Galway GAA discussion thread

TCDStudent1

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

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.

Hanley was a fantastic servant to Galway. Still think Walsh treated him very harshly by leaving him on the bench so often. But he stuck around, togging out as a sub in FBD games. He was an extremely under-rated player.

Saw Meehan play a few times for Caltra earlier in the year and it was very apparent that he was way off the pace for inter county. It is a shamhe the way his career panned out but he delivered some serious performances for Galway. Looking at the clips on youtube, his ability to turn a man quickly is unreal! I had forgotten how good he was. Also, people talk about his goal against Cork a lot. But I love his reaction straight after when he asks the ref if there's time for one more score. To add to the stuff you mentioned, he also captained Jarlaths to a Hogan cup so he has gotten a fair bit out of his career.

MfMan

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

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.

Meehan was injured and unable to line-out v Kerry, so there was to be no swan-song there.

For as long as Galway's chronic defensive problems remain they are still quite likely to lose to many teams in the country, sadly.

PTH2009

Waterford man here

tonight, 2morrow and all over Xmas is when u as Galway supporters can lie back and rejoice finally seeing ur team life the Senior All Ireland

enjoy ur xmas and hopefully we will be meeting each other again down the road

Utopia Parkway

First Galway football team for the year named for FBD v Sligo

1. Ronan Ó Beoláin (Micheál Breathnach)
2. Declan Kyne (Clonbur)
3. Seán Andy Ó Ceallaigh (Naomh Ánna Leitir Móir)
4. Evan Wynne (Salthill/Knocknacarra)
5. Cathal Sweeney (Killannin)
6. Johnny Duane (St. James')
7. David Wynne (Maigh Cuilinn)
8. Thomas Flynn (Athenry)
9. Kieran Duggan (Annaghdown)
10. John Maher (Salthill/Knocknacarra)
11. Peter Cooke (Maigh Cuilinn)
12. Sean Kelly (Maigh Cuilinn)
13. Frankie Burke (Annaghdown)
14. Patrick Sweeney (Killannin)
15. Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks)

TCDStudent1

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

First Galway football team for the year named for FBD v Sligo

1. Ronan Ó Beoláin (Micheál Breathnach)
2. Declan Kyne (Clonbur)
3. Seán Andy Ó Ceallaigh (Naomh Ánna Leitir Móir)
4. Evan Wynne (Salthill/Knocknacarra)
5. Cathal Sweeney (Killannin)
6. Johnny Duane (St. James')
7. David Wynne (Maigh Cuilinn)
8. Thomas Flynn (Athenry)
9. Kieran Duggan (Annaghdown)
10. John Maher (Salthill/Knocknacarra)
11. Peter Cooke (Maigh Cuilinn)
12. Sean Kelly (Maigh Cuilinn)
13. Frankie Burke (Annaghdown)
14. Patrick Sweeney (Killannin)
15. Adrian Varley (Cortoon Shamrocks)

Duggan was very good in the club championship for Annaghdown and deserves a few games in FBD to see what he can do.

Borders no.2

Not a team to set the pulse racing but with at least 4 games in the competition everyone should get game time. I think the colleges being out of the competition this year is healthy for us in the lead up to the league. The games will be far more competitive and worthwhile. Plus playing Sligo, Leitrim and GMIT in the FBD every year has got very repetitive.

Diabhal Beag

One of my favourite moment's in the last 10 disappointing years of Galway football came from that qualifier in the stadium when some Armagh lad was abusing Sice over by the terrace and within a second Sice planted him on his arse. You could tell a lot of players saw it and supporters the motivation went through the roof.

Took him a little while to get up to speed in senior but he gave his all in maroon. Not flashy by any means but he had a good eye for goal. He could easily have retired in the aftermath of any of the last 3 years but he stuck on under Walsh.

All the best to him in retirement.

