Galway GAA discussion thread

morcheen k

rare to get the second chance so we have to win it today will there be any 'streams' about ?

O.A.P

Well done Kilkenny best team won today. It hurts though.

basillarkin

No complaints, best team won. Post mortem tomorrow

nagirrac

Kilkenny were the best team in the first half helped by Galway adopting a defensive mode from the start this time rather than waiting until the second half as is usual. When Galway actually started to hurl at the start of the second half they matched Kilkenny and were getting a grip on the game by the 45th minute. The 3 incidents that happened between the 44th and 50th minutes drained Galway's momentum. Although Kilkenny showed in the first half they could respond to Galway goals I'm not sure how well they would have responded if Donnellan's goal had stood and Canning's effort went in. This could have given Galway a head of steam and they may well have pushed on and won. At that period of the game Donnellan was winning evey ball that came his way as was Jonathan Glynn. Anyway, congrats to Kilkenny, they responded to everything Galway threw at them in both games and fully deserved their victory.

STIG83

Hard luck to Galway yesterday, was shouting for ye from Oz, a pleasure to watch this year and ye will be back stronger than ever and Im not ashamed to say this but Galway will win an AI before Waterford (where I'm from) will.

aidan24326

nagirrac wrote: »

Kilkenny were the best team in the first half helped by Galway adopting a defensive mode from the start this time rather than waiting until the second half as is usual.

This defensive strategy needs to be shelved immediately. I was gobsmacked that Cunningham set up to play like that again. We saw in the Cork game and in the second half of the drawn final that it's a fatally flawed system. Hitting balls up to the forward area and not a forward in sight. Joe Canning winning ball in the half back line. This is just madness, and very frustrating to watch. 4 of the starting forwards didn't score yesterday. Again. It's just not good enough. When Galway actually played some hurling they were well able to put it up to Kilkenny.

Diabhal Beag

There's work to be done alright. Will Kavanagh be back next year?

I think we've seen the end of Johnny Glynn as a sub. He's a serious fielder and badly needed.

audman

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

There's work to be done alright. Will Kavanagh be back next year?

I think we've seen the end of Johnny Glynn as a sub. He's a serious fielder and badly needed.

Maybe signalling an end for Damien Hayes (which I'm sad to say). For the type of player he is/was and what we use/used him for (fast, energetic, non-stop runner, etc...) I think he might be just a little past it, or going in that direction. Can't say how proud I am of this Galway team, hopefully the taste of defeat for such a young team will bring them on. The experience gained in general this year should stand to them in the next few years. With the current management team I have every confidence in them. Gaillimh Abú! PS - Pearse Stadium is filling up nicely, happy to be here!

cgpg5

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

There's work to be done alright. Will Kavanagh be back next year?

I think we've seen the end of Johnny Glynn as a sub. He's a serious fielder and badly needed.

Has to be played in the half forward line next year. We were crying out for a ball winner in the first half in this department! Made an impact in every game this year and must be given a chance. He was the best of the (albeit disappointing) bunch for the under 21's too

aidan24326

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

There's work to be done alright. Will Kavanagh be back next year?

I think we've seen the end of Johnny Glynn as a sub. He's a serious fielder and badly needed.

Don't know about Kavanagh. What I do know is that we need a new centre back. I hate to knock any of the players after the effort they've put in but the reality is that Tony Og makes far too many mistakes. Kilkenny got several scores on Sunday that came directly from errors he made. And some of them were really silly errors, like fumbling the ball, not releasing it in time etc

As for Johnny Glynn, he has looked impressive when given a chance and would surely have done a better job than James Regan, who hardly touched the ball in either game. Conor Cooney doesn't look to be up to the job either. I'd hope Shane Maloney might come through next year, Padraig Brehony aswell.

Overall good progress was made this year and with a bit of tweaking here and there this team can be genuine contenders next year.

Diabhal Beag

Can anybody tell me if Kavanagh building a house was the reason he wasn't around this year?

Kojak

aidan24326 wrote: »

Overall good progress was made this year and with a bit of tweaking here and there this team can be genuine contenders next year.

Hope you are right, aidan, but we have been here before, 2001 and moreso 2005 being prime examples. The biggest regret was that it wasn't won the 1st day, why Galway sat back on a lead of 5 points was amazing.

