Galway GAA discussion thread

In the Hurling how did Niall Burke play? Was playing under 21 for his club 12 hours previously and that game went to ET.

How was Bernard Burke? He seems like a great player, lightning pace and strength in abbundance

Very surprised by the Galway crowd there. Nearly outnumbered by Meath fans, was it because of the hurling in Thurles?

Probably not, Galway football always has poor following, until they progress quite far in the summer.... one wonders where all the supporters from 98-2002 have disappeared to. They did a similar disappearing act in the early 90's. I guess I cant say anything, I havent been able to make it to a Galway game this year due to work....Hopefully, I will make it to the rest of the home games though.

Generally, hurling & football matches clashing dont really have a huge effect on attendances in Galway. They are just as bad as ever!

There was a double header for the Louth match but it still only did maybe 4000. We give out about the home support but there's the hardcores who watch FBD matches and go to every away match who look down on us too.

Interest isn't there and in Galway especially there's a split when it comes to sporting allegiances. You'll rarely see the same people going to rugby, soccer and GAA. When Galway get to Connacht finals that's when the sunshine brigade comes out in force. It's more of a thing to do than a genuine interest.

Though I'd post the teams

Team Vs Tyrone in the Football. No changes.

1-Adrian Faherty
2-Kieran McGrath
3-Finian Hanley (Capt)
4-K Kelly
5-G Bradshaw
6-D Blake
7-G O'Donnell
8-G Higgins
9-J Bergin
10-G Sice
11-D Buke
12-N Coleman
13-N Joyce
14-P Conroy
15-D Cummins

The Hurling team Vs Cork. Two Changes. Smith for Donnellan and Coen for Cooney.


1. James Skehill
2. Declan Connolly
3. David Collins
4. Ger O'Halloran
5. Niall Donohue
6. Fergal Moore (capt)
7. Johnny Coen
8. David Burke
9. Andy Smyth
10. Conor Cooney
11. Niall Burke
12. Iarlaith Tannian
13. Damian Hayes
14. James Regan
15. Bernard Burke

Subs:
16. Jamie Ryan
17. Padraig Shiels
18. Tony Og Regan
19. Paul Gordon
20. Joseph Cooney
21. Barry Daly
22. Davy Glennon
23. Cyril Donnellan
24. Aidan Harte
25. Jason Grealish
26. Brian Flaherty

Great win for Galway. 2-17 to 2-13 with a late goal and a point to win it. Cyril Donnellan, Glennon and Niall Burke were excellent in the 2nd half but that 1st half will want to be forgotten.

It will be interesting to see how he does when Canning regains free-taking duties. That goal is a must see if you didn't watch the match.

Here's hoping. Had people telling m Glennon was a good prospect before the League and he showed a knack of breaking up Cork possession from full-forward not unlike what Tannion does in the half-forwards.


Footballers lost out to 14 men Tyrone in Tuam. That's no shame though as Tyrone are already promoted to Division 1. Realistically we need at least one more win to not worry about relegation but two wins against Monaghan and Kildare and we're promoted.

Tannian was fine but you could see the attacking was more fluid when he was taken off. Everything started to break for Bernard Burke and Niall Burke.

Good showing so far in the League. We usually do fine anyways but nice to see a new dynamic of names. Waterford really have a lot to play for next week though with their new manager so it could be a banana-skin.

The footballers were somewhat unlucky in that they had 2 goal chances just after half time. If they had converted one of those, they may well have won.

However, there is a lot of failings in that team still. Midfield continues to be a problem, and Bergin was particularly poor there. Higgins did well and is a very good club footballer. But I wonder about the state of Galway football when he is now our leading midfielder. Coleman was also poor, but more worrying, there was a real lack of fight shown by him to win some balls. I was standing on the side opposite the stand [Where we got pelted by hailstones] and there were two balls that he did not even contest that came to him out that wing. In fairness, Mulholland brought him off shortly after that.

I felt Blake did particularly well in the first half, but made two terrible mistakes just before he was taken off. He is still my preference for number 6, ahead of Duane. Blake understands better than any of the other backs how to give good ball to the forwards. Gary O'Donnell [Who in fairness played well] and Gareth Bradshaw are far too eager to carry the ball rather than give it in early. The most dangerous balls came from early ball [usually from Blake] into Conroy. I dont I have ever seen Bradshaw receive the ball and actually let go of it before taking a solo! I wonder if growing up watching Ml Donnellan has had too much of an influence on these guys! I was very impressed with Kieran McGrath, but suspect he may be more suited to a wing back position than the corner.

I thought Nicky Joyce's movement was just awful, terrible. He can score from impossible angles, but his movement off the ball just seems appalling to me; I never noticed this before, has anybody else? Or was it just on Sunday? Gary Sice popped over some serious points in the second half which really isnt like him. Damien Burke was effective in the first half, but poor in the second half. Looking at the subs bench, it was hard to see an alternative there [Certainly if you want a physical presence at 11]

For the next day, I think Coleman & Bergin need to be dropped. They cannot be allowed retain their place after such poor performances. Flynn & Boyle should start. Other than that, I would leave the team the same. I dont believe in wholesale changes. Going with that some players will be lucky to start the next day [Cummins, Burke] but it might spur them on to perform better I think....

aidan24326 wrote: »

Niall Coleman has never been much of a player. Can anyone think of one really good game that he ever played for Galway at senior level? Because I can't. And I'd agree that Bergin's days must be numbered at this stage. He's another one who hasn't had a good game in a Galway jersey for a long time. Time to move away from these fellas and give new, younger players their chance. God knows they could hardly do any worse than what we've witnessed over the last few years.

