ULSTER FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2K22

[thecritic]

I didn't think we'd get the win today but was hopeful for a big performance.
First half we played quite well initially but they overpowered us the last 15 mins and we should have been put to bed by the ht whistle but for poor shooting.
We blitzed them early 2nd half but no scores was a killer. I'd say all of the Keiran's were pulling their hair out - big misses from Rian (2), Aiden N (2) Rory (mark) and Jarly Og stick out and were unforgivable (not even counting the goal chances). We could had a different result had these scores went over at the crucial times they happened.
I was quite worried with how easily Donegal walked through us at times and they should have had another couple of goals today if simple side passes were made when through on goal.
We were beaten by the better team today and we lost the battle on the line also.
We have to take our medicine and regroup now (field day over on Hoganstand site would make you sick).
Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I thought it was mistake playing our full team the league match.
Onwards to the back door - hopefully we get Mayo as we play well as underdogs and may as well have a shot at them at this stage of this team's journey. We are decent as underdogs and good if we can get a run going so you never know!
Definitely think we need a few of our subs in the field a little longer moving forward if all fit.

 

[thecritic]

Had forgotten how toxic it could get here after a loss. I will be taking few days off to avoid the worst of it
I would say that winning in Donegal was always a tall order. Experienced team in a place they rarely loss
Maybe home advantage in championship should be stopped and bring these to neutral venues ?
I was disappointed watching today knowing this team could play better and at times we saw that. Kickouts both ways were disappointing though Donegal maybe one of most dominate around middle and really pushed up and there keeper has massive kick especially with wind so have to protect that too
As some more level headed posters have said it was a off day for some but thought some did well
Forker on muphy
McKay and Morgan
Jemar I thought kept McHugh quite enough
And mccabe was really good in first half as a warrior
Rory grugan stood up and will again
thr injuries and lack of form around midfield is an issue and ultimately hurt us
In the back door now so it is a loser game and then a provincial loser for a quarter final
By no means a given but not a disaster option
You will have two of louth Kildare Dublin Meath abd Maybe Limerick and cork in the draw

Lessons learned today and hopefully a home game next to fill AG
Armagh Abu

I thought McHugh and Murphy did serious damage today.

 

[ragingbull]

Stats from todays game.

9 scores from 23 shoots & 19 frees give away to their 5 is poor

 

[Jamie's Coffee]

Emotions can run high so soon after a loss like this but what I will say is. I have rarely been so disappointed coming out of a game. Going in with expectation after a second season in Div 1 feeling it in the crowd beforehand, fans excited & expectant….only to be met with as inept a performance as I can remember (maybe Fermanagh in 2018 came close) 2 championship wins in 8 years but this performance was sickening. The only think I can ask is why?!

 

[William Of Orange]

While the result is very disappointing I was not totally surprised , maybe by how easy we were beat but there has been a number of warning signs in the league and last year that we don’t have the mental strength in close tight matches or in crunch games . Their has to be serious confidence issues with the team maybe a lot of us think they are better than they are, maybe it is the management that might need reviewed at the end of the season , all I know is that we probably all feel a bit raw now , the players have 6 weeks to regroup , we need to see how they play in the next match before we make judgement on all above. I have to say Donegal are a strong side , I didn’t agree with others saying they are over the hill , while their defence can be got at (we didn’t utilise our attack today at all) they are a strong unit goalkeeper to 15 , if all fully fit and they will have every chance of winning Ulster I think they could take Tyrone , that’s not an excuse for our bad performance with a full squad apart from Mackin (who was badly missed in midfield) . I’m away into the bunker for a few weeks , see you all on the other side .

 

[ragingbull]

When's the qualifiers draw

 

[Armagh_paul]

We were completely shite on the pitch and on the side line. This is a donegal team that are on the way down and it has raised serious questions about how far on the up we really are

 

[Muckser]

When's the qualifiers draw

You know we get Mayo away!

