SUPPORTERS' CORNER: Kilcar's Ross Brady on Donegal v Roscommon

Ross Brady (Kilcar)

It was a very disappointing day in Roscommon. I thought I would see a response and a bit of fight but it did not materialise. To see our opponents, Roscommon, score 20 points from play says a lot. There was not a glove laid on them.

After getting rid of Paddy Carr, nothing changed. And it doesn’t look good for our championship campaign this summer.

Overall, it has been a poor and disappointing league campaign. Even though we lost 8-10 players through retirements and injuries, I knew it would be hard to retain our Division 1 status. We are lacking scoring forwards big time. We are suffering with the absence of Michael Murphy and then Patrick McBrearty getting injuries. We are without Niall O’Donnell also, which doesn’t help.

We only averaged over 10 points per game over the seven games and in three of those games the opposition had 10 scores or more.

It is just disappointing and it stems from the end of last year when we didn’t have our management in place in time. We have been playing catch-up ever since and were behind other counties, but our big problem is the lack of scoring forwards. There is a big hole when Murphy and Paddy are not there.

It will be tough now for the championship which is just over three weeks away. .Down won’t be afraid of us at this stage when they see what has been happening. The game is in Newry and that is worth another few points to them.

We beat them handy enough just two years ago up there and it goes to show the difference in a couple of years, we felt we didn’t need to start Michael Murphy that day.

But now you wouldn’t put much money on Donegal for that championship game.

The players are playing catch-up after the management situation and it is not a good look with the in-fighting in the county.

The Alternative View: Kilcar colours to the fore in Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon

The Alternative View had to endure a long day in Roscommon as Donegal threw in the towel in a day to forget for supporters.

The only positive this week is that the two boys, Aidan O’Rourke and Paddy Bradley, are staying on. That is the best outcome at the moment. You wouldn’t get anybody else at this late stage.

At least they have been there since last year. It would be very hard for the Co Board to get somebody else and get a new style of play (if we have one at the moment). I’m happy enough for the two boys to stay on

But from what I saw in Roscommon on Sunday, I think it was even worse than the day in Crossmaglen in 2010. That was a big low, but I think Sunday was worse.

It looks as if this year is going to pass us by. We just have to do our best and then get ready for next year. We have to get a management team in place as early as possible and get players back. We need Ryan McHugh, Odhrán McFadden Ferry, the two O’Donnells (Niall and Shane), four major players. Hopefully, Patrick (McBrearty) will return fully fit.

Mark McHugh was the one happy Donegal man in Dr Hyde Park

Kilcar man is really enjoying his coaching experience with the Rossies and his children were able to support Roscommon in their Kilcar colours

After Roscommon, it looks like this year is done and dusted; there is nobody coming back to turn it around, like a scoring forward.

We have blooded a lot of new players this year and maybe Division 2 will be a better environment to develop them. We also need to get the support back. I know a few from my own club, Kilcar, who have stopped going

We need to turn things around. If not we will find it difficult to get sponsorship and to raise money.

But we have been unlucky with injuries. Ryan (McHugh) hasn’t kicked a ball yet. But it is up to the players and management now. They have to dig their heels in and get fight back into the team.

Supporters do understand we have lost great players and in a rebuilding phase. But the lack of passion and fight on Sunday last is not good enough.

Ross Brady is a former Kilcar and Donegal Masters player and a loyal Donegal supporter.