Galway GAA discussion thread

Mars Bar

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Tannion is solid in midfield. If not for him Galway would be in trouble (feels weird saying that and it not being about Canning). Davey Burke is doing alright but the passing into the forwards today has been brutal.

It wouldn't be a championship match without Skehill handing a goal to the opposition.

The forwards have been slow off the mark getting ahead of their defenders when low balls are coming in.

Mars Bar

We suffer from "second half syndrome". We've been terrible for the past 10 minutes.

Diabhal Beag

Good to get the win but really when Canning was injured he should have been subbed, especially seeing the impact Harran and Glynn made when they came on.

Nice to get the win but massive work needs to be done to limit KK forwards. Even if Dublin won they still would be a big worry re: O'Dwyer and Dotsy.

Tannion is a good addition to midfield though. Big and stocky but some of his passing was poor whereas he also hit some amazing passes too.

RealityCheck

Considering how facile the win was, I'm still a bit disappointed with many aspects of play. Now I did think Offaly would win a tight game so from that respect I'm happy enough. Having said that I can see a Leinster Final being a long day. I could see Kilkenny destroying us at midfield and up front. That game was like a training match at times. No intensity, too much space. Can't see Tannion having that kind of game against Kilkenny or Dublin. We still have a questionable half back line, and we are still playing a makeshift full back. We've a lot to work on in those respects.

Having said all that some of the forward play, for a couple of the goals was decent and we'll need that to have any chance in the final. There was too much procrastination in the second half with them constantly going for goal. It was a bit surreal and surely no preparation for the Leinster Final.

My minimum expectations have already been achieved. Based on recent seasons it was only reasonable to expect a quarter final at most from this young team. As long as we don't shame ourselves in the next two games I'll be happy enough for year 1, but depending on who we get anything can happen I guess.

Diabhal Beag

RealityCheck wrote: »

My minimum expectations have already been achieved. Based on recent seasons it was only reasonable to expect a quarter final at most from this young team. As long as we don't shame ourselves in the next two games I'll be happy enough for year 1, but depending on who we get anything can happen I guess.

Same here. Thought Offaly would nick a draw at least but I'm happy there's a Quarter Final appearance and at least one trip to Croker this year for us Galway fans. In year 1 to contain KK to 5 points is realistic goal for the final.

Joyce Country

average performance against an average side.

big step up needed against Kilkenny in the final.

nonetheless positive signs are there and he's cleared out a lot of dead wood so Cunningham is in my good books.

Justin10

Joyce Country wrote: »

big step up needed against Kilkenny in the final.

:rolleyes:

RealityCheck

I definitely wouldn't be ruling out Dublin for a shock. They'll have been targeting the Kilkenny game now for a while. That said I would expect Kilkenny to come out on top. Galway are likely to plan for Kilkenny regardless. Big game would be needed against either though, especially with KK.

Diabhal Beag

Going on my predictions so far for the year I am officially giving Dublin no chance of beating Kilkenny whatsoever.

Justin10

Now I remember why it felt so good knocking Galway out last year.

RealityCheck

Rochey18 wrote: »

Now I remember why it felt so good knocking Galway out last year.

Dublin have won absolutely nothing of note that warrants them being anything other than outsiders against Kilkenny. Having said that I think Kilkenny are in decline, although I don't think the rate of decline is that fast. Dublin might give them a decent game but it will be one hell of shock if Dublin turn them over. The same goes for everyone bar maybe Tipperary on a good day. Enjoy your wins against Galway as they are about the height of what Dublin are likely to achieve.

Justin10

What has anyone done of note except for Tipp and Kilkenny???
To be fair Dublin probably have done more then anyone in recent years.

*Edit sorry sorry this galway thread, keep it on track.

RealityCheck

Rochey18 wrote: »

What has anyone done of note except for Tipp and Kilkenny???
To be fair Dublin probably have done more then anyone in recent years.

*Edit sorry sorry this galway thread, keep it on track.

Thats true but it doesn't take away from the fact that Dublin turning Kilkenny over will be a massive shock.
Dublin have certainly made the greatest improvement in last 3 years and are as good as any of the rest. Its a massive step to the next level however. Galway haven't managed it in over 20 years. The easy part is getting to where Dublin are now, the hard part is pushing on. Dublin are going the right way about it, but they're a few years away from it yet. I don't think anyone around here is having a swipe at Dublin, its more a reflection of our awe of Kilkenny.

Mountainlad

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Same here. Thought Offaly would nick a draw at least but I'm happy there's a Quarter Final appearance and at least one trip to Croker this year for us Galway fans. In year 1 to contain KK to 5 points is realistic goal for the final.

Wouldn't be so sure of that...

RealityCheck

Mountainlad wrote: »

Wouldn't be so sure of that...

So you reckon it will be Tullamore or Portlaoise for a Leinster Final. Hardly?

Diabhal Beag

It has already been confirmed for Croker. No TBC about it.

http://gaa.ie/fixtures-and-results/national-fixtures/gaa-hurling-all-ireland-senior-championship/leinster/

Also note how the venue for Munster final is TBC whereas Leinster is already confirmed.

