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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To chancer:  "100% Lockjaw...could not sum it up better than that.
Good to read a fair and honest piece by Darragh 'O Se in today's Irish Times...a man that's seeing the bigger picture here & calling it out for what it is...., in comparison to the likes of Waldorf Clerkin and Statler Spillane ,...."
The GAA currently have an Amateur Status Review Committee Survey open.
So we can all have our say, it takes maybe 15mins to complete, but worth getting the frustrations down in writing. It states to complete the survey by the 17th June, but I was able to complete it on Monday.
Link below:

https://www.gaa.ie/article/amateur-status-review-committee-survey-issued

The_viewer (Donegal) - Posts: 16 - 25/06/2025 10:39:38    2620889

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Replying To chancer:  "100% Lockjaw...could not sum it up better than that.
Good to read a fair and honest piece by Darragh 'O Se in today's Irish Times...a man that's seeing the bigger picture here & calling it out for what it is...., in comparison to the likes of Waldorf Clerkin and Statler Spillane ,...."
Dick Clerkin has indeed being having a right pop at Donegal and JMcG in particular recently in print, radio and podcast. Left me wondering if there is history between them . He will no doubt use his profile to turn up the heat in the coming days. Team will be hoping to give their answer on the pitch similar to their reply to Roy Curtis following his worrying and highly personal article/attack pre the 2014 semi final.
Am I right in thinking that this is the third year under the current championship format and that Donegal are the first and only team of 12 QF prelim winners to face a 6 day turnaround ?
Reading all sort of speculation such as maximising attendance/revenue, CCCC kickback, TV considerations, Galway having travelled more ( correctly playing on Sunday as should Donegal) …all just speculation and second guessing in the vacuum created by the GAA not coming out and explaining the criteria used for such a bizarre arrangement.
Jim McGuinness has in fairness has said nothing since the QF draw and will be focused on Saturday and letting his team do the talking on the pitch. The county board statement was clever, short, carefully worded with all the hallmarks of a former senior politician. Heard her backing it up in Irish/English on radio later on. Message seems to be it's unfair but it is what it is, time for you to move on and concentrate on the challenge ahead. Getting obsessed with the timing can be energy sapping , a negative distraction and hinder preparation. Rest assured your player's minds will not be on this debate. Best of luck to all teams and fans for the QFs

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 614 - 25/06/2025 11:13:05    2620904

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "It's capitalism at its worst. The algorithm preys on people's insecurities. As in, I better just take these 4 tickets with a crap view than risk not getting any tickets at all.

Whilst we can all rightly be proud of Croke Park, it is a big beast that needs sustenance. This is the main reason for the split season I feel. So that they can shoehorn as many non GAA events as possible into that August September October window.

Player welfare/club scene is a convenient smokescreen excuse just."
Correct , said that exact thing all along Lockjaw, it's a case of get the championship over and done with ASAP so we open the venue up to everything but GAA. I'm sure Galway and plenty of other teams left could do with 2 weeks between matches to rest niggling injuries.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 2355 - 25/06/2025 11:16:59    2620906

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She's a lively forum of late. Means things are going really well or really bad.

AudiMan (Donegal) - Posts: 687 - 25/06/2025 11:46:16    2620921

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Replying To Curlew66:  "Dick Clerkin has indeed being having a right pop at Donegal and JMcG in particular recently in print, radio and podcast. Left me wondering if there is history between them . He will no doubt use his profile to turn up the heat in the coming days. Team will be hoping to give their answer on the pitch similar to their reply to Roy Curtis following his worrying and highly personal article/attack pre the 2014 semi final.
Am I right in thinking that this is the third year under the current championship format and that Donegal are the first and only team of 12 QF prelim winners to face a 6 day turnaround ?
Reading all sort of speculation such as maximising attendance/revenue, CCCC kickback, TV considerations, Galway having travelled more ( correctly playing on Sunday as should Donegal) …all just speculation and second guessing in the vacuum created by the GAA not coming out and explaining the criteria used for such a bizarre arrangement.
Jim McGuinness has in fairness has said nothing since the QF draw and will be focused on Saturday and letting his team do the talking on the pitch. The county board statement was clever, short, carefully worded with all the hallmarks of a former senior politician. Heard her backing it up in Irish/English on radio later on. Message seems to be it's unfair but it is what it is, time for you to move on and concentrate on the challenge ahead. Getting obsessed with the timing can be energy sapping , a negative distraction and hinder preparation. Rest assured your player's minds will not be on this debate. Best of luck to all teams and fans for the QFs"
Clerkin has had it in for Donegal since his playing days, less attention paid to him the better

you're right on everything else but as you say I don't think Jim or the players will be thinking about this noise to be honest

CCFabu (Donegal) - Posts: 229 - 25/06/2025 11:53:41    2620922

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "It's capitalism at its worst. The algorithm preys on people's insecurities. As in, I better just take these 4 tickets with a crap view than risk not getting any tickets at all.

