Galway GAA discussion thread

Diabhal Beag · 04-05-2012 04:57PM

Been hearing a lot of talk from all people from all parts of the county, specifcally Tuam. That Kildare match especially filled up heads with confidence seeing them beat Tyrone in the Division 2 Final.

Cautious optimism is where we should be ATM.

You're bang on in regards to New York though but a few shillings on them beating Sligo is worth the flutter methinks.

Hulk Hands · 04-05-2012 07:10PM

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Is the great Kieran "Woops" Fitzgerald returning?

Someone's forgetting the contribution that man made to Galway football at the start of the 00's. Maybe your also ignorant of the reason he lost his form and lost interest in the game

Diabhal Beag · 04-05-2012 08:20PM

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Someone's forgetting the contribution that man made to Galway football at the start of the 00's. Maybe your also ignorant of the reason he lost his form and lost interest in the game

That was a reference to his soap-dropping-like ability when catching the ball in recent years and also a compliment to his early 00's greatness all at once. I'm not a complete wanker (or ignorant as you'd put it) and would never make light of that situation he was in. Don't even imply that my goal from that was to mock him for something off the pitch.

Syferus · 04-05-2012 11:54PM

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Someone's forgetting the contribution that man made to Galway football at the start of the 00's. Maybe your also ignorant of the reason he lost his form and lost interest in the game

Pardon? What are you talking about? There was a great battle between himself and Senan Kilbride in the club Connacht final in Kiltoom in November, he looked plenty up to scratch for inter-county football then.

Hulk Hands · 05-05-2012 12:05AM

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

That was a reference to his soap-dropping-like ability when catching the ball in recent years and also a compliment to his early 00's greatness all at once. I'm not a complete wanker (or ignorant as you'd put it) and would never make light of that situation he was in. Don't even imply that my goal from that was to mock him for something off the pitch.

I never said it was. I thought you were remembering him as a poor player and christening him with a nickname he doesn't deserve. People forget what a good player he was (still decent tbf). Anyway, maybe i misunderstood you, not trying to start an argument

Diabhal Beag · 05-05-2012 11:34AM

Hulk Hands wrote: »

I never said it was. I thought you were remembering him as a poor player and christening him with a nickname he doesn't deserve. People forget what a good player he was (still decent tbf). Anyway, maybe i misunderstood you, not trying to start an argument

No worries. Just didn't want to be thought of as somebody who'd ridicule anybody for something as horrible as that. I've great respect for him as a player and person as everybody should.

He still has the ability to perform very well too as shown in the county final this year against Tuam. Hopefully one day he'll take up a selectors role as he has a fair bit of knowledge to hand down considering his role in that great era of Galway football.

Starie1975 · 09-05-2012 08:51PM

On Friday evening the 11th of May 2012, from 8pm to 9pm in Pearse Stadium members of both Galway Senior football and Galway Senior hurling teams will be present along with their respective management teams. The general public are invited to meet and greet the players on the field. There will be an opportunity for patrons to have photographs taken with the players, have photographs signed, etc. Children from all schools in the county and their parents and guardians are invited to attend this session and also to wear their county colours to the event.

http://www.tribesmengaa.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=991:open-evening-to-meet-and-greet-the-galway-senior-teams&catid=92:team-news&Itemid=70&Itemid=53

aidan24326 · 14-05-2012 04:07PM

Good news that Joyce looks like he'll be fit to play, whether it be as a starter or some kind of impact sub (I'm predicting he starts), and that Meehan and Armstrong are progessing well and will be fit to play some part even though they probably won't start.

RealityCheck · 15-05-2012 09:51PM

Here is the team to take on Roscommon.

1 Adrian Faherty
2 Kieran McGrath
3 Finian Hanley (Capt)
4 Keith Kelly
5 Garreth Bradshaw
6 Johnny Duane
7 Gary O'Donnell
8 Joe Bergin
9 Greg Higgins
10 Gary Sice
11 Damien Burke
12 Thomas Flynn
13 Sean Armstrong
14 Paul Conroy
15 Mark Hehir

Pretty much as expected but Armstrong does start. No sign of Joyce, if fit he'll probably be on the bench.

