Galway GAA discussion thread

01-08-2015 12:30AM

If that's true that he's out that's another huge blow.
They haven't got that many above average players to accommodate losing two All Stars and not lose much quality.

If we can win tomorrow we're really set to make a semi.
No disrespect to Monaghan but McManus aside they haven't anyone else who stands out and they're certainly a second rate team.
They'd be the easiest provincial winner on paper.

Always_Running · 01-08-2015 12:35AM

I had Donegal to win narrowly but without Lacey,Murphy i would have to fancy Galway to win now.

68deville · 01-08-2015 02:09AM

Would fancy Galway,play and always played football,I honestly think ye will have
More footballers on the pitch,v impressed with the Derry game and the the very best of luck,have a few bob on ye!

seligehgit · 01-08-2015 09:29AM

If Michael Murphy is out for Donegal that's a savage blow for them. Alongside Karl Lacey's absence could be a gamechanger for Galway.
On the other hand it could be a bit of Joseph Goebbels style propaganda, I'll believe it when the Donegal 15 line out.

Diabhal Beag · 01-08-2015 09:42AM

Won't believe he's out of the game until the final whistle is blown.

T0001 · 01-08-2015 11:00AM

This is Galway's best chance in a while to reach a QF. Even against Tipp last year it was 50/50 going into that game. I did hear that Murphy sat out some training sessions going back to before the Ulster Final. I had tipped Donegal to just shade it be 1/2 pts but I have a feeling whoever wins will have a confortable margin, just one of those feelings.

The opening 10-15 mins and the 10-15 mins after half time will tell us who will win. If Galway can minimize Donegal's scoring in these times and possibly even break even on the scoring then its theirs for the taking. Crucial not to concede a goal and to score 1 or 2 themselves.

They have great practice for this playing and beating Armagh and Derry, 2 teams with advancing blankets. I'm more hopeful than I was during the week.

Without MM Donegal are weakened severely. If he doesnt play then its Galway, but if he does, then Donegal will shade it.

The real question is, listen to GBFM or RTE commentary!! Ollie Turner v. Brian Carty (although I'm hopeful Marty Morrissey might get to cover it!)

Diabhal Beag · 01-08-2015 11:47AM

Ollie Turner is the best in the business. Brian Carthy has a shocking voice for radio.

Heard Oliver describing an umpire last year in some League match as "well-nourished" and another great memory was also hearing him mourn the death of Galway football after they lost in Portlaoise in the League a while back. Maybe the most hyperbolic man I've come across in my short time on this Earth. Huge fan.

T0001 · 01-08-2015 12:12PM

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Ollie Turner is the best in the business. Brian Carthy has a shocking voice for radio.

Heard Oliver describing an umpire last year in some League match as "well-nourished" and another great memory was also hearing him mourn the death of Galway football after they lost in Portlaoise in the League a while back. Maybe the most hyperbolic man I've come across in my short time on this Earth. Huge fan.

That was a moment of radio excellence and nobody recorded it!! I think it was a marginal call on a wide for Galway!!

eastmayo · 01-08-2015 12:13PM

Good luck to yeah this eve,what I hear is Murphy won't start but will play a part in the game,if yeah get a good start I fancy yeah to win,big day for Galway football

Hulk Hands · 01-08-2015 12:44PM

Huge day. Getting more and more confident the closer we get, probably to my peril. Still though, with Lacey + Murphy out, we've all the momentum. Real D day stuff imo for this team going forward

TCDStudent1 · 01-08-2015 12:56PM

While Ollie turner injects some excitement into the commentary, he exaggerates too much and it isn't a true reflection of what is actually happening.
A billion miles ahead of Marty morrissey or Brian Carthy.

It's nearly always better to listen to a match on a very biased local station!

seligehgit · 01-08-2015 01:46PM

Yeah best of luck to Galway,it would be great to have 3 Connaught teams in the quarter finals,may be a bit of wishful thinking with Sligo in mind.Tough ask for them.

seligehgit · 01-08-2015 01:47PM

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Ollie Turner is the best in the business. Brian Carthy has a shocking voice for radio.

Heard Oliver describing an umpire last year in some League match as "well-nourished" and another great memory was also hearing him mourn the death of Galway football after they lost in Portlaoise in the League a while back. Maybe the most hyperbolic man I've come across in my short time on this Earth. Huge fan.

Well nourished... Classic!:D

ColeTrain · 01-08-2015 02:23PM

Best of luck lads, I have you backed at -4!!

