Galway GAA discussion thread

Condenser · 02-07-2017 10:51PM

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

If they want to beat an on form Tipp or KK team they will have to step up a bit from today's preformance.

Where are these on form Tipps and Kks you speak of because so far we've been head and shoulders above anything they've done this year.

Tbh I thought our performance today was very kk like when they were going well. Never over exerting but never looking in any bother. Picking off easy scores while the opposition pull of miracle points to stay in touch. Then one 10 min blitz and game is over.

I also like the fact that the team have embraced the fact they're favourites for the AI and seem happy to carry the mantle. They recognised the display wasnt top drawer but we've been top drawer in june/july too often and second in September. They seem to be becoming a team with believe, size and talent and that will be hard to stop.

Want to also mention the wexford fans, absolutely top notch supporters who came in unbelievable numbers and stuck with their team right to the 72 min. We could learn a thing or two from them.

Boggy Turf · 03-07-2017 09:13AM

Angry bird wrote: »

Of the main teams left I would be confident of beating Tipp, Kilkenny or Cork. That's of course if we perform. Waterford are the team that worries me.

Agreed. Waterford are a big danger. They should have beaten us in Pearse during the league which would have knocked us out of the final. Waterford will beat KK and gain confidence.

Diabhal Beag · 03-07-2017 09:56AM

Very happy with the performance yesterday. The goal was a poor one to give away but generally the backs were on top, particularly Mc and Mannion. I also wouldn't worry too much about no goals in two games when they're hitting such an amount of points.

Whelan's strength this year is a huge plus. Ball was bouncing off him all day and he was fouled so often.

Joseph Cooney's best day in maroon. Absolutely outstanding performance and his sharpness to everything was a big positive considering he was a doubt for yesterday.

Game changed with Callanan's penalty save for sure. Was around a load of Wexford fans in the Cusack and that's when the heads dropped between the players and the supporters.

Flynn needs to really be pulling up trees the next few weeks to start. I reckon Niall Burke did enough in that second half to justify starting in the semi.

Wexford fans were fantastic. I still reckon they'll beat anybody of those qualifiers tbh.

TCDStudent1 · 03-07-2017 10:16AM

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Very happy with the performance yesterday. The goal was a poor one to give away but generally the backs were on top, particularly Mc and Mannion. I also wouldn't worry too much about no goals in two games when they're hitting such an amount of points.

Whelan's strength this year is a huge plus. Ball was bouncing off him all day and he was fouled so often.

Joseph Cooney's best day in maroon. Absolutely outstanding performance and his sharpness to everything was a big positive considering he was a doubt for yesterday.

Game changed with Callanan's penalty save for sure. Was around a load of Wexford fans in the Cusack and that's when the heads dropped between the players and the supporters.

Flynn needs to really be pulling up trees the next few weeks to start. I reckon Niall Burke did enough in that second half to justify starting in the semi.

Wexford fans were fantastic. I still reckon they'll beat anybody of those qualifiers tbh.

You would have to think it will be the same forwards except Mannion back in for Flynn come semi-final time.

Tombo2001 · 03-07-2017 11:13AM

jam83 wrote: »

Great win today. Very thorough second half. I'd be worried about the shape galway had in the first half. It felt like a few years ago where ball is lumped downfield and every forward has to win his own ball, turn his man and score from an angle.
Second half was a huge improvement. I don't remember a Galway team pulling as much high ball out of the sky in a long time.
Allowed them to flick a hand pass to a spare man and then look downfield for a runner. Led to a load of scores. Great to see the cooneys have games of their lives.

Great performance to come out and blitz Wexford in the second half. Great credit to the players and management. Donoghue had courage too to take off Flynn after two bad wides, they were poor shots. Niall Burke had a couple bad wides too but donoghue must have made a very tight call between starting Flynn and someone else like Monaghan, because he took Flynn off pronto and left burke on, and burke scored a few later on.

I'd kind of disagree - I felt Wexford had to work so hard for every score in the first half, whereas the Galway scores were coming easier - that Wexford had worked so hard, and then Galway tacked on I think 4 points in succession at the end of the half, I felt that broke Wexford spirit a bit. Also, second half then the Wexford goalie just didn't know where to go, Galway were winning every puck out.

I said · 03-07-2017 05:45PM

Wonderful performance yesterday no panic at any stage.A structured methodical approach no silly decisions on the ball scores well taken.The goal was a bit sloppy to concede but it didn't make much difference when it arrived.
Anytime you knock over 14 points in the first and 15 in the second is a good day at the office plus 13 wides shows chances are been taken.
Agree about Flynn to hot and cold for this level at the moment.
And we got through with no major injury worries we have enough fowards for cover its the back line is were we are a bit light for cover in that department.

vid36 · 04-07-2017 12:53PM

Will there be any changes in the Galway team to face the Rossies on Sunday?I am not sure the balance in the forward line was right the last day.