Utopia Parkway

Galway team v Mayo

Ruairi Lavelle (Renvyle)
Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown)
Sean Andy O'Ceallaigh (Naomh Anna Leitir Mor)
Sean Mulkerrin (Oileain Arann)
Cathal Sweeney (Killanin)
Gareth Bradshaw (Moycullen)
Johnny Duane (St James)
Paul Conroy (St James)
Ciaran Duggan (Annaghdown)
Eamonn Brannigan (St Michael's)
Peter Cooke (Moycullen)
Sean Kelly (Moycullen)
Barry McHugh (Mountbellew Moylough)
Patrick Sweeney (Killanin)
Padraic Cunningham (Headford)

TCDStudent1

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Galway team v Mayo

Ruairi Lavelle (Renvyle)
Eoghan Kerin (Annaghdown)
Sean Andy O'Ceallaigh (Naomh Anna Leitir Mor)
Sean Mulkerrin (Oileain Arann)
Cathal Sweeney (Killanin)
Gareth Bradshaw (Moycullen)
Johnny Duane (St James)
Paul Conroy (St James)
Ciaran Duggan (Annaghdown)
Eamonn Brannigan (St Michael's)
Peter Cooke (Moycullen)
Sean Kelly (Moycullen)
Barry McHugh (Mountbellew Moylough)
Patrick Sweeney (Killanin)
Padraic Cunningham (Headford)

The full back line is potentially the strongest line of that team.

Utopia Parkway

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

The full back line is potentially the strongest line of that team.

Don't think Mulkerrin is really a corner-back though. He's always been a full-back for Galway through underage and plays centre-back for the club. Not easy on a young lad to be introduced to senior intercounty football out of position. Albeit it's only FBD. Maybe they want to see if he can play in the corner. I think he's a bit tall for that position.

TCDStudent1

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Don't think Mulkerrin is really a corner-back though. He's always been a full-back for Galway through underage and plays centre-back for the club. Not easy on a young lad to be introduced to senior intercounty football out of position. Albeit it's only FBD. Maybe they want to see if he can play in the corner. I think he's a bit tall for that position.

Havent seen an awful lot of him tbh. I just know his reputation.

dropping_bombs

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

Havent seen an awful lot of him tbh. I just know his reputation.

I saw him playing in an Intermediate league match the morning after the Galway Football All-Star awards. He is a big lad, and quick too. He had a quite first half (unsurprisingly after the big night before I suppose) but grew into it in the second half. He kept the opposition's main two threats under wraps. Both of those lads played u21 for Galway and at least one is of senior intercounty standard. I was impressed for sure by a guy so young.

danganabu

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Don't think Mulkerrin is really a corner-back though. He's always been a full-back for Galway through underage and plays centre-back for the club. Not easy on a young lad to be introduced to senior intercounty football out of position. Albeit it's only FBD. Maybe they want to see if he can play in the corner. I think he's a bit tall for that position.

Not having a go, but how can you be too tall to play corner back?

Utopia Parkway

danganabu wrote: »

Not having a go, but how can you be too tall to play corner back?

It's a position that generally requires a lot of twisting and turning often against quite nippy corner forwards. I think too much height can actually be a disadvantage in that position. It's not a coincidence that the player in question here has played 95% of his football in central positions. You generally don't see very many 6 foot 3 corner backs.

It's worth a go I guess though seeing as it's only the FBD.

danganabu

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

It's a position that generally requires a lot of twisting and turning often against quite nippy corner forwards. I think too much height can actually be a disadvantage in that position. It's not a coincidence that the player in question here has played 95% of his football in central positions. You generally don't see very many 6 foot 3 corner backs.

It's worth a go I guess though seeing as it's only the FBD.

But thats more a question about his mobility that anything to do with his height, I dont see the corelation to be honest.

Galway for the last 2 years have struggled with direct high ball into the FB line, the game against Tipp in 2016 being a perfect example, Tipp are one of the very few counties who actually kick direct ball into the inside forwards and Galway were terribly exposed by this, so a bit of height and aerial presence in the backline might be a pre planned tactical decision.

Hulk Hands

Beat Mayo in the end. Should probably have been far easier looking at the sides but good second half in the end and down to 13, and then 12 for parts of it. That's 4 in a row over Mayo I believe. They've had a golden generation which was admirable but obviously can't last. We've a bunch of young players coming through who've been used to beating Mayo at every page group, the last 3 minors, last year's U21s etc. Still a bit off at the top level but things look promising to restore Connacht to it's natural hierarchy at least. League match more important again though

Doctors room ghost

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Beat Mayo in the end. Should probably have been far easier looking at the sides but good second half in the end and down to 13, and then 12 for parts of it. That's 4 in a row over Mayo I believe. They've had a golden generation which was admirable but obviously can't last. We've a bunch of young players coming through who've been used to beating Mayo at every page group, the last 3 minors, last year's U21s etc. Still a bit off at the top level but things look promising to restore Connacht to it's natural hierarchy at least. League match more important again though

Think it's 3-0 to Galway looking for 4-0 in February

FrPhelimYoung

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Still a bit off at the top level but things look promising to restore Connacht to it's natural hierarchy at least.

