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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To Commodore:  "Mulreany after putting in another outstanding shot stopping performance today, reinforcing what I said previously about him being a better shot stopper than Patton. It will be hard for Shaun to break into the team when he returns later this season."
It's worrying how many goal chances the other teams are getting every game though.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 306 - 01/03/2026 20:28:49    2659334

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Replying To eddieSize5Balls:  "It's worrying how many goal chances the other teams are getting every game though."
You make a very good point, because that is something that is a genuine concern from this league campaign so far, while his saves have literally give us an edge and so far we have conceded less than other Division 1 teams, most sides have had a lot of goal chances against us.

But in saying that, I don't think we will see the final Donegal product for a while yet, we get glimpses, but in all of those league games so far, Jim is really testing different players in match ups and in different positions etc, so I can see where the defensive system isn't quite as robust as it should be yet.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1635 - 01/03/2026 23:25:26    2659379

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I'm not getting carried away with the National League team performances so far, a lot of our games could have went either way and in many cases we are playing teams who are also missing a lot of top players.

However I am excited by some of the Individual performances by Donegal players so far, like Gavin Mulreanny, Finbar Roarty, Conor O'Donnell, Michael Langan, Jason McGee, Hugh McFadden, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Caolan McGonigle, Ryan McHugh, Shane O'Donnell and new faces like Shea Malone, McCahill etc.

Its probably the first league campaign in which Jason McGee has been available and fit for every single game and he is cranking up the gears game on game, and Michael Langan is a big presence, Hugh McFadden is reinvigorated, Caolan McGonigle is a warrior and well what can you say about Murphy.

There is something exciting there, like when all the pieces come together later in the summer, I think this will be a very special team by recent standards.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1635 - 01/03/2026 23:39:38    2659382

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Watching the Sunday game highlights last night..when Galway had two men bearing down on goal..Jason mcGee determination and desire to fully sprint back and tackle the Galway man and slightly put him off was unbelievable character...alot like Stuart mcCloskey tackle on the England lad in the rugby last week..pure heart and guts and never give up..great to see him fit and injury free.

RoryGall35 (Donegal) - Posts: 200 - 02/03/2026 11:10:16    2659445

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Replying To eddieSize5Balls:  "It's worrying how many goal chances the other teams are getting every game though."
Welcome to the new rules. Keeping goal chances out is no more. It's just a fact we have to accept.

PeterQ92 (Donegal) - Posts: 179 - 02/03/2026 11:52:14    2659458

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Replying To PeterQ92:  "Welcome to the new rules. Keeping goal chances out is no more. It's just a fact we have to accept."
Sure but then again we don't create as many as the teams we play

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 306 - 02/03/2026 15:38:26    2659536

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Replying To Commodore:  "I'm not getting carried away with the National League team performances so far, a lot of our games could have went either way and in many cases we are playing teams who are also missing a lot of top players.

However I am excited by some of the Individual performances by Donegal players so far, like Gavin Mulreanny, Finbar Roarty, Conor O'Donnell, Michael Langan, Jason McGee, Hugh McFadden, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Caolan McGonigle, Ryan McHugh, Shane O'Donnell and new faces like Shea Malone, McCahill etc.

Its probably the first league campaign in which Jason McGee has been available and fit for every single game and he is cranking up the gears game on game, and Michael Langan is a big presence, Hugh McFadden is reinvigorated, Caolan McGonigle is a warrior and well what can you say about Murphy.

There is something exciting there, like when all the pieces come together later in the summer, I think this will be a very special team by recent standards."
We're we not missing the likes of ciaran moore, Oisin gallen, Ciaran Thompson, sean patton, caolan mccolgan and Shane o donnell? It shows Jim is building some depth in the squad, you'd think Donegal were playing with a full hand every week

totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 1186 - 02/03/2026 19:54:01    2659605

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Replying To totalrecall:  "We're we not missing the likes of ciaran moore, Oisin gallen, Ciaran Thompson, sean patton, caolan mccolgan and Shane o donnell? It shows Jim is building some depth in the squad, you'd think Donegal were playing with a full hand every week"
I think Gallen really has to show his stuff this year, it's time he took the bull by the horns and really shows what he's capable off, he seems to me to drift out of games too much.
Look at Murphy for example, the man is a machine, give him any half chance and he'll make something of it or play some man in for a score, an example to any player that you have work hard and win dirty ball no matter how talented you are.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3726 - 02/03/2026 20:13:22    2659613