TCDStudent1 · 04-07-2017 01:06PM

vid36 wrote: »

Will there be any changes in the Galway team to face the Rossies on Sunday?I am not sure the balance in the forward line was right the last day.

Brannigan will start.

That probably means Heaney will be moved to 7. Wynee will be dropped to bench.

That is my prediction anyway.

aidan24326 · 04-07-2017 01:35PM

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Flynn needs to really be pulling up trees the next few weeks to start. I reckon Niall Burke did enough in that second half to justify starting in the semi.

Flynn seems to be playing with no confidence at the moment. It's a pity as he is a very good forward when he's on his game but at the moment he doesn't deserve to be starting. Mannion will replace him the next day and the rest should stay pretty much the same.

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

Brannigan will start.

That probably means Heaney will be moved to 7. Wynee will be dropped to bench.

That is my prediction anyway.

Brannigan was unlucky not to start the last day as he was one of our more consistent performers throughout the league, and as well as his great workrate he can kick a score or two also.

At the moment it's a tricky one to figure out what the best forward selection should be in terms of what 6 to start.

For the next day I was thinking to go with

Sice - Walsh - Brannigan

Daly - Comer - Armstrong

But then I realised I'd forgotten about Conroy. FO'C deserves to keep his place, as does Armstrong, so you could either move Conroy to midfield and drop Flynn, or else someone else from the 6 above needs to go.

This is without even considering Danny Cummins, who is a bit unlucky not to be starting given how good he was last year. Not to mention the increasing fitness and sharpness of Michael Meehan.......

So what do others think should be our starting forward line at the moment?

I don't think Meehan should start by any means but reports are that he is going well and will be fit enough to play a part if needed (we probably won't need him next Sunday but he has always excelled in Croke Park, just saying like

)

BTW, I agree about moving Heaney back to wing back, we don't need him in the half forward line.

TCDStudent1 · 04-07-2017 03:44PM

aidan24326 wrote: »

Flynn seems to be playing with no confidence at the moment. It's a pity as he is a very good forward when he's on his game but at the moment he doesn't deserve to be starting. Mannion will replace him the next day and the rest should stay pretty much the same.

Brannigan was unlucky not to start the last day as he was one of our more consistent performers throughout the league, and as well as his great workrate he can kick a score or two also.

At the moment it's a tricky one to figure out what the best forward selection should be in terms of what 6 to start.

For the next day I was thinking to go with

Sice - Walsh - Brannigan

Daly - Comer - Armstrong

But then I realised I'd forgotten about Conroy. FO'C deserves to keep his place, as does Armstrong, so you could either move Conroy to midfield and drop Flynn, or else someone else from the 6 above needs to go.

This is without even considering Danny Cummins, who is a bit unlucky not to be starting given how good he was last year. Not to mention the increasing fitness and sharpness of Michael Meehan.......

So what do others think should be our starting forward line at the moment?

I don't think Meehan should start by any means but reports are that he is going well and will be fit enough to play a part if needed (we probably won't need him next Sunday but he has always excelled in Croke Park, just saying like )

BTW, I agree about moving Heaney back to wing back, we don't need him in the half forward line.

Flynn wont be dropped - his athleticism will keep him in the team. From what I have read, Roscommon are small enough in the middle so all the more reason to play Flynn. I think the forwards will be what you say except Flynn in for Sice.

Meehan won't start, and I would be extremely doubtful he will be make an appearance if he is on the bench.

Utopia Parkway · 04-07-2017 04:02PM

vid36 wrote: »

Will there be any changes in the Galway team to face the Rossies on Sunday?I am not sure the balance in the forward line was right the last day.

I'd say Brannigan will start. Wonder would he be tempted to start Cummins as well. He ran riot against Roscommon in the replay last year. Has had his injury troubles this year though. Plus Army has done well the past two games so Cummins on the bench I'd say.

Brannigan-Walsh-Flynn

Army-Comer-Daly

TCDStudent1 · 04-07-2017 04:38PM

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

I'd say Brannigan will start. Wonder would he be tempted to start Cummins as well. He ran riot against Roscommon in the replay last year. Has had his injury troubles this year though. Plus Army has done well the past two games so Cummins on the bench I'd say.

