Messages

what was the attendance at the game? - anyone know?

Lads - anyone know what the attendance was at this game? Can't find it in any of today's papers....

disappointed today naturally enough but really there are times when you just have to say you're not good enough. Leitrim did OK yesterday, but there were a number of our lads who just never got going for whatever reason. Galway seem to have problems at midfield and there were problems at the back. You'd have to think that one is related to the oher and if they can shore up midfield, it might make life a bit easier on the defence. I thought the movement in the Galway forwards was exceptional at times and they are developing nicely overall.

Despite some comments to the contrary on here, once Leitrim are out, we generally turn our attentions to supporting Sligo. I'd love to see them win on Sunday, but you'd have to fancy Mayo as the twice Sligo played us this year, they looked very poor (I would argue that they have generally saved their best football for the summer though over the last few years, so they at least have a chance on Sunday)

pretty decent analysis of our chances Solo Run; I'm not sure enough of our supporters "get" Fred Brennan - his best asset is the runs he makes that create space all round him and the fact that invariably he will win first phase possession (managers see these things; supporters tend to miss them).

Rumours around the county that DD will go for a Maxwell/DOC 2 man full forward line; I hope not as O Connor needs to be played deeper; personally I'd take a chance on James Glancy and put him in a ffull forward line with Maxwell and Brennan with O'Connor,  Mulligan and Foley (him for variation and workrate as much as anything else). Alternatively, if we are worried about that Galway half forward line, there is a case for considering Barry Prior being named nominally at wing forward but playing as a sweeper behind a half back line of Reynolds, Mc Weeney and Shane Foley.

Ultimately though, I think his starting 15 will be the same as in New York

Galway Bay Boy - nice link. Brought back some happy memories. Tuam had the real "feel" of Connacht championship whenever you went to it; sure it wasn't the most comfortable stadium in the world and the facilities weren't a patch on Pearse stadium but Jaysus, it was dripping with history!! (and atmosphere). Plus. we beat ye twice there in the 90's!!

I think we'll be in with a shout of doing so again in June, but Galway will quite rightly be favourites. The New York trip will have banished many of the memories of a poor league campaign for Leitirm, but anyone that was at all the games will tell you it looked much worse than it actually was and ironically, I would argue Leitrim made some progress over the league. The midfield has continued to strenghten, we've found a few more backs (don't know how we manage to keep doing that!!) and what we hope is a reliable free taker in Emlyn Mulligan (I say "hope", cos you never know til the white heat of Championship). That said, the points re not scoring enough from play are well made, but I'd still predict if we can somehow scrape two goals, we might just win.

Big IF though.

I think criticising Referees generally is a waste of time, BUT, Mr K was just awful. From Mc Gee went on to Maxwell, there were at least 5 occasions when Maxwell tried to put up two hands but couldn't as one of them was being held. A blind dog could have seen it. Not alone that, but on one occasion when Maxwell was in possession, he was pushed over so blatantly it beggared belief that a free wasn't given. IMHO, it was no penalty either - another awful decision.

Likewise, the amount of times that Michael Mc Guinness fouled Devenney at the other end of the pitch was incredible and Mr K kept pulling Devenney for overcarrying!! I think his days at this level may be numbered and I wouldn't imagine his assessment will make for pretty reading...

Elsewhere, I though Karl Lacey and Kevin Mc Mennamin were Donegal's standout players. For Leitrim, the 3 lads who misfired against Galway - Prior, C Duignan and James Glancy - were all excellent and repaid us in spades after poor performances the last day; it's a great trait to see in young fellas.

Overall, a terrific game. Terrific atmosphere, terrific colour, some excellent football and buckets of excitement, not to mention a great night in Carrick afterwards (depsite the defeat). Hope the Donegal's enjoyed their visit down to us.

Our day is coming....

Seanie - best of luck on Sunday; will be over there to lend a shout for ye!

Very disappointed that Glancy isn't included - I think outside of Maxwell he's still the best forward in the county. Granted he struggled against Galway, but I think he could have caused the Donegal defence a few problems if he was included.

Apart from the, can't really argue with the team. Kennedy deserves his start ahead of Prior, but it is still an area of the defence that worries me

Still gutted since Sunday, but rather than post an Opus, I'll just say Hear Hear to AhFeckRef's comments and leave it more or less at that. I would add well done to Galway - a fair team and a footballing team; it was a game played in a great spirit. I would also say that Barry Cullinane had a massive influence in steadying the ship for Galway, as did Armstrong.

Hope it's a really good Connacht final and the Galway's will forgive us I'm sure when they hear we're all rooting for the Yeatsmen!

Yeah - he's going to be a huge loss for you guys, especially as I think we'd have had problems coping with him in the air - we have an excellent full back line, but height wouldn't be their strongest point.

We've never won a game in the qualifiers, but that has to change someday! Also, I don't think Leitrim would have the same mental hang up about Donegal as they would have about the colour of the Galway or Mayo jersies for some reason....

It'll be a very interesting game, no doubt about it

Fintan will be on the bench alright, but as far as I know Mulligan and Philly Mc have both pulled out. Latest addition to the panel is apparently Tomas Beirne from Eslin (he was midfield on the minors) Excellent prospect, but I don't see the point of bringing him in now. I would think Fintan, Jimmy Guckian and Ciaran Kennedy will be the most likely subs to make an appearance

can't really argue with that, though I would guess the defence might line out slightly differently (in a positional sense) - Mc Guinness to take M Meehan I would guess, Mc Keon at full back and B Mc Weeney at no.6.

Time will tell though

I'd say Leitrim/Sligo will definitely be in the Hyde!!

Think the summing up of the situation from the Galway posters here is fairly accurate - our limit up front seems to be 1-10 to 1-12 even against poorer teams. But then you never know when Galway will hit an off day up front or when our fellas will get a few lucky goals to boost that 1-10 to 3-10!! We were pretty good against London (even if the scoreboard suggested differently) and I was quite happy with the performance.

Barry Mc Weeney will be back too, so I would think we'll line out: Gill, Mc Guinness, Mc Keon, Reynolds, Prio or Kennedy, Mc Weeney, Shane Foley, Mc Closkey, M Duignan, Regan, Maxwell, M Foley, Brennan, Glancy and D Duignan with cameos for Fintan Mc Brien, Shane Canning and Pat Gilmartin (possibly Colm Farrell or Philip Howard); would think Maxwell will be put in on the edge of the square at some stage as he didn't look comfortable at 11 in the London game.