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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To gaeltacht81:  "Every donegal fan hurting today, but thats sport, we'll be back. Good luck to dublin in the rest of the championship. But the ill will and gloating towards donegal is sickening, been on half a dozen websites today and the comments are so unkind and unsporting it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. When did gaa fans start this carryon. Some people need to have a word with themselves. But Donegal is going nowhere, we'll be back running and gunning next year. Hup Donegal"
As a neutral I know that Dinegals rise when Jim returned was nothing short of miraculous and they wouldnt be near where they are now without him. Those gloaters are only showing up their own weakness so just treat them as noise. I honestly thought Donegal would win Sam under Jim either last year or this year so one would hope hevstays on. The GAA insane calendar has punished Armagh and Donegal very heavily and it flys in the face of player welfare. Playing 6 days apart is insane and wrong. The game has become so unpredictable now with new rules but Donegal are still top table but I will say one thing is that peaking too early is costing teams dearly.

Dothesimplethingswell (Sligo) - Posts: 81 - 21/06/2026 21:02:22    2681006

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Replying To Square_B:  "Indeed they did but he was brought back to win an All Ireland and that's definitely dust after today... hard to see where they could go from here as we all know how Jimmy operates. The José Mourinho of the GAA."
I really hope Jim stays on. But he has to make serious changes in his management set up. No real number 2, you look at other counties they have an array of top coaches and ex County managers as a number 2. In some cases 2 ex County managers.

Secondly we need to look at our style of play across the grades this predictable/safe game is redundant in modern game. We are too easy to play against. Shane o donnell proved he can score a 2 pointer but isn't allowed to shoot. A lot to look at but I think if done we can be a serious contender next year again.

To me a big name number 2 from outside county to give training and the whole set up a lift is first and then build a squad for 2027.

marty234 (Donegal) - Posts: 169 - 21/06/2026 21:06:39    2681009

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Replying To Ulsterchamps_32:  "Funny I might be the .1% at a match but I can actually get people being passionate when they are supporting a team. To write and hold that bitterness and nastiness is just so strange to me."
Absolutely no issue with people being passionate at games and in fact that's where I've had great chats with fans from around the country, where they have said something a bit OTT about a ref decision or I have lost the run of myself about a decision or foul, and then a few words between us and all good, let's chat football

It's the personal stuff that I find hard to understand and it's horrible stuff. Some of the things I have seen written about Michael are just way out of order and beyond anything to do with sport. Once or twice I have heard similar things shouted at matches and if it becomes any more prevalent frankly I wouldn't want to bring my kids to games if that is the way things go

CCFabu (Donegal) - Posts: 348 - 21/06/2026 21:34:06    2681021

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Replying To gaeltacht81:  "Every donegal fan hurting today, but thats sport, we'll be back. Good luck to dublin in the rest of the championship. But the ill will and gloating towards donegal is sickening, been on half a dozen websites today and the comments are so unkind and unsporting it leaves a bad taste in the mouth. When did gaa fans start this carryon. Some people need to have a word with themselves. But Donegal is going nowhere, we'll be back running and gunning next year. Hup Donegal"
A few of your fans haven't done you lads any favours. Some of the nonsense over the league final certainly went down badly - and not just in Kerry. Those that try to gloat at others misfortune on here rarely represent their counties. There's some adjustments to make but clearly you lads are not far off and I think sweeping changes would be a mistake

MunsterFan (Kerry) - Posts: 20 - 21/06/2026 21:43:37    2681026

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Heartbreaking end of the season but deserved victory for Dublin and I don't think we would have gone much further if we won.

Jim being a tad defensive about flatness but this feels like third season syndrome again. In 2013, we put huge emphasis into beating Tyrone which we did but then fell tamely to Monaghan and Mayo.

This year looks a carbon copy wit all emphasis on Kerry. The players have three years in their legs at Jim's intensity and maybe the mental fatigue has kicked in.

