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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To ulsterrules:  "As Assistant manager RG helped win 2 Ulster titles, 1 All Ireland with McGuiness, managed Donegal to 2 Ulster Finals.
He took Div 4 Derry all the way to Div 1 and won an Ulster title for the 1st time in 24 years.

Sounds like success to me.

RG was mentioned to counter your point about McGuiness only wanting Donegal men which is not true."
I didn't say McGuinness wouldn't go for outsiders, last winter he came close to recruiting another Fermanagh man, who declined last minute. I just can't see him going for anybody from a potential rival Ulster County, His preference would be someone from within Donegal, but unfortunately we just don't always have the top picks available within.

RG was brought in and taught by McGuinness, Jim had a track record of this tactical setup with Naomh Conaill before the Donegal job, RG didn't have any track record playing any such system, he was educated in that style from Jim, albeit aside from tactical team setup, he is said to be a good coach.

RG has his chance during 2015, 2016, 2017 seasons and he failed to deliver, then Declan Bonnar arrived in 2018 and won back to back Ulster titles and a Division 2 title and McKenna Cup in 2018 - 2019. He eventually managed to win an Ulster title with Derry after 5 years with Derry.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1910 - 02/07/2026 11:28:06    2683619

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Replying To ulsterrules:  "John McElholm is a great GAA man and I hope he continues to do well with monaghan, but Rochfords record in GAA management is miles ahead, As a manager he won the Club All Ireland at intercounty level he got to 2 all Ireland Finals in a row. Also Helped win and Ulter title with Donegal.

Even with Hindsight you cannot compare the 2 records"
Stephen Rochfords record before joining Donegal is impressive, but if solely comparing their records in the Donegal backroom team, there isn't much between them.

2017 was really poor year for Donegal, Declan Bonnar came in for 2018 with John McElholm and there was a dramatic turnaround in fortunes, winning Ulster was a huge turnaround. McElholm felt Donegal would have done better in 2019 had he stayed on.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1910 - 02/07/2026 11:35:56    2683624

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Replying To Commodore:  "Stephen Rochfords record before joining Donegal is impressive, but if solely comparing their records in the Donegal backroom team, there isn't much between them.

2017 was really poor year for Donegal, Declan Bonnar came in for 2018 with John McElholm and there was a dramatic turnaround in fortunes, winning Ulster was a huge turnaround. McElholm felt Donegal would have done better in 2019 had he stayed on."
Donegal actually had a very good league in 2017 and were only score difference away from reaching the league final. The championship, though, was disappointing, with heavy defeats to Tyrone and Galway, and the style of football wasn't exactly easy on the eye either. There are actually certain similarities to this year in the contrast between the league and championship.

That opening league game in Killarney in 2018 - David Clifford's debut, by the way - felt like a breath of fresh air. The football Donegal were playing was far more positive. Michael Murphy spent a chunk of the league carrying injuries, while Patrick McBrearty was outstanding. Donegal were relegated in the end, but they were unlucky. Kevin McLoughlin is probably still running with the ball after the number of steps he got away with!

The Ulster Championship that year was excellent too, but once McBrearty suffered his cruciate injury in the Ulster final, Donegal's chances were severely damaged. It also didn't help that the powers that be handed arguably the greatest team of all time two home games in the Super 8s, which consequently meant Donegal had to play both of theirs away.

McBrearty's injury was the biggest factor, though. Every team needs its best players, regardless of who the manager is. He was never quite the same player again as he was in 2018. Even this year, Donegal missed having him available to come off the bench, provide leadership, and chip in with a few crucial scores.

To me, that was the best football Donegal played under Bonner. A lot of that was because the team had been freshened up so much and there was a real energy and positivity about the way they played. Had McBrearty stayed fit, it would have been very interesting to see just how far that team could have gone.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 1037 - 02/07/2026 18:38:17    2683765

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Replying To Commodore:  "I didn't say McGuinness wouldn't go for outsiders, last winter he came close to recruiting another Fermanagh man, who declined last minute. I just can't see him going for anybody from a potential rival Ulster County, His preference would be someone from within Donegal, but unfortunately we just don't always have the top picks available within.

