awol MARK MCHUGH awol

[Rudi]

The so called commitment levels required to be an inter county player nowadays are just stone mad.

They're expected to live like professionals - most people involved with the team are getting some form of payment and the players are getting 50p a mike and lucky if they get it - mileage claims are restricted -  meanwhile the "back room" team pick up their expenses. The GAA rakes it in as well and thousands are employed in the industry that is GAA. I never thought I'd be typing this but I'm now doubting the principles.

And the player gets nothing but abuse if he is seen eating a Mc Donald's or drinking a beer.

Is it really worth it ?

Would strongly agree with all of the above. Would add that the player in question helped Donegal no end to win an All Ireland. Good luck to him. Jimmy is far to hard as a manager, those Donegal lads are mentally and physically drained.

[J70]

Lads, there's no need for slagging a lad off on the 'i bet it's related to drinking' card. Fair enough comment on his performances on the field, but these are amateur players and are entitled to a bit of respect when it comes to commenting on what they do off the field.

+1

+2

[Man Marker]

The so called commitment levels required to be an inter county player nowadays are just stone mad.

They're expected to live like professionals - most people involved with the team are getting some form of payment and the players are getting 50p a mike and lucky if they get it - mileage claims are restricted -  meanwhile the "back room" team pick up their expenses. The GAA rakes it in as well and thousands are employed in the industry that is GAA. I never thought I'd be typing this but I'm now doubting the principles.

And the player gets nothing but abuse if he is seen eating a Mc Donald's or drinking a beer.

Is it really worth it ?

Would strongly agree with all of the above. Would add that the player in question helped Donegal no end to win an All Ireland. Good luck to him. Jimmy is far to hard as a manager, those Donegal lads are mentally and physically drained.

If Jimmy hadn't been as hard they would have won nothing.

[From the Bunker]

The so called commitment levels required to be an inter county player nowadays are just stone mad.

They're expected to live like professionals - most people involved with the team are getting some form of payment and the players are getting 50p a mike and lucky if they get it - mileage claims are restricted -  meanwhile the "back room" team pick up their expenses. The GAA rakes it in as well and thousands are employed in the industry that is GAA. I never thought I'd be typing this but I'm now doubting the principles.

And the player gets nothing but abuse if he is seen eating a Mc Donald's or drinking a beer.

Is it really worth it ?

Would strongly agree with all of the above. Would add that the player in question helped Donegal no end to win an All Ireland. Good luck to him. Jimmy is far to hard as a manager, those Donegal lads are mentally and physically drained.

If Jimmy hadn't been as hard they would have won nothing.

That's it in a nutshell! Kevin Cassidy has been previously been culled from the herd! A big call at the time. Anyway this is year four of McGuinness, year one had success and promise, Year two had an AI, Year three had disaster, Year four is hard to gauge. It  looks from a distance that this team have lost their mojo.

[orangeman]

The so called commitment levels required to be an inter county player nowadays are just stone mad.

They're expected to live like professionals - most people involved with the team are getting some form of payment and the players are getting 50p a mike and lucky if they get it - mileage claims are restricted -  meanwhile the "back room" team pick up their expenses. The GAA rakes it in as well and thousands are employed in the industry that is GAA. I never thought I'd be typing this but I'm now doubting the principles.

And the player gets nothing but abuse if he is seen eating a Mc Donald's or drinking a beer.

Is it really worth it ?

Would strongly agree with all of the above. Would add that the player in question helped Donegal no end to win an All Ireland. Good luck to him. Jimmy is far to hard as a manager, those Donegal lads are mentally and physically drained.

If Jimmy hadn't been as hard they would have won nothing.

That's it in a nutshell! Kevin Cassidy has been previously been culled from the herd! A big call at the time. Anyway this is year four of McGuinness, year one had success and promise, Year two had an AI, Year three had disaster, Year four is hard to gauge. It  looks from a distance that this team have lost their mojo.

Is that Rory's nick name ?

[nrico2006]

Did McGuiness and Gallagher fall out?  I always imagined it was McGuiness who was responsible for the teams success, but how big a part did Maxi Curran and Gallagher play?

[Man Marker]

Did McGuiness and Gallagher fall out?  I always imagined it was McGuiness who was responsible for the teams success, but how big a part did Maxi Curran and Gallagher play?

Probably something the same to Tally in Tyrone in 2003. Remind me again how Donegal U21s faired the year?

[nrico2006]

Did McGuiness and Gallagher fall out?  I always imagined it was McGuiness who was responsible for the teams success, but how big a part did Maxi Curran and Gallagher play?

Probably something the same to Tally in Tyrone in 2003. Remind me again how Donegal U21s faired the year?

I was thinking about how they did with the u-21s this year and in hindsight it was better than most previous years bar the one they won in 2010. 

