Galway GAA discussion thread

T0001

This night week is the next County Board meeting 29th Sept, manager will be 'confirmed' then

TheCoolWay

I hear Eamonn Fitzmaurice is a shoe-in. His dog's mother's adopted cousin's ex wife accidentally saw Galway on a map once. If not, we can just fly big Joe down again

letowski

Anthony Cunningham given another 3 years as senior hurling manager, with Eugene Cloonan and Damien Curley. That would make Cunningham 6 years in the job from 2012 to 2017.

I was a little surprised by it to be honest. I think Galway have regressed from '12 to '14. I fully accept that inter county managers aren't in abundance, but a change of voice may have been the best way forward. They have a few young players brought in this year so, so next year is a big one for Galway.

Shady Tady

letowski wrote: »

Anthony Cunningham given another 3 years as senior hurling manager, with Eugene Cloonan and Damien Curley. That would make Cunningham 6 years in the job from 2012 to 2017.

I was a little surprised by it to be honest. I think Galway have regressed from '12 to '14. I fully accept that inter county managers aren't in abundance, but a change of voice may have been the best way forward. They have a few young players brought in this year so, so next year is a big one for Galway.

If the donkeys in the county board stopped interfering and clubs in galway stopped acting like tribes he might have some chance. No wonder we're called the tribesmen!

gordongekko

threeball wrote: »

Its a stadium thats 3 times too big, with crap facilities, crap playing surface, horrendous weather conditions and crap access. You could put coca colas advertising budget into marketing it and it still wouldn't make a difference. People don't attend league games cos the product and the atmosphere are crap. You don't get good games on soggy undulating surfaces with 50 lads and a couple of dogs in a 30,000 capacity stadium

Were you drunk posting this rubbish?

Diabhal Beag

Only losing to All Ireland finalists shouldn't be overlooked but I'm very unsure of Cunningham. He brought in a new backroom and lads like Conor Cooney and Brehony stood up but that Thurles meltdown was the sign of a team that needs change. Some said it after the Laois game.

Interesting times for Galway GAA.

Utopia Parkway

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Only losing to All Ireland finalists shouldn't be overlooked but I'm very unsure of Cunningham. He brought in a new backroom and lads like Conor Cooney and Brehony stood up but that Thurles meltdown was the sign of a team that needs change. Some said it after the Laois game.

Interesting times for Galway GAA.

Not too happy with Cunningham staying on myself. Galway have had one very good year and two bad years under him and I think we will see more of the latter rather than the former under him next year. Also Galway play a very simplistic style of hurling under him which I think is both old fashioned and predictable.

O.A.P

Im surprised he got it again but he is as good as anybody else in galway and better than Anthony Daly by a long way I think.
26 years now without something to show for all the effort needs a man that will fight for his own reputation just as much as the teams.
Hopefully he sees the bigger picture now (its not a club job) and gives it all he has.

donnem33

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Not too happy with Cunningham staying on myself. Galway have had one very good year and two bad years under him and I think we will see more of the latter rather than the former under him next year. Also Galway play a very simplistic style of hurling under him which I think is both old fashioned and predictable.

He blooded 5 new players in...thats a lot in one season!!! having spoken to a few of the players, they were happy with preparation and were keen for cunningham to stay.

I dont think there was much of an alternative. Kenny although a good coach has zero personal skills and neither does mattie murphy!!!

donnem33

donnem33 wrote: »

He blooded 5 new players in...thats a lot in one season!!! having spoken to a few of the players, they were happy with preparation and were keen for cunningham to stay.

I dont think there was much of an alternative. Kenny although a good coach has zero personal skills and neither does mattie murphy!!!

I hear people say this in his defence but he had to do this as he had no other option. There have been a lot of bad years following Galway hurling but 2013 was an outright embarrassment. Despite the poor form of the team all year, the only time the team was switched up significantly was for the Clare quarter final.

At full back Kevin Hynes was badly exposed in 2013 and couldn't be put in there again, at centre back time had caught up with Tony Og Regan and Joe Cooney wasn't providing the answer. Up front it was proven that James Regan wasn't good enough and that Damien Hayes couldn't go for the full 70 any longer. Other issues also had an affect including the injury to Cyril Donnellan.

For me Cunningham isn't up to the job and I don't really see what new he's going to bring to the table that will advance Galway going forward.

However, this is only one of many problems in Galway hurling at the moment.

windy shepard henderson

how much of a factor is the club sceen influencing the decision , is it as bad as people say or is or is blowing out of all proportions, my point is how would some of the players react to having a st thomas's man in charge of the county team giving the fact there was a big devoid between them and a few of the rival clubs within the galway dressing room , or would the st thomas's players be put out that kenny did not get the job

i didnt agree with the idea of making cunningham re-apply , it makes me think that the board wanted someone else but they were not available/interested in the job , as a result i doubt cunningham will see out the full length of his new contract

to his credit though glaway have been there and there abouts since he took over , he desevers credit for everything that happened in 2012 , and infairness under his tenure the only teams that have beating galway in the championship have gone on to win the all ireland

Diabhal Beag

You say that but Laois have nearly caught them out twice in two years. They were twatted aside in embarrassing fashion by Dotsy O'Callaghan's boys and outstanding players in 2012 have completely wained.