Whilst we can all rightly be proud of Croke Park, it is a big beast that needs sustenance. This is the main reason for the split season I feel. So that they can shoehorn as many non GAA events as possible into that August September October window.

Player welfare/club scene is a convenient smokescreen excuse just."
Are you a GAA follower? The reason for the split season is the players demanded it. That is why it will not be changing, to satisfy a few journalists, pundits and a small number of members.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 653 - 25/06/2025 12:06:01    2620926

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Replying To Curlew66:  "Dick Clerkin has indeed being having a right pop at Donegal and JMcG in particular recently in print, radio and podcast. Left me wondering if there is history between them . He will no doubt use his profile to turn up the heat in the coming days. Team will be hoping to give their answer on the pitch similar to their reply to Roy Curtis following his worrying and highly personal article/attack pre the 2014 semi final.
Am I right in thinking that this is the third year under the current championship format and that Donegal are the first and only team of 12 QF prelim winners to face a 6 day turnaround ?
Reading all sort of speculation such as maximising attendance/revenue, CCCC kickback, TV considerations, Galway having travelled more ( correctly playing on Sunday as should Donegal) …all just speculation and second guessing in the vacuum created by the GAA not coming out and explaining the criteria used for such a bizarre arrangement.
Jim McGuinness has in fairness has said nothing since the QF draw and will be focused on Saturday and letting his team do the talking on the pitch. The county board statement was clever, short, carefully worded with all the hallmarks of a former senior politician. Heard her backing it up in Irish/English on radio later on. Message seems to be it's unfair but it is what it is, time for you to move on and concentrate on the challenge ahead. Getting obsessed with the timing can be energy sapping , a negative distraction and hinder preparation. Rest assured your player's minds will not be on this debate. Best of luck to all teams and fans for the QFs"
Dick Clerkin hates Donegal, never has anything positive to say. Ultimately a lad who won a few Ulsters while we went on to lift Sam as well as the Ulsters and that's the reason I would imagine.

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 1469 - 25/06/2025 12:13:33    2620927

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Replying To ORIELMAN85:  "Are you a GAA follower? The reason for the split season is the players demanded it. That is why it will not be changing, to satisfy a few journalists, pundits and a small number of members."
Played the game for 35 years & counting, still togging for the club thirds for my sins.

Also involved in underage coaching and various club fund raising activities.

Just in case the above is a prerequisite for posting opinions here.

Im well aware that a split was required, and indeed was instigated by players and the GPA.

There are 52 weeks in a year the last time I checked though. If we even acquired an extra two weeks for county, I dont think we'd have been all having these tiresome debates about fixture scheduling.

August Bank Holiday weekend
Play TC final on the Saturday
Play SM final on the Sunday.

There are 28 other counties who wont be involved that weekend, free to start up their own respective club championships before then if they see fit.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9838 - 25/06/2025 12:31:43    2620935

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Replying To Donegal_abroad:  "Dick Clerkin hates Donegal, never has anything positive to say. Ultimately a lad who won a few Ulsters while we went on to lift Sam as well as the Ulsters and that's the reason I would imagine."
You might be reading too much into that.
Anyway there's no great animosity toward Donegal anywhere in Monaghan, the very opposite in fact. There's real connections between the supporters and the game in Clones a few weeks back bore this out again. At the end of the day, Donegal have Tyrone and Derry to occupy their minds in terms of rivalries, while Cavan and Tyrone do it for Monaghan. (not that Tyrone care too much!)
On that note, it will be an interesting dynamic in Croke Park for the second game on Saturday- will Monaghan and Donegal supporters support Tyrone in the second match?? For the most part they will I'd say. Hard to look at another game after being knocked out of the All Ireland all the same.

