Galway GAA Discussion Thread #2

Were still able to struggle over Cork and Tipp the past 2 years, and ran Limerick closest in 2022. They do need more consistency in midfield and the HF line though I think.

Kilkenny ran Limerick closest in 2022, they lost by 2 points in the final and had Limerick under severe pressure in injury time, Limerick were hanging on in the end and relieved to hear the final whistle. Limerick beat us by 3 points in the semi final, while we were level around the 70 minute mark, Limerick did ease away at the end and never really looked in trouble.

I wouldn't be reading too much into beating Cork(2022) and Tipp (2023), against Cork we were poor, it was a game Cork threw away with all the chances they missed, and Tipp were no great shakes last year, so while great to win those matches, they wouldn't inspire much confidence.

I would see Kilkenny as being at a similar level to Galway, yet when it has mattered in Leinster finals, we haven't being able to beat them, we always seem to find a way to lose, last year a prime example. Winning Leinster gives an easier route to the AI final, avoiding Limerick(in last few years). I'm not saying we should be beating Limerick, but, winning Leinster and getting to AI final should be a realistic goal, and it's possible someone else might upset Limerick before the final. We should be ready to take advantage of any potential upset but, we don't seem to be making progress over the last few years, again I hope I'm proven wrong come the championship.

Edit: Actually forgot that Clare ran Limerick closest in 2022, brought them to extra time in the Munster final and ran them to a point last year.

Hard to know which team is most relevant.

Silke in for Galway. Tomo back in the squad.

Kerry no Clifford's.

Derry pretty strong against Roscommon.

Built up a nice lead and some junior C level kick passing gave Kerry a number of platforms to counterattack and draw level. Shocking how poor the basics can be from supposedly elite players.

Relying on Derry to do us a favour now.

Jaysus we're bad, Kerry have us at arms length in 3rd gear.

Some of the hand passing too has been shocking. The decision making is junior C standard. Lads giving handpasses to teammates that are surrounded.

It's very hard to see what kind of style we're trying to play here which is a bit of an indictment on PJ given how long he's been in the job.

We'll stay in D1 because the Rossies are getting hockeyed by Derry, but very hard to say we're a D1 team based on performances this year.

I don't think any of us will need to be worrying about AI tickets this year anyway.

Good ad for the quality of O'Neills gear these days with Spillane ripping Conroys jersey in half.

80 **** euro for them these days.

Conroy took dogs abuse all game. Geaney could have walked twice. Spillane the same. Refs let that constant off the ball fouling go every game and it's a joke at this stage.

Time to start the search for our next management team because PJ and Co aren't up to it. Have a decent team in place for next year. Fitzmaurice would be my pick and try to get one of the Corofin management team from the 3 in a row in alongside him.

Bad and all as we were. We couldn't buy a free. Maher was pushed in the back on the way to goal and no free and Heaney done the exact same thing up the other end and free in. The ref was terrible

Add in Sean Kelly and McDaid is it that poor a team?

Today like Dublin was worrisome. Up to now in the first five league games no matter who was missing we had some sort of aggression. Last two games we've showed nothing. Kerry did as they wished today.

Our turnovers??? I mean seriously. There is cheap and there is cheap and then there is Galway. May as well just hand the ball back to the opposition at times.

Wasn't sitting far from management today and was the first time they seemed frustrated/flabbergasted/clueless. One aspect annoyed them alot. Be interesting if they finally bite the bullet and make a change.

Its not a bad team but it doesn't really matter who you have lining out for you if the gameplan and the style of play hasn't been developed enough to maximise their potential. 4 years and still not a semblance of a kickout strategy bar lump it up the middle. There's far less talented teams doing far more with the resources available to them.

They shouldn't play any part in a connaught championship which is absolutely inconsequential. Far better to have them fresh heading in to knockout games. Winning connaught last year wasn't worth a bean when the injuries hit. Its not like we have a gameplan they have to get used to playing in.

I mean its essentially a club stadium that occasionally will host an NFL or an early Connacht Championship game vs smaller teams like Leitrim/Sligo/Roscommon, seems like it serves its purpose for that. What exactly were you expecting?