Galway GAA discussion thread

Happyilylost · 25-03-2018 09:55PM

TCDStudent1 wrote:

Kildare were absolutely awful though and were missing both Flynn and feely.

Shooting was Junior Z level from them at times. D'Arcy came on and caught a few balls. Some of Lavelles kick outs were a joy to watch. Wonder of the League panel who won't be around for championship. Saw Cummins out around the middle of the field before the game so he must be nearing return also. Squad is building nicely.

Tellyium · 25-03-2018 11:14PM

Sunday will be a great road test for this team. Croke Park and it’s dimensions with a big Dubs crowd is a huge opportunity to see exactly where we and our ‘defensive’ system measures up.

TCDStudent1 · 25-03-2018 11:47PM

Happyilylost wrote: »

Shooting was Junior Z level from them at times. D'Arcy came on and caught a few balls. Some of Lavelles kick outs were a joy to watch. Wonder of the League panel who won't be around for championship. Saw Cummins out around the middle of the field before the game so he must be nearing return also. Squad is building nicely.

I'd be shocked if Cummins manages to get near the team after missing the whole league. He will have to put in some month of impressive training in April.

Green Peter · 26-03-2018 12:57AM

TCDStudent1 wrote:

I'd be shocked if Cummins manages to get near the team after missing the whole league. He will have to put in some month of impressive training in April.

He's able to take a goal chance and we've been lacking that. I'd try to have him primed for championship. Maybe he doesn't suit our new system but Mayo would love to have him!!

aidan24326 · 26-03-2018 01:37AM

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

I'd be shocked if Cummins manages to get near the team after missing the whole league. He will have to put in some month of impressive training in April.

He definitely won't be starting next Sunday but after that there's 6 weeks until the Mayo game so we'll have to wait and see how things pan out. Ian Burke will have a fight on his hands to get his place back aswell, as will Daly.

Probably neither of them will start next Sunday but the Mayo game is a different kettle of fish, and competition for places for that game is going to be intense. But it's great to see that competition for places, way moreso than we've had in a long time. Right now if you had every single player fit and available including the Corofin lads, picking the starting 15 for Castlebar would be tricky.

As for the hurlers we have the opposite problem, great starting 15 but not a lot coming through to challenge them. Wouldn't worry too much about yesterday's defeat though, Wexford needed that, we weren't massively bothered. We will need to start scoring goals one of these days though, as we can't expect to keep scoring 27-28 points in every game like we did last year.

And it's not like we don't have forwards who know where the net is. We're hitting a lot of wides from silly outfield positions when we could be working the ball in and creating more goal chances. We need that ruthless goal scoring ability like Kilkenny used to have, the more we go through games not scoring goals we're allowing teams to hang in there when we should have them buried.

grbear · 29-03-2018 04:03PM

It's a very muted build up to a league final. Normally if there was a "new" team involved in a final there'd be a bit more excitement and discussion focusing on their potential going forward but the idea that Galway play the wrong sort of football has definitely put a bit of a dampener on any attempts to hype up a novel enough final pairing.

Still, I'm looking forward to it and that's what really matters, right?

ProudDUB · 29-03-2018 04:19PM

grbear wrote: »

It's a very muted build up to a league final. Normally if there was a "new" team involved in a final there'd be a bit more excitement and discussion focusing on their potential going forward but the idea that Galway play the wrong sort of football has definitely put a bit of a dampener on any attempts to hype up a novel enough final pairing.

Still, I'm looking forward to it and that's what really matters, right?

Plus, we haven't played each other in a final there since '83. It's hard to hype up a game, when there is so little recent history between the counties. The last game(s), who boxed who, who got the winning goal, who was denied a peno, who was awarded the dodgy free, who did or didn't get sent off etc etc. The rehashing off all that stuff is usually a big part of the build up and hype train. It is when Dublin play Mayo or Kerry anyway. All the former managers and players get their spake in and everyone is all riled up, raring to go, come match day, with the meeja gleefully fanning the flames. With Dublin and Galway, that history and tradition just isn't there, for them to do that.

