Galway GAA discussion thread

Worthwent14

Moore is available for selection. Martin is capable of the outrageous score but often doesn't contribute id prefer to see Avarley or armstrong in the corner. Agree with cummins hes a dangerous forward howver lacks the killer instinct in front of goal. Bradshaw is a liability at the back but we have nobody else to come in. Eoin Walsh liam silke sean denvir were the 3 backs on the bench v sligo and 2 of them have never played senior football for galway before whilst the other is hardly county standard. Duane Sice forde were big losses but feel we have enough talent in attack to put up a winning score if we can get possesion in midfield and hopefully keep it tight at the back. Reckon team will be same as v sligo and conroy and armstrong and Kavanagh to come on in second half to give huge boost hopefully. Think it will be a tight game and if we can score 2goals without conceding any then we will win. We need to get on top early and not let mayo build a lead or else its curtains

citykat

Megager wrote: »

If available Id love to get Joe Allen

I think you need to go for someone a bit more high profile than Joe. He doesn't appear to be too well known. I can't find him on google anyway.

dastardly00

citykat wrote: »

I think you need to go for someone a bit more high profile than Joe. He doesn't appear to be too well known. I can't find him on google anyway.

I'd say he meant John Allen.

The game last year was over before it began but Hanley back at full back brings a bit more shape to the defence. I worry about our backline, the 2 corner backs are honest lads but at this level are a bit lightweight in my view. Johnny Duane is a loss but no-use talking about that now. Don't really trust Gary O'Donnell at centre back against the better sides and Bradshaw really owes Galway a big performance on Sunday. In my view he shouldn't have been let back in the panel in the first place but he needs to show a hell of a lot more.

Shane Walsh will be targeted from the off by Mayo and won't get the sort of freedom he got against Sligo. Galway need to work as a unit if they are to achieve anything in this game. If the hard work doesn't start from the forward line back we will get a pasting.

Galway have made some progress. How much is difficult to tell. There is talk of Mayo trying to peak for September which is nonsense in my view. If Galway can keep in there for the first 20 minutes hopefully they can make a good fist of it. No-one in Galway realistically expects a win but a strong performance and we can build towards round 4 of the qualifiers at worst.

Quarter final is a real possibility this year which would be a significant step towards arresting the dramatic slide over the last number of years.

WallyGUFC

Standing behind the goal last year that Galway defended in the first half, it was painful viewing. Finian Hanley was a huge loss, the back 6 had no shape at all. Hopefully they'll be a bit tighter with him there.

Should be a decent game although I feel Roscommon blew the best chance of Mayo getting beaten in Connacht this year. Just hope the game isn't over at HT like last year but we're in a decent bit of form. First time in a long, long time being a bit excited for a Galway football match and that's a welcome change. Hopefully they deliver a good performance, result doesn't really matter imo.

Megager

dastardly00 wrote: »

I'd say he meant John Allen.

He did, slip of the fingers.

Hulk Hands

Moore and Conroy in while Martin and Tierney drop out. Tough on Martin but Higgins would probably prove too much for him. Obviously worried about Mayos half back line keeping Comer in whos quite physically strong.A physical team named all in all. I'd prefer to see Conroy or Armstrong at half forward as provided Vaughan isn't on Lundy then he's there to be exposed big time. Anyway, we'll see how it pans out. Wouldn't surprise me to see an inside two of Walsh and Cummins for periods of the game

Stanza2

So hope that he does not go with Army !

Walsh and Cummins are the key......... Scoring machines, but will they get enough ball? Can't see it myself. Hoping for some pride in the jersey and put last years horror show behind us. We need to be clever and not let Mayo intimidate us or play act to get lads sent off.

Diabhal Beag

Thought Comer or Lundy would be benched. Didn't expect Martin, although he had a quiet game against Sligo by his standards.

Worthwent14

If any of the forwards were to be dropped it was always gonna be martin. Altho i cant see conroy playin corner forward? Where will he really play?? Is ther any chance he'll play centre forward and put Walsh corner forward? Leave the 2 pacy lads inside? Could work? Moore for teirney was an obvious switch altho teirney did well v sligo. Maybe a bit surprised Kavanagh didnt start for comer. A good intensity will be needed and plenty of movement in order to do damage v mayo and we need to force them to kick long from their own kickouts

TheCoolWay

Conroy free role?

TCDStudent1

TheCoolWay wrote: »

Conroy free role?

I doubt it as Hoare will be roaming around the place.

