HoganStand GAA Football and Hurling

National Forum

Rory Gallagher Steps Down from Donegal Post

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post

You need to Login to Post

It will be interesting to see who takes over and even more interesting to see if the results are any better Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1415 - 31/07/2017 22:38:36 2027023 Link
Replying To muckla: "Its once in a lifetime that you get a player like Michael Murphy and once in a lifetime were you get a manager like Jim McGuinness. If I were Donegal I would do whatever it took to bring McGuinness back to Donegal whatever the cost I think his love for Donegal would make it a hard deal for him to turn it down. You dont want Murphy wasted for another 3 years. There is an opportunity there now and it would be great to see him back in the game." The only downside of Rory leaving is that every lunatic in the country will be coming out with this sort of stuff. Jim has moved on to bigger & better things & good luck to him. MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 31/07/2017 22:39:46 2027024 Link
Replying To theweanling: "From an outsiders point of view: Rory came in and the timing was all wrong. Came in when a great team were reaching the end of the road, then given the task of starting all over again with basically a brand new team. So it's tough on him in that sense. Having said that he did make some poor decisions on the line. Yet kept a team he was only getting to know in division 1 and brought them into the ulster championship as outside favourites. That's not bad going. I do think if he'd came in this year he'd have got his 3 years and brought Donegal back to the top of ulster. So I have to say it's hard luck on him. One thing I will say is that I've heard and seen that Donegal teams are playing the same system in club, underage and onto senior. I believe this Is having a detrimental effect on the players skill development. I hear Declan Bonner being mentioned a lot aswell and tbh I think he'd be a step back again for Donegal." You are right in what you are saying to a degree but it also must be pointed out that transition could have been handled far better. There are players currently alienated that the county needs. I think Leo McClone is the first to spring to mind. He is not the messiah of Donegal football but he does bring experience and physicality to the team something that was greatly missed this year. Also some of the older lads were always going to go but the mass exodus at the start of the year was not well handled. I think RG made it known he was going with youth which was fine but you need experience with that. One of the players to retire was Christy Toye who to most people was playing as well as ever even though not a 70 min option. I think he could have stayed on for another year to help the others coming through. Similar sentiment with Eamon McGee who reitred relatively young while still in great shape. Saying that Eamon has been an excellent addition to the media ranks so we cannot have best of both worlds. panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 31/07/2017 22:40:35 2027026 Link
Replying To muckla: "You can't blame Jim for taking the big bucks but would he turn down the chance to manager the team again also? Need a Donegal man to answer this for us. Murphy as play manager is mader then bringing Jim back from China. What are you drinking?" Read my post slowly....... I suggested McEntee or Canavan with question marks after Murphy. There is no chance of McGuiness going back next year. The only team that could afford him is Dublin. EDH (Galway) - Posts: 367 - 31/07/2017 22:46:31 2027034 Link
Replying To EDH: "Read my post slowly....... I suggested McEntee or Canavan with question marks after Murphy. There is no chance of McGuiness going back next year. The only team that could afford him is Dublin." I very much doubt that money would even come into it for Jim to go back especially from his perspective. Donegal and Donegal football is deep within his heart so money would not be a motivating factor. But it is simply not viable given that he is coaching on the other side of the world in a league that runs concurrently as the championship over here. Unfortunately this is all we are going to be hearing until the new management are installed. panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 31/07/2017 23:41:37 2027067 Link
