Afternoon all, we’re getting set for the last big GAA Sunday of the year with the AIB Leinster senior club football final set to bring the 2016 provincial club campaign to a close.
Dublin’s St Vincent’s against Offaly’s Rhode in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise at 2pm.
Cast your mind back two years ago when these two crossed paths at the final stage. It was a routine win for St Vincent’s that afternoon at Páirc Tailteann in Navan, 1-12 to 0-6.
These clubs couldn’t have more contrasting club final records in Leinster football. St Vincent’s have appeared in seven Leinster senior deciders previously. They’ve six title wins to their credit – 1972, 1975, 1984, 2007, 2013 and 2014 – with just a single final loss back in 1977.
In contrast Rhode have been luckless at this level. They have lost four finals and all in the last decade – 2006 to Moorefield, 2008 and 2010 to Kilmacud Crokes and 2014 to St Vincent’s.
Meanwhile across the water, the All-Ireland senior football quarter-final is on today. Derry’s Slaughtneil face London’s St Kiernan’s and the winners play the Leinster champions in February. One-way traffic so far.
Here’s the starting teams.
St Vincent’s
1. Michael Savage
2. Michael Concarr
3. Jarlath Curley
4. Craig Wilson
24. Nathan Mullins
6. Ger Brennan
7. Cameron Diamond
8. Daithi Murphy
9. Shane Carthy
10. Gavin Burke
11. Diarmuid Connolly
12. Cormac Diamond
13. Ruairi Trainor
14. Enda Varley 15. Tomas Quinn
Rhode
1. Kenny Garry
2. Brian Darby
3. Shane Sullivan
4. Jake Kavanagh
19. Darren Garry
6. Eoin Rigney
7. Niall Darby
8. Alan McNamee
9. Conor McNamee
10. James McPadden
11. Niall McNamee
12. Pauric Sullivan
13. Paul McPadden
14. Ruairi McNamee
15. Stephen Hannon
St Vincent’s 0-1 Rhode 0-1
4 mins – First white flag of the day is raised after Gavin Burke swings over a point off his right. Rhode retort quickly through Paul McPadden.
Goal for St Vincent’s by Diarmuid Connolly!
St Vincent’s 1-1 Rhode 0-1
6 mins – Cracking finish by Vincent’s talisman. Connolly drills a shot with his left foot to the bottom corner of the net.
St Vincent’s 1-1 Rhode 0-2
8 mins – Brian Darby is fouled after surging forward for Rhode and Niall McNamee taps over the resultant free.
St Vincent’s 1-2 Rhode 0-3
10 mins – Stylish shooting from the chief marksmen on both sides, first from Niall McNamee for Rhode and then Connolly for Vincent’s.
St Vincent’s 1-3 Rhode 0-3
12 mins – First score of the day for Mossy Quinn, he pushes St Vincent’s ahead by three.
St Vincent’s 1-3 Rhode 0-4
14 mins – Patient play by Rhode, couple of nice breaks by Niall McNamee and Brian Darby to inject urgency to their attacks which culminates in Conor McNamee tapping over a point.
St Vincent’s 1-4 Rhode 0-4
15 mins – St Vincent’s are able to counter each time and pick off their points. Connolly sprays a pass crossfield and it is Shane Carthy who simply knocks over a score. Three in it again.
Mossy Quinn sees his free hit the post and after St Vincent’s gather the rebound, the pass is recycled before Gavin Burke shoots wide off his left.
St Vincent’s 1-5 Rhode 0-4
21 mins – Enda Varley has been a fine addition to the St Vincent’s attack this season. The Mayo man curls over a point to push the Dublin champions four clear.
St Vincent’s 1-6 Rhode 0-4
22 mins – Plenty good kickers in this Vincent’s team. Cormac Diamond pops over a point off his left.
St Vincent’s 1-6 Rhode 0-5
24 mins – A converted Niall McNamee free cuts the deficit Rhode are facing.
St Vincent’s 1-6 Rhode 0-6
25 mins – Another point for Rhode, Darren Garry on this occasion. They’re hanging in there as half-time approaches.
Penalty for Rhode and black card for Ger Brennan.
St Vincent’s Michael Savage saves the penalty taken by Ruairi McNamee!
Half-Time: St Vincent’s 1-8 Rhode 0-6
St Vincent’s 1-10 Rhode 0-8
32 mins – Quinn and Burke raise white flags for Vincent’s, Niall Darby and Darren Garry have scored for Rhode.
Fiachra Breathnach came on for Ger Brennan for St Vincent’s after he was shown a black card.