To think we will be back in an AI final next year, just on the basis of a young team etc. is rubbish. I fear myself that if we make a semi final next year we will be doing well. galway always seem to do better when there is absolutly no talk about them at all (e.g. the leinster final this year). Now with them coming within a score of beating KK in the drawn match, all the hype will be about "making up for last year, genuine contendors etc.", which as we have seen before, does not sit well with Galway teams. Even look at the artciles that were written before the Leinster final and before the AI final replay - poles apart.

No talk about "hurling revolution" "new heroes" etc. until they win an AI title - then you can talk as much of that shíte as you want.

MfMan

Kojak wrote: »

Hope you are right, aidan, but we have been here before, 2001 and moreso 2005 being prime examples. The biggest regret was that it wasn't won the 1st day, why Galway sat back on a lead of 5 points was amazing.

To think we will be back in an AI final next year, just on the basis of a young team etc. is rubbish. I fear myself that if we make a semi final next year we will be doing well. galway always seem to do better when there is absolutly no talk about them at all (e.g. the leinster final this year). Now with them coming within a score of beating KK in the drawn match, all the hype will be about "making up for last year, genuine contendors etc.", which as we have seen before, does not sit well with Galway teams. Even look at the artciles that were written before the Leinster final and before the AI final replay - poles apart.

No talk about "hurling revolution" "new heroes" etc. until they win an AI title - then you can talk as much of that shíte as you want.

A lot of truth there ..... BUT..... the big difference between this / next year and 01 / 05 is that Galway now start off from the same position as all other counties and that can only be of massive benefit both next year and long term. Gone will be the days, I hope forever, where we will be playing more settled opponents with a team whose worth we aren't sure of.

aidan24326

Kojak wrote: »

Hope you are right, aidan, but we have been here before, 2001 and moreso 2005 being prime examples. The biggest regret was that it wasn't won the 1st day, why Galway sat back on a lead of 5 points was amazing.

To think we will be back in an AI final next year, just on the basis of a young team etc. is rubbish. I fear myself that if we make a semi final next year we will be doing well. galway always seem to do better when there is absolutly no talk about them at all (e.g. the leinster final this year). Now with them coming within a score of beating KK in the drawn match, all the hype will be about "making up for last year, genuine contendors etc.", which as we have seen before, does not sit well with Galway teams. Even look at the artciles that were written before the Leinster final and before the AI final replay - poles apart.

No talk about "hurling revolution" "new heroes" etc. until they win an AI title - then you can talk as much of that shíte as you want.

Was I talking ****e? I don't think so.

Cunningham has instilled a different mentality in this team. I don't agree with his overly defensive tactics but there's no doubt that he has changed things for the better overall.

He needs to let them loose now though and cut out the negativity. Follow Jim McGuinness's lead on that one. We have the players to win an All-Ireland but you have to let them play.

I found the game on Sunday frustrating to watch. This team had shown they could put it up to Kilkenny when they run at them and take them on but again they were stifled by negative tactics. The reason we had 4 forwards who didn't score on Sunday (ssme the last day) is not that they're bad players, it's that they were asked to spend most of their time chasing around like headless chickens rather than hurling like we know they can.

Cody spanked Cunningham on Sunday and I just hope Anthony and his selectors can learn from this and realise where they went wrong.

Spanish Johnny

aidan24326 wrote: »

Was I talking ****e? I don't think so.

Cunningham has instilled a different mentality in this team. I don't agree with his overly defensive tactics but there's no doubt that he has changed things for the better overall.

He needs to let them loose now though and cut out the negativity. Follow Jim McGuinness's lead on that one. We have the players to win an All-Ireland but you have to let them play.

I found the game on Sunday frustrating to watch. This team had shown they could put it up to Kilkenny when they run at them and take them on but again they were stifled by negative tactics. The reason we had 4 forwards who didn't score on Sunday (ssme the last day) is not that they're bad players, it's that they were asked to spend most of their time chasing around like headless chickens rather than hurling like we know they can.

Cody spanked Cunningham on Sunday and I just hope Anthony and his selectors can learn from this and realise where they went wrong.

Nail on the head there

Utopia Parkway

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Can anybody tell me if Kavanagh building a house was the reason he wasn't around this year?

