Latest news with #FinbarrRoarty
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Conor McManus on the Donegal team: Profiling the men tasked with avenging 2014 All-Ireland final loss
1. Shaun Patton Age : 29 Club : St Eunan's SFC debut : 2018 v Cavan Cornerstone of everything with the speed, distance and variety of his restarts and he has also made some decent stops. Injured for Donegal 's one defeat. Never gets flustered if one or two kickouts go astray but the 4-4-4 press has caused occasional trouble. READ MORE 2. Finbarr Roarty Age : 19 Club : Naomh Conaill SFC debut : 2025 v Derry Young Footballer of the Year candidate, he has everything in his locker – physically strong in the tackle, pace to carry the ball, great footwork and has got on the end of a few scores. Composure of someone who is playing at this level for significantly longer. 3. Brendan McCole Donegal's Brendan McCole is likely to be marking David Clifford, which is as tough as it gets. Photograph: Leah Scholes/Inpho Age : 27 Club : St Naul's SFC debut : 2019 v Kerry Top man-marker who tends to pick up the opposition danger man. This weekend, that means David Clifford. McCole has strength, pace and aggression. Very diligent in how he covers off space and will have support in what is a daunting task. 4. Peadar Mogan Age : 26 Club : St Naul's SFC debut : 2020 v Tyrone Prolific number four, as befits a natural forward. Maybe not as spectacular this year but just as effective. Pace and dynamism going forward but also as one of the hunting pack, turning over ball and getting it quickly up the field. 5. Ryan McHugh Age : 31 Club : Kilcar SFC debut : 2013 v Down Playing a much more conventional role than the go-go-go associated with him in recent years. Integral part of their defensive and sweeping system. Generally, in the vicinity of turnovers. Give him the ball and he'll keep it moving. 6. Eoghán Bán Gallagher Age : 29 Club : Killybegs SFC debut : 2016 v Monaghan Biggest compliment you can pay is that Caolan McGonagle hasn't been badly missed. Brings solidity and is very comfortable on the ball. He is also a good man marker from days in full-back line. Likely to take Seán O'Shea or Paudie Clifford. 7. Caolan McColgan Donegal's Caolan McColgan always puts in a big shift. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho Age : 23 Club : Naomh Pádraig, Muff SFC debut : 2023 v Down Deployed as a utility player. Man-marked Mayo's Aidan O'Shea in the final round-robin game, more to put O'Shea on the back foot than to stay in the full back line. Very busy and will do his shift until replaced around 45 or 50 minutes. 8. Hugh McFadden Age : 31 Club : Killybegs SFC debut : 2015 v Armagh Knows his job. Gives everything for 45 or 50 minutes and Jason Magee will finish off the job. Not sure he would have the same impact coming on but it's not just about finishing strong. McFadden is a massive leadership figure. [ How Kerry or Donegal could win or lose the All-Ireland final Opens in new window ] 9. Michael Langan Age : 29 Club : St Michael's SFC debut : 2017 v Antrim Over Donegal's 10 games, he's probably been their best player. Pops up with big scores, wins a lot of ball and distributes well. Also has the ability to kick two-pointers. Very languid style but hugely effective. Potential Player of the Year. 10. Shane O'Donnell Age : 23 Club : St Eunan's SFC debut : 2022 v Armagh A massive addition to the team's game over the last couple of years, he's very pacey and makes more than his share of scoring assists. Ticks every box for Donegal in how they're set up and how they play. 11. Ciarán Thompson Donegal's Ciarán Thompson has a habit of coming up with big moments when the team needs him most. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho Age : 30 Club : Naomh Conaill SFC debut : 2016 v Dublin Another hugely prominent presence, he has played every single minute of the 10 games to date. Drifts in and out around the middle and shot important two-pointers against Monaghan in the All-Ireland quarter-final when Donegal really needed scores. 12. Ciarán Moore Age : 23 Club : St Eunan's SFC debut : 2024 v Derry Move to half forwards has transformed his game, which has been better this year and he has been physically stronger. Moore is one of the weapons when Donegal turn you over. He has the constant pace to hurt teams, no matter how late, as Mayo found out. [ Patrick McBrearty is the golden thread running through the Jim McGuinness era Opens in new window ] 13. Conor O'Donnell Age : 24 Club : Carndonagh SFC debut : 2021 v Down For all Donegal's impressive spread of scoring, he's consistently getting on the board. Popped up with 1-3 the last day from five shots, untypically missing one on his right foot from the 13-yard line. Hugely efficient use of the ball. 14. Michael Murphy Michael Murphy has been outstanding in Donegal's march to the final. