Galway GAA discussion thread

basillarkin

Unfortunately craughwell again came up short today. Gort mellows final, 50/50 I would think. Would be great for city hurling if mellows were to win.

Stayed behind for the A final today. Sylane finally get the monkey off the back. Maybe they would have done it without him but Brady was immense for his club today.

Diabhal Beag

Gort good value for the win today. Let Craughwell back in it a bit in the last 5 minutes when they could have been out of site. Harte and Greg Lally (who scored a couple of long range frees) fairly destroyed Craughwell and Grealish was lively too. Craughwell's best chance of winning a county in recent years probably the Sarsfield loss. Lads like the Healys and Cullinane not getting any younger.

spurshero

basillarkin wrote: »

Unfortunately craughwell again came up short today. Gort mellows final, 50/50 I would think. Would be great for city hurling if mellows were to win.

Stayed behind for the A final today. Sylane finally get the monkey off the back. Maybe they would have done it without him but Brady was immense for his club today.

No way 50 50 final. Gort fairly warm favourites. Today's game will stand to them too . Mellows will need forwards to really up there game to have a good chance

threeball

basillarkin wrote: »

Unfortunately craughwell again came up short today. Gort mellows final, 50/50 I would think. Would be great for city hurling if mellows were to win.

Stayed behind for the A final today. Sylane finally get the monkey off the back. Maybe they would have done it without him but Brady was immense for his club today.

Great win by Sylane. Played some nice hurling and were much the better team. Great to see a North galway team progressing and they'll do well at intermediate with what's coming through from their underage teams.

jr86

Ah now 50/50 is really pushing it. I like mellows but would be amazed if Gort didn't win it

Full credit to them today, really stood up. Harte absolutely ran the show after being quiet last week

Probably the end of an era for this craughwell team who really should have hoovered up at least one county title the last few years.

dropping_bombs

Claregalway were beaten by a strong Michael Glaveys team in the Connacht Intermediate Football final yesterday by 8 points. Glaveys could well go far, but that game seemed to be an indication of Claregalway's struggles when teams stand up to them physically. They really couldn't cope with the Glaveys big full forward Glennon and the two midfielders.

Wild Atlantic Gal

threeball wrote: »

Great win by Sylane. Played some nice hurling and were much the better team. Great to see a North galway team progressing and they'll do well at intermediate with what's coming through from their underage teams.

Brilliant win by them, and well deserved, I think I heard a player after the match bein interviewed by Galway bay fm and this is why I'm delighted for them, they are 26 years tryin to move up from junior, and that momentum is everything for them, they're on a roll now so hopefully this'll be the push that gets them further, couldn't agree more with him.

threeball

Wild Atlantic Gal wrote: »

Brilliant win by them, and well deserved, I think I heard a player after the match bein interviewed by Galway bay fm and this is why I'm delighted for them, they are 26 years tryin to move up from junior, and that momentum is everything for them, they're on a roll now so hopefully this'll be the push that gets them further, couldn't agree more with him.

Junior can be harder to break out of than intermediate. I know my football club was decades in junior and went senior after 3-4yrs at intermediate. Its hard to quantify why that is. Perhaps lads can see the light at the end of the tunnel and its easier to push on to try to get to the big stage. Often its just a special group that come together.
They certainly seem to be heading in the right direction.

Diabhal Beag

https://www.facebook.com/offtheball/videos/10159699668800441/

Not an easy watch but fair play to the Donohues, Conor Whelan and the rest for doing this. Francie Donohue in particular has a very frank and honest processing of the death which is heartbreaking.

Nice to remember him on such a big week in hurling here.

Claregaafan18

Worrying news for Galway GAA. Jack Canning attended the AFL Draft Combine in UCD today. Huge fears that this fine talented young hurler and
who is also a very good rugby player may consider quitting the small ball game for the oval ball. Here is a link of this story below.

http://hoganstand.com/Article/Index/278761

TCDStudent1

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

https://www.facebook.com/offtheball/videos/10159699668800441/

Not an easy watch but fair play to the Donohues, Conor Whelan and the rest for doing this. Francie Donohue in particular has a very frank and honest processing of the death which is heartbreaking.

