National Football League 2024

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MrMaguire2002

Well-Known Member
Armaghball said:
Agreed, but still think Grugan and Soupy have loads to offer, even if its only for a half.

Big fan of Turbo but need to see him perform against a top team- was great in Ulsted last year up until the final. Hope him and Rian can click well together they’d be hard stopped.
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They undoubtedly do. And agreed - Turbo in the early rounds of Ulster last year was superb. Then struggled against Down and Derry.

But my heart still stops a little every time I think of when it was announced over the loudspeaker in Croke Park v Monaghan that Conor Turbitt will be replaced by Joe McElroy.

That's nothing against McElroy. Turbitt is a class forward and employing Joe to curtail the runs of a 35/36 year old veteran in Karl O'Connell was a worrying call.
 
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Ed Ricketts

Active Member
Some interesting narratives the last couple of pages that maybe speak to the dangers of shifting expectation baselines.

One player kicks four points and is met with unanimous rave reviews. Another player kicks three points and has his ability to last the pace questioned. Even stranger, it’s the guy still kicking points 60+ mins into the game who’s fitness is doubted.

Take each at face value. Both Conaty and Campbell were excellent on Sunday. Long may it continue.
 
JoeH

JoeH

Well-Known Member
Mootz said:
Mental how in only a couple of months Donegal went from being dog shit to people on here fearing them due to Jim McGuinness. We should be winning on Sunday, we’re 10 years into our project Donegal are 10 weeks into theirs…
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Donegal always had the players and have been dining at the top table for a long time

They'd a poor season by their standards last year not helped by management change and loss of some players

This year they're buoyed by a returning all Ireland winning manager and players.

They didn't play against us last year but if they'd sorted their shooting they could have won.

I expect a very tight game
 
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niall1980

Well-Known Member
MrMaguire2002 said:
They undoubtedly do. And agreed - Turbo in the early rounds of Ulster last year was superb. Then struggled against Down and Derry.

But my heart still stops a little every time I think of when it was announced over the loudspeaker in Croke Park v Monaghan that Conor Turbitt will be replaced by Joe McElroy.

That's nothing against McElroy. Turbitt is a class forward and employing Joe to curtail the runs of a 35/36 year old veteran in Karl O'Connell was a worrying call.
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I was the same and when I heard that I knew we wouldnt win. Absolutely nothing against McElroy as I am a fan of his
 
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GAAMAD

Active Member
Mootz said:
Mental how in only a couple of months Donegal went from being dog shit to people on here fearing them due to Jim McGuinness. We should be winning on Sunday, we’re 10 years into our project Donegal are 10 weeks into theirs…
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I don't fancy our chances on Sunday at all. One thing for sure is Donegal will be extremely fit (for February) and be very well drilled. I am thinking they could be a little ahead of us at this stage of the year.
 
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GAAMAD

Active Member
We have all heard of the pre season horrors stories Jim was putting the players through pre christmas. Gruesome stuff
 
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niall1980

Well-Known Member
It would not surprise me if we lose this. Donegal have good players and the confidence McGuiness coming back will have given them cant be overlooked
 
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Armaghball

Well-Known Member
its pretty close to a 50/50 game. Hard to really say where either team are at given how bad the other teams have been. Donegal will be flying fit but overall we have better players. Home advantage will be a big thing for us too if it’s tight.

Either way as wee man says it’ll be long forgot about by the end of the year. Be great to win it but alarm bells won’t be going off if we don’t. (Among the reasonable supporters anyway)
 
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Pat Cully

Well-Known Member
It’s not a must win game in my opinion. A good strong performance with the right attitude and mentality would do me. BUT the league final in 5/6 weeks (hopefully we get there) that will definitely be a must win game with Our full panel biting at the bit for their starting spots for the championship.
We haven’t really been tested yet had we taken our goals against Louth we probably would’ve run out easy winners like the other two matches. But maybe we’re too strong for the division I don’t know but Sunday will give us a very good idea of where we are at
 
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POINTMAN

Well-Known Member
Donegal are nor at full strength as they have players out or only being eased back - Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Langan, McColgan, 2 O'Donnells etc. But like Armagh, they have a big squad and have been using many of that squad and still getting good results - just like we have!

I see Sunday's game as being very close. A big test for our kick out strategy as they are big and strong around the middle as well as putting a full press on. Big test here for Crealey if fit - any sign of Grimley being fit yet? Will Oisin play from start / will Rian come on?
Gallen is their main scorer nowadays but as we saw last week, their half backs like O'Baoil and McHugh will bomb forward.
Good test in prospect.
 
ragingbull

ragingbull

Well-Known Member
Donegal team against Fermanagh

Shaun Patton; Kevin McGettigan, Brendan McCole, Stephen McMenamin; Ryan McHugh, Ciaran Moore, Daire O Baoill; Ciaran Thompson, Caolan McGonagle; Peadar Mogan, Odhran Doherty, Michael Langan; Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Jamie Brennan.

Subs: Mark Curran for McGettigan (HT), Aaron Doherty for Brennan (HT), Jeaic Mac Ceallabhui for Thompson (38), Hugh McFadden for Moore (54), Luke McGlynn for O.Doherty (57), Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride for Langan (63).
 
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armaghtimmy

Well-Known Member
Naka said:
Jeez
We are playing the same system for years
We should be able to beat donegal
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As Geezer is the longest serving manager, we will waltz the All Ireland based on that theory.

(Not directed at Naka personally) But cant help but feel after two days of general positivity, the management knockers and bed wetters have regrouped and there's an undertone of begrudgery now and some would be happy to see us beat on Sunday so they can say told you so, played nobody to date, getting carried away etc etc etc.... Lets hope for another improved performance to build on what's been to date so we can keep them quiet for another week.
 
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Wide ball

Well-Known Member
I personally think this will be a big test, this Donegal team is flying at the moment seems like they are fitter than most teams so far, If they squeeze are kick out we could be in trouble like we where in Ulster a few years back but if we have some more of the bigger middle 8 players in we should be able to cope with their press, and if we look at the Cavan match I'd see some joy our forwards can get
 
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