Galway GAA discussion thread

basillarkin · 17-06-2014 09:48PM

T0001 wrote: »

Completely agree. The hurlers are an excellent team if they put their heart in it. Some problems exist:

A. No team spirit. I noticed in the Laois game that there was very little encouraging between players. At times in the first half they played as singles disregarding the other 14 players.

B. Joe Canning. Not him himself of course. He would do much better as a distributor in the middle of the field. He was our goal-getter back when we lacked talent up front, but we have 6+ other forwards just as capable as him. Even play him as a third midfielder scoring the odd point now and again. Realistically we need him to score 0-02 a game. Cooney can handle the frees. Take some pressure off him.

And here is the reasons why I think it's all or nothing for us this year:

A. Goalkeeping. We have arguable our best keeper at the moment in Colm Callannan. I find his shot stopping just as good as the best keepers. His puckouts have good direction and distance plus he can score from his own half.

B. Defense. Our best defensive set-up in a very long time. Tannion has made an excellent defender/sweeper aswell as the two Burkes. Conceeding only 6-137 in the 9 games this year its about 1-16 a game which is an excellent record.

C. Abundance of talent up front. With the likes of C Mannion and J Flynn in this year we really have competition for the forward line. Each chipping in with 0-2 each a game (approx.) sometimes more. As well as the goal-intentions of Glennon and the FF the last day whos name escapes me, we have good scoring ability.

D. Cunningham. Anthony Cunningham is our most tactically driven manager in decades and if anyone can do it he can.

My ideal line-up for Sunday:

1. Callanan
2. Coen
3. R. Burke
4. Moore
5. Burke
6. Tannion
7. Harte
8. Brehony
9. Canning
10. Flynn
11. Cooney
12. N. Burke
13. Mannion
14. Glynn
15. D. Burke

16. Ryan (G)
17. Hayes (Replace J Flynn after 50.00)
18. Smith (Replace Brehony after 45.00)
19. Collins (Replace Harte after 50.00)
20. Glennon (Replace Mannion after 55.00)
21. J. Cooney (Replace N. Burke after 60.00)

Why are those lads been replaced and at those times, surely they should be taken off on the basis of their performance and not some prearranged substitutions?

WallyGUFC · 18-06-2014 01:40AM

And yet, with all these positives you speak of, they only just got past Laois in the dying embers of the game. Would possibly have been one of the worst results in the history of Galway hurling if they had lost.

However, if there is a team out there that seems to bring the best out of Galway, it's Kilkenny. They don't seem scared of them and usually seem to play with a bit of freedom. Hopefully they've learned the lessons from the league semi and put in a good performance.

The footballers should be beating Sligo but our recent record is terrible against them. Regardless, we'll probably get demolished by a Mayo team who've got their poor performance out of the way just in time for the Connacht Final.

windy shepard henderson · 18-06-2014 03:14AM

WallyGUFC wrote: »

And yet, with all these positives you speak of, they only just got past Laois in the dying embers of the game. Would possibly have been one of the worst results in the history of Galway hurling if they had lost.

However, if there is a team out there that seems to bring the best out of Galway, it's Kilkenny. They don't seem scared of them and usually seem to play with a bit of freedom. Hopefully they've learned the lessons from the league semi and put in a good performance.

The footballers should be beating Sligo but our recent record is terrible against them. Regardless, we'll probably get demolished by a Mayo team who've got their poor performance out of the way just in time for the Connacht Final.

in fairness to laois they only lost by a point or two to tipperary in a challenge at the weekend , they also ran limerick and clare just as close in the last few months i think any sort of win in portlaois against them this year is a good result

galway hit a ton of wides in the league semi final and were nowhere near championship pace that day and still could have won , if they up the anti there is no reason for them to win sunday , its been a strange start to the championship as it is this year with most bookies faviorites getting turned over at some stage ,

davehedgehog · 18-06-2014 09:59AM

T0001 wrote: »

D. Cunningham. Anthony Cunningham is our most tactically driven manager in decades and if anyone can do it he can.

Cunningham might be tactically driven but in my mind they havent out thought their way to a win in a single game since 2012. Last year against clare, again this year in league games and against Laois the tactic is to lump in high ball to Johnny Glynn. Now while he is a great man to catch ball and his overall play is definitely improving this surely cant be the tactic for a serious Inter county hurling team?

