Galway GAA Discussion Thread #2

was kelly taken off because he was gassed or injured. The games are suiting walsh and Teirney who seem to be getting sharper, im just waiting for Teirney to take over a game and it will happen

I'm wondering is McDaid fit enough in general considering he had a long layoff and couldn't run. He's a block of a man, huge upper body on him. He could've been pumping iron all winter and not been able to do that cardio work until recently.

I thought yesterday he could've showed for ball, especially a kickout in the first half, like Comer did in the Connacht final but just stayed put by the sideline.

Sounds like Saturday but no time yet

Same team. Comer on the bench. Have my doubts that team will start.

They will have to use him. There's no game in the championship this year where they have been winning well apart from London. Sligo and Westmeath where you would thought they would win by a couple of points, both teams were there at the end. We don't play where we can get a big lead on teams.

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 draw format is absolute bulls**t.