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Donegal V Cavan Ulster Semi Final

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Replying To [email protected]:  "Well said I watched the game on RTE and recorded it on bbc and watched it later,listening to pat spillan before the game on RTE he basically said that Cavan had no chance and Donegal would do the same as what Kerry did the evening before to cork and that after 50 minutes Donegal's know how would blow Cavan away because Donegal play at a higher level. After the game he basically said the same thing again to justify what he'd said earlier but failed to mention that before the goals Cavan were well in the game could have had a penalty and but for a great save by Patton would have had a goal ,he's always running down Ulster football yet never mentioned the quality that both teams displayed on Sunday isn't the man that's showing Kerry how to defend an Ulster man ,don't care how many all irelands he has I think it time RTE put him and O'Rourke out to grass."
Correct.

Spillane's "insights" into the Donegal Cavan game reminded me of Eamon Ryan's when it comes to tackling the rising costs of living. Both are well paid, have a national platform & have access to data and resources that ordinary folk don't. Yet their insights and conclusions are akin to what a ten year old could come up with.

Cavan had Donegal in bother for much of the first half. But Spillane patronisingly put it down to bland clichés such as them having great hunger and desire. He also reduced Cavan's game plan to long balls being driven inside as if there was no other thought put into it whatsoever.

Anyway, thankfully there are a few good podcasts out there where proper analysis is done.

Tip for RTE - Put Des, Pat and Colm out to pasture.

Poach Dara O'Cinnéide from TG4. Actually no it's too late for that. Thankfully Seó Spóirt is making a welcome return soon. Even if you haven't a word of Irish I'd recommend tuning in to see how O'Cinnéide intelligently leads his guests into proper analysis of a game.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9108 - 10/05/2022 16:12:14    2416324

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Enjoyed the game , a 50:50 contest for well over an hour. Cavan were more direct and backed themselves shooting points once they got inside the 45m line. They needed to be 4 or 5 points ahead at half time after playing so well. Donegal fans would be relieved to be level at half time and a little frustrated with the laidback pedestrian build up , lack of variety in their play depending on the same 2-3 players to inject pace and another 2-3 players repeatedly giving up possession by running into traffic, over carrying or over/under hitting a pass
Shaun Patton kicked some terrific medium and long restarts putting his team on the attack. His brave smothering of McKiernans effort and getting a touch to Smith's piledriver were huge moments in a close contest.
The first goal was the big turning point putting Donegal four ahead resulting in Cavan having to force it and kicking some bad wides afterwards. Conor O Donnell deserves credit for readjusting so quickly and slotting it so accurately, many other players would have been tempted to pick it up . He is a talented young player and a great sub to bring on when Thompson was visibly tiring after a good shift.
Donegal are not in a bad position atall going into an Ulster final. They have 3 weeks recovery time now (style of play is so energy sapping), healing time for niggling injuries and Oisin Gallen may come into the picture. All the pundits are making the winners of Derry/Monaghan favourites which suits Donegal just fine. Who knows what injuries/ suspensions will follow next Sunday's contest.
For what it's worth I think Dun na nGall should go all out to win Ulster. The winners will end up in the opposite half of the draw to most likely Kerry/Dublin . Ulster is so competitive that winning it still has currency especially with Kerry such hot favourites for Sam. Michael Murphy has captained Donegal to exactly half of their 10 Ulster titles. Many fans of the great man would love to see him lift the Anglo Celt another time.

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 503 - 10/05/2022 16:52:16    2416343

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Correct.

Spillane's "insights" into the Donegal Cavan game reminded me of Eamon Ryan's when it comes to tackling the rising costs of living. Both are well paid, have a national platform & have access to data and resources that ordinary folk don't. Yet their insights and conclusions are akin to what a ten year old could come up with.

Cavan had Donegal in bother for much of the first half. But Spillane patronisingly put it down to bland clichés such as them having great hunger and desire. He also reduced Cavan's game plan to long balls being driven inside as if there was no other thought put into it whatsoever.