St Vincent’s 1-10 Rhode 0-9
34 mins – Another for Rhode, this time from Ciaran Heavey.
St Vincent’s 1-11 Rhode 0-10
37 mins – Varley picks off a point for Vincent’s, McNamee grabs a free in response for Rhode.
St Vincent’s 1-12 Rhode 0-10
42 mins – Mossy Quinn makes amends for a couple of earlier efforts as he slots over a free.
St Vincent’s 1-13 Rhode 0-10
49 mins – Another Mossy Quinn point and Vincent’s go six clear.
St Vincent’s 1-15 Rhode 0-10
51 mins – They’re turning on the style now, St Vincent’s. Joe Feeney and Ruairi Trainor both point. The gap is out to eight.
St Vincent’s 1-15 Rhode 0-11
54 mins – McNamee bags a free for Rhode but it’s hard to see them staging an improbable comeback.
Two minutes left, this game is winding down to another St Vincent’s victory. James McCusker comes in to their defence for Cameron Diamond.
Rhode nearly get in for a consolation goal but Conor McNamee’s shot goes whistling past the post.
St Vincent’s 1-16 Rhode 0-11
60 mins – No mistake at the other end as Shane Carthy splits the posts. Job done for the Dublin champions, Slaughtneil beckon in the semi-final in February.
St Vincent’s 1-16 Rhode 0-12
62 mins – Niall McNamee blasts a close range free towards the goal, the ball is tipped over the bar by a Vincent’s defender.
Full-Time: St Vincent’s 1-16 Rhode 0-12
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Great manager. Took a County from nowhere to be a recognised force in the last 4 years. Their display v Dublin this year was one of my favourite games of the season.
Good luck to him.
Was at the Dubs game when they hammered us. Awesome display by Jim and the team. He will do well and thanks for the memories…. really added to the game over the last few years.
And now Donegal will go back to nowhere where then belong.
Jim is like the Jose of GAA, every county in the country will be begging him to manage them.
Try starting sentences with a capital letter. Ignoramus!
you have won two Sam’s in your history so no you don’t belong at the top of football you idiot.
I have a feeling that your presence on this forum will be short lived Sean. Keep posting stuff like that and you will get banned, anyway see you up in Dublin in another 10 years next time Donegal get to Croke park.
people like you are the reason there should be a wall around Donegal
And what are you the bloody Admin? Expressing my opinion on idiot people with stupid comments, Jim was and always will be a legend for what he has done for our county!
Sean, are you drunk?
Hi Sean,
It’s interesting that you say ‘you can pretty much say anything you want on here’ when you’ve breached the comments policy a number of times in that one post alone.
Might be worth reminding yourself of it: http://www.thejournal.ie/comments-policy/
Sean by every definition you are a troll. Not a very good one though since most people are laughing at you
@Peter Pan. ‘back to nowhere where they belong’. So let me guess you would have Kerry win every football all-Ireland, what a dull boy you are. Time to leave Never Ever land and grow up
Devastated. Not surprised though. Thanks for everything Jim. All the best at Celtic. Come back someday!
Please, pay tribute to the man and the county’s achievments not just commenting about ‘puke football’ because that’s unfair.
Donegal don’t play “puke football”, just very disciplined defence with a lightning quick counter attack.
He’s been a great manager and we wish him well.
Totally agree Dave.
Cheers Dave… At least someone outside the county knows how good they are.
Dave it’s puke football.
What they played vs Kerry was puke football but there are some great examples of them playin brilliant counter attacking football. Probably couldn’t afford to do that Vs kerry
Lighting quick up to the opposition 45 then brute force by a couple of accurate forwards. Puke football with no Plan B.
It’s not puke football it’s a tactic. Watching them counter is great. They just lacked plan b against dublin.
I mean Kerry.
Theres nothing wrong with developing tactics, I know there are lots of dinosaurs like Spillane who’d like us to still just have games where its hoofed into a big man. For those who dont like it well two teams did it on All-Ireland day but Donegal did it without being unsporting cretins.
Big shoes to fill. Wish him all the best in the future. Gutted.
It was great while it lasted! Hopefully a load of players dont follow. Cheers Jim.
Good crop of minors there now, Declan has done a great job with them. A few will come through to replace 2 or 3 that’s going to retire too. McGee and McFadden to name 2.
There will be a few alright i have no doubt. Such a pity we didnt beat Kerry, its a realisation thats only kicking in now! Hopefully the confidence seeps through the ranks that Donegal can compete at the top
Minor success doesn’t guarantee anything and I say that as a Galway man.