Nice to remember him on such a big week in hurling here.

So incredibly sad. You can just imagine how happy he would have been this year when Galway won the AI - it just makes the whole story so much sadder :-(

jam83

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

So incredibly sad. You can just imagine how happy he would have been this year when Galway won the AI - it just makes the whole story so much sadder :-(

Very sad. Article here too by Malachy Clerkin

Life after death: Remembering Galway's Niall Donohue
via The Irish Times
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/life-after-death-remembering-galway-s-niall-donohue-1.3312466

Diabhal Beag

Tadhg Haran is absolutely battering Gort here. He hit two sidelines from different sides and a super goal. Could be a biggish upset here.

Collins cleaning up high ball in the last 15 too.

jam83

Why did Conor kavanagh switch from kinvara to mellowes?

basillarkin

basillarkin wrote: »

Unfortunately craughwell again came up short today. Gort mellows final, 50/50 I would think. Would be great for city hurling if mellows were to win.

Stayed behind for the A final today. Sylane finally get the monkey off the back. Maybe they would have done it without him but Brady was immense for his club today.

Was laughed out the door here 2 weeks ago

spurshero

jam83 wrote: »

Why did Conor kavanagh switch from kinvara to mellowes?

To win a county cup

windy shepard henderson

basillarkin wrote: »

Was laughed out the door here 2 weeks ago

to be fair no one really saw today coming , not in that manor anyway , louis mulqueen is a top manager too and has some CV developed for himself over the last 4 or 5 years

jam83

spurshero wrote: »

To win a county cup

Strange one.
Kinvara would be glad of a lad of his calibre to win an intermediate county cup unless there was some falling out.

jr86

windy shepard henderson wrote: »

to be fair no one really saw today coming , not in that manor anyway , louis mulqueen is a top manager too and has some CV developed for himself over the last 4 or 5 years

Indeed, Gort were 2/5 unbackable favourites according to the Tribune.

He's done a tremendous job, this has been a Mellows side who always had so much potential but underachieved so much over the past few years. They were fighting relegation more than fighting for the title, and with a plethora of talent at their disposal. It's a funny game though, Clarinbridge really should have disposed of them in the quarters - a few weeks later they're county champions! Small margins

Wasn't the best of matches overall, Gort for all the talent they have are limited enough when it comes down to it, that's two years in a row now they've been very poor in a final, it's a lot of hit and hope with them and they're not getting the best out of a lot of players. That said they probably played the better hurling in the first half but two (wholly preventable) goals was enough for Mellows

It's the 5th different winner in a row and the Championship is definitely wide open for the foreseeable future, so good to see.

MfMan

MfMan wrote: »

Tom's defeat has fairly opened it up. Portumna could take beating but are not the force of old either I think. Gort will fancy their chances again, but a dark-horse team I think could be Mellows, providing they can field near enough their strongest available team. Lot of good players there. Turlough' should be fairly kicking themselves for being thrown out, would have had a really good chance I maintain.

Surprisingly, at time of writing, going through the All-Ireland winning team and subs, only Harte, JC, Joe Cooney, Flynn, (any more?) remain in the domestic championship. Not a bad augur for the county team maybe.

Ahem.
Wagered them too.

jr86

Nice shout.

I think I might have replied to your post at the time about how I felt winterly conditions wouldn't suit Mellows and that they'd peaked too early. I was at their group games and while they impressed, conditions were very favourable throughout

Ok, they weren't as emphatic in the knock-out stages but they didn't need to be - and they showed an admirable level of resolve and steel. It's a cliche but the way the Club Championship is structured around County hurling, there really is two separate Championships in the one each year - spanning the 4 seasons

Mulqueen has done a heroic job with them

Will Gort start to fade now starting from next year? Lally isn't the same player since his cruciate, and they really can't seem to get the very best out of Grealish and Cummins. I think they more-so made the last two finals out of experience and nous rather than any hurling superiority. They lost 3 matches this year, remember.

For the 3rd year in a row, Craughwell are probably the team really kicking themselves again

With a 33/1 winner this year and a 5th different champion on the bounce, value hunters will already be looking ahead to next year. There's probably up to about 10 realistic contenders anymore.