[Rudi]

The so called commitment levels required to be an inter county player nowadays are just stone mad.

They're expected to live like professionals - most people involved with the team are getting some form of payment and the players are getting 50p a mike and lucky if they get it - mileage claims are restricted -  meanwhile the "back room" team pick up their expenses. The GAA rakes it in as well and thousands are employed in the industry that is GAA. I never thought I'd be typing this but I'm now doubting the principles.

And the player gets nothing but abuse if he is seen eating a Mc Donald's or drinking a beer.

Is it really worth it ?

Would strongly agree with all of the above. Would add that the player in question helped Donegal no end to win an All Ireland. Good luck to him. Jimmy is far to hard as a manager, those Donegal lads are mentally and physically drained.

If Jimmy hadn't been as hard they would have won nothing.

True, but the long term consequences of heavy training on an amateur's physical and mental well being were probably disgarded for short term gain. The reason the two former selectors left or were told to go was down to elder players looking for some relief from the difficult training regime. Also the reason McHugh left are down to been injured all the time and not getting adequate rest to heal injuries.

[Man Marker]

The so called commitment levels required to be an inter county player nowadays are just stone mad.

They're expected to live like professionals - most people involved with the team are getting some form of payment and the players are getting 50p a mike and lucky if they get it - mileage claims are restricted -  meanwhile the "back room" team pick up their expenses. The GAA rakes it in as well and thousands are employed in the industry that is GAA. I never thought I'd be typing this but I'm now doubting the principles.

And the player gets nothing but abuse if he is seen eating a Mc Donald's or drinking a beer.

Is it really worth it ?

Would strongly agree with all of the above. Would add that the player in question helped Donegal no end to win an All Ireland. Good luck to him. Jimmy is far to hard as a manager, those Donegal lads are mentally and physically drained.

If Jimmy hadn't been as hard they would have won nothing.

True, but the long term consequences of heavy training on an amateur's physical and mental well being were probably disgarded for short term gain. The reason the two former selectors left or were told to go was down to elder players looking for some relief from the difficult training regime. Also the reason McHugh left are down to been injured all the time and not getting adequate rest to heal injuries.

You may be right, but if I had the choice of taking Donegal pre Jim or the Donegal Jim managed, I would personally take the 3/4 mad shift for an All Ireland medal, compared to 9/10 shift with less effort but no All Ireland medal.

[Man Marker]

Did McGuiness and Gallagher fall out?  I always imagined it was McGuiness who was responsible for the teams success, but how big a part did Maxi Curran and Gallagher play?

Probably something the same to Tally in Tyrone in 2003. Remind me again how Donegal U21s faired the year?

I was thinking about how they did with the u-21s this year and in hindsight it was better than most previous years bar the one they won in 2010.

they got bt in the Ulster final, same as last year I believe.

[J70]

The loss of one player is not going to break a senior intercounty team in this day and age. If McHugh needs a break from what must be serious grind of training and travelling, suporters should respect his wishes and welcome him back when the time comes. He'll be missed with our relatively thin squad, but you're not talking the Miami Heat losing LeBron. Its a fifteen man game. Whatever we were going to do this year won't be affected that much.

We Donegal folk thought we were screwed in 2006 when Brendan Devenney and Colm McFadden took the season off. Well that just opened opportunities for others, with Rory Kavanagh being one of the best players in the province that year after several years as a barely used squad player and Michael Doherty bringing his club marksmanship onto the intercounty stage for a season. We were unlucky to lose the Ulster Final that year, and came within a last minute point of making an AI semi-final. Our best season since 2003, missing star forwards or not!

[anfheardubh]

The loss of one player is not going to break a senior intercounty team in this day and age. If McHugh needs a break from what must be serious grind of training and travelling, suporters should respect his wishes and welcome him back when the time comes. He'll be missed with our relatively thin squad, but you're not talking the Miami Heat losing LeBron. Its a fifteen man game. Whatever we were going to do this year won't be affected that much.

We Donegal folk thought we were screwed in 2006 when Brendan Devenney and Colm McFadden took the season off. Well that just opened opportunities for others, with Rory Kavanagh being one of the best players in the province that year after several years as a barely used squad player and Michael Doherty bringing his club marksmanship onto the intercounty stage for a season. We were unlucky to lose the Ulster Final that year, and came within a last minute point of making an AI semi-final. Our best season since 2003, missing star forwards or not!

J70

Well said , agree 100% no i in TEAM


Well said

[Banter Panther]

Yes, McGuinness was certainly asking for 150% commitment. These are young men at the end of the day, not robots. If it was getting too much for some people, I think that's to be respected. Who knows though?

[Gael85]

McHugh owes Donegal football nothing. He will be back when he is fine and ready.