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Ulster 2018

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Replying To Blood_Sub:  "4 of the best attackers in the country is a stretch. I would class McBrearty and Murphy as elite, the jury is out on the other two. I fear Ryan may not have recovered from the ankle injury sustained last year and Odhran blows very hot and cold. Murphy is our best forward and midfielder. He is our best all around footballer and as a result he has been asked to do too much. If he is in our forward line we are very formidable with himself and Paddy. However, I think you are overly optimistic on our midfield options. None of the players you have named, bar McGee, have the potential or ability to go win primary possession regularly. McGee, while I believe he ultimately will be, is currently not a dominant fielder. Carroll, McElhinney and McGinley would be known more for their running power than fielding. I can't see Murphy staying inside if this is the case. Gunman is spot on in his assessment of our back line. The back line is in serious transition and unless young boys step up we could be in for a long year. I am glad to see Leo back as he could be the answer at 6.

I would be curious to see the full panel that Declan has in at the moment. A good year for us would be survival in league 1 (which is possible given our youth and natural fitness this time of year) and an Ulster Final appearance. Anything after that is bonus territory. Here's hoping for a respectable year."
Spot on with the expectations that would be a good year indeed. You are right regarding the midfield options though I can see Leo doing a job there but he is not a fielder. In time Jason can def become a top midfielder but he is a few years away yet.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 23/11/2017 17:52:37    2063397

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Looks like gary mc daid is going to be appointed u20 manager. in fairness to him he has done well with glenswilly and seems to be well thought of. good to see eamon mc gee involved. if we had a full team to pick from we would be very strong but with the way this competition is going to be run you just wudnt know. will we have Jason mc gee and niall o donnell that's the big question. I think o donnell might play but mc gee more than likely could be needed by the seniors. anyway good luck to gary and hope he has a successful year.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2410 - 23/11/2017 18:20:04    2063400

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Replying To HandballRef:  "Lockjaw would be the man to ask there, never seen him play myself."
Alan was a standout player at underage level. Very physically imposing and deceptively fast when he got going. He then suffered a couple of really bad knee injuries in his late teens which set him back. Luckily he's been injury free these past few years and has gotten himself into the shape of his life. He was very impressive at Intermediate level this year, really standing out even against teams considered a lot 'bigger' than Naomh Ultan. He can play the target man role at full forward very well but he's also very dangerous dictating play out the field as well. Just an all round very capable footballer.

I'm sure he's under no illusions himself that the step up to county standard will be massive. But in fairness to the lad he has worked extremely hard to get his shot at it so more power to him.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9155 - 24/11/2017 10:07:17    2063425

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Alan was a standout player at underage level. Very physically imposing and deceptively fast when he got going. He then suffered a couple of really bad knee injuries in his late teens which set him back. Luckily he's been injury free these past few years and has gotten himself into the shape of his life. He was very impressive at Intermediate level this year, really standing out even against teams considered a lot 'bigger' than Naomh Ultan. He can play the target man role at full forward very well but he's also very dangerous dictating play out the field as well. Just an all round very capable footballer.

I'm sure he's under no illusions himself that the step up to county standard will be massive. But in fairness to the lad he has worked extremely hard to get his shot at it so more power to him."
Alan is a throwback type footballer. This is to say that he is an actual footballer and not just an athlete. He has plenty of ability but will need time to get up to the fitness requirements of modern day county football. He has a very good football brain and as Lockjaw said is comfortable both inside and further out the field. I think he is deserving of a chance given his performances for Naomh Ultan.