Mellows, Gort, Portumna, St. Thomas', Turloughmore, Craughwell, Cappy, Sarsfields, Loughrea, Clarinbridge - it wouldn't shock me to see any of them winning in 2018

djPSB

Smart money on Turloughmore for 2018. Hear they have a high profile manager lined up.

Diabhal Beag

The beauty of Turlough is that they could be playing super hurling but still make a hames of the paperwork and get thrown out

MfMan

jr86 wrote: »

Nice shout.

I think I might have replied to your post at the time about how I felt winterly conditions wouldn't suit Mellows and that they'd peaked too early. I was at their group games and while they impressed, conditions were very favourable throughout

Ok, they weren't as emphatic in the knock-out stages but they didn't need to be - and they showed an admirable level of resolve and steel. It's a cliche but the way the Club Championship is structured around County hurling, there really is two separate Championships in the one each year - spanning the 4 seasons

Mulqueen has done a heroic job with them

Will Gort start to fade now starting from next year? Lally isn't the same player since his cruciate, and they really can't seem to get the very best out of Grealish and Cummins. I think they more-so made the last two finals out of experience and nous rather than any hurling superiority. They lost 3 matches this year, remember.

For the 3rd year in a row, Craughwell are probably the team really kicking themselves again

With a 33/1 winner this year and a 5th different champion on the bounce, value hunters will already be looking ahead to next year. There's probably up to about 10 realistic contenders anymore.

Mellows, Gort, Portumna, St. Thomas', Turloughmore, Craughwell, Cappy, Sarsfields, Loughrea, Clarinbridge - it wouldn't shock me to see any of them winning in 2018

Wouldn't necessarily agree re: Craughwell; when it came down to it, they were too reliant on Niall Healy for scoring. Don't think they would have made any better fist of it yesterday. As others have suggested, Turlough' should really be kicking themselves; they have plenty of talent, lot of good players for every line. They really owe it to themselves to come out firing next year and realise their potential.

Gort's sideline didn't help themselves yesterday either I think; took off a few attacking players who would be good for a score in the later stages. Was Aidan Helebert U-21 this year? Was in the States for a while in the summer; may have made the difference for Galway v Limerick in the semi'.

jr86

Yeah he was under 21 this year but was away, I'm sure they'll have a look at him in Walsh Cup and maybe National League

I think lining up so orthodox was a large part of Gort's downfall yesterday, they left their FB line very exposed. Callinan, Tadhg haran, Kavanagh and Adrian Morrissey will do damage to any team with space. They didn't learn their lesson from 2014 when Gerard O'Donoghue had to bail them out after conceding 4 goals

cosatron

djPSB wrote: »

Smart money on Turloughmore for 2018. Hear they have a high profile manager lined up.

I think your best served to leave your money in your pocket, Turlough have allot of sorting out to do before they can launch a serious challenge at a cup and since its introduction no senior'b' team have made it past the quarter finals and I can't see this changing any time soon.

Utopia Parkway

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/walsh-enlists-sigerson-hero-tally-to-boost-galway-setup-36389124.html

Tyrone's Paddy Tally brought in as a coach by Walsh. Interesting. Won the Sigerson with St Mary's this year.

In less good news Galway will likely be missing the Corofin lads, Gary O'Donnell, Danny Cummins, Fiontain O'Curraoin and Michael Daly for most if not the entirety of the league campaign.

Young players drafted in include Sean Andy and Sean Mulkerrin.

Fair to say they will have their hands full trying to stay in division 1.

Hulk Hands

Tally is a massive coup, have heard great reports about him before. Seems especially important in Galway where we have a sense that we're not getting anywhere near enough out of the talent available.

That injury list is very worrying though. Especially FOC, slow league football tends to suit him. Hopefully they can scrape out the 2/3 wins usually needed to stay up

Diabhal Beag

Also no guarantees that Mulkerrin or Jack Canning for the hurlers will be in Ireland in a few months time if their AFL trials went well.

jr86

There'll be plenty of pressure on Sean Andy, I assume it's a case of throw him straight in at FB and essentially hope for the best. Worth a go though

Haven't seen full training panel I wonder have guys like Sean Moran, Mark Rohan Paul Donnellan and Gary Kelly been looked at after stellar club campaigns

jr86

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Also no guarantees that Mulkerrin or Jack Canning for the hurlers will be in Ireland in a few months time if their AFL trials went well.

