Galway GAA discussion thread

Borders no.2

Gort v Ballyhale moved to Tullamore on Saturday with a 2.00 throw in. Thurles pitch frozen. Other semi moved to Mullingar, bit of a cock up all round from the GAA in all honesty. Hard to be too optimistic about Gort's chances but hopefully they at least do themselves justice unlike in the 2012 semi-final.

Important game for the footballers, should be a tight one, generally has been between these two teams in the last few years, Westmeath had a good win last weekend but with 3 more home games to come, getting an away win in the bag would put us in a good position to look at promotion in what already looks like a topsy turvy division.

First worthwhile test for the hurlers on Saturday. The competition has little value at the best of times but with KK out it means even less but a win in Croke Park would be a handy confidence boost ahead of the league and the Leinster q/f down the road.

T0001

Walsh Cup Final

Galway 1-22
Dublin 1-20

Fairly good game in general, Padraig Mannion for Galway got a very good point from far out. Good potential shown by Galway from keeping in there and fighting back , and hard luck to Dublin who ran riot early on and never stopped fighting.

*Just a bit of trivia(YAY), the last time Galway won the Walsh Cup (2010), they scored 1-22 to beat Dublin in a Dublin venue!

T0001

Hard luck to Gort today, but in fairness Ballyhale were by far the better side. Much more physical presence on the field plus numerous All-Ireland winners with Kilkenny.

Borders no.2

Nice to get a win in Croke Park and nice to win a tight one for a change. Obviously the cup doesn't mean much when KK unfortunately couldn't participate but a nice confidence booster, especially having been behind for the whole game. Its a big score to concede in the first half, 2nd half 0-8 is much better.

Interested to see how Galway will fare when things step up another couple of levels next Sunday.

Gort did about as well as anyone could have expected, Ballyhale were able to open up the space in Tullamore and stretch the Gort defence. Chance for a goal after ht may have made it interesting but overall Gort not quite at that level. Think Kilmallock can be quietly confident of surprising Ballyhale though.

wonder88

Agree that Gort not at the same level as Ballyhale, so no surprise in today's result.
No harm at all in winning a game (and a cup) at Croke Park for the hurlers as they need all the confidence boosters they can get.
After tonight's results a win tomorrow will leave the footballers as clear leaders of div 2, important they take this opportunity.

Borders no.2

Yessssss!!! Hard fought win for the footballers! Made hard work of it but significant away win. Great to win a tight one for a change! 2 wins from 2 to start. Another win over an out of form Laois at home and promotion will be a real possibility.

Worthwent14

Great win for the footballers. Great to win a tight away game. Sweeney was immense. S Walsh disappointing and we still have no consistent free taker. Fair play to KW hes not afraid to make changes and Hanley made a difference and Breathnach made a brilliant save at a crucial time to keep galway in it. Let's hope they kick on v Laois nxt time out. Forde still suspect at full back maybe corner would suit him better. Hanly still the bet full back at moment

wonder88

Great win in Mullingar, wish I was there as from radio it seemed to have been a good game of football.
Two problems from last sunday still there apparently: free taking and dealing with a high ball into the square.
Yet a good start and 4 pts collected in what looks like being a very tight division.

TCDStudent1

Worthwent14 wrote: »

Great win for the footballers. Great to win a tight away game. Sweeney was immense. S Walsh disappointing and we still have no consistent free taker. Fair play to KW hes not afraid to make changes and Hanley made a difference and Breathnach made a brilliant save at a crucial time to keep galway in it. Let's hope they kick on v Laois nxt time out. Forde still suspect at full back maybe corner would suit him better. Hanly still the bet full back at moment

In fairness, I think Hanley was always gonna be back in the full back position.

Havent seen a lot of Sweeney. Be nice if he is a genuine find. Diarmuid Blake was making the point on GBFM that S. Walsh needs to get on the ball more and do more simple things with it rather than 1 great moment in every game - I guess experience.....

This is a terrific start by Galway & Kevin Walsh. Immediately, the pressure is off as if you lose those first 2 matches, you are looking at relegation. I havent been convinced by the teams he has picked but cant argue with the results.

T0001

A very exciting game of football in terms of suspense, but alot of errors from both sides.

Kick-Outs were an absolute disaster from both sides. Manus Breathnach rectified the problem slightly when he came on but Forde was blasting balls in any random direction. With a mid-field pairing of Flynn and O'Curaoin they are aswell to just chance their arm and let them fight for it. I think too many goalies are confusing the outfield players.

