Replying To shaggykev: "Odhran MacNiallais will be 34 next season and gaelic football has just not been the bee all and end all of his life. The commitment required is insane for intercounty level.
He was a smashing player back in 2014 but that is 12 years ago now. People have pined for her return for years but pretty sure he said no to Bonner about 6 years ago.
After a few days to reflect there does indeed appear to be something wrong with the panel and I have no idea whether they injured or are their bodies just not able to do it anymore.
Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Bán Gallagher, Peadar Mogan and Ciaran Moore. Their trademarks have been lighting pace flying out of the defence as a pack. We just have not seen it this year. Eoghan Bán has not looked the same player after a bad injury a few seasons ago, Ryan is older now but even Finnbarr Roarty seems to not be motoring.
This is the Donegal engine right here. Our trademark style but all season, we have been talking about lacking energy. When Jim was successful first time around, whilst everyone talked about MM, really the engine was Karl Lacey. Once he lost his zip, Donegal were never going to win another All Ireland.
Yes we need to mix it and kick more and focus more on spraying the ball about but the running game is in our dna and we cannot abandon it but if guys no longer have the legs for it, we are destined to fall back into the pack unfortunately.
Superstars don't fall out of trees so maybe we have to pray Karl Lacey and co can find the talent that is currently 12-16 right now that will blossom for the next generation of talent. I don't see anyone in minors or u20s right now that is going to fundamentally improve our side to stay at the top table."
Pretty sure the modern game has shown you don't need the biggest names to compete at the top level?
Replying To eddieSize5Balls: "Odhrán is the big one. what a player he was. Imagine having him in the 2pt era ! Niall surely will be back and he's pretty young still. Do Eunan's have any young player who has yet to be called in that could add to the squad?"
I do wonder do you pay much attention to underage in Donegal. You mentioned some under age aodh ruadh forwards. I'm not sure who you are referring too. Since say ciaran Moore's age group eunans have been poor at providing players to the county underage team. Luke mcGuinness on the 20s this year. Given the size of letterkenny it's a overall a little disappointing to be honest. Four masters have had some pile of them recently with the 3carrs, mccaughan, mccahill, muldoon, monaghan, mccrea, o'neill, leneghan. Mchugh , Gillespie and Griffin were this years minors. Some of the reids and richard o'rourke also played under age for Donegal recently enough. Four masters really should be pushing strongly to dominate in Donegal over the next while. Some will make it through to Donegal senior team as well. Mccahill did look good but hasn't played since a hamstring injury against fermanagh in the 20s.