Wasn't aware of Jack Canning.

Assuming he is available for the hurlers he'll probably already be an important player in 2018. As good as 2017 was, if there was one slight issue (that Galway luckily didn't really have to deal with) it's strength in depth up front

Diabhal Beag

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Also no guarantees that Mulkerrin or Jack Canning for the hurlers will be in Ireland in a few months time if their AFL trials went well.

The combines aren't really a good gauge tbh.

Its primarily based around tests ie jumping from a spot, running jump, sprint speed etc.

The access the players as athletes by and large and they only play against other lads without any experience.

Different story arriving over there and coming up against lads who are playing since they were kids.

And i believe that only a small handful are even given the chance to go over there for those sort of trials.

jam83

For the year that's in it I hate admitting I'd prefer if corofin hadn't won Connacht.
Galway were long enough out of division 1 and need the likes of Ian Burke and silke to get the few results to try and stay up there.
To have the full panel together for months too would be of great benefit for the year ahead.

Hopefully tally shows them how to work a kickout system. If that was his only legacy it would be enough!

Condenser

jr86 wrote: »

There'll be plenty of pressure on Sean Andy, I assume it's a case of throw him straight in at FB and essentially hope for the best. Worth a go though

Haven't seen full training panel I wonder have guys like Sean Moran, Mark Rohan Paul Donnellan and Gary Kelly been looked at after stellar club campaigns

I'd like to see them try Kyne at CB. Hes very composed on the ball, rarely wastes it and is powerful and strong but FB doesn't suit him at all. I do see him having the makings of an excellent CB though. Its just a pity mcDaid isn't around to fill in on the flank. Hopefully he gets sick of that other spoof of a game and comes back sooner rather than later.

RD10

Hi guys, just wondering does anyone know if there would be any galway hurling books/Dvd memorabilia from the 1980's out there?

Utopia Parkway

From Tuam Herald

Called up to Galway football squad are Sean Andy O'Ceallaigh (Leitir Mor), Peter Cooke (Moycullen), Sean Kelly (Moycullen), Ronan Boland (Michael Breathnach), Cein D'Arcy (Caherlistrane), John Maher (Salthil), Eoin Finnerty (Mountbellew-Moylough), Rob Finnerty (Salthill), Dessie Conneely (Moycullen), Ciaran Duggan (Annaghdown), Frankie Burke (Annaghdown), Evan Wynne (Salthill).

Called up from the past two minor teams are Sean Mulkerrin (Oileain Arann) and Evan Murphy (Salthill).

Back after missing 2017 due to injury are Patrick Sweeney (Killanin) and Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks).

danganabu

RD10 wrote: »

Hi guys, just wondering does anyone know if there would be any galway hurling books/Dvd memorabilia from the 1980's out there?

Sylvie Linnane had an autobiography, pretty sure I seen it in Easons recently as well.

jam83

danganabu wrote: »

Sylvie Linnane had an autobiography, pretty sure I seen it in Easons recently as well.

Twas ****e enough that book

Hulk Hands

Nice to see Varley back. Decent option for the league with Cummins sidelined and Ian Burke with Corofin. You'd expect Cooke to nail down a starting MF spot

MfMan

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Nice to see Varley back. Decent option for the league with Cummins sidelined and Ian Burke with Corofin. You'd expect Cooke to nail down a starting MF spot

Think D'Arcy a better long term bet for midfield; Moycullen lads may tell you Cooke has a lot of flaws in his game. Duggan from Annaghdown there too in an area, (one of many), that needs obvious strengthening. Nice to see Eoin Finnerty there, a good prospect if firing on all cylinders. Ambivalent on Patrick Sweeney returning, adds physical strength but not a huge amount more really. Still, everyone's worth a shot. Where's Paul Varley?