This is an incredibly hard call on Martin. He has been doing reasonably well all year and had a decent game against Sligo. Also, he usually links up well with Cummins. I attended the James - Milltown match a few weeks ago and Martin was impressive in that game too. Much more impressive than Conroy actually.

Conroy is a class act. There is no question. I am not sure about this team though - it seems to lack balance by putting Conroy in there. Does he play as a 2 man full forward line? I dont think he is really suited to that. Does he roam out to midfield? Would make sense if Hoare wasnt at number 14.

I'd much prefer to see Martin at number 13 and Conroy out in the half forward line.

TCDStudent1

Worthwent14 wrote: »

If any of the forwards were to be dropped it was always gonna be martin. Altho i cant see conroy playin corner forward? Where will he really play?? Is ther any chance he'll play centre forward and put Walsh corner forward? Leave the 2 pacy lads inside? Could work? Moore for teirney was an obvious switch altho teirney did well v sligo. Maybe a bit surprised Kavanagh didnt start for comer. A good intensity will be needed and plenty of movement in order to do damage v mayo and we need to force them to kick long from their own kickouts

Walsh had an outstanding game at 11 against Sligo. I dont get why anybody would even consider moving him from that position. Walsh needs to get on the ball as much as possible. So I think he needs to stay at number 11.

This team doesnt make any sense to me. Maybe he could switch Comer and Conroy? Or maybe we will actually see Conroy at 14 and Hoare at 13. However, Mulholland has used Conroy mostly as a midfielder and not as a full forward.

I just dont understand what he is trying to do with this team!

Gary O'Donnell v Aidan OSe could be a good battle.

Worthwent14

I agree i think Walsh should stay at 11 im just trying to make sense of where he'll play conroy. I reckon he'll use conroy and hoare as rotating 3rd midfielders leave one in and one in midfield and switch every so often.

TheCoolWay

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

I doubt it as Hoare will be roaming around the place.

This is an incredibly hard call on Martin. He has been doing reasonably well all year and had a decent game against Sligo. Also, he usually links up well with Cummins. I attended the James - Milltown match a few weeks ago and Martin was impressive in that game too. Much more impressive than Conroy actually.

Conroy is a class act. There is no question. I am not sure about this team though - it seems to lack balance by putting Conroy in there. Does he play as a 2 man full forward line? I dont think he is really suited to that. Does he roam out to midfield? Would make sense if Hoare wasnt at number 14.

I'd much prefer to see Martin at number 13 and Conroy out in the half forward line.

Since when did Trinity students follow GAA?

Hulk Hands

That wasn't actually that bad. If we played Kerry or Dublin in their back yard and got beat by 7 then there wouldn't be a bad reaction. Because of the natural superiority complex Galway people have over their Mayo counterparts it always seems bad when we lose to them. But they are one of the top teams in the country and we're a bit away from that yet. Still, we were beaten by giving away soft goals and it was competitive bar that. Still one game away from a quarter finals and we'll go into the game with tipp as very marginal favs. There's much to look forward to. Sadly I expect a negative reaction and there won't be 1/10th of the Galway crowd there from today at the Tipp game, which is annoying as it's our biggest game in years

Utopia Parkway

Hulk Hands wrote: »

That wasn't actually that bad. If we played Kerry or Dublin in their back yard and got beat by 7 then there wouldn't be a bad reaction. Because of the natural superiority complex Galway people have over their Mayo counterparts it always seems bad when we lose to them. But they are one of the top teams in the country and we're a bit away from that yet. Still, we were beaten by giving away soft goals and it was competitive bar that. Still one game away from a quarter finals and we'll go into the game with tipp as very marginal favs. There's much to look forward to. Sadly I expect a negative reaction and there won't be 1/10th of the Galway crowd there from today at the Tipp game, which is annoying as it's our biggest game in years

Yeah it was a big improvement on last year even though it was a relatively comfortable win for Mayo in the end. Mayo are a seriously physically powerful side with 4 or 5 years of strength and conditioning work behind them. They were often able to burst straight through our tackles. You can see that our younger players are still lacking a bit physically.

Like last year though we got killed on the breaking ball. Not a lot of clean ball caught but Mayo flooded midfield and McLoughlin and Doherty cleaned up. Especially in the first half.

Cannot believe though that Mulholland left O'Neill on O'Connor the entire game. Maybe if Joss Moore hadn't pulled out at the last minute he might have made that switch but you still have to try something.