Not sure about McGee, but neil Gallagher frank mcglynn and christy toye could follow Mcguinness,
@slylad McGee said he’d wait to see what Jim would do. He also said the plan was to win it this year and “sail off into the sunset” (his own words)
Can’t see Gallager quitting yet. Should have been man of the match against Dublin (obviously Ryan’s 2 goals deserved it) Toye should stay to help the younger players. He was brilliant off the bench this year.
Fair enough point, that’s my opinion, but Toyes been around a long time now, maybe he’ll give it another year.
The Pied Piper has moved on. Well done Jim you did the county proud. The Hills will be alight around Donegal very soon. The Dublin match will go down in history and was one of the most memorable matches in recent years. Sean Mac Monagle Killarney Co Kerry
Sorry to see him go ! In fairness he took
Donegal from no where to win the all ireland ! Good manager of men and always straight when being interviewed
He is a big loss to donegal
Sorry to see him going, got the pride back into the county after many years of being the whipping boys. I know many people didn’t agree with his tactics, but when you’ve only limited resources to work with, he done a excellent job. Best of luck to him in the future.
Not what football’s about… What a load of shit. Everyone loved Donegal when we were a soft touch. If football isn’t about the amazing sense of spirit, community and pride in the jersey that Jim brought to the table then I dunno what is. Moan about the style of football all you want but at least appreciate what he did for a county on its knees.
Really devastated. Makes the loss a few weeks ago all the more hard to swallow. Trying not to be negative but I dunno how we’ll make it back to the final again. A golden opportunity lost.
Hard to even contemplate who’ll replace him.
Thank you for everything Jim. I’ll never forget singing Destination Donegal in the Diamond in 2012. Thank you.
Well said Conor . We live in a country where the “hurlers on the ditch ” feel they contribute as much as those who coach play and motivate. The conversations laughter , success and pride he brought to Donegal is immeasurable . If that’s not enough I don’t know what is . I’m a dub and the spirit he instilled in his team was the bane of our footballing existence. Onwards and upwards Jim and thanks for all you’ve added to football during your time at the helm.
Are we heading in to another era of Dublin Kerry dominance, with cooper and Walsh back Kerry will be as strong as ever… And the Dubs are arguably the best team on paper…….. Can’t see many teams putting it up to either of them next year, especially with Horan and McGuinness stepping down. Maybe Cork can get their act together.
Dubs the best team on paper ? where did you find this bit of paper ?
Let’s face it there the most talented team on paper this year…. But I said arguably as I think kerry will be just as good if not better with Walsh and cooper to come back next…. And darran o’sullivan to regain fitness. But paper never won a game yet
Dublin are very very good, but if the Kerry lads and the Dublin lads had a show and tell day I think the Kerry lads would be bringing more medals. maybe that was written on the other side of that bit of paper ! anyway I was raging when Donegal beat Dublin.
Shane you don’t half talk some shite!!
As a kerryman I hope so
Mightnd know all that much bout football as a Kilkenny person but he hell of alot for his county(more than his fair share anyway) and even for the game in general.Lets face it…..yes alot of people first hated the tactics but shur dont we all love abit a controversy and thats sport,it constantly goes through cycles.It is sad to see him go but he can have his head held high coz he brought that team and county dazzling heights and gave his county great moments to enjoy(he also gave nearly half the country something to cheer about on a few different occasions).Wish him the very best in the future
Heard Joe Brolly wants the job, said he d transform Donegal into an attacking football team
I only hope this is partly true.
Talk about doing a great service for the place you love. Gave it all and owes nothing. I just hope Mayo has their equivelant.
Showed Kerry the way forward in football!
Excellent tactical brain,he will be missed!
Back on your meds Rory
Complete nonsense that he showed Kerry the way forward. It took Kerry only 3 weeks to practice and beat them at their own game (which they’ve been at the last 4 years.)
You can be sure Kerry won’t be using this as their model against other teams.
Kerry had a poor tainted win over mayo and stumbled over the line against donegal when they’re six or seven points down against Dublin next year they will play puke football. Hopefully mc stay shows an interest in the donegal job
Shaun, your understanding of Gaa is as dubious as the spelling of your name
Nothing dubious about the spelling of my name bud, but anybody who says fitzmaurice won’t employ the same tactics when required has their head stuck up their purist a#@se
haun \shaun\ as a boy’s name (also used as girl’s name Shaun), has the meaning “God is gracious” and is a variant of John (Hebrew), biblical: the name of the longest-lived of the 12 apostles, who was especially loved by Christ. Also a variant of Sean (Irish, Hebrew): variant of John, from French Jean. Shaun is also used as a variant of Shawn (Irish, Hebrew): like others of the John, Jean, Sean group, Shawn is used in hyphenated names like Shawn-Lee, Shawn-Luke, Shawn-Michael.
