Mayoboy, in fairness having watched the game specifically to see what impact the black card would have in my view Aidan O'Shea and Colm Boyle would have gone in the first half as well as Mark McHugh. In the second half McLoughlin, Carolan and the No24 would have gone as well. Donegal would have lost Thompson (who was sent off 3 mins later). Gallagher and Bradley would have walked in the last two minutes. I did notice however a lot of players stepping out from blocking runs so maybe the new rule may prove fruitful. However Donegal were no more cynical than Mayo

omaghredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 3656 - 24/03/2013 20:30:37    1355395

Yeah the semi final thing is beyond stupidity, how can a team that finish fourth be considered league champions, same for finals in other division, nonsense, Westmeath are div 2 champs as Dublin or Tyrone will be, even kildare supporters would have to agree Tyrone were div two champions last year ",
Revert ti top 4 winner of each division in knock out for league champion, give all counties a chance to show what they can do

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 24/03/2013 21:12:37    1355465

So Royaldunne you're saying if Meath finish second this year in division 3 and still win it they're not the champions?

Jackos_Wacko (Kerry) - Posts: 417 - 24/03/2013 21:27:39    1355486

I've been saying that for ages royaldunne, its a nonsense if you ask me.

brendtheredhand (Tyrone) - Posts: 10897 - 24/03/2013 21:28:03    1355487

omaghredhand, I would disagree, I thought donegal were a bit more polished in the cynical stakes today. Overall I thought they were a little more calculated, although this is to be expected since they are doing it longer. There was one instance in the 2nd half where boyle turned a ball over and went to chase it and was bodychecked to stop any counter attack. Ref only gave a free when really it was probably more of a yellow than most of the actual yellows he gave.

One thing that became apparent was that donegal's system struggles against fast players who carry the ball. If they can get over the 'gain line' of donegal defenders they become quite disjointed. Higgins' in particular caught them out a number of times.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 24/03/2013 21:30:20    1355492

Mayo/Donegal was poor enough; Donegal at 60% of their ability were still the better side for most of the game but some of their players look as if they still have to work off last season's celebrations. However when they did flourish Mayo had no real answer but this was only sparce. Mayo are a nice side but pretty limited; they have no real control, discipline or plan on the pitch. When they got the ball it is headless chicken stuff for much of the time and they are trying to copy other teams to win. Mayo can't do cynical or rough stuff and when they attempt it they just look foolish. When they went back to playing football today they got better results so should concentrate on that instead of cynical pulling, walking in front of the ball at frees or trying to outmuscle teams because they just can't. Donegal when they get back to full fitness will be in the hunt again for SAM but they still have the bad habit of giving away possession at times. Dublin are serious contenders and those writing off Kerry are just foolish. Cork without Colm O'Neill won't be as effective while Tyrone are slowly coming up on the outside rails like they did in 2008.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9697 - 24/03/2013 21:32:00    1355498

ulsterman.
inside rail is better ... then let rip a furlong out ;D

ta32 (Tyrone) - Posts: 4907 - 24/03/2013 21:41:34    1355510

Clondalkindub don't forget Donegal Kerry & cork they also along with mayo lost to Kildare!!

Shineonlily (Kildare) - Posts: 26 - 24/03/2013 21:42:26    1355513

I agree, the format is a joke. Top 4 in Div 1, top 2 in Div 2, 1 from Div 3 and 1 from Div 4 into the QFs, thats the way we used to roll, I think that was better and certainly more national!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8585 - 24/03/2013 21:50:27    1355531

I dont know how you came to most of that conclusion ulsterman. Mayo were the better team today. They controlled the middle third, locked down michael murphy, and created 3 goal chances. If they can do all that and be as poor as you make them out to be then god help the rest of the country when they get their act together... They can be a bit rudderless up front, but then they are missing 2 linchpin forwards.

