Galway GAA discussion thread

MfMan

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Conroy and Hanley at either ends are consistently showing why their our best players. Hoare got a nice goal, but I wouldn't be convinced he's quite of this standard. Easiest way to describe Lundy is Matthew Clancy the second. Quick and industrious, but my god will he frustrate the life out of people at times. Martin was ok, always pops up with a score or two. i thought Cummins shouldve got a game quicker though.

Jeez, though Hanley was cleaned TBH, though in absolute mitigation, he's had a tough time of late.

One Matt Clancy was quite enough, thank you very much. Lundy hadn't a bad debut at all, and will gain in confidence if he gets more game-time at this level. At least survival is in our own hands now, even if it may be results elsewhere that could keep us up ultimately.

Hulk Hands

MfMan wrote: »

Jeez, though Hanley was cleaned TBH, though in absolute mitigation, he's had a tough time of late.

One Matt Clancy was quite enough, thank you very much. Lundy hadn't a bad debut at all, and will gain in confidence if he gets more game-time at this level. At least survival is in our own hands now, even if it may be results elsewhere that could keep us up ultimately.

He was cleaned when? Today? I certainly didn't see it. Calm and assured on his first game back from injury until the moment he went off. Armagh's threat came from bursting runs from deep. They had little threat inside and that's even with Jamie Clarke in there. Lundy was ok and worked hard but made a complete mess of 2 goal chances in the first half that shouldve had the game done and dusted, in addition to 2 other scoring opportunities.

h2005

MfMan wrote: »

Jeez, though Hanley was cleaned TBH, though in absolute mitigation, he's had a tough time of late.

One Matt Clancy was quite enough, thank you very much. Lundy hadn't a bad debut at all, and will gain in confidence if he gets more game-time at this level. At least survival is in our own hands now, even if it may be results elsewhere that could keep us up ultimately.

Said he got cleaned out on the radio too. Any update on Sice?
Hard to know how good the hurlers are they never had to get out of second gear today.

gammygils

The word on the street is that Gary Sice is back training next week.

He wasn't happy with the team selection last week. And I know

he was annoyed at being substituted in Drogheda while playing well.

spiritcrusher

Any truth that Duane and Concannon left the panel too I wonder?

Decent win yesterday, but lucky to hang on in the end. Armagh's poor shooting cost them during their dominant spell for 15/20 minutes of the second half. Referee had a shocker too. Galway got a few softish frees in the first half but then proceeded to get absolutely nothing for most of the rest of the game. He made two decisions in the first half that probably had a major impact on Armagh being able to get back into it, not giving the full back a black card for pulling down Armstrong after a top notch long ball into the square from Flynn that had him almost clean through on goal and then at the end of the half he gave Armagh are ridiculous free in front of the posts after a sustained period of genuinely solid Galway defending. The red card was fairly bizarre the way he gave it too, showed the black first and then the red. He didn't really seem to understand the rules!

Anyway, in the end the result was good. It'll be some escape if they manage to avoid going down and I think most of the credit will be due to the two lads in the middle who have stepped up big time recently. FOC is excellent for pulling balls down cleanly from the air and Flynn is an excellent all round footballer and athlete, very pacey and very strong. Don't think I saw either make a mistake yesterday actually. Conroy was ok yesterday too, basically was a third midfielder, but hasn't hit the levels he hit last year. Armstrong patchy but alright. Kavanagh looked absolutely gassed during the second half, has yet to really do anything of note as far as I've seen.
In the backs, Hanley started quite poor but grew into it a bit. GOD seems to be our best bet at the moment for CB, quite composed and cut out a lot of the brain farts he's had in recent years. Much better than Bradshaw beside him, although he was grand I suppose.

Hard to know what to make of it, they still seem scattered at times. I'm not convinced there's really a system in place and the management waited waaaay too late to make changes. This was especially apparent as the changes did quite well when they came on, Farragher and Mulryan in particular were steady and calm.

