Galway GAA discussion thread

Kkboy

Kilkenny have no problem with it, some of the others would oppose it, but its obviously unfair at this stage.

Fireball07

Conor Whelan is a good player, and Jack Grealish looked lively.


But you offered way too much space to a very talented Limerick attack, and that's just asking for trouble. Last year Galway did a much better job at containing Limerick, who never hit any sort of rhythm... and last year's team wwas possibly as good as this year's.

Kkboy

nootroc wrote: »

Thought some of the Leinster counties vetoed the move at underage.

Sould we have a Galway Colleges team?

The Galway Vocational team which produced some exceptional teams in the 00's pretty much acted as one. Don't believe its as strong now

Borders no.2

Everything I have said above is still I believe true but seeing how Tipp have worked their way back into an All-Ireland final makes the final quarter fade out in Thurles at the start of the qualifiers all the more difficult to take.

Borders no.2

Borders no.2 wrote: »

Everything I have said above is still I believe true but seeing how Tipp have worked their way back into an All-Ireland final makes the final quarter fade out in Thurles at the start of the qualifiers all the more difficult to take.

I agree and disagree with you.

I agree there are problems at underage level and we dont seem to be developing enough players with the key skills needed for senior.

But I believe we're underachieved at senior due to poor management the past two years.

With what we have right now, they are as good as whats around..if we were talking pre2012 KK then that would be a diff case.
Tipp steamrolled everyone since Galway and I saw nothing to think we'dif have came up short if the opposition performances had been identical... Johnny Glynn would have done similar and Cork would have had no answer.

The problem is AC has completely neglected using nippy wide players to compliment are strong spine.
If we had Corks wide players and our spine it would make some team.

In the short term we just need someone to come in and make a system around JC and JG and there ability to require doubling... This involves fast forwards and not trying to use slow players like Flynn, Mannion, N Burke, D Burke around the two aforementioned.

Take Cooney, Canning and Glynn... Play Canning and Glynn either CF and FF switching neither of them anywhere but those two slots and look to fill the other positions with fast players who can make it first to the breaks they'll create and find the spaces out wide.
If he'd stay on Hayes filled this role for years before AC decided to never use him there... Maybe try out Whelan in the other corner if no suitable player from a higher age meets the same qualities.

One down, one to go...

Mulholland has departed at his own request.

Haven't a link, being on the phone, but the Galway Advertiser and Galway GAA have the statement on Facebook.

Just need AC to follow now.

Diabhal Beag

He was a decent manager that didn't have the talent that most of the previous flops had in the last 10 years. To take a team from losing to Antrim to getting to an All-Ireland Quarter Final (don't buy that Tipp are a nothing side like most have said) is good going. But he has left at a good time for both himself and the side. You could foresee the slating he was going to get for the League form next year already.

Hope the apparent expenses issues are sorted because we need a happy camp and guys like Sice and Concannon back.

gammygils

Who's next lads? Kevin Walsh?

WallyGUFC

What has Kevin Walsh done to show he's capable of managing us? Not much in my opinion, yet loads of people seem to think he's the man for the job. To be honest if Mulholland was willing to stay on I'd have given him another year, although his lack of any defensive plan whatsoever was worrying.

At least we've been in Croker the last 2 years and got used to the place again. Whoever the manager is, I hope he's in early and puts the team on a serious conditioning plan and toughens them up mentally. Too many soft lads in that team.

MfMan

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

He was a decent manager that didn't have the talent that most of the previous flops had in the last 10 years. To take a team from losing to Antrim to getting to an All-Ireland Quarter Final (don't buy that Tipp are a nothing side like most have said) is good going. But he has left at a good time for both himself and the side. You could foresee the slating he was going to get for the League form next year already.

Hope the apparent expenses issues are sorted because we need a happy camp and guys like Sice and Concannon back.

I'd agree. A pleasant man who did his best but came up short. Perhaps nothing became him like the start he made when they beat a fancied Derry side away in the league opener in '12, it never really got any better than that. Was too loyal to certain players and lost some important others in a way that, for e.g. O'Mahony wouldn't have allowed. Now is the time to get a really shrewd operator in and develop what's there; perhaps Mayo trainer Donie Buckley could be persuaded to come on board next year, a very good man by all accounts.

