Galway GAA discussion thread

Borders no.2

2nd half was a huge dissapointment. 4 points is a pathetic total to put up for 35 minutes of hurling at this level. Too many basic mistakes, too many instances of poor stick work / decision making giving Kilkenny handy scores and I struggle hugely to understand our puck out strategy. Also Galway should have been 3 or 4 further up at half time but missed some poor chances.

There have been positives to this league campaign unlike last year but two of those big positives struggled hugely today (Brehony and Mannion). Davy Glennon off the bench didn't really contribute. The league is the league at the end of the day and the main thing is to unearth a couple of new players and lay down a couple of markers. Today was an opportunity missed in my view against an ageing KK backline who will struggle against a pacy forward line come championship.

There is a hell of an amount of work to do before the summer. Not much point jumping on Canning's back. He knows he has to contribute a hell of a lot more if Galway are to have any hope of a semi-successful summer. Whatever is going on the management have to find a way of getting him back in the groove. We need to use possession better, I lost count of the number of times David Burke in acres of space didn't look up and just drove an aimless ball down the Kilkenny backs throat. Some good defensive work was ruined by aimless play.

Anyway, the club championship restarts next weekend, hopefully something can be taken from that and look to build towards championship.
Still a few players to come back, whether they will get back at this stage is another matter.

Expectations will be low come championship which with Galway is never a bad thing. I hate that mentality that we have to come in under the radar but that's the way it is unfortunately.

savannahkat

The Kilkenny backs today included Padraigh Walsh, Brian Kennedy, Cillian Buckley all under 21 last year Paul Murphy 24 with only JJ and Brian Hogan over the 30 mark.

Borders no.2

That's true but JJ Delaney and Brian Hogan have huge milage up on the clock and I really believe they will struggle against a team with pace when they are moved out of position, Galway didn't have the pace or tactics to exploit this today.

porterbelly

Plenty of lads calling for Conor Cooney's head last year are eating their words now. 20 years of age after playing a club championship and fitzgibbon and hurling all year round last year and people expecting him to work miracles. With a break and a full league behind him he's showing his true colours, class player. Player of the league for Galway without doubt.

I'd let Daithi Burke stay at 6 because that's where he has always played and he's a big strong lad. Tannion is too loose for centre back, the likes of a Tony Kelly, Colin Fennelly or Richie Hogan would cause him the world of problems if they start roaming. Put him back in midfield.

Awful surprised Gearoid McInerney didn't get a run the last day. He caused havoc down in Nolan Park with his pace and power and should have been brought on. He mightn't be the flashiest hurler with the best touch but over the years we've never struck a balance between these type of players and the McInerney's who are more about brute force. He could be a big weapon come championship if utilised correctly. He's very hard stop when he gets going and would be effective under the high ball.

Team for Championship

1.Callanan
2.Moore
3.R Burke
4.Coen
5.Collins
6.D Burke
7.Smith
8.Tannion
9.Brehony
10.Donnellan
11.Cooney
12.McInerney/Mannion/David Burke
13.Healy
14.Canning
15.Glynn

24yearslater

porterbelly wrote: »

Plenty of lads calling for Conor Cooney's head last year are eating their words now. 20 years of age after playing a club championship and fitzgibbon and hurling all year round last year and people expecting him to work miracles. With a break and a full league behind him he's showing his true colours, class player. Player of the league for Galway without doubt.

I'd let Daithi Burke stay at 6 because that's where he has always played and he's a big strong lad. Tannion is too loose for centre back, the likes of a Tony Kelly, Colin Fennelly or Richie Hogan would cause him the world of problems if they start roaming. Put him back in midfield.

Awful surprised Gearoid McInerney didn't get a run the last day. He caused havoc down in Nolan Park with his pace and power and should have been brought on. He mightn't be the flashiest hurler with the best touch but over the years we've never struck a balance between these type of players and the McInerney's who are more about brute force. He could be a big weapon come championship if utilised correctly. He's very hard stop when he gets going and would be effective under the high ball.