And they definitely should play more games in Tuam. Better support, bit of a better atmosphere and the playing surface is better. The actual stadium itself is a shambles of a thing but for the league I'd play the home games there. Seemingly Mulholland wanted the Armagh game there too,

h2005

I thought if you're booked prior to getting a black card I thought it's the equivalent of 2 yellows thus the black and red card.

h2005

h2005 wrote: »

I thought if you're booked prior to getting a black card I thought it's the equivalent of 2 yellows thus the black and red card.

Yip, a combination of the two equals a red card.

So a player on a yellow receiving a black card gets a red.

I didn't get to hear the full commentary of the match yesterday but I'm going to assume the poster above was in the wrong and not the ref?.

Utopia Parkway

spiritcrusher wrote: »

And they definitely should play more games in Tuam. Better support, bit of a better atmosphere and the playing surface is better. The actual stadium itself is a shambles of a thing but for the league I'd play the home games there. Seemingly Mulholland wanted the Armagh game there too,

I'd say it was brought there because it was a must win game for Galway and opposition teams and supporters don't like going to Tuam, as let's be honest, it's a bit of a kip. I saw over on HS today some Armagh fans giving out about it compared to the relatively plush comfortable surroundings of the dressing rooms or sitting in the stand in Pearse Stadium.

Syferus

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

I'd say it was brought there because it was a must win game for Galway and opposition teams and supporters don't like going to Tuam, as let's be honest, it's a bit of a kip. I saw over on HS today some Armagh fans giving out about it compared to the relatively plush comfortable surroundings of the dressing rooms or sitting in the stand in Pearse Stadium.

We love it. Hardly have ever seen a bad match in Tuam in all my time going. A wreck of a stadium but a glorious wreck.

ki

Syferus wrote: »

We love it. Hardly have ever seen a bad match in Tuam in all my time going. A wreck of a stadium but a glorious wreck.

It would be an idea to up date it but keep it small and compact.
I see it was reduced to 6700 cap recently.

If there was room for 7~10K it would handle any league/underage inter county or bigger club games.

Put the money into a good experience, i.e low advertisements and fans close to the pitch.

Decent food and clean toilets.

Borders no.2

Good to see the hurling is in Limerick. Good ground that's easy get to and get home out of and we have a decent record there. Was worried it'd be in Thurles. We have an awful record in Thurles and its a nightmare getting in and out of.

Borders no.2

Borders no.2 wrote: »

Good to see the hurling is in Limerick. Good ground that's easy get to and get home out of and we have a decent record there. Was worried it'd be in Thurles. We have an awful record in Thurles and its a nightmare getting in and out of.

We only have a bad record in Thurles because we weren't good enough on the occasions we've been there.

2013: That was coming after the league and Dublin game.
2011: Waterford, again the players didn't work hard enough and got what they deserved
2010: Beat Cork there handily
2009: You could argue we weren't good enough against Waterford but we were also shafted by Kirwan who didn't do anything to change that fact in the Clare game with a similar performance

Anything further back is irrelevant, two losses to KK when we hadn't any preparation due to the disadvantage we had in the old qualifier route.

It doesn't matter if the games were in Croker, Limerick or Thurles in those years above as we wouldn't have got anything since we didn't work hard enough.
Got cleaned out in the HF line in just about all those games.

I think the players are working better this year, we're winning breaks and by and large everyone is putting in the required work.
The third man in will win 90% of breaks, and that was the case over and over against KK in 2012.

Probably won't see a day like that again but the team definitely has a little more shape and purpose to it this year.

I think we'll go ok this year.
I don't think we've anything to fear from either of last years AI finalists, we certainly have the beating of any team bar KK if the lads perform to their abilities.
It's worth noting that as much of a shambles as we were last year, we won the second half against Clare and with a little bit of luck with one or two goal chances after closing it to 3, we may have made a semi final while performing at an unacceptable level all season.
Add to that the lack of scores from play, problem positions at FB and CB, we were still somewhat competitive.

Burke was a big addition this year, it's just a shame he wouldn't commit a few years back due to the football with Corofin.
In him we have a natural heir to the CB throne in the years ahead, the other Burke at FB has also performed admirably to date.
He certainly doesn't lack in conviction and obviously gives it his all.

