Galway GAA Discussion Thread #2

Thinking back now I dont think its fair to say Armagh were ordinary. The recent matches between the 2 were always tight games. Armagh were trimming Kerry by 6 points last year until kerry kicked on to a level not seen in recent times.

Joyce doesnt owe Galway anything and if he was to go who replaces him?

Not many to replace Joyce but he needs to completely clear out his back room team. Cian O’Neill was the real deal and he wasn’t replaced with anywhere near like for like. In 2022 Galway also had Bernard Dunne as high performance coach. Why didn’t Galway go for Jason Sherlock who Roscommon poached this year. Kerry win the all Ireland and don’t stay stagnant and patting each other on the backs but immediately freshen things up by adding Kieran Donaghy, what a winning mentality they have down there. We can only dream of that mindset and ambition. I was near the bench on Sunday and Mikey Graham and Scan looked like Junior B coaches, out of their depth at intercounty level. What do they add??

And a goalkeeping coach????? The difference in kickout strategies on Sunday was night and day. Precision and well worked v hit and hope for the best. Embarrassing.

We have elite players capable of winning All Irelands but with subpar coaching. I don’t know how the players aren’t demanding better coaches?

Do Galway have a goal keeping coach?

Agreed. They haven't been the same since oneil left. Lack of cohesion and less defensively sound. There doesn't seem to be a game plan. That said they got knocked out in 2001 and won it via backdoor but need to find right first 15!

When you mention a difference in quality between this Galway team and 2001, I honestly don't think this team is far off. If this Galway team had a month after their Connacht titles to prepare for a semi final, and clear up injuries in that time, I'd be convinced they'd have been in ruder health in 2024 against Armagh, Comer and Walsh especially. Might have won it with those 2 fitter and firing.

Donnellan had a game for the ages in his first final in 98, and I'm fairness Shane Walsh did the same in his first final in 2022.

If Galway in 98 had to play a round robin plus a preliminary quarter final, and remaining matches, God only knows if they would've been able to name the same team that they did for the final. Could well have had injuries. Injuries hampered Kildare that day, sometimes luck just goes your way too.

Galway in 98 also barely beat Roscommon that year in the Connacht final, needed extra time in the replay. Those things aren't negatives worth looking at when you win the All Ireland, but if Galway lost the All Ireland it would probably be leveled at them that they struggled to beat Roscommon etc.

I don't see as many negatives around last Sunday as others I've spoken to. Absolutely the kickouts is a problem and the sideline should've worked to close off the short option Roscommon had all day, but as we saw in both 98 and 01, Roscommon beating Galway isn't a sign that Galway aren't good enough. Galway played brilliantly I thought last Sunday and got every type of score, whether goal via long ball, bursting through on a run, and all sorts of points. If they can fix the big issues last Sunday, they really have enough in their attack to beat anyone.

Yes they don't play solidly for 70 minutes and are accused of going in and out of games, but that's what I remember that Galway team doing, they were on the rack in 01 in the semi final and then had a scoring burst that won the game. So there's hope yet for 2026!

@The Subliminal Verses ....A hard dog to keep on the porch and no mistake ...but sure so was Picasso 😉

I've been saying for a while now that Galway arent winning a leinster title this year.

Funny listening to Galligan say Monaghan really need to get after the Armagh kick out against the breeze when last Sunday he was part of a set up that kept giving up the kickout to Roscommon. Obviously just another yes man on the sideline

Hard to say when you don't know the dynamic. He might be overruled by PJ, he's got the final say.

What I'm seeing since the new rules came in is counties in the lower league divisions, who are very well coached, are showing what can be achieved. I think Westmeath would've eaten Galway alive on kickouts today, and as we saw last Sunday that direct running game has us in serious bother. It'll take a huge slice of fortune, good play, and a fit squad to even make a semi final this year.

Tbh, the idea of calling Dublin one of the "weaker counties" is doing them a disservice, imo. It may, also, be why we have a relatively poor record against them.

In other words, taking them for granted. Top teams, like Kilkenny in their pomp, wouldn't have that attitude. Kildare have shown that they can be competitive for a while, in matches, but don't have the bench/fitness levels to sustain it for a full 70 minutes.

The overplaying of Niland and Rabbite is a concern, though. The injuries/form issue for them is starting to become a problem, imo

Spot on! This was a draw game up until the 73rd minute and we had a ridiculous amount of wides. We'll win a Leinster Final against Dublin.

KK are still waiting in the long grass though. I'd be more worried about them in a Leinster Final. They just won't go away.

Just throwing this up for context. Fully agree on the wides. 17 with 6 short is putting you under big pressure. Stupid choices, matched with some poor finishing.

Now on the flip side. Dublin with only 3 wides.... I'd like to see when they next hit a tally that low. For context in Clare hammering Tipp they also hit 17 wides. Low double figures I would gather is around the norm to win a match. Doubt Dublin will see a tally that low again this year. Sometimes it just goes that way.

Not sure how anyone sees us being "out worked" or "eaten alive". We dominated the first half with a strong breeze, just didn't score enough. They also got a fluke of a goal that seemed to unsettle things. Most around the place at half time felt we were in big trouble. Yet, we hassled harried and kept our noses in front until the second goal. Even then we battled back to draw level deep into injury time. I mean the turnover stat alone shows the work going in. Puckout stats a lot better than Dublin. So, as I said overall, a lot of the key metrics were positive.

Also from previous years I feel we have a clear style of play, where we keep it short and work the lines or try to find runners in the inside line. Don't think we lack identity of what we are trying to do.

Agree with others with the U20s. We are unfortunate we have two top class ones that the hopes of winning on Wednesday probably rely on. If they are any way fit I hope they get to play (even over them playing Wexford). Some lads on Wednesday if Galway lose it will be the last they will wear a Galway jersey and all should be done to progress to an All Ireland final.

Hopefully Dublin beat Killkenny. Would like to see them match up again and see what unfolds.

There is a performance to warm yer hearts lads. And it's ducking baltic here. Young men in the making.

Interesting when you look at the current trajectory of the senior panel. This is last years U20 squads. In the senior panel this year: Darragh Neary, Josh Ryan, Rory Burke, Oisin Lohan, Trayers and Cillian Whelan.

This year add in Niland, Rabbitte, Murphy, Killeen.

10 players in two seasons and most (to now) look the part. A Few more of those are there or there abouts.

Appreciate how young that team is last night but Gus Lohan and Tadgh Maccarthaigh are big units for lads so young. Couple more like Coen, Donoghue and especially Poinard are hugely talented.

Patience can be limited at the inter county scene but give it and few years and keep these lads on the right trajectory they should have a very talented panel.