TCDStudent1

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

From Tuam Herald

Called up to Galway football squad are Sean Andy O'Ceallaigh (Leitir Mor), Peter Cooke (Moycullen), Sean Kelly (Moycullen), Ronan Boland (Michael Breathnach), Cein D'Arcy (Caherlistrane), John Maher (Salthil), Eoin Finnerty (Mountbellew-Moylough), Rob Finnerty (Salthill), Dessie Conneely (Moycullen), Ciaran Duggan (Annaghdown), Frankie Burke (Annaghdown), Evan Wynne (Salthill).

Called up from the past two minor teams are Sean Mulkerrin (Oileain Arann) and Evan Murphy (Salthill).

Back after missing 2017 due to injury are Patrick Sweeney (Killanin) and Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks).

Some strange names in that list. Frankie Burke? Had a very good club championship but at around 30/31, is it really worth it?? Not convinced about darcy but I haven't seen enough of him. I thought a couple more Mountbellew lads might get a call.

Borders no.2

RD10 wrote: »

Hi guys, just wondering does anyone know if there would be any galway hurling books/Dvd memorabilia from the 1980's out there?

It would be worth enquiring with the county board. I remember watching a video a good few years ago on the history of Galway hurling going back to late 80s, early 90s. Couldn't tell you the name of it but they may be able to put you in touch with someone who'd have a copy of it.

jam83

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

Some strange names in that list. Frankie Burke? Had a very good club championship but at around 30/31, is it really worth it?? Not convinced about darcy but I haven't seen enough of him. I thought a couple more Mountbellew lads might get a call.

Why do you believe Frankie Burkes age matters? If he just happened to be good enough to come on as a sub and grab a point or two and Galway win games isn't that all that matters? Galway haven't set the world alight for a long time so I don't buy any of that "going with youth" stuff that people peddle. If a lad proves himself to be good enough then age means **** all. If younger lads are better, then they'll get their chance to shine.

Borders no.2

Frankie Burke had a good club championship but even at his peak he's not inter-county standard imo. Training Panel will be open ended enough I'm sure. I'd be shocked if I saw Frankie Burke starting on the team when Division 1 starts.

jr86

jam83 wrote: »

Why do you believe Frankie Burkes age matters? If he just happened to be good enough to come on as a sub and grab a point or two and Galway win games isn't that all that matters? Galway haven't set the world alight for a long time so I don't buy any of that "going with youth" stuff that people peddle. If a lad proves himself to be good enough then age means **** all. If younger lads are better, then they'll get their chance to shine.

I'd imagine the point he's making is that FB will hardly get in the team anyway so it'd make far more sense go for a much younger equivalent, who can develop into a regular starter in the coming years.

I agree with him, it seems a strange call.

seligehgit

Indo reporting it that the great Michael Meehan has called it a day.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/galway-star-michael-meehan-releases-emotional-statement-as-he-calls-time-on-his-intercounty-career-36426045.html

MfMan

Shame it didn't really work out but it was asking too much of him to ever be fully county-fit again I feel. Finian Hanley gone also.

h2005

Borders no.2 wrote: »

It would be worth enquiring with the county board. I remember watching a video a good few years ago on the history of Galway hurling going back to late 80s, early 90s. Couldn't tell you the name of it but they may be able to put you in touch with someone who'd have a copy of it.

The West’s awake

kala85

A great video to watch.

Diabhal Beag

I've said it on here before but it's an awful shame that Hanley's prime was when Galway were a shambles of a team that could lose to anybody in the country in a qualifier. He was exposed due to lack of cover centrally, in his corners and as fullback took the brunt of the abuse. He's a gentleman off the pitch and one of the highlights in recent years as a football fan was seeing his mother beaming with pride on the bus home from Tullamore after they beat Tipp in what was the most significant result in a long time for Galway football at the time.

As for Meehan it was clearly a massive boost to the panel that he was able to rejoin and train when possible. Holding him back in the Kerry match was probably the right call as the reception he was given by the supporters in Sligo was fantastic. He has his club and under-21 all irelands, a few Nestors but if it wasn't for injuries who knows how far he could've dragged us.