Team for Championship

1.Callanan
2.Moore
3.R Burke
4.Coen
5.Collins
6.D Burke
7.Smith
8.Tannion
9.Brehony
10.Donnellan
11.Cooney
12.McInerney/Mannion/David Burke
13.Healy
14.Canning
15.Glynn

Would agree with most of the above apart from smith @ wingback & Healy. Smith not good under the dropping ball, he probably doesn't have the necessary speed for it either. Healy unreliable for c'ship, think Glennon or Mannion a better bet. Mannion had a good league @ 13, worth a start come June. Harte or J Cooney should get the 7 slot. McInerney will be sub, great prospect for a yr r 2 thou - hurling mighty @ 6 for Oran/Maree

deisedude

Any hurling matches on in salthill tonorrow?

basillarkin

More in fighting in the squad again this week, at least they can rake it out on each other in the club games this weekend

basillarkin

deisedude wrote: »

Any hurling matches on in salthill tonorrow?

Not sure but a decent double header in athenry, gort v loughrea and the all ireland champs v castlegar

Fireball07

porterbelly wrote: »

Plenty of lads calling for Conor Cooney's head last year are eating their words now. 20 years of age after playing a club championship and fitzgibbon and hurling all year round last year and people expecting him to work miracles. With a break and a full league behind him he's showing his true colours, class player. Player of the league for Galway without doubt.

I'd let Daithi Burke stay at 6 because that's where he has always played and he's a big strong lad. Tannion is too loose for centre back, the likes of a Tony Kelly, Colin Fennelly or Richie Hogan would cause him the world of problems if they start roaming. Put him back in midfield.

Awful surprised Gearoid McInerney didn't get a run the last day. He caused havoc down in Nolan Park with his pace and power and should have been brought on. He mightn't be the flashiest hurler with the best touch but over the years we've never struck a balance between these type of players and the McInerney's who are more about brute force. He could be a big weapon come championship if utilised correctly. He's very hard stop when he gets going and would be effective under the high ball.

Team for Championship

1.Callanan
2.Moore
3.R Burke
4.Coen
5.Collins
6.D Burke
7.Smith
8.Tannion
9.Brehony
10.Donnellan
11.Cooney
12.McInerney/Mannion/David Burke
13.Healy
14.Canning
15.Glynn

Would you not be playing a sweeper? Smyth and Harte both look very capable in that role. I would have thought you might see them both start.

Is Donnellan really a certainty to start ahead of Burke/Mannion/McInerney on the wing?

I'd also disagree with the poster below you, I rate Healy very highly. Obviously I haven't seen as much of him as Galway posters but he's a lively inside forward.

MfMan

basillarkin wrote: »

More in fighting in the squad again this week, at least they can rake it out on each other in the club games this weekend

What's this about? E.g. Port' aren't meeting St. Toms...
If true, which I rather doubt, strong management needed now, not when too late.

ryanair22

deisedude wrote: »

Any hurling matches on in salthill tonorrow?

There are feile final hurling matches in pearse stadium. The shield final at 12.00 is Sylane v Annaghdown and it's Athenry v Clarinbridge at 2.00.

Tssk

Anybody have any info on Fr. Griffin/Eire Og? The club page is out of date and I cant find a facebook page

Borders no.2

Anyone at any of the club games this weekend?

Tommie Larkins beating St. Thomas' to me was a very surprising result but don't know a huge amount about what is going on in the St. Thomas' camp or were they missing players but I'd have thought they'd be expected to win that one relatively comfortably?

To a lesser extent TAD beating Turloughmore also seemed a bit of a surpise. TAD and Tommie Larkins were two clubs who looked like they might come through a couple of years back but never did but these were two notable results.

Loughrea beating Gort is a significant result. Portumna got back on the road easily enough against Castlegar. Also Killimordaly beat Kiltormer which will mean one of the existing senior teams will go down this year.

I'd fancy Liam Mellows to go down, they were well beaten by Athenry.

Went to the matches in Athenry on Saturday. First game wasn't great but was tight all the way. Carnmore maybe slightly fortunate to draw with Sarsfields.

