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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To Proudroyal:  "I'm sure Jimmy is doing significant homework on Meath as well.The problem he has is he not alot of Meaths games were televised this years championship apart from leinster final and the Galway game as far as I'm aware (Cork,Roscommon Dublin Kerry weren't on only highlights.Im sure Meath were not in his plans at the start of the year and probably thought it would be Galway again before last weekend which in fairness most people thought.The pressure is definitely on Donegal as last year yee let Galway off the hook and shouldve made the all Ireland at least.He really wont want to fall at this stage again this year so I'd say he is giving all his thoughts on Meath (cant see him looking beyond us as he is far too knowledgeable In my opinion) and will know we are a genuine threat.This Meath team seem to be growing in confidence with every game and the Galway result is massive as it's the first win in the all Ireland series in croke park for a good while.Ive watched alot of your games this year and definitely think yee can be got at but we will need to take our chances.Monaghan certainly rattle yee in the first half and even though 2nd half yee showed great character and skill Monaghan shooting let them down and the 2 lads going off for them were causing trouble for yee.Having said all that when yee click yee look very impressive.Young Roarty looks very impressive he might go on morris I'd say,languin also looks a baller and 2 o donnels.Yee seem to have a decent spread of scorers Murphy top with 0-26 mabreffy next with 1-18 and o baoil (who is underrated in my opinion)1-10.Yee have 8/9 lads with over 11 points at least in championship well able to score so we will have our work cut out for us.What yee have is the never say die attitude Ulster final for example just finding ways to win.Jimmy rubbing a few people up the wrong way but I've always like him something about him.He installs belief in teams and it's going to be fascinating on Sunday because Robbie has installed super belief in Meath and the county is buzzing again for the first time in years and who comes out on top we shall see.The weather is meant to be in the mid to high 20s the weekend so that could be a factor as well.Hopefully we can reach our first all Ireland in 24 years on Sunday cant wait for the match may the best team win."
It's clear that the Meath defensive structure is very well setup, its pretty much man to man, with two zonal sweepers following the ball carrier from a deeper position.
Galway were very poor in coughing up possession a few times through unforced errors, which resulted in turnovers due to Meath's superior intensity.

Billy Hogan is a very good goalkeeper, he is solid and has good kickout variety, he can pick out running target on the wings and I think he is key to how they play.

I know there is a lot of chat about Jordan Morris, but I would consider Matthew Costello and Ruairi Kinsella in the half forward line to be every bit as important to the Meath attacks and midfield battles. These two were more prominent in launching attacks than anyone, the half back line of Caulfield, Coffey and Donal Keogan give a serious lineup for breaking up the field.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1409 - 08/07/2025 10:31:04    2624315

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Replying To Ulsterchamps72:  "Listening to the football pod today and Tommy Rooney says both teams will be in their alternative kit due to the Green and Gold clash. Donegal in White but Meath will be in a Yellow jersey apparently and not their alternative Blue kit that they requested to wear."
Why did the Donegal and Kerry both wear their home kits in the 2014 AI Final?

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1409 - 08/07/2025 10:32:13    2624317

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Giving it to be a scorcher of a day too. Could be a day where the team with the strongest panel will prevail.
As usual, very quiet in the Donegal camp. Would I be right in saying that Caolan McGonagle is the only man that is still doubtful? I can't think of anyone else that there were injury concerns over. As with any team going far in the Championship, you need a wee bit of luck when it comes to your panel staying fit and injury free. Fingers crossed that the stars are aligning on that front for us. Still a sizable challenge to overcome this weekend though."
Jim indicated that Caolan is back training and would be in contention, but since he hasn't seen any game time since the Ulster QF, I can't see him featuring for a full match at this point. In fairness the team has done very well in his absence from No 6, but definitely miss his physicality.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1409 - 08/07/2025 10:34:26    2624318

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I see a couple of clubs have it up on their Socials about not getting their tickets allocation, and are now advising their members at this stage to get tickets from Ticketmassacre. That's on top of the clubs that were directing their members this route from the outset. Its a sad state of affairs folks when GAA Clubs are sending their members to them. I don't blame the clubs, or the county board, it's that shower up in Croke Park who have killing our association with their corporate decisions.

