SamOnErrigal
County: Donegal
Posts: 180

1584176 Royaldun
If the Taliban were in control in Leinster, well all you Leinster counties would be playing SHI' ATE football. Did you ever hear football being described like that before. ???

Sorry Taliban are sunnis. Always sunni when the Dubs are playing the beautiful game :-)

AthCliath (Dublin) - Posts: 4347 - 05/05/2014 19:06:25    1584426

There were a number of injuries in other counties this weekend gone, and i am reminded of this happening other years too. In fact, I am reminded of players getting sent off in club games, to attend appeals in croke park, so their suspensions were overturned for all ireland quarter and semi finals. It is a ridiculous situation to expect a county to remain ship shape for the year, committing to club and county. I think that managers and county boards are being punished for being honest and open about a policy that is in situ albeit in everything but name around the country. There are no prospects for a county that does not suspend club competition to at least some degree, and there is a huge problem either way in this regard.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 05/05/2014 19:49:14    1584442

Shock horror, Donegal Gaeltacht competition was played over the bank holiday weekend with clubs using their county players over the 2 day competition. Mark McHugh also played alongside brother Ryan & Patrick McBrearty on the winning Kilcar side while M Murphy & Neil Gallagher featured for beaten finalists Glenswilley

Is JMcG losing his Taliban like grip? Where will it all end?

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 06/05/2014 17:50:07    1584762

woops
County: Kerry
Posts: 1000

1583462
The Dubs last year also showed that Donegals blueprint was not the way to be followed and if you ask me are the standard bearers of how football showed be taught to kids at the moment.

I don't know if Dublin really showed that. I mean they were successful in 2013 using their own "All out attack" system, however I wouldn't go as far as to say that they showed they Donegal blueprint was not the way. If anything Donegal failed to continue from 2012.

If Donegal somehow rekindle their fire, a Dublin v Donegal match could potentially be the single biggest match in the GAA in years.

There is something about such a game that is mouthwatering.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 06/05/2014 21:12:46    1584836

Another Donegal v Dublin Match mouth watering ? I would rather die with the thirst than watch it if it resembles 2011 semi final

dubarra (Wicklow) - Posts: 541 - 06/05/2014 21:31:50    1584844

dubarra
County: Wicklow
Posts: 105

1584844
Another Donegal v Dublin Match mouth watering ? I would rather die with the thirst than watch it if it resembles 2011 semi final

Give over will you - who forced you to watch it?. It was one game with one horribly defensive team and one defensive team.

Both teams are entirely different now. A match with a Dublin 2013 team and a Donegal 2012 team would be a great match.

squareball_1988 (Donegal) - Posts: 343 - 07/05/2014 10:29:28    1584911

dubarra
County: Wicklow
Posts: 105

1584844
Another Donegal v Dublin Match mouth watering ? I would rather die with the thirst than watch it if it resembles 2011 semi final


I have to agree with the Donegal poster, neither of the two resemble the 2011 sides in terms of style.

There is something about pairing these two up, It would be explosive I reckon in the later stages of the All Ireland series.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 07/05/2014 13:17:12    1584976

On current form, we would get beaten out the gate after 10 minutes. The mayo match last year was billed as being a clash of the titans, and look what happened. I think that we have slid back a hell of a lot since 2011.

I do think we can salvage a season at the same time. I feel that should we play to our total potential v derry we can get a result and go on perhaps to clones. But facing the dubs and giving them a game will be a job for the likes of Cork, Kerry and Mayo. Perhaps Tyrone on a very good day, and Monaghan could frighten them. But we will have to totally transform to shape up.

As for the thread at hand, I think that this happens most years in donegal, players leave the panel. It happened last year as well but there was hardly a whisper about it. I think that McHugh is a big loss,, but it is not the end of the world. There are others who will do a good job if they are given a chance.

Players will walk in smaller counties. End of.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 07/05/2014 16:46:36    1585109

I don't think Donegal 2014 would get near Dublin 2014 on current form but, yes I would love to have seen Donegal 2012 against Dublin.