As an aside, the Minor manager needs to be changed also. Their loss in Tuam to Mayo a few weeks ago is looking more unforgivable with each passing day and is arguably the worst of all Galway c'ship defeats this year.

spiritcrusher

I don't think Kevin Walsh is the man to take on the seniors yet, he hasn't really done much of note other than beat Galway with Sligo. Was a little lucky to beat St. James's a few weeks ago too I felt, but I'd like to see how he does with Breathnach's for a couple of years before giving him a shot at the county team.
No idea who's out there to take the team over though. It really isn't a bad looking job, a young team with experience in Croke Park who've shown flashes of real potential but lacking a bit of toughness and bite in defence. If the county board could get themselves in organised (no chance of that sadly) you'd imagine they should be able to attract a good manager.

Utopia Parkway

WallyGUFC wrote: »

What has Kevin Walsh done to show he's capable of managing us? Not much in my opinion, yet loads of people seem to think he's the man for the job. To be honest if Mulholland was willing to stay on I'd have given him another year, although his lack of any defensive plan whatsoever was worrying.

Well it's been made quite clear that a Galway man will be the next manager (probably because the county board don't have a pot to piss in).

That makes it a pretty short list of potential candidates.

Always_Running

MfMan wrote: »

I'd agree. A pleasant man who did his best but came up short. Perhaps nothing became him like the start he made when they beat a fancied Derry side away in the league opener in '12, it never really got any better than that. Was too loyal to certain players and lost some important others in a way that, for e.g. O'Mahony wouldn't have allowed. Now is the time to get a really shrewd operator in and develop what's there; perhaps Mayo trainer Donie Buckley could be persuaded to come on board next year, a very good man by all accounts.

As an aside, the Minor manager needs to be changed also. Their loss in Tuam to Mayo a few weeks ago is looking more unforgivable with each passing day and is arguably the worst of all Galway c'ship defeats this year.

The worst was against leitrim in the U21 championship. At least Mayo minors won connacht and have a decent chance to defend their AI title.

Always_Running

spiritcrusher wrote: »

I don't think Kevin Walsh is the man to take on the seniors yet, he hasn't really done much of note other than beat Galway with Sligo. Was a little lucky to beat St. James's a few weeks ago too I felt, but I'd like to see how he does with Breathnach's for a couple of years before giving him a shot at the county team.
No idea who's out there to take the team over though. It really isn't a bad looking job, a young team with experience in Croke Park who've shown flashes of real potential but lacking a bit of toughness and bite in defence. If the county board could get themselves in organised (no chance of that sadly) you'd imagine they should be able to attract a good manager.

Also bet Mayo and promoted Sligo to div 2 one year he also won junior AI with Sligo.

Borders no.2

For me Mulholland's time in charge was at best mixed but to give him his due he came into it at a difficult time and helped to manage the transition somewhat. He blooded a lot of new players (some others fell through the cracks) and in fairness the younger players seemed to play for him.

I also respect him for taking a stand against the lads drinking. Losing Duane and Concannon was a blow, Duane especially given the defensive woes but this sort of f##king around has been going on in Galway for too long. For me it was better to lay down the law and let lads know that you are either committed to the cause fully or not at all.

Having said that I think our style of play was very naive and there seemed to be a few players who were un-droppable or kept re-appearing despite failing time and again. In terms of conditioning and professionalism we were miles behind. He probably didn't have the resources other counties had but all the same I think we didn't make the sort of progress we needed in terms of defensive setup and in the forwards the movement was non-existent.

I suppose its a case of be careful what you wish for though. I don't think we could have progressed much further under him given our style of play, lack of conditioning etc. but who will improve things? Not sold on Kevin Walsh as of yet but had some good days in charge of Sligo and seems to be doing well with Micheal Breathnachs.

Don't really see anyone else within the county for another few years at least. Looking outside, who is gettable and who would help us adapt to the modern game while not losing our strengths? There are candidates out there but doubt we'll be in a position to look too far from home.