Brannigan-Walsh-Flynn

Army-Comer-Daly

I'd go with that too. Daly will drift out to half forward line. Daly was exceptional during the league. He was ok against Mayo but big match and debut so he did alright. Played poorly for mountbellew in their match v annaghdown so I hope that his form isn't dipping.

I do like the option of Heaney in the forwards. If things need to be changed, you can play him further back or further up the pitch as the case may be. If we had 6 solid backs, I think starting Heaney in the forwards gives you far more freedom to adapt things during the match. However, he is needed as a starting back at the moment. He has been a fantastic player for Galway in the last couple of years.

jam83 · 04-07-2017 05:19PM

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

I'd go with that too. Daly will drift out to half forward line. Daly was exceptional during the league. He was ok against Mayo but big match and debut so he did alright. Played poorly for mountbellew in their match v annaghdown so I hope that his form isn't dipping.

I do like the option of Heaney in the forwards. If things need to be changed, you can play him further back or further up the pitch as the case may be. If we had 6 solid backs, I think starting Heaney in the forwards gives you far more freedom to adapt things during the match. However, he is needed as a starting back at the moment. He has been a fantastic player for Galway in the last couple of years.

Id love that forward line but I've a feeling Heaney will start as a forward and be told to drop back. Would he not be needed as a spare man at the back or will Brannigan maybe do this?
Heaney made a huge difference against Mayo when he went back there.
The full back line was getting cleaned out when it was man to man. There were more than a few scares in the first 20 mins.

TCDStudent1 · 04-07-2017 05:44PM

jam83 wrote: »

Id love that forward line but I've a feeling Heaney will start as a forward and be told to drop back. Would he not be needed as a spare man at the back or will Brannigan maybe do this?
Heaney made a huge difference against Mayo when he went back there.
The full back line was getting cleaned out when it was man to man. There were more than a few scares in the first 20 mins.

The problem is that Wynne was way off the pace v Mayo. You need somebody to come in for him. If there was somebody other than Heaney, then I would leave Heaney to play in the forwards (and possibly drop him back). However, we have nobody to come in for Wynne, other than Heaney.

04-07-2017 06:01PM

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

The problem is that Wynne was way off the pace v Mayo. You need somebody to come in for him. If there was somebody other than Heaney, then I would leave Heaney to play in the forwards (and possibly drop him back). However, we have nobody to come in for Wynne, other than Heaney.

Course we do.

What's the point in having someone like McDaid on the panel if we won't use him.

Not exactly a baby either. Fair enough holding minors back but any lad who's playing U21 should be considered.

He was going to get 30seconds against Mayo but the game ended... maybe Walsh will consider him.

TCDStudent1 · 04-07-2017 06:45PM

gilberto_eire wrote: »

Course we do.

What's the point in having someone like McDaid on the panel if we won't use him.

Not exactly a baby either. Fair enough holding minors back but any lad who's playing U21 should be considered.

He was going to get 30seconds against Mayo but the game ended... maybe Walsh will consider him.

Yeah he's the only 1 that could issubly come in there. However he has played all of his senior Galway career in the forwards - in the few matches he has played. I'd love to see him thrown in at 7 but I'm doubtful that walsh will be that adventurous

aidan24326 · 04-07-2017 07:36PM

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

Meehan won't start, and I would be extremely doubtful he will be make an appearance if he is on the bench.

Oh I agree, I wasn't suggesting that he should start and I'm also inclined to think that we won't see him make an appearance next Sunday. I don't think we'll need him as I'm fairly confident Galway will win this one with a few points to spare.

Moving on to Croke Park though, that's where having a fit Michael Meehan on the bench could be a trump card. But will KW risk him if he hasn't had any game time before that? I would, but then again I'm not the Galway manager so we'll have to wait and see.

threeball · 04-07-2017 08:13PM

aidan24326 wrote: »

Oh I agree, I wasn't suggesting that he should start and I'm also inclined to think that we won't see him make an appearance next Sunday. I don't think we'll need him as I'm fairly confident Galway will win this one with a few points to spare.

Moving on to Croke Park though, that's where having a fit Michael Meehan on the bench could be a trump card. But will KW risk him if he hasn't had any game time before that? I would, but then again I'm not the Galway manager so we'll have to wait and see.

Surely if we are leading by 4 or 5 with 20 mins left you have to give Meehan a run. Same goes for McDaid. Cooke would be worth looking at as a full forward option too. He could be a great option to throw in there in a tight game in croker.

aidan24326 · 04-07-2017 08:45PM

threeball wrote: »

Surely if we are leading by 4 or 5 with 20 mins left you have to give Meehan a run. Same goes for McDaid. Cooke would be worth looking at as a full forward option too. He could be a great option to throw in there in a tight game in croker.

