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Donegal GAA thread

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I've a major question mark after Saturday? Maybe Eunansforever may be able to answer.

What was the noise that kept going off every 5 minutes?

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 585 - 20/02/2024 21:08:29    2527281

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Also why is there half time draw still only 100 euro. Surely inflation would have driven it up a little.

MickyThePost (Donegal) - Posts: 26 - 20/02/2024 22:20:10    2527290

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yeah that's true. He is very highly rated in Glencolmcille where they know a good footballer when they see one.
He's been a bit in-and-out with regard to Donegal. But like you say, it would be interesting to see what level he could get to if he got a sustained run of games. He wouldn't be wild well known outside the county, so if he could catch fire alongside Gallen and McBrearty it could add a great dimension to our attack."
Himself and KJ Molloy could be important for Donegal in the coming years you would hope. I hope Donegal teams find a way of including that type of skill set.

High_and_wide (Donegal) - Posts: 74 - 21/02/2024 01:55:58    2527301

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Replying To panamasam:  "Really good second half Saturday and you'd have to be very happy with how things are motoring along. The 3 subs around half time made a big difference especially Mckelvey who really can be a big player if staying injury free. Big performance from Paddy and great to have Langan back. Hopefully Jason comes back soon as I'm sure Jim probably has those two in mind for midfield. In my mind they have the potential to be one of the best units in the country if Jim can add a bit of grit to their game which I'm sure he can. Good to see Hughie back too who gives us more options. I'd agree that the full forward line is a worry with the form of Brennan and an injury away from looking very short.

Unfortunately I couldn't make the game which cannot be helped given I'm on another continent till around Easter. I'd love to be around at the weekend as the Athletic grounds is one of my favourite grounds to go to and has good recent memories between winning the last Ulster under 21 there as well as a McKenna cup. Generally I slog all over the country going to games and look forward to going to Ballyshannon. The members and stewards there are among the friendliest and helpful I encounter every time I go there and it's nice to take an hour off the round trip for me for a home league game. So while I see the point of having all games at Ballybofey for those of us not in the county Ballyshannon is a welcome change."
In certain situations McKelvey might be given the number 15 shirt and used around the middle third, with various players dropping inside alongside gallen throughout the game. Another thing is the Jeaic used to be used as a man marker with Naomh Conail (I think?) so that's another string to his bow. Very versatile and talented player

High_and_wide (Donegal) - Posts: 74 - 21/02/2024 01:58:57    2527302

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Yeah that's true. He is very highly rated in Glencolmcille where they know a good footballer when they see one.
He's been a bit in-and-out with regard to Donegal. But like you say, it would be interesting to see what level he could get to if he got a sustained run of games. He wouldn't be wild well known outside the county, so if he could catch fire alongside Gallen and McBrearty it could add a great dimension to our attack."
Well it looking likely that Aaron Doherty will finally get consistent game time in the coming weeks, so we should see what he can do hopefully. He definitely looked energetic and lively when he came on as a sub against Fermanagh.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1115 - 21/02/2024 09:02:24    2527319

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Replying To High_and_wide:  "Himself and KJ Molloy could be important for Donegal in the coming years you would hope. I hope Donegal teams find a way of including that type of skill set."
For sure. Every county seems to be able to produce these hybrid half back/half forward players but there should definitely still be room in the game for the really skillful inside forward who can win his own ball, take his man on and kick points/goals. One of my favourite players to watch was Benny Coulter. A brilliant explosive player who nearly always made soemthing happen when he won ball inside.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 21/02/2024 10:48:52    2527339

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Replying To High_and_wide:  "In certain situations McKelvey might be given the number 15 shirt and used around the middle third, with various players dropping inside alongside gallen throughout the game. Another thing is the Jeaic used to be used as a man marker with Naomh Conail (I think?) so that's another string to his bow. Very versatile and talented player"
Mac Ceallbhuí will have a big part to play off bench if not starting. Versatile, but a great defensive option which we need more. I'm slightly concerned about lack of depth in defence - in a congested championship we will need to be able to rotate often. Hoping McGettigan shakes this knock because our man-marking/full-back options are becoming fewer and fewer.

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 378 - 21/02/2024 11:00:48    2527342

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We need to see the injured lads back. They need minutes in the tank. Hughie, Mc Colgan, Niall and Conor O Donnell, Jason.