BENDYBINN · 29-03-2018 04:25PM

ProudDUB wrote: »

Plus, we haven't played each other in a final there since '83. It's hard to hype up a game, when there is so little recent history between the counties. The last game(s), who boxed who, who got the winning goal, who was denied a peno, who was awarded the dodgy free, who did or didn't get sent off etc etc. The rehashing off all that stuff is usually a big part of the build up and hype train. It is when Dublin play Mayo or Kerry anyway. All the former managers and players get their spake in and everyone is all riled up, raring to go, come match day, with the meeja gleefully fanning the flames. With Dublin and Galway, that history and tradition just isn't there, for them to do that.

Ah, what about salthill two weeks ago? Lots of scores to be settled after that one!

ProudDUB · 29-03-2018 04:34PM

Sorry, forgot to specifically reference a history of championship games that matter.

Everyone knows the league don't amount to a hill 'o beans.

Stoner · 29-03-2018 07:33PM

BENDYBINN wrote:

Ah, what about salthill two weeks ago? Lots of scores to be settled after that one!

I don't think there is TBH. Galway have had a number of wars recently, as have Dublin. I don't think there's much in it

spurshero · 29-03-2018 10:54PM

grbear wrote: »

It's a very muted build up to a league final. Normally if there was a "new" team involved in a final there'd be a bit more excitement and discussion focusing on their potential going forward but the idea that Galway play the wrong sort of football has definitely put a bit of a dampener on any attempts to hype up a novel enough final pairing.

Still, I'm looking forward to it and that's what really matters, right?

whos idea is it that galway are playing the wrong kind of football ? if its the type that gets them 6 wins and draw outta 7 games against top teams i will take it any time if ya keep playing teams man on man defeats are gauranteed . you wont see 6 dublin defenders marking 6 galway attackers sunday . when they dont have the ball most of them will be behind it

Diabhal Beag · 29-03-2018 11:57PM

I know it's only the League but there's been some serious positives from the 7 games alone.

1) Kerin is still solid as ****
2) Seán Andy has so far stepped up
3) Tally seems to have brought in a lot of cop-on in terms of defensive structure
4) Kickouts are seriously improved
5) McHugh all round is better but his frees have gotten better too and he was already very good last League
6) Comer is a proper leader
7) They all take no guff which is a big improvement from the Johnny Duane handshake v Dillon days
8) They still have decent players to come back in Ian Burke, Farragher & Daly and there's no certainties they get their spots back
9) We're starting to build up a decent bench
10) Lads like Cooke & Kelly have been impressive

Even if they get beaten by 5+ on Sunday they have a lot to build on. These all know they can beat Mayo and they know they aren't as bad as the Connacht final hammering. But we still don't know how far off we are from the annual poor showing in Croker come Summer. We've had false dawns before but none of them included competent defending. Hopefully we bring a big support with us.

aidan24326 · 30-03-2018 01:34AM

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

I know it's only the League but there's been some serious positives from the 7 games alone.

1) Kerin is still solid as ****
2) SeAndy has so far stepped up
3) Tally seems to have brought in a lot of cop-on in terms of defensive structure
4) Kickouts are seriously improved
5) McHugh all round is better but his frees have gotten better too and he was already very good last League
6) Comer is a proper leader
7) They all take no guff which is a big improvement from the Johnny Duane handshake v Dillon days
8) They still have decent players to come back in Ian Burke, Farragher & Daly and there's no certainties they get their spots back
9) We're starting to build up a decent bench
10) Lads like Cooke & Kelly have been impressive

Even if they get beaten by 5+ on Sunday they have a lot to build on. These all know they can beat Mayo and they know they aren't as bad as the Connacht final hammering. But we still don't know how far off we are from the annual poor showing in Croker come Summer. We've had false dawns before but none of them included competent defending. Hopefully we bring a big support with us.

I'd imagine we'll have good support. The other points you make are all fairly spot on. But most of all we're going in to a Division 1 League Final against Dublin and that's a good place to be after the low ebb we hit a few years ago.

And the strength in depth is great to see, as you say the likes of Ian Burke and Daly are by no means guaranteed to walk back into the team.

We won't get overly carried away with a few wins in the league but in saying that this team have made progress this Spring that no-one could have predicted, so credit to them for that and we'll see what Sunday brings. I don't think we'll beat Dublin but on all known form over the last couple of months there's no reason why we shouldn't be giving them a proper test.

