1669530 Lets be honest here he's taking over a sinking ship he's not going to change anything and Donegal more than any other contender needs changes to be made, he'll keep all the same aging players cause he's no choice and he'll keep the same blanket defence counter attack football that is not going to work next year cause Dublin have shown what not to do against Donegal and kerry have shown exactly what to do.
It remains to be seen whether we are a 'sinking ship'. But my God man do you never learn? It was with utmost certainty you were predicting Dublin would wipe the floor with us in the semi this year. Look what happened. While I would agree that yourselves and Kerry are favourites next year nothing is certain in sport and Dublin fans above all others should know this at this stage!
Its my opinion LJ wether I'm right or wrong plus Dublin has nothing to do with what I said there about Donegal and Gallagher. A lot of people predicted Donegal winning the All Ireland on here but I'm not going to give them stick for giving there opinion after being wrong. i can't remember the last time Joe Brolly has got the all Ireland winners prediction right yet rte still employ him.
Question for you though clondalkin. Did you know who Ódhrán MacNiallais was this time last year? Did you know who Darach O'Connor was? One was an All Star nominee while the other started the All-Ireland final and was unlucky not to find the net.
My point is, you seem to dismiss Donegal out of hand without any real knowledge of what new players may be available to Rory Gallagher.
Yeah I suppose we aren't churning out super stars like Cormac Costello etc.. Every year who scores for fun when his team is 20 points up and is nowhere to be seen when it matters and is needed so clondalkin don't you e worrying about the ship up here, it will be just fine, I'd be more worried about a team that was being talked up as unbeatable and being tipped for 5 in a row that can fall spectacularly from grace.......... An sure it was just one of those days, if connollys goal went in, blah blah blah
Donegal quite simply showed up the weakness in Dublin and that is not being able to defend, rather than Dublin showing how not to play against Donegal
1669530 Lets be honest here he's taking over a sinking ship he's not going to change anything and Donegal more than any other contender needs changes to be made, he'll keep all the same aging players cause he's no choice and he'll keep the same blanket defence counter attack football that is not going to work next year cause Dublin have shown what not to do against Donegal and kerry have shown exactly what to do.
Certainly a contender for 'sour grapes of the year post' on the forum.
1669705 I remember not long ago another so called chosen one been hailed. That didn't turn out too good. I hope this isn't the same.
In fairness within Donegal football, Jim McGuinness Is rightly held in such high esteem. Simply look at Donegal between 1993 and 2010, all those Ulster final's and not a single Ulster title or All Ireland. Then Jim McGuinness takes over for the 2011 season, reaches 4 out of 4 Ulster final's winning 3 out of those 4. Reaches 2 All Ireland finals, and winning 1.
I don't know how Rory Gallagher's reign will go, but he Inherits a team now used to winning and with seemingly a strong amount of talent coming through. This is not a new man fresh from the street, this guy was at McGuinness and the players side while winning an All Ireland and 2 Ulster titles.
Some people may look to Tyrone, and at how their underage talent conveyor belt didn't fulfill its potential. But In truth Tyrone's system failed because their manager stayed on too long and basically failed to replace key men early enough. Mickey Harte's Loyalty to key men who helped him win All Ireland titles, is probably what has caused a time lapse in talent succession in Tyrone. However that being said, I think they are currently getting things together and are generally going in the right direction.
Donegal are still the team to beat in Ulster, such a strong outfit both mentally and physically. I don't genuinely think that Armagh have the firepower to make Kieran McGeeneys dreams come through just yet, Although their strength and physicality will of course cause major problems. I think Tyrone and Derry will be the main Challenger's to Donegal in 2015.