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Sorry BluestackBoy, I haven't seen much of Donegal's U21 team so nothing I say refers specifically to them. Of course all teams kick sometimes and of course massed defences doesn't mean it's never kicked but I think you know that I meant massed defences mean a kicking it into the forwards is much less common or successful.

However, I don't agree that Dublin employ the massed defence. I think supporters of teams who employ an extreme version of the massed defence want to claim everyone else does it when it's not true. Yes, the day of the 6 v 6 is over but that was never true anyway as midfielders and the odd half forward were often in defence since the 1970's anyway, just not in the organised way they are now. All teams certainly get more players back but Dublin played four up for a lot of the league final and Kerry played plenty up too. There was lots of one on one contests and the game was all the better for it.

I hate seeing teams dropping back into their own half, short kickouts and interminable handpassing. We saw some great high fielding, scores, defending and physicality last weekend and hopefully more teams will start trusting their defenders more. It's nonsense to say isolating defenders means you will concede huge scores. The game is the best in the world when played right.

As I said Zulu, it is all a question of degree. I personally witnessed Dublin with a massed defence in Ballybofey & saw it again on t.v. against Monaghan. One of the things I give Jim Gavin credit for is that he learns from his mistakes & the semi final in 2014 where Dublin were torn apart was a huge learning experience  & they have been a far more formidable unit since. Neither might I add has there been any more guff from them about "playing the game as it should be played".
I agree that Donegal were at the extreme end of the defensive philosophy under JMcG, to the detriment of their attack, but Rory Gallagher has changed things quite a bit this year & they are a more balanced team now.
They will never be a big foot passing team, that is not how football is played in Donegal, but in all the other attributes of Gaelic football they will lay second to no one.
Here's looking forward to a great game on Sat & a big summer of good football.

A fast hand passing movement the length of the field can be great to watch but if that's all a team ever does then it usually isn't entertaining as there's no variation. The problem with the massed defence is that it rules out kicking at all and now that teams have copped on to it, they don't ever kick and just hand pass laterally around it and that is awful to watch.

It was brilliant to watch Dublin and Kerry kick the ball in to their forward lines last Sunday even though some of it was easily turned over as it was adventurous and risky which is what makes football great. Last Sunday married the best of both the modern and past game and resulted in a brilliant spectacle. We need more teams to do that.

It's all a question of degree surely. To say that about any team that they never kick & just endlessly handpass laterally is simply factually not true & certainly isn't true of this Donegal U21 team.

As to the notion that a massed defence means no kicking, I don't know where you got that idea as the present Dublin team employ a massed defence to match anyone & Kerry, by your own admission kicked the ball into their forward line on many occasions last Sunday. The trick is that it has to be done at speed & that I believe is where many of the top counties, Donegal included are heading now.

Donegal showed Dublin that you need a proper defence in 2014 & Dublin have shown everyone else since how to marry mass defence & great attack together.

The game is evolving all the time & the notion of gong back to man to man defending is dead in the water. Nobody from U14 up does it anymore. I agree that last Sunday's game was great & I expect that that is the way the top teams will all try to play from here on in.

Fair enough criost, people see what they want to see I suppose. One man's dung is another man's feather pillow ...or something.

I simply don't like this style of football and I don't like how the sport is turning out because of it.

It pains me to see so many words written with such little thought put into them.

So if it was just Donegal playing this style of football that you're morally opposed to you wouldn't have a problem with it?

As you've admitted yourself it's clearly prevalent with all the top teams, so can you explain why it's only Donegal that are damaging the sport? It must absolutely break you heart to see your own county forced to resort to that "style" to stay competitive.

Instead of getting your knickers in a twist just read my posts properly before compiling your response. You might find the experience a little less "painful"

I read it. If I was to address all the inconsistencies I'd be here till the next time Mayo win the All-Ireland.

So instead you start addressing points I didn't even make.
Right so ted. Stuggling a bit ? Not to worry. You'll get the hang of it

It's your use of the word "dung" to describe a style of play that you later refer to as "not my cup of tea" that marks your post out as silly.

If you had used the latter initially then there would have been no problem at all but using pejorative terms always leads to a negative reaction & that is what you got.

Being from Mayo you should be well aware of how this works. Your senior teams inability to get across the line in recent years has made them an object of ridicule with terms like "chokers" being used to describe all Mayo footballers.  Everyone knows this is unfair & I'm sure it must rankle, it would if it was me, so Mayo people like yourself should be careful with their careless, dismissive & yes ignorant comments.

Whatever about senior Donegal teams of the past this U21 team are most certainly not playing "dung" football, you might wish for more foot passing, fair enough, but that does not make it dung.

Donegal style of football is absolute dung to watch. Its like a form of rugby league. Team moving up the field with ball in hand trying to break lines, recycling the ball, try to break the next line or force the opposition into giving away a cheap penalty. Yes, its getting them results but its horrid to watch and it forces teams they play against into a defensive system so they don't get caught on the break.

Bit of an ignorant statement this criostlinn. I watched the game on-line and thought Donegal were very attacking. They leave a lot of men up and attack with serious pace. Ok they get back but unlike the McGuinness era they get back rather than stay back. This u21 side is a very well organised unit but I can't see them having enough to stop the Dubs.