“Natural hierarchy”

Please explain???

jr86

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Beat Mayo in the end. Should probably have been far easier looking at the sides but good second half in the end and down to 13, and then 12 for parts of it. That's 4 in a row over Mayo I believe. They've had a golden generation which was admirable but obviously can't last. We've a bunch of young players coming through who've been used to beating Mayo at every page group, the last 3 minors, last year's U21s etc. Still a bit off at the top level but things look promising to restore Connacht to it's natural hierarchy at least. League match more important again though

I don't see Mayo going away soon tbh

On age profile theres still a while in AOS, Keegan, COC yet who have perhaps been the 3 key players over this "golden generation". Paddy Durcan, brendan Harrison and diarmuid o'connor are younger again.

Doherty and mcloughlin won't be 30 till 2019.

Then the likes of Barrett, SOS, Vaughan and boyle who are all around the 30 mark had great performances in the latter stages so there's life in them yet.

Moran and Higgins are freaks for their age

Loftus looks a potentially good find too. That's essentially the 15. I think they're fine if they can develop one or two every year.

Galway have a far from settled team and have struggled bringing the under 21 winning sides of 2011 and 13 through.

I think with respect provincial matches have lost so much relevance now. Id take making latter stages of all Irelands myself

jr86

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

Think it's 3-0 to Galway looking for 4-0 in February

Putting FBD wins towards this record is like counting Emirates cup wins in soccer

Diabhal Beag

Damo Comer really hates Mayo

jr86

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Damo Comer really hates Mayo

I said it over on the mayo thread but im a massive fan of him

He needs to reign it in discipline wise, but he's a matchwinner and will be a complete nightmare to handle in May.

I love players like him

Hulk Hands

FrPhelimYoung wrote: »

“Natural hierarchy”

Please explain???

How would you rate the Connacht Football counties historically there yourself?

TCDStudent1

Sounded like that Cunningham lad from Headford had a very impressive game.

Coillte_Bhoy

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

Sounded like that Cunningham lad from Headford had a very impressive game.

whats the story with him and joining Cork City?

Borders no.2

Honestly can't taking anything much about scraping past a Mayo development/fringe team. Even allowing for conditions anything other than a win in that game would have been shameful.

This competition is useful for blooding a few new players. No one will care or remember who won this when the league starts. The league will quickly give a real indication of where we are at.

At least with this result we should make the final which will be a useful workout against a Roscommon side who seem to be going well at the moment.

Beating Mayo last year wasn't worth a toss when it's followed up with a pathetic capitulation against Roscommon and we followed that up with a shameful display of damaged limitation against a vulnerable Kerry side.

This team and management have it all to prove this year.

Always_Running

jr86 wrote: »

I don't see Mayo going away soon tbh

On age profile theres still a while in AOS, Keegan, COC yet who have perhaps been the 3 key players over this "golden generation". Paddy Durcan, brendan Harrison and diarmuid o'connor are younger again.

Doherty and mcloughlin won't be 30 till 2019.

Then the likes of Barrett, SOS, Vaughan and boyle who are all around the 30 mark had great performances in the latter stages so there's life in them yet.

Moran and Higgins are freaks for their age

Loftus looks a potentially good find too. That's essentially the 15. I think they're fine if they can develop one or two every year.

Wouldn't expect Mayo to change their starting 15 too much come the business end from last summer, that will mean the average age will be 29 higher than any other team and combined championship appearances between them would be over 600 again higher than any other team.

While Mayo will be there or thereabouts again in 2018 i think it remains to be seen as to where Mayo will be in 2 or 3 years especially when key players either retire or get older.