 

[JoeH]

Played ok in the first half
Kickouts were ok. Lost some and dropped a few.
Rians goal should have stood in second half as TV confirms this. Ref was way behind and no umpire consultation. Huge decision so instead of being level they went down the field and got a simple score.
They got their frees easier.
The holes in our defence are a concern.
Our much heralded forward line didn't get going and the scoreline showed it

Donegal are a serious team but are awful slabbers.
And as much as I don't like him, Murphy is a class act and still carrying that team.

 

[Jungle_King]

Great number of supporters up today. Great to see

 

[Armamike]

Our dismal record in the Ulster championship since 2008 continues. Unfortunately it's hard to find any positives to cling on to for the qualifiers. And even if we do get a run, would that be a sign of progress given we can't win a game in Ulster? We came off second best in most parts of the pitch, but obviously the midfield area and competing on the kick outs was the big problem. The alarm bells were ringing at half time. Young Macken was a huge miss though we probably would have struggled anyway. Rian was pretty quiet by his standards. Maybe Donegal would have gobbled him up but I would like to have seen Rian kept more in around the square and the ball kicked in more to him as a target. Not sure what to make of Donegal. They look assured today and could win Ulster but then again they've flattered to deceive a bit in recent years. They are heavily reliant on Michael Murphy still. As good a player as he is, it was still disappointing to see him get the time to run the ball up the pitch without being stopped or tracked hard enough.

 

[DOUGIE]

Our dismal record in the Ulster championship since 2008 continues. Unfortunately it's hard to find any positives to cling on to for the qualifiers. And even if we do get a run, would that be a sign of progress given we can't win a game in Ulster? We came off second best in most parts of the pitch, but obviously the midfield area and competing on the kick outs was the big problem. The alarm bells were ringing at half time. Young Macken was a huge miss though we probably would have struggled anyway. Rian was pretty quiet by his standards. Maybe Donegal would have gobbled him up but I would like to have seen Rian kept more in around the square and the ball kicked in more to him as a target. Not sure what to make of Donegal. They look assured today and could win Ulster but then again they've flattered to deceive a bit in recent years. They are heavily reliant on Michael Murphy still. As good a player as he is, it was still disappointing to see him get the time to run the ball up the pitch without being stopped or tracked hard enough.

One ball that was put into Rian at the start of the 2nd half caused a problem,but he's being kept out the field far too much,I don't get it, very frustrating

 

[SaintSeamy]

Emotions can run high so soon after a loss like this but what I will say is. I have rarely been so disappointed coming out of a game. Going in with expectation after a second season in Div 1 feeling it in the crowd beforehand, fans excited & expectant….only to be met with as inept a performance as I can remember (maybe Fermanagh in 2018 came close) 2 championship wins in 8 years but this performance was sickening. The only think I can ask is why?!

I was absolutely deflated leaving the ground - can't imagine how McGeeney will lift the lads after this.

They were completely out classed.

 

[thecritic]

Anyone see anything at the end with Ethan? He's being accused over on Haganstand of spitting at Murphy when he was offering a handshake at the end.

 

[Seamy]

So after a long day on the road and a fully belly I think I can give my two cents on today. I actually watched back on BBC to really punish myself.

A flat, tired and uninspired performance. I've read different opinions on players and performances and hand on heart I could only single out Grugan for his efforts and application.

The game seemed to pass so many lads by. To lose over 60% of our own kickouts in the first half was criminal. Rafferty is not blameless. The BBC Camera showing the 'view from above' for kickouts showed a number of occasions where good runs were made by players calling for balls but instead we went to the sideline in among a heap of players. That being said, Ethan did well under a few high balls and saved a certain point as well as providing an outlet for attacks.

I disagree with a few on here about our FB line. Murphy was strong and did damage and after a quiet 1st half McBrearty caused issues in the 2nd half. They scored 1-8 between them. I actually think it was a game suited for Paddy Burns today. Would have liked him on McBrearty.