I think Galway missed 4/5 frees (not 100%), at least 2 of which were relatively straight forward.

Westmeath are a good team and no one was surprised yesterday to see them fighting on their home ground.

Shane Walsh had a bad day at the office, but that happens everyone once in a while. He needs to be taken off frees as a few early misses knocked his confidence. Fair play to Kevin Walsh for taking him off, many other manager would have left him on in hope.

I was impressed with the depth of the Galway panel. Anywhere a problem was occuring there seemed to be someone to come in and solve it, even without the Corofin players and some other big names. Hanley at the edge of the square was a great move and it cut out route 1 90% of the time. I'd say he's gonna get no. 3 come championship. Young Sweeney had a great game again today, and today he got the scores to build up his confidence: 1-05 from play is quite a tally. Long may it last!!

4 points on the board after 2 games, first time in 6 years. 2 more points will guarantee security from relegation going by the last few seasons. Before the league I would have said Kildare and Down were favourites to go up with Galway and Meath in the mix. After the first two weeks Galway are now favourites in my eyes to go up, with a toss up for the other position. You'd imagine 9/10 points will be needed to get promoted and with 3 home games left I can't see why we can't get them. Yesterday proved that even with backs to the wall Galway can dig deep and pull it out of the bag. Fair play lads.

Always_Running

I agree Galway look well positioned to finish in the top two and with the Corofin players and comer,Conroy to return Galway should be at their strongest for the final group games.

WallyGUFC

Nice to see a 1 point win rather than a 1 point loss for a change! Laois at home is a huge game now, win that and we're serious promotion candidates. Seems Roscommon are on a steep upward curve too so Connacht Championship should be interesting.

Utopia Parkway

Galway senior football 2015 draw

Tuam Stars v Kilconly
Corofin v Salthill
Annaghdown v Carna/Caiseal
St Micheal's v Cortoon Shamrocks
Caltra v Kilkerrin/Clonberne
An Cheathru Rua v Micheal Breathnach
Caherlistrane v Milltown
Killererin v Naomh Anna
Killanin v Barna
Mountbellew Moylough v St James

Utopia Parkway

Intermediate draw 2015

St Brendans Ballygar v Glenamaddy
Williamstown v Ballinasloe
Oughterard v Moycullen
Dunmore McHales v Menlough
An Spideal v Headford
Oilean Arainn v Monivea
An Fhairce v Claregalway
Corofin v Athenry

T0001

Potentially some good pairing in the Senior draw. Corofin v. Salthill/Knocknacarra could be a good game (he says hopefully). Mountbellew Moylough v. St. James' could be a cracker, both teams are around the same level and could produce some nice football.

Baggy Trousers

Great start by Galway. The Killanin lads are showing the way again

wonder88

Are people giving Corofin much chance tomorrow?
Got my ticket today for the hurling on Sunday, not bad value for tenner but maybe an outlet in town would also help sell more. I am aware than you can buy them on-line as well, but no printer at the moment.

MfMan

wonder88 wrote: »

Are people giving Corofin much chance tomorrow?
Got my ticket today for the hurling on Sunday, not bad value for tenner but maybe an outlet in town would also help sell more. I am aware than you can buy them on-line as well, but no printer at the moment.

PPs are - they have Vincents evens and Corofin 11/10. Lot of neutral interest around the county in the game with a lot of people outside of Corofin considering travelling. For the record, I think they'll do it; they've been as good and as strong as they've ever been during the past 12 months or so.

Borders no.2

I think tomorrow has the potential to be a cracker. While it'd help to get the Corofin lads integrated into the Galway panel, it'd be great to see them go all the way and would give a badly needed shot in the arm to the club game in the county even if they are miles ahead of everyone it'd give others clubs something to strive for. Corofin winning in 98 started things off for Galway and gave everyone a shot of belief, nothing like that will happen this year but it would be a big boost to everyone to see them go all the way.

Hopefully they do get through, I have a season ticket that covers the club finals but wouldn't be too pushed about going if no Galway side involved.