Starie1975

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

I'd say it was brought there because it was a must win game for Galway and opposition teams and supporters don't like going to Tuam, as let's be honest, it's a bit of a kip. I saw over on HS today some Armagh fans giving out about it compared to the relatively plush comfortable surroundings of the dressing rooms or sitting in the stand in Pearse Stadium.

I was talking to some supporters from Armagh in Tuam who were quite upset about this. Make no bones about it, next time we play away to Armagh we'll be dragged to the far corner of it, Maghery was mentioned. After what was done to the supporters and team you can’t blame them.

For all supporters who go to all the matches this Salthill vs Tuam craic is really annoying. I couldn’t care less where the match is on as long as we perform well.

Where do I think the matches should be played as things stand? Salthill.

Syferus

Salthill is a horrible spot in the city for a stadium and its proximity to the sea has given it its well-earned nickname as the wind tunnel. Well-built stadium that is wrecked by outside factors.

The love for Tuam should not be dismissed, it's in the heart of Galway football and as a location it's far handier for supporters in general.

Oh, and I don't think you need to worry about a few Armagh ladeens booking hotels in Galway City effecting the venue of future away games.

MfMan

Starie1975 wrote: »

I was talking to some supporters from Armagh in Tuam who were quite upset about this. Make no bones about it, next time we play away to Armagh we'll be dragged to the far corner of it, Maghery was mentioned. After what was done to the supporters and team you can’t blame them.

For all supporters who go to all the matches this Salthill vs Tuam craic is really annoying. I couldn’t care less where the match is on as long as we perform well.

Where do I think the matches should be played as things stand? Salthill.

It matters though because there's a better chance of the team performing well in Tuam; players for the most part want games there as there's a better atmosphere. Similarly, the hurlers would prefer to play in Athenry, (they wanted one game in particular there, but were prevented by outside elements.).

Limerick for the hurlers will suit a bit better than Thurles as their recent record there is superior.

h2005

Syferus wrote: »

Salthill is a horrible spot in the city for a stadium and its proximity to the sea has given it its well-earned nickname as the wind tunnel. Well-built stadium that is wrecked by outside factors.

The love for Tuam should not be dismissed, it's in the heart of Galway football and as a location it's far handier for supporters in general.

Oh, and I don't think you need to worry about a few Armagh ladeens booking hotels in Galway City effecting the venue of future away games.

The heart of Galway football argument is bollocks. The game is played across the county and there are more teams in proximity to Salthill than Tuam.

Starie1975

Tuam Stadium vs Pearse Stadium Debate to end.

http://www.tribesmengaa.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1081:tuam-stadium-vs-pearse-stadium-debate-to-end&catid=92:team-news&Itemid=70&Itemid=53

wonder88

Limerick for me is a great venue. Hope the day is nice and sunny, and a good crowd turn up for it. Couldn't get to a game last sunday but already looking forward to this. I think this game against the cats, will like last years semi-final, tell us a lot in relation to what is in store for Galway in the championship. At this point I am slightly hopeful as I noticed a few good signs in the Tipp and Clare games, along with a few things that would worry me as well. Any predictions for the crowd? over 25k perhaps and what are ticket prices going to be?

nootroc

Starie1975 wrote: »

Tuam Stadium vs Pearse Stadium Debate to end.

http://www.tribesmengaa.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1081:tuam-stadium-vs-pearse-stadium-debate-to-end&catid=92:team-news&Itemid=70&Itemid=53

It will look better on Sky anyways.

Syferus

h2005 wrote: »

The heart of Galway football argument is bollocks. The game is played across the county and there are more teams in proximity to Salthill than Tuam.

The game is played in around the city side of the county but few would be fool-hardy enough argue that hurling isn't king in the majority of those areas. Places like Tuam have always been football-fist.

h2005

Syferus wrote: »

The game is played in around the city side of the county but few would be fool-hardy enough argue that hurling isn't king in the majority of those areas. Places like Tuam have always been football-fist.

Really? How many hurling clubs are there from Clifden to Galway? You know they play football on the west board too? If hurling is king how come the number of football clubs in the city dwarfs the number of hurling clubs? The heartland argument is bollocks.

