HoganStand GAA Football and Hurling

National Forum

Jimmy's Coming Back!

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post

You need to Login to Post

It looks like the second coming is almost upon us. Certainly very exciting times ahead and a much needed boost for all Donegal people. This is going to be box office. I see there is a bit of discussion about whether there is more talent this time compared to Jim's first time around. Personally speaking I find it very hard to compare as none of us really know the kind of gains the current group can achieve under Jim's coaching and guidance but there is any amount of talent to choose from. Remember players like Oisin Gallen, Conor O'Donnell, Michael Langan, Niall O'Donnell and Jason McGee have lots of talent and any amount untapped potential. Donegal have an abundance of big men to dominate around the middle and speed merchants like Ryan McHugh, Caolan McColgan, Peader Mogan and Ban Gallagher to feed off the possession. Of course all the talk will be about will he or won't he regarding Michael Murphy but I expect that'll be played down but wouldn't be surprised if does a Cluxton closer to championship time. Add in players like McFadden Ferry, Mcmenamin and Mark Curran who could potentially become the steely defenders Donegal are seemingly missing under Jim and you get a guage of the potential in the county. While some supporters claim we haven't produced much at underage recently when you scratch beneath the surface it's not necessarily true. For example Donegal came very close to winning Ulster with a team minus Conor O'Donnell and Oisin Gallen. They were within a whisker of knocking out the eventual All Ireland winners Tyrone a couple of years ago after a titanic battle that went to extra time. There are definitely a couple of players along with McColgan from that group that could be real springers that we're not talking about now after Jim comes in. Like I said it's exciting intriguing times but I really hope that along with Jim coming in that the academy is a priority hopefully with Karl Lacey back in control. panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2784 - 19/08/2023 20:32:10 2501372 Link
Replying To jacktheboy: "If Jimmy comes back its R.I.P. for Gaelic Football" I dont think it will be RIP Gaelic football, while no one will be really wetting their pants he will make Donegal a lot better no doubt about that germac (Down) - Posts: 536 - 19/08/2023 21:06:10 2501377 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "Great if he returns. But I'd say best he could hope for is ulster and maybe all ire semis. Kerry and Dublin are too far ahead imo for the next 2/3 maybe 4 years. Also the brand of football that made Donegal the first time would be counteracted by those two teams. Would we expect to see a different type of football played under a second term ?" Agree and Jimmy will walk rings round most managers and the rest will need to get their thinking caps on. Like it or loth it Football has come a long way from the catch and hoof days. Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2023 - 19/08/2023 23:15:45 2501389 Link
From a bystander view Jim McGuinness is great news for Donegal but in my humble opinion it's great news for football although I might be sorry if he whips my team. I also would love to see Michael Murphy coaxed back even for 20 mins a game. I think MM is a super player that has been flogged too much playing every position. MM is a fantastic player and deserves every bit of credit he gets. Love to see him back and Jim McG but hope we don't meet them 8 championship. CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3687 - 20/08/2023 00:57:03 2501395 Link
Replying To Lockjaw: "You're probably right. But I do think there is untapped potential in the current crop, a lot of whom were beaten in the 2014 All Ireland minor final, so the pedigree is definitely there. They are all coming into that prime age bracket now, 27 or 28. Definite similarities to the situation in 2010. You have the spine of a very decent outfit, if all available and injury free. Patton, McCole, McMenamin, McFadden-Ferry, Ban Gallagher, McGee, McGonigle, O'Baoíll, Thompson, McHugh, McBrearty. Add the likes of Gallen, Mogan, the two O'Donnells, plus the newcomers from this year who showed well like McColgan, Curran and Doherty. Could Jim coax the mercurial MacNiallais back? And of course, if we could convince the great man to give it one more whirl.... With a fair wind, and no disruptions like 2023, I see no reason why we shouldn't be targeting a last 8 appearance at least." Seen that Donegal minor team up close against us in 2014 in Sligo in the Quarter final, it was far from one of our strongest minor teams and only one of that team went on to establish himself at senior level Brian Stack who played in the forward line that day. Donegal that day didn't look like a group that would go on to reach the AI final and be competitive in the final. Cian Mulligan was the stand out player kicking long range scores than none of the Donegal forwards was able to do and If hadn't deflected Evan McGrath's attempt for a goal out for a '45 in injury-time, Roscommon would be in another All-Ireland semi-final. Some good players you had on your 2022 U20 which i seen in action against us in the league match, given his size Bobby McGettigan was a real handful but will likely need plenty of gym work to get him senior championship ready, Johnny McGroddy in the half forward line also impressive. The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 3775 - 20/08/2023 14:03:54 2501436 Link
https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1276943/jim-mcguinness-could-be-back-as-donegal-manager-as-early-as-monday-night.html?fbclid=IwAR2-qlr-5qriPeDx9r84KDCnuEPALr8GRAe1JH0lHMnGOXuVXqvZsF2geVQ It's like Christmas Eve for Donegal men :-) SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 600 - 20/08/2023 18:06:35 2501459 Link