It would have been a great game with Donegal coming out on top & ROC announcing his retirement at the end!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 07/05/2014 17:07:28    1585124

Donegalman
County: All
Posts: 1218

1585109
On current form, we would get beaten out the gate after 10 minutes. The mayo match last year was billed as being a clash of the titans, and look what happened. I think that we have slid back a hell of a lot since 2011.

I do think we can salvage a season at the same time. I feel that should we play to our total potential v derry we can get a result and go on perhaps to clones. But facing the dubs and giving them a game will be a job for the likes of Cork, Kerry and Mayo. Perhaps Tyrone on a very good day, and Monaghan could frighten them. But we will have to totally transform to shape up.


I think too much was made of Donegal's demise last season.

Jim McGuinness tends to ramp Donegal up gradually, and by late August they are peaking. Last season Donegal were dealt a collection of problems, constant Injuries coupled with a very late return to training meant they simply couldn't get on top.
They don't have depth, but at full strength they are still a handful for anybody.

Dublin are the form team, and have run wild under Jim Gavin's reign. Mayo, Cork and Kerry have failed to stop Dublin in the Championship since Jim Gavin's arrival. This season has seen quite a few top sides actually conform to Dublin's style, and Division 1 was quite an open place for football.

While the more defensive sides like Monaghan, Donegal and Down plied their trades down in Division 2. I believe Division 2 was stronger than most people think, and I reckon that could be reflected come championship. Time will tell.

I just wouldn't be so quick to believe Donegal are as far back as 2010.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 07/05/2014 17:38:53    1585141

While the more defensive sides like Monaghan, Donegal and Down plied their trades down in Division 2. I believe Division 2 was stronger than most people think, and I reckon that could be reflected come championship. Time will tell.

I dont agree. Division 2 was a very mediocre competition. Meath, Donegal and Monaghan were on a par, monaghan obviously didnt show their full hand until the final. Down were very disappointing. Louth, Laois and Armagh were just making up the numbers. Galway were late starters, but did offer a little bit of football in the end. To summarize, there is nothing to get exctied about re division 2 as a yardstick for the rest of the year. I would base all my evidence solely on the performance v monaghan, a game in croke park with both teams out to win. We were a whisper of 2012. That is the reality of it, I cant see us getting that form back, but I do hope that we improve to a level that we can be competitive in big games once again.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 07/05/2014 19:32:47    1585182

MuckrossHead
County: Donegal
Posts: 2460

1585124
I don't think Donegal 2014 would get near Dublin 2014 on current form but, yes I would love to have seen Donegal 2012 against Dublin.

It would have been a great game with Donegal coming out on top & ROC announcing his retirement at the end!!





You're living in fantasy land muckross! The current Dublin team would have eaten that 2012 Donegal team alive!

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 07/05/2014 20:15:09    1585194

Nobody would have beat Donegal that year... Nobody did. We're the only team to win 7 matches consecutively to win an AI. No draws or replays needed. All won fairly comprehensively.

It was the perfect season for us.

squareball_1988 (Donegal) - Posts: 343 - 07/05/2014 20:33:47    1585199

The only man that left Donegal that mattered was Rory Gallagher. Jim wasn't the brains behind 2012 it was ALL RORY and now I think every one can now see that.

CoTyrone (Tyrone) - Posts: 261 - 07/05/2014 20:51:31    1585204

Not for some the rest of us, who had to watch as our great game was...
well lets say it didn't make for great viewing! ;)

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 07/05/2014 20:51:52    1585205

The first half of the Ulster final of 2012 was fairly even up to half time and for periods in the first half Donegal were shaky enough and Down gave as good as they got. I think between them they scored five points in the last few minutes of the half but Donegal strolled it in the second half. Now I thought the Donegal v Cork game was a very good game of football especially in the first half Overall I thought Donegal got better as the year progressed, but they probably did not play that well in the final. Then again the two early goals help them on their way and they probably did not expect to be seven points up after 10 minutes. I can tell you one thing Tyrone poster it was easy on my eye as I thought we won most of the games handy enough and that's all I wanted :::a result.
As regards Donegal 2012 v Dublin2013 I'd have Donegal. I think Dublin last year were out on their feet in the last five minutes Donegal were still going strong at the end of 2012 final. We will never know but if we meet this year we have to improve big time. But we still have a good record against Dublin over the years, I think we were the first Ulster county to beat them in an All Ireland ( open to correction) and we have had a few leauge victories against them, unlike Monaghan they are not our bogey team hope we get the chance to play Dublin, it would be better to TRY and fail than not to TRY at all.