Feel sorry for Jim and Murphy. The hatred they are getting is woeful for an amateur sport. The whole country is revelling in our defeat. Never knew Kerry fans would put on blue Dublin jerseys and boo his every touch. Classless.

I won't blame Jim and Murphy if they walk but hopefully they come back and redeem themselves from 2014 and 2025 and stop Kerry's three in a row.

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 494 - 21/06/2026 21:59:30    2681035

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Replying To eddieSize5Balls:  "Mchugh should be nowhere near the donegal manager position"
What have you against him?

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 2121 - 21/06/2026 22:13:44    2681037

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Kieran Gallagher was the best midfield ball winner in the Donegal championship last year and taken into the county panel after that. Spent the whole game today being sent out to warm up. When we needed to win kick outs in extra time, Hugh McFadden , who was absolutely banjaxed, is taken back on. Same with Jamie Brennan, out warming up all game and not used at all. Instead we take back on Malone and Campbell. Inexperience cost us in extra time , trying to force goals instead of taking a few handy chances for points when we were only 2 or 3 behind.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 787 - 21/06/2026 22:21:41    2681041

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Replying To MunsterFan:  "A few of your fans haven't done you lads any favours. Some of the nonsense over the league final certainly went down badly - and not just in Kerry. Those that try to gloat at others misfortune on here rarely represent their counties. There's some adjustments to make but clearly you lads are not far off and I think sweeping changes would be a mistake"
Majority of Donegal fans I seen acknowledged Murphy got very lucky and while happy with the win knew that Kerry were missing a lot and would be a different animal come this time of year. What did you see that was so different?

JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 213 - 21/06/2026 22:22:03    2681042

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Replying To shaggykev:  "Heartbreaking end of the season but deserved victory for Dublin and I don't think we would have gone much further if we won.

Jim being a tad defensive about flatness but this feels like third season syndrome again. In 2013, we put huge emphasis into beating Tyrone which we did but then fell tamely to Monaghan and Mayo.

This year looks a carbon copy wit all emphasis on Kerry. The players have three years in their legs at Jim's intensity and maybe the mental fatigue has kicked in.

Feel sorry for Jim and Murphy. The hatred they are getting is woeful for an amateur sport. The whole country is revelling in our defeat. Never knew Kerry fans would put on blue Dublin jerseys and boo his every touch. Classless.

I won't blame Jim and Murphy if they walk but hopefully they come back and redeem themselves from 2014 and 2025 and stop Kerry's three in a row."
As i said to a previous poster you just treat those haters as noise. Paudi summed up some of those Kerry supporters. Its a pity for Murphy & McBrearty that they didnt win Sam and Mark McHugh who has been Donegals best and most consistent player for over ten years. That man is a plaer for all seasons and deserved an AI. I do somewhat agree about the 3 year cycle but this time the condensed season was going to take down a few big guns and this time it was Donegal and Armagh. If it wasnt today itd be next weekend an playing g 3 wks in a row is just wrong. Id like to see Jim stay on but replacing Murphy must be priority from now on as he is the reason Donegal have got to where they are.

Dothesimplethingswell (Sligo) - Posts: 81 - 21/06/2026 22:22:04    2681043

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Replying To shaggykev:  "Heartbreaking end of the season but deserved victory for Dublin and I don't think we would have gone much further if we won.

Jim being a tad defensive about flatness but this feels like third season syndrome again. In 2013, we put huge emphasis into beating Tyrone which we did but then fell tamely to Monaghan and Mayo.

This year looks a carbon copy wit all emphasis on Kerry. The players have three years in their legs at Jim's intensity and maybe the mental fatigue has kicked in.

Feel sorry for Jim and Murphy. The hatred they are getting is woeful for an amateur sport. The whole country is revelling in our defeat. Never knew Kerry fans would put on blue Dublin jerseys and boo his every touch. Classless.