TheRock2121 (Donegal) - Posts: 1142 - 21/02/2024 20:41:12    2527445

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Replying To TheRock2121:  "We need to see the injured lads back. They need minutes in the tank. Hughie, Mc Colgan, Niall and Conor O Donnell, Jason."
Having Hughie ready will be a massive boost for our Ulster campaign.

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 378 - 22/02/2024 13:16:06    2527548

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Replying To SurelyToGod:  "Having Hughie ready will be a massive boost for our Ulster campaign."
I don't think he'll add anything that other younger fitter, faster stronger players within the squad can add, we don't need him for experience, we have enough experience through the team. . He hasn't been able to play a full game for 3 or 4 years. Maybe if he talked less he could play more. He played 15 minutes last week and already there's 3 different interviews from him in different media outlets.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 471 - 22/02/2024 16:45:56    2527594

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Reading a snippet from Spilanes article and he mentions our crop of players now wouldn't be as good as our crop of players in 2011. So It made me think how many starters from Saturday would have made it on the the starting team against Dublin in 2011
This is the team I would go with and it is my opinion but interested to see how others would pick :
P Durcan
B McCole
N McGee
F McGlynn
A Thompson
K Lacey
R McHugh
M Langan
N Gallagher
M McHugh
C Thompson
P Mogan
Gallen
M Murphy
C McFadden

starting Players from 2011:
P Durcan, E McGee, N McGee, F McGlynn, A Thompson, K Lacey, K Cassidy, R Kavanagh, N Gallagher, M McHugh, D Walsh, R Bradley, C Toye, M Murphy, C McFadden .

Weekend:
S Patton; K McGettigan, B McCole, S McMenamin; R McHugh, C Moore, D O Baoill; C Thompson, C McGonagle; P Mogan, O Doherty, M Langan; P McBrearty, O Gallen, J Brennan.

naomh_conaill_4 (Donegal) - Posts: 481 - 22/02/2024 19:42:17    2527610

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Replying To greenfan:  "I don't think he'll add anything that other younger fitter, faster stronger players within the squad can add, we don't need him for experience, we have enough experience through the team. . He hasn't been able to play a full game for 3 or 4 years. Maybe if he talked less he could play more. He played 15 minutes last week and already there's 3 different interviews from him in different media outlets."
That's incredibly harsh.

Like Ryan McHugh, Hughie is very comfortable in speaking to the media. He should be commended and not criticised for carrying some of that burden on other players who would prefer not to do so. He represents the Donegal squad very well whenever he gives any interview.

HowManyStepsRef (Donegal) - Posts: 291 - 22/02/2024 19:42:58    2527611

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Replying To greenfan:  "I don't think he'll add anything that other younger fitter, faster stronger players within the squad can add, we don't need him for experience, we have enough experience through the team. . He hasn't been able to play a full game for 3 or 4 years. Maybe if he talked less he could play more. He played 15 minutes last week and already there's 3 different interviews from him in different media outlets."
I think there's a tendency in supporters to prematurely put players out to pasture because there's players younger than them on the panel. Perhaps it's because sometimes players of high-stature tend to over-stay their welcomes in inter-county and club sides. Hugh has only just turned 30, and if fit adds dimensions to the side that none of the younger players can deliver yet.

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 378 - 22/02/2024 19:43:45    2527612

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Replying To greenfan:  "I don't think he'll add anything that other younger fitter, faster stronger players within the squad can add, we don't need him for experience, we have enough experience through the team. . He hasn't been able to play a full game for 3 or 4 years. Maybe if he talked less he could play more. He played 15 minutes last week and already there's 3 different interviews from him in different media outlets."
I think it's the media that's after Hugh not vice versa.,you sound a tad jealous. Hugh is important to any team don't gave me this we have enough experience crack. We don't. No better leader of men. Mc Guinness knows that.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2404 - 22/02/2024 20:01:25    2527616

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Replying To greenfan:  "I don't think he'll add anything that other younger fitter, faster stronger players within the squad can add, we don't need him for experience, we have enough experience through the team. . He hasn't been able to play a full game for 3 or 4 years. Maybe if he talked less he could play more. He played 15 minutes last week and already there's 3 different interviews from him in different media outlets."
I would totally agree with this, but would be open to the idea of Jim getting something different out of him. There's no doubt that Hughie had a few qualities but his weaknesses outshone them and made him a bit of a liability. I'm sure that every opposition team would target his weaknesses. We've seen Jim in '11 change players, whether it be with the type of physique, role, fitness. I don't believe anyone is in that squad currently that Jim doesn't see potential in, but Hughie would be the player I believe along with Jamie Brennan that needs to currently improve the most. Let's see how things look at the end of our season with a good batch of training and games under Jim does to all the squad members.

