McKenna Cup 2024

[JoG2]

From flying coming into the final the Donegal players tonight looked like they were carrying a sack of stones on their backs. Looks like McGuinness focus was fully on the Cork game next week.

Emmm....then why not start a 2nd string if that's the case and not risk injury to key players before the league starts? Donegal Laid their stall out early and were well up for the game, alot of pushing and dragging off the ball, late hits, they wanted to win. Botton line is they're just not at the same level as Derry atm, which is completely understandable. They'll be in a much better place come championship.
Donegal's new keeper is some find, cool, composed and has a serious kick. Patton has his work cut out for him.
Decent enough game in poor conditions, will stand to both teams.

You'll have to ask McGuinness that. He had a big smiley head on him at the full time whistle. Armagh's 2nd string gave a better account of themselves against Derry last week

I don't have to ask McGuinness anything, just use some common sense. Think about it, and you don't have to be a sport scientist (which McGuinness will be using) to know that you don't load up and then put the players straight into a game against the likes of Derry a week out from the league.

[yellowcard]

From flying coming into the final the Donegal players tonight looked like they were carrying a sack of stones on their backs. Looks like McGuinness focus was fully on the Cork game next week.

Emmm....then why not start a 2nd string if that's the case and not risk injury to key players before the league starts? Donegal Laid their stall out early and were well up for the game, alot of pushing and dragging off the ball, late hits, they wanted to win. Botton line is they're just not at the same level as Derry atm, which is completely understandable. They'll be in a much better place come championship.
Donegal's new keeper is some find, cool, composed and has a serious kick. Patton has his work cut out for him.
Decent enough game in poor conditions, will stand to both teams.

You'll have to ask McGuinness that. He had a big smiley head on him at the full time whistle. Armagh's 2nd string gave a better account of themselves against Derry last week

Its just an indication of where Donegal are at. A lot of people had suddenly elevated them to the best team in Ulster based on no good reason other than the fact that Jimmy would automatically get them back winning matches. If he had a big smiley face as you suggest, it certainly wasn't because he was happy getting beat.

[Armagh18]

From flying coming into the final the Donegal players tonight looked like they were carrying a sack of stones on their backs. Looks like McGuinness focus was fully on the Cork game next week.

Emmm....then why not start a 2nd string if that's the case and not risk injury to key players before the league starts? Donegal Laid their stall out early and were well up for the game, alot of pushing and dragging off the ball, late hits, they wanted to win. Botton line is they're just not at the same level as Derry atm, which is completely understandable. They'll be in a much better place come championship.
Donegal's new keeper is some find, cool, composed and has a serious kick. Patton has his work cut out for him.
Decent enough game in poor conditions, will stand to both teams.

You'll have to ask McGuinness that. He had a big smiley head on him at the full time whistle. Armagh's 2nd string gave a better account of themselves against Derry last week

Its just an indication of where Donegal are at. A lot of people had suddenly elevated them to the best team in Ulster based on no good reason other than the fact that Jimmy would automatically get them back winning matches. If he had a big smiley face as you suggest, it certainly wasn't because he was happy getting beat.

They'll be in the mix. They've a huer of a draw to get to an Ulster final but my money would be on the winner of Donegal/Derry to be in the final.

[screenexile]

Pleased with that performance last night. As has been said I didn't think Rogers stamped on the Donegal lad at the time because it's not the type of thing he'd usually do but the footage is clear he did it and it was really stupid. Especially when we were in total control of the game!

Was worried he would be suspended for next week so thankfully that isn't the case as Kerry will be a big ask even with him. Murphy and Baker are huge finds for us and I think we might get 1 or 2 extra Glen lads in that weren't there last year so we have definitely improved.

Really looking forward to next week now after a strong pre season. Also looking forward to sampling some Tralee stout!!!!

[yellowcard]

From flying coming into the final the Donegal players tonight looked like they were carrying a sack of stones on their backs. Looks like McGuinness focus was fully on the Cork game next week.

Emmm....then why not start a 2nd string if that's the case and not risk injury to key players before the league starts? Donegal Laid their stall out early and were well up for the game, alot of pushing and dragging off the ball, late hits, they wanted to win. Botton line is they're just not at the same level as Derry atm, which is completely understandable. They'll be in a much better place come championship.
Donegal's new keeper is some find, cool, composed and has a serious kick. Patton has his work cut out for him.
Decent enough game in poor conditions, will stand to both teams.

You'll have to ask McGuinness that. He had a big smiley head on him at the full time whistle. Armagh's 2nd string gave a better account of themselves against Derry last week

Its just an indication of where Donegal are at. A lot of people had suddenly elevated them to the best team in Ulster based on no good reason other than the fact that Jimmy would automatically get them back winning matches. If he had a big smiley face as you suggest, it certainly wasn't because he was happy getting beat.

They'll be in the mix. They've a huer of a draw to get to an Ulster final but my money would be on the winner of Donegal/Derry to be in the final.

I'd probably agree with that. That match will be Donegals All Ireland final while Derry are at a stage now where they need to target the AI series and the Ulster championship is merely a staging post along the way.