InchicoreDude · 15-05-2012 10:26PM

Is Forde injured or was Kelly picked ahead of him?

Not sure about that forward line. Not a whole lot of scoring power in 10 - 12. I think Martin is a little hard done by in not getting a starting berth.

Diabhal Beag · 15-05-2012 10:40PM

The thing about that forward line is that you really could interchange between any of the new guys. You could easily have Cummins or Martin in there and have the same level of scoring power and I hate to say it but Nicky Joyce should be in amongst them. That said though Meehan and Joyce coming on as subs will give a hell of a boost to the team.

Delighted Higgins is in midfield. Aside from that Forde must be injured.

InchicoreDude · 15-05-2012 10:46PM

The thing about that forward line is that you really could interchange between any of the new guys. You could easily have Cummins or Martin in there and have the same level of scoring power

No, you could move either Armstrong or Hehir to number 12. They have both played in the half forward line in the past. Drop Flynn and bring in Martin or Cummins in the corner. That automatically increases your scoring power. But then you are taking away from the midfield sector. Flynn is there because we are poor at midfield and need three midfielders. The sacrifice seems to be a lack of scoring half-forwards. It is a trade off and I think it puts a big onus on Conroy & Armstrong.

Diabhal Beag · 15-05-2012 10:50PM

You're right about Armstrong actually. Would have been better if he could float balls into Conroy from half-forward. With Hehir you'd have to move Flynn from 12 which isn't a good trade-off.

spiritcrusher · 15-05-2012 11:07PM

Martin is out with a knee injury, so I assume that's where the inclusion of Hehir at corner forward has come from. There isn't much scoring power in the half forward line alright, but they do a serious amount of work between them. Flynn will probably drop back into midfield too which is no bad thing.

Hulk Hands · 15-05-2012 11:11PM

I think you need to have a big scoring threat inside. In other years we had that in Meehan or the Joyces, meaning Armstrong got played in the Half forward line. I'm looking forward to seeing how he does as the 'main man' on Sunday.

I wouldnt say it's guaranteed Forde is injured. He was taken off early enough against Kildare, and McGrath had a good league campaign. Forgive me for not being up on Roscommon's current corner forwards, but are they both nippy players, who McGrath might be better suited to?

TomKat · 15-05-2012 11:30PM

2/1 Roscommon great price

Hulk Hands · 15-05-2012 11:37PM

TomKat wrote: »

2/1 Roscommon great price

Conversly I think it's a shade too short. Should be 5/2 imo. Probably won't back Galway at 8/15 but I think it's slightly too big.

aidan24326 · 16-05-2012 12:21AM

Not sure how Hehir keeps retaining his place, can't recall a single good game that he's had in the senior team. Maybe he'll prove me wrong on Sunday.

Overall the forward line looks pretty ordinary and is very short on scoring power. I really don't know who came up with the idea that Damien Burke is a centre forward. Anyway we'll see what happens on Sunday, hopefully Mulholland and his selctors know best and have gotten it right.

For anyone heading to Hyde on Sunday the juniors play Mayo in the curtain raiser at 2pm.

Team:
1 Neil Walsh
2 Eddie O'Sullivan
3 Chris O'Toole
4 Ciarán Ó Domhnaill
5 Declan Rattigan
6 Conor Leyden
7 David Reilly
8 Eamon Ó Cuiv
9 Robert Hughes
10 Martin Coady
11 Joe Joe Greaney
12 Peadar Seoighe
13 Cathal Coleman
14 Niall Meenaghan
15 Eoin Joyce (Capt)
16 Padraig Mannion
17 Paul Gleeson
18 Mark Healy
19 Aidan Geraghty
20 Alan Molloy
21 Kevin Reilly
22 Richie Hynes
23 Liam Carney
24 Shane Mannion

rossie1977 · 16-05-2012 01:49AM

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Forgive me for not being up on Roscommon's current corner forwards, but are they both nippy players, who McGrath might be better suited to?

roscommon don't play corner forwards, they play with shine and kilbride up on their own, both are big tall men

dartsfan · 16-05-2012 02:46AM

rossie1977 wrote: »

roscommon don't play corner forwards, they play with shine and kilbride up on their own, both are big tall men

Can you tell us a little more about the Roscommon team? I don't know too much about them apart from those 2. Will they have many playing from this year's U21s?

