Galway GAA discussion thread

h2005 · 23-05-2014 11:36AM

Overly pessimistic there's a reason we're 1/7 with the bookies. I expect us to win comfortably.

WallyGUFC · 23-05-2014 12:19PM

Hard to be optimistic when we're at such a low ebb. Even if we get past London, I'd be surprised if we made a Connacht Final. That starting 15 hardly inspires confidence either.

h2005 · 23-05-2014 12:37PM

WallyGUFC wrote: »

Hard to be optimistic when we're at such a low ebb. Even if we get past London, I'd be surprised if we made a Connacht Final. That starting 15 hardly inspires confidence either.

It's a pretty chronic 15 alright.

Utopia Parkway · 23-05-2014 01:48PM

h2005 wrote: »

It's a pretty chronic 15 alright.

There are some talented players there but I don't see a lot of leadership if things are tight. No Meehan, Conroy, Armstrong and Sice from last year.

Diabhal Beag · 23-05-2014 01:49PM

I can only hope Galway's performance is better than that absolute shambolic attempt at a Jim White impersonation. Despise GBFM.

RobbieRuns · 23-05-2014 03:24PM

Am prepared to give them a chance. We all know that we are not going to win an AI or indeed beat Mayo, but they are a young team. Lots of the successful U21 teams of the last few years. Throw them in there and get on with it !

London games are a hiding to nothing, you can't win even when you do.

Utopia Parkway · 23-05-2014 03:47PM

5 Galway men on the London team.

London (SF v Galway): Adrian Faherty; Philip Butler, Stephen Curran, Donnacha McCarthy; Seamus Hannon, Tony Gaughan, Michael Walsh; Mark Gottsche, Martin Carroll; Greg Crowley, Damian Dunleavy, Cathal O'Neill; Eoin O'Neill, Paul Geraghty, Joe Feeney.

O.A.P · 24-05-2014 12:00AM

Galway by 12 points and do well after that.
I support them anyway, if it falls apart, **** it we see it loads of times.

ColeTrain · 24-05-2014 07:08PM

You get the impression that it's a horrible time for Galway to be going out to Ruslip. With Galway on a poor run and London reaching the Connacht Final last year.

You'd still have to fancy Galway though by a couple of points at least.

windy shepard henderson · 24-05-2014 08:39PM

i think people are looking into the fact london got to the connacht final last year, they are still a fairly poor side regardless of what happened last year, sligo were in disarray at the time , leitrim were hit with injuries and lost a few players to emigration , they are no better then what they were 2 years ago or 10 years ago

clare went over there in February or early march and beat them comfortably and probably played there worst game of the campaign, i dont care how bad you say galway football has gone but if they dont win by a double figure margin i would be shocked

PS. i dont expect anyone to sit through and watch the full 70mins as i did ,

TCDStudent1 · 25-05-2014 12:28AM

windy shepard henderson wrote: »

i think people are looking into the fact london got to the connacht final last year, they are still a fairly poor side regardless of what happened last year, sligo were in disarray at the time , leitrim were hit with injuries and lost a few players to emigration , they are no better then what they were 2 years ago or 10 years ago

clare went over there in February or early march and beat them comfortably and probably played there worst game of the campaign, i dont care how bad you say galway football has gone but if they dont win by a double figure margin i would be shocked

PS. i dont expect anyone to sit through and watch the full 70mins as i did ,

Are they poor though? Looking at those Galway players on the London team, you could make a good case for Faherty, Dunleavy, Gottsche, Geraghty to be still on the Galway panel if they were in Galway. I certainly wouldnt rate the Galway players much higher than those guys. I guess you would hope that Galway should have better training / be better prepared than London. But from what I know of the London Galway players, I do not see a major gap in quality here.

Exciting to see Shane Walsh getting a start though. He is a very good prospect. Not sure about Hoare at number 14; whenever I saw him play, he has been more effective in half forward line.

Cosmo Kramer · 25-05-2014 11:36AM

windy shepard henderson wrote: »

i think people are looking into the fact london got to the connacht final last year, they are still a fairly poor side regardless of what happened last year, sligo were in disarray at the time , leitrim were hit with injuries and lost a few players to emigration , they are no better then what they were 2 years ago or 10 years ago

clare went over there in February or early march and beat them comfortably and probably played there worst game of the campaign, i dont care how bad you say galway football has gone but if they dont win by a double figure margin i would be shocked

PS. i dont expect anyone to sit through and watch the full 70mins as i did ,

London have never performed in the league though, it hasn't stopped them being competitive to an extent in the championship of late. On paper that does look like a London team that could give Galway a game but after last year they've well and truly lost the element of surprise that they had.