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McGee, Hugh, Roarty and Conor O'Donnell have been our most impressive performers so far. I expect us to go to Roscommon and win. Gives us a chance to rest as many as possible for the Monaghan game and play the full deck in the league final.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1472 - 02/03/2026 20:36:32    2659622

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Replying To eddieSize5Balls:  "Sure but then again we don't create as many as the teams we play"
Five goals scored, one conceded.

themaddog (Wicklow) - Posts: 179 - 02/03/2026 21:15:01    2659627

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Replying To totalrecall:  "We're we not missing the likes of ciaran moore, Oisin gallen, Ciaran Thompson, sean patton, caolan mccolgan and Shane o donnell? It shows Jim is building some depth in the squad, you'd think Donegal were playing with a full hand every week"
Don't forget Dara O Baoill. He had a super first few matches.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 866 - 02/03/2026 22:10:38    2659636

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Great point to get in the circumstances. Donegal started well before uncharacteristic handling errors especially from some of the young lads seen Galway take over. From a Galway perspective to play against 14 men and be up 6 points in the second half it's a poor result. Saying that Galway have really good talent and have the height around the middle that anything other than an AI semi final minimum would be seen as a disappointment. Conor O'Donnell was again excellent in the first half and only for him there would be no point gained. Conor McCahill had some poor turnovers but again he'll learn and come on from it. Of course the bomb squad made all the difference with Peader hitting a beauty to get the point. Michael looked in great shape and some of his ball winning with 2-3 Galway men hanging out of him was vintage Murphy but like CCFAB said I'd rather not see him sprinting back. I felt Shane O'Donnell was a big loss. We probably don't appreciate just how good he is in possession and ball retention. Another good outing for Mulreaney with some important saves and another 2 pointer.....some back up to have. Personally I still think Patton is number 1 if fully fit. The kickouts are so important and I've more confidence in Patton in that regard. Plus you have his low flight lasers which completely open up teams which can be lethal given our pace and runners in numbers. Jim seemed to say he'll be back but there won't be any rush. Speaking of Jim's press conference I loved how he gave special mentions to Jason for tracking back and Paul O'Hare's turnover. Imagine being those guys and hearing that you would want to run through walls even more. Again agree with CC that Michael Langan was blessed to get a black card and not a red. However where was the yellow or black card for the Galway man? As for Stephen there is no argument really however why did the Galway full back feel it necessary to roll around holding his face? Such a bad look. Finish with giving a shout out to the ground staff in Ballyshannon as the place and pitch looked impeccable.

panamasam (Australia) - Posts: 2912 - 03/03/2026 07:29:04    2659655

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "McGee, Hugh, Roarty and Conor O'Donnell have been our most impressive performers so far. I expect us to go to Roscommon and win. Gives us a chance to rest as many as possible for the Monaghan game and play the full deck in the league final."
Yeah agreed, I think Ryan McHugh has been very very good so far this year as well

CCFabu (Donegal) - Posts: 301 - 03/03/2026 09:12:46    2659667

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "Don't forget Dara O Baoill. He had a super first few matches."
It is strange how everybody forgets about him.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1232 - 03/03/2026 11:19:07    2659704

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I reckon that our starting 15 on Sunday had just 8 nailed on starters if we had a full deck to choose from and that is counting Eoghan B who seems to have got back his old form and will probably hold off McColgan.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1232 - 03/03/2026 11:27:22    2659711

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Replying To gunman:  "It is strange how everybody forgets about him."
Dara is a very underated player and chips in with 2 pointers as well. Dara, Conor and Shane would be a great half forward line.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 866 - 03/03/2026 13:57:09    2659760

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Replying To themaddog:  "Five goals scored, one conceded."
That wasn't what I said. It seems every team we play creates more goal chances than us. Yet we take our chances unlike them.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 306 - 03/03/2026 15:51:40    2659789

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "Dara is a very underated player and chips in with 2 pointers as well. Dara, Conor and Shane would be a great half forward line."
This has been brought up before in here many times. He's a good player who seems to start every season amazingly and then drops off as the championship goes along.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 306 - 03/03/2026 15:53:40    2659791

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With Jim's comments there it doesn't seem like Patton is out for the season. Interesting.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 306 - 03/03/2026 15:54:24    2659792

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