Ignorant. Really. I bow to your superior knowledge. I think its pretty obvious from the scoreline Donegal were attacking last night. I never said they weren't but its not true to say they leave a lot of men up

Sorry but I actually watched the game. Did you? Yes they get a lot of men back at times but at others I counted 5 men ahead of the ball. They seem to rotate their gameplan well.

Wow. 5 ahead of the ball. No way. They've really come on since I last saw them. Don't get me wrong. I know some people may enjoy this kinda thing. Sure the Irish rugby team could attract 82000 into croke park. It's just not my cup of tea. Doesn't mean my opinion is ignorant.

Fair enough, but what is silly is to brand something as "dung" just because it is "not my cup of tea" & that is when you haven't even watched them!!

I'm not a great fan of sean nos singing, badminton or gymnastics, not my cup of tea if you like, but that doesn't mean I have to slag them off.  Every man to his own.

A bit of a c**k up to be sure but I must confess to liking him & enjoy watching him.

Its an impossible job & I don't think he will last long but his autobiography will be well worth reading some day.

Donegal style of football is absolute dung to watch. Its like a form of rugby league. Team moving up the field with ball in hand trying to break lines, recycling the ball, try to break the next line or force the opposition into giving away a cheap penalty. Yes, its getting them results but its horrid to watch and it forces teams they play against into a defensive system so they don't get caught on the break.

I take it you didn't watch last night's game then.

No I wasn't. Did I miss something new

Its just that since this thread is about the U21 championship I thought you might at least have watched them before making derogatory comments.

All I can say is that Mayo must have some U21 team if scoring 6-34 in a provincial semi final & final can be regarded as "dung".

Donegal style of football is absolute dung to watch. Its like a form of rugby league. Team moving up the field with ball in hand trying to break lines, recycling the ball, try to break the next line or force the opposition into giving away a cheap penalty. Yes, its getting them results but its horrid to watch and it forces teams they play against into a defensive system so they don't get caught on the break.

I take it you didn't watch last night's game then.

Justy because Donegal have scored heavily does not mean that they play entertaining football. It is not an enjoyable style watching that safety first possession based game where the ball is constantly carried through the hand. However they are just better at it than most. It helps when the players carrying out the gameplan are good players. They are capable of running up big scores from fast counter attacks provided the opposition are not at a similar level and do not decide to engage in an arm wrestle. I think we will see another Kerry v Donegal U-21 final with a similar result to that at the minor grade 3 years ago. Donegal football appear to have managed the transition from the lossof so many key players at senior level really well and is in a good place though.

Fair enough yellowcard, point taken & everyone to their own.

Its just that Donegal have taken huge flak over the years about being a "negative" & "defensive" team & now that we are playing a faster more positive & expansive game, guess what, we are still getting it in the neck.

Granted, Donegal teams don't engage in long foot passes to the same extent as Kerry do, Donegal teams never did & I have a feeling if we did try to do it we would be brutal at it. Its just not our way to play that style, but to criticise a super young team over one small aspect of their play when they do everything else so well is a bit much.

No harm to you all but that is not cracking football. Donegal have pace and strength and are catching Derry on the break. This crap of playing everyone behind the ball will destroy the game.

The crap of putting up posts like this is what is killing me.

Any game that has over 30 scores is fine by me & I suspect it is fine with the vast majority of GAA people.

This is where i totally disagree. Donegal probably have better players than Derry but persist in playing in such a setup. If Derry were to win they either had to get ahead to force Dinegal out or mirror their system and hope to sneak a win. A bit like the Tyrone v Donegal game last year. As it is Donegal got ahead and Derry had to key men blackcarded and continuously got caught on the break.

As for scoring. Armagh had 28 scores against Offaly last month. Was not much of a game though.

My opinion may annoy you but i still think it is valid.

I have no problem at all with you not enjoying the game, what I take issue with is this nonsense about the game being "destroyed".

Yesterday's league final between Dublin & Kerry was between two teams who got lots of players behind the ball & yet everyone is rhapsodizing about it today. The facts of the matter are that unless you get players behind the ball you are not going to win any game played at a serious level so every serious team does it.

Unless the rules are changed this is the way the game is going to be played. Yesterday was great entertainment, in fact the whole Div 1 this year was great with record crowds.

Destroyed? I don't think so.

Fair play Donegal. Serious side but jesus that is depressing to watch. It's just sprinters and recycle.

Honest to God I don't know what some people want.

Ye complain at defensive low scoring games, fair enough.

Now Donegal's last two games have had a combined scoreline of 6-34 to 0-26, that's 66 scores in two games & guess what ye are still complaining.

What exactly is it that ye want?

No harm to you all but that is not cracking football. Donegal have pace and strength and are catching Derry on the break. This crap of playing everyone behind the ball will destroy the game.

The crap of putting up posts like this is what is killing me.

Any game that has over 30 scores is fine by me & I suspect it is fine with the vast majority of GAA people.

F/T Donegal 3-17 Derry 0-13

Dubs next

Great game. Now we only have to wait till August to see another decent one.

God no Mr Deeds, Donegal play a lot sooner than that

For all the problems with the black card, and there are many, it has been put to good use in the first half for two challenges that deserved what they got.