RG was brought in and taught by McGuinness, Jim had a track record of this tactical setup with Naomh Conaill before the Donegal job, RG didn't have any track record playing any such system, he was educated in that style from Jim, albeit aside from tactical team setup, he is said to be a good coach.

RG has his chance during 2015, 2016, 2017 seasons and he failed to deliver, then Declan Bonnar arrived in 2018 and won back to back Ulster titles and a Division 2 title and McKenna Cup in 2018 - 2019. He eventually managed to win an Ulster title with Derry after 5 years with Derry."
RG took 5 years to win an Ulster title true but that was after he took them from Div 4 to Div 1.

Don't forget that RG Got to 2 ulster finals in a row , and that was the team that Declan took over.

All I am trying to say is that RG record in GAA management should not be dismissed

ulsterrules (Donegal) - Posts: 326 - 03/07/2026 09:21:47    2683823

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Replying To ulsterrules:  "RG took 5 years to win an Ulster title true but that was after he took them from Div 4 to Div 1.

Don't forget that RG Got to 2 ulster finals in a row , and that was the team that Declan took over.

All I am trying to say is that RG record in GAA management should not be dismissed"
If looking at Rory Gallagher's record, he was a really good coach, but as manager he failed repeatedly to get Donegal over the line in the 2015 & 2016 Ulster finals, we tended to do ok in the National league (Avoid relegation) under him, but his teams always peaked too early and seemed to show our hand too early.

Also he was divisive behind the scenes in the Donegal job, particular with his loyalties to Killybegs - Kilcar players, I recall chat of a fall out in Donegal diamond after the team returned after getting knocked out in 2015, I believe one established player got off the team bus before they even reached Donegal town.

In 2014, Jim McGuinness was gradually preparing for the likes of Lacey, McGlynn and Thompson to be replaced with the likes of Declan Walsh (Malin) and Leo McLoone, but Rory came in and abandoned that, continued with the old guard for longer in starting positions, which I think cost us. They should have been coming on from the bench.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1910 - 03/07/2026 11:52:31    2683881

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Replying To Commodore:  "If looking at Rory Gallagher's record, he was a really good coach, but as manager he failed repeatedly to get Donegal over the line in the 2015 & 2016 Ulster finals, we tended to do ok in the National league (Avoid relegation) under him, but his teams always peaked too early and seemed to show our hand too early.

Also he was divisive behind the scenes in the Donegal job, particular with his loyalties to Killybegs - Kilcar players, I recall chat of a fall out in Donegal diamond after the team returned after getting knocked out in 2015, I believe one established player got off the team bus before they even reached Donegal town.

In 2014, Jim McGuinness was gradually preparing for the likes of Lacey, McGlynn and Thompson to be replaced with the likes of Declan Walsh (Malin) and Leo McLoone, but Rory came in and abandoned that, continued with the old guard for longer in starting positions, which I think cost us. They should have been coming on from the bench."
I think Gallagher's biggest problem was playing the same blueprint that McGuinness left him in 2014 and had no desire to move players around from the positions they excelled in from 2012-2014. Similar to McGuinness, when it went wrong on the pitch there was no plan B, but to give him the benefit of the doubt, the squad he had to work with was spread thin after 4 years of McGuinness.

However I'm not sure I fully agree with the last point. Lacey, McGlynn, Thompson were 30,29,28 when Rory took over. I don't think there's anything to show McGuinness was in the process of phasing them out. Rory could hardly phase McLoone into the team when he decided to leave the panel in 2015. McGlynn's best years in a Donegal jersey were 2014-2016. When it all fell apart for Gallagher was 2017 when he hadn't adjusted for these players now in their early 30s not meeting the profile for the role they were originally given by Jim. Rory started phasing the lads out when it was all falling apart but the players weren't finished, just limited by decisions. When Bonner came in he immediately pushed McGlynn into a central playmaking role, which was key to winning back-to-back Ulsters.