Shaun has 4 variant forms: Shane, Shaughn, Shawnn, Shonn.
Read more at http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Shaun#HJyRhsdP2Rxs2dOi.99
As long as the new manager isn’t from Ulster (Northern Ireland) otherwise Shaun would have a stroke
well bless your cotton socks mick,but N.I dont have the manager i want the county of mayo do.do you like my copy and paste above, a good idea for you instead of reading wikipedia and forgetting half of it before you’ve typed it
:(
Wish him all the best. I wasn’t happy with the system he used. A lot of the league games with Donegal did the sport no favours. As a Kerryman, I knew this was coming after the defeat at the final.
The world and his dog knew this was going to happen! Sorry, but I’m not going to paint you as a prophet! ;-)
That was a joke ffs !!
Took them as far as he could. Best of luck to him in the future. I’m sure he would walk into a job with many counties.
3 Ulster titles, 1 All Ireland (+ another final) in 4 years – every other county in the country would want that record.
Except Dublin :)
I’ll take 4 Leinsters and 2 All Ireland’s in 4 years over it. Best of luck @ Celtic Park Jim
Exactly Paulie. And more to come!!
Ya I feel the ladies can do it next year……they won’t let it slip again
and two league titles
To be fair, after the all Ireland, the ulster title is without doubt the hardest medal to win. I certainly wouldn’t be blowing s##t about Leinster titles in comparison.
Do you think Donegal would have won 4 Ulsters if the dubs played in the Ulster championship. To be fair to the dubs you can only beat what’s in front of you.
No great loss to football. The style of play he had the Donegal team play was horrible, this blanket defense thing is glorified fighting and is not what football is about. In any case only one All Ireland in five years I’m not surprised he’s gone.
Apart from Armagh and Down, Ulster football is a cesspit of negativity….best of luck Jim don’t forget to close the door behind you.
Not what football is all about? Such a bullshit statement but then again I know you are trolling. Football as in all sport is about winning. He took a rabble of a team with lesser talent than the other traditional superpowers to win the all Ireland. After 2 years in charge.
You’re being unnecessarily stupid there Shane. And I’m being kind.
Same goes for you Ronan. It’s all very well being ignorant to facts, don’t compound matters by opening your gob and letting meaningless trolling words fall out.
You obviously haven’t watched much of Armagh lately Ronan.
Have you being up a tree spying on them? lol
Well if I was it would be productive, unlike coming on here and talking shite like you.
Get up that garden you Ostrich!
Shane, usually Kerry people know their football. You must be the exception.
look whos chattin lad the puke Kerry served up in the final was pathetic. As jim says himself if we played anywhere near our potential we would have got over the line which is very true! Kerry didn’t win the all Ireland Donegal lost it….
Anthony – did you ever consider the reason Donegal didn’t play at their best us because Kerry wouldn’t let them?
How about this for a theory. The reason Kerry best Donegal is because they are better.
@ Shane Griffin
One all Ireland, yes, but two All-Ireland Finals in 3 years? That’s darn impressive, nay, exemplary. Also, the football they played against Dublin was outstanding. They attacked them physically and psychologically, with Dublin panicking and a number of high profile Dublin players not even getting a look in when it came to scoring. It was fascinating to watch, as a neutral, seeing how McGuinness was able to destroy Dublin.
I mean, we saw Dublin players walking off the field in tears. And yet there were no violent incidents, just sheer football. It was completely absorbing to watch. As a manager, McGuinness got his team to work exactly like that: a team. A unit of players that just worked together. If there were prizes for teamsmanship, then Donegal would have a clean sweep.
I was hoping that he would stay on as a manager. He had full support of the players (no team would play that well otherwise) he had them conditioned, working, and I hoped he would reexamine or change up their tactics in order to win another All Ireland. But sadly, no.
This is the second manager, this year, that has stepped down after losing to Kerry. The first was James Horan (whose stepping down I also disagreed with) and the second is McGuinness. The GAA next year won’t be the same without him.
Manager-elect for Celtic
That’s a joke, right?
Don’t dismiss it. He helped out with the Ryder cup for Europe. It’s unlikely but not completely off the cards.