It mightn't all be pretty but we're becoming really difficult to beat and difficult to play against, and that's a good thing.

grbear · 30-03-2018 10:55AM

spurshero wrote: »

grbear wrote: »

It's a very muted build up to a league final. Normally if there was a "new" team involved in a final there'd be a bit more excitement and discussion focusing on their potential going forward but the idea that Galway play the wrong sort of football has definitely put a bit of a dampener on any attempts to hype up a novel enough final pairing.

Still, I'm looking forward to it and that's what really matters, right?

whos idea is it that galway are playing the wrong kind of football ? if its the type that gets them 6 wins and draw outta 7 games against top teams i will take it any time if ya keep playing teams man on man defeats are gauranteed . you wont see 6 dublin defenders marking 6 galway attackers sunday . when they dont have the ball most of them will be behind it

Colm O'Rourke and Joe Brolly are the most high profile pundits to have endorsed the idea that Galways system of play is leading them down a dead end and that come summertime and drier pitches then they'll be found wanting.

It's not something I'm 100% sold on as I think Galway have the potential to evolve especially when you add in Daly and the Corofin lads but the idea that they play the wrong way has definitely been a consistent theme when it comes to coverage of Galway this spring.

elefant · 30-03-2018 11:15AM

I really enjoy watching Galway's style of football.

- They are very fast and direct in attack. They've scored 15+ points in 5 of the 7 games. There's very little hand-passing side-to-side and backwards around the pitch.

- Whatever about its efficiency as a strategy, Galway don't take boring short kick-outs, it's all contested high ball in the middle of the field. High-fielding is, in my view, the most impressive skill in the game.

- Very many of Galway's games in the league this year have been absolutely end-to-end and action packed in the finishes. I'd be surprised if any neutrals weren't glued to the endings of the Donegal, Mayo and Dublin fixtures.

I hope that the very lazy 'analysis' of Galway in the media lately doesn't end with Galway's football being saddled with a negative label, and that knowledgable viewers draw their own opinions. There's a level of excitement about, and pride in, the football team that hasn't been around the county in quite some time. Long may it continue.

TCDStudent1 · 30-03-2018 11:17AM

grbear wrote: »

Colm O'Rourke and Joe Brolly are the most high profile pundits to have endorsed the idea that Galways system of play is leading them down a dead end and that come summertime and drier pitches then they'll be found wanting.

It's not something I'm 100% sold on as I think Galway have the potential to evolve especially when you add in Daly and the Corofin lads but the idea that they play the wrong way has definitely been a consistent theme when it comes to coverage of Galway this spring.

Galway played very defensive last year too. They played 14 behind the ball v Kildare in the league final last year with only Armstrong playing as an advanced forward. Similarly in the Mayo match, they were extremely defensive. So I am not convinced it is that much of a departure from last years tactics.

This was the Galway team in last years D2 final:

Galway: R Lavelle; D Wynne, D Kyne, C Sweeney; G O’Donnell (0-02), M Farragher, J Heaney (0-02); P Conroy (0-02), F O Curraoin; T Flynn, S Walsh (0-03), E Brannigan (0-01); G Sice (0-01, 0-01f), L Silke (0-01), S Armstrong (0-03, 0-01f).
Subs used: M Lundy for Sice (54), G Bradshaw (0-01) for Farragher (56), M Daly (0-02) for Brannigan (59), D Comer for Armstrong (63), I Burke for Walsh (68).

The team that takes to the field on Sunday will almost certainly be stronger than that team.

grbear · 30-03-2018 01:54PM

I think part of it is that some pundits convinced themselves that Dublin giving Tyrone a kicking in last year's semi-final marked the end of defensive football. They saw Donegal having a go against Kerry and convinced themselves of this new truth while ignoring the dour match in Tuam. When it turned out that one of the traditional artiste counties in Galway had started to see some success by embracing defensive football then we got a bit of an over reaction with the same pundits saying they'll never beat Dublin playing like that.