Toplink · 18-06-2014 11:06AM

davehedgehog wrote: »

Cunningham might be tactically driven but in my mind they havent out thought their way to a win in a single game since 2012. Last year against clare, again this year in league games and against Laois the tactic is to lump in high ball to Johnny Glynn. Now while he is a great man to catch ball and his overall play is definitely improving this surely cant be the tactic for a serious Inter county hurling team?

I fully expect that high balls into Glynn will be used on occassion on Sunday. He has a noticable height difference over JJ so its worth a go.

However there needs to be more variety and I expect there will. Mannion and Flynn need to one their toes creating space, if this is done correctly, Niall Burke, Canning and possibly David Burke will all run from deep and either offload or take their own scores.

Kennedy and young Walsh are untested at this level, they may prove good enough but at this point I would consider them as weak links. Tyrell and JJ are legends of the game but on a hot summer days they wont fancy being dragged around by lads 10 years younger than them.

We have every chance.

PS: Shefflin is likely to play. He is 35 and has a portfolio of injuries that should have him finished long ago but his presence means too much to Cody. I cant see him living with the pace on Sunday, its time to bring the curtain down on him lads.

Roll on Sunday

Hulk Hands · 19-06-2014 11:00AM

Saturday is an absolutely massive game for the footballers, one that will make or break the season. Section A of the qualifiers this year, where Galway are allocated, is quite weak. The worst case scenario for a losing Connacht finalist is a 4th round qualifier against Derry or Laois. And it gets significantly weaker after that.

Should we beat Sligo, then even in the worst case scenario draw wise, we'll be odds on (approx 55%) to make the Quarter Final. That would constitute a fair season, and makes this game massive

Cosmo Kramer · 19-06-2014 12:50PM

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Saturday is an absolutely massive game for the footballers, one that will make or break the season. Section A of the qualifiers this year, where Galway are allocated, is quite weak. The worst case scenario for a losing Connacht finalist is a 4th round qualifier against Derry or Laois. And it gets significantly weaker after that.

Should we beat Sligo, then even in the worst case scenario draw wise, we'll be odds on (approx 55%) to make the Quarter Final. That would constitute a fair season, and makes this game massive

Although if Galway lose they will still go into section A, albeit two rounds earlier, so either way they have a decent shot at the quarters this year (not to mention the possibility of the direct route there through a Connacht win which cannot be ruled out).

Hulk Hands · 19-06-2014 01:56PM

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

Although if Galway lose they will still go into section A, albeit two rounds earlier, so either way they have a decent shot at the quarters this year (not to mention the possibility of the direct route there through a Connacht win which cannot be ruled out).

Yeah ive factored in the chance of a win in Connacht. The problem with going into the qualifiers now at this stage is that we meet either the losers of Munster or Connacht finals. Im not sure if we can meet Sligo again, so that would leave us against the losing Munster finalist, Cork or Kerry. And of course we'd have to get by Derry or Laois before that in likelihood. Winning on Sat increases our chance massively

Utopia Parkway · 19-06-2014 09:20PM

Galway team v Sligo

Manus Breathnach
Donal O'Neill
Finian Hanley
Aonghus Tierney
Gareth Bradshaw
Gary O'Donnell
Paul Varley
Fiontain O'Curraoin
Tom Flynn
Michael Lundy
Shane Walsh
James Kavanagh
Michael Martin
Eddie Hoare
Danny Cummins

Worthwent14 · 19-06-2014 09:32PM

Strong team good to have armstrong and conroy on the bench for an impact. Teirney and o Neill will need to be sharp to deal with Kelly and Marren.

