good player but as a manager he constantly thinks everyone is against him.When his players do nasty stuff then no problem but when anyone else does it awful."
Like a lot of top managers Jim builds the siege mentality, he's not the only manager who does that, it's been a tactic of managers in many sports for decades.
For too many years Donegal were seen as a nice team, good footballers but with a soft centre when the going got tough. When Jim is involved he doesn't let that happen and he makes sure the players have belief and never forget they are representing the people of Donegal. Times are tough for many people, having a team to be proud of means a lot to them and Jim has given us that, so people up here adore him for that. We'll always back him, because anything he does is for the good of Donegal.
In the league final, Murphy punched the fella who put Ciaran Thompson out for a year... big deal... people need to get over it, worse happens in games up and down the country every weekend, it's happened before, it'll happen again.
Donegal were bullied by Kerry in last year's All Ireland final, it's clear that they have decided that can't happen again, they won't be taking a step backwards when they meet them.
Time for people to stop crying about what's in the past and start talking about football.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 767 - 27/05/2026 15:50:59    2676073

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Replying To TrueBlue35:  "He's not been attacked, again its differing opinions on some of the carry on he's been at over the years. For the record I would have put it in the same light as some of the nonsense Mickey Harte went on with back in the day also. And 100% you can stick with him but in some senses I feel that standards are being sidelined by blind faith if you get me. I genuinely get the impression a lot of Donegal fans would defend him even if he had flattened O'Connor with a box in the aftermath of the brawl as opposed to a push/shove.

You would struggle to find any Dublin supporters for example defending Ger Brennan for his infraction against Galway. Most fans I know rolled their eyes and just thought ah yeah Ger is at it again. You wouldn't have seen Jim Gavin at that sort of stuff in a million years."
"I genuinely get the impression a lot of Donegal fans would defend him even if he had flattened O'Connor with a box in the aftermath of the brawl as opposed to a push/shove."

I didn't see or hear one Donegal support Murphy after the incident in the league final, why would they support Jim in your hypothetical example?

You speak about blind faith, what you are portraying above is blind hatred.

And all because why? He had the audacity to beat them 2014? Something in fact Dublin should be glad of as it made them re evaluate and was the foundation for their 6 in a row triumph.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1644 - 27/05/2026 16:03:33    2676082

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For years Donegal were seen as a soft touch. We could always produce good footballers but the preparation and commitment was often chaotic and ad-hoc. On our day we'd give anyone a game, but when it came to the serious stuff we were swatted aside more often than not, and the players would go on a bender for a few days.

Since Jim took over though, standards have improved beyond all recognition. Our county players are looked after and better prepared than any previous generation could've dreamt of. That had led to a serious uptick in provincial honours, one All Ireland, and we consistently compete at the top table now.

There is a narrative in the GAA that Kerry-Dublin is the quintessential All-Ireland final. When upstarts upset that so-called natural order, just watch the columnists from the Kingdom and the Pale get busy with their pens and microphones!

If Donegal weren't such a threat to Kerry there'd have been barely a peep about it.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10350 - 27/05/2026 16:11:45    2676085

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "For years Donegal were seen as a soft touch. We could always produce good footballers but the preparation and commitment was often chaotic and ad-hoc. On our day we'd give anyone a game, but when it came to the serious stuff we were swatted aside more often than not, and the players would go on a bender for a few days.

Since Jim took over though, standards have improved beyond all recognition. Our county players are looked after and better prepared than any previous generation could've dreamt of. That had led to a serious uptick in provincial honours, one All Ireland, and we consistently compete at the top table now.

There is a narrative in the GAA that Kerry-Dublin is the quintessential All-Ireland final. When upstarts upset that so-called natural order, just watch the columnists from the Kingdom and the Pale get busy with their pens and microphones!

If Donegal weren't such a threat to Kerry there'd have been barely a peep about it."
As the great Paidí himself said - Kerry supporters are animals when they see you as a threat.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1644 - 27/05/2026 16:35:26    2676097

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "For years Donegal were seen as a soft touch. We could always produce good footballers but the preparation and commitment was often chaotic and ad-hoc. On our day we'd give anyone a game, but when it came to the serious stuff we were swatted aside more often than not, and the players would go on a bender for a few days.

