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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To eddieSize5Balls:  "Kilcar are a great price. Format of the championship needs changed anyway. A team losing multiple championship matches might now win it outright. Bring back straight knockout."
It's easy to throw out the "bring back straight knockout" line, but in reality that doesn't stack up. If it was straight knockout and the league stayed as it is, plenty of clubs would only see their county men once a year. No club is ever going to accept that.

The other idea is the Tyrone model where league and championship are linked. But that has its own issues - the league drifts into Autumn if the county goes well, clubs won't play without their county players, and all players end up with no break for a holiday in the summer.

Donegal's system, for all its flaws, actually strikes a good balance. Club players get a clear schedule: league in the spring and early summer, then county players slot back in for four championship group games. After that, the knockouts kick in from the last 12.

And with the competition evening up for this year at least , the group stage really does matter. Take St. Eunan's - they'd have loved a top-four finish, but missing out means they're gone after losing to termon. That shows the groups aren't a free pass.

In the end, Donegal's format gives certainty, meaningful games, and still delivers the knockout. It's not perfect, but compared to straight knockout or a drawn-out league-championship hybrid, it's about as good a compromise as clubs and county players are going to get.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 940 - 16/09/2025 11:42:04    2636404

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Replying To SouthOfTheGap:  "Unfortunately with the way the weather has been in the last few weeks, I'd say most clubs wouldn't be happy giving their pitch for back to back games."
It's been very tricky to manage, and plenty of clubs simply would not have been able to give up their pitch for one big game, never mind two. MacCumhaill Park is an obvious miss, but realistically it probably wouldn't have been playable anyway. O'Donnell Park did have the double header last weekend but that would have been tough on the pitch so it makes sense not to load it with a double header this time around.

As for the intermediate semi between Red Hughs and Naomh Columba its just gone up as being in ballyshannon on i guess that's a double header with four masters vs dungloe. You'd imagine Donegal town would be the preferred option, but that pitch seems to have unplayable last weekend for any match.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 940 - 16/09/2025 12:05:49    2636408

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Replying To totalrecall:  "I would argue that four masters are possibly the most dangerous team left in the championship, they have the quality and will be in bonus territory from here on In. I get the argument that they may be a year or two away, but a funny thing can happen with young teams playing without fear, the talent is there, if it clicks they'll be more than a match for anyone."
Yep, a young talented bunch like four masters might just get better and better. The ballyshannon pitch should suit them too. I kind of think a good seasoned club team with a bit of physicality would have too much for them at the minute but we'll see. An interesting weekend ahead.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 940 - 16/09/2025 12:40:08    2636415

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "MacCumhaills v St. Michaels = Saturday 17:00 - O'Donnell Park
Kilcar v Goath Dobhair = Saturday 19:30 - Davy Brennan Memorial Park
Naomh Conaill v Termon = Sunday - 15:00 - O'Donnell Park
Four Masters v Dungloe = Sunday - 16:30 - Fr. Tierney Park"
Seems very unfair on Mac Cumhaills to have a 6 day turnaround after Donegall GAA whinging about that to the GAA themselves after a prelim qf only a few weeks ago.
Seems when they're the decision makers, they don't have the same care for the welfare of players!

donegalgael-12 (Donegal) - Posts: 40 - 16/09/2025 12:51:48    2636416

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Replying To Ulsterchamps_32:  "It's been very tricky to manage, and plenty of clubs simply would not have been able to give up their pitch for one big game, never mind two. MacCumhaill Park is an obvious miss, but realistically it probably wouldn't have been playable anyway. O'Donnell Park did have the double header last weekend but that would have been tough on the pitch so it makes sense not to load it with a double header this time around.

As for the intermediate semi between Red Hughs and Naomh Columba its just gone up as being in ballyshannon on i guess that's a double header with four masters vs dungloe. You'd imagine Donegal town would be the preferred option, but that pitch seems to have unplayable last weekend for any match."
Checked fixtures on Donegal Gaa and there is a double header in O Donnell Park Sunday. Termon reserves are on beforehand v Gweedore!

