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Replying To Commodore: "To be fair, we have been financially miles behind many Counties for the last 15-20 years, particularly Dublin, Mayo and Kerry who income wise are on a different level to most other Counties. It took Donegal GAA over 10 years to raise 1.3 million to complete the Convoy Centre of Excellence, which is only open 1-2 years now and a big chunk of that came from Central funding. The rumoured figure for Mayo GAA's McHale Park redevelopment over 12 years ago was €20 million, also the Connacht Dome is based in Mayo with Fine Gael's Alan Dillon now seeking Government funding for a 2nd dome in Mayo. Apparently their funding from abroad is also on a different level and this has no doubt helped create structures at underage to maximise their potential at underage and senior level and keep them at the Football's top tier for so long over the last 10-15 years. As for Donegal GAA, I think Electing Mary Coughlan as County Chairperson was a masterstroke, I believe she will make a massive positive difference to how things are managed and create structures and funding models to set Donegal GAA sailing in the right direction." We are firece bad at talking ourselves down. I wouldn't be using Mayo as an example to discuss excellence on finances. They will be paying back massive loans for a good few years. They also failed with a Centre of Excellence development in Castlebar. If you get a chance google Tim O'Leary and Mayo GAA to see some of the issues. Have a look at this link also. https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2021/12/02/machale-park-loan-from-croke-park-to-be-restructured/ Ulsterchamps72 (Donegal) - Posts: 77 - 27/03/2024 09:32:33 2534053 Link
Replying To Commodore: "To be fair, we have been financially miles behind many Counties for the last 15-20 years, particularly Dublin, Mayo and Kerry who income wise are on a different level to most other Counties. It took Donegal GAA over 10 years to raise 1.3 million to complete the Convoy Centre of Excellence, which is only open 1-2 years now and a big chunk of that came from Central funding. The rumoured figure for Mayo GAA's McHale Park redevelopment over 12 years ago was €20 million, also the Connacht Dome is based in Mayo with Fine Gael's Alan Dillon now seeking Government funding for a 2nd dome in Mayo. Apparently their funding from abroad is also on a different level and this has no doubt helped create structures at underage to maximise their potential at underage and senior level and keep them at the Football's top tier for so long over the last 10-15 years. As for Donegal GAA, I think Electing Mary Coughlan as County Chairperson was a masterstroke, I believe she will make a massive positive difference to how things are managed and create structures and funding models to set Donegal GAA sailing in the right direction." Chairde Fianna Fáil was launched at the weekend. ryan (Donegal) - Posts: 724 - 27/03/2024 12:47:06 2534081 Link
where is best place for parking next sunday, fairly close as not as young as I used to be. jacktheboy (Donegal) - Posts: 405 - 27/03/2024 14:20:11 2534096 Link
Replying To jacktheboy: "where is best place for parking next sunday, fairly close as not as young as I used to be." Similar to myself then. With 3 Ulster teams involved your best bet is come at Croke Park from southern end via city centre. Dubs likely to arrive late. Probably access Dublin via Blanchardstown and then go East to Drumcondra via Phibsboro. You should get very close to Croke Park from there. Early Armagh traffic will come in from the North City. PeterQ92 (Donegal) - Posts: 105 - 27/03/2024 16:40:10 2534135 Link
Well how do we see the game going on Sunday? I think it will be a very beneficial workout. A chance for some lads to play in Croke Park for the first time and get a feel for it. There has always been a big rivalry with Armagh down through the years. McGuinness and McGeeney love getting one over the other too, there has always been a bit of needle there. So I think anyone who thinks either team will be treating it just as a match to get out of the way and avoid injuries might be mistaken. At the end of the day it's a national title, albeit a Division 2 one. But we've seen in the past how it helped launch McGuinness' first spell in charge. Armagh are a good test. They're physically big and pacy, and they'll no doubt play a direct game in Croke Park, especially when you consideer the goal they got in the earlier league fixture. I would expect to see a good few early direct diagonal balls launched into Murnin and Rían O'Neill (if he plays inside for a spell). So it'll be interesting to see how we cope with that. But we have our own dangermen too. Gallen has shown well in Croke Park before, and the likes of Peadar Mogan and Ciaran Moore should relish the wide open spaces and fast pitch. We'll hopefully get big games from Langan, Thompson and McGonagle too. I think we can definitely win it, and I've predicted a two point win in the Predictions Comp. But if we lose, I suppose if we learn a few things along the way it'll be benefical it'll have been a worthwhile outing. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 28/03/2024 12:01:17 2534274 Link