I don't think Cooke is available, and nor is he part of the panel. One for the future hopefully.

McDaid is a player I'd like to see given a chance. There's tough competition for places now though, he'd struggle to get into the forward 6 and he has the likes of Gary O'Donnell and Johnny Heaney ahead of him at wing back. He is another one for the future though all going well.

04-07-2017 08:55PM

aidan24326 wrote: »

I don't think Cooke is available, and nor is he part of the panel. One for the future hopefully.

McDaid is a player I'd like to see given a chance. There's tough competition for places now though, he'd struggle to get into the forward 6 and he has the likes of Gary O'Donnell and Johnny Heaney ahead of him at wing back. He is another one for the future though all going well.

Realistically with the way the game is played now the fact that he's a "half back" shouldnt matter. Any defender worth his salt should be able to play 2,4,5,7 and even 3,6 provided you're not mismatched physically.

Ditto for forwards too, might make some allowances for needing a sizeable 14 but the rest are working around as a unit anyway.

The positions matter a tad more in hurling due to puck outs being contested by any of those two half lines but football is a swarm game now.

TCDStudent1 · 04-07-2017 09:31PM

cooke is gone to USA. So not around this year.

Utopia Parkway · 05-07-2017 01:33PM

The Galway to play Roscommon on Sunday in the Connacht Final shows two changes from the team that started against Mayo in the semi-final, Eoghan Kerin replaces David Wynne in defence while Eamon Brannigan comes in for Sean Armstrong up front.

Ruairi Lavelle
Cathal Sweeney
Declan Kyne
Eoghan Kerin
Gary O'Donnell (Captain)
Gareth Bradshaw
Liam Silke
Fiontán Ó Curraoin
Paul Conroy
Thomas Flynn
Michael Daly
Johnny Heaney
Eamonn Brannigan
Damien Comer
Shane Walsh

aidan24326 · 05-07-2017 01:35PM

Team For Sunday:

Galway (Connacht SFC final v Roscommon): Ruairi Lavelle;
Cathal Sweeney, Declan Kyne, Eoghan Kerin;
Gary O'Donnell, Gareth Bradshaw, Liam Silke;
Fiontan O Curraoin, Paul Conroy;
Thomas Flynn, Michael Daly, Johnny Heaney;
Eamonn Brannigan, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.

Armstrong a bit unlucky to be dropped I think, didn't hear any reports that he was injured.

TCDStudent1 · 05-07-2017 02:14PM

aidan24326 wrote: »

Team For Sunday:

Galway (Connacht SFC final v Roscommon): Ruairi Lavelle;
Cathal Sweeney, Declan Kyne, Eoghan Kerin;
Gary O'Donnell, Gareth Bradshaw, Liam Silke;
Fiontan O Curraoin, Paul Conroy;
Thomas Flynn, Michael Daly, Johnny Heaney;
Eamonn Brannigan, Damien Comer, Shane Walsh.

Armstrong a bit unlucky to be dropped I think, didn't hear any reports that he was injured.

Hard to understand Armstrong being dropped. Played very well v Mayo. My guess is that he has picked up an injury.

Kerin has played very little football this year so am surprised to see him come in.

Diabhal Beag · 05-07-2017 02:49PM

Army's frees were vital the last day too.

PCeeeee · 05-07-2017 02:55PM

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Army's frees were vital the last day too.

Yeah. I thought that too. V surprising he's left out if he's not injured.

Hulk Hands · 05-07-2017 02:55PM

Harder generally score frees against the wind from the hand also, with wind promised again the next day. Very handy for the odd 45 you'd get too. Assume it's Walsh back on the duties if that's the team that lines out.

Kerin must be back fit. He probably had a better year than Wynne last year so makes sense given Wynnes struggles v Mayo. Interested to see who pick up Diarmuid Murtagh. Before injuries 2/3 years ago, I'd have taken Murtagh over any teen in the country

TCDStudent1 · 05-07-2017 04:35PM

PCeeeee wrote: »

Yeah. I thought that too. V surprising he's left out if he's not injured.

Heard on radio that he's injured.

spurshero · 05-07-2017 05:21PM

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

Heard on radio that he's injured.

Supposedly trained very little since mayo match due to back injury

TCDStudent1 · 05-07-2017 07:17PM

spurshero wrote: »

Supposedly trained very little since mayo match due to back injury

Not many would've picked him before the Mayo game but he is seen as a loss now. Football changes quickly. Don't have many free takers on the team now.

Galway GAA discussion thread

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