Eddie the Exile (Monaghan) - Posts: 1259 - 25/06/2025 12:31:59    2620936

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Replying To The_viewer:  "The GAA currently have an Amateur Status Review Committee Survey open.
So we can all have our say, it takes maybe 15mins to complete, but worth getting the frustrations down in writing. It states to complete the survey by the 17th June, but I was able to complete it on Monday.
Link below:

https://www.gaa.ie/article/amateur-status-review-committee-survey-issued"
Thanks very much for this. I looked at a while back and didn't fill it in so just completed it now. As you say I was able to get some of my frustrations down in writing and it was writing as there were areas that they didn't even mention. If the gaa wants to challenge and ultimately maybe reforce it's amateur status it also has to consider the whole way it runs itself centrally.

If the amateur status and player welfare is to be aspiration it has to look as to how it schedules matches that clearly is aimed at maximising gate receipts and TV revenue. The current scheduling of matches is not the behaviour of an organisation that has an amatuer status as its ethos.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 882 - 25/06/2025 12:54:10    2620945

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "It's capitalism at its worst. The algorithm preys on people's insecurities. As in, I better just take these 4 tickets with a crap view than risk not getting any tickets at all.

Whilst we can all rightly be proud of Croke Park, it is a big beast that needs sustenance. This is the main reason for the split season I feel. So that they can shoehorn as many non GAA events as possible into that August September October window.

Player welfare/club scene is a convenient smokescreen excuse just."
Lockjaw, this bull**** theory of the GAA promoting the split season and condensed intercounty championship is getting really tiresome.
While most of us can remember it (it's only a handful of years ago) and it does not take much time and research to establish that the GAA authorities were dragged kicking and screaming to introduce the early finals. They opposed any change but in the end an ultimatum from the GPA/CPA forced their hand.
In spite of the clear,incontrovertible evidence that the changes were 100% driven by the players we still regularly get posts such as yours putting forward a totally untrue, mythical account saying the GAA itself promoted and introduced the early finals to facilitate financial gain through concerts etc.

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 959 - 25/06/2025 13:05:59    2620951

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Lad, I dont deny that the split season was instigated by players and the GPA. Burns himself has said that concerts and alternative sporting events being held in Croke Park are a necessity for the GAA to be financially viable. I have absolutely no problem with that, it's a hard headed pragmatic approach. Both things are true.

We shouldn't just shrug our shoulders and accept the status quo, especially when some of the biggest names in the sport are voicing concerns. See my previous 2 week recommendation on my previous post for just an example.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9838 - 25/06/2025 13:19:01    2620954

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Replying To SouthOfTheGap:  "Are you sore because a Monaghan woman decided she'd have a better chance in Donegal?"
It's just different up there - the Donegal way.

farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 256 - 25/06/2025 13:46:56    2620964

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Replying To Eddie the Exile:  "You might be reading too much into that.
Anyway there's no great animosity toward Donegal anywhere in Monaghan, the very opposite in fact. There's real connections between the supporters and the game in Clones a few weeks back bore this out again. At the end of the day, Donegal have Tyrone and Derry to occupy their minds in terms of rivalries, while Cavan and Tyrone do it for Monaghan. (not that Tyrone care too much!)
On that note, it will be an interesting dynamic in Croke Park for the second game on Saturday- will Monaghan and Donegal supporters support Tyrone in the second match?? For the most part they will I'd say. Hard to look at another game after being knocked out of the All Ireland all the same."
Having attended school for a while in Monaghan I would be inclined to agree with you. Huge respect for the Farney and its people. Love going back there at least once a year, stay in Hillgrove/ 4 Seasons. Walk through Rossmore or around Loch Muckno , Glaslough for tea & scones (couldn't afford to stay there) and maybe finish off retracing Kavanagh's footsteps in Iniskeen .
Saturday is a 50:50 contest and the winner will be a contender for Sam.
The good thing for Monaghan fans is that they can stay on to enjoy Dub/Tyr and still be home before some Donegal fans.

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 614 - 25/06/2025 14:47:51    2620975

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Replying To Eddie the Exile:  "You might be reading too much into that.
Anyway there's no great animosity toward Donegal anywhere in Monaghan, the very opposite in fact. There's real connections between the supporters and the game in Clones a few weeks back bore this out again. At the end of the day, Donegal have Tyrone and Derry to occupy their minds in terms of rivalries, while Cavan and Tyrone do it for Monaghan. (not that Tyrone care too much!)
On that note, it will be an interesting dynamic in Croke Park for the second game on Saturday- will Monaghan and Donegal supporters support Tyrone in the second match?? For the most part they will I'd say. Hard to look at another game after being knocked out of the All Ireland all the same."
I dont think there will be too many hanging around for that game from Donegal, late throw in, busy roads shared with the Tyrone support. Half time will be the longest most say for I'd imagine.

joeteor (Donegal) - Posts: 254 - 25/06/2025 15:22:38    2620991

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Lad, I dont deny that the split season was instigated by players and the GPA. Burns himself has said that concerts and alternative sporting events being held in Croke Park are a necessity for the GAA to be financially viable. I have absolutely no problem with that, it's a hard headed pragmatic approach. Both things are true.