Heard that Kavanagh was asked to rejoin the panel earlier in the year but couldn't commit so it's certainly possible.

darragh085

Have to say very proud of the galway team. Been a good year and cant really complain about sunday the better team won. But one thing that was annoying to see was fans leaven with 20mins to go. The hole point off been a fan is to support the team threw the good and the bad.

maroondog

darragh085 wrote: »

Have to say very proud of the galway team. Been a good year and cant really complain about sunday the better team won. But one thing that was annoying to see was fans leaven with 20mins to go. The hole point off been a fan is to support the team threw the good and the bad.

I saw plenty of KK fans hitting the road early on Sunday along with lots of Galway fans. Imagine being so used of winning AI's that ya decide to hit off early to beat the rush. Only other time i saw this happening was when Kerry beat Mayo in 2006 AI final, I couldnt get over how Kerry fans were heading off early.

Kojak

aidan24326 wrote: »

Was I talking ****e? I don't think so.

I didn't mean you were talking shíte - I meant that the rubbish the tribune was coming out with was absolute drivel. There seemed to be way too much loose talk around the county between the 2 AI finals, not saying this was the only reason that galway lost, but it certainly didn't help.

Its never does.

jossnjuice

just saw the dubs fixture list there for the league next year all,

any ideas of the home / aways for Galway?

Cant seem to find them anywhere.

basillarkin

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Heard that Kavanagh was asked to rejoin the panel earlier in the year but couldn't commit so it's certainly possible.

As far as I aware he was asked in to the development panel, but declined and who would blame him.

basillarkin

Salthill Hotel Senior Hurling Championship Quarter Finals

Team 1 Team 2 Venue Date Time Referee Comment

Loughrea Mullagh Ballinasloe 13/10/2012 15:00 E. Shaughnessy
Gort Pearses Ballinasloe 13/10/2012 16:30 C. Brown
St Thomas Castlegar Athenry 14/10/2012 15:00 L. Fay
Portumna Turlough Athenry 14/10/2012 16:30 A. Kelly

Some good games down for decision here, will be heading to Athenry for the double header there, where Port and Thomas are very warm favourites.

basillarkin

ALLIANZ NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23 (7.0 unless stated)
Div 1A: Cork v Tipperary.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24 (2.0 unless stated)
Div 1A: Clare v Waterford, Galway v Kilkenny.
Div 1B: Carlow v Wexford, Dublin v Offaly, Limerick v Antrim.
Div 2A: Kerry v Westmeath, Derry v Wicklow, Kildare v Laois.
Div 2B: Down v Meath, Mayo v Roscommon, Armagh v London.
Div 3A: Fermanagh v Tyrone, Donegal v Monaghan, Fingal v Louth.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9 (7.0 unless stated)
Div 1A: Tipperary v Kilkenny
Div 2B: London v Down (2.0).

SUNDAY, MARCH 10 (2.0 unless stated)
Div 1A: Waterford v Cork, Clare v Galway (2.30).
Div 1B: Antrim v Dublin, Offaly v Wexford, Limerick v Carlow (2.30).
Div 2A: Wicklow v Kildare (1.0), Westmeath v Derry (1.0), Laois v Kerry.
Div 2B: Roscommon v Armagh (1.0), Meath v Mayo.
Div 3A: Louth v Fermanagh (1.0), Tyrone v Donegal (1.0), Monaghan v Fingal.
Div 3B: Leitrim v Longford (1.0), Warwickshire v Sligo.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16
Div 1B: Wexford v Antrim (2.0), Dublin v Limerick (5.15).
Div 2A: Derry v Kildare (5.30).
Div 2B: Down v Roscommon (2.0), Mayo v Armagh (5.30), Meath v London (5.30).
Div 3A: Fermanagh v Donegal (2.0), Tyrone v Fingal (5.15).

MONDAY, MARCH 18 (2.0 unless stated).
Div 1A: Cork v Clare, Kilkenny v Waterford, Galway v Tipperary.
Div 1B: Carlow v Offaly.
Div 2A: Kerry v Wicklow, Westmeath v Laois.
Div 3A: Louth v Monaghan.

SUNDAY, MARCH 24 (2.0 unless stated)
Div 1A: Clare v Kilkenny, Galway v Cork (2.30), Waterford v Tipperary (2.30).
Div 1B: Carlow v Antrim (1.0), Wexford v Dublin, Offaly v Limerick.
Div 2A: Kildare v Kerry (1.0), Wicklow v Westmeath (1.0), Derry v Laois.
Div 2B: Roscommon v Meath (1.0), Mayo v London (1.0), Armagh v Down.
Div 3A: Fingal v Fermanagh, Monaghan v Tyrone, Donegal v Louth.
Div 3B: Longford v Warwickshire (1.0), Sligo v Leitrim.

