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Bonnar celebrates after the minor semi-final victory with Stephen McBrearty James Crombie/INPHO

Dubs defending was 'juvenile' says Bonner

The minor boss was taken aback by how Dublin’s senior defensive system was torn asunder.

DONEGAL MINOR BOSS Declan Bonner had his own triumph to celebrate on Sunday, but after addressing his side’s narrow 1-12 to 1-11 win over Dublin, there was no sense in ignoring the senior success.

Like many in the north-west, Bonner said he had been confident the 2012 All-Ireland Champions had enough homework and preparation done to get a job done.

However, the six-point winning margin did come as a surprise.

“There was a huge amount of work done. They went away last week for five nights down in Johnstown House and I know they did a huge amount of stuff on how Dublin were playing. It didn’t surprise me,” said Bonner yesterday.

“It surprised me how Dublin folded easily. Their defensive shape just disappeared. There were gaping holes right through the middle of their defence. Dublin must have thought; ‘we’ll score more than Donegal, no matter what Donegal score we’ll score more than them, it’s just all out attack’.

Juvenile defending

“There was no defensive plan. We could have got five goals.”

Bonner went on to criticise Dublin’s “juvenile” defending that presented Ryan McHugh with crucial scores:

“You set up your team to make sure they are as best they can be defensively, you don’t want to concede. I think Paul Durcan had two kick outs in the second-half.”

Kerry minor boss Jack O’Connor also believes that Dublin’s approach needs tweaking. O’Connor wouldn’t go so far as to say Jim Gavin’s team were naive, but lamented that the attacking style was their undoing:

“They’ve always stated that they go out and play their own game at all costs. They might be revising that tactic this morning,” he said.

“I think the mistake Dublin seniors made for example was that they got sucked into the opposition half of the field. You just can’t do that.”

“It just requires ferocious patience – in many ways, you have to be prepared for a game of cat and mouse. You just have to mind the house and make sure if you’re not getting scores, you’re not conceding scores. I just thought that they got suckered into all-out attack and leaving vast acres at the back. It cost them for the goals.”

O’Connor added: “I never say anyone’s naive. It’s just that; it’s alright sometimes to play your own game, but sometimes certainly you have to take the opposition into account.

“I just thought they left huge space in front of their full-back line and sooner or later the dam was going to break.”

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    Mute Peter McGlynn
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 1:29 PM

    I think Gavin let the players down. Sending on goal-getters so early in second half telegraphed an all out request to get a goal.
    That only strengthened Donegal’s resolve that if they kept Dublin goalless then they were through.
    Not a case of defending poorly – they just sacrificed defence in order to get he elusive goal – a goal which would’ve awakened the silent sky blue contingent.

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    Mute Kevin Glackin
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 1:41 PM

    Last Sunday showed how important Ger Brennan is to this Dublin team. Fair play to Donegal for the result however I don’t think they would have scored three goals if Ger was playing. His presence adds a bit of strength and steel that was sadly missing last Sunday.

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    Mute Stephen McGovern
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 2:35 PM

    Fair point, but if Dublin had put away their two early goal chances we wouldn’t be talking about Donegal’s resolve being strengthened. Fine margins sometimes, plus Donegal were set up superbly after that.

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    Mute Peter McGlynn
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 5:55 PM

    What’s to say they couldn’t come back from 8. No one would’ve given them a chance of coming back from 5 given their history of results- they were never behind by more than a point or two in any game they’ve won in the past few years. This was unchartered territory so maybe that goal wouldn’t have mattered – they had the inner belief to turn the tide. Belief in their system and belief in their class.

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    Mute Brian Murphy
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 12:33 PM

    Did Jim Gavin and Felipe Scholari go to the same school of coaching,their teams performance through their relevant championships are remarkably similar?

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    Mute Richie Ford
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 3:54 PM

    Dublin did not do their homework well. Midfield was ways going to be a huge factor in the game Dublin lorded midfield early in . That all changed when Christy Toye came on. Once Donegal came on Murphy was pushed forward in to a more attacking role and Donegal exploited the spaces left in Dublin’s defence . Donegal’s game plan was exactly as it had been in The Ulster Final and the game v Armagh . Win possession and break at pace, in numbers, from deep . The long kick out to Neil Gallagher with the half backs leaving space in front of him has been a Donegal go to kick out all summer yet Dublin looked as if they had never seen it before . How two half back were not left in the space between midfield and Donegal’s front two beggars belief . Nor did Dublin track Donegal’s runners from deep . They conceded three goals as a result if that. None of this was new . It has been Donegal’s game plan all summer . Yet Dublin could not counter it. The homework was not done . Yes Diarmuid Connollys attempt on goal was saved but these things happen in matches . From that moment on Dublin were annihilated by a team playing to a game plan that has been in full view all summer .

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    Mute PebbleBeachClontarf
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    Sep 2nd 2014, 6:32 PM

    #graingerspebblebeach
    SuperDubs will be back.

    In Jim Gavin we trust!

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