Hurling team for Sunday has a good sprinkling of new players and players in different positions. Personally I could take us struggling in the league if we could find a couple of genuine options for the championship. We need to increase our options if we are to have any ambition come championship time. Missing Canning, Conor Cooney, Cyril Donnellan, David Burke, Johnny Coen, Daithi Burke amongst others. Not sure about full back and centre back and balance at midfield. However, interesting to see how Hanbury, 2 Mannions,Higgins get on, think they all have something to offer. Only 4 there who started in 2012 final I make it

1 Colm Callanan (Kinvara)
2 John Hanbury (Rahoon/Newcastle)
3 Fergal Moore (Turloughmore)
4 Ronan Burke (Turloughmore)
5 Gearoid McInerney (Oranmore/Maree)
6 David Collins (Liam Mellows)
7 Padraig Mannion (Ahascragh/Fohenagh)
8 Iarla Tannian (Ardrahan)
9 Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields)
10 Padraig Breheny (Tynagh/Abbey/Duniry)
11 Jonathan Glynn (Ardrahan)
12 Dean Higgins (Castlegar)
13 James Regan (St. Thomas’)
14 Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkins)
15 Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh/Fohenagh)

Awful turn of events with a Corofin penalty miss turning into a penalty conversion at the other end and a possible 5 point lead turns into a deficit.

Been by far the better team, Vincents lucky to even be in the game never mind leading.

Not sure why they let that lad take penalty, wasn't in the game and was already blocked down from a short 45 as he took an age to kick the ball.

Lundy having a stormer.... He came out of nowhere last year and looks to be one of the best young players in the country now.
Extraordinary.

Utopia Parkway

Lundy is having a stormer. Involved in everything. Hope Corofin don't regret the missed goal chances though. Thought the Vins pen was pretty soft as well.

Utopia Parkway

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Lundy is having a stormer. Involved in everything. Hope Corofin don't regret the missed goal chances though. Thought the Vins pen was pretty soft as well.

Certainly didn't look a yellow to me, looked an honest attempt to block.
Should have been a black card at the other end for the Vin corner back, clearly pulled Sice down from behind.
Cop out by the ref but he's been grand apart from that.

Always_Running

Corofin were 6 points the better side in that half hopefully they don't rue the 3 goal chances missed.

Utopia Parkway

Congrats to Corofin. A big day for them to look forward to. Probably doesn't help Galway's potential promotion push but that's for another day.

TCDStudent1

Terrific performance from Corofin.

Their full forward line were absolutely superb. Need to do a lot of work on their kickouts though. The poor kickouts in the 2nd half could have been costly.

Kristopherus

Great performance by Corofin. Hopefully they can go all the way next month.

Gael85

Great win for Corofin and better team on day. How did referee/umpires miss McGrath handling ball on ground? Should have of been a free in. Corofin were brilliant.Special mention to Michael Lundy and Ian Burke-2 great finishers.

wackokid

Is an outfield player allowed to pick the ball off the ground in the square now?
Do umpires have to be blind to get them white coats?

Apart from that, good win by Corofin..............but but but

Always_Running

Well deserved win for Corofin should have won by more.

jjdonegal

Corofin are a great team to watch. Well deserved victory and I hope you go all the way.

TCDStudent1

It always annoys me so much when I read about Corofin in the national media and they are referred to as a "small rural club". Irish Indeoendent used this term today. Corofin is small village but it is a long way off being a small rural club. Clubs like Cortoon, Killererin, Caltra, Milltown, Kilconly are small rural clubs!

Utopia Parkway

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

It always annoys me so much when I read about Corofin in the national media and they are referred to as a "small rural club". Irish Indeoendent used this term today. Corofin is small village but it is a long way off being a small rural club. Clubs like Cortoon, Killererin, Caltra, Milltown, Kilconly are small rural clubs!

True enough. Corofin are a rural club alright but one with a big pick.

wonder88

Well done Corofin. Good to have a Galway football club in final on St Patricks day.

TCDStudent1

That Corofin full forward line from today could easily end up being the Galway full forward line this year. + Gary Sice in the HF line.

Utopia Parkway

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

That Corofin full forward line from today could easily end up being the Galway full forward line this year. + Gary Sice in the HF line.

Well Paul Conroy is the incumbent full forward and Patrick Sweeney has started the league on fire. And Danny Cummins has played well the first two games as well. Good to have the options available.

MfMan

MfMan wrote: »

PPs are - they have Vincents evens and Corofin 11/10. Lot of neutral interest around the county in the game with a lot of people outside of Corofin considering travelling. For the record, I think they'll do it; they've been as good and as strong as they've ever been during the past 12 months or so.

As predicted, Corofin progress. Rode their luck for spells and went to sleep for a time in the second half, but were the better team and would have had a few more goals with a bit more clinical finishing. Vincent's looked a bit stale towards the end but this is the best Corofin team in a generation, maybe ever. Very few weak links and a lot of football. Probably a bit unfair to say today was the final, but in reality, Corofin's biggest opponents from now on will be complacency.