Since Jim took over though, standards have improved beyond all recognition. Our county players are looked after and better prepared than any previous generation could've dreamt of. That had led to a serious uptick in provincial honours, one All Ireland, and we consistently compete at the top table now.

There is a narrative in the GAA that Kerry-Dublin is the quintessential All-Ireland final. When upstarts upset that so-called natural order, just watch the columnists from the Kingdom and the Pale get busy with their pens and microphones!

If Donegal weren't such a threat to Kerry there'd have been barely a peep about it."
Realistically you haven't been consistently competing for all Irelands. Its only during Jims first stint and his second coming (after his soccer career didn't take off) that youve been competing.

And stop with the persecution complex .
Kerry and dublin are the two counties most "neutrals" enjoy seeing beaten (success breeds envy).
Youd probably like to think that it's yourselves or another Ulster team but...

Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 31 - 27/05/2026 17:32:22    2676122

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Replying To peiledoir20:  ""I genuinely get the impression a lot of Donegal fans would defend him even if he had flattened O'Connor with a box in the aftermath of the brawl as opposed to a push/shove."

I didn't see or hear one Donegal support Murphy after the incident in the league final, why would they support Jim in your hypothetical example?

You speak about blind faith, what you are portraying above is blind hatred.

And all because why? He had the audacity to beat them 2014? Something in fact Dublin should be glad of as it made them re evaluate and was the foundation for their 6 in a row triumph."
Hate is a very strong word and I genuinely would never hate anyone involved in gaelic games. All I have said is I am not a fan of McGuinness and the way he carries on. His comments to Tommy Rooney last weekend was the latest example of him feeling like he is impervious to any criticism or negative media coverage. But look he has worked wonders for you lot so we will just agree to have differing opinions on this one. No big deal.

A victory over Dublin all of what 12 years ago is something you bring up as it was a highlight for you at the time. I don't think many Dublin people give it a second thought given the run that happened after that happened to include two handy wins against Donegal in '16 & '18.

TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 339 - 27/05/2026 21:44:31    2676165

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Replying To Seniorleague:  "Realistically you haven't been consistently competing for all Irelands. Its only during Jims first stint and his second coming (after his soccer career didn't take off) that youve been competing.

And stop with the persecution complex .
Kerry and dublin are the two counties most "neutrals" enjoy seeing beaten (success breeds envy).
Youd probably like to think that it's yourselves or another Ulster team but..."
Donegal has maintained Div 1 status bar 2 temporary drops since Jim's first stint. We've competed in most ulster finals since 2011, winning 7. That's consistent for a county like Donegal, he never said we have been winning all irelands. You couldn't just make your comment without having a dig at Jim's soccer career. Speaks volumes really.

WeGoAgain (Donegal) - Posts: 196 - 27/05/2026 22:04:05    2676171

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Replying To Seniorleague:  "Realistically you haven't been consistently competing for all Irelands. Its only during Jims first stint and his second coming (after his soccer career didn't take off) that youve been competing.

And stop with the persecution complex .
Kerry and dublin are the two counties most "neutrals" enjoy seeing beaten (success breeds envy).
Youd probably like to think that it's yourselves or another Ulster team but..."
He said we compete at the top table which is true. We've been a team that gets to semis mostly under Jim 6.5 years in charge. We won and got ulster finals in between his two reigns. Admittedly we underachieved under Declan (should have done a lot better) and we didn't stick with Rory long enough but we were a team that couldn't get past qualifiers for years and now have routinely been in the top 6-8 in the country.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 373 - 28/05/2026 03:01:51    2676198

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Replying To WeGoAgain:  "Donegal has maintained Div 1 status bar 2 temporary drops since Jim's first stint. We've competed in most ulster finals since 2011, winning 7. That's consistent for a county like Donegal, he never said we have been winning all irelands. You couldn't just make your comment without having a dig at Jim's soccer career. Speaks volumes really."
Twas a bit below the belt i admit

Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 31 - 28/05/2026 10:02:42    2676217

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