Western Pomise · 19-06-2014 09:59PM

Would ye think it would be time enough to get ticket at gate on day?,am heading to minor game as well...so would be in early.Saturdays match.

T0001 · 20-06-2014 12:23AM

Sligo shouldn't be too hard to beat if Galway 'want' to win it. It all depends on player mentality now.

Worthwent14 · 20-06-2014 05:19PM

If we can win tomoro then that will be a huge win. Tomoro really is a must win for the future of this team

randd1 · 20-06-2014 09:37PM

The Kilkenny team to play Galway on Sunday in Tullamore is:

E Murphy,
P Murphy, JJ Delaney, B Kennedy,
K Joyce, J Tyrrell, C Buckley,
P Walsh, R Hogan,
W Walsh, M Kelly, TJ Reid,
C Fennelly, R Power, E Larkin.

Subs: D Herity, M Walsh, B Hogan, J Holden, C Fogarty, L Ryan, T Walsh, H Shefflin, A Fogarty, JJ Farrell, J Power.

Michael Fennelly reportedly out with injury.

Diabhal Beag · 20-06-2014 10:03PM

Colm Callanan
Fergal Moore
Ronan Burke
David Collins
Daithi Burke
Iarlaith Tannian
Johnny Coen
Andrew Smith
Padraig Brehony
David Burke
Niall Burke
Conor Cooney
Cathal Mannion
Joe Canning
Jason Flynn

If ever there was a match Canning needs to stay in FF it's this one.

T0001 · 21-06-2014 10:34PM

Good Win 0-16 / 0-11. Excellent play from mid-field, and the forwards were brilliant. Round 4 quailifier guarenteed

Pocaide · 22-06-2014 01:48AM

Hope this is the start of something for Galway we have a few very good players so lets see how they develop.

gammygils · 22-06-2014 03:16AM

We had good support in Sligo today.

Our minors also had good victory

Well done to all

wp_rathead · 22-06-2014 12:27PM

Getting excited for the Hurling later - hon Galway

Lojak · 22-06-2014 01:12PM

Is Canning still taking the frees for Galway?

djPSB · 22-06-2014 01:32PM

Lojak wrote: »

Is Canning still taking the frees for Galway?

Cooney I think.

O.A.P · 22-06-2014 06:07PM

Fantastic comeback from the boys there, I really enjoyed the second half.
The ref made a huge mistake in the first half giving a free to the cats for what was a fair shoulder and led to there first goal.
They can thank the keeper for the draw though he played very well.
Best game I have seen Andy Smith play for Galway.
It could be a good season yet

Pocaide · 22-06-2014 08:20PM

Wow what a comeback thought they were dead and buried.

Amprodude · 22-06-2014 09:13PM

Good stuff Galway. Nice comeback.

22-06-2014 09:42PM

Good weekend for Galway overall.

Up in Sligo yesterday, we finally saw some signs that we are starting to take some steps forward after a few dire seasons. Sligo weren't up to much but Galway played well in patches and for the first time in a decade or so we have a midfield capable of winning a good percentage of ball. Shane Walsh had a fine game as did Eddie Hoare, others did well in patches. I'd still have major reservations about our backline who weren't properly tested. Its disappointing that Johnny Duane is gone as we struggled hugely on David Kelly. I'm not sure Gareth Bradshaw is much of an addition at this stage either. I think Galway lacked a bit of ruthlessness that will be needed in later games but its a major monkey off Alan Mulholland's back, still major scope for improvement but its a young panel who can hopefully build from here. we'll see how they fare against Mayo in 3 weeks time but we are into the last 12 now and the August bank holiday weekend may be a possibility for the first time since 2008.

In the minor football, Galway won easily also against a poor Sligo side. Looks to be 4 or 5 promising players on that team. Whether they have the all round quality to be contenders is doubtful. They are playing Mayo next up, if we have any proper county board it should be at a Galway venue after the clowns handed away home venue and with it a potential tilt at the All-Ireland last year.