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 07/05/2014 21:38:03    1585218

SamOnErrigal
County: Donegal
Posts: 181

1585218
The first half of the Ulster final of 2012 was fairly even up to half time and for periods in the first half Donegal were shaky enough and Down gave as good as they got. I think between them they scored five points in the last few minutes of the half but Donegal strolled it in the second half. Now I thought the Donegal v Cork game was a very good game of football especially in the first half Overall I thought Donegal got better as the year progressed, but they probably did not play that well in the final. Then again the two early goals help them on their way and they probably did not expect to be seven points up after 10 minutes. I can tell you one thing Tyrone poster it was easy on my eye as I thought we won most of the games handy enough and that's all I wanted :::a result.
As regards Donegal 2012 v Dublin2013 I'd have Donegal. I think Dublin last year were out on their feet in the last five minutes Donegal were still going strong at the end of 2012 final. We will never know but if we meet this year we have to improve big time. But we still have a good record against Dublin over the years, I think we were the first Ulster county to beat them in an All Ireland ( open to correction) and we have had a few leauge victories against them, unlike Monaghan they are not our bogey team hope we get the chance to play Dublin, it would be better to TRY and fail than not to TRY at all.





In 2012 Donegal played a game that was more like rugby-league than
gaelic football, so "try" certainly is the operative word lad! ;)

TheGateKeeper (Tyrone) - Posts: 2843 - 07/05/2014 21:50:29    1585222

TheGateKeeper
County: Tyrone
Posts: 2583

1585205
Not for some the rest of us, who had to watch as our great game was...
well lets say it didn't make for great viewing! ;)

Bit over the top there Gatekeeper. Donegal won ulster from the preliminary round 2 years on the trot. (never done before actually). i think you need to remember Pat Spillane for a second. You are starting to sound like him. It is very easy to be critical when your team is at the other side of a successful team. I know Tyrone will come back in the near future, but if they do, be prepared to be accused once again of puke football. (which btw I dont think Tyrone play 70% of the time, they only play puke football when they need to).

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 08/05/2014 12:08:13    1585312

CoTyrone
County: Tyrone
Posts: 239

1585204 The only man that left Donegal that mattered was Rory Gallagher. Jim wasn't the brains behind 2012 it was ALL RORY and now I think every one can now see that.

He didn't leave, he now is in charge of the u21s.

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 08/05/2014 12:48:25    1585327

Donegalman
County: All
Posts: 1220

1585182
While the more defensive sides like Monaghan, Donegal and Down plied their trades down in Division 2. I believe Division 2 was stronger than most people think, and I reckon that could be reflected come championship. Time will tell.

I dont agree. Division 2 was a very mediocre competition. Meath, Donegal and Monaghan were on a par, monaghan obviously didnt show their full hand until the final. Down were very disappointing. Louth, Laois and Armagh were just making up the numbers. Galway were late starters, but did offer a little bit of football in the end. To summarize, there is nothing to get exctied about re division 2 as a yardstick for the rest of the year. I would base all my evidence solely on the performance v monaghan, a game in croke park with both teams out to win. We were a whisper of 2012. That is the reality of it, I cant see us getting that form back, but I do hope that we improve to a level that we can be competitive in big games once again.

Don't make too much of the Division 2 final. Monaghan were going for glory, however having recorded the game and watched it back a few times, I'm not so sure about Donegal.

Personally I don't think Donegal showed their full hand at all, however McGuinness likely felt he could still win. Monaghan kicked quite a few points from distance, something that won't happen every day for you.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 08/05/2014 13:23:14    1585340