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Age : 35 Club : Glenswilly SFC debut : 2007 v Leitrim Despite talk of Murphy being an impact sub, it should have been obvious that he would be picking up where he left off. To get to this level, having been out of intercounty for two years, is incredible. Precision, ball winning and leadership all still intact. 15. Oisín Gallen Age : 25 Club : Seán Mac Cumhaills SFC debut : 2019 v Tyrone His return to form has been massive for Donegal and their chances of winning the All-Ireland. He hadn't been hitting top notes in the early rounds of the championship but shot 1-2 the last day, which creates a problem for Kerry. Bench This is potentially the big difference in the two teams. Donegal can spring Jason McGee on 50 minutes as well as Patrick McBrearty, Dáire Ó Baoill and Caolan McGonagle. Outstanding options going down the stretch. Management Donegal manager Jim McGuinness will have worked through every possibility with his players. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho Jim McGuinness (manager), Colm McFadden, Neil McGee, Luke Barrett. This simply wouldn't be happening unless Jim McGuinness was back. Has everyone hanging on his every word. They're going into this with every box ticked, every angle covered and every small detail worked on.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Roarty 'playing like a seasoned veteran'
Roarty has impressed in his first year in the Donegal senior panel [Getty Images] Former Monaghan forward Conor McManus said that 19-year-old Donegal defender Finbarr Roarty is "playing like a seasoned veteran". The teenager is enjoying an impressive first year with Jim McGuinness' senior panel, helping them to the Ulster title and again excelling in their All-Ireland semi-final thrashing of Meath. Advertisement He has firmly established himself as a starter and McManus praised the corner-back's ability to slot in seamlessly since his debut in April. "They tried to get him into the panel last year, but he was too young, and he's come in and is playing like a man who has been there for eight or nine years," McManus told the GAA Social podcast. "He's playing like a seasoned veteran, his physical shape, his energy and ability on the ball, he's excellent. He is a massive addition who has hit the ground running. "That is the strength of Donegal their team and their panel. They had 12 different scorers against Meath and you have so many things to try lock down to stop them." Advertisement Donegal will face Kerry in the All-Ireland final after the Kingdom dispatched Tyrone in Saturday's other semi-final. Armagh All-Ireland winner Oisin McConville believes the Red Hands need to develop squad depth to challenge for honours after suffering a 1-20 to 0-17 last four defeat. "They have to find one or two players but there is a pool of talent there. The profile of the player they're bringing in is important too," McConville said. "They have deadly forwards in Ruairi and Daragh Canavan, Darren McCurry and Eoin McElholm, but if you play the four of those are any of them really cut out for the middle eight? They're very same same and the direct ball is less of an option. "You can't play them all at the same time, so you need to find some more power. You compare Tyrone's team to what Donegal have, they have hard running and legs."
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Roarty 'playing like a seasoned veteran'
Former Monaghan forward Conor McManus said that 19-year-old Donegal defender Finbarr Roarty is "playing like a seasoned veteran".The teenager is enjoying an impressive first year with Jim McGuinness' senior panel, helping them to the Ulster title and again excelling in their All-Ireland semi-final thrashing of has firmly established himself as a starter and McManus praised the corner-back's ability to slot in seamlessly since his debut in April."They tried to get him into the panel last year, but he was too young, and he's come in and is playing like a man who has been there for eight or nine years," McManus told the GAA Social podcast."He's playing like a seasoned veteran, his physical shape, his energy and ability on the ball, he's excellent. He is a massive addition who has hit the ground running. "That is the strength of Donegal their team and their panel. They had 12 different scorers against Meath and you have so many things to try lock down to stop them."Donegal will face Kerry in the All-Ireland final after the Kingdom dispatched Tyrone in Saturday's other All-Ireland winner Oisin McConville believes the Red Hands need to develop squad depth to challenge for honours after suffering a 1-20 to 0-17 last four defeat."They have to find one or two players but there is a pool of talent there. The profile of the player they're bringing in is important too," McConville said. "They have deadly forwards in Ruairi and Daragh Canavan, Darren McCurry and Eoin McElholm, but if you play the four of those are any of them really cut out for the middle eight? They're very same same and the direct ball is less of an option."You can't play them all at the same time, so you need to find some more power. You compare Tyrone's team to what Donegal have, they have hard running and legs."