In Tullamore today, I don't even know where to begin but Galway have another shot that we probably didn't deserve. To go from a 1 point lead to trail by 10 is a recurring problem for Galway. Kilkenny eased up but all credit to the lads for sticking with it. I thought the late goals were window dressing but its proof that if you get the right ball in and run at Kilkenny, you can get goals. Really we should have had 2 or 3 more earlier in the game.

However, overall you'd have to question management today. David Burke wasn't playing well but was left on until it looked to be too late. 3 or 4 others didn't deliver also but there were many more who did. Andy Smith did well, Canning did ok in the first half and really delivered when it mattered. Johnny Glynn made a huge impact. Jason Flynn, Niall Burke, David Burke and Cathal Mannion need to play in more than fits and starts. Brehony didn't really have a great day at the office. Tannian was a mixed bag but along with David Collins kept going when the tide was coming against them. Fergal Moore looks to be struggling more and more with each day out. The two Burkes in the backs performed well in general. I'd hope for more from Johnny Coen but he delivered in patches.

My nagging feeling is that Kilkenny were able to up the ante whenever Galway got a couple of points ahead, the fact we hung in there is to our credit and it was a much improved display on most of the last year and a half but the lads who had ok or poor games today will need to deliver next weekend if we are to advance and management will have to be a lot more ruthless.

Worthwent14 · 22-06-2014 11:18PM

Good win for footballers yesterday well needed. Kickouts were very good we won many of them. Was impressed with spine of team Hanley o Donnel midfield Walsh and hoare. Only real let down for me was Bradshaw. Was very poor at times and gave away scores due to sloppy mistakes and lack of concentration. Forwards did well and cant see where conroy will play nxt day out. Cant see mullholland making any changes unless he brings in moore for teirney (who i thought played well)

24yearslater · 23-06-2014 12:07AM

Good win for the footballers, was pleasantly surprised to see a good following from Galway there. Was one of the hottest evenings I reckon I've ever watched Galway okay in, the heat on the terrace was unreal. Consequently the performance was even more encouraging. Forwards have great potential, a tight pitch like Sligo wasn't the best place to showcase it. If we could get to Croker (& avoid Dublin/Donegal/mayo there), they could really cut loose. Would be worried about our backs thou, serious jack of pace, esp the 2 corner backs. May have to bite the bullet on Duane, he has got the speed necessary. Mayo in Castlebar is a ferocious challenge, if the backs aren't on their toes it could be 2014 revisited. Hopefully not thou.
As for the hurlers, hard to know where they're at. Great comeback, but to concede 1-8 without reply between 50-60 mins isn't good enough. Great character in fairness, but it's time for some real consistency now. Thought the backs struggled all day, with the exception of the 2 Burkes, although in fairness the amount of ball raining in on them was savage. Half fwrds were poor, esp D Burke. Didn't win enuf puckouts, in fairness J Glynn made a big difference there. JC delivered at the end, but took too long to get into the game. Replay is huge, it's unlikely we'll do well in the qualifiers, so I reckon it's go or get off the potty on Saturday, probably for this panel & mgmt team. Some things never change!
One final point - am I the only one who thinks that kk supporters are the most obnoxious and unsporting in the country? I suppose they've had pretty much unbroken success for up to 14/15 years now, but surely that doesn't give them the right to be abusive to all opposing players, telling their own players to "teach them a lesson" at every opportunity, abusing all referees & linesmen, and openly sneering at all other counties supporters. I usually get on well with supporters of most counties (& would see banter as a very important part of any match day), but kk people really get under my skin. I think their hurling teams are class acts and always are humble in victory, but their followers always leave a sour taste in the mouth.

sonnky · 23-06-2014 12:12AM

24yearslater wrote: »