If you look at London's last three Connacht championship games at Ruislip it is clear that they have been competitive for a few years there at this stage. Mayo and Leitrim scraped out in one piece before Sligo got caught - and then London traveled to Ireland and picked off Leitrim as well. Galway are better than Sligo and Leitrim but possibly not that much better.

I think as long as Galway go in with the right attitude they should get the job done with a few points to spare. I don't see a hammering on the cards. The bookies spread of five or six points seems about right. Any complacency from them though and they could find themselves dragged into a scrap - Galway's record of closing out tight games is not good.

25-05-2014 01:29PM

Wasn't really worried until I saw Conroy is out. If it wasn't for Conroy we wouldn't have pulled through against Waterford last year. We also had Meehan at that stage.

The main thing in Galway's favour is the old cliche of forewarned is forearmed. If Galway lost it can't be a case they didn't take it seriously enough, its that they won't have been good enough. As Cosmo Kramer says above, London have never been a great league team but have delivered the last few years in championship.

Seriously worried about the lack of any real leaders in the team but its hard to know where football in the county can go if we lose this one. Galway by 6-8 points I hope!

windy shepard henderson · 25-05-2014 02:55PM

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

London have never performed in the league though, it hasn't stopped them being competitive to an extent in the championship of late. On paper that does look like a London team that could give Galway a game but after last year they've well and truly lost the element of surprise that they had.

If you look at London's last three Connacht championship games at Ruislip it is clear that they have been competitive for a few years there at this stage. Mayo and Leitrim scraped out in one piece before Sligo got caught - and then London traveled to Ireland and picked off Leitrim as well. Galway are better than Sligo and Leitrim but possibly not that much better.

I think as long as Galway go in with the right attitude they should get the job done with a few points to spare. I don't see a hammering on the cards. The bookies spread of five or six points seems about right. Any complacency from them though and they could find themselves dragged into a scrap - Galway's record of closing out tight games is not good.

infairness i saw there games against leitrim (the replay) mayo and cavan last year in the championship and they were no better then what i saw from them in the league , the second game against leitrim they were wining by 14 or 15 points at half time and only won by 1 point

i agree gottche is a quality player along with lorcan mulvey and cathel mcarron is one of the best wing backs in the game if his head is screwed on but i cant see galway in any danger in west london today

25-05-2014 03:09PM

Galway close the 5 point handicap within 2/3 mins in London.

Another 2/3 misses as well.

I thought the handicap was ridiculously low.

Mayo could have beat London by 30+ last year.

Granted Mayo did beat Galway by 17(odd) last season but there was also a narrow loss to Cork to end the year.

London second bottom as well in D4.

In relation to the poster who said the Galway players in the London team could make the Galway team.
They were all tried and tested when we were losing qualifiers to Westmeath, Antrim and Wexford.

None of them ever did enough to warrant inclusion in what was a seriously poor team.
You could possibly argue last year was the best year since 2008 with a win against Armagh and good run against Cork.
So in that regard they'd be in further down the pecking order if available now.

I don't think Mayo are as far ahead of Galway as last seasons result.
They're better, no doubt and further ahead then they were in those poor years listed above but it's not as much as the result.
Just as much as Donegal, while obviously gone back aren't a similar margin behind Mayo.

25-05-2014 03:14PM

1-5 to 0-0 with 5 wides.

Paddy Power has pushed the handicap out to a more realistic 12 point spread now.

A good win here and we can start to dream about what is now a rare appearance in the Connacht Final.

Sligo have regressed massively over the past few years, really should be putting them away as well if there's a good performance today.

Cosmo Kramer · 25-05-2014 03:24PM

Yes, Galway much too good here. London needed a good start given how they tied up in the second half of games last year. Definitely expected more from them, thought they would fly out of the blocks but Galway haven't given them a chance to.

Always_Running · 25-05-2014 03:46PM

No fairy tale for London this year i think all of Galway scores have come from underage All Ireland winning forwards and thats the gulf in class.

25-05-2014 04:45PM

Job done a lot more comprehensively than I thought it would. Sounded like Galway should have added another few goals if anything. Can't read much into it but onwards to Sligo. That game will determine Galway's season.