Also, did anyone else see the incident with mcloughlin on the ground, one of the donegal lads seemed to have his hand in his face as another was trying to get the ball from him. Not a very nice act it must be said. It was hard to see it fully but if that is what he was doing it is very disappointing.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 24/03/2013 21:57:24    1355547

Jackos_Wacko County: Kerry Posts: 141

1355486

So Royaldunne you're saying if Meath finish second this year in division 3 and still win it they're not the champions?

Exactly, how could they be? If what you described happens it would more than likely be monaghan who top the league, how in God's name even if we beat them in "final " could meath call themselves div 3 champions?
If by some miracle we top group then yes we would be, but otherwise no, take Westmeath for example if they win next game they will be only team not to have been beat, so therefore are div 2 champion if they lost "final" they wouldn't be,? The only team in country not to be beat,
Its either a league or a knockout, this is why the league is held in such low regard as a competition, how oh how could a team who finish fourth be considered champion of div 1,??

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 25/03/2013 08:27:54    1355565

Donegal were the poorer of two poor sides in a bad game yesterday in Castlebar & was for me sobering stuff. Granted the conditions weren't great but even at that it was a niggly game with both teams guilty of stupid fouling. 13 yellow cards tells it's own story. To try & compare either side to the Dublin performance the evening before is illuminating, at this particular moment in time there is a gulf there which will require a lot of hard work from both teams to get on par.

However onward & upward. I'm looking forward to the Dubs coming to town. Donegal take a week off this week & championship training begins in earnest next week. Lacey is back in full training & there is eight weeks to go until Tyrone, who also look very impressive, come to town. All still to play for but a lot of improving to do!!!!!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 25/03/2013 09:31:48    1355596

Amazing how the usual suspects crawl out of the woodwork when results go a certain way.

Same oul rubbish every year being trotted out by the same oul crew.

sedico (Kildare) - Posts: 1682 - 25/03/2013 09:33:12    1355598

Though Donegal v Mayo was an overall poor game of football yesterday. Mayo looked very limited up front and only for some very poor fouling by Donegal kept them in it with frees. The mistakes in possession from both teams was unreal and fitness or systems can't be blamed for what was poor execution of the basic skills. Lets not start with the cynical stuff lads, both teams were at it and cancelled each other out. The most disturbing incident I did see was in the later stages of the game when Mayo's No.22 ran 10 to 15 yards to punch Mark Mc Hugh in the back of the head - disgraceful.

On Donegal I must say that was a terrible display by our lads yesterday. I know they are doing hard training at the minute so a sluggish team is to be expected and I know that the game plan we play requires a sharp and fit team but some of the worrying signs for me yesterday was:
Our discipline - Last year even though we weren't playing well in the league we weren't conceding as many frees as this year in scorable positions. I wouldn't be a fan of Marty Duffy but 90% of his calls yesterday were right and we kept Mayo in touch by giving them easy frees. This has to be down to being in the wrong frame of mind. We also seen Mark Mc Hugh dish out a hit on a Mayo player which resulted in a yellow card. While this happens you could note that no other Mayo player got involved and let the ref take care of it yet 5 minutes later Mc Hugh gets a similar bang and Neil Mc Gee runs in and grabs a player by the throat resulting in a yellow card.
Our concentration - How many times did we kick the ball or handpass the ball to the opposition, behind a man, up in the air or to a mans feet. The pass right at the end of the first half was a prime example when MC Brearty passed the ball behind Mc Hugh when going through for a score. This has to be down to concentration and lack of it.
Our panel - I argued last week that we had a fairly strong panel but questioned that yesterday when you seen us bringing on Ryan Bradley again after he had been substituted. Surely with Mc Gee getting injured we have another option than bringing on a man that had played poorly, taken off, cooled down only to play him again.
Our system - Last year we weren't winning many games in the league either but we were playing a consistent system and it was only the fact that our fitness levels weren't at the required level and that we were missing our focal point in Murphy that we were losing games. This year however we seem to be in a mix of different systems and at the start of the second half all I could see was players pointing to other players and positions as though no-one knew what was happening. The long ball into Murphy is a good choice but can someone please tell me why we never have anyone around him for the breaking ball? Is it fitness? Against Cork and Mayo we continued to play long ball into him but he was so isolated that even if he won the ball he had to evade 3 or 4 players to get out with the ball.