Whoever comes in the setup has to get more professional and we need to give this panel every chance of closing the gap and in time competing against the top teams.

O.A.P

Kevin Walsh is the best we can hope for and I hope he wants it.
A,M was not a bad manager at all, he brought us on a lot after some dour managers (Liam Salmon excluded ) but he has had enough so I cant blame him for leaving.
I hope they give Walsh a shot at it, better than any mercenary and we cant afford one anyway

Fr Tod Umptious

Galway have a big opportunity here and a big decision to make.

They need a man who has the head for a professional setup that can bring this team to the next level and improve them over the next few years.

They have been to CP twice now in as many years, going one step further this year than last, and regardless of the final score v Kerry it was a huge learning experience.
I would see it as similar to Mayo's situation in 2011.

Connaught will be a bit more open next year and Galway would play Mayo at home of they meet, so the opportunity to win Connaught band get beyond a QF is very much there.

But they need a professional guy who will develop them just like the likes of Mayo, Donegal and Dublin have developed in the past few years.

I don't know who that person is, but he's not Kevin Walsh or an out of county mercenary.

manofwisdom

Looks like Walsh...

Cosmo Kramer

I don't have any insight into the inner workings of Galway football and maybe there's a man in there for the job that I have never heard of, but looking in from the outside the only obvious candidate is Walsh and I'd be amazed if they went for anyone else that is known outside the county. For what it's worth I think Walsh is underrated and the quality of the Sligo team he managed is massively overrated. He took them about as far as anyone could have done, although they left a Connacht title behind them in 2010 by losing to a poor Roscommon side.

Utopia Parkway

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

I don't have any insight into the inner workings of Galway football and maybe there's a man in there for the job that I have never heard of, but looking in from the outside the only obvious candidate is Walsh and I'd be amazed if they went for anyone else that is known outside the county. For what it's worth I think Walsh is underrated and the quality of the Sligo team he managed is massively overrated. He took them about as far as anyone could have done, although they left a Connacht title behind them in 2010 by losing to a poor Roscommon side.

Walsh might not be a bad appointment but only if he gets the proper help with his backroom team. All the top teams (Dublin, Donegal, Mayo ,Kerry, etc) have a top quality strength and conditioning coach, a top class football coach, nutritionists and even a sports psychologist. Remains to be seen whether the Galway county board are willing to shell out for all that. I doubt it somehow but that's what you have to do these days to compete with counties which have virtually professional set ups.

spiritcrusher

Were Mullholland's backroom team that poorly resourced?? Surely they had a nutritionist/dietician and a sport's psychologist coming in? FFS my local club has those coming in every so often.
I've been reading bits about some "mountain south" debacle that the hurling board financed before football and hurling were merged into one and now the footballers are basically being punished financially as it was a total bust. Anyone know what happened there?

Diabhal Beag

It was the land out in Athenry for the hurling centre of excellence IIRC and it was a complete disaster unsurprisingly. The land is worth ****eall now.

TCDStudent1

Find it hard to understand why people are so hard on Walsh. Like, he managed Sligo, what did ye expect him to achieve with them? Thought he did quite well with them overall. He probably has more inter-county management experience that anybody else who would like the job. Not sure he is the right guy for the job but struggle to understand how so many posters think he is not.

Or maybe Horan will lose the AI final with Mayo this year, quit the Mayo job, take the Galway job and win an All-Ireland with us next year!

blowitupref

Cosmo Kramer wrote: »

I don't have any insight into the inner workings of Galway football and maybe there's a man in there for the job that I have never heard of, but looking in from the outside the only obvious candidate is Walsh and I'd be amazed if they went for anyone else that is known outside the county. For what it's worth I think Walsh is underrated and the quality of the Sligo team he managed is massively overrated. He took them about as far as anyone could have done, although they left a Connacht title behind them in 2010 by losing to a poor Roscommon side.

In fairness that Roscommon side got close to winning back to back titles in 2011. Eamon O Hara had the opinion that Sligo also left a Connacht title behind them in 2012 however Sligo were very inconsistent under Kevin Walsh they were able to beat Mayo,Galway almost beat Kerry away or lose to the likes of leitrim,Wicklow,London.

