Galway GAA Discussion Thread #2

that's fair enough in reality its the reason the likes of myself use this because of people being knowledgeable and knowing whats going on behind the scenes

a really good win for galway today last year was a battle as well but impressive to do it without kelly and comer that cant be understated , molloy chipping in with a late super score is some answer to his substation in the connacht final and a measure of the galway squad at the moment

I agree, much handier than Navan.Bring it on..

Happy that it isn't in Navan as rumoured. Markevicz is a nice venue and fair as a neutral venue for both travelling supporters. It's nice to see more regional grounds getting a look in for the Round 3 group games. I think it will be slightly under a sellout but I'd sooner see a nearly full smaller venue than a half empty Croker.

For whatever reason I think Joyce is holding back Cillian O'Curraoin this championship. I think he'd be ideal to start in the full-forward line if there's no Comer or Finnerty. McDaid is wasted up there as a stop-gap and he'd be a huge addition to midfield or with Daly and McHugh in the half-backs.

I know we're potentially missing 3 big names but I'm very happy to see Tierney going well after limited football in 2024 so far. You'd imagine any goal threat will need to involve himself, Heaney, Walsh or D'Arcy.

I think there's huge potential in Galway to score about 5 or 6 points more per game if the players were shooting from 40 yards out. Some do and some don't, so I don't know is it an instruction or their own instinct that's stopping them.

Tierney, Conroy, McDaid, Heaney, Walsh, Comer, OCurraoin, even maybe Finnerty, have all kicked 40 yarders now and again in the last 2 years. I think Armagh will score them against us and our slow build up play just keeps the opposition, no matter what level they're at, in the game for much longer.

Was that confirmed. Bad news for us if that's the case. Henrys philosophy on hurling is for a game that's not successful anymore. Hurling has moved on and its not going back any time soon. Add to that the fact that we don't have the players to play that way even if it had potential to work and we're losing on two fronts. Its a rebuild job and you need to appoint someone with a 3-5yr vision, not someone who doesn't want to go out on a bad note.

A new manager won't solve Galway's problems.

Shefflin seemed too reluctant to bed in new faces like Killeen and Lawless, who were better options even if they don't work out long-term than moving Linnane to wing-back or keeping Grealish at corner back. I'd have zero confidence that he'd bed in new blood unless his hand got forced by retirements, which I think is a certainty over the winter.

Sometimes you just need to admit a job is too big for you and Shefflin, who I've no doubt tried his best, needs to realise that this rebuild is way above his skillset.

Tbf the day of traditional "Corner backs" are gone. Nearly every team plays with two up top and then it's up to management to get match ups right. I agree a hugely pacy player wouldn't suit him.

For me Fintan Burke was the biggest positive in 2024. Went toe to toe with Gillane (subbed off league) TJ Reid and Chin and held his own in all. Thought he was man of the man from a Galway point of view against Dublin. When Daithí returned to the full back line against Antrim very little damage was caused in that line for the last two games.

Darach Fahy had a good year. Caimin Fahy impressed as an individual in the half back line and Gavin Lee got plenty of scores over the round Robin.

But the middle eight as a unit was close to Joe McDonagh hurling than All Ireland winners. No pressure at all defensively. Amount of times against Wexford and Dublin they had a free man in the middle of the pitch with no Galway player within 20 yards was criminal. Modern day hurling a free shot from half way is almost a gimme. Individually they are decent players (mostly) but collectively it was a disaster that management never looked like rectifying. Started against Carlow and got no better.

That balance isn't fixed it's a waste of some good hurlers.

Think it's fair to say a few of our better performers didn't turn up this year. If management are staying let's hope it was just a bad year rather than disillusionment with those at the top.

There may be 24 senior clubs in Galway but there are not 24 clubs playing senior standard Hurling. I'd include my own club in that. The structure of that championship needs to be looked at - 24 is just too many and I can think of at least 6 clubs off the top of my head that would be better off playing (and competing and possibly winning) at Intermediate level. The same goes for some of the so called intermediate clubs at the moment, some of them should be playing Junior.

I'm not saying that to disrespect any club but it's just he reality. It's very obvious when you attend games.

Having said that, I do think that the Hurlers are there. There are easily 100 hurlers as you say. We have the foundations and there is proof that the foundations are good - Club AI, Minor AI etc. The fact that there is no news on Shefflin leads me to believe that it's his decision to make. IF he is to stay, I would like to see a statement that it is for 3 years and that he is rebuilding the team. Another 1 year serves nobody.

16 senior clubs in Galway, B championship is really intermediate and senior in name only .

As was said previously, just because your club isn't in Senior A doesn't mean you're not good enough. There's plenty of players playing intermediate that would walk on to any Senior A team. That's the problem in Galway, we keep looking in the same well and come back saying it's dry. If Gearoid Hegarty lived in Galway he'd be sitting at home scratching his balls every Sunday.

Theres a snobbery in traditional hurling areas towards clubs that aren't at the top grade or classed as dual clubs. It carries through to our IC team too when we play "lesser" counties we rarely put in a shift and put them away like KK do. Just look at our history v Dublin and you can see it in action.

I don't think it's snobbery, I just think that in general the best hurlers are playing senior hurling. Players reach their potential by playing with and against the best players and getting the best coaching. It's really important that the club championship gives players that.

The exceptional Intermediate and Junior players will always shine exactly because they stand out from the rest of the average intermediate and junior players. I fully agree on casting the net wide. I'm just questioning if the current club championship is serving the IC team well.

No such thing as snobbery. John Hanbury came from 'unfashionable' Rahoon / Newcastle. Niall Donohoe RIP came from Kilbeacanty. Donal O'Shea is still playing for a Junior club. If they're good enough and they push on, they won't lay undiscovered.

The 2 stand out junior players the last couple of years are sean mcdonagh and donal o shea, o shea is on the panel and mcdonagh played on the development squad. The captain of the minor team is from ballygar, Greg Thomas and his brother moved to Castlegar from ballygar and Greg has being in and out of senior panel unfairly if you ask me. The 2 mannions, gmac and niall burke were brought in while hurling intermediate, kilcommins from annaghdown got a full league to make his case and then was dropped and went into the football panel. I don't see allot of snobbery there