I won't blame Jim and Murphy if they walk but hopefully they come back and redeem themselves from 2014 and 2025 and stop Kerry's three in a row."
They bring it on themselves.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 421 - 21/06/2026 22:24:38    2681044

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Replying To Dothesimplethingswell:  "As a neutral I know that Dinegals rise when Jim returned was nothing short of miraculous and they wouldnt be near where they are now without him. Those gloaters are only showing up their own weakness so just treat them as noise. I honestly thought Donegal would win Sam under Jim either last year or this year so one would hope hevstays on. The GAA insane calendar has punished Armagh and Donegal very heavily and it flys in the face of player welfare. Playing 6 days apart is insane and wrong. The game has become so unpredictable now with new rules but Donegal are still top table but I will say one thing is that peaking too early is costing teams dearly."
Donegal played 3 games between 29 March and last week against Cork, they can't blame the calendar, Armagh might have more of a case in that regard.

JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 213 - 21/06/2026 22:27:26    2681045

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Replying To CCFabu:  "Absolutely no issue with people being passionate at games and in fact that's where I've had great chats with fans from around the country, where they have said something a bit OTT about a ref decision or I have lost the run of myself about a decision or foul, and then a few words between us and all good, let's chat football

It's the personal stuff that I find hard to understand and it's horrible stuff. Some of the things I have seen written about Michael are just way out of order and beyond anything to do with sport. Once or twice I have heard similar things shouted at matches and if it becomes any more prevalent frankly I wouldn't want to bring my kids to games if that is the way things go"
Absolutely agree on the personal abuse. Some of the abuse I've seen him take over the years is way out of order and for what, being tough on a football field and not being sent off in a league final.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 1024 - 21/06/2026 22:29:24    2681047

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Replying To JimB1991:  "Said it after the Cork game and same again today, we get murdered around the middle and if Murphy or McGee don't win it clean we invariably lose the breaks, been a recurring problem. They were the two worst players we coud have lost for the 1st half of extra time, couldnt get our hands on the ball."
Yeah but jim when you keep aiming the ball at the place youv just lost your big men lacks a bit of cuteness aswell.

Tyrion (Donegal) - Posts: 180 - 21/06/2026 22:32:54    2681048

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What happend Donegal LOL. Kerry name on trophy

TommyBermingham (Kildare) - Posts: 10 - 21/06/2026 22:52:39    2681052

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Replying To Square_B:  "What have you against him?"
He's only managed for one year. Needs more exp.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 421 - 21/06/2026 23:25:41    2681062

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Replying To shaggykev:  "Heartbreaking end of the season but deserved victory for Dublin and I don't think we would have gone much further if we won.

Jim being a tad defensive about flatness but this feels like third season syndrome again. In 2013, we put huge emphasis into beating Tyrone which we did but then fell tamely to Monaghan and Mayo.

This year looks a carbon copy wit all emphasis on Kerry. The players have three years in their legs at Jim's intensity and maybe the mental fatigue has kicked in.

Feel sorry for Jim and Murphy. The hatred they are getting is woeful for an amateur sport. The whole country is revelling in our defeat. Never knew Kerry fans would put on blue Dublin jerseys and boo his every touch. Classless.

I won't blame Jim and Murphy if they walk but hopefully they come back and redeem themselves from 2014 and 2025 and stop Kerry's three in a row."
Well posts like that dont help ."never knew Kerry fans would put on a dublin jersey and boo his every touch."⁶
Now Im a Kerryman and while I despised his nasty belts on Dylan Casey in league final ,I tried to park it but alot of Donegal posters then claiming it was retaliation for Thompsons cruciate when he had nothing whatsoever to do with it.It was an accidental challenge and it was nt even by Casey.

However it is what it is and yes the online abuse is wrong and sad tbf.M.Murphy has been a brilliant footballer and Jim has been a brilliant manager.Sad to see people revelling in their bad days.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 4190 - 22/06/2026 00:17:27    2681075

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Some say its a surprise but losing to Down, Cork and a poor Dublin team show the game plan is wrong.

It has long been a JMcG/ Donegal problem - the intensity of the counterattacking game, means playing everyweek is too much.