Good win for the footballers, was pleasantly surprised to see a good following from Galway there. Was one of the hottest evenings I reckon I've ever watched Galway okay in, the heat on the terrace was unreal. Consequently the performance was even more encouraging. Forwards have great potential, a tight pitch like Sligo wasn't the best place to showcase it. If we could get to Croker (& avoid Dublin/Donegal/mayo there), they could really cut loose. Would be worried about our backs thou, serious jack of pace, esp the 2 corner backs. May have to bite the bullet on Duane, he has got the speed necessary. Mayo in Castlebar is a ferocious challenge, if the backs aren't on their toes it could be 2014 revisited. Hopefully not thou.
As for the hurlers, hard to know where they're at. Great comeback, but to concede 1-8 without reply between 50-60 mins isn't good enough. Great character in fairness, but it's time for some real consistency now. Thought the backs struggled all day, with the exception of the 2 Burkes, although in fairness the amount of ball raining in on them was savage. Half fwrds were poor, esp D Burke. Didn't win enuf puckouts, in fairness J Glynn made a big difference there. JC delivered at the end, but took too long to get into the game. Replay is huge, it's unlikely we'll do well in the qualifiers, so I reckon it's go or get off the potty on Saturday, probably for this panel & mgmt team. Some things never change!
One final point - am I the only one who thinks that kk supporters are the most obnoxious and unsporting in the country? I suppose they've had pretty much unbroken success for up to 14/15 years now, but surely that doesn't give them the right to be abusive to all opposing players, telling their own players to "teach them a lesson" at every opportunity, abusing all referees & linesmen, and openly sneering at all other counties supporters. I usually get on well with supporters of most counties (& would see banter as a very important part of any match day), but kk people really get under my skin. I think their hurling teams are class acts and always are humble in victory, but their followers always leave a sour taste in the mouth.

Ya the supporters seem like awful dick heads in fairness. Also I don't like Cody think he is a very arrogant fellow.

megadodge · 23-06-2014 12:17AM

24yearslater wrote: »

Good win for the footballers, was pleasantly surprised to see a good following from Galway there. Was one of the hottest evenings I reckon I've ever watched Galway okay in, the heat on the terrace was unreal. Consequently the performance was even more encouraging. Forwards have great potential, a tight pitch like Sligo wasn't the best place to showcase it. If we could get to Croker (& avoid Dublin/Donegal/mayo there), they could really cut loose. Would be worried about our backs thou, serious jack of pace, esp the 2 corner backs. May have to bite the bullet on Duane, he has got the speed necessary. Mayo in Castlebar is a ferocious challenge, if the backs aren't on their toes it could be 2014 revisited. Hopefully not thou.
As for the hurlers, hard to know where they're at. Great comeback, but to concede 1-8 without reply between 50-60 mins isn't good enough. Great character in fairness, but it's time for some real consistency now. Thought the backs struggled all day, with the exception of the 2 Burkes, although in fairness the amount of ball raining in on them was savage. Half fwrds were poor, esp D Burke. Didn't win enuf puckouts, in fairness J Glynn made a big difference there. JC delivered at the end, but took too long to get into the game. Replay is huge, it's unlikely we'll do well in the qualifiers, so I reckon it's go or get off the potty on Saturday, probably for this panel & mgmt team. Some things never change!
One final point - am I the only one who thinks that kk supporters are the most obnoxious and unsporting in the country? I suppose they've had pretty much unbroken success for up to 14/15 years now, but surely that doesn't give them the right to be abusive to all opposing players, telling their own players to "teach them a lesson" at every opportunity, abusing all referees & linesmen, and openly sneering at all other counties supporters. I usually get on well with supporters of most counties (& would see banter as a very important part of any match day), but kk people really get under my skin. I think their hurling teams are class acts and always are humble in victory, but their followers always leave a sour taste in the mouth.

Glad to see I'm not the only one. I've lots of dealings with KK people in a different sport and to put it mildly, I've never been impressed. I know it's ridiculous to tar all with the same brush, but 'Thick' in all senses of the word is how I've found a high percentage of them - on a consistent basis.
Rant over.

68deville · 23-06-2014 12:21AM

GY in fairness reeled KK in and showed great spirit and showed Kks weakness
To the viewer and to be fair needed the old soldiers at dis stage in the campaign
To salvage the situation

Galway GAA discussion thread

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