MfMan

Borders no.2 wrote: »

I hear people say this in his defence but he had to do this as he had no other option. There have been a lot of bad years following Galway hurling but 2013 was an outright embarrassment. Despite the poor form of the team all year, the only time the team was switched up significantly was for the Clare quarter final.

At full back Kevin Hynes was badly exposed in 2013 and couldn't be put in there again, at centre back time had caught up with Tony Og Regan and Joe Cooney wasn't providing the answer. Up front it was proven that James Regan wasn't good enough and that Damien Hayes couldn't go for the full 70 any longer. Other issues also had an affect including the injury to Cyril Donnellan.

For me Cunningham isn't up to the job and I don't really see what new he's going to bring to the table that will advance Galway going forward.

However, this is only one of many problems in Galway hurling at the moment.

Agree with most of this. However the tribulations of '13 may be down to the (strongly) rumoured stories about antipathy between his selectors. '14 was a small improvement when at least a few new players were blooded. Forwards remain terrible though, like an unfinished ghost housing estate.

threeball

gordongekko wrote: »

Were you drunk posting this rubbish?

No, did you have help in your wonderful repost or did you come up with all by yourself?

threeball

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

You say that but Laois have nearly caught them out twice in two years. They were twatted aside in embarrassing fashion by Dotsy O'Callaghan's boys and outstanding players in 2012 have completely wained.

When are the players going to take some responsibility in this county besides running through managers faster than you could name them. Same goes for the footballers. Galways GAA teams need to grow some balls, put the head down, the effort in and stop paying lip service to season after season

Couple of interesting games today. Turloughmore and Ardrahan drew in the first senior quarter final. Hard fought game with lots of skirmishes and flashpoints. Turlough looked in control 5 up with 8 or 9 minutes left. Game ended controversially, Ardrahan got a goal which was correctly disallowed for Johnny Glynn picking the ball off the ground in the lead up. Originally the ref didn't see it which prompted a number of Turloughmore officials to run onto the pitch to confront him. One gave him an embarrassing dunt in the back (similar to Louth fans v Meath in 2010!). Umpire called over ref and the goal was disallowed. Ref gave Ardrahan a free to draw it and promptly blew the whistle. A game that summed up all that is good and bad about Galway club hurling.

There is a lot of bad refs in Galway and after a years work to have the potential of having it ruined by a poor refereeing decision will get people worked up but refs make mistakes, its a thankless job and they need more respect then the ref got today. The days of half the parish being on the sideline need to end!

In the football, Killererin are now just 1 win away from relegation after losing today. Its less than 4 years ago they were seconds away from an All-Ireland semi and had won their 4th county title in 12 years. They have now lost 5 senior championship games this year which to be honest should be enough to have anyone relegated but they will play off against Menlough with the loser going down. Padraig Joyce to his credit still doing all he can to keep them afloat.

Diabhal Beag

Milltown put up the worst showing of football I have ever seen against Corofin today. 2 points and they were lucky to get the second. Kavanagh had an absolute disaster and Mike Martin maybe touched the ball twice. Corofin weren't as great as the score suggests either. Lundy was exceptional but none of them really got going until Milltown decided to try and break some legs. Also there are a lot of annoying Corofin supporters who seem to make a job to abuse their own players.

As for the late game it was fairly exciting in the second half and Eddie Hoare stood out like a sore thumb as the county player. Great finish and looking forward to the replay.

MfMan

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Milltown put up the worst showing of football I have ever seen against Corofin today. 2 points and they were lucky to get the second. Kavanagh had an absolute disaster and Mike Martin maybe touched the ball twice. Corofin weren't as great as the score suggests either. Lundy was exceptional but none of them really got going until Milltown decided to try and break some legs. Also there are a lot of annoying Corofin supporters who seem to make a job to abuse their own players.

As for the late game it was fairly exciting in the second half and Eddie Hoare stood out like a sore thumb as the county player. Great finish and looking forward to the replay.

Don't think Kavanagh was nearly fit and am fairly definite that Martin isn't nearly a county footballer. Daithi Burke good for Corofin in midfield? How did Ian Burke do on his introduction? Does any team really want to win the replay? :-)

Greater experience and a superior ability to score goals helped Gort get over a fairly young K'daly side, but their opponents in the semi', either Turlough' or Ardrahan, will fancy their chances.

Loughrea should have really won the second game, were slightly dominant in the second half with Johnny Coen showing a good scoring touch, but conceded a soft goal when Johnny O' for the second time in the game didn't stay on his line. Portumna didn't look too sharp or awfully interested and time is starting to tell on some of their older players, Hayes' and Ollie incl. JC was his usual club self, ambling about the place, hitting a ball here and there, scoring a lucky goal from a sideline, hitting a magnificent winning free from 110+ yards, scoring 4 or 5 from play etc. When you look at him playing you think he isn't too put out; when you reflect back on the game you figure out he was the MOTM and the class apart. Turlough' or Ardrahan if they go at it hard enough might just take them.