Ardrahan won the 2nd quite comfortably. Johnny Glynn had an excellent game. Tannian also played the full game. Still no sign of Cyril Donnellan for Pearses and they badly missed him. 1 pt in the full 2nd half is a poor return.

The back door draw will be fascinating, 3 recent county champions (incl. 2 All-Ireland winners), Turloughmore, Castlegar, Pearses, Craughwell etc. There are definitely going to be a couple of big name casualties straight away. I'm sure Thomas' for example wouldn't fancy meeting Gort (even if they are weakened) or Turloughmore.

I'm one of those who thinks there are too many senior club teams but I think this weekend has been a good showcase for the local club championships.

ryanair22

Borders no.2 wrote: »

Anyone at any of the club games this weekend?

Tommie Larkins beating St. Thomas' to me was a very surprising result but don't know a huge amount about what is going on in the St. Thomas' camp or were they missing players but I'd have thought they'd be expected to win that one relatively comfortably?

To a lesser extent TAD beating Turloughmore also seemed a bit of a surpise. TAD and Tommie Larkins were two clubs who looked like they might come through a couple of years back but never did but these were two notable results.

Loughrea beating Gort is a significant result. Portumna got back on the road easily enough against Castlegar. Also Killimordaly beat Kiltormer which will mean one of the existing senior teams will go down this year.

I'd fancy Liam Mellows to go down, they were well beaten by Athenry.

Went to the matches in Athenry on Saturday. First game wasn't great but was tight all the way. Carnmore maybe slightly fortunate to draw with Sarsfields.

Ardrahan won the 2nd quite comfortably. Johnny Glynn had an excellent game. Tannian also played the full game. Still no sign of Cyril Donnellan for Pearses and they badly missed him. 1 pt in the full 2nd half is a poor return.

The back door draw will be fascinating, 3 recent county champions (incl. 2 All-Ireland winners), Turloughmore, Castlegar, Pearses, Craughwell etc. There are definitely going to be a couple of big name casualties straight away. I'm sure Thomas' for example wouldn't fancy meeting Gort (even if they are weakened) or Turloughmore.

I'm one of those who thinks there are too many senior club teams but I think this weekend has been a good showcase for the local club championships.

Was in Athenry last evening. Loughrea v Gort was poor enough, Johnny Coen was the difference scored 4 or 5 points from play, always able to make space with his speed and take his score

Portumna were very impressive, have obviously kept the sharpness from the All Ireland campaign. Led by 13 at one stage in the first half before easing off, Cashel got it back to 5 at one stage before Port pulled away again. Dean Higgins got sent off in the first half for a pull across JC under a high ball but doubt it made much of a difference. JC looked very sharp playing all of the game in centre field. Thought O' Meara was very good also playing full forward, ff may suit him best as it keeps him more involved, seems to have bulked up a bit more too.

Lemlin

Cavan beat Galway 2-14 to 1-12 at a challenge game in Cavan this evening.

Borders no.2

I hear Clare were comfortable winners over Galway in a challenge this evening. Really hard to see evidence of any sort of decent summer in either code.

Lemlin

Lemlin wrote: »

Cavan beat Galway 2-14 to 1-12 at a challenge game in Cavan this evening.

Borders no.2 wrote: »

I hear Clare were comfortable winners over Galway in a challenge this evening. Really hard to see evidence of any sort of decent summer in either code.

I'd be more worried about the footballers tbh.

But in both circumstances, it's hard to know what to make of a challenge without being there.

What I would say in relation to the hurlers is that in a much more meaningful game against Clare only a few weeks ago(League in Ennis obviously) they should have beat them if it wasn't for the most inept ref I've seen in a long time.

If Burke had taken his goal chance properly instead of trying to bounce it off the ground it wouldn't have came down to that ridic free for the draw at the death.

The most worrying evidence to the summers chances would be the 2nd half of the KK game in the league semi.

Hopefully it was thrown by the MGMT by reverting to a rotating forward line we know from previous years doesn't work, that they also realised that.
Things were going well enough in the first half with a settled unit.

If you wanted to draw a positive from that second half it was that as bad as we were, we were still in the game until the last few minutes.