Utopia Parkway

jr86 wrote: »

I don't see Mayo going away soon tbh

On age profile theres still a while in AOS, Keegan, COC yet who have perhaps been the 3 key players over this "golden generation". Paddy Durcan, brendan Harrison and diarmuid o'connor are younger again.

Doherty and mcloughlin won't be 30 till 2019.

Then the likes of Barrett, SOS, Vaughan and boyle who are all around the 30 mark had great performances in the latter stages so there's life in them yet.

Moran and Higgins are freaks for their age

Loftus looks a potentially good find too. That's essentially the 15. I think they're fine if they can develop one or two every year.

Galway have a far from settled team and have struggled bringing the under 21 winning sides of 2011 and 13 through.

I think with respect provincial matches have lost so much relevance now. Id take making latter stages of all Irelands myself

Awful lot of miles on the clock though. Don't think they will go away per se but no doubt that their window is closing. They got a miracle season out of Andy Moran last year for his age but not sure that can be repeated again. They have a number of players up around 30 who were running at absolute maximum last year just to keep up with the Dubs. Easy to forget as well that they could easily have lost three times before that.

That said who else is around that's really better than them unless some other team emerges.

jr86

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Awful lot of miles on the clock though. Don't think they will go away per se but no doubt that their window is closing. They got a miracle season out of Andy Moran last year for his age but not sure that can be repeated again. They have a number of players up around 30 who were running at absolute maximum last year just to keep up with the Dubs. Easy to forget as well that they could easily have lost three times before that.

That said who else is around that's really better than them unless some other team emerges.

That poster seemed to be alluding to a changing of the guard in connacht in a way and using recent underage success for galway as a basis. I still think this mayo team will be at the top table for another 3 years anyway myself so I think that's an incredibly premature statement

When push really came to shove Galway wilted against a very beatable Kerry and Mayo went out and beat them with a few points to spare in the replay. I still think there's a decent gap there

I fully agree with your last paragraph. Mayo will probably decline in the coming years but given what's out there theyll still most likely eke their way to semis and finals for a while yet. With all due respect the connacht championship is basically an extension of the league now

LoveMeSexy

jr86 wrote: »

That poster seemed to be alluding to a changing of the guard in connacht in a way and using recent underage success for galway as a basis. I still think this mayo team will be at the top table for another 3 years anyway myself so I think that's an incredibly premature statement

When push really came to shove Galway wilted against a very beatable Kerry and Mayo went out and beat them with a few points to spare in the replay. I still think there's a decent gap there

I fully agree with your last paragraph. Mayo will probably decline in the coming years but given what's out there theyll still most likely eke their way to semis and finals for a while yet. With all due respect the connacht championship is basically an extension of the league now

Changing of the gaurd? Could have sworn Mayo have been beaten in Connacht the last two years in a row, they aren't exactly miles ahead.

Robson99

LoveMeSexy wrote: »

Changing of the gaurd? Could have sworn Mayo have been beaten in Connacht the last two years in a row, they aren't exactly miles ahead.

Do you honestly think Galway r Roscommon would have got within an asses roar of Dublin in the final ?

jam83

LoveMeSexy wrote: »

Changing of the gaurd? Could have sworn Mayo have been beaten in Connacht the last two years in a row, they aren't exactly miles ahead.

As a Galway supporter I know that mayo team that Galway beat last June wasn't the same beast that beat Kerry and took dublin all the way. You're dreaming if you think Connacht was the barometer.
Galway were outfought by Roscommon and never thought they could beat Kerry so they've a lot to prove this year to show they're near mayo. It'll need a good showing in the super 8 and a semi final appearance to show they're near mayo.

Audioslaven

LoveMeSexy wrote: »

Changing of the gaurd? Could have sworn Mayo have been beaten in Connacht the last two years in a row, they aren't exactly miles ahead.

Connacht will always be tight enough but come Croke Park there is a big gap between the two. Mayo up their game while Galway have waited in the same vein of performance. I think we will see a more focused Mayo for the Connacht championship this year so it will be very interesting with the new format

TCDStudent1

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

whats the story with him and joining Cork City?

No idea.

Utopia Parkway

jam83 wrote: »

As a Galway supporter I know that mayo team that Galway beat last June wasn't the same beast that beat Kerry and took dublin all the way. You're dreaming if you think Connacht was the barometer.
Galway were outfought by Roscommon and never thought they could beat Kerry so they've a lot to prove this year to show they're near mayo. It'll need a good showing in the super 8 and a semi final appearance to show they're near mayo.