RobbieRuns · 01-08-2015 07:25PM

Not a great spectacle !

derealbadger · 01-08-2015 07:26PM

Ref was woeful

Megager · 01-08-2015 07:29PM

We were well and truely hammered here. Different class

RobbieRuns · 01-08-2015 07:29PM

Good luck to Donegal and always wish the best to teams who beat us.

Cosmo Kramer · 01-08-2015 07:41PM

Disappointing in the end. I mentioned it in the match thread but Galway still have huge problems from 1-7. There's potential further up the pitch but without major changes in the backs it's hard to see too much sign of progress in the short term.

O.A.P · 01-08-2015 09:01PM

Disappointing score line for us defiantly but I think Galway have a senior football team now, not just also ran's anymore.
Damien Commer, Aidan Varley and Garry Sice (if I spelt their names wrong apologies ) were at the top level of the game today and the future for Galway football is brighter than it has been for 10 years or more.

Good luck to Donegal they really have some class players .

T0001 · 01-08-2015 09:19PM

Crucial moment and turning point for me was Varley's goal chance after half time. Opted for the point and from there Donegal motored on after seeing Galway was lacking a killer instinct today. Pity about the scoreline, didnt reflect the gap imo but alas...

threeball · 01-08-2015 09:49PM

Donegal were deserving winners but the ref changed the course of that game singlehandedly with five very bad decisions in donegal favour in as many minutes. It was set up for a close finish before that. Scoreline didn't reflect the game or effort

01-08-2015 09:50PM

I think it would be a bit simplistic to put it down to being short defenders or experience.

Not sure how it looked on TV but Galway again turn up to play without a kick out strategy.
We lost about 5/6 of ours in a row in the second half, BOD too slow putting the ball down and all players standing static and Donegal(obviously from playing the likes of Dublin) pushing up with 6/7 men.

You might as well not even show up when you haven't taken time to work on winning your own kick outs.
Its not rocket science or overly complicated... ye have the ball and decision to make.
Even something as simple as pulling all your forwards bar one back into your defence is at least one option(we left 3 up... no team is going to pull their FB line up the pitch to follow those men).
Players switching wings.
Pre determined signals and players flooding an area
etc etc

No... we'll just stand static and if someones left free that's great, if not we'll kick it to a random area for a 50/50.

I honestly feel like writing to KW with a few simple plans as he clearly doesn't even see it as an issue as nothing was worked on and it should be the basis of your team building.

He also sounded surprised that Conroy missed the free. FFS Kevin he's a rubbish free taker, always kicks it into orbit.
I can recall two shocking efforts in the past 12 months- and only because they yielded returns.
His terrible effort against Tipp that S.Walsh turned into score of the year and another howler against Armagh this year that Comer goaled.

Its all well and good having men back but there's zero point of it if you're not going to press men in twos.
We were just hoping Donegal would make an unforced error and a few times where they did we were so far away they were able to regather possession.

The less said about the first two goals the better.
Seems the players were training against a Rugby team given the space they were leaving in behind.
And again going back to pressure, if you're not pressing the ball then the guy on the ball can spot those men running inside.

And whats this continued tactic of bringing Comer out the field?.
At least Joe Canning CAN operate further out, Comer just drifts out of games out there. He spent the end of the Mayo game out the field when we needed a goal... senseless.

He's brought some improvements over AM in terms of numbers back, but in other ways we're just as bad.

Unless they come back into the league next year with a kick out strategy then we can forget about worrying who's FB or any other small detail as its just a basic fundamental of the modern game.

Utopia Parkway · 01-08-2015 10:33PM

T0001 wrote: »

Crucial moment and turning point for me was Varley's goal chance after half time. Opted for the point and from there Donegal motored on after seeing Galway was lacking a killer instinct today. Pity about the scoreline, didnt reflect the gap imo but alas...

As soon as Conroy missed that free from straight in front and then Donegal immediately won a free in midfield that the ref brought forward into scoring range for Murphy. Then MacNiallais kicked a point quickly from way out on the wing. Galway went from where they should have been 2 points up to 1 down in about 2 minutes. Don't think they ever regained the initiative after that. Donegal got a big lift after looking like they had run out of ideas. Suddenly they started to win all the ball in midfield. To lose by 10 is bad though as it was never a 10 point game or anything like it but Galway let Donegal get a run on them for the last 10 minutes.

MfMan · 01-08-2015 10:41PM

T0001 wrote: »

Crucial moment and turning point for me was Varley's goal chance after half time. Opted for the point and from there Donegal motored on after seeing Galway was lacking a killer instinct today. Pity about the scoreline, didnt reflect the gap imo but alas...

