HoganStand GAA Football and Hurling

National Forum

Donegal GAA thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post

You need to Login to Post

Replying To Lockjaw: "I see Cawley has been appointed ref for the Ulster Final :/ In any game I have watched him in, there always seems to be some sort of inconsistency or a decision that is hard to fathom. In my opinion an Ulster ref should handle the Ulster final." he tends to be very fussy on certain things but it can be a frustrating watch with him in the middle in my experience, and usually one of those where both sets of supporters are annoyed I'd much prefer a ref you never notice and Cawley is one I tend to notice quite a bit to be honest but hopefully he has a good game on Saturday CCFabu (Donegal) - Posts: 173 - 06/05/2025 10:46:57 2607030 Link
I managed to catch the second half of the Connacht final. Galway just about shaded it. Mayo were dogged, I still wouldn't like to have to face them in a one-off do or die game. They're still awkward opponents for any team, even if they maybe don't have the same quality of player as they had when they were competing with Dublin. So we know what the group will look like: If we win Ulster => Tyrone, Cavan & Mayo If we lose Ulster => Derry, Dublin & Galway Topping either group will be tight going. Armagh will be difficult. I think we'll need to tighten up considerably. In each of the three games so far we've been loose enough at times. If we can do that, we'll have a great chance. Going forward we have scorers from all angles. It'll be a case of minding the house a bit better. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9759 - 06/05/2025 11:17:57 2607041 Link
I don't like Cawley and as already said it should've been an Ulster ref. He would've been the one ref I would not have wanted. At least it's two Ulster teams involved. He's been let's shall we say inconsistent against Tyrone teams too in the past as well as ourselves. Maybe Armagh can say the same thing but certainly noticed it with us and Tyrone when he is reffing. panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2856 - 06/05/2025 11:23:50 2607042 Link
The weather forecast is good for Saturday, which will hopefully make for a good game. It also should make for an even game. The two pointers can make for a game where the team playing with the wind can build up a big lead, and where momentum can be massive. It's mad that a teams game plans may revolve around whether you win or lose the toss. SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 777 - 06/05/2025 12:21:37 2607064 Link
Replying To SouthOfTheGap: "The weather forecast is good for Saturday, which will hopefully make for a good game. It also should make for an even game. The two pointers can make for a game where the team playing with the wind can build up a big lead, and where momentum can be massive. It's mad that a teams game plans may revolve around whether you win or lose the toss." Yes, Saturday looks good at the minute and fingers crossed there will be no change to the forecast. With the dry spell at the minute they'll be out watering the pitch before Saturday!! And as much as Sunday would be a more logical day there seems to be rain for Sunday. I'd also say that with normal Saturday traffic supporters will need to allow themselves plenty extra time to travel. The wind doesn't even have to be that strong to help with the two pointers. Momentum works both ways though and often comes from teams in the second half. Monaghan were very close to catching us. Mayo did catch galway and then did a "mayo" on it and contrived to lose the game. Dublin caught Kerry in the league. Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 815 - 06/05/2025 14:26:16 2607116 Link
Important to win on Saturday but if we do end up in group of death and survive, one saving grace would be that we would avoid Armagh, Galway and Dublin until the semi final or even final. Ideal path if we didn't too group would be a soft team in group 2 or 3, Monaghan in quarters(they'll win that group) then Kerry in semi final. shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 326 - 06/05/2025 15:30:01 2607137 Link
Replying To panamasam: "I don't like Cawley and as already said it should've been an Ulster ref. He would've been the one ref I would not have wanted. At least it's two Ulster teams involved. He's been let's shall we say inconsistent against Tyrone teams too in the past as well as ourselves. Maybe Armagh can say the same thing but certainly noticed it with us and Tyrone when he is reffing." Not a fan of Crawley but he couldn't do a worse job than twas done in the connacht final last Sunday totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 1060 - 06/05/2025 15:45:43 2607149 Link
Replying To SouthOfTheGap: "The weather forecast is good for Saturday, which will hopefully make for a good game. It also should make for an even game. The two pointers can make for a game where the team playing with the wind can build up a big lead, and where momentum can be massive. It's mad that a teams game plans may revolve around whether you win or lose the toss." Really is mad isn't it farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 211 - 06/05/2025 16:34:34 2607162 Link
Replying To SouthOfTheGap: "I see your Hurlers are also playing in The U20 All Ireland Final today . It would be a remarkable achievement, you've come so far. Run along now, don't get caught in the traffic." I believe the manager is from Latton and you'd know him well farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 211 - 06/05/2025 16:36:42 2607163 Link
How are we feeling about Saturday now? Would be nice to see Gallen light up again like last year in the final. More than capable. I feel if we get to the pitch of the Armagh league game or second half of the Derry championship game, we will not be far away. That's the intensity and lightening speed of movement we have hit in patches but not consistently this year. Maybe it's up the sleeve for Saturday. Here's hoping. Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1409 - 07/05/2025 13:48:35 2607360 Link
