Galway GAA Discussion Thread #2

It's extremely unlikely that we would avoid either Cork or Limerick in a semi final (going on the idea that we win Leinster). We should just focus on getting to the Leinster final and trying to win it firstly.

Wrt to potentially an All-Ireland semi final, we often do well in them on the few occasions that we actually win Leinster. That's why, imo, winning the provincial final is so important for Galway. One less game and time to focus on the opposition etc..

First things first, get over the Offaly match at the weekend. They were very unlucky not to have won against Dublin last Saturday. They seem to have blinding pace, which will take watching from our backs/midfield.

Shane, Damo, Cillian all back in some capacity. Jack and Matty missing a bit of a dampener as they were two of our better performers in the league. But with those lads back and the U20s to return, panel looking a lot healthier.

Made a good difference when sprung. Also, McGrath got a point and Comer laid on the final pass for the goal. Unfortunately, another sub made the game much closer than it needed with a couple of poor kickouts. Rather curious game yesterday; couldn't fault Galway for application or endeavour, but they so often make it needlessly hard for themselves. Finnerty had a poor outing. O'Laoi had a fairly good first half but neither he, MacDonnacha or O'Conghaile to an extent score enough consistently to be relied upon when others are struggling. Looks a good side on paper, especially if Tierney (and hopefully Thompson, but doubtful) return but there seems to be a spark missing at the moment.

Draw for whoever winners/ losers of provincial titls willbe made next Monday with provincial winners/losers guranteed a home draw. This draw will make teams prep for provincial final more interesting and see what carrot is there for winners/losers of connacht final. May go long way to deciding whether Joyce risks lads coming back form injury in 2 weeks time or whether he skips this and focuses on the round 1 game on 23rd

As far as I know as there is no difference between the benefits of of the winner/losers of provincial finals so they will be calling names rather than "Connacht winners vs Donegal" "Connacht losers vs Meath" it will just be Galway vs Donegal and Roscommon vs Meath. Or so I was told in Carrick.

Win or lose you are better off drawing the strongest team possible. Its a free shot and win or lose you will be avoiding them again for a while.

Looks like Glynn, Hernon and Tierney will be good to go. Along with Shane, McDaid and Comer. The few U20s will be pushing again after their break (Mulryan may now be top of the U20 list now) getting onto the matchday panel will be competitive. Just Thompson left if that materialises. For once we may have managed workloads correctly to get all fit at the right time of the year.

Saying that they could all drop like flies in the next few days.

Strong team named for Sunday ,Walsh to start with Comer and Tierney in the subs ....with all the shitealkery its hard to see whats in it for us apart from the 5 in a row , but in the AI we already know who we are playing , hard to fathom the system

With all the talk of blooding new, young players during the league, not one has made the starting team for Sunday. MacDonnacha has gone off the 26 altogether. Sean Fitz gone again too. Very poor defensive options off the bench, save maybe Hernon.

Is Mulkerrin not your quintessential solid "squad player"? Probably not quite good enough on the ball to start but can do a job in any defensive position, did a great job on enda Smith last year and the 2024 final run.

Backs depth is very solid imo. Just wish we had one or two more scoring forwards

No idea how either have made the 26. Miles off the level required on all evidence so far.

The back door system is gone out with the bow & arrow

This team is going nowhere, just can't put teams away when on top, didn't use the wind properly in the first half, so was always going to be difficult to hold on in the second half. A few silly mistakes cost us too, but, overall Roscommon deserved it.

Huge mistakes made before the game even started. Putting Molloy at centre back when he hasn't played well for 2years. Same for Flaherty. And parachuting in a championship debutant in a connaught final, just crazy stuff.

You just knew that they were going to lose the lead once they went 6 up too. We couldn't close out a bank account. Its always chaotic with no plan, either chasing a game or being chased down. Gave away possession cheaply with only 2 mins left and a point up.

Look at the northern teams. They have a lad behind the goal tossing the ball out to the goalie. Kickout taken before the opposition have even turned around.

Galway so pedestrian around the arc. Zero cutting edge.

I would argue that Galway mightn't have won those all Irelands in 1998 and 2001 without his on field contributions. He was Galway's star player in both finals, but it looks like Padraig Joyce's legacy as a manager is Galway blowing two all Ireland finals they could easily have won. The 2024 one against an ordinary enough Armagh team standing out in particular as an opportunity squandered.