Galway V Kerry, SFC Quarter Final, Croke Park, Sunday 3rd August 2pm. RTÉ 2

Lapin

V


Hard to believe its six years since these two sides last met in the championship, with Kerry finishing five points to the good at the same stage in the competition back in 2008.

They return to HQ as favourites having seen off Cork by double scores in the Munster decider four weeks ago. Galway haven’t won in Croke Park since they lifted the Sam Maguire there in 2001. Having won two, lost and drawn one all Ireland in the space of three years no one could have predicted the famine that was to follow. But, after 13 years in the wilderness, a new confidence is slowly creeping back into Galway football. No one is getting ahead of themselves here and there is general agreement that the last eight is about where Galway belong at the moment. The expectation is that this team will go forwards rather than backwards in the next couple of years and people are patient.

Galway have been impressive up front this year with a tally of 7-66 in four games, but they have also been guilty of leaving the door open at the other end of the pitch by leaking 7-44, (four of those goals conceded against Tipp in the second half last time out). On their day, Galway are capable of creating an upset and the potential is there in this team. But it may still take a year or two for them to gather the consistency required to make serious claim against the big teams.

So, being realistic, I expect Kerry to win but I’m hoping to see something in Galway to prove that the revival that began last year is still on, and leave Croke Park with the confidence that there is something to build on.


Galway line out with the same 15 that started against Tipp last week, while the Munster Champions make one change to the side that beat Cork with Dingle’s Michael Geaney coming in for Stephen O’Brien (quad strain).

Galway team: Tomás Healy, Donal O'Neill, Finian Hanley, Joss Moore; Gareth Bradshaw, Gary O'Donnell, Paul Varley; Fiontáin Ó Curraoin, Tom Flynn; Michael Lundy, Shane Walsh, James Kavanagh; Michéal Martin, Paul Conroy, Danny Cummins.

Kerry team: Brian Kelly; Marc Ó Sé, Aidan O'Mahony, Shane Enright; Paul Murphy, Killian Young, Fionn Fitzgerald; Anthony Maher, Bryan Sheehan; Michael Geaney, Johnny Buckley, Donnchadh Walsh; Paul Geaney, Declan O'Sullivan, James O'Donoghue.


Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois).


Odds: Kerry 2/9, Draw 12/1, Galway 4/1.

thelad95

More shooting practice for James O'Donoghue methinks. In saying that, I think this will be a lot closer than some people say. Kerry weren't tested by Cork and were given a real fright by Clare so where are they really at? We may not even find out tomorrow.

Chancer3001

Not on sky no?

I'm abroad and would love to watch it. Not sure how

seanhynes

Chancer3001 wrote: »

Not on sky no?

I'm abroad and would love to watch it. Not sure how

Vipbox will have it listed on a stream if u check that site out,failing that from sport.com

Chancer3001

I'm on a feckin iPad so streaming is probably out of the question....

The_Honeybadger

Hoping the kingdom can continue the form they showed against cork, unlikely so I'd settle for a three point win. Galway are capable of causing an upset but I can't see it. Should be a good entertaining game.

Lapin

Kavanagh is a huge loss.

Utopia Parkway

Lapin wrote: »

Kavanagh is a huge loss.

Yeah after a slow start he was just beginning to play well for Galway.

Say Your Number

Galway should be a few points at this stage

The White Feather

Galway have missed four shots but seem to be playing better than Kerry at the moment.

They just missed another one!

Lapin

Five wides.

Settle in lads.

Slattsy

5 wides after 7 minutes - shocking kicking from Galway.

Lapin

Varley FFS :mad:

Utopia Parkway

Galway have had all the play the first 10 minutes but Kerry have 0-3 from 3 attacks.

aveytare

Noice

Lapin

There it goes.

Harry Angstrom

The Kerrymen have woken up.

The White Feather

Have you ever noticed that some refs will always give a free to the player in possession when he is crowded out and others give the free to the crowd of players? This ref gave it to the player in possession.

it seems to happen in Hurling too. Seems to just depend on the ref in which way it goes

A goal now for Kerry!

Say Your Number

Great goal

Galway should have been 4 points up now they're getting hammered

Slattsy

Kerry always come alive in Croker, really dont know why anyone expected different.

Say Your Number

He showed Galway a bit of mercy there

CurryFlavoured

Jim O'D is something else. Best forward in the country right now, he has absolutely everything in his locker. Galway are making the same mistake as Cork leaving the defender 1v1 with him, I don't think any corner back can mark him 1 v 1 on current form.

The White Feather

Say Your Number wrote: »

He showed Galway a bit of mercy there

Mercy is for the weak! :pac:

Lapin

Jesus Christ.

Ball off the post and two Galwaymen nearly give it away between them.

h2005

This is very embarrassing for Galway. Could break all records here.

Amprodude

What is the score lads?

Say Your Number

Lovely point

Wonder will Galway at least show a bit of pride at this stage

Utopia Parkway

Amprodude wrote: »

What is the score lads?

1-5 to 0-1

The White Feather

Amprodude wrote: »

What is the score lads?

Kerry 1-5 Galway 0-1

They finally scored after 18 mins!

Lapin

Point number one.

At 18:42.

Christ.

aveytare

Galway are underachieving here I think, Kerry have been good but not remarkably so. Then again they haven't had to be great.

Utopia Parkway

Say Your Number wrote: »

Lovely point

Wonder will Galway at least show a bit of pride at this stage

Nothing to do with pride. Mulholland just hasn't a clue how to set a team up tactically.

Amprodude

The White Feather wrote: »

Kerry 1-5 Galway 0-1

They finally scored after 18 mins!

Christ its almost game over.

CurryFlavoured

Galway very poor all around but their forward line is up to nothing.

Kerry impressive though. It's looking more and more like Dub v Ker part (ii) in September.

K-9

Galway giving the perfect example of how not to start a game against Kerry.

h2005

Amprodude wrote: »

Christ its almost game over.

No almost about it. Game over.

Amprodude

Mayo could have something to play in that yet.

Lapin

K-9 wrote: »

Galway giving the perfect example of how not to start a game against Kerry anybody.

FYP.

umop.episdn

Outplayed, outthought & outfought at the moment

The White Feather

K-9 wrote: »

Galway giving the perfect example of how not to start a game against Kerry.

They actually are playing well enough just not scoring. Have to take your chances against a good team like Kerry.

Kerry look like they will be able to get more goals unless Galway defence tightens up

CurryFlavoured

Galway's wastefulness is killing them again. They haven't been that far behind Kerry on balance but their forward line is useless like they were against Mayo. Kerry have been impressive but they haven't had to be that good at all.

Amprodude

As expected really.

CurryFlavoured

The shot selection by Galway is hideous. Their inside forwards aren't moving at all though.

Utopia Parkway

Why are Galway trying to kick points from all angles? Terrible shot selection considering they are getting plenty of ball.

CurryFlavoured

Again with the crazy shots. This is ridiculous, work the ball in for feck sake.

Lapin

Ah Jesus Christ almighty this is getting ridiculous now. :mad:

Dirty Dingus McGee

Galways shooting is disgracefully bad.

Slattsy

Worst display from a forward line i've seen in along while.

Kerry defenders are like animals!

Utopia Parkway

Galway need to get runners coming through at pace to beat the Kerry blanket. So far they are just trying to shoot from ridiculous distances and angles.

Ompala

10 wides in 28 mins, bloody hell!

Harry Angstrom

K-9 wrote: »

Galway giving the perfect example of how not to start a game against Kerry.

They've been using Cork as their role models....