This Mayo side for whatever reason generally play to the level of their opponent which is why they've been close to Dublin the past couple years yet still lost to Galway twice recently and almost lost to Derry, Cork and Roscommon last Summer.

TCDStudent1

Peader O'Griofa injured in warm up today - poor guy must be one of the unluckiest players ever with injuries.

Happyilylost

TCDStudent1 wrote:

Peader O'Griofa injured in warm up today - poor guy must be one of the unluckiest players ever with injuries.

He came on. Don't think he was injured.

BENDYBINN

Great win over Leitrim.......keep it going now lads..

TCDStudent1

Happyilylost wrote: »

He came on. Don't think he was injured.

Wasnt at it. Galway Bay FM said he injured himself in the warm up. I dont think he is quite good enough for this level, very accurate but maybe a tad slow. Has had terrible luck with injuries though

Happyilylost

TCDStudent1 wrote:

Wasnt at it. Galway Bay FM said he injured himself in the warm up. I dont think he is quite good enough for this level, very accurate but maybe a tad slow. Has had terrible luck with injuries though

Ya three cruciates is a lot to come back from. Number 12 came on as a sub late on and it looked like him but with so many new lads floating about it could me been anyone. Didn't do anything of note either way. Was a hard match to endure. Conditions were shocking.

spurshero

BENDYBINN wrote: »

Great win over Leitrim.......keep it going now lads..

ffs leitrem we beat not dublin .

Happyilylost

Hard to be a GAA fan when decisions like today are made. Moving the footballers out to Tuam which stops a double header in Pearse Stadium for the first round of the League. Taking so soon after our footballers been asked to fulfil a pointless FBD match shows how little regard the GAA holds the supporters.

danganabu

Happyilylost wrote: »

Hard to be a GAA fan when decisions like today are made. Moving the footballers out to Tuam which stops a double header in Pearse Stadium for the first round of the League. Taking so soon after our footballers been asked to fulfil a pointless FBD match shows how little regard the GAA holds the supporters.

No pitch is going to allow a double header in January, destroy a field nad take the year to get it right again.

Happyilylost

Happyilylost wrote: »

Hard to be a GAA fan when decisions like today are made. Moving the footballers out to Tuam which stops a double header in Pearse Stadium for the first round of the League. Taking so soon after our footballers been asked to fulfil a pointless FBD match shows how little regard the GAA holds the supporters.

Was that the Tyrone/Antrim one that was set up as an event on FB(presumably by the Galway GAA).

That just hurts both games tbh.
Less incentive to travel to the hurling which will be a merciful beating and splits the fan base/hurts West Galway numbers.

TCDStudent1

You would have to think that the decision was made on the basis of the state of the pitch at the moment. Has made some serious rain in the last couple of weeks so they probably think the pitch wont be able for 2 games in one day. A similar call was made last year when Galway ladies were supposed to be in a double header with the footballers in Tuam. The weather wasn't great so the ladies game was re-fixed to Corofin. It seems like an early call though. I guess if they left it later, people would give out that they should have announced it earlier (The GAA will always be criticised regardless of what decision they make).

I hope that is the reason for it being changed anyway. Usually Tuam get one match in the league but it didnt really work out this year:

Dublin & Mayo could attract crowds that Tuam cannot hold.
Monaghan & Tyrone are on days that clash with with the hurlers playing home games.

Hopefully, it is not a case of "We better give this game to Tuam to keep them happy". I am closer to Tuam but I would still prefer to see the double header.

MfMan

Was down in one the local papers for Tuam a fortnight ago I recall reading.

Diabhal Beag

Annoying to miss the footballers but if the pitch is the reason that's unfortunate but fair.

leestone

Any smoke on the hurling squad for the new season whose in/ out etc

Borders no.2

Should make some effort to allow supporters to get to both games. No chance of anyone making both games. This is where the lack of lights let's us down hugely. Ballinasloe has lights but can't take any sort of crowd under health and safety I'm sure.

Happyilylost

danganabu wrote:

No pitch is going to allow a double header in January, destroy a field nad take the year to get it right again.

No pitch?