Galway with the talent they have available to them (pick of two u21 AI winning teams) should be top eight at least and it should be attractive post for any keen manager.

Diabhal Beag

I learned that Shane Moloney is still eligible for U-21's and he starts tonight. Here's the side:

1. Shane Mannion (Clarinbridge)
2. Dara Donohue (Kilnadeema Leitrim)
3. John Hanbury (Rahoon/Newcastle)
4. Paul Killeen (Tynagh Abbey-Duniry)
5. Barry Keane (Clarinbridge)
6. Dean Higgins (Castlegar)
7. Adrian Tuohy (Beagh)
8. Cormac Diviney (Ardrahan)
9. Eanna Burke (St. Thomas)
10. Padraic Brehony (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry)
11. Shane Moloney (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry)
12. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh/Fohenagh)
13. Darragh Dolan (Cappataggle)
14. Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan)
15. Jason Flynn (Tommie Larkins)

Diabhal Beag

Galway one up at HT 1:14 to 1:13

Super game so far. Brehony, Moloney and Glynn have been excellent but very suspect at HB. Guiney looks dangerous whenever a ball is knocked into him.

Borders no.2

Lively game so far. Johnny Glynn has started to come into the game, Padraig Brehony has showed very well. Cathal Mannion has done well in patches but defensively Galway look a bit of a shambles. Wexford have some classy forwards but really their scores are coming far too easy in many cases. The goal was very poor defensively.

Don't know does it matter hugely who comes through this as can see neither backline containing Clare in the final but a win would be a welcome boost all the same.

Earlier in the day, the ladies footballers had a good win over Monaghan, started slowly but came into the game well and finished strongly. Some of the younger players look top quality. Don't know will they win the All-Ireland this year but at least they avenged their defeat to the same opponents last year which should give them confidence ahead of the semi-final.

Diabhal Beag

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Galway one up at HT 1:14 to 1:13

Super game so far. Brehony, Moloney and Glynn have been excellent but very suspect at HB. Guiney looks dangerous whenever a ball is knocked into him.

I got out of jail bet wise going HT-FT, took 4 points in 3 mins to creep over... Yikes.

Brehony having a stormer but we saw flashes of that potential this year in senior.

Glynn killing them in the air... Ffs you wouldn't think it would take a genius to build a plan around that with the added bonus of having JC too who's capable of likewise.... Shouldn't be hard to get a competitive senior team with that as a starting point, certainly should be better than solitary Laois wins over 2 yrs which needed luck in themselves.

Utopia Parkway

Both set of backs look poor although I think Galway's look slightly worse. Might be enough to swing the game Wexford's way despite Brehony's heroics.

And is it just me or does Kirwan seem to be giving Wexford frees a lot easier?

Diabhal Beag

Eanna Burke is having a nightmare

What a rubbish second half, the decision making, execution and control from most of the players was rubbish.
Jack Carr gets a chance to win it and instead of advancing the ball a few feet before striking he just hit it tamely straight away.

Ffs what a farce of a year in the small ball.

Take the seniors out of that team and theyd have struggled against most.
Flynn from the seniors was woeful though.

Borders no.2

First of all fair play to Wexford, an up and coming side and that win meant a lot to them.

From a Galway point of view, shambolic final 22-23 minutes for Galway. Something like 2 points scored and completely lost our shape. Started the 2nd half well and looked in a good position but as usual with Galway in all codes instead of driving on, we started messing around, missing silly chances and giving up handy frees to bring Wexford into it. As the half progressed we completely lost our shape and started taking pot shots from out the field. Was critical of the backs in the first half but they did as much as they could in the 2nd half. Bad decision making, loss of shape and key players going missing really cost us.

There needs to be a massive change in Galway hurling over the winter, seniors, intermediates and u21 all melted from strong positions when in control and the minor side was the worst I've ever seen representing Galway. This isn't meant to diss anyone's time or effort but this fluting around can't continue. More and more sides are passing us out. Galway hammered a lot of this Wexford side at minor a couple of years back. Wexford are a good side but I reckon Clare will blow them out of the water which really shows how far back Galway are when a number of this team are in or around our senior team.