Replying To Donegal_abroad: "How are we feeling about Saturday now? Would be nice to see Gallen light up again like last year in the final. More than capable. I feel if we get to the pitch of the Armagh league game or second half of the Derry championship game, we will not be far away. That's the intensity and lightening speed of movement we have hit in patches but not consistently this year. Maybe it's up the sleeve for Saturday. Here's hoping." I am cautiously optimistic. Undoubtedly it will be a very tough match. I think Caolan McGonagle's return could be crucial. We just look a lot more secure when he is patrolling CHB. It would also be great to see Gallen returning to top form. Beating Armagh in an Ulster Final again would be sweet. I still think we owe them plenty from all the pain they inflicted on us in the noughties. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9759 - 07/05/2025 15:51:01 2607409 Link
Replying To farneygael3: "I believe the manager is from Latton and you'd know him well" Good luck in the All Ireland Semi Final at the weekend against Limerick. Is that in football or hurling? I'll leave a drink behind the bar for you in Packie Willies, you can have it when you make it back from your travels in Moorefield. SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 777 - 07/05/2025 16:14:45 2607419 Link
Replying To Donegal_abroad: "How are we feeling about Saturday now? Would be nice to see Gallen light up again like last year in the final. More than capable. I feel if we get to the pitch of the Armagh league game or second half of the Derry championship game, we will not be far away. That's the intensity and lightening speed of movement we have hit in patches but not consistently this year. Maybe it's up the sleeve for Saturday. Here's hoping." It's hard to know where we are at, at the moment. Parts of the Derry, Monaghan and Down game were very good, whereas other parts were not good at all. That won't cut it against a team as good as Armagh. Hopefully Caolan McGonagle is back for us, a vital cog to the team. I'm hearing rumours Rian O Neill is back for Armagh, we shall see how Saturday goes, can't wait for it, here's hoping we're going back up the road with another Ulster title, only a kick of the ball between the two teams and it's such a tough game to call! dgcrusader (Donegal) - Posts: 84 - 08/05/2025 10:16:47 2607546 Link
It's so hard to know where both teams are at. Armagh have a lot of changes from last year's Ultser final. For example, I compared the players involved in the 2024 final vs the players that made an appearance against Tyrone a few weeks ago. By my count, there are 9 lads that appeared against us last year that didn't feature against Tyrone for one reason or another (Blaine Hughes, Aaron McKay, Joe McElroy, Ciaran Mackin, Aidan Forker, Rian O'Neill, Aidan Nugent, Tiernan Kelly & Jason Duffy) For ourselves, we obviously have the likes of Murphy and McFadden-Ferry back. But there are doubts over the fitness of Eoghan Ban, McGonagle and McGee. It's nearly pointless speculating about matchups. Even when the official 26 is released we can take that with a pinch of salt. It won't be til the ball is thrown in that we know where we're at! Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9759 - 08/05/2025 12:06:24 2607570 Link
Replying To dgcrusader: "It's hard to know where we are at, at the moment. Parts of the Derry, Monaghan and Down game were very good, whereas other parts were not good at all. That won't cut it against a team as good as Armagh. Hopefully Caolan McGonagle is back for us, a vital cog to the team. I'm hearing rumours Rian O Neill is back for Armagh, we shall see how Saturday goes, can't wait for it, here's hoping we're going back up the road with another Ulster title, only a kick of the ball between the two teams and it's such a tough game to call!" It appears those rumours are true, but surely he wouldn't be anywhere near the level of fitness required. I don't think he has even played much club football, it was last publicised he played in a 7s Tournament about 8 weeks ago. The match ups are going to be intriguing, hard to know where to start until fitness issues are known for both teams. SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 777 - 08/05/2025 12:36:40 2607582 Link
Replying To SouthOfTheGap: "It appears those rumours are true, but surely he wouldn't be anywhere near the level of fitness required. I don't think he has even played much club football, it was last publicised he played in a 7s Tournament about 8 weeks ago. The match ups are going to be intriguing, hard to know where to start until fitness issues are known for both teams." Are you looking forward to the game farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 211 - 08/05/2025 15:02:59 2607619 Link
Rian O'Neill will be a massive addition for Armagh, whether he is fully fit or not he will be lethal at the 2 pointers. Looking forward now to the game, going to be very close I think, a decision either way might decide it in the final minutes. You wouldn't envy the ref his job. 48 hrs from now we'll be in the thick of it. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3185 - 08/05/2025 17:44:56 2607682 Link
Where are people hearing Riain is back? He's not on their panel that was named. Hasn't kicked a ball in months. If he is back, I wouldn't worry. eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 132 - 08/05/2025 23:43:13 2607721 Link
Rian wont be playing any part this weekend. Hopefully will be in the all ireland series at some stage. ArmaghAndProud (Armagh) - Posts: 42 - 09/05/2025 09:03:25 2607743 Link
Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Stephen McMenamin, Ciarán Moore; Ciarán Thompson, Michael Langan; Dáire Ó Baoill, Conor O'Donnell, Shane O'Donnell; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Oisín Gallen. Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Mark Curran, Odhran McFadden Ferry, Odhrán Doherty, Aaron Doherty, Eoin McHugh, Jason McGee, Jamie Brennan, Hugh McFadden, Niall O'Donnell, Caolan McGonagle. Good squad, we have more or less everyone fit bar Eoghan Ban. I reckon McGee and/or McGonagle to come into the team as it's lacking a small bit of height. Best wishes to the team and management and to everyone travelling down to Clones tomorrow, take care and Up Donegal! dgcrusader (Donegal) - Posts: 84 - 09/05/2025 11:23:20 2607783 Link