Replying To Lockjaw: "Well how do we see the game going on Sunday? I think it will be a very beneficial workout. A chance for some lads to play in Croke Park for the first time and get a feel for it. There has always been a big rivalry with Armagh down through the years. McGuinness and McGeeney love getting one over the other too, there has always been a bit of needle there. So I think anyone who thinks either team will be treating it just as a match to get out of the way and avoid injuries might be mistaken. At the end of the day it's a national title, albeit a Division 2 one. But we've seen in the past how it helped launch McGuinness' first spell in charge. Armagh are a good test. They're physically big and pacy, and they'll no doubt play a direct game in Croke Park, especially when you consideer the goal they got in the earlier league fixture. I would expect to see a good few early direct diagonal balls launched into Murnin and Rían O'Neill (if he plays inside for a spell). So it'll be interesting to see how we cope with that. But we have our own dangermen too. Gallen has shown well in Croke Park before, and the likes of Peadar Mogan and Ciaran Moore should relish the wide open spaces and fast pitch. We'll hopefully get big games from Langan, Thompson and McGonagle too. I think we can definitely win it, and I've predicted a two point win in the Predictions Comp. But if we lose, I suppose if we learn a few things along the way it'll be benefical it'll have been a worthwhile outing." Yeah looking forward to the game, it's Armagh and McGeeney so that ads that bit extra to it, it will be a good experience for the new lads to feel the atmosphere in the hallowed ground of Croke Park, funny one about the 'wide open spaces' in Croker, from what I remember the playing surface is no bigger than most pitches? I suppose it's the whole surrounds that makes it seem bigger, open to correction. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2748 - 28/03/2024 14:12:00 2534315 Link
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "Yeah looking forward to the game, it's Armagh and McGeeney so that ads that bit extra to it, it will be a good experience for the new lads to feel the atmosphere in the hallowed ground of Croke Park, funny one about the 'wide open spaces' in Croker, from what I remember the playing surface is no bigger than most pitches? I suppose it's the whole surrounds that makes it seem bigger, open to correction." Yeah I'd say there's not a lot of difference in size to most county grounds, but it certainly does appear "bigger". I think maybe it's surface lends itself to a faster paced game too. Not sure many HS posters have played in Croke Park who could confirm that though! :P Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9136 - 28/03/2024 14:23:54 2534319 Link
Replying To Tirchonaill1: "Yeah looking forward to the game, it's Armagh and McGeeney so that ads that bit extra to it, it will be a good experience for the new lads to feel the atmosphere in the hallowed ground of Croke Park, funny one about the 'wide open spaces' in Croker, from what I remember the playing surface is no bigger than most pitches? I suppose it's the whole surrounds that makes it seem bigger, open to correction." I heard that Croke Park used to be bigger than most County pitches years ago, but maybe nowadays most pitches are the same size. Its a great hard pitch surface though, and we have a lot of pacey players who will enjoy it, although probably take some getting used to since we have been playing on damp soggy pitches in the league so far and the bounce of the ball will be different. Good opportunity. As for the game itself, it depends on our injuries really, like Paddy McBrearty is definitely out as well as Brendan McCole, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Jason McGee, Conor O'Donnell and possibly Ryan McHugh (TBC). All of those guys are key players, and its a big ask against an Armagh team who seem to be returning to full strength. Its a big task if all of those players are out. Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1115 - 28/03/2024 14:31:36 2534327 Link
The Division 2 league final has meant the start of the ACL has gone under the radar somewhat. Most of the bigger teams use it to blood players for championship but the lower down the leagues you go the more teams invest it in. For what it's worth I see them going like this: Div 1 Winners - Gaoth Dobhair Relegated - Bundoran & St. Michaels Div 2 Winners - Termon Promoted - Cloughaneely Relegated - Muff & Na Rossa Division 3 Winners - Letterkenny Gaels Promoted - Convoy peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 801 - 28/03/2024 14:45:48 2534332 Link
Replying To Lockjaw: "Yeah I'd say there's not a lot of difference in size to most county grounds, but it certainly does appear "bigger". I think maybe it's surface lends itself to a faster paced game too. Not sure many HS posters have played in Croke Park who could confirm that though! :P" It's an old journalist cliche "the wide open spaces of Croke Park". I saw a list of County Grounds pitch dimensions some years ago and Croker certainly wasn't the biggest. Ballybofey, Castkebar and Celtic Park look the 3 shortest. Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 1419 - 28/03/2024 14:48:38 2534334 Link