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 532 - 03/07/2026 17:40:33    2684010

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Nice to see our lads in the states doing us proud.....

naomh_conaill_4 (Donegal) - Posts: 524 - 07/07/2026 19:37:23    2684753

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Replying To naomh_conaill_4:  "Nice to see our lads in the states doing us proud....."
Naomh Conaill lad front and centre. Pity they've played all their league games he could have played this weekend.

inthru (Donegal) - Posts: 10 - 08/07/2026 11:34:20    2684803

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I think Gallagher's biggest problem was playing the same blueprint that McGuinness left him in 2014 and had no desire to move players around from the positions they excelled in from 2012-2014. Similar to McGuinness, when it went wrong on the pitch there was no plan B, but to give him the benefit of the doubt, the squad he had to work with was spread thin after 4 years of McGuinness.

However I'm not sure I fully agree with the last point. Lacey, McGlynn, Thompson were 30,29,28 when Rory took over. I don't think there's anything to show McGuinness was in the process of phasing them out. Rory could hardly phase McLoone into the team when he decided to leave the panel in 2015. McGlynn's best years in a Donegal jersey were 2014-2016. When it all fell apart for Gallagher was 2017 when he hadn't adjusted for these players now in their early 30s not meeting the profile for the role they were originally given by Jim. Rory started phasing the lads out when it was all falling apart but the players weren't finished, just limited by decisions. When Bonner came in he immediately pushed McGlynn into a central playmaking role, which was key to winning back-to-back Ulsters.

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 531 - 03/07/2026 17:40:33 268

Karl Lacey never fully recovered from his hip surgery in 2013, McGuinness in 2014 was inserting Declan Walsh and Leo McLoone in those positions at different times in 2013 and 2014, I suspect with the view to replacing Lacey and maybe longer term having gaps plugged for the other two. Leo McLoone opted to return late in 2015, but hardly played any real part, I recall him being posted at corner forward against Mayo in a bizarre move, where he was told to stay up the field.

I doubt that Rory Gallagher was a Leo McLoone or Declan Walsh fan, feeling was probably mutual tbh. He was a Mark McHugh loyalist, but Mark had to train alone before the 2016 season for some reason, but never really caught fire like before the big hit he took in the 2013 Ulster final.

I don't think Rory was as good as Jim McGuinness at managing back then in 2015 - 2017, but he learned a lot from Jim and was a superb coach for the 2011 and 2012 teams and probably brought a lot to the table. In 2016 we looked really promising, but just couldn't get over the line and by 2017 all momentum had dissipated. Rory was interviewed at the end of his tenure in 2017 and said that maybe a full rebuild was needed, but then Declan Bonnar came in and won back to back Ulster titles with the same young team, most of whom now have 4 x Ulster medals.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1910 - 08/07/2026 13:27:57    2684826

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The club leagues will be wrapped up this weekend and there are a few interesting fixtures.
In Div 1, Four Masters and Dungloe look best placed to finish in the top 2. But if they slip up, Eunans, Termon or Naomh Conaill could capitalise.

At the bottom, St. Michaels have to beat Gaoth Dobhair at the Bridge to avoid automatic relegation. If they do, Gaoth Dobhair are relegated. But if Gaoth Dobhair can win, they're guaranteed safety should Eunans beat Aodh Ruadh.

In Div2, Naomh Columba are already promoted. Ardara, Muff and Malin will be fighting it out for the second automatic promotion place. All have tricky games though, so it will go down to the wire. At the bottom, Bundoran are already gone. Fanad need a win over Carndonagh to escape the trap door, and Milford aren't safe yet either, a tricky game with CCF for them to navigate.

In Div 3, LG Gaels and Naomh Bríd are up, with Naomh Ultan awaiting developments from Div 2 to see who they'll play in the playoff.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10418 - 10/07/2026 12:27:11    2685086

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Watching Mayo today I couldn't help but wonder are we missing a trick not putting faith in our youth a bit more. McDonald and Beirne play with such fearlessness. There's no waiting about for them to bulk up.

They give them quick early ball and allow them to fully express themselves. Kobe took on a few shots today and missed, but it didn't take a flinch out of him.

I know young McCahill was injured, but could we see the likes of him, Muldoon and the Carrs more involved in 2027? (And no, I'm not a Four Masters man before anyone suggests it)

Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí...

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10418 - 11/07/2026 22:33:12    2685310

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Kerry into final. Think Donegal peaked too early in year

hlynch12 (Limerick) - Posts: 188 - 12/07/2026 05:04:09    2685346

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Watching Mayo today I couldn't help but wonder are we missing a trick not putting faith in our youth a bit more. McDonald and Beirne play with such fearlessness. There's no waiting about for them to bulk up.

