We are in trouble for sure but have managed to get out of it before. The game was a good game as other's have said but really disappointed with the way we reacted to the Donegal goal...just nothing there and seemed to tire. I think it is an overreaction to suggest Rochford is out of his dept....I seem to remember Eamon Fitz loosing his first three league games in charge of Kerry.

I was disappointed with the Donegal players around the penalty....crowding the ref and umpire and then kicking the penalty spot and surrounding O Connor....who showed great nerve to hit the penalty at the second time of asking...made from the same cloth as his brother.

Paddy McGrath - wow lighting speed from the Donegal man.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11232 - 29/02/2016 11:28:35    1829204

stamping on the penalty spot had to be a knew low in our game and done by more than one player, I'm all for big hits and tough tackling but that was shameful. Also how is certain player getting away with constantly roaring at the opposition free taker as he's about to kick the ball it's going on 5 years now and he's still getting away with it.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts:7089 - 29/02/2016 11:04:19


A new low? Compared to what?

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 29/02/2016 11:30:26    1829206

This time yesterday people were saying the same about Cork

Pingcity (Longford) - Posts:255 - 29/02/2016 10:59:55


Cork and Donegal are different gravy I'm afraid.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 29/02/2016 11:30:49    1829207

Mayo have nothing to worry about they'll destroy the next 4 teams they play, they lost by 2 points against Donegal in ballybofey ha most counties would take that defeat if offered before the game it's a nightmare place to go.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 29/02/2016 11:33:44    1829211

Cork and Donegal are different gravy I'm afraid.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts:4294 - 29/02/2016 11:30:49

+1

CroiGorm (Dublin) - Posts: 1547 - 29/02/2016 11:40:59    1829216

Mayo have nothing to worry about they'll destroy the next 4 teams they play, they lost by 2 points against Donegal in ballybofey ha most counties would take that defeat if offered before the game it's a nightmare place to go.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts:7091 - 29/02/2016 11:33:44

I really don't see Mayo destroying us next week to be honest.

patk (Monaghan) - Posts: 936 - 29/02/2016 11:56:40    1829225

Yerra Clondalkin seems to think the rest of us are just canon fodder for the almighty Dubs but sure Hubris is always a Dub's downfall

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 29/02/2016 12:13:47    1829239

clondalkindub - we won't be hammering anyone. 3 wins out of 4 needed now to stay up in my opinion.
We have:
Monaghan (away)
2 week break
Kerry (home)
Roscommon (away)
Down (home)

The rossies would love nothing better then to send us packing. Monaghan going by the Dublin performance will be a tough one.
Kerry at home could be a decider and id except to beat Down at home.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11232 - 29/02/2016 12:19:26    1829243

it looks like mayo are going to be relegated
cork as bad as they are will beat down
that leaves cork on 4 pts having beaten mayo already
the rossies will suely beat down then their on 6 pts
down are going down for sure

rhudson (Galway) - Posts: 1478 - 29/02/2016 12:20:38    1829244

Judging from the opening 3 rounds of Division 1, I suspect Dublin, Donegal, Monaghan, Roscommon or Kerry will make the Semi-Final's. I think Mayo will stay up, and that Cork will join Down in relegation.

The precise order will not be clear, as there are some variables to consider moving forward.

Roscommon are flying, but have Dublin, Mayo, Donegal and Down still to play, of which Down are probably their only guaranteed 2 points. In saying that, they are capable of picking up further points at home or away, but I think that will depend on where their opposition team are at and where they want to be. For example, If Roscommon are playing a side already in the SF or safe from relegation, they may face a less stiff challenge. I see them getting 4 points and reaching the SF.

Mayo are getting big names back, and are looking considerably stronger than in their opening two games. I think that opening match against Cork was a outlier or a fluke result. I recorded the Donegal v Mayo game yesterday, and Mayo were excellent for large periods of that game. I see Mayo staying up, but with Roscommon, Kerry, Down and Monaghan still ahead, they could well drop point 4 points. So I expect they will stay up, but maybe miss out on the league SF.

Donegal have their 6 points now, and they may choose to experiment even further in their remaining games rather than push for a Semi-Final spot. With 3 massive away games against Kerry, Dublin and Monaghan, and a tough home game against Roscommon, It would not be beyond the realm of possibility for them to lose all 4, but as they are carefully blending new talent with experience in each game, they don't weaken too much and so I think they will reach the SF.

Kerry have big names returning and will continue to get stronger game on game, however they have Donegal, Mayo, Monaghan and Cork still to play. It is not beyond Kerry to win 3 or even all 4 of these games, so I would not rule out a Semi-Final place for them. Like all National League games, the result often depends on where teams are looking to finish up or how much experimenting they are doing.

Monaghan have started the National League in excellent form, and I suspect they will reach the National League Semi-Final this year. They still have Cork, Kerry, Mayo and Donegal to play, and I think they could have a serious crack at a Semi-Final spot. If Conor McManus can be Isolated, I think Monaghan will seriously struggle to score, and most teams will look closely at the Dublin game now and look to exploit this. Ultimately Monaghan will have to wait until August to prove themselves, as nothing they do between now and then will convince the wider GAA community that they better.

Dublin are the benchmark, they have not lost a competitive game league or championship since the 2014 All Ireland SF against Donegal. Teams are getting closer to them this season, that much is clear from their games against Mayo and Monaghan. But they will definitely reach the League SF and will be likely winners again.

Cork started on fire, but have nose dived in spectacular fashion. They have some serious talent at their disposal, but haven't settled properly and don't look to be getting the best from their players. Cork will likely improve as the year goes on, but there are still some underlying issues and they are not serious championship contenders at present. Too Inconsistent, but they definitely have the talent.