Syferus

h2005 wrote: »

Really? How many hurling clubs are there from Clifden to Galway? You know they play football on the west board too? If hurling is king how come the number of football clubs in the city dwarfs the number of hurling clubs? The heartland argument is bollocks.

I didn't say just the city itself. The commuter belt for the city encompasses pretty a lot of the big hurling areas in Galway.

The heartland argument is far from bollocks, that just comes across as a reactionary position because you're tired of hearing it. No doubt there's plenty of great football people in other areas of Galway but to try and make out there isn't quite a clear divide in most areas over which code is the primary one simply isn't true.

h2005

Syferus wrote: »

I didn't say just the city itself. The commuter belt for the city encompasses pretty a lot of the big hurling areas in Galway.

The heartland argument is far from bollocks, that just comes across as a reactionary position because you're tired of hearing it. No doubt there's plenty of great football people in other areas of Galway but to try and make out there isn't quite a clear divide in most areas over which code is the primary one simply isn't true.

Could you give me an idea of where this commuter belt area extends to? Do you believe that there is more people playing hurling across this commuter belt than there is playing football?

Utopia Parkway

Syferus wrote: »

I didn't say just the city itself. The commuter belt for the city encompasses pretty a lot of the big hurling areas in Galway.

Only to the south east really (Athenry, Clarinbridge and Carnmore), to the north of the city you have Claregalway which is football. Oranmore is a mix of both but probably more well known for football. The west of the city is all football bar a little junior hurling.

That's only immediately around the city though. It depends how far you extend the commuter belt. Commuter towns like Craughwell, Loughrea, etc are all hurling. Drive north though and it's all football clubs.

Basically draw a line between Galway and Ballinasloe and everything south is hurling and north is football although there is the odd exception. Turloughmore for example is north of that line but is a senior hurling club.

flazio

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Only to the south east really (Athenry, Clarinbridge and Carnmore), to the north of the city you have Claregalway which is football. Oranmore is a mix of both but probably more well known for football. The west of the city is all football bar a little junior hurling.

That's only immediately around the city though. It depends how far you extend the commuter belt. Commuter towns like Craughwell, Loughrea, etc are all hurling. Drive north though and it's all football clubs.

Basically draw a line between Galway and Ballinasloe and everything south is hurling and north is football although there is the odd exception. Turloughmore for example is north of that line but is a senior hurling club.

The Midlands Great Western Railway company already did that for you. I'm not all that fussed where in Galway Hurling and Football matches are played, but I would like it a bit further inland from Salthill. Probably get lynched for saying this but even the Sportsground has better conditions.

savannahkat

If only they concentrated on Hurling in Muckalee, The Railyard and Skeoghvosteen we here in Kilkenny would be unbeatable every year at the stick and ball game. Tis unknownst how many great hurlers we have lost to the pig bladder game because of the love of bacon in these areas.
Looking forward to playing ye in a few weeks time. It will tell us too how we are going especially if BC continues to play a few of the more promising newcomers. I suspect though that both teams will engage in a bit of shadow hurling. The real huff and puff is still a bit down the road.

windy shepard henderson

savannahkat wrote: »

If only they concentrated on Hurling in Muckalee, The Railyard and Skeoghvosteen we here in Kilkenny would be unbeatable every year at the stick and ball game. Tis unknownst how many great hurlers we have lost to the pig bladder game because of the love of bacon in these areas.
Looking forward to playing ye in a few weeks time. It will tell us too how we are going especially if BC continues to play a few of the more promising newcomers. I suspect though that both teams will engage in a bit of shadow hurling. The real huff and puff is still a bit down the road.

just read this again . . . . . . . excellent!!!:pac::pac:

derealbadger

Thank God thats over seem to be improving game by game hopefully next year we can kick on

windy shepard henderson

derealbadger wrote: »

Thank God thats over seem to be improving game by game hopefully next year we can kick on

was hoping ye would get relagated not out of pure badness but for logistic reasons next year alot of the teams in division 3 bar tipp and limerick will be a bit of a drive

although galway footballers desevre better then division 3 and the good result albeit a loss against one of the best teams in the country showed that today

h2005

What was healy sent off for?

