I wish I shared your optimism GaryMc82!!!

squareball_1988 (Donegal) - Posts: 343 - 08/05/2014 14:43:27    1585384

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.

It's very easy to say that - don't forget Rory was there last year too when things not going so well. Rory is a big loss but plenty of teams change their back up teams and it doesn't even get a mention. Any excuse to get at Jim McGuinness. Don't forget Rory Gallagher was not involved with Jim when he took U21s to All Ireland final in 2010. To say that Jim McGuinness was and is not the main driver behind this Donegal team is just not true.

supporter (Donegal) - Posts: 205 - 08/05/2014 15:51:58    1585416

Obviosuly both had a massive part to play in the All Ireland run but I know from talking to a few players especially the younf player that the detail that Rory was behind was crazy stuff altogether.
He picked every attackers play apart bit for bit and explained how he wanted defenders to beat that.

There is a nice story about Lacey and Paddy Bradley. Not so detailed for this one but basically Lacey just had to run like hell everytime the ball was anyway near. Was up to an unfit Bradley to attempt to run after or let Lacey go. He would jog back to Bradley and McGee shouts over "Ready to go again" and off he went.

That obviosuly isnt so detailed but I know of other stories about being taught how specific players bounce the ball for example. Aidan o Shea for instance bounces it well in front of himself and then powers through but if a player comes at the angle they can tap it away.

Im sure There are a million stories of Jim but I would like to stress that Rory is a loss. Damien Diver in now and he is another great footballing man and will offer something different perhaps.

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 08/05/2014 16:40:22    1585444

TheGateKeeper
County: Tyrone
Posts: 2583

1585194
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!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 08/05/2014 17:20:46    1585472

TheGateKeeper
County: Tyrone
Posts: 2583

1585194
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!

Gatekeeper Gatekeeper,

Donegal in 2012 were comfortably the best team in the country & what made them was their defence, fitness & mental strength & I thinkk they would have had a great tussle.
Now I agree that Dublin 2014 are a great team, but the truth is that they haven't faced anyone of the calibre of Donegal 2012 or one of the great Tyrone or Kerry teams. Only when you have faced another great team & come out on top do you really know how good you are.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 08/05/2014 17:27:16    1585473

MuckrossHead
County: Donegal
Posts: 2463


Donegal in 2012 were comfortably the best team in the country & what made them was their defence, fitness & mental strength & I thinkk they would have had a great tussle.
Now I agree that Dublin 2014 are a great team, but the truth is that they haven't faced anyone of the calibre of Donegal 2012 or one of the great Tyrone or Kerry teams. Only when you have faced another great team & come out on top do you really know how good you are.

Dublin last year beat Mayo who were at the crest of their very best, and personally I think they were more of a threat in last years final because of the pain and experience they had under their belt from the previous year. Cork were no match for them in the quarters, but Kerry gave them a very tight game indeed. It was identical to our quarter, semi final and final route. I dont think that there is any real difference in the quality of 2012 and 2013 teams tbh, apart from ourselves that is!!

I also think that this Dublin team already is one of the great teams. They have won 2 of the last 3 all irelands, without the help of the back door, and look absolutely unbeatable after their last performance. I know that this is dangerous talk but that is the way that it looked to me.

Back to the thread at hand, players walking is not new news. I think it happens every year, it is just the case this time that it is a young all star, and someone that is a key player. There is no mention of dissent in the camp, maybe disagreement of some sort, but that is only to be expected. I feel that we can organize a season yet. I would not rule out an ulster final appearance. I would not like to see the back door again this year, but if that is the path we must go down, then we have got to accept that this is the way that we have got to progress. We will see. i also feel that we are better off with players who are unable to give 100% comittment and for this reason, we have a better chance against derry.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 08/05/2014 17:40:28    1585480

I wouldn't waste any time worrying about how good Dublin are. Derry will be a big enough challenge for now. If we're still in the mix in August we can start worrying then. However I have to say that on the evidence of the league we're well off the pace but I suppose it's early days yet.

As for the Gatekeepers view on Donegals 2012 V Dublin 2013, it's impossible to know.

One thing I do know though

Donegal 2011 V Tyrone 2011 ... Donegal
Donegal 2012 V Tyrone 2012 ....Donegal
Donegal 2013 V Tyrone 2013 ....Donegal

Cleatus (Donegal) - Posts: 125 - 08/05/2014 21:28:35    1585586

squareball_1988
County: Donegal
Posts: 276

1585384
I wish I shared your optimism GaryMc82!!!

I don't see it as me being optimistic, rather me being unbiased.

Monaghan were forced to hit most of their points from distance, which in a way shows the Donegal defence was still mean despite the back 6 not being at full strength.
Donegal started to dominate midfield, especially after Neil Gallagher was Introduced.

I think Donegal's senior players will have come away from that game thinking Monaghan are a team they definitely can beat. Last July they came away from the Ulster final wondering if they didn't play well or if Monaghan were simply too good for them.