Not axiomatic that Sice will get straight back on the Galway team; not his best game today, didn't show for the ball enough for my liking when they were under pressure. Ian Burke, Michael Farragher and Liam Silke probably worth a look and Ciaran McGrath won't be far off either.

TCDStudent1

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Well Paul Conroy is the incumbent full forward and Patrick Sweeney has started the league on fire. And Danny Cummins has played well the first two games as well. Good to have the options available.

Yeah, but there is always the possibility of moving Conroy out to midfield..... Also, its very early days for Sweeney - I hope he does not fade away but I wouldn't be slotting him in for a championship place just yet! But I have to say I was really impressed by how the Corofin full forward line linked up today.

I would prefer to see Conroy at no. 14 and Lundy at no. 10 but Lundy was fantastic today. His running at Vincents full back line really created havoc there. Maybe we will see a Galway forward line of:

Lundy
Walsh
Sice
Burke
Conroy
Farragher

That's quite a strong looking forward line.

Borders no.2

Well done to Corofin, had my doubts about them all year but they came up trumps today and were deserving winners. I didn't think they were good enough to win the all-ireland but am happy to say I am wrong, they are plenty good enough to win it, just need to deliver on the day of the final and its there for them. As mentioned above, need to avoid complacency but they have dealt with everything thrown at them this year and would expect them to do so again.

Lundy was very impressive again and will offer a lot to Galway this year. The most thing that impressed me about Corofin was their fitness. It was a full pelt game and you'd have expected some of the Corofin lads to tire but they were still going strong at the end.

One concern I would have from a Corofin and Galway viewpoint is Healy in goal.

T0001

Very good display from Corofin and a good game of football. They were the better team all around. I thought young Silke had a fairly good game on Connolly, kept him quite enough given his sheer class of talent.

I think Galway's prospect in championship is unbelievable with all the players to return. After today Lundy, Sice, both Farragher's and Burke will all be pushing for places in the forwards. Add Paul Conroy into the mix and look at the potential forwards to chose from:

Lundy, Sice, Conroy, Mi Farragher, Ma Farragher, Burke, Walsh, Cummins, Martin, Varley, Sweeney, Denvir, Tierney, Hoare - That's 14 forwards to choose from!!!! All with the ability to take a starting place anyday!!!

I think Silke should get a run in defence, as I said he was good today and has been fairly consistent. Daithí Burke has to come back in after running rings around the field today and will be challenging for a position.

Upwards and Onwards for both Corofin and Galway

24yearslater

Saw that Ian Burke scoring 7 pts in a Connacht u21 final a couple of years ago. He's got serious pace, but hasn't really made the step up to senior IC yet. Looks ready to do so now thou, and Lundy is a serious class act. Showed it last year in spells too. Last time Corofin won out the club (98), Galway won the Al. I'm just saying........

threeball

24yearslater wrote: »

Saw that Ian Burke scoring 7 pts in a Connacht u21 final a couple of years ago. He's got serious pace, but hasn't really made the step up to senior IC yet. Looks ready to do so now thou, and Lundy is a serious class act. Showed it last year in spells too. Last time Corofin won out the club (98), Galway won the Al. I'm just saying........

I don't see Burke being strong enough for IC yet. He probably needs a year or two of strength training to be able to cope with the demands a county standard corner back will place on you. He's not fast enough to do without the strength.
Lundy was the standout player on the pitch today and in a half forward line with walsh and sice they would provide galway with a serious platform. Giz had a very strong game today also and I don't see why he wouldn't be a strong candidate for a county call up also.

Worthwent14

Corofin were impressive while still leaving a lot of scores behind them. The defense was brilliant and strong. All players very strong bringing the ball into contact. Concerned with distribution to the forward line in the 3rd quarter but they rectified the problem. Very well drilled team and are an efficient unit. However Healy in goals didnt inspire confidence. He hit 6 awful kickouts which could have proved costly. They need to rectify this problem for final. Also the lack of a 45 taker was a concern. McGrath and Lundy were excellent

Worthwent14

Based on what I have seen today and from galway last 2 games and considering some injured players, my galway 15 would be:

Breathnach
McGrath Hanley C Sweeney
Bradshaw D Burke Sice
Conroy O Curraoin
Lundy Walsh Farragher
Cummins P Sweeney iBurke