Borders no.2

To be fair there have been improvements since the Laois game (things couldn't get any worse) but to blow comfortable positions against Louth and 14 man Armagh is worrying. Also another important game lost by a point even if Monaghan are a decent side.

Thanks to Donegal for the favour. Even ifs it probably around Galway's level at this stage the thought of Division 3 football was seriously depressing.

On to the championship, London is a potential banana skin but London and Sligo haven't been tearing up trees in the league and are both very beatable. It'd be a huge disappointment not to get to a Connacht final, although if we do get that far I don't imagine that it will be pleasant viewing.

Syferus

Galway are hardly any better than Sligo and the last few encounters have proven Sligo to be the better side, the last time by quite a convincing margin.

You'll have to go to Marky for that one so I'd slow down on the 'very beatable' labelling. Sligo will be looking at the draw and licking their lips just as much you were.

On one hand you're decrying your position and on the other you're undermining a team that's beat you multiple times recently, I dunno.

Hulk Hands

Syferus wrote: »

Galway are hardly any better than Sligo and the last few encounters have proven Sligo to be the better side, the last time by quite a convincing margin.

Ha, great to know you're using that as your measurement for respective teams ability. We'll have to remember that one in the run up to meetings in future

Diabhal Beag

Syferus you truly are the defender of all things North West. But you do have a point. Galway had two decent championship games last year but they haven't really pushed on in this League, albeit with tougher teams and a harsh number of away fixtures. Can't look past London.

Utopia Parkway

Decent performance up in Monaghan today. Lost to virtually the last kick of the game having played most of the 2nd half with 14 men. Should really have taken something from the game though. Galway missed some very kickable frees in the last 10 minutes. O'Curraoin being pulled out before the game due to injury as well.

Anyone with any idea what Healy in goal was red carded for? Think he got in a tussle with one of the Monaghan corner-forwards. Did he throw him a slap?

Big improvement over the past 4 games anyway. Could easily have won all 4 but for the odd brainfart. A decent recovery after a terrible first 3 games.

At least we will have 4 home games next year in the league after 2 years in a row of 4 away games.

Utopia Parkway

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Ha, great to know you're using that as your measurement for respective teams ability. We'll have to remember that one in the run up to meetings in future

Zing.

Hulk Hands

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Anyone with any idea what Healy in goal was red carded for? Think he got in a tussle with one of the Monaghan corner-forwards. Did he throw him a slap?

A slap accordin to radio. Wasn't there, but you'd imagine it cost them, which is slightly encouraging against one of the better teams in the country. Similar league to last year in that a lot of it was very negative, but it at least gives some hope for summer. End of the day we're juat about satisfied with the end result, however depressing part of the journey was.

Probably best that we have perceived weaker county first in championship, and hopefully build up a bit of momentum. If we get by London we'd roll into Sligo as favourites, albiet not strong ones. That game will likely make or break the year, as if we're not good enough to win there, we wouldn't be good enough to share the field with Mayo in the final.

Utopia Parkway

Division 2 2015

Kildare
Westmeath
Meath
Down
Laois
Galway
Cavan
Roscommon

Syferus

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Syferus you truly are the defender of all things North West. But you do have a point. Galway had two decent championship games last year but they haven't really pushed on in this League, albeit with tougher teams and a harsh number of away fixtures. Can't look past London.

North-west? We took the JJ Fahy Cup over the Shannon again for the proper 'The West' (as signs outside Dublin label it) yesterday. Did ye get lost on the way to that final or something?

Galway have plenty to prove before they can be looking beyond Sligo away, that's a far less insulting sentiment that the one I was responding to.

Hulk Hands

Syferus wrote: »

Galway have plenty to prove before they can be looking beyond Sligo away, that's a far less insulting sentiment that the one I was responding to.