Shane Walsh very quiet in the first half but he came into it more in the second. Scored one unbelievable point and he'll have better days going forward. I would have actually left Cummins on as he was causing some bother for Mayo even though he hit some awful wides. Hoare had a game to forget. Hit 3 bad wides in the first 20 minutes and his confidence went I feel. Lundy was decent. Kept driving forward. Conroy got better as the game went on but I have a feeling he's not quite 100% fit yet.

The Tipp game is very important now. Win it and Galway are back in an All-Ireland quarter-final which would represent good progress this year. They could go out and give it a lash against Kerry. Lose against Tipp and a lot of the negative vibes would return.

Cosmo Kramer

Hulk Hands wrote: »

That wasn't actually that bad. If we played Kerry or Dublin in their back yard and got beat by 7 then there wouldn't be a bad reaction. Because of the natural superiority complex Galway people have over their Mayo counterparts it always seems bad when we lose to them. But they are one of the top teams in the country and we're a bit away from that yet. Still, we were beaten by giving away soft goals and it was competitive bar that. Still one game away from a quarter finals and we'll go into the game with tipp as very marginal favs. There's much to look forward to. Sadly I expect a negative reaction and there won't be 1/10th of the Galway crowd there from today at the Tipp game, which is annoying as it's our biggest game in years

Jesus, if Galway people thought that effort was alright then they're in an even bigger hole than I thought. There wasn't one point in the game where I thought Galway had any chance of winning and Mayo never got out of second gear. I wouldn't be happy with any Mayo team I've ever seen - and I've seen some bad ones - going to Galway and rolling over like that - but this was a Galway team packed with underage All Ireland winners and they looked beaten by half time for the second year in a row. I just don't know if Galway people involved in the setup have the interest or inclination to make the necessary structural changes required - although I suspect if they did it would have happened by now.

Utopia Parkway

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Jesus, if Galway people thought that effort was alright then they're in an even bigger hole than I thought. There wasn't one point in the game where I thought Galway had any chance of winning and Mayo never got out of second gear. I wouldn't be happy with any Mayo team I've ever seen - and I've seen some bad ones - going to Galway and rolling over like that - but this was a Galway team packed with underage All Ireland winners and they looked beaten by half time for the second year in a row. I just don't know if Galway people involved in the setup have the interest or inclination to make the necessary structural changes required - although I suspect if they did it would have happened by now.

Sure Mayo trounced Donegal by 16 points last August and Donegal were All-Ireland champions. Mayo are a top 2 or 3 side and have been for a good few years now. Galway are at the beginning of the road for them. I think it's unrealistic to expect them to match up physically and mentally to such an experienced outfit. Especially physically they are just not on that level yet. It takes time so I wouldn't throw them under the bus for not being able to beat Mayo up in Castlebar. Not many teams would be able to.

That said there are aspects of the performance that you would not be happy with. They gave up some pretty soft goals. Had they avoided a couple of those they may well have been in with a shout coming into the final 10 minutes.

Spring Onion

Where/When is the Tipperary game?

Cosmo Kramer

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Sure Mayo trounced Donegal by 16 points last August and Donegal were All-Ireland champions. Mayo are a top 2 or 3 side and have been for a good few years now. Galway are at the beginning of the road for them. I think it's unrealistic to expect them to match up physically and mentally to such an experienced outfit. Especially physically they are just not on that level yet. It takes time so I wouldn't throw them under the bus for not being able to beat Mayo up in Castlebar. Not many teams would be able to.

That said there are aspects of the performance that you would not be happy with. They gave up some pretty soft goals.

Donegal and Mayo aren't cross border local rivals though - the derby element usually narrows the gap between teams.

Having said that I agree with a lot of what you say - though it was the manner of defeat more than the defeat itself that would concern me. If I was a Galway supporter I would like to know that there's a clear plan being followed to bridge that gap but I haven't heard or seen much to suggest that the necessary root and branch changes are being brought about (as happened in Mayo after the Sligo/Longford debacle of 2010).

Cosmo Kramer

Spring Onion wrote: »

Where/When is the Tipperary game?

I think it will be in two weeks time at a neutral venue (Ennis/Limerick/Croker?)

Mixed bag but really Mayo were fairly comfortable. Galway highlighted enough weaknesses in Mayo to add further question marks to their All-Ireland credentials but we are a bit away still and being honest we don't have it on the line either.

At that level you need to maximise your periods in the ascendency and really Galway missed a lot of scorable chances at key times.

Tipperary is an important game, a win there is essential.

Utopia Parkway

Borders no.2 wrote: »

At that level you need to maximise your periods in the ascendency and really Galway missed a lot of scorable chances at key times.