Things are only going to get worse if radical changes are not made from the top down in the coming months. I know in my heart and soul we are in for more of the same old sh1t for the coming years though.

MfMan

Diabhal Beag wrote: »

Eanna Burke is having a nightmare

More and more I'm starting to get fed up of the Thomas' lads, they look soft and seem to play for themselves. Burke came more into the match in the second half but spoiled his work with stupid snatched wides. A lot of the Senior lads, bar Jason Flynn, showed well and the defence got better and better as the game went on. Hanbury in particular has been playing good hurling this year and could be the makings of a good 'un if he's brought along properly. A couple of silly, messing-about mistakes cost us points against a sharp Wexford attack and the goalie looked dodgy. Have to say too that Cathal Mannion looks the real deal; skillful, two-sided, quick and most importantly has the composure to make the correct use of possession, whether it's scoring or a pass to a teammate in space. I hope he'll be a mainstay for us in midfield for the next decade.

As much as anything, it was probably the extra games that pulled WX through.

T0001

Impressed with Johnny Glynn in the Half-Forward line. If he had some decent runners would be dangerous.

Mountainlad

Anthony Daly has stepped down as Dublin manager and rumours he could be on his way to Gaillimh.

There is the makings of a good team in Galway, but ye need to find a settled full back and center back. At least youth got a chance this year. Get rid of David Collins, his day is done. I think some good defensive coaching is required. Ye need at least one more midfielder too.

But there is plenty of potential up the other end, it's a case of coaxing the best out of them. Would be nice to see ye win something, would rather see Galway win then Clare (and the big 3 unquestionably) especially if Daly was in charge.

galwaylad14

Mountainlad wrote: »

Anthony Daly has stepped down as Dublin manager and rumours he could be on his way to Gaillimh.

There is the makings of a good team in Galway, but ye need to find a settled full back and center back. At least youth got a chance this year. Get rid of David Collins, his day is done. I think some good defensive coaching is required. Ye need at least one more midfielder too.

But there is plenty of potential up the other end, it's a case of coaxing the best out of them. Would be nice to see ye win something, would rather see Galway win then Clare (and the big 3 unquestionably) especially if Daly was in charge.

I'm not 100% convinced about Daly but I really don't think Cunningham is up to the job so for that reason I'd be happy to give daly a chance.
We have a decent enough core group of players I'd say but we defintley aren't quiet good enough and even our much vaunted underage success had dried up a lot over the past couple of years.

However daly did decently with Dublin and I really think we have better hurlers than them so who knows what daly might be able to do with us.

Also I'm going to presume you don't watch much Galway hurling games if you hold that opinion on Collins? Or if you do watch them then you don't really have a great knowledge of the game.

Collins has been consistently a very solid performer for us over the years and in the year just gone he was again one of our most dependable players. I guarantee that if we can reach a stage where we have 6 backs better than Collins then we'll be very close to winning that all Ireland. That man has at least 2 more years in him in the county jersey

Mountainlad

galwaylad14 wrote: »

I'm not 100% convinced about Daly but I really don't think Cunningham is up to the job so for that reason I'd be happy to give daly a chance.
We have a decent enough core group of players I'd say but we defintley aren't quiet good enough and even our much vaunted underage success had dried up a lot over the past couple of years.

However daly did decently with Dublin and I really think we have better hurlers than them so who knows what daly might be able to do with us.

Also I'm going to presume you don't watch much Galway hurling games if you hold that opinion on Collins? Or if you do watch them then you don't really have a great knowledge of the game.

Collins has been consistently a very solid performer for us over the years and in the year just gone he was again one of our most dependable players. I guarantee that if we can reach a stage where we have 6 backs better than Collins then we'll be very close to winning that all Ireland. That man has at least 2 more years in him in the county jersey

Lad, he was about 20 yards off his man time and again versus Kilkenny the firs day.