We shouldn't just shrug our shoulders and accept the status quo, especially when some of the biggest names in the sport are voicing concerns. See my previous 2 week recommendation on my previous post for just an example."
You're prevaricating now Lockjaw. Your post reads that the GAA is a big beast that needs sustenance, "that's fair enough.
But then you say that this is the "main reason" for the split season. This is simply and clearly an untruth that is being put out there regularly by posters including yourself today.
If Croke park is not required for games as a byproduct of Intercounty players insisting on finishing in July it would be remiss of the GAA not to realise the funds concerts etc can provide. But please don't put the cart before the horse and say this is the main reason the condensed season was introduced, it had nothing to do with it.

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 959 - 25/06/2025 16:05:54    2620999

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Replying To Curlew66:  "Having attended school for a while in Monaghan I would be inclined to agree with you. Huge respect for the Farney and its people. Love going back there at least once a year, stay in Hillgrove/ 4 Seasons. Walk through Rossmore or around Loch Muckno , Glaslough for tea & scones (couldn't afford to stay there) and maybe finish off retracing Kavanagh's footsteps in Iniskeen .
Saturday is a 50:50 contest and the winner will be a contender for Sam.
The good thing for Monaghan fans is that they can stay on to enjoy Dub/Tyr and still be home before some Donegal fans."
Nice post to read, Curlew!

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2321 - 25/06/2025 16:18:59    2621002

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Replying To Donegal_abroad:  "Dick Clerkin hates Donegal, never has anything positive to say. Ultimately a lad who won a few Ulsters while we went on to lift Sam as well as the Ulsters and that's the reason I would imagine."
Jim lives rent free in his head, he gets a mention in his Irish Independent article nearly every single week, and often contradicts what he said the week before.

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 818 - 25/06/2025 16:29:08    2621005

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Replying To sligo joe:  "You're prevaricating now Lockjaw. Your post reads that the GAA is a big beast that needs sustenance, "that's fair enough.
But then you say that this is the "main reason" for the split season. This is simply and clearly an untruth that is being put out there regularly by posters including yourself today.
If Croke park is not required for games as a byproduct of Intercounty players insisting on finishing in July it would be remiss of the GAA not to realise the funds concerts etc can provide. But please don't put the cart before the horse and say this is the main reason the condensed season was introduced, it had nothing to do with it."
Fair enough, I can accept that. But can you also accept that there is a convenience involved too? The GAA are right to capitalise on their prize asset when they can, but not to the point where their primary flagship competitions are being rammed into a few weeks.

The split season works well in general. Players know their playing schedule is defined and can plan their loves accordingly, which is great as that wasn't the case in the past. I would argue that it has been to the detriment of league football though, definitely the case in Donegal in my opinion.

Like anything, it can always be improved and tweaked. Let's see what 2026 brings.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9838 - 25/06/2025 16:34:20    2621008

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Played the game for 35 years & counting, still togging for the club thirds for my sins.

Also involved in underage coaching and various club fund raising activities.

Just in case the above is a prerequisite for posting opinions here.

Im well aware that a split was required, and indeed was instigated by players and the GPA.

There are 52 weeks in a year the last time I checked though. If we even acquired an extra two weeks for county, I dont think we'd have been all having these tiresome debates about fixture scheduling.

August Bank Holiday weekend
Play TC final on the Saturday
Play SM final on the Sunday.

There are 28 other counties who wont be involved that weekend, free to start up their own respective club championships before then if they see fit."
Start their own championships and have their champions sitting cold waiting on the other counties to finish. Some guys just dont get it. Win your group and you get your weeks rest. Every game in the groups has consequences. Monaghan reached an All Ireland semi final in 2023 after 3 weeks in a row on the road. Even with the weeks rest we have as many injuries as most of the quarter finalists going into this weekend.

ORIELMAN85 (Monaghan) - Posts: 653 - 25/06/2025 17:09:10    2621030

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