Anybody find it strange that there was not 1 debate about the Donegal v Fermanagh game .
(Not including oblivious Tyrone fans)
Which Donegal won well even with 14 men.

Donegal_Man (Donegal) - Posts: 37 - 12/06/2016 20:24:47    1865719

Thanks admin. Subject heading far better.

Donegal_Man (Donegal) - Posts: 37 - 12/06/2016 20:29:37    1865725

Monaghan will destroy them there finished .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 12/06/2016 20:38:31    1865738

Good performance in the 2nd half from Donegal to see how the game under difficult circumstances. It must be said that Fermanagh were very very disappointing bar a period towards the end of the first half. Donegal clearly had their homework done and done a great job marshalling Corrigan and Quigley. Are Donegal coming in under the radar? There was plenty of discussion about the game on the Donegal page but I don't think any of the sides with serious aspirations of winning the AI would have seen anything today from Donegal they have not seen before or be particularly worried about. In what is a disappointment none of the younger players got a game today players with alot of potential. I am not sure what Ciaran Thompson has done to not get a look in. He was one of the stand out players at the beginning of the league till injury and has hardly had a look in since. Donegal are still overly reliant on McBrearty and MM for scores. Snuff these 2 out and replicate Donegal defensively and you go along way to beating Donegal which the likes of Kerry, Mayo and Dublin have already worked out. To come under the radar you need to be bringing something different. I don't think Donegal have learned much from the Mayo game last year in terms of a plan B or C when it comes to attacking strategy.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 12/06/2016 20:52:01    1865745

We're not in with a chance of silverware this year for the following reasons
- Our manager has brought nothing new to our play. We are way too slow in transition and better defences will filter back quick blocking our path to goal.
- Our discipline is poor on the field and on the line
- Michael Murphy is just a ball collector and fist passer. Until we can get more from him we're sunk.
- We don't have a replacement for Neil Gallagher.
- We have had all league to work on a kick out strategy and it looked awful today.
- While other teams in Ulster like Tyrone and Monaghan are bringing their youth through we are bringing on the players previously subbed in games and as a result completely demoralising the younger players.

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1671 - 12/06/2016 21:08:49    1865763

I think that monaghan are quite poor as well. The winners of monaghan or donegal will struggle badly against either cavan or tyrone.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 12/06/2016 21:18:56    1865771

*out not how

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2782 - 12/06/2016 21:19:18    1865772

I just don't think we are going to be a force this year as we have the same game plan as last year. The manager has had a year to rejig things but we are as predictable as ever. We will beat the minnows but struggle against the top teams.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1874 - 12/06/2016 21:30:55    1865778

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1321 - 13/06/2016 05:35:50    1865890

BarryPD (Dublin) - Posts: 34 - 13/06/2016 10:04:23    1865951

BarryPD (Dublin) - Posts: 34 - 13/06/2016 10:04:23    1865952

The exact same tactics as before which won't win them Sam they've been found out , their only hope is playing their best player Murphy at full forward and not wasting his time out the field doing very little. Murphy could win a game on his own in full forward. How does Gallagher honestly think he can win Sam doing the exact same things that haven't been good enough the last 4 years? Maybe it's the only way they know how but it won't be enough.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 13/06/2016 10:54:46    1866002

I was very unimpressed with Donegal yesterday.

I fully expected them to win the game, it was upper division one against lower division 2 and the difference in quality was always going to tell in the end. There were various bad passes and bad decision making from Fermanagh that you just can't get away with against the better sides but really the result was no shock to anybody.

But Donegal don't look to be going anywhere, far too indisciplined and far too many players not at their peak I think Monaghan will take them in the semi's.

Steve (Fermanagh) - Posts: 293 - 13/06/2016 11:47:38    1866041

Lads, does it ever occur to you that Gallagher is fielding his best team at the moment? People are puzzled why he is not bringing in new players. What about Eoin McHugh, Ciarain Thompson, Stephen McBrearty and Martin Oreilly? Thats 4 players. I also think that Donegal face the same predicament that all other teams around the country face. Loyalty to older players at the end of their career. It is very hard to say no to an all ireland winner who wants to give it one more year.

Regarding tactics, I think that you are mostly right about the slow lateral build ups, but in fairness, it is also about possession and percentages. Sometimes you have got to hold on to the ball to avoid a counter attack. The kick out strategy can only be built around a strong mid field. Unfortunately we dont have good fielders at the minute, so we have limited options here. Perhaps Gallagher is getting the very best out of a team that is limited for the above reasons and shouldnt be the bane of criticism?

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 13/06/2016 11:48:58    1866042

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1903 - 13/06/2016 11:55:24    1866054

Cant read too much into the game to be honest. Donegal did enough to win which is how they always play really.
They had 14 men for half the game so gameplan went out the window in the end.

I felt some of the passing moves were great to watch. With Frank, O Reilly and the 2 McHughs there is some great pace.

Fair enough I still don't feel that Murphy is being as good as he maybe could but it was pretty much the performance I expected.

dstuction (Donegal) - Posts: 1209 - 13/06/2016 12:01:33    1866063

In fairness they done what they had to do and will certainly be a match for tyrone (who have they beat the past couple of years in fairness) and plenty of others too in my opinion!!!

letterkennyGuy (Donegal) - Posts: 153 - 13/06/2016 12:15:20    1866074

They will have to tighten up in defence though,Fermanagh could have easily scored a few goals.

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 13/06/2016 12:29:24    1866083

Donegal haven't been able to come in under the radar since 2011, so forget about that.

KerryKillers (Dublin) - Posts: 711 - 13/06/2016 13:01:30    1866123

i was actually quite impressed with Donegal yesterday in the second half. Eoin McHugh was great , so was mARTY o' rEILLY AND mCnIALLIS . McBrearty was also good and Frank McGlynn seems to improve with age. Neil Magee will be a big loss though v Monaghan.
It was not easy with 14 men v Fermanagh who are a decent team. I wonder is Michael Murphy fit at all. I find it curious the role he is playing. He is still a young man so why is he being used as a fetcher and passer. Why is he not running at defences , our on the square playing the type of game that Pat Hughes played for Sligo yesterday, surely he is well capable of doing that. i think donegal need all 3 McHughs and Ciaran Thompson to add legs to the team. I can't see them beating Monaghan in Ulster but I wouldn't write them off entirely.

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 13/06/2016 13:02:47    1866124