Daly did a great job with his own County and a team I wouldn't have considered great myself either. Think he can certainly improve Galway and he'd be a manager who I would consider capable of winning an all ireland, it will be a real indicator I think if Galway have the players.

galwaylad14

Mountainlad wrote: »

Lad, he was about 20 yards off his man time and again versus Kilkenny the firs day.

Daly did a great job with his own County and a team I wouldn't have considered great myself either. Think he can certainly improve Galway and he'd be a manager who I would consider capable of winning an all ireland, it will be a real indicator I think if Galway have the players.

Anyone can have a bad day but I guarantee you we've a lot bigger problems than Davey Collins.

It looks like it's daly now anyways so we'll just have to see how it goes. His Dublin teams generally were strong in the air, very physically strong and generally played with a fairly defensive approach.
Now how much of that is down to his own personal philosophy and how much is down to it being a case of that it was just down to the players he had available is hard to know.

The dubs were defintley better than us in those 3 areas but I feel we have better forwards than then aswell as just having more skilful players overall, so if he can bring the strengths of his Dublin teams to us then we could be on to a winner but that's a huge if

galwaylad14

Mountainlad wrote: »

Lad, he was about 20 yards off his man time and again versus Kilkenny the firs day.

Daly did a great job with his own County and a team I wouldn't have considered great myself either. Think he can certainly improve Galway and he'd be a manager who I would consider capable of winning an all ireland, it will be a real indicator I think if Galway have the players.

Anyone can have a bad day but I guarantee you we've a lot bigger problems than Davey Collins.

It looks like it's daly now anyways so we'll just have to see how it goes. His Dublin teams generally were strong in the air, very physically strong and generally played with a fairly defensive approach.
Now how much of that is down to his own personal philosophy and how much is down to it being a case of that it was just down to the players he had available is hard to know.

The dubs were defintley better than us in those 3 areas but I feel we have better forwards than then aswell as just having more skilful players overall, so if he can bring the strengths of his Dublin teams to us then we could be on to a winner but that's a huge if

h2005

Mountainlad wrote: »

Anthony Daly has stepped down as Dublin manager and rumours he could be on his way to Gaillimh.

There is the makings of a good team in Galway, but ye need to find a settled full back and center back. At least youth got a chance this year. Get rid of David Collins, his day is done. I think some good defensive coaching is required. Ye need at least one more midfielder too.

But there is plenty of potential up the other end, it's a case of coaxing the best out of them. Would be nice to see ye win something, would rather see Galway win then Clare (and the big 3 unquestionably) especially if Daly was in charge.

Funny time to single Collins out. The season gone was one of his best in a Galway jersey.

citykat

h2005 wrote: »

Funny time to single Collins out. The season gone was one of his best in a Galway jersey.

I'd second that. I saw him play four times against KK this year and he played well in all four.

threeball

How is it that we have the shillings to fork out for Daly yet don't have a penny for the footballers even though it was the hurling board who ****ed our finances. We don't even need to change the hurling manager right now.

threeball

How is it that we have the shillings to fork out for Daly yet don't have a penny for the footballers even though it was the hurling board who ****ed our finances. We don't even need to change the hurling manager right now.

threeball

How is it that we have the shillings to fork out for Daly yet don't have a penny for the footballers even though it was the hurling board who ****ed our finances. We don't even need to change the hurling manager right now.

threeball

How is it that we have the shillings to fork out for Daly yet don't have a penny for the footballers even though it was the hurling board who ****ed our finances. We don't even need to change the hurling manager right now.

Diabhal Beag

We don't and that's why Cunningham gets another year IMO. There'd be war (well, more than usual)if the footballers get undercut again despite making more progress than the hurlers on the big stage.

h2005

I'd imagine any outside manager brought in (in either code) will be paid for mostly by a supporters trust or wealthy supporters not by the county board.

Diabhal Beag

Hopefully the Comer brothers have a fondness for Iarla Tannian :pac:

Utopia Parkway

h2005 wrote: »

I'd imagine any outside manager brought in (in either code) will be paid for mostly by a supporters trust or wealthy supporters not by the county board.

Tasty and tempting.

I said

After that game today how far behind are the hurlers