Whyme923 (Donegal) - Posts: 97 - 16/09/2025 13:23:42    2636422

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Replying To greenfan:  "Brendan Devenney made a good point on the radio last night. This was a mistake by the officials, not Termon or Eunan's fault. In scenarios like this, it shouldn't be up to the club to appeal this, potentially causing bad blood between clubs. The county board or the CCC should decide if there was a rule broken or if a mistake impacted a result and they should make a ruling without any appeals from clubs."
I'd say the issue you would have is where does the ccc start and end decisions of that nature? There are any number of poor officiating decisions throughout every game and the county board will not want to be picking and choosing what decisions of their refs deserve an appeal. Officials get things wrong, its extremely annoying but just the nature of sport. At least with the clubs bringing an appeal on a specific play, the ccc have that seperation and arent nit picking at their own refs.

KneeAm87 (Donegal) - Posts: 3 - 16/09/2025 13:33:01    2636427

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Replying To donegalgael-12:  "Seems very unfair on Mac Cumhaills to have a 6 day turnaround after Donegall GAA whinging about that to the GAA themselves after a prelim qf only a few weeks ago.
Seems when they're the decision makers, they don't have the same care for the welfare of players!"
Similarly, the neutral venue for Four Masters and Dungloe is Ballyshannon. That's some reward for finishing top 4.

SurelyToGod (Donegal) - Posts: 511 - 16/09/2025 14:47:33    2636441

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Replying To NPadraigAbu:  "Low odds for Michaels and Dungloe in my opinion, would fancy them both"
Agreed, I think St Michaels are a great bet. 12/1 is serious value on them given they'll be fancied to beat Mac Cumhaills and have already beaten Termon and Naomh Conaill too. Big physical team with quality, the heavier ground will suit them.

Northwest90 (Donegal) - Posts: 14 - 16/09/2025 15:01:14    2636443

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Replying To Whyme923:  "Checked fixtures on Donegal Gaa and there is a double header in O Donnell Park Sunday. Termon reserves are on beforehand v Gweedore!"
Good spot that and that's my thoughts about protecting pitches out the window. After more rain tonight and tomorrow looks like weather might be a bit better so hopefully that will be the case.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 940 - 16/09/2025 15:18:48    2636447

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Replying To KneeAm87:  "I'd say the issue you would have is where does the ccc start and end decisions of that nature? There are any number of poor officiating decisions throughout every game and the county board will not want to be picking and choosing what decisions of their refs deserve an appeal. Officials get things wrong, its extremely annoying but just the nature of sport. At least with the clubs bringing an appeal on a specific play, the ccc have that seperation and arent nit picking at their own refs."
I agree officials get things wrong, that's just human nature, decisions during games , in play, free's etc are a matter of opinion and the ref's opinion is the one that matters. But I don't think there is any excuse for officials in cases like substitutions where all they have to do is wait until they are sure the player is off the field. It's happening too many times and there's no consequences for officials involved from what I can see.

greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 739 - 16/09/2025 15:28:41    2636448

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I see MacCumhaills have been given a 6 day turnaround, and it could have been avoided. Makes the county board statements during the summer look hypocritical.

ThroughTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 94 - 16/09/2025 15:37:22    2636451

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Eunans have opted not to appeal.
Sense has prevailed.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10020 - 16/09/2025 16:36:23    2636465

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I see Eunans aren't appealing

farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 389 - 16/09/2025 17:06:37    2636470

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I feel sorry for Eunans but fair play to them. Puts into perspective the shortage of officials we have in the county.

ThroughTheGap (Donegal) - Posts: 94 - 16/09/2025 18:43:02    2636481

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Replying To SurelyToGod:  "Similarly, the neutral venue for Four Masters and Dungloe is Ballyshannon. That's some reward for finishing top 4."
Glenties would be the ideal in between neutral venue for this fixture. Question then would be where to play Kilcar/Gweedore match ? Ardara ??

Curlew66 (Roscommon) - Posts: 635 - 16/09/2025 19:53:50    2636486

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Replying To Lockjaw:  "Eunans have opted not to appeal.
Sense has prevailed."
Termon weren't adverse to an appeal themselves back in the day.Having lost a game they protested about an opposing players name not being in irish.They got a replay and ironically won the second time.

gunman (Donegal) - Posts: 1196 - 16/09/2025 20:04:12    2636488

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Replying To ThroughTheGap:  "I see MacCumhaills have been given a 6 day turnaround, and it could have been avoided. Makes the county board statements during the summer look hypocritical."
Thought this myself.

farneygael3 (Monaghan) - Posts: 389 - 16/09/2025 21:00:42    2636494

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