For me turning point came when Conroy missed an easy free to put us 2 up; Donegal attacked, Murphy won a free, then moved in and made scoreable when Hanley gave backchat to the ref. Donegal took control thereafter and we were always living on the margins. O'Donnell and C Sweeney then going forward and kicking stupid wides when calmness and football-savvy was needed.

Conroy should have been hooked immediately he missed that kick; instead sideline were a good 10 minutes too late in making changes, when the game was going away from us instead of being in the balance. Why was Varley replaced sooner than Cummins? Tierney could have been sprung sooner too into a listing midfield.

Donegal's winning margin may have flattered them but they did what all good teams should do - they pressed on when in control and closed out the game relentlessly. Galway have an awful lot to learn, football and tactical-wise. Donegal are hardly the best side in the game at the moment and it's hard to see the likes of Duane, Hanley, O'Donnell, maybe Bradshaw, Conroy, Cummins ever being good enough to win an AI. Sice is edging the wrong side of 30 and the midfield are probably a few years, if ever, being strong enough at the top level.

More anon.

threeball · 01-08-2015 10:43PM

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

As soon as Conroy missed that free from straight in front and then Donegal immediately won a free in midfield that the ref brought forward into scoring range for Murphy. Then MacNiallais kicked a point quickly from way out on the wing. Galway went from where they should have been 2 points up to 1 down in about 2 minutes. Don't think they ever regained the initiative after that. Donegal got a big lift after looking like they had run out of ideas. Suddenly they started to win all the ball in midfield. To lose by 10 is bad though as it was never a 10 point game or anything like it but Galway let Donegal get a run on them for the last 10 minutes.

I'd put the run down to the fact they had to chase the game with time running out. The moved up free was never a free in the first place and there was at least 3 of those. There was also the free that wasnt given on cover when through on goal. A blatant push in the back that lead to the score that brought them level and another leading up to the second goal. That's another of bad decisions to absorb in one match.
Yes we had some dubious tactics but they brought us to 60mins pretty much in touch. It was then taken out of our hands and the heads dropped and we had to chase as well.

O.A.P · 01-08-2015 11:43PM

MfMan wrote: »

For me turning point came when Conroy missed an easy free to put us 2 up; Donegal attacked, Murphy won a free, then moved in and made scoreable when Hanley gave backchat to the ref. Donegal took control thereafter and we were always living on the margins. O'Donnell and C Sweeney then going forward and kicking stupid wides when calmness and football-savvy was needed.

Conroy should have been hooked immediately he missed that kick; instead sideline were a good 10 minutes too late in making changes, when the game was going away from us instead of being in the balance. Why was Varley replaced sooner than Cummins? Tierney could have been sprung sooner too into a listing midfield.

Donegal's winning margin may have flattered them but they did what all good teams should do - they pressed on when in control and closed out the game relentlessly. Galway have an awful lot to learn, football and tactical-wise. Donegal are hardly the best side in the game at the moment and it's hard to see the likes of Duane, Hanley, O'Donnell, maybe Bradshaw, Conroy, Cummins ever being good enough to win an AI. Sice is edging the wrong side of 30 and the midfield are probably a few years, if ever, being strong enough at the top level.

More anon.

I knew Sice was the man to take take that free and our captain had made a mistake before he had kicked the ball, half time came at the wrong time for us and for 10 or 15 minutes into the second half we failed to win our own kick out. That cost us the game Id say
Donegal are still a top side though and will be there or there abouts when its all over this year.
I'm disappointed that we are out but pleased that at last we have a team that deserves a lot of credit and we sure have a future .

manofwisdom · 01-08-2015 11:50PM

I expected more from Galway, today was the day for them to get an significant victory against a top six side and lay down the foundations for the years ahead. What transpired was another disjointed Galway performance and another tame championship exit with more questions than answers.

The chopping and changing of goalkeepers all year resulted in no top quality keeper and no kick out routine seemed to be worked on. In defence Hanley,Bradshaw,O Donnell need to shipped out now while i would keep Sweeney,Duane,Silke as all have more potential than the other three.

Midfield trio of Flynn,O Curraoin,Conroy have huge potential but they looked poor today which was more to do with poor management than anything else.

Forward line only 0-11 (0-6 from play) was a poor return against a Donegal defence that didn't have P McGrath for the final 20 mins,E McGee for half the game and Lacey for all of it.

This Galway result and performance will look worse next week if Mayo win by a bit to spare.

poteen · 02-08-2015 07:48AM

Badly fell away. Agree with earlier comment that we are week from 1-7 but I would extend that to 8&9. Sure the two lads in the middle are big but they never seem to stick with it for 70 minutes. There was a moment yesterday where Flynn had an easy catch and I think it was Murphy or McFadden that came in it batted it down on him. That was a pure lack of aggression from Flynn and bravery - he clearly pulled out.