The 42
01-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Ruthless Donegal put Cavan to the sword in 19-point win
Cavan 1-13 Donegal 3-26 CONOR O'DONNELL hit 1-4 as Donegal bounced back from their opening defeat to get off the mark in Group 1 of the All-Ireland senior football championship. Donegal's victory, coupled with Mayo's win over Tyrone on Saturday night, sees all four teams level on two points and only separated by scoring difference, leaving it all to play for in the final round of matches in two weeks' time. Donegal took a 1-12 to 1-5 win into the break at Breffni Park thanks to Finbarr Roarty's late goal. Jim McGuinness's side pulled ahead in the third quarter, and when O'Donnell struck for his side's second, they led by double scores, 2-22 to 1-11. Advertisement Michael Murphy finished with 0-7, 0-5 from play including a two-pointer, and Caolan McColgan added a third goal in the final stages, closing out a 19-point win for the Ulster champions. Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
Irish Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
LIVE U-20 GAA on TV this week: Meath v Louth, Donegal v Tyrone Roscommon v Mayo
TG4 will have live coverage of the Dalata Hotel Group Leinster, Ulster and Connacht Under-20 football finals this Wednesday night. On another bumper week of top class underage inter-county action TG4 will also screen two big Munster under-20 hurling encounters. Cork versus Waterford and Limerick against Clare and both on Wednesday evening and will be available live on TG4's Sport YouTube channel. Football wise, the Irish language broadcaster have gone with the eagerly-awaited Ulster Under-20 Final meeting of Donegal and Tyrone as their live TV game on Wednesday night. Many believe the All-Ireland champions could come from this one, with Tyrone the current holders. Tyrone will feature senior star Eoin McElholm, who hit 1-3 in last week's victory over Derry and scored twice off the bench for Tyrone seniors in their defeat by All-Ireland champions Armagh at the weekend. Donegal will have the driving force of Finbarr Roarty, who is a regular in Jim McGuinness' senior side. Also on Wednesday night on the TG4 Player and App is the latest installment of what is becoming one of the game's most intense rivalries as Louth face Meath in the Leinster Under-20 football final at St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge. Meath defeated Kildare last week in impressive fashion, while Louth disposed of Dublin to set up a repeat of last year's final, which Meath won. Also on Wednesday night, Mayo face Roscommon in the Connacht Under-20 football final, with the game live on TG4's Sport YouTube channel. A total of 10 games at Under-20 and minor level will be screened this week. TG4 will also have live coverage from the minor football championship on Friday evening when Mayo face Galway in the Connacht semi-final on their Sport YouTube channel. Also at the minor grade, they'll have live coverage of Cork versus Tipperary and Waterford against Clare in the Munster Hurling Championship. LIVE UNDERAGE GAA ON TG4 THIS WEEK WEDNESDAY APRIL 30 7pm: Connact Under-20 Final: Mayo v Roscommon Sport TG4 YouTubeWorldwide 7.25pm: Ulster Under-20 Final: Donegal v Tyrone TG4Worldwide 7.25pm: Leinster Under-20 Final: Louth v Meath TG4 Player and AppWorldwide, Deferred TG4 (10.35pm) 7.30pm: Munster Under-20 Hurling Championship: Cork v Waterford Sport TG4 YouTube, Worldwide 7.30pm: Munster Under-20 Hurling Championship: Limerick v Clare Sport TG4 YouTube, Worldwide FRIDAY MAY 2 6.30pm: Connacht Minor Football Semi-Final: Roscommon v Mayo Sport TG4 YouTube, Worldwide 7pm: Munster Minor Hurling Rd 5: Cork v Tipperary Sport TG4 YouTube Worldwide 7pm: Munster Minor Hurling Rd 5: Waterord v Clare Sport TG4 YouTube Worldwide SATURDAY MAY 3 1.30pm: All-Ireland Under-20 C Hurling Final: Armagh v Monaghan Sport TG4 YouTube Worldwide 3.15pm: All-Ireland Under-20 B Hurling Final: Down v Tyrone Sport TG4 YouTube Worldwide
