Galway GAA discussion thread

Worthwent14 wrote: »

I'd argue that every defender used by Galway in the last 10+ years have been average though Hanley was probably better than average. Think Doherty could have nailed a regular place had he stayed around, especially when the likes of Bradshaw are still able to start.

Yeah, maybe he would have. But he didnt stick around. Thats the difference!

jam83 wrote: »

Looking at the leinster final, Kildare to me look way ahead of Galway and they both got promoted from division 2.
Midfielders actually won marks, they're mobile and good footballers.
Kildare were well beaten on the scoreboard but galway I think are way off Kildare, on the sideline and all over the pitch.
FOC carries ball between the 45s and that's it. If he doesn't do the business against donegal he should be left to play club football for the rest of his days.

Galway beat Kildare in the league final and Kildare were certainly trying to win that day.

Don't get me wrong Galway produced an absolutely dismal performance against Roscommon but they are not as bad as they looked last weekend. However when their mindset is not right going into a game they can be downright awful.

jam83 wrote: »

I've no doubt Kildare wanted to win that day but looking at Kildare now, they look well coached. Galway looked rudderless last Sunday. I know they didn't show up mentally, but they seemed to have no plan for any type of kickout.
They're not as bad as last Sunday, but the coaching looks old school compared to the way other teams play and set up for kickouts.

I would agree about the coaching anyway. Certainly with regards to kickout strategy. Seems to be very little imagination or thought involved. It's either a little dink out to a corner-back or just boot it down the field. There are no runs being made into space, no decoy runs to free up a player, no kicks out to the wings.

Maybe they don't trust the keeper to make those kicks but if they don't then they need someone who can.

Worthwent14 wrote: »

Feely is a brilliant player at midfield, can field, kickpass and score from play and frees. None of our midfielders can hardly manage any of that except conroy on rare occasions

He is but should tom Flynn not be a player like that by now?
He has the height, build and pace to be able to get marks, run and score.
I don't want to be too hard on Kevin walsh, maybe Flynn himself has lost the motivation but he definitely looks to me like he has all the attributes and footballing ability to be a Brian Fenton but it's not happening.
If Galway had proper decoy runners for kickouts, having Flynn bursting through from midfield would cause any other team serious bother.

Utopia mentioned about not trusting keepers and I agree that the constant changing of keepers has had a negative effect on the keepers and has lead to a lack of trust in the keepers by the outfielders. This means that players won't make runs coz they don't trust the keepers and vice versa the keepers won't hit the space as they don't trust the players to run. If you look at Kildare today, their keeper has been in goal steady for 3/4 years. Iv seen him make mistakes in that time but he wasn't dropped, management showed fate in him and let him make mistakes on the way and he is a better keeper for it now. Look at cluxton, made plenty of mistakes throughout the years but was never dropped and has rewarded that fate time and again. Look at Kerry, rotating keepers regularly the last 4 years and both keepers have regularly made mistakes, maybe this is because they don't feel confident or that they have the fate of the manager? If a keeper feels that they could be dropped over one stray kickout (which is no doubt the case in Galway the last few years) then they will not take the risk of hitting the space or maybe won't have the confidence to do so. Galway have used 8 keepers between league and championship the last 4 years, I would like know of any other county with such a high number! It's good that they are checking players out, but a position like keeper isn't like corner forward. Generally keeper plays all games unless injured or making awful mistakes. In galway, keepers are dropped over very little. What did Brian Donoghue do wrong after 2015 v Donegal? What did Breathnach do wrong after 2013 campaign and 2014 Connacht final? What did Healy do wrong v Kerry 2014? None of the above made blatent or event subtle mistakes in any of the campaigns they played listed above. Fair enough, Breathnach made a mistake v Mayo 2015 and was punished, Power played poorly v tipp and dr crokes and didn't get straight back into team after, Lavelle played 2 poor games and will most likely be dropped for Power v Donegal. But keepers are being dropped for little in Galway and the team are suffering as a whole from it. From games I've seen, I think Breathnach is the best goalkeeper in the panel but will most likely never be given another chance because of the Mayo mistake. Whoever starts in goal for galway next year needs breathing space to make a few mistakes and hit a few bad kickouts in the league. If a keeper is given time and has the qualities which (which some keepers on the panel have) then the kickouts will come together and a strategy will work. For what it's worth, cluxton himself would struggle in goals for Galway at the moment due to the lack of movement and lack of thrust in the keepers. I honestly think Breathnach and Power are better than a lot of county keepers I've seen, we have the quality just not the trust.

Worthwent14 wrote: »

Flynn doesn't have the footballing ability to kick points for 40 yards like Feely or Fenton.

There's no point in comparing tom Flynn to brian Fenton . Ever ! Don't mean to be harsh but let's get real here

id be very reluctant to make major changes next week.

In goal, it's a difficult one. Lavelle is bringing baggage into this game now. If he screws up some early kickouts, then supporters will get on his back etc. On the other hand, if Walsh sticks by him, imagine the surge of confidence he will feel - it could be the catalyst for him to play a stormer. I'd be tempted to stick with him even if it is a risk.

In defence, we are very limited in our options. I thought Kerin did well the last day so I'd keep him. Kyne remains at full back. Silke is other corner back. McDaid in at 7 if he's fit and in decent form.

In midfield, I'd start Conroy and Flynn.

In attack, Comer, Daly & Walsh are certainly going to start. I think Heaney will be named as a forward but may be used to double mark McBrearty. If Armstrong is fit, he should be brought back in. I'd love to see Mike Farragher starting. I'm dropping Brannigan which is harsh.

So ultimately I wouldn't make many changes. There are so few defensive options on the panel that you are a bit limited in what you can actually do. I think Galway have a chance v Donegal though. If it was a 6 day turn around, we'd be screwed. But they have time to get themselves together and re-focussed.

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Fintan O'Curraoin is one of the worst footballers I've ever seen put on a Galway jersey. I just do not see what he offers. Has absolutely no place on the same pitch as a Kildare midfielder for example.

He is a long way off that and has had many good games in a Galway jersey.

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Fintan O'Curraoin is one of the worst footballers I've ever seen put on a Galway jersey. I just do not see what he offers. Has absolutely no place on the same pitch as a Kildare midfielder for example.

There have been many many worse, even within this team itself. Hes a bit of a one trick pony due to his lack of pace but with size you normally sacrifice pace.
Flynn is a better footballer but a bit lazy and not gaining the size and strength he needs to compete against good IC midfielders

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

If ye have any aspirations of winning an all Ireland then FOC has no place in ye're midfield

Dont think there us much else out there. All Ireland???? Maybe a 'B' All Ireland if its introduced. Wont even make semi finalists for at least 5 years

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Fintan O'Curraoin is one of the worst footballers I've ever seen put on a Galway jersey. I just do not see what he offers. Has absolutely no place on the same pitch as a Kildare midfielder for example.

He stood out as midfielder on the 2011,2013 All Ireland U21 winning teams. You haven't seen many Galway footballers if you think O'Curraoin is one of the worst you seen.

Remind me what any Kildare midfielder has done?

Always_Running wrote: »

He stood out as midfielder on the 2011,2013 All Ireland U21 winning teams. You haven't seen many Galway footballers if you think O'Curraoin is one of the worst you seen.

Remind me what any Kildare midfielder has done?

Probably not great timing of that comment after performance of Feely at the weekend.

He hardly ever takes a shot on when playing for Galway. I could count on one hand the amount of points he's scored, Flynn needs to start taking on more shots and become a scoring threat and run at teams or else he'll be forgotten about and the next batch of young fellas will be given a shot