[5times5times]

Are Armagh playing a risky game giving their main players zero minutes in McKenna cup?

Forker / Murnin / Grugan / O'Neill / Turbitt / McCabe / McCambridge etc?

[Armagh18]

Are Armagh playing a risky game giving their main players zero minutes in McKenna cup?

Forker / Murnin / Grugan / O'Neill / Turbitt / McCabe / McCambridge etc?

They'll have got plenty gametime in other challenge matches. Maybe a case of not wanting to show a full hand against Ulster teams I'm not sure to be honest. I'm sure we'll see a strong team in the league and hopefully one or 2 young lads.

[Wildweasel74]

Not at all, it's a longer season game wise now if you going to at least the quarters.I actually thought Derry should played 2/3 more panel  players through the McKenna cup. I see E Bradley and E Mulholland probably starting this year along with the 3 Glen starters already.

[Mario]

Not at all, it's a longer season game wise now if you going to at least the quarters.I actually thought Derry should played 2/3 more panel  players through the McKenna cup. I see E Bradley and E Mulholland probably starting this year along with the 3 Glen starters already.

I can't see either starting, maybe Bradley but could see him being used as an impact sub again. Who would Mulholland start ahead of?

[Champion The Wonder Horse]

Wasn't a stamp imo. Trod on his leg, yes, but not a stamp.

[Armagh18]

Wasn't a stamp imo. Trod on his leg, yes, but not a stamp.

Same thing tbh.

[Champion The Wonder Horse]

Wasn't a stamp imo. Trod on his leg, yes, but not a stamp.

Same thing tbh.

It's not though.

[Armagh18]

Wasn't a stamp imo. Trod on his leg, yes, but not a stamp.

Same thing tbh.

It's not though.

Still a dirty act and not really much point defending it. I'm saying that as a total neutral and someone who really admires Rogers as a footballer.

[Mikhailov]

Am I the only one who thought the ref was totally inept?
He was completely erratic with his decisions for both sides, when he blew the whistle I'd no idea who he was going to award a free to.
I think he was largely to blame for the mini melee. If he took control of the game and cut out the off the ball stuff and pulled donegal on the obvious rough house tactics on mcguigan, Rogers and mckinless, that row never happens.

I wasn't close enough to see the incidents for the red cards but the first red everyone around me thought it was for donegal until we saw Rogers going off.
Not saying the reds were right or wrong as I couldn't see, but Rogers is not a dirty player so it's hard to imagine he deliberately stamped on someone.

Ref aside, Derry actually were by far the better side.
I was expecting more from donegal, even though they are not full strength.
The tactics for them seemed to be around stopping derry rather than playing their own game and it didn't work.

Lots of wides for both sides but conditions were awful so I wouldn't read much into that.

Donegal looked dangerous at times on the attack when they ran the ball but they didn't do it often enough to really trouble derry.

Derry were comfortable despite what the scoreboard said.
Murphy looks a class act.
Gilmore improved since the Armagh game and it was good to get  game time into the legs of McCloskey,  but he was rusty.

I think the panel is definitely 3 to 4 players stronger than last year with Baker, Higgins, gilmore and murphy standing out.

Mckenna cup has been great prep for the league for both sides.
I'd imagine donegal will improve for the championship,  but if they realistically want promotion, they'll need to improve a lot and quickly.

Agree 100% on the referee. Woeful performance.
No control on the proceedings at all. Both teams asking what decisions are for all game - totally out of his depth

[Keyser soze]

Am I the only one who thought the ref was totally inept?
He was completely erratic with his decisions for both sides, when he blew the whistle I'd no idea who he was going to award a free to.
I think he was largely to blame for the mini melee. If he took control of the game and cut out the off the ball stuff and pulled donegal on the obvious rough house tactics on mcguigan, Rogers and mckinless, that row never happens.

I wasn't close enough to see the incidents for the red cards but the first red everyone around me thought it was for donegal until we saw Rogers going off.
Not saying the reds were right or wrong as I couldn't see, but Rogers is not a dirty player so it's hard to imagine he deliberately stamped on someone.

Ref aside, Derry actually were by far the better side.
I was expecting more from donegal, even though they are not full strength.
The tactics for them seemed to be around stopping derry rather than playing their own game and it didn't work.

Lots of wides for both sides but conditions were awful so I wouldn't read much into that.

Donegal looked dangerous at times on the attack when they ran the ball but they didn't do it often enough to really trouble derry.

Derry were comfortable despite what the scoreboard said.
Murphy looks a class act.
Gilmore improved since the Armagh game and it was good to get  game time into the legs of McCloskey,  but he was rusty.

I think the panel is definitely 3 to 4 players stronger than last year with Baker, Higgins, gilmore and murphy standing out.

Mckenna cup has been great prep for the league for both sides.
I'd imagine donegal will improve for the championship,  but if they realistically want promotion, they'll need to improve a lot and quickly.

Agree 100% on the referee. Woeful performance.
No control on the proceedings at all. Both teams asking what decisions are for all game - totally out of his depth

And 3.....2.....1...... here comes our resident referee to defend the indefensible...