RealityCheck

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

It has already been confirmed for Croker. No TBC about it.

http://gaa.ie/fixtures-and-results/national-fixtures/gaa-hurling-all-ireland-senior-championship/leinster/

Also note how the venue for Munster final is TBC whereas Leinster is already confirmed.

Thats what I'd assumed.

Mountainlad

RealityCheck wrote: »

So you reckon it will be Tullamore or Portlaoise for a Leinster Final. Hardly?

Ah yes my apologies, I was thinking of the quarter final!

RealityCheck

Mountainlad wrote: »

Ah yes my apologies, I was thinking of the quarter final!

Nearly made the same mistake earlier. Just not used of Galway being in Leinster finals.

locked

james skehill could be blamed for the three goals today,, making these mistakes every year for galway.. dont think donohue hynes smith tannian amd j cooney up for it. although collins will be in for j cooney next day. hope the rest prove me wrong.

Diabhal Beag

Tannian was very good today. Dominated midfield whereas Smith was lost out there. Only fault was some of his passing was awful at a time where no Galway player was accurate passing and I'd wonder if the sun was in their eyes.

I really rate Dooley but for sure the last goal was due to the ignorance of the Galway backs. Skehill was completely at fault for the first for sure. I hate to be too harsh on players but he is prone to mistakes early in big matches to the point where Flannery/Ryan should be given their proper chance. It will be difficult to throw them in against KK/Dub (especially after Ryan was in goals for the thrashing by KK earlier on this year) but it must be done.

cson

Don't know what was said to Fergal Moore at HT but he had Shane Dooley in his back pocket in the second half after being cleaned in the first.

Pride Fighter

Just deleted a whole host of posts.

Folks do not post hearsay and conjecture on these boards.

Mod

TomKat

Pride Fighter wrote: »

Just deleted a whole host of posts.

Folks do not post hearsay and conjecture on these boards.

Mod

what was wrong with the posts?

Diabhal Beag

Dodgy territory clearly.

Galway will have a tough tough day against KK especially in the full-back line. Last time I saw Rushe that well marked out of a match was the U-21 final last year.

RealityCheck

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Galway will have a tough tough day against KK especially in the full-back line. Last time I saw Rushe that well marked out of a match was the U-21 final last year.

We'll have our work cut out at every line, but I'm sure you don't dispute that. I reckon the half back line will be equally as critical.

If we finish within 10 points of them I'll be satisfied. What we don't need is the team to be beaten out the gate. It won't be good for their development. I reckon how the half back line do will be every bit as important as the full back line. If they give too much space and can't win ball, the full back line will be overrun. They'll need a lot of support from midfield and even from half forwards. They'll need a game plan to have any hope against them, but at the same time we need to play to our strengths. Use our pace, skill and movement in the forwards. We've more natural forwards than Dublin at least. Defence very questionable though.

Diabhal Beag

Backs in general have been poor this Championship. Would be great to see the likes of Coen, Donohue and Collins step up against Kilkenny. Nice to see there's no expectation of a win which is welcome realism for the first year of Cunningham's reign. 7 point defeat for me would be good progress and also lend reason for optimism for the Quarters. KK have some wealth of talent everywhere. To be able to bring on Tennyson and Noel Hickey isn't matched outside of Tipp really.

O.A.P

The round robin route to Croke park is a no hoper this year above any other, I think.
So its a simple matter of beating the cats in the Leinster final and winning the next two games. The beating Kilkenny bit has happened before againest the odds.
I went fishing in 2001 and missed (imo) the best match of the decade, because we all thought they had no chance. I have not missed one since on the telly or was at the match.
I hope to see the day when Galway are Leinster chamipions, this is our chance. Optimistic I know but I bring a maroon and white flag to the matches not a white one.
I'll give the bookies a miss though .

I meant to write hurlers in the title, not hulers sorry.

Mountainlad

How much does winning a Leinster title mean to Galway fans? Like I know if ye won it it woud bring about great optimism for the future that ye might win an all-ireland, but see what has happened with us happened with ye? Would ye look back in 8-10 years time and remember winning a Leinster as fondly as Waterford fans remember 2002 and 2004?

Honest question, just curious to hear what ye make of it.

RealityCheck

Mountainlad wrote: »

How much does winning a Leinster title mean to Galway fans? Like I know if ye won it it woud bring about great optimism for the future that ye might win an all-ireland, but see what has happened with us happened with ye? Would ye look back in 8-10 years time and remember winning a Leinster as fondly as Waterford fans remember 2002 and 2004?

Honest question, just curious to hear what ye make of it.

Yes and no.

Yes it would mean a lot and we would remember it fondly in 8-10 years, but thats more so because we would have beaten a great Kilkenny team. It would be similarly remembered to the time we beat Kilkenny in 01 and 05, but the difference is we would receive silverware for doing so.

No from the point of view that we don't have the same affinity with the Bob O'Keefe Cup as the likes of Waterford have in Munster or Kilkenny/ Offaly have in Leinster.