Messages

1

GAA Discussion / Re: Sam Maguire Group 4 - Derry, Clare, Monaghan, Donegal

« on: June 05, 2023, 11:42:48 AM »

Good win for Derry.  Nice to see the other forwards stepping up again. The ref was fairly frustrating. Few v soft ones, majority went in favour of Donegal, with the exception of the one on Paul Cassidy. Its the consistancy that would annoy you.

Aside from McKinless and Doherty every player from 5-15 got on the score sheet. 10 different scorers. Also good to see more subs being brought on for a bit more game time. Downey and Cassidy were limited in the time they got. But at least they got on the pitch. Something that may not have happened previously.

With nothing to play for I'm hoping that Clare are on the beach in a couple of weeks, and Derry can put up a decent score. 
I'd expect Monaghan to target the centre of the Donegal defence the way that we did, but with Gallen's superb perfromance and McBrearty starting the next day, they could give Monaghan their fill of it too.

All 3 teams could top the group and all three teams could end up in 3rd place.

Yeah if we can rack up a big score against Clare and Donegal bring the fight to Monaghan, that should see us finish top.
Still probably leaves us with a very difficult QF, but at least it would be one game less.

2

GAA Discussion / Re: Tyrone vs Armagh - 3rd June 7pm - Healy Park, Omagh.

« on: June 05, 2023, 11:41:02 AM »

You can justify Mayo being above Kerry by the fact they have beaten Kerry!

I would have Roscommon on that top 6 as well tbrick.

So would I but he only picked 5.
The 3 games in successive weeks for those who don't top the groups will be a killer!

Roscommon would be there or thereabouts.
It gets difficult to separate the next grouping I feel, Roscommon, Monaghan, Louth (can hardly believe I'm putting them in here), Tyrone, Cork....I put the 5 I chose ahead of all of these but not by much. Especially Derry.
Difficult to choose a top 10-16, but I think the AI winner will come out of the 5 I chose with a slight nod to Galway.

3

GAA Discussion / Re: Tyrone vs Armagh - 3rd June 7pm - Healy Park, Omagh.

« on: June 05, 2023, 11:13:33 AM »

Without reading all the comments since the game, tyrone were the better side, but just can't seem to pull away.
I just don't see where the hype about this Armagh side comes from.
Rian O'Neill was a definate red in my book. He could/should have been off in the Ulster final if he'd got a yellow every time he deserved one. He seems to concentrate on being a hard man rather than football and for all the spectacular scores/frees he grabs, he concedes so many frees it could mostly cancel out any positives. He's a liability at the minute that could do with a few games on the bench to put manners on.
For me, Grugan and Murnin are more reliable and better all round than RON.
Starting Campbell didnt have the same impact as he has had coming off the bench.
McGeeney saying execution is the issue, that's another way of saying the players are not good enough at finishing.

As for Tyrone, glimpses of what they were but not necessarily of where they are going.
They are still relying on the older players to pull them out and I'm not sure the new(er) personnel are of the same quality. Lots of mistakes.
Could have had a black in the lead up to the RON red.
Morgan can be brilliant or awful.
I feel if McCurry is kept out of a game and to a lesser extent Canavan, Tyrone won't get scores to trouble any of the main contenders.
But....they still play with the confidence of a top side which is why I think it can click some days against anyone. So it wouldn't surprise me too much if they knocked out some of the big hitters in the championship, but I don't think they have enough for an AI or indeed to be classed as in the top 5.

For me, top 5 still are Galway, Mayo, Kerry, Dublin, Derry....in that order. However, no one time is miles ahead at the minute, but I just have that feeling that Galway are better than last year and so far Kerry/Dublin seem to have slipped back a little bit.

That top 5 is just silly. How can you justify putting Galway and Mayo above Kerry?

Kerry have been stuttering and their result against Cork is underwhelming.

4

GAA Discussion / Re: Sam Maguire Group 4 - Derry, Clare, Monaghan, Donegal

« on: June 05, 2023, 11:12:43 AM »

Didn’t expect us to get a result, but at least good to see a bit of pride and belief back in the team and you have to give O’Rourke credit there. Good to see Gallen finally get another chance to show what he can do after missing multiple campaigns since his debut through injury. We really need him to step up and be the focal point alongside McBrearty, especially with Brennan finding it so tough to make an impact. Defensive problems are still there, but that’s not O’Rourke’s fault. We’ve been vulnerable to runs through the centre for several seasons now and it will be up to whoever gets the job long term to sort it out and get us back on a par fitness and conditioning-wise. Hope they put in another decent showing against Monaghan and avoid the likes of Kerry in the PQF - don’t need to end the season on a hiding!

Do you think O'Rourke and Bradley will def not be re-appointed? Things seem to have improved under them so far and Donegal were much better than I expected yesterday.
Get McBrearty fit and with Gallen up top and a full panel to pick from next season, they'll trouble most teams.

5

GAA Discussion / Re: Tyrone vs Armagh - 3rd June 7pm - Healy Park, Omagh.

