Galway GAA Discussion Thread #2

testtech05

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123589979#Comment_123589979

There will always be a few of those I suppose but anyone who has paid attention to our performances all year would have been expecting a tight game. We have only been playing for a few minutes here and there almost every game and it was the same today.

By rights before our burst today Meath should have been out of sight. I did think once we got a goal up we might see it out but seemed to sit back again immediately after the 2nd goal.

Girly Gal

I think we have enough players of sufficient quality to challenge for an AI, and possibly win one - although that window might have closed - but, the way we are playing doesn't help us, even when we dominate matches, we don't put it on the score board, again this is due to the slow ponderous play, which allows the opposition to set-up defensively. There's no urgency in our play, too methodical, even substitutions seem pre-predetermined regardless of how players are playing or what form they are in.

ben.schlomo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590070#Comment_123590070

Couldn't agree more. So much wasted time across all our games with aimless possession. First 20 minutes we were on top but we didn't have any sort of lead to show for it, Meath were kicking wides and we allowed them to stay in the game. When we went direct after their big lead we had great success. Another year of this group of players wasted.

threeball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590070#Comment_123590070

I think the window has closed. Alot of miles on legs there. Getting to 2 all irelands and losing and this year has been a grind. Conroy will go, Walsh will slow down, McDaid is picking up more and more injuries, Sean Kelly similar, Comer career destroyed by injuries. Hard to see enough lads coming through to at least back up those positions for 25 to 30mins per game.

testtech05

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590099#Comment_123590099

Yeah I would agree too I think. We should still be in the top few teams but I think we missed our chance especially last year's final. This season we were threading water in a lot of games so our luck was going to run out at some stage

Straight Talker

It's hard to see Padraig Joyce comeback from that tbh. Galway under him of course threw away an all Ireland last year, against one of the poorest all Ireland winning teams in recent years as well.

callaway92

For all the praise Dave Morris gets, Galway have gone backwards. Most of the negatives will fall with Joyce mind you.

Bleating Lamb

Nuetral watching today,what type of injury has Comer being carrying?

He really changed the danger level of Galway attacks once he came in…..surely it was worth throwing him on with Conroy after 40 minutes?…….

Galway were in a bad way when he finally got on and yet he nearly dragged them back into it.

threeball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590262#Comment_123590262

Hard to know who's pulling the strings in there as you also have Mickey Graham in there and I doubt any of the coaches are let at it. So cant point the finger at any one in particular unless you know who's dictating the play.

MattressRick

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590277#Comment_123590277

He helped them into a 3 point lead. I agree, should've been thrown in earlier because Galway were playing terribly.

MattressRick

I think if Murphy can do it for Donegal then surely Galway will stay strong next year bar maybe Conroy. But need new coaching. Kickouts and breaking ball have been our Achilles heel for years. Meath won so much in midfield, it won the match

wp_rathead

Any team conceding a point for encroaching on the 3 up rule doesn't deserve to be in any Semi-Final

Last year there was a brilliant shoot out in the semi finals between Conroy and Langan. This weekend Langan changed the game for Donegal while Conroy unfortunately destroyed Galway's momentum taking on a two pointer and it falling into the Keepers arms. At least if he had hit it wide we could have contested the kickout

Shame but fairplay to Meath

Stewball

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123589928#Comment_123589928

This was a killer in the first half especially. So many times Thompson & Cooke would look up and there was zero movement inside from Walsh & Finnerty. It didn't improve a whole lot in the second half.

I thought the early changes were wrong. Hernon & Cooke were doing well, McHugh was awful again and his decision for the goal chance was shocking. Conroy's 2p attempt when he had lads running alongside him was terrible too, I'd expect that from a minor.

It was a right sickner when we managed to pull ourselves back in to it, but then handed them a goal right after with an absolute brainfart from O'Flaherty.

Right at the end letting them get a short kickout away when we had just knocked over a 2p was criminal. Lack of a kickout plan has always been a shortcoming of PJ.

Even if we had pulled it off today, we'd all be living off hope that we could give Donegal a game after two weeks rest, but we'd only be delaying our exit.

As for PJ, I think we need a fresh approach. We're not going to win an AI with the way we play. You need a running game with these new rules and we don't have the fitness levels required. We're well below Armagh, Donegal and even Kerry in that respect.

Another year gone.

Girly Gal

A new manager with a more direct style of play, would make a huge difference, better kickout strategy would help too. The players are there, but, the management is lacking.

I think Kerry and Donegal are the two best teams in the country, and even at our best with a more direct style, I'm not sure we'd beat them, but, we'd be a match for any other team. I think Armagh are a fair bit off those two, as Kerry showed today and Armagh haven't been able to beat Donegal despite several attempts in the last few years.

We really should have beaten Armagh last year, said it at the time, I can't see us get a better opportunity, Armagh are a decent, but not an outstanding team, who got the best out of themselves, we haven't- it was a golden opportunity that was passed up!