They give them quick early ball and allow them to fully express themselves. Kobe took on a few shots today and missed, but it didn't take a flinch out of him.

I know young McCahill was injured, but could we see the likes of him, Muldoon and the Carrs more involved in 2027? (And no, I'm not a Four Masters man before anyone suggests it)

Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí..."
Do we have players of that calibre though? I'm not sure.

From 2018 to now we've brought through how many actual senior players? Cant be more than a handful. Gary Duffy / Luke Barrett had the minors for a good few years and it has been very poor period in terms of getting players through (and 20's then too on top of that).

On the four masters lads. We need to see how we go with them over the next year, they are clearly miles ahead of their peers in Donegal but at county level there has been a few red flags with them. There was a lack of maturity with the 20's especially. Seemed like they were playing their own game half the time. Management should have been harsher with them perhaps.

Muldoon didnt feature for the seniors, and McCahill got injured which was a pity. Hopefully we can get a kick out of both of them next year and freshen it up.

Turlough Carr had a horror show off the bench against Cork. Wouldn't be overly critical - young lad being thrown into that is extremely difficult and hopefully the experience will stand to him but he should have been a lot smarter when he came in. You'd hope it wasn't too damaging an experience for him but it was a disaster.

Tomas Carr looks a good prospect and may be one which could surprise a few next year, he's a big enough fella for his age.

inthru (Donegal) - Posts: 10 - 12/07/2026 09:33:20    2685356

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Replying To inthru:  "Do we have players of that calibre though? I'm not sure.

From 2018 to now we've brought through how many actual senior players? Cant be more than a handful. Gary Duffy / Luke Barrett had the minors for a good few years and it has been very poor period in terms of getting players through (and 20's then too on top of that).

On the four masters lads. We need to see how we go with them over the next year, they are clearly miles ahead of their peers in Donegal but at county level there has been a few red flags with them. There was a lack of maturity with the 20's especially. Seemed like they were playing their own game half the time. Management should have been harsher with them perhaps.

Muldoon didnt feature for the seniors, and McCahill got injured which was a pity. Hopefully we can get a kick out of both of them next year and freshen it up.

Turlough Carr had a horror show off the bench against Cork. Wouldn't be overly critical - young lad being thrown into that is extremely difficult and hopefully the experience will stand to him but he should have been a lot smarter when he came in. You'd hope it wasn't too damaging an experience for him but it was a disaster.

Tomas Carr looks a good prospect and may be one which could surprise a few next year, he's a big enough fella for his age."
Too much priority given to academy/development squad progression into county setup and not enough to identifying high performance among 21-25 age group at club level. Very few players get a look in after leaving the dev squads even if they're performing at high level for their clubs or colleges. Some players peak later than others and it's ignored. If they do get a call they are just a body to improve training for the playing squad.

Take Bernard Brogan, Brian Fenton, Paul Murphy, Kieran Donaghy, Frank McGlynn, Neil Gallagher, Michael Fitzsimmons, Damien Comer just to rattle off a few. There's numerous examples of players being introduced to county setups in their 20s on back of club performances and then winning multiple All Stars and All Irelands.

We've basically closed that door in Donegal. Are we meant to believe that the Donegal Academy system is working so well that those 21-25 yos with potential don't exist in the wild?

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 532 - 12/07/2026 13:50:08    2685389

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Yes we should be willing to play young players more and we did with Finnbar but Kobe is a superstar.

If you are that talented at 18, in you go. We didn't hang about with Murphy nor Clifford with Kerry but those are exceptions, not the rule.

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 507 - 12/07/2026 14:50:06    2685396

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Replying To shaggykev:  "Yes we should be willing to play young players more and we did with Finnbar but Kobe is a superstar.

If you are that talented at 18, in you go. We didn't hang about with Murphy nor Clifford with Kerry but those are exceptions, not the rule."
Doesn't matter how many players we take through, if we dont change the style of football we're gonna win nothing with the new rules. The running game doesnt work in Croke park any more with the new rules and the games being played in June and July, usually in warm weather. More kicking needed.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 798 - 12/07/2026 20:42:44    2685467

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