Starie1975 · 16-05-2012 08:17AM

aidan24326 wrote: »

Not sure how Hehir keeps retaining his place, can't recall a single good game that he's had in the senior team. Maybe he'll prove me wrong on Sunday.

Overall the forward line looks pretty ordinary and is very short on scoring power. I really don't know who came up with the idea that Damien Burke is a centre forward. Anyway we'll see what happens on Sunday, hopefully Mulholland and his selctors know best and have gotten it right.

For anyone heading to Hyde on Sunday the juniors play Mayo in the curtain raiser at 2pm.

The TribesmenGAA facebook and twitter pages will have the match tracker for the junior match.

Do you think Galway will get a good support on Sunday?

24yearslater · 16-05-2012 09:57AM

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

The thing about that forward line is that you really could interchange between any of the new guys. You could easily have Cummins or Martin in there and have the same level of scoring power and I hate to say it but Nicky Joyce should be in amongst them. That said though Meehan and Joyce coming on as subs will give a hell of a boost to the team.

Delighted Higgins is in midfield. Aside from that Forde must be injured.

Nicky didn't want to give the commitment required this year - he probably has given as much as he can to the demands of intercounty football at this stage. I've seen him out a number of times in Gaway over the past few months, looking like he's enjoying himself. He's well entitled to no more than anyone else, but there's no way Mulholland could make an exception for him, no matter how good he is. Saw him in a few games over the league, & while he still retains the class of old, he didn't look the fittest. You might get away with it in the league, but there's no way he'd survive come c'ship. Reckon he's about 31 now, so he may be a bit browned off it all at this stage. He was very unlucky in that his best years were during one of the bleakest periods in Galway football - aside from an U21 AI in '02, I reckon he only won 2 Connachts in '05 & '08. Probably didn't get to play in Croker too often either.

Would be cautiously optimistic about Sunday - reckon the forwards aren't as bad as being touted here. They put up a couple of decent score tallies towards the latter end of the league, so that tells me things are improving. We played very well v Kildare in the last game, & some experts are tipping them as dark horses for Sam.

Would be great to see a big maroon following, but I reckon it's more than likely to be the same old familiar faces again. I've set myself a target to bring 3 other non-regulars with me in my car - if all regulars did this it would quadruple our support!

InchicoreDude · 16-05-2012 11:33AM

Not sure how Hehir keeps retaining his place, can't recall a single good game that he's had in the senior team. Maybe he'll prove me wrong on Sunday.

Thats a little harsh really. He had some decent games during the league. He hasnt been spectacular but hasnt been awful either.

I wouldnt say it's guaranteed Forde is injured. He was taken off early enough against Kildare, and McGrath had a good league campaign. Forgive me for not being up on Roscommon's current corner forwards, but are they both nippy players, who McGrath might be better suited to?

The choice wasnt between McGrath & Kelly. McGrath had an exceptional league campaign and was always going to be picked for this match. The choice was between Forde & Kelly.

Would be cautiously optimistic about Sunday - reckon the forwards aren't as bad as being touted here. They put up a couple of decent score tallies towards the latter end of the league, so that tells me things are improving. We played very well v Kildare in the last game, & some experts are tipping them as dark horses for Sam.

The forwards are not bad at all. However, the likelihood is you wont get many scores out of Damien Burke or T. Flynn; they are both good players, just not scoring forwards. Gary Sice has been scoring during the league though and could be in for a promising championship if he can keep going that way.