Like you said I think the biggest difference this year is that Galways defensive system is just working better this year so it's effect has been more noticeable. O Ceallaigh has been a serious addition at full-back and he is getting some great support from Kerin in particular. The system will obviously need tweaking as the team progresses but I think that is true of any team. Just look at Dublin. They are already the best team in the country but you still see Gavin changing the way the team operates with Kilkenny being granted a more attacking role this year where he has been one of the best players in the country in 2018.

Bonniedog · 30-03-2018 02:06PM

All teams are defensive now. Dublin will drop back most players when opposition are attacking. Learned that lesson in 2014.

The difference between teams is level of skill, score taking and the discipline and stamina to operate at a high level defensively and turn that into attack. Galway are now one of few teams with ability to do that.

Most unusual aspect of Galway's tactics is that they do not generally build up slowly from the back. Stats (before Dublin game, so may have changed) showed Galway with way lower % of short lick outs than other teams. Walsh has been criticised over reliance on winning primary ball further out, but if they crack that they will be formidable opponents for anyone.

30-03-2018 03:06PM

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the set up.

I like Brolly (bar when he interrupts others) but this notion that something doesn't work because one instance of variables(Tyrone/Dublin) is ludicrious.

If you're creating 3/4/5 goal chances a game then there's nothing wrong with what you're doing.

Our main problem and I'm saying it for years... and as someone noted above, we're winning less kick outs than anyone else due to having no noticeable plan.
It even came up on some podcast i was listening to, lowest winners in D1.

Sadly in a KO competition where the bench mark are winning nearly all of theirs, it'll go ultimately cost us as it did against Tipp/Roscommon/Kerry etc.

You can't concede possessions on their end and lose half of yours on the other.
It just leads to less shots for and more shots against.

At least we now know there's a team there so if this is the last hurrah for KW we should progress further should the next coach gain that extra few % from that area.

aidan24326 · 30-03-2018 03:34PM

grbear wrote: »

Colm O'Rourke and Joe Brolly are the most high profile pundits to have endorsed the idea that Galways system of play is leading them down a dead end and that come summertime and drier pitches then they'll be found wanting.

It's ridiculous really, as these are the same pundits that for years had criticised Galway's style of play as being soft and naieve! And that we'd go nowhere until we got a bit more aggression and defensive solidity to the setup. Now that we have that, the team are being lambasted for abandoning Galway's traditional style. So you really can't win.

In any case, Galway's game this year has evolved considerably from last year, and to call it purely defensive is lazy analysis. We've actually been one of the best teams to watch, played some nice football, pacy and skilful, created a bundle of goal chances, and still managed to be pretty tight defensively.

Last year we were just putting lots of bodies behind the ball but this year you can see that there's a more developed plan in place and we're attacking with much more menace. It's a pity we won't have Cillian McDaid as his ability to break forward at pace would have been well suited to the current system.

Happyilylost · 30-03-2018 08:56PM

Molloy was training tonight (great to see) Armie took full part. Conroy was togged but took no real part.

Utopia Parkway · 31-03-2018 01:31AM

The Galway team named to play Dublin in the Div 1 final

1. Ruairí Lavelle (Renvyle)
2. Declan Kyne (Clonbur)
3. Seán Andy Ó Ceallaigh (Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir)
4. Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown)
5. Gareth Bradshaw (Maigh Cuilinn)
6. Cathal Sweeney (Killannin)
7. Johnny Heaney (Killannin)
8. Peter Cooke (Maigh Cuilinn)
9. Ciaran Duggan (Annaghdown)
10. Eamonn Brannigan (St. Michael's)
11. Paul Conroy (St. James')
12. Sean Kelly (Maigh Cuilinn)
13. Barry McHugh (Mountbellew/Moylough)
14. Damien Comer - Capt. (Annaghdown)
15. Seán Armstrong (Salthill/Knocknacarra)

TCDStudent1 · 31-03-2018 01:50AM

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

The Galway team named to play Dublin in the Div 1 final

1. Ruairí Lavelle (Renvyle)
2. Declan Kyne (Clonbur)
3. Seán Andy Ó Ceallaigh (Naomh Anna, Leitir Móir)
4. Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown)
5. Gareth Bradshaw (Maigh Cuilinn)
6. Cathal Sweeney (Killannin)
7. Johnny Heaney (Killannin)
8. Peter Cooke (Maigh Cuilinn)
9. Ciaran Duggan (Annaghdown)
10. Eamonn Brannigan (St. Michael's)
11. Paul Conroy (St. James')
12. Sean Kelly (Maigh Cuilinn)
13. Barry McHugh (Mountbellew/Moylough)
14. Damien Comer - Capt. (Annaghdown)
15. Seán Armstrong (Salthill/Knocknacarra)

Dont think that team will start. Sweeney wont start at 6. He hasnt for the whole league so I doubt they will suddenly try it v Dublin in Croke Park! Bradshaw will start at 6.

