The 2023 All Ireland Senior Football Championship (Sam Maguire Cup)

In fairness they don't to nearly the same extent as other teams. They always went man-for-man even against Dublin in their prime.

Galway have been far more of a blanket defense team for the past 10 years but you'll rarely hear than in the cliched commentary on the Sunday Game - all you'll hear is about 'nice footballers' and 'handy forwards'.

Ah the thing about Galway is they adapt even peak Dublin used to funnel fellas back. Galway have come along way from a a div2 final they played against Kildare a few years back CP. Where both sides sat looking at each other and neither seemed to want the ball. Galway has been a slow evolution and they are definitely making use of what they have.

Good post Green & Red. As harmless as it was, Shane Walsh was sorry he started that little shemozzle.

Isn't it fairly accepted that Comer will play? Nobody in Mayo believing otherwise.

We saw the knock Kelly took and I'd say he's 50/50

PJ has consistently down the years brought players back early or played them while injured.Im thinking particularly Comer off the bench heavily strapped recently.Or the same player vs Mayo in 2020 Covid Connaught final when he limped onto the pitch and was gassed by the time he got into position

Comer will absolutely play some part.

Exactly. The league final was basically 55 mins plus of Mayo with 14/15 behind the ball and Galway probing badly around the edges. Galway played their part in it by being way too slow with their transition but still, there was only one team leaving two up at all times.

This is Mayo's to lose anyway. If they can't beat Galway with Galway probably missing 4 starters, then they're going nowhere. Home advantage means zero in this one. If anything its the other way, most Galway fans would prefer Castlebar and most Mayo fans seem to think they'll have a better chance in Salthill.

I agree that Galway play defensive. But Mayo can also play with 15 behind the ball. Mayos problem is they dont have the forwards to break down defensive structures. Dublin & Kerry will also play defensive when they have to. The difference is that they can break down oppositions set ups

Ah, ye'd miss the banter.

You must have been watching a different league final to me

Possibly, but you'd need to factor in that the winning team is out again 6/7 days later - and playing one of the top teams in the country. Does the manager risk everything for the Mayo match - with Comer or Kelly worsening an already bad situation. Or does he hold them back, and hope to God they get past Mayo, and that both make a full recovery by the following weekend. It's a tough dilemma.

Galway need more firepower than that in the full forward line.

They replaced Comer on Sunday with Sweeney and obviously he doesn't play inside. Galway's play followed the same trend, very very indirect.

We need a lad to replace Comer who'll show for the ball. Culhane maybe.

Anyway I expect Comer to play some part. He'll be risked.

Kelly to me is a bigger loss. He's so direct and creates or scores such important scores. I can't see him being right, doubtful even for a quarter final. Even if he does return he surely wouldn't be right for a serious amount of galloping up the field.

Is Sean Mulkerrin still around the Galway panel? Looked decent before that bad injury and would naturally slot in full-back vs. Aido

Ah you do that and Galway will be beaten, sure Walsh might as well be missing too for all he's contributing this year.

Scoring expected points, versus kicking your clutch 'do or die' scores are two very different things as we know only too well in Mayo. Sure all those arguments you've made are the exact same issues Mayo forwards have faced for the last 12 years.

I would expect more of a Connacht semi final than a Connacht final crowd at this - maybe 18-20k.

"Lets go the the preliminary quarter final" doesn't quite get the excitement going with the casual fan. I liked the Off the ball idea "Wild Card Weekend"

5 points from play in 3 matches? One less than renowned sharp shooter Jordan Flynn.