Anyway, thankfully there are a few good podcasts out there where proper analysis is done.

Tip for RTE - Put Des, Pat and Colm out to pasture.

Poach Dara O'Cinnéide from TG4. Actually no it's too late for that. Thankfully Seó Spóirt is making a welcome return soon. Even if you haven't a word of Irish I'd recommend tuning in to see how O'Cinnéide intelligently leads his guests into proper analysis of a game."
Agreed. I think Dara Ó Cinnéide is an excellent presenter and analyst. There's no waffle or hyperbole, he speaks a lot of sense, but he has a good personality too and there's a bit of craic.
While he's a proud Gaeltacht and Kerry man, he doesn't let it blind his analysis and comes across as objective as one could be.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2033 - 10/05/2022 17:55:52    2416355

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I recorded BBC and watched it when I got back from the match. I have to say it was very good. They were identifying the movement of players in and out and Mikey Harte did mention the space lynch was getting. Donegal were leaving mccole isolated and they did change it in the second half with McHugh dropping very deep.

I didn't watch rte back. I knew BBC would be better because it is just better for the Ulster championship. The pundits are there and you pick up things that you just can't on the TV. You have to want to pick things up too mind you.
The Sunday game are limited by time for analysis and the good podcasts are filling that gap. I'd much rather listen to them them. Mcconville was very good on the examiner podcast explaining Mickey Graham's coaching. (He seems to over his Armagh crusade, Eamon McGee found his Donegal conspiracy theories very amusing).

I would though wish pundits would stop saying Donegal are inconsistent. That's just not true. They are remarkably consistent in getting to Ulster finals in the last 12 years. 10 out of 12 and winning about half. The other two years were semis! Over say the last 5 years they've just not pushed on to the next level.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 687 - 10/05/2022 18:00:36    2416356

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Derry v Monaghan will be interesting. Monaghan are consistently competitive, so we know what to expect from them. Derry - considering how the Tyrone camp is at 6s and 7s, and how little interest they showed in that game, it's hard to say - are Derry brilliant, or merely good? Tyrone were awful. You also have to factor in the recent Derry-Tyrone rivalry (something not fully appreciated outside Ulster - great memories of great battles between e.g. Plunkett Donaghy and Brian McGilligan), and that factor, plus Tyrone being dire, makes it hard to judge where Derry really is at. Monaghan will show up, and it'll either be v close or Monaghan could pull away in the last 20; but I do not see Derry running away with it again. And I'd back either Derry or Monaghan to beat Donegal narrowly in a close game.

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 10/05/2022 18:48:14    2416368

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Replying To Ulsterchamps_32:  "I recorded BBC and watched it when I got back from the match. I have to say it was very good. They were identifying the movement of players in and out and Mikey Harte did mention the space lynch was getting. Donegal were leaving mccole isolated and they did change it in the second half with McHugh dropping very deep.

I didn't watch rte back. I knew BBC would be better because it is just better for the Ulster championship. The pundits are there and you pick up things that you just can't on the TV. You have to want to pick things up too mind you.
The Sunday game are limited by time for analysis and the good podcasts are filling that gap. I'd much rather listen to them them. Mcconville was very good on the examiner podcast explaining Mickey Graham's coaching. (He seems to over his Armagh crusade, Eamon McGee found his Donegal conspiracy theories very amusing).

I would though wish pundits would stop saying Donegal are inconsistent. That's just not true. They are remarkably consistent in getting to Ulster finals in the last 12 years. 10 out of 12 and winning about half. The other two years were semis! Over say the last 5 years they've just not pushed on to the next level."
I totally agree, BBC coverage is just miles ahead. They actually analyze the game properly and give some great insights. Sky is really good as well. RTE is just shambolic, it just gets worse every year.

I'd say Donegal have been branded inconsistent for their performances this year, as you point out we have been doing really well these past 12 years. Our league performances this year have been really inconsistent, it was hard to know what to expect but that is the league for you, its not really a good gauge of championship form.