Firstly I'd like to thank Rory Gallagher for all his work for Donegal football over the last 6-7 years. Behind all the analysis it should be remembered how much time and effort is invested in a county set up. As a man with a young family myself, I can only imagine the additional pressure and demands managing a county team would entail. Rory was highly regarded in the 2012 backroom team and although things didn't turn out as expected with him as manager, I think it's proper order that his time and efforts are acknowledged. So good luck to Rory in his future endeavors. The next management appointment will be crucial. We do have a lot of talent coming through but as we saw this year they need to be carefully managed. We may also see a few of the older lads retiring so it will be a delicate balancing act. It will be interesting to see if we can get the likes of McLoone, MacNiallais and Declan Walsh back. Those men have the right physicality and experience needed to help ease the transition. If we could free Michael Murphy up from his unsustainable workload at midfield it would also be a big help. As to who the next manager will be it's difficult to say. There is no immediately obvious candidate. I just hope that whoever it is gets the support, patience and time he needs. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 01/08/2017 09:54:09 2027156 Link
Replying To foxes_denn: "Great news for Cavan. I think Cavan need to get Rory on board, great experience and has a great set of players to work with in Cavan." He is not a magician there is only so much you can do with the resources available... seanfinn (Monaghan) - Posts: 360 - 01/08/2017 10:36:59 2027183 Link
Declan Bonner is the obvious choice. Underage success, successful playing career, worked with a lot of these lads already. No brainer really, pretty sure he would be popular with Donegal supporters too. sporto (Monaghan) - Posts: 158 - 01/08/2017 10:50:44 2027198 Link
Replying To sporto: "Declan Bonner is the obvious choice. Underage success, successful playing career, worked with a lot of these lads already. No brainer really, pretty sure he would be popular with Donegal supporters too." I think he is the person we are most likely to get but I don't think he would be a very positive choice. He has been in the senior job before and failed. He has been involved in alot of very talented minor and u21 teams and has been the main reason for some very important losses. Its each of the last 4 years I can give examples where he made a mess of things from both a tactical and personnel Point of view. My only hope with someone like Bonner is with the senior job he might be able to get a great team around him and if he listens to them around tactics then we might have a chance. He is 100% donegal football but as we found in the the time of John Joe Doherty that doesnt always mean success. He will also get some of the excluded players back into the fold which may help with the transition. He should be a last case scenario in my mind. Our aims should be of Managers who can bring something new to the setup. I would prefer to have Bonner as a number 2 where his player knowledge can be useful but where he isnt making the big decisions. dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 01/08/2017 12:01:51 2027267 Link
Replying To sporto: "Declan Bonner is the obvious choice. Underage success, successful playing career, worked with a lot of these lads already. No brainer really, pretty sure he would be popular with Donegal supporters too." I would be very disappointed if Bonner was appointed. Has cost Donegal minor and under 21 teams on too many occasions. He had a supremely talented bunch of lads to work with. He had his chance as Donegal manager 20 years ago anyway. Took Gweedore to a county title but probably underachieved with that group of players as well. To me, he has underachieved in every managerial post he's had. The Donegal forum will tell you what most Donegal people make of Bonner. Yes a great Donegal GAA man, but he doesn't cut it in my opinion. HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 520 - 01/08/2017 12:12:41 2027281 Link
I would like to see James Horan get the job. County board should move heaven and earth to get him. He is honest, knowledgeable, takes no nonsense, is hungry for an all-ireland and has access to JMG. I think there is a mutual respect between the two. Even though Jim is in China his tactical break down of the Kerry v Galway game in today's Irish times was superb. Back room team I would approach Diver, JohnDuffy and Neil Gallagher. Donegal have some awesome footballers at the moment. We just need to have the sail up and pointing in the right direction. Tir Chonaill Abu. magnethands (Donegal) - Posts: 4 - 01/08/2017 12:48:27 2027309 Link
What are the chances of getting Paul Durcan back in the team now? he is a big miss and surely has a good few years left in him at the top level. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2749 - 01/08/2017 13:45:06 2027358 Link
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "What are the chances of getting Paul Durcan back in the team now? he is a big miss and surely has a good few years left in him at the top level." It's a long aul commute from Qatar. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 01/08/2017 15:11:04 2027410 Link