« on: June 05, 2023, 11:06:02 AM »

Without reading all the comments since the game, tyrone were the better side, but just can't seem to pull away.
I just don't see where the hype about this Armagh side comes from.
Rian O'Neill was a definate red in my book. He could/should have been off in the Ulster final if he'd got a yellow every time he deserved one. He seems to concentrate on being a hard man rather than football and for all the spectacular scores/frees he grabs, he concedes so many frees it could mostly cancel out any positives. He's a liability at the minute that could do with a few games on the bench to put manners on.
For me, Grugan and Murnin are more reliable and better all round than RON.
Starting Campbell didnt have the same impact as he has had coming off the bench.
McGeeney saying execution is the issue, that's another way of saying the players are not good enough at finishing.

As for Tyrone, glimpses of what they were but not necessarily of where they are going.
They are still relying on the older players to pull them out and I'm not sure the new(er) personnel are of the same quality. Lots of mistakes.
Could have had a black in the lead up to the RON red.
Morgan can be brilliant or awful.
I feel if McCurry is kept out of a game and to a lesser extent Canavan, Tyrone won't get scores to trouble any of the main contenders.
But....they still play with the confidence of a top side which is why I think it can click some days against anyone. So it wouldn't surprise me too much if they knocked out some of the big hitters in the championship, but I don't think they have enough for an AI or indeed to be classed as in the top 5.

For me, top 5 still are Galway, Mayo, Kerry, Dublin, Derry....in that order. However, no one time is miles ahead at the minute, but I just have that feeling that Galway are better than last year and so far Kerry/Dublin seem to have slipped back a little bit.

6

GAA Discussion / Re: Sam Maguire Group 4 - Derry, Clare, Monaghan, Donegal

« on: June 04, 2023, 06:31:37 PM »

Gallen was fantastic.
Derry really improved from the last two games.
Mcloskey, cassidy, mcgrogan, mcfaul were so much better than previous games.
Heron played well too but could have had a goal.
Glass I felt played a bit within himself and that backpack to nobody was very unlike him. We were lucky got away wit it.
Lynch was excellent, really tried to force the game.
Rogers was excellent. One of the top footballers in the country.

We just need to run up a big score against clare now to finish top. Based on how they did against monaghan we could have a game o  our hands there too.

Donegal are greatly improved. If they get mcbrearty back fit and keep playing the way they did today, they are heading in the right direction.

Decent game. No dirt. I did think the ref favoured donegal in that they go their frees a lot easier, but maybe I'm biased.

Sean Cavanagh is a dose.

7

GAA Discussion / Re: Sam Maguire Group 4 - Derry, Clare, Monaghan, Donegal

« on: June 02, 2023, 12:57:23 PM »

Derry name the same team that started against Monaghan.
Only change is on the bench: N O'Donnell was a late replacement for S Downey last week, but that has been reversed this week.
Would have liked to see Murray start v Donegal. From his v limited game time in the C'ship, he has actually scored a couple of points from play, which can't be said about some of the regular forwards.

Yeah Derry forwards really need to step up a bit more.
They seem to be playing with a lack of confidence, perhaps RG was able to bring the best out of them.

I'm not sure about starting Murray/McFaul. Murray in particular has been very effective off the bench and if we start him, we lose that impact capability.
McFaul, was ok against Monaghan. scored a great point early in the game and then, like most others, was largely anonymous for the rest of the game.  He might be more effective off the bench too.

I'm going to give a tentative nod to Derry here as McGuigan is in the form of his life and I hope we can't play as badly as we did against Monaghan.
Derry by 4 or 5.

8

GAA Discussion / Re: Tyrone vs Armagh - 3rd June 7pm - Healy Park, Omagh.

« on: June 01, 2023, 06:20:29 PM »

I’m probably banging on but the crying over Ulster final tickets and the demand it be moved to Croke Park was annoying.

Tickets widely available online for this, including seated stand tickets now. Big game against Ulster rivals, one of them at home, short commute for others. And not close to a sell out.

I’d assumed Armagh would fill this on their own. It’s not even giving rain this weekend.

I think that says more about the format and the associated cost than it does about the appetite of people wanting to attend.

9

GAA Discussion / Re: Tyrone vs Armagh - 3rd June 7pm - Healy Park, Omagh.

« on: June 01, 2023, 11:27:00 AM »

On paper this should be a very close game, in reality I'm not so sure.

Armagh could have won the ulster final against a below par Derry team on the day, but ill discipline and too many main players losing their nerve come penalties cost them. Then they just squeeze past Westmeath. It feels like the confidence is low and I don't think they have the scoring threat they think they have.

Tyrone on the otherhand, have had a poor start to the year but showed against Galway that they have improved during the break. They will take confidence from the manner of defeat when down to 14 men (and indeed 13 for a while).  I saw them against Kerry and they really were excellent that day. So they have show how capable they are against the top teams.

As much as I like to see Tyrone get beat, I think they'll win this one reasonably well.