I remember him having a few good games against the auld enemy but that must be 5/6 years ago now. He's player who by in large gives his all but sadly he's the type of player that exemplifies the current mediocrity in Galway football. With him in the team its hard to see us going anywhere. Same goes for a few others, but the question is are they are the best we've got? If they are then its very hard to justify dropping them, unless we have young players coming through who have the potential at least to be better than them. The problem with that tactic is you are sacrificing the current players in the hope of creating a good team in the next 3-5 years. There's no guarantees that will work either.

Its a conundrum that is clearly having an effect on team selections. I get the feeling Mullholland feels between a rock and a hard place. Does he sacrifice the older players or does he throw in youth. He started with youth but appears to have reverted back to a lot of the older lads (forced some would say). Where he goes from here will be interesting. The likes of Colin Forde seemed to be doing alright. O'Curraoin is still injured and Tom Flynn is still about. I would expect the reintroduction in some shape or form of all three and maybe Johnny Duane. That should ensure no more Coleman or Bergin I would think.

Its a conundrum that is clearly having an effect on team selections. I get the feeling Mullholland feels between a rock and a hard place. Does he sacrifice the older players or does he throw in youth. He started with youth but appears to have reverted back to a lot of the older lads (forced some would say). Where he goes from here will be interesting. The likes of Colin Forde seemed to be doing alright.

It is a fine line alright; how to mix experience with youth. I think Bergin is still worthy of a place on the panel, but I would drop him to the subs after last Sunday's performance and give Flynn a start alongside Higgins at midfield.

Is Forde injured? He wasnt on the subs last Sunday, I was impressed with him last year. Kelly struggled at times on Sunday, and I found it somewhat strange to see him left on. But there were not a whole lot of options on the bench.

Dreading the idea of Bergin at full-forward though.

Why? His best performance for Galway came at no. 14 against Kerry a few years ago.

I am not down hearted after Sunday's display. I think Tyrone look in great shape, and could put it up to some top teams this year [3/1 for ulster title is a tempting bet to me]. Particularly impressed with their no 6 Peter Harte. And there were some very promising performances in the Galway team [Sice for example]. I believe that Mulholland is on the right track regarding the correct mix of youth and experience.

I do find it strange how M.Martin has fallen so far away from a place on that team. Only a couple of weeks ago, he was putting up a lot of scores, but again on Sunday he wasnt brought on....

Another disaster. O'Curraoin is out for 3 months.

http://hoganstand.com/galway/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=164716

The operation means he'll be out of action for at least twelve weeks, which makes him a non-runner for the May 20th Connacht SFC meeting with the Rossies.

O Curraoin joins Sean Armstrong and Michael Meehan on the sidelines and manager Alan Mulholland says in the Daily Star: "You have an idea of who you will have in various positions and then you get something like that. This impacts on your plan.

"We have different lads who are fit and lads who are not, so we just have to make the best of what we have at the moment."

Looks like Mullholland had him down as a starter at midfield.

Disaster. So best case scenario we're looking at Flynn and Higgins in midfield with Bergin on the bench?

Galway (HL v Waterford) - James Skehill, Declan Connolly, David Collins, Gerard O'Halloran, Niall Donohue, Fergal Moore, Johnny Coen, Davy Burke, Andy Smyth, Conor Cooney, Niall Burke, Cyril Donnelan, Damian Hayes, Barry Daly, Bernard Burke.

No Tannian or Regan.

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Galway (FL v Monaghan) - Adrian Faherty, Kieran McGrath, Finian Hanley, Colin Forde, Garreth Bradshaw, Johnny Duane, Gary O'Donnell, Thomas Flynn, Joe Bergin, Gary Sice, Damien Burke, Nicky Joyce, Michael Martin, Paul Conroy, Cormac Bane


Forde and Bane are back. Some of ye may want to avert your eyes from the number 9 position.

Personally speaking this team is more towards what I'd like to see. I have issues with Bergin at midfield though. Would have thought that Higgins might be a better option there right now. Good to see Bane and Martin back. We've been lacking firepower recently. I'd say Blake can feel hard done by, although I'd prefer Duane myself. Looks like he might be trying a different dynamic at half forward. Good to see someone who knows where the posts are. We've at least one more natural forward. Coleman will never be one.

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Galway (HL v Waterford) - James Skehill, Declan Connolly, David Collins, Gerard O'Halloran, Niall Donohue, Fergal Moore, Johnny Coen, Davy Burke, Andy Smyth, Conor Cooney, Niall Burke, Cyril Donnelan, Damian Hayes, Barry Daly, Bernard Burke.

No Tannian or Regan.

I have to say I don't understand the Daly experiment, but the manager must see something in it. I would have stuck Joseph Cooney in again. Other than that I can't complain too much going on current form, although I'd have a few worries about the spine of the defense. However, in Cunningham we trust.