I think Cummins and Hoare hit 7 or 8 awful wides just between the two of them. Thought Cummins was actually playing well enough in winning ball and turning his marker. Just left his shooting boots at home.

threeball

Very disappointed with the galway display today. After last years display I thought we'd put up a fight but that was just gutless. The amount of lads that backed out of going for the hard ball and didn't chase balls that bounced just past them was pathetic. On top of that we spent an entire half lumping kickouts into our midfield completely convinced we'd win first time possesion while being wiped out. I lost count of the amount of times that mayo had three lads waiting in front for breaks while we had 2 in the air and no one battling on the ground.
I'd forgive the wides today as theres no doubt we have the forwards to do damage but we need a midfield system for when things aren't working in the air, we need a defensive system the doesn't involved our entire forward 6 sitting in the half back line and confusing matters and most of all we need the 15 on the pitch to put their bodies on the line for the 50/50 or 60/40 ball. Otherwise they'll play out their intercounty career with nothing to show for it.

porterbelly

Tipp are a hugely improved side and have some quality forwards that would get in any team in the country, particularly Conor Sweeney. Paddy Codd is a mighty full back and McDonald in the corner is a great man marker.

We should really win more ball at midfield against them than we did today. But we will need to be really up for it because it's going to be a very tough game. That being said, it is a kind draw.

I think we can be pleased with today, never once threw in the towel which is a positive. Lots to work on, particularly the wide count. Cummins was responsible for the lot of him but I would never have taken him off because he is a terrific ball winner out in front with his pace. Lads like Conroy and Walsh need to be moving off him to receive passes and they'll throw it over. That has to be the main tactic, tell Danny to lay it off.

We struggled with the pace of the game at times and got opened up alot but I think that was always going to happen. Leaving O Neill on O Connor is a point well made but the reality is, do we have anyone other inside defender who can mark him? Probably not, which is a worry.

I think I'd start Armstrong the next day ahead of one of Comer or Hoare because we will have a bit more time and space and he can kick scores.

Hugely impressed with Lundy today who ran himself into the ground. Conroy and Walsh came into it alot in the second half. Plenty to work on but a huge step forward from last year. Roll on 2 weeks time.

MfMan

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Jesus, if Galway people thought that effort was alright then they're in an even bigger hole than I thought. There wasn't one point in the game where I thought Galway had any chance of winning and Mayo never got out of second gear. I wouldn't be happy with any Mayo team I've ever seen - and I've seen some bad ones - going to Galway and rolling over like that - but this was a Galway team packed with underage All Ireland winners and they looked beaten by half time for the second year in a row. I just don't know if Galway people involved in the setup have the interest or inclination to make the necessary structural changes required - although I suspect if they did it would have happened by now.

Don't think this Mayo team can get out of second gear, big difference between this year and last was that Mayo were out of sight at ht in '13. Say what you like, Mayo's forwards have gone back, Dillon and Andy Moran in particular. Galway's quick fire scores after the interval showed that they were still close enough if good enough. (Like you, I've seen much much worse performances from my county than today).

For this Mayo team, it has to be this year or never, simple as.

h2005

MfMan wrote: »

Don't think this Mayo team can get out of second gear, big difference between this year and last was that Mayo were out of sight at ht in '13. Say what you like, Mayo's forwards have gone back, Dillon and Andy Moran in particular. Galway's quick fire scores after the interval showed that they were still close enough if good enough. (Like you, I've seen much much worse performances from my county than today).

For this Mayo team, it has to be this year or never, simple as.

It's never so. That mayo team is miles off an all Ireland.

threeball

MfMan wrote: »

Don't think this Mayo team can get out of second gear, big difference between this year and last was that Mayo were out of sight at ht in '13. Say what you like, Mayo's forwards have gone back, Dillon and Andy Moran in particular. Galway's quick fire scores after the interval showed that they were still close enough if good enough. (Like you, I've seen much much worse performances from my county than today).

For this Mayo team, it has to be this year or never, simple as.

Mayo haven't a hope this year without some sort of miracle. No forwards and a much more porous defence than previous years. Dublin and kerry would eat them alive. Would struggle against monaghan and meath also. They were tbere for the taking today if we had a half decent defensive system and had more fearlessness. If we even just took our chances we'd have run them close.

WallyGUFC

I felt the game was over at half time but if that shot at the start of the 2nd half had been 3 inches lower we were back in business. Mayo's goals were very soft though.

Mayo have got to a QF without showing their hand at all. I'd worry for them though - if we can put 16 points on them what will Dublin do?