Hanly has been exposed this season and is clearly past it now. Been shocking for every game. He also lacks aggression and bite.

Conroy- I just don't get this guy. Always talked up and is given chance after chance but never delivers. I wouldn't trust him kicking a clearance in to the stand.

Overall Id be happy with Kevin Walsh. Galway toughened up this year and look more structured but some lads just haven't got that bite. Division 1 should be a major target next year or else we aint going to be going any further.

Boom__Boom · 02-08-2015 09:52AM

gilberto_eire wrote: »

I think it would be a bit simplistic to put it down to being short defenders or experience.

Not sure how it looked on TV but Galway again turn up to play without a kick out strategy.
We lost about 5/6 of ours in a row in the second half, BOD too slow putting the ball down and all players standing static and Donegal(obviously from playing the likes of Dublin) pushing up with 6/7 men.

You might as well not even show up when you haven't taken time to work on winning your own kick outs.
Its not rocket science or overly complicated... ye have the ball and decision to make.
Even something as simple as pulling all your forwards bar one back into your defence is at least one option(we left 3 up... no team is going to pull their FB line up the pitch to follow those men).
Players switching wings.
Pre determined signals and players flooding an area
etc etc

No... we'll just stand static and if someones left free that's great, if not we'll kick it to a random area for a 50/50.

I honestly feel like writing to KW with a few simple plans as he clearly doesn't even see it as an issue as nothing was worked on and it should be the basis of your team building.

He also sounded surprised that Conroy missed the free. FFS Kevin he's a rubbish free taker, always kicks it into orbit.
I can recall two shocking efforts in the past 12 months- and only because they yielded returns.
His terrible effort against Tipp that S.Walsh turned into score of the year and another howler against Armagh this year that Comer goaled.

Its all well and good having men back but there's zero point of it if you're not going to press men in twos.
We were just hoping Donegal would make an unforced error and a few times where they did we were so far away they were able to regather possession.

The less said about the first two goals the better.
Seems the players were training against a Rugby team given the space they were leaving in behind.
And again going back to pressure, if you're not pressing the ball then the guy on the ball can spot those men running inside.

And whats this continued tactic of bringing Comer out the field?.
At least Joe Canning CAN operate further out, Comer just drifts out of games out there. He spent the end of the Mayo game out the field when we needed a goal... senseless.

He's brought some improvements over AM in terms of numbers back, but in other ways we're just as bad.

Unless they come back into the league next year with a kick out strategy then we can forget about worrying who's FB or any other small detail as its just a basic fundamental of the modern game.

Said the same thing to my dad about Galway's lack of a kickout strategy watching the game on TV - (watching on the TV it can sometimes be hard to fully/accurately assess the kickout strategy because you sometimes don't even see the kickouts (due to replays, crowd shots) or more importantly the positioning/movement of players, but it looked from what I saw that Galway seemed to have no sort of coherent plan on this area.

Related to the lack of a kickout strategy, I though Galway were very badly beaten in terms of breaking ball around midfield. The fact that Galway took a number of restarts to areas where Donegal were outnumbering Galway players and Donegal had it very easy in terms of winning breaking ball as there was no Galway player near enough to be able to compete for for the breaking ball is a very poor sign of a kickout strategy.

Defensively all three goals would have to be classified as very poor defending and there were a number of cheap frees that the Galway defence gave up as well - the fact that the score that ended Donegal's long drought period of not scoring was a cheapish free would have to be regarded as very disappointing.

Also Donegal made 2 switches at half-time - McElhinney had significant impact around the centre of the pitch and yet it was 22 minutes before the first Galway sub and these were both natural attackers in Walsh and Sweeney.

There was also some very poor shot selection by Galway forwards when there was still only a point or two in the game - lads rushing low-percentage shots from tight angles when the game was still in the balance. In a game every miss takes oxygen/momentum from the attacking team and gives it to the defending team.

Another thing is that Galway didn't seem aware of the half-time clock - they got a free in injury time in their own half after 1 minute of injury time had been announced and they moved the ball forward at a fairly leisurely pace and then recycled it back out the field once they hit the Donegal defensive line - in those sort of situations any sort of shot (even if its just a hit and hope drop short under severe pressure effort) is better than no shot but Galway showed zero urgeny in terms of getting the ball up the field and getting the shot away. Obviously a side is not always going to get a shot away in those circumstances but to not even seem to try is disappointing.

Galway GAA discussion thread

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