Replying To The_analyser: "Seen that Donegal minor team up close against us in 2014 in Sligo in the Quarter final, it was far from one of our strongest minor teams and only one of that team went on to establish himself at senior level Brian Stack who played in the forward line that day. Donegal that day didn't look like a group that would go on to reach the AI final and be competitive in the final. Cian Mulligan was the stand out player kicking long range scores than none of the Donegal forwards was able to do and If hadn't deflected Evan McGrath's attempt for a goal out for a '45 in injury-time, Roscommon would be in another All-Ireland semi-final. Some good players you had on your 2022 U20 which i seen in action against us in the league match, given his size Bobby McGettigan was a real handful but will likely need plenty of gym work to get him senior championship ready, Johnny McGroddy in the half forward line also impressive." A lot of that minor team went on to play senior football. TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1143 - 20/08/2023 19:14:48 2501481 Link
Replying To TheRock2121: "A lot of that minor team went on to play senior football." Some very highly rated players on that team never broke through at senior for one reason or another - Stephen McBrearty, Michael Carroll, Kieran Gillespie to name a few. Bonner had two Na Rossa men on the panel as well for political reasons. peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 817 - 20/08/2023 19:27:39 2501484 Link
Any word on Jims backroom team, will he bring back Fisher and Maxi ??????? jacktheboy (Donegal) - Posts: 410 - 21/08/2023 09:32:51 2501527 Link
Replying To peiledoir20: "Some very highly rated players on that team never broke through at senior for one reason or another - Stephen McBrearty, Michael Carroll, Kieran Gillespie to name a few. Bonner had two Na Rossa men on the panel as well for political reasons." Bonner got them to an all Ireland final which no other manager ever did.. shows how much you know about football naming 3 players , two of them who wudnt commit and Gillespie who had a few acl injuries.. who are you to say who should be on a minor panel. Typical of you to be gaving out about young lads making a minor squad. Get a life lad.. rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2423 - 21/08/2023 10:45:36 2501537 Link
Replying To Saynothing: "Agree and Jimmy will walk rings round most managers and the rest will need to get their thinking caps on. Like it or loth it Football has come a long way from the catch and hoof days." Football has indeed come a long way -should it not now be called handball considering that the number of hand passes far exceeds the kicking!! browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 21/08/2023 16:38:58 2501655 Link
Replying To browncows: "Football has indeed come a long way -should it not now be called handball considering that the number of hand passes far exceeds the kicking!!" Did good Meath men care when they won a few weeks ago? Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2023 - 21/08/2023 16:45:22 2501657 Link
Replying To TheRock2121: "A lot of that minor team went on to play senior football." And how many of them have become established senior footballer? As I said only one of that Roscommon minor team did and a good number of them did play for the seniors. The_analyser (Roscommon) - Posts: 3775 - 21/08/2023 17:39:29 2501672 Link
Replying To Saynothing: "Did good Meath men care when they won a few weeks ago?" Jimmy is back. A great day for Donegal football. Timing is perfect, we need a boost and no better man to lift the spirit within the County. It's at least a 3 year plan but plenty of talent in the County to be optimistic in the future again. Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 301 - 21/08/2023 21:07:18 2501693 Link
Well I don't think there could be any Donegal supporters who aren't absolutely thrilled this morning with the news confirming Jim McGuinness has returned. It really is a shot in the arm. I think after last year's debacle, a lot if Donegal people had become disillusioned with the county setup. This news should reignite the passion for sure. I saw a few people suggesting that he doesn't have the same calibre of players this time around. Maybe so. Hindsight is great though. We all know how brilliant the likes of McGee, McGlynn, big Neil, McFadden etc became. But would they have become All Star footballers without Jim's influence? It will be interesting to see if he can drive the likes of Langan, Ban Gallagher, Thompson, Gallen, O'Donnell etc on another few %. There is a lot of talent in the squad, could now be the time to see it fully flourish? I'll be happy enough if Jim gets all he needs to do the best job he can. If he can get everyone on board, and he gets the boys as well prepared as he can, then Donegal will take to the field and leave nothing in the dressing room. That's all we can ask. Hopefully it will lead to success in terms of silverware too. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9189 - 22/08/2023 07:11:50 2501711 Link
Excellent appointment for Donegal. Whilst the GAA is professional in preparation it does show there is a big step up to making it as a professional manager in soccer. I'd say this is indication the breakthrough isn't possible in soccer despite every attempt being made. This is also a good time to step back into Donegal and I don't think football is particularly strong so there is potential success over the next year or two. If he can get Donegal back to All Ireland Finals will be interesting to follow. sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 22/08/2023 08:00:55 2501714 Link
Great to be alive for Donegal people today. Murphy could easily be asked back , he's less than a year older than Aidan O Shea and he had a great year for Mayo. Ulster title? Why not. Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2023 - 22/08/2023 09:48:38 2501720 Link
Replying To The_analyser: "And how many of them have become established senior footballer? As I said only one of that Roscommon minor team did and a good number of them did play for the seniors." Looking at the team who bet Dublin in the semi, ten went to to play senior at one point. 3/4 established players. TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1143 - 22/08/2023 11:05:44 2501727 Link
All these people who were praising Kerry Dublin for playing Jim style football will now be saying he is destroying football highdropingball (Donegal) - Posts: 100 - 22/08/2023 11:24:47 2501735 Link
Nice to have Jim back. Should be a real boost for the county. Hopefully now we can get all our best players back and get back into division 1. rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2423 - 22/08/2023 11:37:22 2501738 Link