Always_Running · 25-05-2014 04:46PM

It finished London 0-7 Galway 3-17. Shane Walsh was given man of the match on Galway bay fm scored 1-5. Play Sligo away now and Galway have only beaten Sligo once in their last five championship games and all those times Sligo were div 3 level as they are now.

25-05-2014 05:21PM

Always_Running wrote: »

Play Sligo away now and Galway have only beaten Sligo once in their last five championship games and all those times Sligo were div 3 level as they are now.

I wouldn't worry too much about that tbh.

Even since the 2012 game, there's only 6 players who started today who played that game.
Armstrong would be 7 had he started, but that's still 8 changes.

Sligo have gone back even further since then.

I think after putting London away in only a few minutes, they're set up to at least make the Connacht final now.
Mayo will probably take it again but I'd see it being a lot closer than last year.

sonnky · 25-05-2014 05:25PM

gilberto_eire wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much about that tbh.

Even since the 2012 game, there's only 6 players who started today who played that game.
Armstrong would be 7 had he started, but that's still 8 changes.

Sligo have gone back even further since then.

I think after putting London away in only a few minutes, they're set up to at least make the Connacht final now.
Mayo will probably take it again but I'd see it being a lot closer than last year.

I think Armstrong shouldn't start the next day, doesn't add anything, all he does is holds up the ball. Knowing Mullholland though he will start.

25-05-2014 05:38PM

sonnky wrote: »

I think Armstrong shouldn't start the next day, doesn't add anything, all he does is holds up the ball. Knowing Mullholland though he will start.

I agree.

I don't think he's done enough over the years to warrant a straight inclusion coming off an injury when the team has performed as well as expected.
After Hanley and Bradshaw most of the others are in the bracket where they'd need to fight for a jersey off the bench after a win.

I think Mulholland has hindered the team the past year.

We were so naive in that Cork game, when it was time to close up shop and hold the 4/5 point lead in the final few minutes, we were carved open by a straight line run from half forward for the goal.
Can't remember who it was that ran through for the shot, but he was even able to gather his own rebound off the post, then fist it across for a tap in.

The same against Mayo, some of the goals were pathetic with massive gaps to just run through unchallenged.
Look like a team that didn't work on any kind of system either defensively or attacking with players running into each others space on attack and handpassing to players about to be bottled up.

It's year 3 for him now so at least he'll either have a good year and hold the position or someone else comes in and I'd at least expect to see a slight increase in performances along the lines of Cavan(who a lot of this team beat in the U21).

The players available are better than a few years ago IMO.
Not top tier on what they've shown thus far but certainly should be capable of being back around 8-10, making quarter finals and at least rattling a few cages if things click on the day.

May just need someone with a defined system to come in and guide them.

Diabhal Beag · 25-05-2014 05:42PM

I'm a big Army supporter but he did have a shocking year so far after probably his best year at senior intercounty.

Delighted for the lads. Missing their best 3 (Meehan, Sice and Conroy) for various reasons. Guys like Walsh and Martin stepped up and there wasn't the hemorrhaging of scores typically associated with these lads in lull periods. I know it's London but the fact Galway blew them out of the water within 5 minutes through Walsh, Martin and Cummins is impressive. Hoare sounded like he had a strong showing similar to Kavanagh and Bradshaw.

A win like this would mean little to Mayo but it was vital for this young side.

manofwisdom · 25-05-2014 05:50PM

Armstrong hasn't brought his underage or club form to senior county level. Moore,Conroy are two players that should start the next day.

Sligo haven't gone back too far. In 2012 they finished on 8 points in div 3 compared to this year 6 points. Saying all that Galway are due a win against Sligo and i think they will get it this year.

sonnky · 25-05-2014 06:03PM

gilberto_eire wrote: »

I agree.

I don't think he's done enough over the years to warrant a straight inclusion coming off an injury when the team has performed as well as expected.
After Hanley and Bradshaw most of the others are in the bracket where they'd need to fight for a jersey off the bench after a win.

I think Mulholland has hindered the team the past year.

We were so naive in that Cork game, when it was time to close up shop and hold the 4/5 point lead in the final few minutes, we were carved open by a straight line run from half forward for the goal.
Can't remember who it was that ran through for the shot, but he was even able to gather his own rebound off the post, then fist it across for a tap in.