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1873 - 11/05/2022 09:57:49    2416409

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Replying To Green_Gold:  "I totally agree, BBC coverage is just miles ahead. They actually analyze the game properly and give some great insights. Sky is really good as well. RTE is just shambolic, it just gets worse every year.

I'd say Donegal have been branded inconsistent for their performances this year, as you point out we have been doing really well these past 12 years. Our league performances this year have been really inconsistent, it was hard to know what to expect but that is the league for you, its not really a good gauge of championship form."
If we were a soccer team we'd be a bit like Spurs. Outstanding quality in some positions and capable of anything when it all clicks. But just not consistent enough in our performances to really hang your hat on us to challenge for the top prize. A bit harsh perhaps given that unlike Spurs we have won trophies in the recent past, but the performance consistency comparison is valid.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9108 - 11/05/2022 10:26:46    2416426

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "If we were a soccer team we'd be a bit like Spurs. Outstanding quality in some positions and capable of anything when it all clicks. But just not consistent enough in our performances to really hang your hat on us to challenge for the top prize. A bit harsh perhaps given that unlike Spurs we have won trophies in the recent past, but the performance consistency comparison is valid."
Spot on. The only thing consistent about us the last few years is our incinsistentcy performance wise. Can't seemnto follow up one big performance with another.

This weeks Football Pod with Paddy Andrews and James O'Donoghue offered an interesting 'outside' analysis of Donegal. Worth a listen.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 794 - 11/05/2022 11:08:42    2416441

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "Spot on. The only thing consistent about us the last few years is our incinsistentcy performance wise. Can't seemnto follow up one big performance with another.

This weeks Football Pod with Paddy Andrews and James O'Donoghue offered an interesting 'outside' analysis of Donegal. Worth a listen."
Just me who thinks Andrews is a bit of a dose? Doesn't stop with the rabbitting and butting in throughout. His analysis is good on some things, but outside of the few top teams, he hasn't got much of a clue. Hard to listen to him overall

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2378 - 11/05/2022 12:35:29    2416474

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "Just me who thinks Andrews is a bit of a dose? Doesn't stop with the rabbitting and butting in throughout. His analysis is good on some things, but outside of the few top teams, he hasn't got much of a clue. Hard to listen to him overall"
He can be at times and it grinds my gears when he keeps calling James 'Jimmy' - you'd swear he knew him years!

But he is quite articulate and good to get an insight now and again to the previously guarded state secrets of the Dublin 6 in a row team!

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 794 - 11/05/2022 12:52:26    2416479

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Replying To peiledoir20:  "He can be at times and it grinds my gears when he keeps calling James 'Jimmy' - you'd swear he knew him years!

But he is quite articulate and good to get an insight now and again to the previously guarded state secrets of the Dublin 6 in a row team!"
Oh definitely, his insight is great, and analysis on the top teams who he has played recently is very good. I stick with the pod for that stuff. I just overall find him very annoying, always trying to crack a joke where there isn't one, or butt in in inane nattering. It's overall a good pod, but I roll my eyes constantly at him

Loughduff Lad (Cavan) - Posts: 2378 - 11/05/2022 13:08:27    2416482

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "Just me who thinks Andrews is a bit of a dose? Doesn't stop with the rabbitting and butting in throughout. His analysis is good on some things, but outside of the few top teams, he hasn't got much of a clue. Hard to listen to him overall"
Yeah, Andrews and the host cut across eachother quite a bit, James O'Donoghue will sit quietly enough until he's let speak but there's a lot of one liners being thrown in and throws folks off the flow of what they're saying so it can be a hard listen in my opinion. When they just settle and cut out the nonsense and just talk football there is some good stuff though I think.