What did he do for Europe in Ryder Cup?
McGinley got him to talk to the team to get there head’s right in the name of jasis you couldn’t make that shit up total nonsense.
So did alex ferguson and about 20 others ffs
He helped out with the Ryder cup ah Paul Mc was talking to Jim Gavin weeks leading up to the Ryder cup so I don’t think so
Glad to see the back of him ruined football puke football is dead thank god happy day for the GAA
I should record our conversations where you were only praising him the other week and all the positive things you were saying about donegal… always one to be negative
Was looking forward to Dublin v Donegal in the league…probably not going to have the same bite about it now. It will be interesting to see how Donegal do without Jim, who was and is, in all fairness a topclass manager.
Gutted what now!!
Has probably left as big a footprint on the game of gaelic football as anyone has in the history of the sport. #defendthenattack
Thirty days mourning called in Donegal but we have no doubt that Jimmy will rise again ,so here’s to the second coming.
FG have nominated McNulty for the job.
Jim McHeineken was great
Poor joke Lesley,
the Guinness surname isn’t related to McGuiness,
The Guinness family got their name from a townland called Gion Ais near Ballynahinch in Down whereas Jim McGuinness would have got his from the Magennis clan.
was going to say that.. haha goodman
If Jim is looking for a challenge he should come down and manage us here in Waterford. We have a small pool of players to pick from and a county board who are about as useful as a chocolate kettle(that’s mildly putting it). Your more than welcome to try Jim
The man who put PUKE into Gaelic football
Putting comments up like that shows your knowledge of football. God love ya!
Still sore after that naive performance in the semi, bluemist?
infairness Anthony he’s right Donegal played something close to football for only 35 minutes in this year’s semi in the whole of Jim’s reign the rest was strangle the opposition into submission.
Actually Bluemist, it was Spillane who put puke in football. Nobody had a problem until he piped up.
Gutted. Have to love how he shook things up. Ironic how critics accused him of taking football back to the dark ages when they were the real
luddites in that McGuinness analysed the game scientifically and brought preparation to a new level. It may not have been popular but who said sport is a popularity contest? Sure weren’t we a great bunch of lads when we could go out and beat the all ireland champions playing lovely football one day, go on the piss and then capitulate to Armagh. I’ll take new found Donegal-McGuinness pragmatism over Mayo romanticism every day of the week. Go raibh míle maith agat Jim.
As a fan of Gaelic FOOTBALL, I’m delighted to see the back of McGuinness. If we could only get rid of Mickey Harte now.
amen
Puke football is dead thank god
Thank you so much for the last 5 years Jim, you will always be a legend!!
ah don’t leave Sean your great fun thick as horseshite but great fun all the same.
Ah would ye schtop
Thirty days mourning called in Donegal but we have no doubt Jimmy will rise again so here’s to that second
coming.
So is that 90 days?
Thanks Joe had bet on somebody was counting , off to bed now need to be fresh for the wake again tonight
I hope we are not going to start loosing our Managers and players to the foreign games, this season has definitely showcased how good the GAA is especially with Sky now taking interest
McGuinness turned our brilliant sport into a foreign game. Association football can have him.
Ya, Brian Cody has been linked with the Bolton job.
Mcguinness will be next Celtic manager.
In the interview he said something along the lines of “if there was the same passion and desire in the donegal squuuaaad then he would stay”
This tells us that there isn’t the same desire and that Ulster dominance could be moving the other side of Lough Foyle.
I’ve been hearing that all to often over the last 6/7 years Mick, but when it comes to the championship, Derry just crumble. If the dominance of Ulster does move, its likely to be to Armagh.
That is true but since Donegal are out of the picture now that can only mean that success is on its way, Tyrone are finished as well so it is just Armagh to fear now
He did a great job with Donegal and the best of luck to him! However since 2000 he is still the third most successful manager that ulster has produced so no need to put him up there with the goliath managers of all time! Mickey Harte and Joe Kernan won more with their respective counties and lets not forget Brian mc eniff who took Donegal to their first all-Ireland success!
It’s all relative Cathal. Donegal were ranked 19th in the country (that’s a fact) when he took over and look what he did in 4 championship seasons. I’d say it’s a far more impressive than Harte etc. Just my opinion.
It’ll be interesting now to see who’ll take over. I’m thinking McStay or Brolly.
Thirty days mourning called in Donegal but we have no doubt Jimmy will rise again,so here’s to that second coming
Colm McFadden,Neil Gallagher and a few more to follow?