The same against Mayo, some of the goals were pathetic with massive gaps to just run through unchallenged.
Look like a team that didn't work on any kind of system either defensively or attacking with players running into each others space on attack and handpassing to players about to be bottled up.

It's year 3 for him now so at least he'll either have a good year and hold the position or someone else comes in and I'd at least expect to see a slight increase in performances along the lines of Cavan(who a lot of this team beat in the U21).

The players available are better than a few years ago IMO.
Not top tier on what they've shown thus far but certainly should be capable of being back around 8-10, making quarter finals and at least rattling a few cages if things click on the day.

May just need someone with a defined system to come in and guide them.

Ya I'd agree, half back line is still a bit weak Center Back still a problem. Why did he bring on Greg Higgins today?

Utopia Parkway · 25-05-2014 08:11PM

sonnky wrote: »

Ya I'd agree, half back line is still a bit weak Center Back still a problem. Why did he bring on Greg Higgins today?

Made a raft of changes in the 2nd half once the game was over. I'd say he hoped to avoid one of the starters picking up a needless late injury and just to give lads on the bench a run out.

1-6 for Shane Walsh. Lad has unbelievable talent. Rare to see a player who is so comfortable on the ball kicking and soloing with both feet. Needs time to develop physically though. I fear he would still be a bit lightweight in a tight physical championship game but it's hard to ignore the raw talent.

Will be interesting to see who loses their place to Conroy for the Sligo game. Walsh, Martin, Cummins and Hoare all did well. That leaves either Kavanagh or Lundy. Do they put Conroy in full-forward or wing-forward? Seems like O'Curraoin and Flynn will be the midfield this year.

sonnky · 25-05-2014 08:41PM

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Made a raft of changes in the 2nd half once the game was over. I'd say he hoped to avoid one of the starters picking up a needless late injury and just to give lads on the bench a run out.

1-6 for Shane Walsh. Lad has unbelievable talent. Rare to see a player who is so comfortable on the ball kicking and soloing with both feet. Needs time to develop physically though. I fear he would still be a bit lightweight in a tight physical championship game but it's hard to ignore the raw talent.

Will be interesting to see who loses their place to Conroy for the Sligo game. Walsh, Martin, Cummins and Hoare all did well. That leaves either Kavanagh or Lundy. Do they put Conroy in full-forward or wing-forward? Seems like O'Curraoin and Flynn will be the midfield this year.

Ya he still could have brought on someone else apart from Higgins, I'm sure there are better on the bench. Ya Walsh is an excellent prospect. Sometimes he takes wrong options on the ball and is far too greedy. I'd be more concerned about his head than his physicality. Very good player though. Not sure which one of them two will be dropped. Anyone know how Lundy or Kavanagh played today? I'd line up 10.Lundy/Kavangh 11. Walsh 12. Conroy 13. Martyn 14. Hoare 15. Cummins. Maybe move Hoare out the field and have Conroy in full. But it will probably be Armstrong in that 10 position.

Stanza2 · 25-05-2014 09:01PM

Conroy will come in at midfield I'd say. Flynn probably to step down. I would keep Army out but think that he will come in for Lundy. Walsh is a talent for sure and played well today but as said previously is a bit light weight and needs to be brought on slowly. Hoard played well today but dropped deep a lot and left Cummins and Martin in lots of space. Thought that Cummins was brilliant, points off both feet, a class score on the run with the outside of the boot and a goal to round it off, very good day for him. If he keeps fit and as sharp as today he will have a big year

25-05-2014 09:38PM

Stanza2 wrote: »

Thought that Cummins was brilliant, points off both feet, a class score on the run with the outside of the boot and a goal to round it off, very good day for him. If he keeps fit and as sharp as today he will have a big year

He's probably the most improved player in the panel from the younger crop.

He did have a big U21 final but struggled a lot after that until last year.
Ended up being one of the better forwards.

We could well end up getting a fair bit out of that U21 team after all.

Breathnach, Moore, Duane, Flynn, O'Curraoin and Cummins.
All on the scene a while now and have the potential to be useful players.
If they can improve again this year and the 2013 team come through in the same vein in 2015/2016 we might see at least a return to winning the Connacht Championship.

I never would have guessed watching the ceremony in 2008 that we'd be sitting without one heading into 2014..... the final blow after the downfall of 2001.
At least till 2008 we were still competing for Connachts, now neither.

Galway GAA discussion thread

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