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Donegal GAA thread

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Replying To panamasam: "Brilliant win. The pace and the execution was a sight to behold. Definitely the best drilled underage Donegal side that I've seen in quite a few years. McCahill has looked exceptional anytime I've seen him play and is one expect to establish himself as a top senior in the next few years but in truth there are a few in that team who will do the same. It's only a group game so nothing won yet and Derry looks exceptionally strong too. I expect it'll be alot closer if to meet Tyrone again. However this is an excellent opportunity to reach an Ulster final and maybe win won. I attended a Leinster U-20 game last week and the standard last night was light years ahead. The defending and turnovers were excellent, hallmarks of the senior side. Plus the fitness levels were through the roof so no surprise to hear many of the twenties were in with the seniors. A couple of negatives were maybe under utilising the kicking game especially during the Tyrone press. We were lucky a couple of times when over holding the ball and while not a major negative it was a shame to not see Finbar Roarty and McElholm go head to head as both in with the seniors. The latter was a massive loss to Tyrone so they have the potential to improve drastically if he is allowed to play later in the championship." It's always nice to beat Tyrone as they continually set a high bar at underage. You can sense from their interview after the match their disappointment of mcelholm being in Portugal with the seniors. They freed him up from must win league games at the end to play with the 20s and then decided to bring him to Portugal. It doesn't seem quite right. Roarty is or at least is very close to being a senior starter and the 20s never had him this year so is at least is easier to come to terms with. It's actually a testament to him that he is making the jump with still another year to go at 20s. I agree on the point about not being able to use a kicking game though being ingrained to play a certain way the whole way up at underage makes it hard to just start kicking it in. This is probably a longer term process that needs some focus in the academy structure with the younger teams. Looking at the results though Derry might be a different level. Their senior team has not interfered with the under 20s at all and they put big wins against Armagh and Monaghan. Monaghan are generally very decent at underage. And even if Donegal do come a cropper somewhere it's clear this team is good and their are plenty good players and at least a few will make good senior players down the line. Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 791 - 03/04/2025 18:47:31 2600417 Link
Replying To PeterQ92: "Any predictions for team for Sunday. Hearing Derry will be down a lot of key men" Derry will be missing players, but Donegal will be down at least 3 players as well. Jason McGee and Eoghan Ban would be guaranteed starters, and based on his form in the league , probably Paddy McBrearty would probably have started the game also. greenfan (Donegal) - Posts: 609 - 03/04/2025 20:25:54 2600424 Link
Replying To dgcrusader: "Considering the amount of absentees Derry will have, I'd expect us to win quite comfortably. Once we had enough points to stay up, McGuinness sole focus has been on this game and this game only, look at the teams we have put ever since. We have rotated to keep everyone as fit and fresh as possible for this Sunday. I'd expect a a big performance and here's hoping!" I have to take back this statement after seeing the Derry team that was named, Rogers, Murray and McFaul all back for Derry. I still think we will get the win but it will be far from be comfortable as I previously said. dgcrusader (Donegal) - Posts: 78 - 04/04/2025 09:29:00 2600473 Link
It will be interesting to see what teams emerge from both camps on Sunday, I think the injury situation in derry may not be as bad as we are ked to believe, and also it could be a similar case with the donegal camp. Either way u believe it will be a battle on Sunday and neither team will be running away with a big margin. totalrecall (Leitrim) - Posts: 1022 - 04/04/2025 11:06:27 2600500 Link
Replying To dgcrusader: "I have to take back this statement after seeing the Derry team that was named, Rogers, Murray and McFaul all back for Derry. I still think we will get the win but it will be far from be comfortable as I previously said." I think some people are starting to believe the hot air that's being blown at us, the same people talking that bs will be the first to stick the knife in us if we slip up, make no mistake Derry are still a top team and we will be in for a hard battle on Sunday, I hope and expect us to win but I can't see it being anything but hard won. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3153 - 04/04/2025 11:38:56 2600505 Link
Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Ciarán Moore; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Dáire Ó Baoill, Ciarán Thompson, Shane O'Donnell; Niall O'Donnell, Conor O'Donnell, Aaron Doherty. Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Mark Curran, Stephen McMenamin, Kevin McGettigan, Jamie Brennan, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui, Michael Murphy, Odhran McFadden Ferry, Oisín Gallen, Patrick McBrearty, Jason McGee, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde, Charles McGuinness, Caolan Ward, Luke McGlynn. Can't see that team starting, but if it does, that is a serious bench to have! I'm wondering the extra subs being named would maybe think that some of the squad named aren't actually going to be involved at all and it's just mind games? Intriguing stuff, roll on Sunday dgcrusader (Donegal) - Posts: 78 - 04/04/2025 11:47:09 2600508 Link
Replying To totalrecall: "It will be interesting to see what teams emerge from both camps on Sunday, I think the injury situation in derry may not be as bad as we are ked to believe, and also it could be a similar case with the donegal camp. Either way u believe it will be a battle on Sunday and neither team will be running away with a big margin." True. Derry have a lot of good players and they showed in the league that they can cause us problems. With 15 minutes to go in that game it looked like they were going to beat us comfortably. It will be no foregone conclusion that's for sure. But gun to head, I'd still give us the nod to win it by about 4 points. Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9701 - 04/04/2025 12:05:07 2600510 Link
Replying To dgcrusader: "Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Ciarán Moore; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Hugh McFadden, Michael Langan; Dáire Ó Baoill, Ciarán Thompson, Shane O'Donnell; Niall O'Donnell, Conor O'Donnell, Aaron Doherty. Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Mark Curran, Stephen McMenamin, Kevin McGettigan, Jamie Brennan, Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui, Michael Murphy, Odhran McFadden Ferry, Oisín Gallen, Patrick McBrearty, Jason McGee, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde, Charles McGuinness, Caolan Ward, Luke McGlynn. Can't see that team starting, but if it does, that is a serious bench to have! I'm wondering the extra subs being named would maybe think that some of the squad named aren't actually going to be involved at all and it's just mind games? Intriguing stuff, roll on Sunday" From a quick glance at panel, don't see either Eoin McHugh or Caolan McColgan.... Think we'll be hearing a few "Athru ar foireann Dun na Ngall, announcements around 1:45 Sunday! chancer (Donegal) - Posts: 28 - 04/04/2025 12:55:48 2600523 Link
Replying To dgcrusader: "I have to take back this statement after seeing the Derry team that was named, Rogers, Murray and McFaul all back for Derry. I still think we will get the win but it will be far from be comfortable as I previously said." I think you were getting carried away like a lot of people. Derry are a quality side. 2024 was not a true reflection of their ability. Always hard to predict the Ulster Championship, especially the first match. We will need to play well to get a victory. Our bench is a lot stronger than years gone by. Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 447 - 04/04/2025 13:45:18 2600537 Link
Replying To chancer: "From a quick glance at panel, don't see either Eoin McHugh or Caolan McColgan.... Think we'll be hearing a few "Athru ar foireann Dun na Ngall, announcements around 1:45 Sunday!" Oisin Gallen may start. I don't see any other changes. Scenicparish (Donegal) - Posts: 447 - 04/04/2025 13:46:37 2600539 Link