Galway GAA Discussion Thread #2

Joyce has been a massive let down. Came in based on the way he'd the u20s playing but reverted eventually to the style under Walsh, slow, ponderous stuff. What happened his line about nothing travelling faster than the ball?

He also seems to distance himself a bit from taking the flak. Saying he told the team at halftime to go out and manage the game. He's implying they didn't and that's why they lost. Id believe there was hardly a tactic discussed because Galway didn't change anything in the second half when the tide was turning.

You'd wonder what the players think when he's in front of a mic laying blame publicly at their feet

Btw Michael Farragher was a strange one on the subs bench, he hadnt played for us since early 19, where was he sprung from?? lasted ten minutes Red.. Then down 5 down Duane a great oul servant but a defender replaces Walshe, Tomo Culhane wasn't named in the subs (yes I know hes young)... PJ puts serious pressure on the lads tellin them to go and manage the game, shur thats his job.... A great player but promoted far too soon to the management side imv, doesn't have a managers brain yet imhv and surrounded by too many yes-men in his backroom team and it pains me to say that

In fairness to Joyce he has introduced alot of young players. I think he's been a bit unlucky with the two covid seasons. He deserves another, anyway who would you replace him with. The county board are a pack of wasters and have squandered any resources we had, only for supermac we would be up **** creek.

I cant see how you can attribute anything we've seen to Covid. There isnt even a semblance of a plan. Lockdowns could have been time to sit down and analyse what game plan suits, how to develop it and also a kickout strategy. Its obvious none of this was done. Another year is just another wasted year.

PJ was lucky to have worked with a very good manager in his first year playing IC. Shane Walsh and Sean Kelly haven't worked with one yet.

Tough watch in 2nd half for Galway. Based on what I’ve seen in the last 2 Connaught finals you just don have good enough players, half fit Walsh and Comer aside. In terms of speed strength stamina skill and shooting ability mayo are a level above most of those Galway players. I wouldn’t fault their effort or commitment but once a bit of tiredness kicks you can see a big difference between a good team and an ordinary team, which unfortunately is what Galway are at the moment. Maybe there’s untapped talent there. I hope you find it, but maybe Walsh knew what he had to deal with and set up accordingly. As hard as it was to watch he did get them competitive for a couple of years. I think the hammering by Tipp in 2016 made him realise your defenders just aren’t good enough to go msn to man.

It's nowhere near the worst Mayo team in 20 years. This team is still a lot better than the ones that got to the finals in 2004 and 2006 never mind the teams in the late 2000's that got beaten by Sligo and Longford.

Galway were bad and I think it's time for PJ to go. As a Mayo man I genuinely feared what he could do with this Galway team but his reputation as a player seems to have got him the gig. Tactically he's not good enough and he seems to have fallen out with a good few on the panel. I believe Galway have a very good team and have been playing well below themselves for some time now.

The loss of Sean Kelly was a huge blow, he has previously matched up to Aidan O Shea and I believe would have not given him the same room in around the box. He was also missing in terms of his ability to make runs into the Mayo defence and put them on the back foot. Finnerty was a loss to a lesser extent. I don't think you can underestimate the impact the off the ball tackle had on Shay Walsh, it basically took him out of the game. He passed Aidan O Shea like he wasn't there a short time earlier for galways second goal and Mayo weren't going to let it happen again. It's shocking that 7 officials cannot or choose not to see it. All in all we were within 3 points with a few minutes to go and only scored 3 in the second half. I think the most thing we lacked yesterday was a bit of cuteness. Mayo have learned that from the dubs throughout all their losses.

He looked brilliant against Roscommon. When I see the likes of Murphy and o Connor taking them from the hands despite being good off the ground it makes me think it’s a better way to go. I just feel more confident when I see a forward taking frees and penalties. Ps don’t need reminding about Murphys miss last week :(

Galways major problem is that they don't bring anywhere near the same aggression to the table as Mayo.

It would be good for the game if Galway progressed but despite all the wins of late v Mayo they've all been in Connacht. When it comes to the business end Mayo are always there. They have flaws but especially since Horans first stint they bring war with them.

Galway Football seems to lack that mentality.

You'd have to wonder what the management in both codes are at. They're certainly not getting the best out of the talent available. Defeats are fine, but, it's the manner of the defeats that are really disappointing and no real progress or semblance of a game plan being put in place.

PJ will probably get another season based on his playing career more than his management, it'll be another wasted year and we'll be in a similar position this time next year. PJ doesn't seem to have any type of gameplan and the team are lacking fitness and conditioning and no real fight in them when the going gets tough. Other than Dublin and Kerry, Galway have as much talent as any other county, but, haven't got near playing to their potential in the last few years.

SoN should be gone after Saturday's display, he's been a total disaster, after the insipid display against Dublin you'd at least expect the team to be fired up for the beginning of the match, instead they were an absolute shambles, game over after less than 30 mins. On championship form Galway would be ranked 9th of the main contenders, behind both Dublin and Wexford. Given the talent available in the county that's shocking. We've had more success ar underage than most of our rivals and doing nothing with it. Certain players seem undroppable regardless how poorly they consistently perform, despite better options sitting on the bench. Again no real gameplan, listless, flat performances and seem to surrender at first opportunity.

Seems to be a common problem amongst Galway teams that they give up easy

Very decent listen in spite of the sound quality.

Post match analysis:

Shane Stapleton in conversation with Kevin Walsh.

As an outsider there is no doubt there is ample talent in Galway Walsh,Comer,Conroy,the Dalys,Cooke,Finnerty,young Tierney and the Kellys.

Kieran Molloy potentially can go to the next level although he needs to demonstrating it.

James McLaughlin and Tomo Culhane are exceptional young footballers.

Hence it perplexes me greatly why Galway have failed to achieve more.

There has been an issue with your number one position and a functional kickout strategy and the various other elements key to goalkeeping.

We've had our issues there too.

Defensively you have not produced the same amount of teak tough operators as swashbuckling forwards.

There is no reason I can think of why the Galway team's strength and conditioning should not be at a similar level to the our setup.

Perhaps some fault does lie with the management but one can't absolve the squad of their own share of the responsibility of the blame.

Somebody put it well sometimes you literally have to go to war in these contests.

Were you close to where that tackle happened? I was in the upper Cusack so was hard to make out, but from what I could see, O'Hora was running out as the attack was on and Walsh tried to stop him going up the pitch? From what I could see, O'Hora put him to ground then?

Walsh does that sort of stuff a lot from what I've seen of him. I guess he picked on the wrong guy in this instance!

Sounds more like a spear tackle job, a sending off for Mayo at that stage may have altered the game big time.