There's been shades there from the hurlers, the footballers though just seem to be a tactical mess all over the field.
But who knows, in a one off game against Mayo... a player could be sent off, a goalie can make a mistake, won't be winning an All-Ireland but they certainly have enough chance to spring a surprise in that game if a few things fall into place.
Stranger things have certainly happened for sure.

Utopia Parkway

Borders no.2 wrote: »

I hear Clare were comfortable winners over Galway in a challenge this evening. Really hard to see evidence of any sort of decent summer in either code.

Galway had pretty much a reserve side out in fairness for the entire game bar a couple of lads. Joe came on for the 2nd half. Clare themselves played two different teams in both halves but more of their first choice players saw the field overall. Not sure you could really take much from the game.

macslash

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Galway had pretty much a reserve side out in fairness for the entire game bar a couple of lads. Joe came on for the 2nd half. Clare themselves played two different teams in both halves but more of their first choice players saw the field overall. Not sure you could really take much from the game.

you dont have the line-ups by any chance? thanks

Bleating Lamb

Hi folks,have a thread up re hurl bas sizes,would really appreciate if anyone viewed it and gave a quick reply,yours in sport,BL.

Borders no.2

Interesting result from Athenry on Saturday evening. Craughwell beating St. Thomas'. Anyone at it? Saw Thomas' last weekend against Castlegar and they weren't great but did enough, very surprised to see them go down to a Craughwell side who had struggled badly against Beagh.

There could be a few surprise quarter finalists this year. Looking for contenders to take the crown off Portumna and its hard to see any.
Can Loughrea go again? Gort are struggling, Clarenbridge are no longer serious contenders, Turloughmore are going bad.

Ardrahan are a team I believe aren't good enough to go the whole way but could go to the semi-finals or final if the draw is favourable. There is a host of games in the groups there that are hard to predict but really even with essentially the same group of players for the season ahead again Portumna look likely to add another county title to their haul.

Group A: Sarsfields, Loughrea, Mullagh and Killimordaly
Group B: Gort, Tommy Larkins, Kilnadeema Leitrim and Clarinbridge
Group C: Turloughmore, Craughwell, Beagh and Tynagh Abbey Duniry
Group Athenry, Ardrahan, Carnmore and Portumna

Elsewhere I hear Galway beat Limerick on Saturday in a challenge, any word on the teams or anyone have more details on this? Laois v Antrim next weekend with Galway playing the losers the following Sunday.

Footballers getting ready for London next Sunday. I'd hope they are under no illusions as to the task ahead of them. Galway should come through but only if the attitude is spot on.

Twiceasnice97

Galway scored 6 goals but didn't win by much. Limerick stated without condon walsh and mcnamara from last years defence.

The teams played an under 21s match sat eveimg

Starie1975

Who's heading over?

Frist meeting spot is the Crown hotel on Saturday evening. Saturday night is the Corrib Rest.

rebel girl 15

Starie1975 wrote: »

Who's heading over?

Frist meeting spot is the Crown hotel on Saturday evening. Saturday night is the Corrib Rest.

Should go to the Claddagh Saturday night!!

Starie1975

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

Should go to the Claddagh Saturday night!!

Probably end up there but the guys in the Corrib (same group) are having an event there both Saturday and Sunday nights.

nootroc

http://galwaybayfm.ie/gbfm-staff-supporting-galway-footballers-radio-gaa-gaa/

Utopia Parkway

Galway team

Manus Breathnach
Donal O'Neill
Finian Hanley
Johnny Duane
Gareth Bradshaw
Gary O'Donnell
Paul Varley
Fiontain O'Curraoin
Tom Flynn
Michael Lundy
Shane Walsh
James Kavanagh
Michael Martin
Eddie Hoare
Danny Cummins

blowitupref

Galway team in pictures http://www.tribesmengaa.ie/team.html

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

I spoke to a Galwayman the other night who seems very worried about ye for London. He reckoned Conroy missing could make a big difference. I know ye had a bad league campaign and London have improved a touch, but it can't be that bad, can it?

nootroc

Pessimism is the default setting at the moment or maybe it's realism. We should win this one we can't seem to close out games.