Bench: Donoghue Forde L Silke Duane Fahy Flynn Steede A Varley O Griofa Pvarley Hoare O Donnell

MfMan

Worthwent14 wrote: »

Based on what I have seen today and from galway last 2 games and considering some injured players, my galway 15 would be:

Breathnach
McGrath Hanley C Sweeney
Bradshaw D Burke Sice
Conroy O Curraoin
Lundy Walsh Farragher
Cummins P Sweeney iBurke

Bench: Donoghue Forde L Silke Duane Fahy Flynn Steede A Varley O Griofa Pvarley Hoare O Donnell

Damien Comer? Cathal Mulryan?
Shane Walsh isn't a no. 11.
Duane maybe better bet in corner than Sweeney; not cast-iron that Sice will walk back on team.

seligehgit

T0001 wrote: »

Very good display from Corofin and a good game of football. They were the better team all around. I thought young Silke had a fairly good game on Connolly, kept him quite enough given his sheer class of talent.

I think Galway's prospect in championship is unbelievable with all the players to return. After today Lundy, Sice, both Farragher's and Burke will all be pushing for places in the forwards. Add Paul Conroy into the mix and look at the potential forwards to chose from:

Lundy, Sice, Conroy, Mi Farragher, Ma Farragher, Burke, Walsh, Cummins, Martin, Varley, Sweeney, Denvir, Tierney, Hoare - That's 14 forwards to choose from!!!! All with the ability to take a starting place anyday!!!

I think Silke should get a run in defence, as I said he was good today and has been fairly consistent. Daithí Burke has to come back in after running rings around the field today and will be challenging for a position.

Upwards and Onwards for both Corofin and Galway

Superb performance by Corofin,lots of serious talent there.Michael Lundy is an outstanding footballer.I was similarly impressed with Corofin in their encounter with Ballintubber.

Bodes extremely well for a good championship season for Galway,our trip to Salthill looks increasingly difficult.The Connacht championship looks like it will very competitive with Roscommon's underage talent coming to fruition.

Best of luck to Corofin in the final.

TCDStudent1

MfMan wrote: »

Damien Comer? Cathal Mulryan?
Shane Walsh isn't a no. 11.
Duane maybe better bet in corner than Sweeney; not cast-iron that Sice will walk back on team.

What position do you consider to be his best?

davegrohl48

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

What position do you consider to be his best?

If Shane Walsh isn't capable of playing 11 we should all just pack it in.
Galway have great potential to have a high scoring forward line this summer.

Syferus

A great club team coming back into a senior county team mid-season rarely is the imputieus for great things lads. Trust me, ye'd be in a better place all year if the Corofin lads had been knocked out by Ballintubber in the Connacht final.

Like ourselves ye are still a massive work in progress and nothing is even close to assured.

Just back from the game.

I'd be more worried than happy after that.

First 5/6 minutes were good, getting good ball into the corners to forwards out in front.
Notched a quick 5 points then it regressed from there with spurned goal chances and Flynn hitting 1:4 frees in the first half.

Realistically we should have been out of sight after 20 mins yet found ourselves 2 down with HT approaching.

No ball winners from puck outs again even against a tiny Clare team.
Clare on the other hand managed to hit a lot of easy short ones.
We seem clueless to stop and use the same tactic.

Regan had the miss of the match, similar to C.Cooney in the 2013 Leinster final, he came in off the left, should have went for goal and tried to take a point and missed left, exact same as Cooneys in all aspects.
He looks better than previous years but is still too wasteful, he hit the post with a gather near goal that any top forward is nailing and got blocked in a 2v2 in the 45 when that should be the last thing to happen with all that space.

J.Cooney had a reasonable game, still struggles with ground ball and over cooked a hand pass for our first spurned goal chance and then tried to pull on a shot near the end when 1v1 with the goalie and scuffed it.
He did bag a goal though and was involved a lot.

Pace is still a massive issue.
None of the new additions will address this.
A Clare forward ran from the sideline and got a half sniff at goal due to the slow nature of our team.
There was also another occasion a Clare forward got from one side of the pitch to the other for one of their puck outs that landed in space.

Fortunate to get the points at the end as it came down to Flynn who was having a mare to that point.

Probably the smallest team I've seen in a county game Clare had out, don't think one forward breaks 6".

Seems we're also still rotating forwards, hasn't worked yet and seems ridiculous when ye'r chasing a team late on yet have your best ball winner in midfield while ye aim at Flynn who couldn't out do a lad way smaller than him.