Kelly & Heaney will swap. There is a possibility of O'Donnell starting ahead of Kelly but I doubt it.

Highly doubtful Armstrong will start. Not sure you can afford both him and McHugh in the team anyway as Galway's game is so dependent on pace.

Duggan has done very well recently and I thought he would be very close to the team but I am not fully convinced he will start. I think Shane Walsh will almost certainly be in for one of Armstrong or Duggan.

aidan24326 · 31-03-2018 02:02AM

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

Dont think that team will start. Sweeney wont start at 6. He hasnt for the whole league so I doubt they will suddenly try it v Dublin in Croke Park! Bradshaw will start at 6.

Kelly & Heaney will swap. There is a possibility of O'Donnell starting ahead of Kelly but I doubt it.

Highly doubtful Armstrong will start. Not sure you can afford both him and McHugh in the team anyway as Galway's game is so dependent on pace.

Duggan has done very well recently and I thought he would be very close to the team but I am not fully convinced he will start. I think Shane Walsh will almost certainly be in for one of Armstrong or Duggan.

This thing of naming dummy teams is becoming a bit of a farce. Someone recently suggested (I can't remember who) that if changes are made to the official team announcement that it should count towards your substitutions depending on how many changes you've made. Personally I think that's a great idea. It would stop this silliness once and for all.

Does anyone think that Shane Walsh won't start on Sunday? I guarantee you Jim Gavin doesn't. I mean who are they trying to fool here? I don't see the point of it.

Hulk Hands · 31-03-2018 07:21AM

I'd be shocked if another teams wing backs have had more scoring chances as Sweeney and Heaney. Sign of a massively defensive team? With the scores we're putting up in winter football? Let them talk..

spurshero · 31-03-2018 10:16PM

Ya would never think we would have such a big game tomo looking in here . Hardly a post all day . Best of luck to lads tomo. Am in Dublin and looking forward to Croker . Hopefully we can put in good performance and keep it competitive for as long as possible . Anything after that is pure bonus stuff

MfMan · 01-04-2018 01:22AM

spurshero wrote: »

Ya would never think we would have such a big game tomo looking in here . Hardly a post all day . Best of luck to lads tomo. Am in Dublin and looking forward to Croker . Hopefully we can put in good performance and keep it competitive for as long as possible . Anything after that is pure bonus stuff

Aim higher. Dubs, good keeper, as we know, very solid FB line, excellent HB line, one Rolls Royce midfielder in Fenton, one clogger in MDMCXXIV; of the forwards, only Kilkenny, a good Galwayman, looks threatening. I know nothing about the rest, Dean Rock included, a good sign for us. At least 4 of them will be replaced tomorrow. At 4/1 we're very good value.

threeball · 01-04-2018 08:59AM

MfMan wrote: »

Aim higher. Dubs, good keeper, as we know, very solid FB line, excellent HB line, one Rolls Royce midfielder in Fenton, one clogger in MDMCXXIV; of the forwards, only Kilkenny, a good Galwayman, looks threatening. I know nothing about the rest, Dean Rock included, a good sign for us. At least 4 of them will be replaced tomorrow. At 4/1 we're very good value.

A back six that struggles when ran at which is how we scored practically every point in the league this year. As long as we don't fall into the trap off being worried by the jersey like we did against jerry last year I think we'll give it a right rattle.

Doctors room ghost · 01-04-2018 02:28PM

Best of luck to the footballers today.up the tribes

grbear · 01-04-2018 04:04PM

Armstrong not starting, Walsh in instead.

Looking forward to this now. Probably won't be as many goals as the Roscommon match though.

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