All he said was that Sligo were very beatable. How is that insulating? He wasn't saying we would hammer them? Sure plenty have been saying that Bayern are beatable this week, it hardly means United fans are talking about who they'll face in the next round

Syferus

Hulk Hands wrote: »

All he said was that Sligo were very beatable. How is that insulating? He wasn't saying we would hammer them? Sure plenty have been saying that Bayern are beatable this week, it hardly means United fans are talking about who they'll face in the next round

'Very beatable' is different to 'beatable'.

The correct word to describe what Sligo away will be for Galway this year (London pending) is a 'challenge'.

Sligo will see you as plenty 'beatable' too - that match-up looks like a dead heat right now.

Borders no.2

I don't back down from my original statement and I don't see what's wrong with it. Galway are a poor side but Sligo are also. Sligo were keen to move Kevin Walsh on and got a decent manager in Pat Flanagan but they have still struggled in a division 3 that is weaker this year than last year. They have yet to launch a realistic promotion bid since going back down to division 3. They have fared quite well in championship up until last year but aside from Mayo a few years back, haven't taken many scalps.

Of course if Galway get that far it'll be a tough challenge and one Galway will have to face head on at a tough venue if they are to get through. If Galway do win it'll be only by a point or two but if Galway are to justify their division 2 status they should be beating Division 4 and Division 3 teams. No excuses.

Sligo will know they have the beating of Galway if they get their own game right and they are fully justified in believing that but from my viewpoint as a Galway fan, the year will be a failure if we don't get to the Connacht final. Sligo will feel the same.

Before all that is a trip to London that is fraught with danger.

Lemlin

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Division 2 2015

Kildare
Westmeath
Meath
Down
Laois
Galway
Cavan
Roscommon

Cavan and Galway are playing 2 weeks today on May 3rd at Killygarry pitch in Cavan for its opening.

Might be good practice for ye because I don't know about their other games but Sligo very much attempted to play our own defensive style against us in the league.

I've often wondered what happened Galway. Three years ago in Croke Park your U21 lads gave us a pasting in the final. I expected Galway in the years following to be flying because your players were going into an already capable senior team whereas ours was in disarray.

Have the lads just not made the step up or what has been the problem? I remember ye had some cracking players that day. The corner forward under 13 was definitely one to watch.

The two midfielders, Flynn was one I think, lorded it over Gearoid McKiernan which isn't an easy task.

Stanza2

No 13 that day was Danny Cummins. Still there, had a good campaign last year (him personally, not the team). Not played loads this year due to injury but will do hopefully when the championship starts. He is a good example of management fiddling around, they keep trying new players and never settle on a team, especially in the league. I was amazed Cummins was used as a sub so often this year, he is someone that I expect to fill Meehans and Joyce's boots. Praying that we settle on a team and give them confidence and belief. We never seem to know our best 15.

Lemlin

Stanza2 wrote: »

No 13 that day was Danny Cummins. Still there, had a good campaign last year (him personally, not the team). Not played loads this year due to injury but will do hopefully when the championship starts. He is a good example of management fiddling around, they keep trying new players and never settle on a team, especially in the league. I was amazed Cummins was used as a sub so often this year, he is someone that I expect to fill Meehans and Joyce's boots. Praying that we settle on a team and give them confidence and belief. We never seem to know our best 15.

I thought it was Cummins alright. Did he play against Cork for ye last year? I thought ye had a good team that day. Some goal by Meehan at the end from the penalty. Such a pity the injury problems he has had.

Cummins gave Dara Tighe who was marking him in the U21 final a torrid time. Eventually Tighe went off injured. I don't think he was too worried about trying to stay on!

Stanza2

Some goal alright, especially as it wasn't from a penalty ! A free kick, the whole Cork team were on the line, not just the Goalie

Lemlin

Stanza2 wrote: »

Some goal alright, especially as it wasn't from a penalty ! A free kick, the whole Cork team were on the line, not just the Goalie

Sorry, yep, remember the whole team on the line so couldn't have been a pen.

Diabhal Beag

Gary Sice quit again
https://twitter.com/gsice/status/456907107795996672

MfMan

Ho hum. Don't think he was asked back in the first place, think the panel as a group were against his return. Greg Higgins gone in solidarity too I think.

WallyGUFC

What's that all about?