Galway GAA Discussion Thread #2

Luck has to play a part in it also though. Would have won last year's final only for awful luck with key players getting injured, even Finnerty on the day. Mayo have had some dreadfully unfortunate breaks in AI finals too.

I always thought Rochford would be a great fit for us. I was hoping he might be tempted after Walsh stepped down, but it was always going to be PJ back then.

If PJ steps away now, I'd love to see Rochford get it.

Its probable that PJ will finish up now. It would be just ego to stay going, although the co board would probably give him another year at least without too much hassle. He is still a legend, quite rightly, among the club delegates. But, similar to Donohoe coming back with the hurlers, what's the point with the same backroom team more or less? You have to freshen up. Even for optics, he should have replaced Concannon and to a lesser extent Divilly after 2024. Especially because, as others have said, PJ seems to be more stick than carrot and young players have always found him intimidating in a way. And whoever is in charge is going to have to bring in more young players and blood them early.

It looked like Dave Morris was more or less looking at stats and data this year and advising changes and tactics based on that, while Graham did the coaching and forwards/backs structure. So, if that's the case, did we improve on the last few years? Probably not. There is an argument for Rochford and Morris to try to bring in the lauded Corofin type of play from 2015 but that style doesn't work now, as seen when Rochford was over Mayo and coaching other teams. Kevin O Brien had that style well modified by 2018-2019 and he won 3 All Irelands in a much more pragmatic way.

I think there was a massive hangover in PJ and the squad from leaving the All Ireland after them last year. The team struggled all year, energy wise, and every game was an end to end cliff hanger no matter who they played. That's just exhausting and it catches you in the end. Dylan McHugh was a player of the year contender after the semi final last year and he really struggled all this year. Silke played well for 10 minutes yesterday when Galway were in trouble in fairness but he has looked flat this year too. Maher is the only one really to keep up the energy and form of last year and probably Finnerty the only one to improve on 2024. Not being able to keep Comer and McDaid fit too didn't help and Tierney and Cooke still looked great one day and poor the next. Sean Kelly is just not the same player he was before his injuries unfortunately. You wont get 2-3 more years from the spine of the team.

I don't think the chopping and changing among the keepers helped either and it was surprising that PJ was indecisive there and then was ruthless when he dropped Conroy twice. He definitely should have started yesterday because Galway should have been looking to put Meath away early.

All in all, we probably went as far as you could expect this season given the form and thankfully groups are gone after this year. Galway won their province, then played 4 games in 5 weeks (only losing one) and still were only in a quarter final.

As others have said, it looks like this squad has missed their chance of an All Ireland. Unfortunately.

The kickout strategy failure in the last few years is especially frustrating when you see the way Cian O Neill got huge praise from Jack O Connor for masterminding Kerrys tactics on the Armagh kickout over the weekend

I don't think Gleeson is able to handle a complicated kick-out strategy. It is unfair to ask it of him since it is not his skillset. He has got better at the very short kick-outs over time but a lot of the time he's inclined to kick it long and telegraphs where it is going. Often times he doesn't move to get kick-outs away quickly like Cluxton did as he is not capable of finding someone mid-range. Many times you don't see players moving for him because they know it's not coming. As I said I think it's unfair to ask it of him if he's not comfortable doing it but is there a goalkeeper in the county up to the mark on this?

Kickout strategy has been an issue all the way back to Kevin Walshes time. And in all that time we've never looked like sorting it out or having a goalie that could get the kicks away.

When you look at how easy some teams got their kicks away over the weekend whilst we resorted to mainly booting it long and to the right its completely baffling that we place no emphasis on it. We have about 6 targets that can field ball and instead of having them run their own routes and spread Meath thin we bunched them together. Had 2 or 3 of them jumping for the one ball with Meath foraging underneath waiting for the inevitable break. We've been at that all year and its not getting better any time soon.

This is done in Galway too. It has its limitations though. A certain element of talent spotting will always be someone standing at the side of a pitch trying to assess talent.

As a Rossie desperately frustrated by 10 years of springs where we're competitive with anyone, followed by summers where we get knocked out by teams from a lower division, I'd agree with your inferiority complex theory.

It's definitely a recurring pattern that lads from these Connacht teams just haven't psychologically managed the big days to play to their potential.

There's a Caroline Currid badly needed in every Connacht teams camp I think!

Hopefully that result clarifies some harsh realities for the Galway football setup. A squad with that talent going out to a team at Meath's level is inexcusable.

Not making any changes next season and praying that the same again might yield different results would be a dereliction of duties.

Joyce needs to make his intentions known earlier rather than later. Theres at least 6 teams in the market for managers, a few of them big counties. If he opts out last minute we'll be left with lesser options. Either opt in or out but leaving it hanging isn't doing Galway any good.

Joyce should definitely go, as there's a good crop of players there, that with the right manager would have a decent chance of an AI, although I think that window might have closed, but, the right manager can make a huge difference. Donegal were in crisis when McGuinness returned, he has turned them around and making the most of what he's got available to him, that's all you can ask for, from a manager, Joyce definitely hasn't got the best out of Galway, yes, we have improved from when he took over, but, the quality of players avalilable to him has also improved.

In the hurling, I think if we got Cody and Kiely to take us over, they wouldn't be able to do a huge amount for us, as the players simply aren't there, although I do think we're not getting the best out of what's available to us, but, we are a million miles away from seriously challenging for an AI. Again all I'd ask is we get the best out of what's available to us.

Galway had their chances in 22 and 24 in football. Armagh are one of the worst teams to win and All Ireland in a long time. Naive tactics on the sideline.

With regard to the hurlers, barren years ahead here I'm afraid. Players like Lee, Fleming etc will all be better next year but the quality of player is just not there in Galway at the moment, and looking at our U-20s, its not coming either.

22, we were fresh, played a good brand of attacking football, massive underdogs, played above ourselves, left everything on the pitch, but, ran out of steam, didn't have the depth to finish it off, Kerry got off the hook, but, were worthy winners in the end, would have been great to win it, but, was happy how we performed, just came up short on the day to the best team that year.

24, completely different story, played with the handbrake on, even in the dying minutes, when we needed a point we were clueless, seemed to choke on the day, a golden opportunity wasted, Armagh no great shakes, but have an AI to show for it, Galway players will be haunted by this for the rest of their lives and definitely won't get a better opportunity.

Regards the hurlers and Limerick, there was talk of this Limerick team coming, before they made the break through, couldn't see it myself but not long after they beat us in 18, again we didn't perform on the day - which seems to be a theme with Galway teams - another final we let slip away quite easily!

There is no sign of anything coming in Galway hurling, we would need a fresh new management team , not sure who tbh, and get a panel of players together who are totally committed and willing to die for the cause, then we might see an improvement. I know the current management is only there a year, but, they were there a few years ago, it needs freshening up, new voices with energy, the current management don't give that impression. I still think no matter who is in charge, we wouldn't challenge for an AI, but, I think we could be better than we are!

It seems PJ is staying on. I had heard that it would be his decision and it looks like he has made up his mind.

John Cleary expected to remain in charge of Cork senior footballers for 2026

(go to end of article)