Diabhal Beag

Ian Burke was excellent when he came on and there was another Burke in the FF line (name escapes) who was excellent in the first until he took a fairly bad bang. Kav was injured for sure but he lasted it. At one stage he was at FB and Mullahy was bombing forward. Daithí Burke was decent but Steede was the standout midfielder. Then again though they were up against a non-existent midfield and Blake should have been sent off. There's Junior sides that would've been more competitive today.

I think Corofin are beatable for sure after today but I don't know how you could keep Lundy and Sice quiet at the same time. Milltown were beating the ****e out of poor Sicey. Neither Barna or Michaels were stellar at the back.

You'd imagine Corofin will be struggle again in the provincial championship as they haven't had any even half decent run out this year and the final will be similar. I see Castlebar and Ballintubber coming through in Mayo, whoever comes out there will be well set and St. Brigid's are into the final in Roscommon again. Disappointing that Milltown didn't perform but I think they took it as far as they could last year and they will be a long time waiting again to be back among the contenders.

The Loughrea v Portumna game was a good contest. I'd agree with mfman above. One point I would make is that the freee for Portumna which Canning sent over could easily have been given the other way but the ref did give Loughrea a dubious chance to equalise. Johnny Maher was good all day from placed balls but sent the crucial one well wide. For Loughrea, its nearly like Mayo at this stage, they keep coming back and keep finding different ways to fail. They should have won and they'll be kicking themselves. I think Portumna missed Andy Smith. They will probably get past Craughwell but they are far from unbeatable. Portumna deservedly won the All-Ireland last year but in all honesty it was a weak All-Ireland. I'd be very surprised if they make it number 5 this year. Bit of a skirmish after the final whistle but apart from that it was mainly played in a good spirit.

The first game was a non-event, Killimordaly played ok in patches but Gort were able to get goals to push the scoreboard out any time Killimordaly threatened. Gort don't really impress me but they do carry a goal threat, 5 against Liam Mellows, 4 against Tommy Larkins and Clarenbridge and another 3 today. The next day will be a big step up though.

threeball

MfMan wrote: »

Don't think Kavanagh was nearly fit and am fairly definite that Martin isn't nearly a county footballer .

Well if his performance against Kerry is anything to go by then you're right there as it had to be one of the laziest displays I've ever seen in any intercounty jersey. If he clocked up 1.5km in that match it would be about the height of it and none of it above 50% pace. How he stayed on is beyond me.

Club football is at a really low ebb in Galway at the moment, its not hard to see how most lads would find the jump from this to senior IC a bridge too far.

MfMan

threeball wrote: »

Well if his performance against Kerry is anything to go by then you're right there as it had to be one of the laziest displays I've ever seen in any intercounty jersey. If he clocked up 1.5km in that match it would be about the height of it and none of it above 50% pace. How he stayed on is beyond me.

Club football is at a really low ebb in Galway at the moment, its not hard to see how most lads would find the jump from this to senior IC a bridge too far.

No, it's been absolutely pathetic for many years. Beyond the teams' own supporters, who in their right minds would go to see 2 senior clubs play each other in the c'ship now? Is there one player, a-la PJ, Ja or Mikey D, that you would go out of your way to see? For all the criticism levelled at the hurling side of the house, the players involved at least work on their skills and their game, with the result that the standard is usually presentable, as evidenced by the good crowds that attend the latter stages of the c'ship.

LowOdour

I see on twitter that Anthony Cunningham has been given 2 more years with the hurlers and Kevin Walsh gets 3 years with the footballers.

No link to confirm this yet though

TCDStudent1

LowOdour wrote: »

I see on twitter that Anthony Cunningham has been given 2 more years with the hurlers and Kevin Walsh gets 3 years with the footballers.

No link to confirm this yet though

It has been reported on the Galway GAA supporters page on FB too

Diabhal Beag

So it really is just a one year term masked as a two year term.

Syferus

If he has a good year it's very definitely going to be a two year term.

Royal Seahawk

What's the story with relegation in the Senior Hurling Championship this year can anyone tell me? Are Kiltormer relegated yet or do they have another match or two to stay up? Official Galway website is very sparse to say the least.

Toplink

Royal Seahawk wrote: »

What's the story with relegation in the Senior Hurling Championship this year can anyone tell me? Are Kiltormer relegated yet or do they have another match or two to stay up? Official Galway website is very sparse to say the least.

2 Relegation semi finals.

Kinvara V Liam Mellows

Pearses Vs Kiltormer

Losers play each other.

T0001

Kiltormer are f*****

T0001

Kevin Walsh will be picking a team from a blank canvass.

Good way to go. I hope he makes players want their places and keeps them competitive with each other. If you have 2 player wanting the same spot then performances have to go up and can only lead to better overall performances.

There was some promising play from the lads this year.
2nd half v Mayo - 11pts and only copitulated twice
2nd half v Kerry - 1-07 and only conceeded a JOD goal.

I think they need to develop two players + 1 sub that can score from outside the 45m at any given time. With blanket dfences having guys who can score from there would be a great asset. 1st half v. Kerry had 10 wides, a long range scorer sould have gotten 3-4 of those and would have put us in a better position imo.