Galway have a massive chance Sunday would give a hurling in general a great chance if they won. But I don't think they will. This is Kilkenny under Brian Cody in previous finals, the only one they didn't performe in was 2004. They always deliver on the big day. Also the fennellys are due big games and there forwards rarely don't rack up a big score. Can big joe finally deliver on the big stage ? Joe has always went missing against the cats. Will their young guns avoid the nerves on all Ireland final day ? Will
That full back line hold up ? Kilkenny have just to much class , Kilkenny by 3-5 points !

222 (UK) - Posts: 695 - 02/09/2015 17:50:48    1780834

For Galway to win they will have to step it up big time from their display in the Leinster final. The one positive thing for Galway that day was they only conceded one goal to Kilkenny while scoring two themselves. However they were comprehensively beaten all over the field with Kilkenny scoring on twenty six occasions to Galway's seventeen. In the All Ireland semi final I expected Tipp to come through with a bit to spare but Galway brought something special to their game that day, and if they can do the same come Sunday, then they will be in with a great chance.

clonjon (Dublin) - Posts: 665 - 02/09/2015 18:33:11    1780847

Galway have the team to do it if they don't freeze up. They must play smart. It's a huge task to beat KK but it can be done and I think Galway are finally PHYSICAL enough to win. They always had the skill level but were too soft. Hon Galway!!!

WoodlawnPat (Galway) - Posts: 288 - 02/09/2015 18:38:48    1780851

222
County: UK
Posts: 254

1780834 Galway have a massive chance Sunday would give a hurling in general a great chance if they won. But I don't think they will. This is Kilkenny under Brian Cody in previous finals, the only one they didn't performe in was 2004. They always deliver on the big day. Also the fennellys are due big games and there forwards rarely don't rack up a big score. Can big joe finally deliver on the big stage ? Joe has always went missing against the cats. Will their young guns avoid the nerves on all Ireland final day ? Will
That full back line hold up ? Kilkenny have just to much class , Kilkenny by 3-5 points !

Joe was outstanding the first day in 2012.

Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6031 - 02/09/2015 18:43:31    1780852

Just a little reminder of what the men from the west will be facing.I don't believe there is a harder team to beat in world sport than the stripey men under Cody's era.Since they beat Clare in 2002,Cody has created a sporting monster.He cultivated an unbreakable team spirit,an insatiable hunger and has had some of the greatest hurlers of all time decorating all his teams.Normally you would expect the odd performance level to dip below par.Every other team in the world has their off days.I dont remember many for Kilkenny in this time.The second half v Cork in 2004(KK were right in the game with 20 mins to go),and the Leinster Final v Galway few years back.Every other defeat,the opposition has had to play to their full potential and Kilkenny had to be scraped off the pitch - the 2010 final to Tipp being a prime example.If Kilkenny do remind me of another sporting outfit,it is the All Blacks.They seem to have that crazy will-to-win that means they are never beaten until the final whistle.They have ice in their veins and are experts at closing out close games aswell as beating many hapless opponents out the gate.They have a knack of scoring goals at crucial moments and seem to feed off the oxygen a goal provides more than any other.This in turn deflates whoever is unfortunate to be on the receiving end.A goal to the cats often seems like more than just three points.Sometimes it is followed by a quickfire second,and more often than not,this signals the end.They are a formidable,relentless,ruthless,cold blooded killing machine and will gut you in a second.They are a credit to the game and i have no doubt will turn in another efficient performance this Sunday.Makes me wonder about my gut feeling for Galway after all(:

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 02/09/2015 19:26:07    1780868

cuederocket that's a good comparison to make between Kilkenny and the All Blacks. For both teams defeat is simply unacceptable and they prepare accordingly. For Galway to win on Sunday they will have to be in the same mental mindset as Kilkenny, and they will have to have themselves convinced that they are the better team. At the end of all that they will have to take their scoring chances when they present themselves, especially the goal chances.

clonjon (Dublin) - Posts: 665 - 02/09/2015 20:45:39    1780921

sliotharfan
County: Galway
Posts: 73

1780360

Come on my hurling men.

It's the biggest week of the year for Kilkenny and Galway folk and there isnt as much as a word on the main forum here about it. About 15 different threads going on about what was probably the worst game of football played last Sunday and the replay of it Saturday. Such a pity for it to be over shadowing the hurling final.

Anyways back to business. What outcome do we predict Sunday? Hardly a draw for a 4th year in a row? It's possible.

There are barely any hurling threads on this forum in general so it's hardly surprising there hasn't been much talk about the hurling final yet.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 02/09/2015 20:59:46    1780926

The city has really gotten behind Galway, this last fortnight, and theres a feel good factor that wasnt there in 2012.
Still though, whenever a bit of enthusiasm for the game creeps into a county like galway or Wexford, its only a matter of time before the cats come along and kill it. There seems to be a confidence among galway supporters that I find a bit unsettling. Its almost as if the cats are a sideshow, but lets not forget they beat us in Leinster, and beat us well.
As TJ Ryan said before last years final, you dont beat Kilkenny.

joncarter (Galway) - Posts: 2692 - 02/09/2015 21:18:12    1780932

Jon,i hope TJ Ryan did not say that.Talk about defeatist.Incredibly hard,but of course Kilkenny can be beaten.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 02/09/2015 21:30:54    1780933

Trust me on this one, Galway are going to do it.

