Galway GAA Discussion Thread #2

Monaghan may as well put us out of our misery. We're nowhere near the level of the top teams. This is absolutely septic stuff. No intent or nous in how we attack.

To have a few injuries is unlucky but to have the number of injuries we've had and recurring injuries, looks like either a poorly designed training programme or poor management of player loads.

Wss Walsh bad coming off? Seems like he carried the injury into the match. Donegal probably the best draw now with their lack of big time experience

Impossible to make anything of that game. Impossible to know where we are. Impossible to know where we are going.

Positives. Defence. Low score conceded again. Mulkerrin great again. Been fantastic last two games.

McDaid, Kelly more like it 2nd half. Maher/Conroy/Tierney immense throughout.

Credit to management. Taking McGrath out of the full back line to stick with O' Hanlon worked well. Gave a bite going forward when he could.

Negatives. injuries. Shane hasn't looked right at all this year. Popping pills on the sidelines against Armagh and never looked right today.

Tierney kicking two frees (no issue with him taking them as he's excellent) but with the breeze makes me think Finnerty is playing hurt as they were pretty straightforward.

Great to see Comer back. Great point. One run he did to close down out near the sideline he did not look right. Too many lads playing hurt.

Playing within ourselves. I'm of the serious opinion our first half performances are more by design than anything else. Keep it tight, measured, don't bring it into contact hold possession. Stay in the game. Second half open up little. Maybe Croke Park will bring out a more expansive mindset. Bar London every game this year had been torture.

Great post. It does feel like there's another gear or two in Galway alright because have Comer Walsh and Finnerty/Tierney ever scored even 3 each from play in the same big match? Bar the likes of the Sligo match last year.

Too many playing injured is right. But honestly how is it reoccurring so much? We should be primed for next weekend bar maybe a bit of fatigue. But instead we're absolutely crippled again. Same lads injured as in the league, Comer Walsh Finnerty, probably Kelly too.

Can't just be a genetic thing. Is the strength and conditioning guy up to it, or coaching, or physios either, when it comes to managing the load properly in this condensed season?

The draw against Armagh is likely to prove costly, as even the easiest draw we can get ( Donegal) is much more difficult than what we would have likely faced had we held out for the win over Armagh. Add to that the injury to Walsh, plus the fatigue factor of playing 3 weeks in a row, we certainly haven't made it easy on ourselves, really need to avoid Dublin or Kerry to have any chance of making the semi final.

On another note the structure of the championship needs to be looked at; out of 5 matches, Derry have lost 3 matches, only beaten Westmeath, won a penalty shoot out and are at the same stage as us, yet we've won 5 out of six and drawn one match. No doubt Derry will probably draw Donegal and we'll end up with Dublin or Kerry.

That was no more than a tough training session yesterday. Need to stop making excuses about being out 3 weeks in a row. Kerry have had no competitive game this year. Thats not ideal either. Dublin one tough work out again Mayo. Structure needs a complete overhaul

Our biggest problem is 5 or 6 players are carrying what appear to be long term knocks and an extra weeks break was not going to make much difference to that. Even if we beat Armagh those 5 or 6 would still not be 100% fit

If Donegal and Galway were to come out first rest of the games decided as far as I can make out.

Donegal vs Galway

Dublin vs Derry

Kerry vs Roscommon

Armagh vs Louth

Watching the game back I'm not sure Donegal would be my first choice anyway. Like you said maybe Dublin the best bet (not that any are particular appealing on current form). Management would have some big calls to make around personnel and matchups. Not sure if they have the stomach for it either.

That Campbell point in injury time for Armagh is going to get them to a soft semi final. You'd be sick.

That draw format is absolute bulls**t.

Agree the whole set up is crazy. Who came up with this nonsense.

Sunday would be best for the extra days rest and recovery.

Theyre putting Louth in the 2pm Sunday slot it looks like (as requested) so it's a toss up as to them putting the Dubs and Galway at 4pm Sunday or Armagh v Ros. Armagh and Dublin are the only two with huge support numbers so they'll be kept seperate and put in a late game

Why?

They want to give the chance for Scottie Sheffler supporting punters picking up their winnings to have an early bet on the games. Could just be a placeholder.