Replying To Lockjaw: "It's a long aul commute from Qatar." He's back in Ireland now, but planning to setup home down the country somewhere I believe. green and gold (Donegal) - Posts: 105 - 01/08/2017 15:38:01 2027432 Link
I always got the impression there was more to McLoone, McNiallais and Walsh not committing. Obviously McLoone was used sparingly the previous year, but did this run deeper than simply "taking a year out?" Punjab (Fermanagh) - Posts: 28 - 01/08/2017 15:51:18 2027447 Link
MacNiallis took the year for himself and nothing else. Every man and his dog in the county knows that McLoone and Rory fell out. I'd like to say a huge thank you to Rory for all the commitment he's given to Donegal football over the last number of years. It hasn't worked out for him as manager with some harsh lessons especially in the first 2 years in the Ulster finals. That doesn't take away from what he achieved as part of the team that brought Sam to the Hills in 2012. That was a special time and Rory was a big part of that and shouldn't be forgotten. All the best to him whatever he chooses to do in the future. This next appointment is hugely important in terms of our future as a county. Are we going to be competing year on year or are we going to go back to a nice team with the odd Ulster final appearance here and there? The county board need to get this right and they need to show some more joined up thinking for football across the different age groups. JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 01/08/2017 16:37:37 2027483 Link
Replying To Punjab: "I always got the impression there was more to McLoone, McNiallais and Walsh not committing. Obviously McLoone was used sparingly the previous year, but did this run deeper than simply "taking a year out?"" McNialis decided to take year away citing not happy with his own form even though it can be argued 2016 was his best year. He was Donegal's best pplayer along with Ryan McHugh in the Ulster Championship. I don't think there was personal issues with RG at all quite the opposite according to a recent interview he done. As for the other two, Declan Walsh is working in Dublin and did not want to commit. He played a bit part role in 2015 including playing against Galway in Croker. Actually had a very good game but then got dropped the following week in favour of players not fit or in great form. As for Leo I am purely speculating but it would be fair to say that he and Rory did not see eye to eye. Rory repeatedly left Leo on the bench which many felt was quite bizzare. Leo came off the bench against the Dubs last year and done really well. I like most supporters will be hoping he comes back to the fold. He is a big game player who is tough as teak and this team needs to get back some of its physical mojo. panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 01/08/2017 16:47:51 2027486 Link
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "What are the chances of getting Paul Durcan back in the team now? he is a big miss and surely has a good few years left in him at the top level." Yes he does the best keeper and most consistent keeper in the land bar Cluxton over the last 10 years. Like Cluxton his kickouts are a huge game changer. He would certainly be a welcome addition but McGinley has done very very well. He is one player who done really well in this years championship. Yes his kickouts have come under scrutiny but in fairness to him I am not sure that was his fault. panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 01/08/2017 16:52:21 2027491 Link
I always got the impression there was more to McLoone, McNiallais and Walsh not committing. Obviously McLoone was used sparingly the previous year, but did this run deeper than simply "taking a year out?" Punjab (Fermanagh) - Posts:27 - 01/08/2017 15:51:18 20 Rory did invite Leo into the squad in 2015, and Leo did return very late around June/July 2015 and then remained in the squad for the full 2016 season. While there may have been an underlying dislike between Rory and Leo, I think it was more that Leo wasn't getting proper game time under Gallagher, he was on the bench a lot at Championship time. Jim McGuinness was kinda prepping Leo McLoone in 2013/2014 to eventually replace Karl Lacey at No 6, and Declan Walsh to eventually takeover at wing back, or corner back. 2015 should have signalled the beginning of this transition, but Rory persisted with older players and even the off the boil Mark McHugh was higher up the pecking order than these fellas. I think they got fed up and left, along with Anthony Thompson and Brick Molloy. Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1115 - 01/08/2017 17:39:25 2027530 Link
Gallaghers statement tonight leaves him with a lot of credit. I think the Donegal fans were very harsh on him and at least he doesn't worry about social media. I would love to see him with Cavan, whether it is this year or the following when McGlennon gets the boot for back to back relegation. foxes_denn (Cavan) - Posts: 129 - 01/08/2017 20:41:32 2027598 Link