Tellyium

Not too disappointed after that, I think mainly because I’d a suspicion that we were a bit off it all year. Beat a poor Mayo team (barely), beaten by a poor Dublin side, drew with Derry, beat Armagh (who were already through and themselves had a reality check today) and had too close a call against Down. It’s been in the post, and Meath were the better team today. We had our chance last year as a few here have said. It seems to come in cycles every 15/20 years that we have a team capable of winning an all Ireland and we obviously hope that when we do, we capitalise on it. Looks like we missed the boat last year for this group, they had the ability but didn’t get over the line. Paul has been one of our greatest and it’s a pity he doesn’t have an all Ireland to show for his 18 years service.
best of luck to Meath- some year for them and I think they were and are being written off too quickly. They were more than 1 point better than us today.

briandebum

Meath were really well set up & fully deserving.

From what you hear about the Galway set up, Joyce seems to be a lot more stick than carrot. On big days, its a team that looks to be playing fearful, scared of making mistakes as opposed to looking for opportunities.

The kickouts have killed us all year long, waiting a minute for runners to become open, watch their markers catch up, then boot it long over their heads any way. Schoolboy stuff.

cosatron

Very disappointing today. Ourselves and dublin were the slowest teams to adjust to the new rules. Too slow and ponderous. Joyce's loyalty to some players his undoing. I wouldn't have taken off cook or hernon. Comer and mcdaid needed to come in at half time. I think they need a new voice and need to get more mobile. There were some green shots, Thompson looks good. Finnerty looks ready to lead the line. Hopefully sam o niell, Egan, mccabe, mcglinchey, o currian costello get more game time in the league next year. As girly gal says, the players are there to be competitive

SqueakyKneecap

Weak county board, cocky management team and a panel of players not hungry enough. Recipe for disaster.

Congrats to Meath. Deserving winners. Played great attacking football and will be supporting them in the last four.

MattressRick

A change of management is needed.

We've our biggest and strongest ever midfield sector yet still get eaten alive on breaking ball. It's going on for years, pre Joyce's time. He clearly can't fix it.

Kickouts too slow, resulting in slow buildup play. That's going on for years, the sideways passing etc. We're at it all year bar the odd time we attack at pace, when we're devastating. But it's like last year's All Ireland Final all over again.

And I don't think the public criticising of players is helping. Can hardly have helped Flaherty when Joyce was saying after the Armagh match they didn't know was it the right decision to put him in. Seriously?

Time for change. Would Kevin O'Brien work? I still think Morris added something this year, we've looked devastating at times and haven't looked to go straight for goals like this in years. I think he's improved us there.

jopper

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123590262#Comment_123590262

From the outside looking in, it’s hard to tell what Morris and Graham have brought to the table or how have they improved Galway. I suppose only the players themselves will be able to tell.

What is more obvious is the gap since Cian O’Neill has left.

Galway in 2022 looked looked best mentally when Bernard Dunne was with them.

I’d be happy for PJ to stay on but, a top coach / back room management is a must.

crusd

What is the Galway opinion on this.

Has Joyce seriously underachieved given the quality of players available. In my opinion Walsh, Comer, Conroy, McDaid and Kelly are once in a generation players and there is a more than decent supporting cast. Or have the fitness issues associated with Walsh , Comer and Kelly seriously hampered the team fulfilling their potential? Personally I think its a bit of both.

From a neighbour exiled in your territory, a member of one of your clubs, and with kids supporting your team.

FintanMcluskey

Walsh, Comer & Conroy needed to be challenging for an AI in 2015 not 2025. The hunger is gone, it was evident all year

testtech05

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123592366#Comment_123592366

I would say it is a bit of both also. After yesterday it is hard to be objective but it may well be that the chance has passed this team now but I hope I am wrong. Not to rehash old wounds but losing Finnerty in the final last year was a killer too.

There is still the makings of a very good side there but we do seem to be struggling to get the best out of them.

Tellyium

That’s a good point - you need the full supporting cast around the star players. It took until 2023/2024 to get that, by which time Walsh and Comer had arguably passed their peak. The timing was a bit off. Hunger can go when it’s a constant cycle of injury/rehab and that’s entirely understandable

Tellyium

That’s a good point - you need the full supporting cast around the star players. It took until 2023/2024 to get that, by which time Walsh and Comer had arguably passed their peak. The timing was a bit off. Hunger can go when it’s a constant cycle of injury/rehab and that’s entirely understandable

DK224

Wonder what names would be in the running to take over if PJ does step aside?

vid36

If PJ does step aside, given the age profile of our team, you need someone who can operate at inter county level on day one not have a one or two season learning curve .Only relatistic candidiate and first on the list should be Stephen Rochford.

People will speculate on fantasy candidiates like Fitzmaurice or unproven managers like McConville and McEntee.

You can also find a manager from the club scene but thats a big gamble too.

Girly Gal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123592621#Comment_123592621

I don't know who will or should replace PJ, but Fitzmaurice wouldn't be on any fantasy list of mine, hope we stay well away from him.

cson

We're some county for wasting talent and good years, not getting at least 1 AI out of this group of footballers and even for the hurling, getting only 1 out of the 2017 team is profligate stuff.

Girly Gal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123593297#Comment_123593297

It's a west of Ireland thing, look at Mayo, they definitely should have won at least 1 AI in the last decade or so, Roscommon always seem to underachieve outside of Connaught too. There's definitely an inferiority complex in the west of Ireland compared to the rest of the country, doesn't seem to take much to knock us off our stride.