StockholmGael (Donegal) - Posts: 112 - 23/02/2024 00:15:31    2527634

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Replying To greenfan:  "I don't think he'll add anything that other younger fitter, faster stronger players within the squad can add, we don't need him for experience, we have enough experience through the team. . He hasn't been able to play a full game for 3 or 4 years. Maybe if he talked less he could play more. He played 15 minutes last week and already there's 3 different interviews from him in different media outlets."
You obviously have a problem with Hugh? He has been a great leader for Donegal when a lot of older players retired. He has had a lot of niggling injuries for the past few years. I look forward to Hugh playing under Jim when he is properly fit. I have no doubt in his commitment and not afraid to put is body on the line.

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 275 - 23/02/2024 09:06:15    2527650

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "You obviously have a problem with Hugh? He has been a great leader for Donegal when a lot of older players retired. He has had a lot of niggling injuries for the past few years. I look forward to Hugh playing under Jim when he is properly fit. I have no doubt in his commitment and not afraid to put is body on the line."
100% Hugh has been there about ten years. Totally committed had to wait a few years to get game time but stuck at it not a person to walk away if he wasn't getting playing.. that's what every county needs good dedicated lads. Hopefully he'll prove the doubters wrong this year .. one of my favourite players

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2404 - 23/02/2024 09:50:49    2527659

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Replying To StockholmGael:  "I would totally agree with this, but would be open to the idea of Jim getting something different out of him. There's no doubt that Hughie had a few qualities but his weaknesses outshone them and made him a bit of a liability. I'm sure that every opposition team would target his weaknesses. We've seen Jim in '11 change players, whether it be with the type of physique, role, fitness. I don't believe anyone is in that squad currently that Jim doesn't see potential in, but Hughie would be the player I believe along with Jamie Brennan that needs to currently improve the most. Let's see how things look at the end of our season with a good batch of training and games under Jim does to all the squad members."
Beyond his initial early appearances a decade ago, it's laughable to suggest that he was ever a liability in that team.

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 378 - 23/02/2024 10:28:00    2527672

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Replying To SurelyToGod:  "Beyond his initial early appearances a decade ago, it's laughable to suggest that he was ever a liability in that team."
I'm not sure liability is the right term but he has been badly exposed in a couple of games in the last couple of years. I recall two of the teams most senior players calling to the bench to have him taken off in 2022 against Armagh. And it wasn't because he was injuried. I always found him more capable in games this time of years but come the summer he would struggle with the harder ground and faster pace, as is the case with most big men. Horses for courses as they say. He still has his uses.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 801 - 23/02/2024 10:56:11    2527679

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Replying To naomh_conaill_4:  "Reading a snippet from Spilanes article and he mentions our crop of players now wouldn't be as good as our crop of players in 2011. So It made me think how many starters from Saturday would have made it on the the starting team against Dublin in 2011
This is the team I would go with and it is my opinion but interested to see how others would pick :
P Durcan
B McCole
N McGee
F McGlynn
A Thompson
K Lacey
R McHugh
M Langan
N Gallagher
M McHugh
C Thompson
P Mogan
Gallen
M Murphy
C McFadden

starting Players from 2011:
P Durcan, E McGee, N McGee, F McGlynn, A Thompson, K Lacey, K Cassidy, R Kavanagh, N Gallagher, M McHugh, D Walsh, R Bradley, C Toye, M Murphy, C McFadden .

Weekend:
S Patton; K McGettigan, B McCole, S McMenamin; R McHugh, C Moore, D O Baoill; C Thompson, C McGonagle; P Mogan, O Doherty, M Langan; P McBrearty, O Gallen, J Brennan."
Yea interesting. In my eyes I cudnt ignore eamon mc gee or Rory kav. At who's expense probably ciaran Thompson and mark mc Hugh but in fairness to mark he had a specific role which very few could do

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2404 - 23/02/2024 12:15:49    2527692

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