There is something epic in the water ..........

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 03/09/2015 09:31:37    1780985

I expect a tight close game. Galway will score goals with Canning , Mannion and Jason Flynn and Jonathan Glynn. Iarla Tannion is a great back also. This is Galway's year and Galway will win.

galwayford (Galway) - Posts: 2520 - 03/09/2015 09:32:13    1780986

galwayford
County: Galway
Posts: 323

1780986
I expect a tight close game. Galway will score goals with Canning , Mannion and Jason Flynn and Jonathan Glynn. Iarla Tannion is a great back also. This is Galway's year and Galway will win.

Tannion was very good in the second half against Tipp. Up until then I felt he was a weak link for Galway. He's a great man to win a ball but his distribution from centre back was a little erratic for me. Too many clearances just struck down the field with an upward glance.

He didn't do this in the 2nd half v Tipp so hopefully he has improved and won't revert to type on Sunday. It could have a big baring on the outcome either way.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13718 - 03/09/2015 09:54:43    1781002

Yes, unfortunately the hurling final has been overshadowed by the plethora of threads about a Dublin player calling a Mayo player a poopy-pants, a Mayo player giving a Dublin player a wedgie, and what hairstyles both teams will have for the replay.

To follow on from Cuederocket's post, Galway are coming up against a man with a pathological hatred of losing. Many counties have sent their happy-ending manuscripts to Brian Cody for final approval over the years, only for him to throw them in the nearest shredder. If Cody was a 19th Danish publisher, the world would never have heard of Hans Christian Andersen. Cody is the Killer of Hope and the Destroyer of Dreams.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 03/09/2015 10:23:57    1781041

222
County: UK
Posts: 254

1780834


Galway have a massive chance Sunday would give a hurling in general a great chance if they won. But I don't think they will. This is Kilkenny under Brian Cody in previous finals, the only one they didn't performe in was 2004. They always deliver on the big day. Also the fennellys are due big games and there forwards rarely don't rack up a big score. Can big joe finally deliver on the big stage ? Joe has always went missing against the cats. Will their young guns avoid the nerves on all Ireland final day ? Will
That full back line hold up ? Kilkenny have just to much class , Kilkenny by 3-5 points !

What on earth is this about? He almost single handedly beat them in 09, scoring in the region of 2-10. He was man of the match in the 2012 Leinster final. Even in the big replay loss in 2012 he was easily Galways best player on the day

jafallon (Galway) - Posts: 489 - 03/09/2015 11:22:08    1781083

ballydalane no ofence lad but for the future of humanity and all that is precious in this world Darth Cody and his Evil Empire (I've tried to factor Umpire in there somewheres but it won't fit) simply has to be brought down. May the Tribes Be Against You

The Cats are being too damned quiet.

Maroonatic (Galway) - Posts: 1060 - 03/09/2015 11:43:31    1781110

'Yes, unfortunately the hurling final has been overshadowed by the plethora of threads about a Dublin player calling a Mayo player a poopy-pants, a Mayo player giving a Dublin player a wedgie, and what hairstyles both teams will have for the replay.'

Now that did almost make me genuinely lol.

For the record I really don't care who wins so long as there are plenty of long aimless clearances by defenders for our resident football only experts to get stuck into on Monday morning.

bumpernut (Antrim) - Posts: 1852 - 03/09/2015 12:53:37    1781198

have started to type on this thread about 4 or 5 times but have had too stop each time. I can't write a coherent though about the game because I am too nervous. Why am I so nervous? Because I am really confident of a Galway win!!

onlyhurling (Galway) - Posts: 800 - 03/09/2015 13:14:38    1781236

Yes, we've been very quiet in the build-up to this. Coming into the semi-final different lads were giving interviews to tv, radio, press you name it, but it's like they've gone into lockdown for the past four weeks. Haven't heard a peep from Galway either. Always augurs well for a great final. Hopefully after Mayo and Dublin have sorted their little bitching session on Saturday night we can concentrate on the man's game.

ballydalane (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1246 - 03/09/2015 14:58:20    1781354

May ye play well and may the game silence the lads with over inflated balls.

plike (Kerry) - Posts: 569 - 03/09/2015 16:08:02    1781435

A lot of Galway people I know are very confident they can win this. I hope they will for the good of hurling. However if the Cats are to win number 36 that's some achievement.
Still worried about the Galway full back line. Preparing for an all Ireland final having to work on your weakness is generally not a good sign. After you win a semi final being dominant up front but weak at the back cannot be easy.
For one I hope some of players who were there in 2012 i.e. Joe & Irla turn up and win this game for Galway.
Please don't let us have to add another great player like Joe Canning to the list of greats never to win an all Ireland medal.
Surely something have to give in Galway with all this potential they have over the past number of years.
Kilkenny are really quite and that's telling you they are focused.Anyway hopes it a rip roaring game and close.

WildPundit (Tipperary) - Posts: 1709 - 03/09/2015 17:12:05    1781518