DEMOCRAT SPORT DIARIES: Donegal's low scoring issues; Ladies revenge and Referee problems

Back to Square One
So much for my rant last week about the Choke Tackle in Gaelic football being seen for what it was by referees. I thought there had been a change in the attitude of referees to three and four players surrounding a player in possession and then being whistled for overcarrying.

On Sunday last in Croke Park Michael Murphy found himself in that position after being pushed to the ground and then two or three Dubs on top of him, not letting him up. The whistle goes and Cormac Reilly deems that Murphy is the offender. It was an outrageous decision; not one that decided the match, but one that just drags the game down.

The incident would be perfect in video form to introduce at a referees' forum, if one is on the agenda before the upcoming championship. This swarming of the player in possession has to stop; it is a tactic that is completely illegal with hands all over the player with the ball.

A number of referees were clamping down on it in recent weeks, but there has to be consistency. It should be just eradicated from the game. -PC

BRIAN MCENIFF COLUMN: We must get out and get behind Donegal this weekend against Armagh

Our GAA columnist pleased with performance of Donegal against Dublin and urging Donegal supporters to come out and make themselves heard against Armagh in final game

The Allianz National League sees the final round of games this weekend and remarkably seven of the eight teams in Division One have something to play for. It just goes to show that the leagues have been the barometer for Gaelic football, especially in the last couple of decades.

At the start of the campaign I did a preview which had Kerry in the top spot and Kildare at the bottom. I was 50% right! Kerry have been the strongest team, dropping just one point in six games - and that to Kildare.
Meanwhile, Kildare have been the surprise packet. They look likely to survive, especially as their nine point win over Monaghan on Sunday last gives them a healthy score difference.

I had Dublin in second place and how wrong was I about that. They can, and probably will, survive if they get a win or even a draw against Monaghan on Sunday next. But you wouldn't bet against Monaghan turning them over in Clones.
Donegal supporters will travel to O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny feeling a little nervous for their clash with Armagh. The Orchard men are after a league final spot and the O'Donnell Park record isn't inspiring for Donegal. Their only win there since they played Armagh (and got defeated 2-16 to 0-6) in 2010 was against Monaghan in 2014.

Declan Bonner's side have spluttered along with last Sunday's tally against the Dubs of 2-11 their biggest of the year. That is probably the main reason they are in 5th place in the table and in the mix for relegation. But if you were to put a positive spin on it, they are also in the mix for a final spot, albeit that would need an unlikely return of results.

The form of Patrick McBrearty in Croke Park is encouraging, taking his tally to 2-17. McBrearty and Eoghan Bán Gallagher are the only two players who have started every game for Donegal in 2022; Conor O'Donnell is next in line in the league scoring stakes with 1-11, while Michael Murphy has 1-8.

In last year's league Donegal's totals in their four games were 0-18, 1-20, 1-16 and 1-14.
This year our totals 0-11 against Mayo, 2-11 against Kildare, 0-7 against Kerry, 2-10 against Tyrone, 0-10 against Monaghan and 2-11 against Dublin.

Donegal's issue this year has been putting up game-winning scores. Declan Bonner has introduced a number of new players with 31 players in total being used so far.
From the point of view of young players being given game time, the league could be considered a success. It is important next Sunday, however, to keep the scoreboard operator busy from start to finish. -PC

Declan Bonner: Orchard test the ‘perfect’ Championship warm-up

Donegal are in a battle to avoid relegation as Armagh - their Championship opponents next month - roll into Ballybofey on Sunday

Remember Donegal NFL quarter-final with Dublin in early 1992 in Breffni Park. Leading by four points with time almost up and up pops Paul Clarke and Vinny Murphy to hit two goals in 90 seconds and send Brian McEniff's charges home with their tails between their legs?
Well the Donegal Ladies only needed a third of that time with the game almost up on Saturday in Clones as goals from Emma McCrory and Yvonne Bonner turned over the Dublin five point lead to send Maxi Curran's team through to the league final.
It was one helluva way to win! - PC

Reffin’ hell
In December, this newspaper ran a feature about the worrying future of refereeing numbers in sport.
Gaelic football and soccer have seen what has been described in both codes in recent years as a ‘chronic shortage’ of officials.
Games at all levels are at a tipping point, but I doubt if the realisation has really hit home in many quarters.
Tuesday’s Ulster Under-17 Tom Ticher Cup final in Letterkenny ought to have been an eye-opener, though.
Abbey Vocational School and Loreto Community School, Milford served up a cracking Cup final.
A pulsating game had everything a fixture of its stature shouts have. There were five goals with Abbey edging a 3-2 classic to win a first ever Ulster title.

The game had everything that is bar assistant referees.
Vincent McLoughlin was the lone official for the game and it was as disappointing as it was worrying.
As a coach in Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny, I have seen at first hand how difficult it is to get referees to officiate recently.

Hats off to those officials who are ensuring that sport continues.
Those within sport must realise that they don’t just magically appear. -CMcN

Can Tigers find a roar again?
In 2006, Fanad United trailed Kildrum Tigers at the summit of the Ulster Senior League by 21 points. Lengthy Cup runs had Fanad seven games in arrears when Kildrum had completed their League campaign.
Fanad won and then won some more. Each time, Fanad, who were then managed by a certain Ollie Horgan, went to the well and ground out a victory.

Seven games inside of a couple of weeks and Fanad won them all to force a play-off. Their remarkable finale was completed when, before a huge crowd at The Diamond Park, Marty McAteer scored twice in a 2-1 win.
For Kildrum, the shoe is now on the other foot.

Heading into Sunday’s game against Cappry, Kildrum had five games in hand to some of their title rivals in the Donegal League Premier Division. Cappry’s 2-1 win caused a minor ripple of shock as Kildrum now face into a defining fortnight.
On Wednesday, Kildrum were set to face leaders Bonagee at Dry Arch Park. Bonagee had 11 points on Kildrum, who have four games in hand.
A fascinating couple of weeks is in store. -CMcN

Sunday is the perfect time for a change in the Donegal NFL record in Letterkenny

Donegal need to beat Armagh to be 100% sure of staying in the top flight fort 2023