I thought they were both interesting enough on Donegal because neither of them really mentioned our style of play specifically, O'Donoghue mentioned the half forward line for us just not playing the game at our pace and being off colour and I thought watching it live that we weren't getting enough out of the half forwards. Both say that if we get everyone playing well in the same game that we'll be hard stopped but they didn't talk about slow build up or not enough kick passing or whatever else. Thought it was one of the better analyses I'd seen of the game because they gave huge credit to Cavan but also weren't talking as if Donegal lost which is what I've seen from some other corners.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 11/05/2022 13:09:47    2416484

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Replying To Ulsterchamps_32:  "I recorded BBC and watched it when I got back from the match. I have to say it was very good. They were identifying the movement of players in and out and Mikey Harte did mention the space lynch was getting. Donegal were leaving mccole isolated and they did change it in the second half with McHugh dropping very deep.

I didn't watch rte back. I knew BBC would be better because it is just better for the Ulster championship. The pundits are there and you pick up things that you just can't on the TV. You have to want to pick things up too mind you.
The Sunday game are limited by time for analysis and the good podcasts are filling that gap. I'd much rather listen to them them. Mcconville was very good on the examiner podcast explaining Mickey Graham's coaching. (He seems to over his Armagh crusade, Eamon McGee found his Donegal conspiracy theories very amusing).

I would though wish pundits would stop saying Donegal are inconsistent. That's just not true. They are remarkably consistent in getting to Ulster finals in the last 12 years. 10 out of 12 and winning about half. The other two years were semis! Over say the last 5 years they've just not pushed on to the next level."
Completely agree on the BBC coverage. i think they've been brilliant for even admitting to a bit of bias to showing an understanding of structures of the GAA within the different counties. Even the knowledge shown of some of the periphery players and clubs has be good. Martin Clarke knows his stuff

ponger (Cavan) - Posts: 540 - 11/05/2022 13:12:23    2416488

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Agree with you on Marty Clarke. I think he will go on to be a really top manager. He was an extremely clever and gifted player who we unfortunately did not see enough of at his best. He is also very insighful in his commentary and I've heard glowing reports of coaching workshops that he gives.

It's just a pity that Down football seems to be at a very low ebb at the moment. I see another 4 players left the panel today. James McCartan must be totally disillusioned by the whole thing and sorry he went back at it at all. Looks like they need a major rethink about how they're doing things but I'd expect that when they do get their house in order the likes of Marty Clarke and Conor Laverty will surely be not far from the setup.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9108 - 11/05/2022 14:32:58    2416522

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "Just me who thinks Andrews is a bit of a dose? Doesn't stop with the rabbitting and butting in throughout. His analysis is good on some things, but outside of the few top teams, he hasn't got much of a clue. Hard to listen to him overall"
If certain personalities dialed themselves back a bit it would be a more enjoyable listen.

greatpoint (USA) - Posts: 427 - 11/05/2022 17:19:05    2416572

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "Just me who thinks Andrews is a bit of a dose? Doesn't stop with the rabbitting and butting in throughout. His analysis is good on some things, but outside of the few top teams, he hasn't got much of a clue. Hard to listen to him overall"
Yeah. He is hard to listen to. I think that podcast is way too long to just have the same 2 or 3 people on it every week. I like Tommy Rooney, one of the only Off The Ball presenters I can bear anymore. Must be my age! They need to shorten it a bit and throw a few guest in there to liven it up. Have the odd header on it to liven it up. It wasn't much better with Andy Moran either. Hard to beat Wooly's shows. He's a cantankerous lad at the best of times but he has some good stuff. Who'd have thought that having a lad talking about hurling, cars and farming could put you in such good form!

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7335 - 11/05/2022 18:59:25    2416595

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Replying To Loughduff Lad:  "Just me who thinks Andrews is a bit of a dose? Doesn't stop with the rabbitting and butting in throughout. His analysis is good on some things, but outside of the few top teams, he hasn't got much of a clue. Hard to listen to him overall"
Spot on. Andrews does my head in when he keeps interrupting the others. He can analyse the game well when is not talking nonsense which is rare. Really like James O'Donoghue but it's hard for him to get his opinion out without being interrupted.

farneygael (Monaghan) - Posts: 277 - 11/05/2022 19:53:50    2416601

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