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 833 - 08/07/2025 11:07:29    2624330

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Replying To Commodore:  "It's clear that the Meath defensive structure is very well setup, its pretty much man to man, with two zonal sweepers following the ball carrier from a deeper position.
Galway were very poor in coughing up possession a few times through unforced errors, which resulted in turnovers due to Meath's superior intensity.

Billy Hogan is a very good goalkeeper, he is solid and has good kickout variety, he can pick out running target on the wings and I think he is key to how they play.

I know there is a lot of chat about Jordan Morris, but I would consider Matthew Costello and Ruairi Kinsella in the half forward line to be every bit as important to the Meath attacks and midfield battles. These two were more prominent in launching attacks than anyone, the half back line of Caulfield, Coffey and Donal Keogan give a serious lineup for breaking up the field."
100 percent on Costello and Kinsella.Costello hard to mark as drops a good bit and Kinsella has been very good all year.Half back as you said very good at breaking forward.Rafferty at fullback has been brillant but not sure if he will pick up Murphy as Murphy tends to drift and I think we need Rafferty to protect the goal so will be interesting what we do there.it may well come down to the bench and we have a few lads out so think yee probably have a stronger bench on paper but Robbies mantra aall year has been next man up and its served us well so far.im hoping we preform to our max and if we do we will push yee all the way.Looking like it will be near a sellout so the atmosphere should be electric with the sun out shpuld be a great spectacle.

Proudroyal (Meath) - Posts: 393 - 08/07/2025 11:31:38    2624334

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Replying To Commodore:  "It's clear that the Meath defensive structure is very well setup, its pretty much man to man, with two zonal sweepers following the ball carrier from a deeper position.
Galway were very poor in coughing up possession a few times through unforced errors, which resulted in turnovers due to Meath's superior intensity.

Billy Hogan is a very good goalkeeper, he is solid and has good kickout variety, he can pick out running target on the wings and I think he is key to how they play.

I know there is a lot of chat about Jordan Morris, but I would consider Matthew Costello and Ruairi Kinsella in the half forward line to be every bit as important to the Meath attacks and midfield battles. These two were more prominent in launching attacks than anyone, the half back line of Caulfield, Coffey and Donal Keogan give a serious lineup for breaking up the field."
I'd agree with your synopsis on Meath.

Matthew Costello is absolutely Meath's best player, he's the one top class player on the panel that I think he could play for any team in the country. Kinsella has been excellent at 11, but a lot of what Meath do does some from the half back line.

Caufield is a lot like Ciaran Moore, has a hell of engine, can get up and down the field and can chip in with a score. Picks up a lot of ball around the middle, and at just 21 and being vice-captain, he's a very important player to what Meath do.

Jordan Morris is probably a bit like Oisin Gallen. Seriously talented and on his day can shoot the lights out. But it's just the consistency that's lacking. Morris is hot and cold, and even that Galway games shows that. He looked dangerous in the first half, but kicked 2/3 bad wides. So you never know what you're going to get.

So I've no doubt Donegal won't fall into the complacency trap and take Meath for granted, I'm sure Jim is preparing his team the same way as if it was Kerry or Tyrone. Looking forward to a good atmosphere and contest on Sunday, conditions looks like they'll push players to the limits!

Cabbagepatch1667 (Meath) - Posts: 42 - 08/07/2025 11:37:00    2624337

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Replying To SouthOfTheGap:  "I see a couple of clubs have it up on their Socials about not getting their tickets allocation, and are now advising their members at this stage to get tickets from Ticketmassacre. That's on top of the clubs that were directing their members this route from the outset. Its a sad state of affairs folks when GAA Clubs are sending their members to them. I don't blame the clubs, or the county board, it's that shower up in Croke Park who have killing our association with their corporate decisions."
Totally agree. We must be the only sporting organisation that Members are not guaranteed tickets.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 656 - 08/07/2025 11:41:39    2624339