Blood_Sub (Donegal) - Posts: 14 - 24/11/2017 14:14:28    2063450

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Looks like gary mc daid is going to be appointed u20 manager. in fairness to him he has done well with glenswilly and seems to be well thought of. good to see eamon mc gee involved. if we had a full team to pick from we would be very strong but with the way this competition is going to be run you just wudnt know. will we have Jason mc gee and niall o donnell that's the big question. I think o donnell might play but mc gee more than likely could be needed by the seniors. anyway good luck to gary and hope he has a successful year."
I think most will be happy with this appointment and with Eamon McGee and Francie Friel on touchline beside him it is looks a decent backroom team. Harsh on SPB given the minor success of 2016 and that he was in for the senior job. But he probably did not do himself any favours by taking away all the best U-17 players who could have made a real run at that competition given how much they pushed the eventual AI champions missing large bulk of their best players. I think Niall will more likely play with the U-20's this year and rightly so. Jason McGee is a different story given experience he gained last year but it was obvious he a few years away from having the conditioning and confidence through experience required for senior level. He be some player at U-20's. But with the likes of Mogan and Enda McCormick to still pick McDaid will have a quality squad. Very tough draw however. Cavan will be no pushovers especially as their minors sone reasonably well last year. Then winning that it will be Derry. Again a very very tough challenge. Though Derry will not have McErlain on the sideline who will be a massive loss. Plus given fact he is now the senior manager they face the prospect of losning some of their best players. Outside of Jason I expect Donegal to be at full strength.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 24/11/2017 15:02:11    2063454

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Replying To panamasam:  "I think most will be happy with this appointment and with Eamon McGee and Francie Friel on touchline beside him it is looks a decent backroom team. Harsh on SPB given the minor success of 2016 and that he was in for the senior job. But he probably did not do himself any favours by taking away all the best U-17 players who could have made a real run at that competition given how much they pushed the eventual AI champions missing large bulk of their best players. I think Niall will more likely play with the U-20's this year and rightly so. Jason McGee is a different story given experience he gained last year but it was obvious he a few years away from having the conditioning and confidence through experience required for senior level. He be some player at U-20's. But with the likes of Mogan and Enda McCormick to still pick McDaid will have a quality squad. Very tough draw however. Cavan will be no pushovers especially as their minors sone reasonably well last year. Then winning that it will be Derry. Again a very very tough challenge. Though Derry will not have McErlain on the sideline who will be a massive loss. Plus given fact he is now the senior manager they face the prospect of losning some of their best players. Outside of Jason I expect Donegal to be at full strength."
Yea I think Sean pol blotted his copybook last year by holding back some of the best u17 players. This shudnt have happened. Players should always gave priority to there own age group. I see Brian roper in as a selector too. Great to see ex players gaving something back. As for Alan Lyons it would be great if it worked out for him. From talking to people from the Southwest he was a prolific scorer at underage level and was tipped as a future county player but he hand a bad knee injury at a young age and this set him back a good bit. I know it's a big ask but he's the kind of player we could do with. A scoring forward.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2410 - 24/11/2017 15:53:14    2063460

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Replying To panamasam:  "I think most will be happy with this appointment and with Eamon McGee and Francie Friel on touchline beside him it is looks a decent backroom team. Harsh on SPB given the minor success of 2016 and that he was in for the senior job. But he probably did not do himself any favours by taking away all the best U-17 players who could have made a real run at that competition given how much they pushed the eventual AI champions missing large bulk of their best players. I think Niall will more likely play with the U-20's this year and rightly so. Jason McGee is a different story given experience he gained last year but it was obvious he a few years away from having the conditioning and confidence through experience required for senior level. He be some player at U-20's. But with the likes of Mogan and Enda McCormick to still pick McDaid will have a quality squad. Very tough draw however. Cavan will be no pushovers especially as their minors sone reasonably well last year. Then winning that it will be Derry. Again a very very tough challenge. Though Derry will not have McErlain on the sideline who will be a massive loss. Plus given fact he is now the senior manager they face the prospect of losning some of their best players. Outside of Jason I expect Donegal to be at full strength."
I have a feeling that Niall O'Donnell will be on the senior team, I know if I was Declan Bonner I'd have him on it. Outside of MM and McBrearty he is the best point taker in the county. I have no doubt he is ready for senior county football but like the rest of you would prefer if he was left on the under-20 team for next year. Gary McDaid did deserve a shot at the under-20 side as he has done good work with Glenswilly. He will have a really great team if he has young O'Donnell and Jason McGee to pick from, doubt he will though. I really hope that Gary McDaid and Declan Bonner have a good working relationship, we don't need another farce like last year.