Overall I have every trust in Jim Mc Guinness and the players and I know we will improve immensely for the championship but I can't shake off the feeling that we resemble Dublin last year and if people think that we can just flick on the championship switch just look at them last year!! I know we can up it for Tyrone I just hope it will be enough.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 25/03/2013 09:39:47    1355604

omaghredhand
County: Tyrone
Posts: 3596

1355146
You're a gas man Hillman. Whilst Harrison should have been sent off to say it was worse than Brennan who came in with a high tackle, kicked out at the player holding the ball on the ground and elbowed another in the face is hilarious

harrison punched the player in the face whats not to be sent off about that?
whilst brennan was foolish no doubt about that i agree he didnt kick the player on the ground he kicked the ball and you hardly blame him for a high tackle when the myo player was the one ran at him and he stuck his arms up to defend himself,yes if he had a brain he should have taken the hit and maybe just maybe in a perfect world the mayo player may have been sent off but judging by refs performances i think he was better off defending himself with his arms.

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 25/03/2013 09:47:26    1355614

it will look ridiculous if dublin finish top of the table with far better score differance thsn tyrone if they both win but yet tyrone get named as first place just becuase of who their wins came against haha who makes up these rules?

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 25/03/2013 09:52:39    1355617

Was at the game in a cold McHale park yesterday. Mayo got the job done and it was not pretty but hey, its all about trying to stay in division 1 and we got the win so I am happy with that. Our midfield, especially were very good along with Colm Boyle, who kicked a fine point. Keith Higgins should be at centre back, he is excellent when running with the centre at pass and setup the conroy goal.

Our passing was very wayward, I lost count the number of times the ball was kicked away. Our players also seem to have a habit of carrying the ball into the defence and loosing it. The cynical pulling down is not pretty to watch from both teams and maybe the black card will work.....it will def help teams with a stronger bench.

Donegal started the better with lost their way a bit. I failed to see why they didn't keep hitting high ball into Murphy? I think they will still be around come the business end of the championhship. Hopefully the return of Andy Moran and Alan Dillon will give us extra sharpness up front.

For us, we may still need to win down in Cork to stay up so its still all there.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11227 - 25/03/2013 10:00:34    1355625

sedico
County: Kildare
Posts: 1007

1355598
Amazing how the usual suspects crawl out of the woodwork when results go a certain way.

Same oul rubbish every year being trotted out by the same oul crew.

Come on Sedico, don't be shy, name names!!!!

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 25/03/2013 10:17:17    1355649

The league rules were there from the start of the year. In fact they are there at the start of every year. People just whinging for the sake of it.

sedico (Kildare) - Posts: 1682 - 25/03/2013 10:21:10    1355653

royaldunne
County: Meath
Posts: 3327

1355465
Yeah the semi final thing is beyond stupidity, how can a team that finish fourth be considered league champions, same for finals in other division, nonsense, Westmeath are div 2 champs as Dublin or Tyrone will be, even kildare supporters would have to agree Tyrone were div two champions last year ",
Revert ti top 4 winner of each division in knock out for league champion, give all counties a chance to show what they can do


Now, now Royaldunne be honest, it only bothers you when it happens to be Kildare involved. Not a word out of you until Kildare won div 2 last year despite everyone knowing at the start of the year what way it was formatted from the start. Are you getting worried that we might somehow win div 1 ??

You don't see us going on and on about Meath's great Leinster victory in 2010....

St.Conleth (Kildare) - Posts: 1700 - 25/03/2013 10:56:42    1355682