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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To Commodore:  "Nah, I'd say the best biscuits have been eaten from that tin.

Personally I suspect Jim needs young energetic coaches, like Termon's Michael Boyle, although he is still in London most likely. Not to question or cause friction, more so to freshen things up in training and float different perspectives.

Jim won't bring in people from other Counties who might benefit from his insights or practices."
Jim is always keen on the pride of place and likes to keep things Donegal.

It got me thinking after replying to a Dublin poster about how often managers win an All-Ireland in their first season. Since the turn of the century you've had Joe Kernan, Mickey Harte, Jack O'Connor (somehow managing it three separate times), Pat O'Shea, Jim Gavin, Dessie Farrell, and Brian Dooher/Fergal Logan all doing it. It's a remarkable statistic.
And this year, three of the four All-Ireland semi-finalists are managed by first-year managers.

It seems the obvious conclusion is that counties should sack their manager every year...

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 1031 - 29/06/2026 20:39:51    2683043

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A lot of talk recently about new rules suiting good forwards when they get good ball. Thats true, but one thing that's been overlooked is the fact that the 4 teams in the semis have defenders who have nullidied really good forwards on the opposing teams. We dont have that, we have attacking players playing as defenders. We must find a few proper defenders.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 796 - 29/06/2026 22:24:43    2683077

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Replying To Commodore:  "Nah, I'd say the best biscuits have been eaten from that tin.

Personally I suspect Jim needs young energetic coaches, like Termon's Michael Boyle, although he is still in London most likely. Not to question or cause friction, more so to freshen things up in training and float different perspectives.

Jim won't bring in people from other Counties who might benefit from his insights or practices."
Could he not bring Murphy and Lacey in to his backroom team?
Maybe Murphy would be a yes man but I think Karl would definitely challenge Jim more. Maybe that's not what he wants.
I hope he just comes out and tells us if he staying or not soon. Don't want this to drag too long.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 450 - 30/06/2026 05:23:20    2683104

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Replying To greenfan:  "A lot of talk recently about new rules suiting good forwards when they get good ball. Thats true, but one thing that's been overlooked is the fact that the 4 teams in the semis have defenders who have nullidied really good forwards on the opposing teams. We dont have that, we have attacking players playing as defenders. We must find a few proper defenders."
Saying it all along. We need a few good man marking defenders. With the new rules its vital.

rorysboys (Donegal) - Posts: 2696 - 30/06/2026 11:23:55    2683134

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Replying To rorysboys:  "Saying it all along. We need a few good man marking defenders. With the new rules its vital."
Defence isn't the problem.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 450 - 30/06/2026 15:11:29    2683206

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Replying To eddieSize5Balls:  "Could he not bring Murphy and Lacey in to his backroom team?
Maybe Murphy would be a yes man but I think Karl would definitely challenge Jim more. Maybe that's not what he wants.
I hope he just comes out and tells us if he staying or not soon. Don't want this to drag too long."
Nah, Murphy and Lacey would be both want to manage their own way at some point, no doubt Mark McHugh will be a contender in future too. Murphy has a lot on in the coming months in his personal life and a busy high profile job. Karl Lacey is flat out already too, so I can't see them joining Jim, even if he wanted them.

Hearing stories that Jim had the players doing heavy running in the week before the Dublin game, sounds unlikely, but chat of that is going around.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1903 - 30/06/2026 15:47:20    2683216

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Replying To eddieSize5Balls:  "Defence isn't the problem."
Exactly, the problem this year is we played practially a full team for all league matches, giving very few squad players a chance.
The players looked tired after they returned from Portugal. No energy, burnt out?

Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 1034 - 30/06/2026 16:06:40    2683220

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Replying To Ulsterchamps_32:  "Jim is always keen on the pride of place and likes to keep things Donegal.

It got me thinking after replying to a Dublin poster about how often managers win an All-Ireland in their first season. Since the turn of the century you've had Joe Kernan, Mickey Harte, Jack O'Connor (somehow managing it three separate times), Pat O'Shea, Jim Gavin, Dessie Farrell, and Brian Dooher/Fergal Logan all doing it. It's a remarkable statistic.
And this year, three of the four All-Ireland semi-finalists are managed by first-year managers.

It seems the obvious conclusion is that counties should sack their manager every year..."
You must have been watching Chelsea and real Madrid in the past but in GAA Harte McGeeney and Cody would disprove your theory.
.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1263 - 30/06/2026 16:11:17    2683221

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Replying To greenfan:  "A lot of talk recently about new rules suiting good forwards when they get good ball. Thats true, but one thing that's been overlooked is the fact that the 4 teams in the semis have defenders who have nullidied really good forwards on the opposing teams. We dont have that, we have attacking players playing as defenders. We must find a few proper defenders."
Are we back with that old chestnut again.We need scores coming from back and front.All players need to be able to attack and defend.With your theory I guess you would have Curran and McMenamin in the team.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1263 - 30/06/2026 16:17:19    2683224

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Replying To eddieSize5Balls:  "Defence isn't the problem."
Our recent problem is something to do with Mental burn out.They proved in Kilarney that they had it in the legs when they were absolutely up for it.Most of these boys are a long time on the road with 4 Ulster titles in the bag.They werte re-energised when Jim came back but maybe that is wearing off a bit now.I hope Jim stays and introduces something new to training and preparation

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1263 - 30/06/2026 16:31:17    2683230

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Replying To eddieSize5Balls:  "Could he not bring Murphy and Lacey in to his backroom team?
Maybe Murphy would be a yes man but I think Karl would definitely challenge Jim more. Maybe that's not what he wants.
I hope he just comes out and tells us if he staying or not soon. Don't want this to drag too long."
When Bonner brought in the high profile Rochford I don't think it helped us .

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1263 - 30/06/2026 16:34:03    2683232

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Replying To Scenicparish:  "Exactly, the problem this year is we played practially a full team for all league matches, giving very few squad players a chance.
The players looked tired after they returned from Portugal. No energy, burnt out?"
100%.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 450 - 30/06/2026 16:57:36    2683240

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Replying To gunman:  "When Bonner brought in the high profile Rochford I don't think it helped us ."
Bonnar didn't help himself tbh. He ultimately failed in his last term as manager.

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 450 - 30/06/2026 16:59:57    2683241

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Replying To gunman:  "When Bonner brought in the high profile Rochford I don't think it helped us ."
I honestly don't believe that Bonnar brought Rochford in, he was delivered by someone else.

SouthOfTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 941 - 30/06/2026 17:10:48    2683246

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