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Replying To SouthOfTheGap:  "I see a couple of clubs have it up on their Socials about not getting their tickets allocation, and are now advising their members at this stage to get tickets from Ticketmassacre. That's on top of the clubs that were directing their members this route from the outset. Its a sad state of affairs folks when GAA Clubs are sending their members to them. I don't blame the clubs, or the county board, it's that shower up in Croke Park who have killing our association with their corporate decisions."
100% spot on. No wonder it's nicknamed the Grab All Association

dgcrusader (Donegal) - Posts: 108 - 08/07/2025 11:53:07    2624341

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Replying To Commodore:  "Why did the Donegal and Kerry both wear their home kits in the 2014 AI Final?"
James O'Donoghue mentions this on the podcast and said that Kerry actually requested in 2014 to play in their blue kit as they'd played in that kit versus Mayo in the semi final. James O'D also said that Paul Durcan may have clipped that kickout for the second Kerry goal in 2014 to a Kerry player due to the colour clash. I recall us playing in the Ulster kit in the 1990 semi final versus Meath. On another note, why did Armagh play in Black versus Kerry in the quarter final, there was no colour clash there.

Ulsterchamps72 (Donegal) - Posts: 159 - 08/07/2025 12:00:56    2624344

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Replying To Commodore:  "Jim indicated that Caolan is back training and would be in contention, but since he hasn't seen any game time since the Ulster QF, I can't see him featuring for a full match at this point. In fairness the team has done very well in his absence from No 6, but definitely miss his physicality."
Yeah it would be a big ask of him to step in at this point and expect him to be fully up to the pitch of things.
I'd be thinking he'd be a great man to bring on with about 15 minutes to go if we find ourselves ahead and need a bit more protection and physicality.

Also - like you say, it would be harsh dropping any man for him at this stage as well, not that Jim deals in sentimentality too much!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9873 - 08/07/2025 12:23:12    2624355

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Some front row Hogan stand seats on sale now

Al_Maguire (Donegal) - Posts: 306 - 08/07/2025 12:31:16    2624358

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Replying To Ulsterchamps72:  "James O'Donoghue mentions this on the podcast and said that Kerry actually requested in 2014 to play in their blue kit as they'd played in that kit versus Mayo in the semi final. James O'D also said that Paul Durcan may have clipped that kickout for the second Kerry goal in 2014 to a Kerry player due to the colour clash. I recall us playing in the Ulster kit in the 1990 semi final versus Meath. On another note, why did Armagh play in Black versus Kerry in the quarter final, there was no colour clash there."
Apparently Armagh changed due to one of their players being colour blind.

themaddog (Wicklow) - Posts: 166 - 08/07/2025 12:58:37    2624374

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Replying To Al_Maguire:  "Some front row Hogan stand seats on sale now"
Yeah with 334 ROW C. View mightn't be fantastic but near the action anyway. Find the upper tier too far away

thebronze14 (Donegal) - Posts: 57 - 08/07/2025 13:54:09    2624384

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Replying To Ulsterchamps72:  "James O'Donoghue mentions this on the podcast and said that Kerry actually requested in 2014 to play in their blue kit as they'd played in that kit versus Mayo in the semi final. James O'D also said that Paul Durcan may have clipped that kickout for the second Kerry goal in 2014 to a Kerry player due to the colour clash. I recall us playing in the Ulster kit in the 1990 semi final versus Meath. On another note, why did Armagh play in Black versus Kerry in the quarter final, there was no colour clash there."
We also wore provincial colours against Meath in a qualifier in 2002. Michael Hegarty played a blinder that day despite his mother passing away during that week if memory serves me right.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1263 - 08/07/2025 15:22:25    2624408

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "We also wore provincial colours against Meath in a qualifier in 2002. Michael Hegarty played a blinder that day despite his mother passing away during that week if memory serves me right."
Think that was the game Christy Toye got the first of his Croke Park goals in as well wasn't it?

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9873 - 08/07/2025 15:52:51    2624419

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