"Let the ball to the work" is the solution.

Michael Murphy has been a great footballer and GAA leader, no question.
However, he tackles with a closed fist and enters every schmozzle going. Its there for all to see. The refs have been letting him away with it for years.

He let his team down at the weekend, starting a row instead of organising his team for extra time. If he retires, that is not the way a player of his ability should have gone out.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1905 - 22/06/2026 06:30:32    2681088

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The writing was on the wall after the Cork defeat. We don't have the gas for such a short turnaround and if we had got past Dublin it would have been a futile exercise next weekend.

Hard to think anything other than the damage was done last weekend, and when we really look at that in the cold light of day it was the lack of a bench / squad depth that really cost us. Although we were flat a lot of that was down to Cork's set up trying to take the sting out of it. We were in control for 3/4's of that game and seemed to be trying to coast home in 2nd gear. When Cork smelled blood coming down the home straight we didn't have the physicality or the experience coming in to steady the ship to replaced tired legs and we panicked and deservedly got beat.

Completely agree with Jim in terms of the scheduling makes it alot harder now to prepare bodies, anyone involved in club football knows how hard it is even at club level to play 3/4 championship games on the bounce and that's not even comparable to what the county boys are putting their bodies through. In the All Ireland series though we had a long break before playing Kerry and then had 3 weeks before Cork, 3 weeks is a perfect gap so there is a lot for management to ponder as scheduling is not an excuse here. We have to really look at why we couldn't deliver a performance against Cork and why we don't have anything off the bench.

On the actual Dublin game there is not an awful lot to be said, it was a very poor game with a serious lack of quality on show from both teams. Kick outs obviously our biggest issue in game but we had too many players not performing at the level required and were it not for Langan and big McGee the game would have been over long before the 70 minutes.

Hoping everyone stays on (especially Jim) and hopefully some effort can go in to securing some returnees including Niall O'Donnell who we cannot afford to not have in that panel. 2026 has been a disastrous championship and there is no point saying anything different, a long winter ahead.

inthru (Donegal) - Posts: 5 - 22/06/2026 08:16:48    2681096

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Brennan, O'Connor, McGuinness, Joyce and McGeeney all gambled a bit in an effort not to show there hand until it really mattered. I has worked perfectly for Kerry who have won their las 2 games in a trot. Galway, in order to ensure a QF place with a game in hand, have had to show their hand, in terms of kickouts and game plan. Dublin have been building with only the biggest days in mind. The loss to Cork was not part of the Donegal plan and put paid to their plans, similar story with Armagh. It will be interesting to see will momentum triumph of the well rested teams next weekend.

giveitlong (Galway) - Posts: 1326 - 22/06/2026 08:30:31    2681098

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As a Donegal supporter for almost 30 years I am beyond tired at hearing the 'condensed season' used as an excuse for losing matches. We have lost 3 C'ship matches out of 4, all to so called lesser opposition, we only played 4 games in 12 weeks. There is no excuse here to be had, we have been flat and under prepared for all 3 opponents as Jim put all his eggs into the Kerry basket. Dublin were better prepared than us yesterday (As were Down and Cork) as our kickouts were a disaster and Dublin ate us alive for spells on out kickout. These are the hard facts that we need to wake up to.

The Murphy return project has not worked and whilst he will retire again as a legend, his targeting of Kilkenny after his levelling 2 point free yesterday was stupid in the extreme. It cost us 2 black cards and meant we were well beaten in ET. Our legs were gone, Jim was all wobbling on the line (I sat behind them) and it's well known that he has no assistance in his inexperienced management team.

If we accept that things were not right this year and we put beating a depleted Kerry team above all else (which was a mistake) then we may improve. If we just blame the condensed season (which is the same for all teams) then we'll drift into another season with no lessons learned. Time to accept these realities and stop blaming red herrings!

PeterQ92 (Donegal) - Posts: 195 - 22/06/2026 08:42:18    2681102

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