SUNDAY, MARCH 31 (3.0 unless stated).
Div 1A: Tipperary v Clare, Kilkenny v Cork, Waterford v Galway.
Div 1B: Antrim v Offaly, Limerick v Wexford, Dublin v Carlow.
Div 2A: Laois v Wicklow, Westmeath v Kildare, Kerry v Derry.
Div 2B: London v Roscommon, Meath v Armagh, Down v Mayo.
Div 3A: Donegal v Fingal, Fermanagh v Monaghan, Tyrone v Louth.
Div 3B: Warwickshire v Leitrim, Longford v Sligo.

Diabhal Beag

Was sad to see Joe Bergin announced his retirement from the inter-county setup. Galway football has had a hell of downturn since he won his All-Ireland medal in 2001.

MfMan

Ya, and no sign of it bottoming out yet either. Do we have one player that you could say 'he'd get on any team in the country'? (Can't include PJ or M Meehan). Joe was the second last link with that team and who knows what PJ's plans are.
Anyway, Joe while never the greatest, was always honest and usually gave it his all. He owes it nothing at this stage.

On a separate topic, the hurling semi's are on this weekend in Athenry. It's not always easy to beat the reigning champions but I have a feeling St. Toms will prevail over Gort in the opener, though it could depend a fair bit on the day staying dry. I can't make up my mind about the second game; Loughrea are seasoned and solid and came through 2 good tests v Mullagh but really should have lost the first day. Turlough' will be boosted by their win over Portumna, but the latter are now in decline. The black-and-whites hit a good few wides in that game and aren't the most fluent of scorers - indeed both teams are solid and good defensively but don't usually put up big margins. Very tough to call but I give the nod to Turlough' because they may be hungrier and should be buoyed up by the 1/4 final win.

JessePinkman

MfMan wrote: »

Ya, and no sign of it bottoming out yet either. Do we have one player that you could say 'he'd get on any team in the country'? (Can't include PJ or M Meehan). Joe was the second last link with that team and who knows what PJ's plans are.
Anyway, Joe while never the greatest, was always honest and usually gave it his all. He owes it nothing at this stage.

On a separate topic, the hurling semi's are on this weekend in Athenry. It's not always easy to beat the reigning champions but I have a feeling St. Toms will prevail over Gort in the opener, though it could depend a fair bit on the day staying dry. I can't make up my mind about the second game; Loughrea are seasoned and solid and came through 2 good tests v Mullagh but really should have lost the first day. Turlough' will be boosted by their win over Portumna, but the latter are now in decline. The black-and-whites hit a good few wides in that game and aren't the most fluent of scorers - indeed both teams are solid and good defensively but don't usually put up big margins. Very tough to call but I give the nod to Turlough' because they may be hungrier and should be buoyed up by the 1/4 final win.

Excellent description,Never really rated him but he always gave his all

flogging a dead horse

With no Gort hurler pucking a ball through the summer's inter-county action, Gort might have a healthy advantage over the Thomas's lads, with Richie Cumminns tearing into the St Thom's defence. From what I have seen from Loughrea and 30 mins of Turlough, either Gort or St Thoms would be favourite's come county final time.
And if Gort were to do back to back tittles this year, then surely Gort players should feature in the county set-up come April and May.

cat in the sack

was Richie Cummins not in with the Galway squad last year, didn't see much of Gort last year but they were well beaten by Coolderry in the
all ireland semil-final this year, i couldn't see any of the team better than whats in with Galway at the moment.

flogging a dead horse

He was injured during 2011 and he did play any inter-county hurling during the summer.

MfMan

flogging a dead horse wrote: »

With no Gort hurler pucking a ball through the summer's inter-county action, Gort might have a healthy advantage over the Thomas's lads, with Richie Cumminns tearing into the St Thom's defence. From what I have seen from Loughrea and 30 mins of Turlough, either Gort or St Thoms would be favourite's come county final time.
And if Gort were to do back to back tittles this year, then surely Gort players should feature in the county set-up come April and May.

Think Jason Grealish was involved with the panel for a while. Aiden Harte was there for the latter stages.