Galway GAA Discussion Thread #2

COS was the only other alternative. Donegal got a much tougher trek having to come to the Hyde

Didn't think anything of it. Was about the same for both teams so fair enough. Was there to see it too.

I don't really have an issue with Breffni as a neutral venue. Armagh also did travel to 2 Connacht venues for the last 2 group meetings. Maybe it could've benefited with an earlier throw-in time but they probably want the highest possible viewership slot for Saturday evenings.

We lost by 1 against Dublin by taking a 45 short and nothing came off it. If we had taken our 1 point Sunday its possible we would have won the game. We had all the momentum and we made a mess of it. We don't have reliable free takers from 40m as was evident in the AIF last year…

I would normally be totally in favour of playing the percentages and takign the ball out to the 2 point arc is the percentage paly, especially with the wind. BUT context has to come into it and in this case it was an awful decision. We were dominating at that stage and had all the momentum. Tap over the point and reload again. Mentally it shows the confidence that we have it and are backing ourselves to drive on. As many have said it was tierney's first free of the game as well and the wide killed our momentum

Name another two pointer free Galway have missed this year? I'm actually racking my brain for one (maybe one against Donegal in the storm).... Shane Walsh (to be fair) has kicked the majority, but so too too has Conroy, Tierney and Finnerty. I would say our conversion rate of 2 point frees is way above 80%. We have to remember Walsh was taking off prior to all this against Derry. Unfortunately the version of Walsh we have now is similar to that of last year rather than the free flowing one we had in the league where kicking from distance and off the ground (Tyrone into a gale springs to mind) was a regular occurrence. Cruel the injuries some of these lads have.

45 against Dublin argument makes no sense. Walsh had missed a free off the ground not long before and it was closer than a 45. He obviously felt he didn't have the range against a stiff breeze making it a very low % shot.

Only option after Walsh is Gleeson, who outside of his Connacht Final heroics has not been converting anything with regular efficiency.

The kick for Tierney for me for a player of his calibre was straightforward (straightforward in the context of an intercounty footballer). Hits 10 I think he nails most if not all. Hitting the corner flag again is a 1 on a 100. Unfortunately we got that one on Sunday. That's sport. Some of the other pot shots I'm sure Joyce was annoyed about. I'd be surprised if he felt that free was one. And if given the opportunity again Galway would go for 2.

"if given the opportunity again, Galway wouldn't go for 2"

So it was the wrong decision.

45 against Dublin was in the first half when Galway had the breeze… into the Prairie end, straight in front of the post

Apologies edited. "Galway would go for it again"

That wasn't the gamble to take in those conditions with 7 minutes left imo

Tierney, off the back of his reliable free-taking, shepherded his club to an all ireland intermediate victory. Whether it was the two lost all irelands that knocked the confidence or maybe just didn't translate well to county level from the beginning.

Was enthusiastic about the 2 pointer rule at the start of the year, now am afraid of it.

A lot to be concerned about in recent performances. Soft as putty down the spine of our defence in Castlebar where Mayo should've scored 2 maybe 3 goals. Cleaned in midfield against Dublin and most of last Sunday. And forward play is too slow. Just not moving it forward fast enough, bar the likes of Thompsons defence splitting kick for that brilliant Tierney goal.

At the end of the day, for both the Dublin and Derry matches, Galway had clawed back but when both teams had the last kickout, Galway didn't lay a hand on them when they went the full length to get a score. How Galway couldn't have marked man to man last Sunday is frustrating, it went out to the corner back and he can't play it back to the goalie, it's pure jeopardy, yet Galway let them up the length of the pitch and nearly to the penalty spot.

Agreed. Team he's picking is not performing 3 games in a row now. Imo drop walsh and mcDaid. Cein D'Arcy has to start. Try some younger legs like daly. Could Cooke play centre back?

Thompson finnerty tierney are performing. Comer off the bench is great option. They started the league well but finished badly. Change up needed.

many tickets floating around for the Leinster final on Sunday?
I presume it will be quiet enough.

Even with 20k free juvenile tickets it's a bad sign when uppers are still closed on a Thursday morning. They do have Hill open but I doubt that fills anyways.