I am delighted to see good club players such Alan Lyon & Kevin McBrearty getting a chance. Obviously it is a big step up in terms of fitness but these lads and others deserve their chance.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1876 - 24/11/2017 16:18:21    2063461

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Replying To Green_Gold:  "I have a feeling that Niall O'Donnell will be on the senior team, I know if I was Declan Bonner I'd have him on it. Outside of MM and McBrearty he is the best point taker in the county. I have no doubt he is ready for senior county football but like the rest of you would prefer if he was left on the under-20 team for next year. Gary McDaid did deserve a shot at the under-20 side as he has done good work with Glenswilly. He will have a really great team if he has young O'Donnell and Jason McGee to pick from, doubt he will though. I really hope that Gary McDaid and Declan Bonner have a good working relationship, we don't need another farce like last year.

I am delighted to see good club players such Alan Lyon & Kevin McBrearty getting a chance. Obviously it is a big step up in terms of fitness but these lads and others deserve their chance."
No doubting Niall's talent but what would he be bar a very bit part player this year? Look at Clifford in Kerry who is physically more ready for senior football will he be rushed? I very much doubt it now he has committed. Niall mainly operated off the bench for the under 21's last year so I find it hard to envisage it be any different at senior. One hard hit off a seasoned Ulster championship player could set him back no end. I would be the opposite to you and be fairly confident he will play under 20 and rip up Ulster again if Donegal go on a run.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 24/11/2017 17:56:45    2063467

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Replying To panamasam:  "No doubting Niall's talent but what would he be bar a very bit part player this year? Look at Clifford in Kerry who is physically more ready for senior football will he be rushed? I very much doubt it now he has committed. Niall mainly operated off the bench for the under 21's last year so I find it hard to envisage it be any different at senior. One hard hit off a seasoned Ulster championship player could set him back no end. I would be the opposite to you and be fairly confident he will play under 20 and rip up Ulster again if Donegal go on a run."
The great Micko doesn't agree with holding back these young fellas in Kerry,He said he would take them in and train the s***e out of them like he did with the good U-21s in Kerry at the time winning an All Ireland with a team of youngsters which was to become the greatest of all time.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1059 - 24/11/2017 20:22:45    2063488

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Replying To gunman:  "The great Micko doesn't agree with holding back these young fellas in Kerry,He said he would take them in and train the s***e out of them like he did with the good U-21s in Kerry at the time winning an All Ireland with a team of youngsters which was to become the greatest of all time."
Ha Ha well who am I to argue but they were different times plus it was U-21's not U-20's. Listen Niall is going to be a great player for Donegal in years to come but with the like of Stephen McB, Cian Mulligan, Jamie Brennan as well as the other club players introduced to the squad I think Donegal can be patient for 1 year. I would have similar sentiments over Jason McGee though I agree with you fully that he will probably be with the seniors.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 25/11/2017 03:02:36    2063506

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In general I agree that it is better to hold back a year with the under-20 players. However we don't have an abundance of scoring forwards and great forwards are like gold dust, so I think Niall O'Donnell will start for the senior team next year.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1876 - 25/11/2017 18:04:57    2063538

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Replying To Green_Gold:  "In general I agree that it is better to hold back a year with the under-20 players. However we don't have an abundance of scoring forwards and great forwards are like gold dust, so I think Niall O'Donnell will start for the senior team next year."
He won't be a starter. I am not saying he should not be a starter but he won't start. I think it will be one of the 3 I already mentioned. In terms of scoring forwards we are not in that bad a place.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 25/11/2017 20:54:12    2063550

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Replying To Green_Gold:  "In general I agree that it is better to hold back a year with the under-20 players. However we don't have an abundance of scoring forwards and great forwards are like gold dust, so I think Niall O'Donnell will start for the senior team next year."
If you look at other sports they are always prepared to give exceptional talent a chance regardless of age.There are numerous examples like Wayne Rooney and before anybody says Soccer is not as tough what about Jacob Stockdale at 21 being man of the match yesterday.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1059 - 26/11/2017 15:55:33    2063596

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Replying To gunman:  "If you look at other sports they are always prepared to give exceptional talent a chance regardless of age.There are numerous examples like Wayne Rooney and before anybody says Soccer is not as tough what about Jacob Stockdale at 21 being man of the match yesterday."
Some prodigious talents can be introduced early no doubt. In both the cases of Stockdale and Rooney both were/are physically gifted so could cope with the step up. Stockdale is 21 so older than Niall and in the case of Rooney soccer players do get more protection as it is not as physically demanding as GAA.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 26/11/2017 20:10:30    2063652

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