10

GAA Discussion / Re: Sam Maguire Group 4 - Derry, Clare, Monaghan, Donegal

« on: May 31, 2023, 02:34:07 PM »

I think you are seeing a drop off in Derry due to the absence of Gallagher. Both Donegal and Derry now have caretaker managers and the uncertainty can't be good for either team. That game will not be one for the purist and I'd predict a horrible spectacle and the fact that it is in Ballybofey there won't be much in it. If Derry get out with any sort of victory they would sign up for that now.

Yeah that's my take too.
Earlier in the year I would have had us in with a real chance of an AI. Now, it wouldn't surprise me if we finished 3rd in the group and got knocked out in the QF.
The loss of Gallagher is huge for this team in terms of the intensity he drew out of the players. That has definitely been missing the last 2 games.

11

GAA Discussion / Re: Sam Maguire Group 4 - Derry, Clare, Monaghan, Donegal

« on: May 31, 2023, 11:41:00 AM »

Given Derry's form over the last two games, I think this will be a really difficult game.
We need to improve on the performances. If we lose this game, we could be looking at 3rd place instead of top.
If Donegal win, they'd be in pole position to top the group with Derry and Monaghan fighting for 2nd place.
I can't see Clare beating either Derry or Monaghan, but who knows - the group is wide open given the draw last weekend.

12

GAA Discussion / Re: Derry vs Monaghan Senior Championship Group 4 27th May

« on: May 28, 2023, 10:33:49 AM »

That monaghan point certainly looked wide to me, but Derry were so lethargic.
Last time we played monaghan I think we had 10 different scorers but now we can't seem to buy a score.
Personally, I think the impact of losing Gallagher is the reason for this. He mad sure everyone on the field was putting in the effort.
The high energy we had been playing with has not been there in the last 2 games.
Credit to monaghan,  they learnt their lessons and really should have won.

I'm following Derry long enough to never expect to win and unfortunately playing the waybwe did last night will mean we could be beaten by anyone. Donegal and Clare are not givens.
We need a huge shift in momentum to be in with any chance of challenging a top team.

13

GAA Discussion / Re: Derry vs Monaghan Senior Championship Group 4 27th May

« on: May 26, 2023, 10:59:59 AM »

Derry goin with the tried and tested once again.

Team named just the same as the one that actually started the Ulster Final: Heron replacing Padraig Cassidy in the starting line up.
The two lads that missed out on the Ulster Final 26 are still out - M Downey and O McWilliams

What's the story with McWilliams? Is he injured?

14

GAA Discussion / Re: Sam Maguire Group 2 - Galway, Armagh, Tyrone, Westmeath

« on: May 24, 2023, 12:17:17 PM »

The Group of Buckfast.

 

Of all the groups this one is the most evenly matched.
Tyrone are improving I feel, but I don't think they'll challenge for honours.
I think Armagh are not as good as some think, but that game between Tyrone and Armagh will be massive.
Westmeath will fancy their chances, but I dont see them beating any of the others.
I'd predict a 1,2,3 of Galway, Tyrone, Armagh in this group.

15

GAA Discussion / Re: Go Games - Good or bad - discuss...

« on: May 24, 2023, 10:06:27 AM »

I think u12 is a good age to start for winning/losing - End of the day it’s life experience and youngsters these days hate losing look at them playing other sports or video games (Fortnite/FIFA etc) but they pick up the controller and get on with the next game if they lose same they will do in Football. If they enjoy the activity they will keep coming back.

Issue is parents/coaches who think winning is everything and will curse a ref out, parents rowing with other parents at matches or shout at young players when they do something wrong. . I’ve had to turn round in the sideline and parent parents along the sideline and tell them to catch themselves on and what example are they setting - they usually shut up out of embarrassment getting told off.

Coached teams from u10s/u11s to minors and competitions in training everyone wants to win and they always had fun in them, penalty comps/free taking, sprints/shooting - but that toxicity that’s along the sideline at senior games trickles down through the age groups and what child is going to want to keep playing if they keep getting shouted at.

Yeah that's the issue alright.
I suppose if you look at it in that light, perhaps its an attempt to protect the kids from that level of critique until they are a little older.
Main issue is some coaches. I'm one of 5 coaches of our u10.5 team. One of the coaches wants to win tournaments and only wants to take stronger players. The rest of us want to improve the kids and make sure they all get as much football as possible and enjoy it. Said coach wants those things too but also only wants to play the strongest team every day. It's a constant cause of friction between coaches and also with parents, who at this particular age group do all seem content if everyone is getting a fair crack at it.
This coach is a good fella, just ultra competitive himself which tends to mean he's one of those guys at go-games/tournaments complaining to refs.
It's really difficult to get the right balance at those underage teams, but as said on here by others, kids all develop at different rates in terms of growth, skills and ability to take instruction. None should be pigeon-holed into a position, tagged as the next star or be written off at 10 years of age and unfortunately I think tournaments contribute to that at that age.
12 and up for tournaments is more than enough in my mind. They still have plenty of football before senior level when a lot will drop off if they dont make it by then.