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This season kick-outs weren't the be-all and end-all, because teams have tactically evolved in the last 12 months to defend better in these scenarios. Interestingly the teams who were perceived to have slightly weaker midfields, actually faired better at the business end of the season. As others are saying, hitting 2 pointers was essential this season and will be every season moving forward. Goals and 2-pointers need to be central to any game plan, because merely 6 attempts can become 13 or 14 points and that can kill a game. We need a better array of 2 point shooters from left, center and right sides, as having a variety of long rang shooters can stretch opposition defenses. Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 31/07/2026 12:00:27 2688269 Link 1 |
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It will be interesting to see how many county players hit two-pointers in the upcoming club championships. A different level of intensity and pressure than playing at county level I know. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10445 - 31/07/2026 13:38:26 2688289 Link 0 |
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I would say most can with no pressure and a wind behind them though maybe don't get too carried away with mayo. It was still only two of their players hit two pointers on Sunday.
Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 1046 - 31/07/2026 19:41:11 2688332 Link 0 |
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What were the stats on opposition kickouts.It looks like "own kickouts" were even.Kerry got away a lot of short kickouts but were unable to break through the Mayo press.It would be interesting to see the story with balls that went to the middle of the field.There seems to be a narrative now that winning midfield is not that important but I don't think many managers would agree with that.Naturally managers will prepare for the outcome of losing that battle and maybe they are getting better at that but if you are getting cleaned at midfield you will need to be extremely efficient with the chances you get.That was the case in the first half in Kilarney.
gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1266 - 01/08/2026 12:51:58 2688377 Link 0 |
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Mayo won 11 of their 25 own kickouts and also claimed 10 of Kerry's 25. Kerry's figures were the reverse, winning 14 of their own and 15 of Mayo's. Overall, Kerry won 29 of the 50 kickouts (58%), while Mayo won 21 (42%). On the face of it, those numbers should have been more than enough for Kerry to win the game. That said, your point about Kerry's short kickout is very valid. Mayo applied intense pressure whenever Kerry went short, and overall it probably wasn't worth it for them. Too often Kerry ended up under immediate pressure, which played right into Mayo's hands. It's also interesting to consider how different things might have looked if Kerry had someone like Rory Beggan. He has the range to drive kickouts over the press into the forward line, forcing the opposition to defend deeper. Shane Murphy simply doesn't have that distance, so Mayo were able to push right up on Kerry's kickouts without really fearing a ball going over the top. Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 1046 - 01/08/2026 15:49:32 2688394 Link 0 |
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Oh for sure, I'm not advocating that we go totally gung-ho, and start attempting them wildly. Like Commodore mentioned though, we are definitely lacking a citeog or two to keep teams honest. Ciaran Thompson has a hammer of a left foot, and everyone knew the damage Paddy could do coming on the loop. We badly missed those options last year. Daire O'Baoíll is another great two pointer option. He was motoring very well but his injury disrupted his progress and he never seemed to get back to full steam. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10445 - 01/08/2026 18:45:05 2688408 Link 0 |
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Andy Moran has been very open about tactics in his interviews since the All-Ireland. He spoke about the emphasis Monaghan placed on the two-pointer last year and the discussions he had with Stephen O'Hanlon (with his basketball background in mind) about just how important it could become. He even referenced the Donegal game as an example. Monaghan kicked four two-pointers in the first half that day, all coming from just two players!!, Rory Beggan and Andrew Woods. They were seven points up at half-time, and those scores were a huge reason why. From a Donegal perspective, Ciarán Thompson was crucial in keeping us in the game. His two two-pointers into Hill 16 stopped Monaghan from opening up an even bigger lead and gave us a platform to come back. Looking back now, it really highlights just how much Donegal missed Thompson this year. Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 1046 - 01/08/2026 23:33:18 2688428 Link 0 |
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Opposition teams are well aware of who the 2 pointer threats are in most teams, obviously environmental factors such as wind direction etc also play a role on taking on shots. I felt our right flank was empty of any genuine threat from distance with no Paddy McBrearty, no Ciaran Thompson, no McCahill and questions over the fitness of Daire O'Baoill after his injury during the league. Opposition teams would have known this, and focused their pressure to the left flank and central zones. We didn't have any real consistent threat on that other left flank side from distance, as Oisin Gallen usually hits 1 pointers, Shane O'Donnell doesn't take on a lot of scores, Ciaran Moore isn't a shooter from distance. Even when we won midfield, our attacks seemed to get slowed up enough for opposition teams to reset and they we were getting turned over on lateral passing. Very strange for Donegal. I think a new Kamikaze approach to attacking is needed, where our attackers take on their man more often break for goal, and this usually draws an extra man to them, but actually should free up 1 or 2 players inside. If the initial attack can lay the ball to either of the free men, its goal. If the opposition don't commit the 2nd man, its a score. Even the Tex Winters Triangle system of play if applied to football with two or three rotating circles of players should in theory create a scenario where one or two players can break free simultaneously on the goal side of their marker. I'm sure Jim & Co are already looking at all options anyways. Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 03/08/2026 12:07:17 2688535 Link 0 |
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The obvious difference in Donegal in 2026 from 2024 and 2025 was the absence of a well renowned coach in Luke Barrett. donegalgael-12 (Donegal) - Posts: 49 - 04/08/2026 10:33:28 2688612 Link 0 |
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Ridiculous comment .
S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 1178 - 04/08/2026 11:00:17 2688616 Link 0 |
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Two pointers give a team an avenue to close a gap quickly or indeed open a big lead. You are asking about the importance of having the ability of converting two pointers. Mayo's all ireland performance really only confuses the issue Yes they converted 4 two pointers for 8 points. However 14 of their attacks resulted in attempts a two pointers. If they had ignored the two point arc and pressed on how much would they expect to score from 14 attacks, a decent conversion rate would give them 10 points, with a goal chance or two, maybe 1-8 or 1-9. sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 1175 - 04/08/2026 11:16:31 2688618 Link 0 |
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He didn't exactly set the world alight with Derry this year?
peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1711 - 04/08/2026 11:18:22 2688619 Link 2 |
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It can be hard to quantify what a specific coach bring to a Football squad, but the fact that he didn't seem to be replaced by any other coach was concerning, as sometimes having fresh voices added to the fold can help. Tyrone Journeyman Paddy Tally always seems improve teams defensively wherever he goes, but not sure Jim would bring someone like him in or if he would see any value in it. Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1925 - 04/08/2026 13:01:34 2688631 Link 0 |
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Neither did Paddy Tally but he's done okay elsewhere
donegalgael-12 (Donegal) - Posts: 49 - 04/08/2026 13:05:39 2688632 Link 0 |
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really good point. I would suggest Donegal this year looked to get up the field and do a set play that was low risk, with the mind set that when they come up the field at us we will defend strong and for a wide or a turnover. In the Cork game we where in control and had a comfortable lead , which lead to Cork taking on 2 pointers which they did really well, they wrestled the momentum from us and won. I have every confidence in McGuiness to reflect and change where needed, in 7 seasons as Donegal Senior manager he has won Div 2 & Div 1, 5 Ulster Titles, 1 All Ireland and got to 2 All Ireland Finals. it really is a pity that Mayo did not get the 1-8 extra on the scoreboard against Kerry ;-) ulsterrules (Donegal) - Posts: 329 - 04/08/2026 15:02:16 2688646 Link 0 |
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Paddy Tally wasn't coach at Derry, he was manager. Tally has won All Ireland with 3 different counties. peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1711 - 04/08/2026 16:26:03 2688657 Link 0 |