How's ticket sales going. I expect a big crowd going. Armagh Derry and Dublin will bring big crowds so hopefully we'll be able to match team. Heard there expecting 45to 50 thousand. Sunday will tell mc Guinness a lot. rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2404 - 28/03/2024 14:57:12 2534335 Link
It is definitely a funny old game.In 2014 we were in the div 2 final against Armagh's neighbours Monaghan and Derry were playing Dublin in the Div 1 final,really big similarities.It is hard to believe that in only 10 years Derry have gone down to div 4 and back up again.Both Donegal and Derry lost that day and later on that year we beat Derry in Celtic Park and made the All Ireland Final.Would we take a defeat on Sunday if we thought things would take a similar path this year. gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1057 - 28/03/2024 14:58:54 2534337 Link
Replying To Seanfanbocht: "It's an old journalist cliche "the wide open spaces of Croke Park". I saw a list of County Grounds pitch dimensions some years ago and Croker certainly wasn't the biggest. Ballybofey, Castkebar and Celtic Park look the 3 shortest." You might get new glasses,Ballybofey is the max size of a GAA pitch, 145 X 90, Croke Park is 145 X 88. Ulsterchamps72 (Donegal) - Posts: 77 - 28/03/2024 15:35:08 2534342 Link
Season ticket holder missing 1st league match of season on Sunday - gutted to miss Croker but at least we promoted that's the main thing. Have 2 middle Cusack lower tickets for sale at reduced price if anyone still to buy as I know €30 pricey enough. Thanks NORTHMEN (Donegal) - Posts: 5 - 28/03/2024 16:11:22 2534346 Link
Replying To NORTHMEN: "Season ticket holder missing 1st league match of season on Sunday - gutted to miss Croker but at least we promoted that's the main thing. Have 2 middle Cusack lower tickets for sale at reduced price if anyone still to buy as I know €30 pricey enough. Thanks" I'd love to take them, but then I would have to reveal my true identity :-) I'm a Season Ticket holder myself, was trying to buy a couple extra, I was going to treat the wife, but they won't let you buy seats anywhere near Section 306. I bought a couple for the corner (312) in the hope that they'll be able to sit in the Dublin seats till they arrive at 4 o'clock. SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 585 - 28/03/2024 17:41:38 2534357 Link
Replying To rorysboys: "How's ticket sales going. I expect a big crowd going. Armagh Derry and Dublin will bring big crowds so hopefully we'll be able to match team. Heard there expecting 45to 50 thousand. Sunday will tell mc Guinness a lot." That would be a great turnout if we hit those numbers. Last time we seen 50k at a league final was back in 2017. Id say it will be around 40k myself. FootballGuy (Donegal) - Posts: 225 - 28/03/2024 22:22:16 2534398 Link
I see the official launch of the Ulster Championship tonight. Oisín Gallen was the Donegal representative. It's a job usually a job done by the Captain. So it does look like Paddy wasn't fit enough, and he is probably away getting treatment. Also, it's the type of role Brendan McCole would usually be sent to. I may be reading too much into it, but is McCole also badly injured? SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 585 - 28/03/2024 22:32:13 2534399 Link
Replying To SouthOfTheGap: "I see the official launch of the Ulster Championship tonight. Oisín Gallen was the Donegal representative. It's a job usually a job done by the Captain. So it does look like Paddy wasn't fit enough, and he is probably away getting treatment. Also, it's the type of role Brendan McCole would usually be sent to. I may be reading too much into it, but is McCole also badly injured?" Was that not on Monday evening in Ulster Uni? Maybe I have my days wrong. That could be why Paddy was not available as he was up getting his scan GAAmanDNG (Donegal) - Posts: 17 - 28/03/2024 23:09:48 2534401 Link
Replying To SouthOfTheGap: "I'd love to take them, but then I would have to reveal my true identity :-) I'm a Season Ticket holder myself, was trying to buy a couple extra, I was going to treat the wife, but they won't let you buy seats anywhere near Section 306. I bought a couple for the corner (312) in the hope that they'll be able to sit in the Dublin seats till they arrive at 4 o'clock." Only the GAA sell you the benefit of bringing of a friend by giving you a worse seat than you start off with if you do. I tried pointing out to them before that's not a benefit, it's a punishment. Deaf ears. Al_Maguire (Donegal) - Posts: 244 - 29/03/2024 00:51:40 2534404 Link
Replying To Al_Maguire: "Only the GAA sell you the benefit of bringing of a friend by giving you a worse seat than you start off with if you do. I tried pointing out to them before that's not a benefit, it's a punishment. Deaf ears." They really don't care. I emailed them at the start of the year about the pricing structure, and the reply I got really got my blood boiling. There is now absolutely no advantage at all to being a Season Ticket holder. And I think its even worse now, because it seems that you can now enter your Club Membership number to receive a 5% discount. Since they moved their ticketing system to Ticketmaster from Tickets.ie, it has really been about taking the past penny. SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 585 - 29/03/2024 09:09:17 2534420 Link