Mark McHugh is a big loss, well he would have been if he had been playing well. But in truth he hasn't been playing well at all this year, and hasn't been covering the same ground he used to.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 08/05/2014 21:47:54    1585601

Gatekeeper
I think the defeats 2011/12/13 left a bitter taste in Tyrone let's not forget any football Donegal played was no worse than Tyrone in 2003 semi final v Kerry. Also Donegal v Tyrone in 2012 was one of the toughest games I saw played Reall hard football, very defensive and how would Dublin 2013 have performed against either team that day, would they have beat either team. ???
Saw K Cassidy on about MMcHugh /JMcG ,well he went off the panel in 2011 and we got by without him in2012 probably Donegal had our best year ever in 2012. Also don't fall for this talk about MMcH not enjoying his football. We do things in our working life we don't enjoy but we get on with it

SamOnErrigal (Donegal) - Posts: 1427 - 09/05/2014 09:08:04    1585650

I heard there is some trouble in the Dublin camp too. What is it with teams like this as soon as they become successful one or two personalities get too big for their boots it seems.

Former_Poster (Meath) - Posts: 394 - 09/05/2014 09:14:27    1585652

Former_Poster
County: Meath
Posts: 159

1585652
I heard there is some trouble in the Dublin camp too.

Trouble in the Dublin camp??? Can it be true???

Tell us more, name names, the nation is waiting!!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 09/05/2014 10:26:24    1585675

Rumours of a divide that has developed between some Ballymun players and a certain St Vincents player. James McCarthy made reference to it in an article in the Independent. Not sure how serious or strained relations are becoming but obviously something there.

Former_Poster (Meath) - Posts: 394 - 09/05/2014 11:25:26    1585707

Former_Poster
County: Meath
Posts: 162

1585707
Rumours of a divide that has developed between some Ballymun players and a certain St Vincents player. James McCarthy made reference to it in an article in the Independent. Not sure how serious or strained relations are becoming but obviously something there.

They have a big enough panel to survive this. In fact a wee bit of rivalry between north and south side in Dublin would make their training more competitive. I remember a similar situation in Tyrone 6 years ago. IT paid off dividends for them

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 09/05/2014 12:55:59    1585764

former poster

bit late finding that out now haha
he was talking about an incident which happened in the dublin championship final

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 13/05/2014 18:29:05    1587195

Michael Boyle leaves Donegal panel. That Dermot Molloy,Rory Kavanagh and Leo McLoone also gone. do Donegal have bench to win all ireland?

HughHunt24 (Cork) - Posts: 841 - 20/06/2015 11:44:08    1739747

We won't win the All-Ireland but it won't be the bench that beats us . One or two journalists began this ' Donegal don't have a bench nonsense ' and the rest like sheep followed suit . Eoin McHugh is on the bench , this guy is a class act and will be a massive player for us in the next few years . Jigger O'Connor is also back from injury and he will be top notch . McFadden missed the last match and he's back . Declan Walsh ( defender ) is also back . I've never been worried about our bench TBH.

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 20/06/2015 12:35:58    1739768

HughHunt24
County: Cork
Posts: 377

1739747
Michael Boyle leaves Donegal panel. That Dermot Molloy,Rory Kavanagh and Leo McLoone also gone. do Donegal have bench to win all ireland?

Leo McLoone was probably our best player in the all ireland final last year, and is a massive loss, but we do have some great players who are hitting form again, like mark mchugh. Kavanagh is also a massive loss, but McIlehnny is doing the work of 2 players this year. We had our issues in 2012, our captain and probably best and most experienced player, Kevin Cassidy, was not involved. We seem to be able to cope with these setbacks, these are never played on coming up to games, the lads seem to be able to just get on with things and step up.

Winning the all ireland is always a possibility when a team is focused and have prepared well. But there are several other teams who all can say the same thing so it is all on a given day from the quarter finals on who survives. Injury free is the key word here, and yes you are correct, you need a good bench to survive this.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3846 - 20/06/2015 13:32:38    1739788

TheRightStuff
County: Donegal
Posts: 693

1739768
We won't win the All-Ireland but it won't be the bench that beats us . One or two journalists began this ' Donegal don't have a bench nonsense ' and the rest like sheep followed suit . Eoin McHugh is on the bench , this guy is a class act and will be a massive player for us in the next few years . Jigger O'Connor is also back from injury and he will be top notch . McFadden missed the last match and he's back . Declan Walsh ( defender ) is also back . I've never been worried about our bench TBH.



I seen two problem's with Donegal's bench at the Tyrone match, I thought Donegal lacked sufficient full back cover and also lacked sufficient full forward cover. I say "Sufficient" as while they had cover, they didn't maybe have cover that was proven at this level. I had doubts as to what they could achieve, as an Injury to Paddy McBrearty and Neil McGee could essentially kill their Championship hopes.

However I have had change of heart, with the return of Declan Walsh to add proven cover to the full back, and seeing Martin O'Reilly do a superb job in the absence of Colm McFadden against Armagh.

The return of Declan Walsh is a massive boost for Donegal, a versatile defender who can do a solid job in a variety of positions at the back. While he hadn't nailed down a starting place under McGuinesss, he has been part of the System for a few years and knows the drill Inside out. Generally Donegal will also have either Anthony Thompson or Mark McHugh on the bench, who are very experienced Half backs.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 20/06/2015 13:48:23    1739801

Id say no one can stop Donegal this year. Best team in Ulster by miles. Beating Armagh proves it. Unstoppable

supermon (Monaghan) - Posts: 1073 - 20/06/2015 13:51:05    1739803

Just reading some of these posts from last year after Monaghan beat us in the league 2 final. Some serious humble pie should be eaten by posters who told of our demise. Gary from Derry- you must have a crystal ball- excellent poster and very balanced analysis always. Donegal are neither as bad- or good for that matter, in the 4/5 year of the McGuinness/post McGuinness era.

mickyrua (Donegal) - Posts: 55 - 20/06/2015 15:52:01    1739841