Good effort from the hurlers. Some nice performances from the younger lads, Trayers, Burke and Rabitte. Lee moved to a more suitable position at midfield.
Ref gave them nothing but they battled well in rotten conditions. Still a bit short in our FF line. Outside of Rabbite, everyone else tried there was easily held. Good options in the back 6 now though.
Brutal pass from a free and mayo overturn (not for the first time today )and raise a red flag to finish the half 😒
Apart from a 10 or 12 minute spell late in the 2nd half, it was a fairly abject performance. Mayo were first to everything, out tackling was sloppy resulting in numerous 2pters.
Some of the passing was really poor standard we often went so tight with our interchange that it was easy for Mayo to turnover. Our transition is still too slow. We only every looked dangerous when we moved the ball in early. Fionn McDonaghs performance a big bonus. Some of the older lads starting to look old.
What does a red flag do?
I counted at least 8 Mayo points coming from Galway unforced turnovers.
Ugh, Enjoyable if mainly frustrating game. Certainly not gonna panic after first round of the league but all very reminiscent of a lot of games last year in the Championship where we let ourselves go well behind then claw or nearly claw it back in the end - Derry, Dublin, Armagh and Meath games spring to mind.
Nice to see a Mayo team not look afraid to shoot from outside the Arc fair play.
And another 8 coming from terrible tackling on the arc, coughing up 2pt chances. The centre of our defense is porous just like last year. When Mayo ran straight down the middle we either fouled them or they got through for a score.
mayo were good today..looked super fit …they will be a match for anybody as the year progresses
Galway did ok under the circumstances….mcdonagh looked class, we will improve
Why is Cooke gone for the year?
His is working in London according to PJ.
What the game has become, who's the most clinical on turnovers.
When he first came into the job, it took PJ and his team 2 to 3 years to get a handle on the way the game was played with the old rules, strong defences, having a kick-off strategy that works etc. I'm afraid that it might take them the same 2 to 3 years to get to grips on playing with the new rules. Seem to be fighting the last war at the moment and no thought to how the game has changed.
PJ is tinkering and bolloxing with the forwards all the time but yet won't do anything with full back and center back. He won't put sean kelly back in full back and obviously doesn't rate john daly for centerback which i don't agree with, surely, he will at least hold his position. It's a real pity cause when they throw caution to the wind they can play football. impressed with the 2 mcadonaghs and Mulhern.
Delighted with the hurlers. couldn't ask for more really. Rabbitt and Burke look the business, hopefully they are left there for the league.
Is Joyce popular with the players? A good few upping sticks.
Shane Walsh looks very chunky, maybe hes bulking up?
Good win for Mayo and they have their own issues going on this game, could have been an overwhelming one, but if Galway had put away some of their easy enough 3 pointers the result could have been sooooooo different. It was probably good for Galway that they lost, if they had won, a lot of what was wrong might well be overlooked and might still be. A big issue as far as Galway are concerned is they play Armagh next and I've a feeling the PJ could panic and introduce players who are not fully fit and ready for battle, then lose . Is he the right man for the job? It seems he's far away from the skills in management which are required at this level. Great player but that's about it, a fair few of the dressing room aren't with him by all accounts. Co Board will stick with him, he's costing nothing, he seems to be the boss, with the ego not helping either.
Tbf we were missing a lot around the middle the last day so I'm guessing that's why Kelly was out there. I could see him moving back this year yet.
Thought John Daly was injured so hopefully might see him soon.
Real pity about Cooke. Hopefully it might just be for the league. Would be a real boost to have him back come championship.
The way Galway played last Sunday kicking it forward, it's tailor made for John Daly. Best foot passing defender in the county. If he doesn't get a decent look in, then there has to be an issue between him and PJ.
Whats the story with his brother? Looked a decent half forward a few years ago but hasnt been involved with Galway for a few years.
the lineout for saturday
Depressingly similar to last week. A few defenders there quite lucky to retain their places. When is PJ going to learn? Only other thing of note is McDaid's return to bench.
Imo Kelly and Silke at least played out of position …good to see Tierney in...i'd have mcglinchey there with Tierney give them a chance ,move kelly and maybe bench silke or back where Molloy is,also the longer the game gos on the more loose Molloy is with the ball
Similar to last weekend there will be changes to the named team. That team is a copy and paste job form last weekend. Dont blame joyce either when lot of his players carrying knocks and lads playing sigerson etc. Kelly will slot into the backs with any of 3 dropping out. Would like to see finian o laoi tried gain at half back as he is an attacking player and is good with ball going forward. Lot more composed on ball than Molloy. Darcy must have a knock that hes not on bench for this weekend after pulling out late last weekend. 2 points this weekend would give him a great buffer and not have to worry about rushing lads back who carrying knocks. Walsh looked to be hobbling a bit after he came on the last day so i wonder about his fitness. Its like Deja Vu all over again with us.
Armagh very dominant so far not looking good for Galway again today. They have really upped it since the black card too
Armagh left us in it. They must of had 3/4 clear goal scoring opportunities and choose the safe option of a fisted point instead. They had a 3 on 1 versus Gleeson at one stage and the Armagh lad fisted it over the bar. Crazy.
Finnerty is top class. A delightful footballer to watch. I liked the look of McGlinchey when he came on too.
Agreed it felt like Armagh could have put us away a couple of times but took the easy point instead. Left us in it as you say. McGlinchey did well alright I thought McGrath did very well also off the bench
McGlinchey and Maher midfield for me come championship. Conroy CF if he comes back and Sean Kelly to CB. He won't sit back so I wouldn't play him FB.
Shane McGrath had a nice cameo off the bench. Took his point well and won the 50m advancement to win it.
Our kickouts are going to kill us for the 6th or 7th year in a row. Crazy situation to be in.
Another good display from the hurlers. Tough start with both the All Ireland finalists but they held their own in both with alot of youth on board and some young players yet to return like Tiernan Killeen.
Trayers excellent again. Neary very good too. Rabbittes handling was poor enough tonight but he fed the goal well. Still not sold on Niland. And I dont see the point bringing him back sweeping when theres players much better suited to that role if thats the game you want to play.
Carrying alot of injuries and missing players, its a positive start.
Conroy is passed it at this stage. Was a brilliant servant to Galway football and will continue to be for his club.
I think he would be a nice option to have for last 20 mins or so when game has slowed down . He’s definitely wouldn’t have the legs for 70 mins or so though .
I can’t have any of that. Mannion and Monaghan with pure idiotic wides. No pressure on them or shooting without even looking at anything else only try and score. Cathal went missing a lot with cork stood into him. Padraig Mannion very poor tonight. Daithi at this stage is a three not a maurading six so it’s play full back or bench. Neary looks a hardy buck. Rabbitte is a young player learning his trade. McLoughlin has had enough bites of the cherry at this stage I’m doubting him as a top class inter county hurler. Donohue may look at this ruthlessly and start dropping players otherwise the dubs will run for sport against us. How many wides in game it was 10 in first half. that messing will break a lot of teams. plenty to work on but enough positives from that team for now at least.