Down have had a very poor start, although I felt they performed fairly well against Monaghan in Clones. Heavy defeats to Donegal and Kerry in Newry have dealt heavy blows to their confidence, and relegation now looks inevitable. They maybe need some of their big names who have departed the team to return and fight with their County.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 29/02/2016 12:21:38    1829246

Seen an incident which got me thinking at the weekend. Mayo got a penalty against donegal, where it looked like the donegal keeper tripped the mayo player on purpose - so if he had been given a black card for this, who goes in goals for the penalty?!

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 29/02/2016 12:27:42    1829253

Really enjoyed the Mayo Donegal match. Great intensity throughout and a great win by Donegal.
Kerry had the handiest of wins , Down look a very very poor outfit

woops (Kerry) - Posts:1529 - 28/02/2016 16:53:03 1828885


Fair enough Dubs I am chastened. Mayo - Donegal match was excellent and very enjoyable. Some good football on show and Donegal moved the ball brilliantly at times, they are a serious contender for honours again. Roscommon seem reborn, they are putting together some great results and fair play to them. Down are a pale shadow of a once great footballing county while Derry are very inconsistent.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts:7660 - 28/02/2016 17:06:05 1828897

That Down team would get relegated from division 2, never mind 1. Never known a Down team to be so inept at county level. I didn't expect anything from the Kerry match but to recieve another drumming after that pathetic Donegal performance in the first round is unacceptable in my eyes, regardless of injuries and absentees. Eamon Burns and the county board should be doing all in his power to get Clarke, Gordon, Coulter and Laverty etc. back into the county set up ASAP. We've became an absolute joke of a footballing county.

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 29/02/2016 12:33:18    1829261

Sorry I ment you'll hammer Kerry n Down and beat Monaghan and Roscommon.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 29/02/2016 12:41:06    1829268

Seen an incident which got me thinking at the weekend. Mayo got a penalty against donegal, where it looked like the donegal keeper tripped the mayo player on purpose - so if he had been given a black card for this, who goes in goals for the penalty?!

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts:15020 - 29/02/2016 12:27:42 18

Not sure about that, probably the substitute keeper would go in goal.

I watched the recording of that game last night, and felt the referee was very harsh on Donegal for a large part of the first half and a good portion of the 2nd half. He gave some very soft free's, and seemed to brandish a ridiculous amount of yellow cards. I also thought the black card on Neil Gallagher was extremely harsh, a booking would have sufficed.

All in all, it was a very competitive game though, and pretty entertaining to watch. Mayo dominated the midfield area for large periods, although they might be concerned about the low return they got from this dominance. But clearly they won't be in the relegation fight, and will now likely improve game on game. Donegal struggled to settle, which I felt was partly due to the referee blowing up too much. I think it was a brilliant work out for both teams, it was tactically very tight and was played at a high intensity.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 29/02/2016 13:04:47    1829294

It was a very soft peno in the first place. If a keeper got a black for that then the game is no longer gaelic football, it is something else. Neil Gallagher got his black card for a technical foul, hardly a foul at all imo, and on the other hand, a mayo player gets a yellow for a very very dangerous high tackle on Ryan McHugh in the first half. Those are the tackles that should be the talking points if there is criticism to be dished out. Dangerous, cynical and tactical.

I thought the ref was ok. Its hard to ref a game that is played like a championship game. He got a couple of calls wrong, but that is fair enough.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 29/02/2016 13:21:57    1829314

I disagree Donegal man. I felt the referee messed up more often than he got right.
He had no control what so ever.

He got an awful lot wrong from a Donegal point of view which is why the players were going mental. Surprising he then gave us a few calls in the last 10 minutes so Id imagine Mayo would have been to impressed with him either.

Not a player I like at all but fair play to O Connor for holding nerve to score not one but two penaltys.
Paddy McGrath had a great game. If he could score he would have got 4 points. Not bad for a corner back.

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 29/02/2016 13:39:44    1829321

Roscommon could push for a semi-final spot

I think they'll beat down - that'll put them on 6pts

At this stage of the year they are more than capable of really troubling Mayo

And their last game at home is against Dublin - who may have already qualified for a Semi-final spot and could play an experimental side

If Roscommon are in with a shout they'll be very much up for that one....

A very interesting NFL Div 1 this year

I really like the league... I think it has a lot going for it, and in some ways offers up more than the Championship at present.

It's a great shame that many GAA fans just completely discount it....

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 29/02/2016 13:59:11    1829337

Not a player I like at all but fair play to O Connor for holding nerve to score not one but two penaltys.

May I ask why you don't like Diarmaid? A great young player in my opinion and improving all the time.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11232 - 29/02/2016 14:04:16    1829342

I really like the league... I think it has a lot going for it, and in some ways offers up more than the Championship at present.

It's a great shame that many GAA fans just completely discount it....

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts:14888 - 29/02/2016 13:59:11 182933

I agree. It is a proper competition. the all-ireland series is just a novelty that should not be taken seriously by the true fan.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 29/02/2016 14:20:27    1829359

dstuction, I thought the same, the ref lost control of it a bit. That carry on around the penalty was mostly down to him not taking control of it. He simply should have booked the first guy in kicking at the penalty spot and that would have been that. I think donegal had 3 yellow cards over that incident in the end.

Re the penalty, well he tripped the player after he took a step past him, it is dodgey ground. If a player done that out the field, people would be calling for a black card all day long. For arguments sake let's say he got the black card - the sub keeper cant come on until the next break in play, so that means an outfield player has to go in goal. Bit of an oversight in the rules there.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 29/02/2016 14:35:20    1829372