I think the selection of Flynn at number 12 reveals a deep lack of faith in Bergin & Higgins at midfield. But back in O'Mahony's days, he liked to select a midfielder at number 12 sometimes too.

Do you think Galway will get a good support on Sunday?

I dont see any reason why there shouldnt be.

I really don't know who came up with the idea that Damien Burke is a centre forward.

He has put in many good performances there for Corofin. He was never actually a corner back and was only put there when Galway had nobody else. If I remember correctly, he played in the half forward line and as 3rd midfielder one year for the Galway U-21s. There is a common misconception that he is a natural corner back but he is not.

Whatever happens on Sunday, I am almost convinced that we will see these subs happen:

Joyce for D. Burke
Meehan for Hehir
Blake for [1 of the half back line].

Hulk Hands · 16-05-2012 11:47AM

InchicoreDude wrote: »

The choice wasnt between McGrath & Kelly. McGrath had an exceptional league campaign and was always going to be picked for this match. The choice was between Forde & Kelly.

Sorry that was a typo, I meant to say 'that Kelly would be better suited to'. I was suggesting the same as you, that Kelly edged Forde out. McGrath looks to have his place sown up and rightly so

Diabhal Beag · 16-05-2012 11:56AM

What are your thoughts on O'Donnell lads? Thought he had a stellar League especially against Meath. Would love to see him kick on as the half-back line can be found wanting a lot.

Hulk Hands · 16-05-2012 12:03PM

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

What are your thoughts on O'Donnell lads? Thought he had a stellar League especially against Meath. Would love to see him kick on as the half-back line can be found wanting a lot.

I think he's been a hell of a lot better over the past 2 years than people have given him credit for and has found his feet at this level. He's an automatic starter at this stage, which says as much as anything

Diabhal Beag · 16-05-2012 12:22PM

Hulk Hands wrote: »

I think he's been a hell of a lot better over the past 2 years than people have given him credit for and has found his feet at this level. He's an automatic starter at this stage, which says as much as anything

I definitely wasn't a fan of his at inter-county but saw him have a few great matches for Tuam last year and seemed to develop from that. Think he scored twice against Tyrone too.

Hulk Hands · 16-05-2012 12:33PM

Starie, any idea if I buy a stand ticket will I be eligible for the student refund?

Starie1975 · 16-05-2012 01:15PM

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Starie, any idea if I buy a stand ticket will I be eligible for the student refund?

Yes that's the way it works. Buy your ticket and your'll get the refund at the gate, same goes for O.A.P.'s. There should be a gate marked student/O.A.P. Bring your card or else not a chance of getting a refund.

Better update below...............

http://www.tribesmengaa.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=113&Itemid=74

Roscommon team named

Geoffrey Claffey
Seánie McDermott
Niall Carty
Seán Purcell
Cathal Dineen
Peter Domican
Ian Kilbride
Michael Finneran
Karol Mannion
David Keenan
Cathal Cregg
John Rogers
Senan Kilbride
Darren McDermott
Donie Shine

rossie1977 · 16-05-2012 01:38PM

dartsfan wrote: »

Can you tell us a little more about the Roscommon team? I don't know too much about them apart from those 2. Will they have many playing from this year's U21s?

none of the under 21s start, i thought niall daly was a certainty but he has gone with cathal dineen whom i don't really rate at all at number 5, i would like to see 19 year donie smith get a run out at some stage on sunday, best talent i have seen in roscommon for a long time

newton in the league (if we read into that) played a defensive short sloooow handpassing style, in defense roscommon fullback carty has no competitive football this year so i expect galway will target him, midfield are big but very immobile

half forward line cathal cregg (along with shine and kilbride) has to play well if roscommon are to win this game, david keenan is a workhorse, darren mcdermott under 21 from last year and this is only his 2nd championship start, rogers shouldn't be near the squad let alone starting

Galway GAA discussion thread

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