Half back line again didn't give us much. Jarly Óg came flying out of the blocks and should have buried the early goal chance. Too many times today he carried the ball up the field, stood and solo'd on the spot only to turn back and fist it back to the half way line. Grimley didn't hardly touch leather unfortunately but hasn't played much football. Greg managed to get on the score sheet but O'Donnell had a decent showing.

Midfield was abysmal. As bad as I've seen us there in a few years. I had actually forgot Ben was on the field til he kicked a wide in the 2nd half. And Mackin was just out of his depth today unfortunately. The brother Ciaran's loss proving today to be a massive one.

Tiarnan Kelly showed a bit but gave away a few silly frees for unnecessary pushing and shoving. Grugan I mentioned already and unfortunately Jemar just doesn't cut it at this level anymore. Ineffective at the break which is precisely what is needed from a WHF.

Again, our FF line failed to produce and this is the line we've raved about all year. Many including myself were excited to see Turbitt line out but he just never got going today. Duffy looked off the pace, as sluggish as I've seen him and as for Rian, just very disappointing that a lad of his calibre didn't get going today. He's pulled us out of plenty of scraps but just froze a bit today.

Our bench I felt didn't give us a whole pile today. Aidan had the goal chance but was quiet otherwise. Soupy kicked a great score but then faded and Ross McQuilan was ineffective. Oisin O'Neill got a good score but was guilty of poor decision making and shot selection at times we needed level heads.

All in all, bitterly disappointed. The line didn't adjust the game plan when things weren't going to plan and we just seemed devoid of any plan B. Does some of the onus fall on players to adapt the style of play when things are going tits up? Absolutely. But it's one of those rare occasions is have to question the line. Still think the Kieran and the rest of the lads are the right team for the job and I think that they've gotten so much out of the lads this year already. But something has to change for the qualifiers, whoever we get.

Hard to find a positive but we're still there. On we go.

 

[northarmaghgael]

Ah here, where do you start.

Ethan’s kick outs today were shocking. 10 kickouts went long in first half and only 2 were won, counted we lost 4 in a row long kickout in first half at one stage. Surely there comes a point when we’ve lost 2 or 3 in a row when he has to switch it up. Although Ethan can’t be fully to blame, this was obviously the plan that we have been working at in training for weeks.

Full back line were very good I thought in the first half, although things got loose as the game went on.

Can’t understand for the life of me why we didn’t try more of the long balls in on top of rian. The one time we did, it should of resulted in a goal.

Soupy came on too late. Should have been on from half time. Game was over when he was brought on. Although he is used (with good effect) as an impact sub, I think it’s time he is in from the start.

 

[Jungle_King]

Anyone see anything at the end with Ethan? He's being accused over on Haganstand of spitting at Murphy when he was offering a handshake at the end.

What I see was Murphy walked over , they shook hands but Murphy held on to Ethan’s hand too long and kinda lifted it up over his head . They had words after that .

 

[thecritic]

What I see was Murphy walked over , they shook hands but Murphy held on to Ethan’s hand too long and kinda lifted it up over his head . They had words after that .

Horrendous that Hoganstand admin would let someone make an accusation of spitting against a player on a national website. I have developed a real hatred of Donegal over last few weeks - smart arse supporters.

 

[JMcK]

Anyone see anything at the end with Ethan? He's being accused over on Haganstand of spitting at Murphy when he was offering a handshake at the end.

Wouldn't listen to anything on Hoganstand. the thread on the league game was an exercise in propaganda that would have made Goebbels blush.
Two seperate posters took the Murphy- Grugan incident at the end and completely reversed what happened claiming it was Grugan that attacked Murphy.

 

[Taff]

Fitness levels on some players, do you think players not getting club game time in caused an issue with the long gap with games?

Training fitness(sharp in training is fine) but so different to in game.

The number of times Donegal run through the middle of the defence was concerning.