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On a separate note and after reading the Pearse Stadium Tuam stuff last few weeks. Galway support numbers this evening were embarrassing. 17k and us top of the league. I don't understand it, will post my game thoughts in the morning

smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 465 - 16/03/2025 00:17:15    2596650

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Replying To Keephimthere:  "Galway are an ageing team with too many players who were exceptional now well into their 30s. They are exposed in particular in Croker the game tempo is so high, re Conroy tonight. Also as teams evolve to a kicking game like Dublin and Kerry did today the Galway backs are not quite up to it. Flaherty did great winning ball and took a good score but was roasted when it came to man on man defending. I still expect them to win Connacht but can't see SAM going anywhere outside of Dublin or Donegal."
Who are these footballers "well into their 30's" you speak of? Aside from Conroy. Liam Silke is 30, Comer just turned 31 and Walsh will be 32 in June. That's it.

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1646 - 16/03/2025 02:01:51    2596653

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Replying To realdub:  "I'm not a fan of the new rules. It was an enjoyable game, it was only a league match, nothing at stake."
I was all in favor of the new rules but am not sure now, I had hoped they would have heralded a return to man for man football but the swarm tackle is still a curse. Since the new rules arrived it seems it has gotten much harder to win a free and almost anything goes when it comes to tackling. I thought Dublin really exposed the Galway backs as being not natural defenders, not even Silke, our best man marker avoided a bit of a roasting.

giveitlong (Galway) - Posts: 1262 - 16/03/2025 07:20:14    2596657

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Replying To smallfrank:  "On a separate note and after reading the Pearse Stadium Tuam stuff last few weeks. Galway support numbers this evening were embarrassing. 17k and us top of the league. I don't understand it, will post my game thoughts in the morning"
Cannot wait for your game thoughts... I really cannot sleep waiting in anticipation...

Belclare7 (Galway) - Posts: 197 - 16/03/2025 09:35:22    2596667

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Replying To giveitlong:  "I was all in favor of the new rules but am not sure now, I had hoped they would have heralded a return to man for man football but the swarm tackle is still a curse. Since the new rules arrived it seems it has gotten much harder to win a free and almost anything goes when it comes to tackling. I thought Dublin really exposed the Galway backs as being not natural defenders, not even Silke, our best man marker avoided a bit of a roasting."
I suppose its like Nancy when she kissed the cow..Everyone to their own fancy.. or their own opinion. I love the new rules. Whats wrong with the swarm? GAA rules are heavily weighted towards the team in possessiing which makes one on one turnovers very difficult without the swarm. Rules are even better on calm days like yesterday making non wind assisted 2 pointers more difficult...i think was a factor in less 2 pointers more because of that than than the modified new rule. On a
seperate note Galway need to work on kick outs. Even the full match stats dont reflect it when the match was in the melting pot after our 2nd goal we couldnt get win a kickout at either end for a crucial 5 or 6 minutes

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 976 - 16/03/2025 10:28:00    2596673

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Look end of the day it's the dubs in their favourite ground in league. They were way fitter than us on a massive pitch. We were ran off field by them last year too and still beat them when it mattered so I wouldn't go panic stations yet.
In all likelihood we'll get them in league final again as I don't see us losing to Kerry or at least not by that much & Donegal won't win another game.
Ref was reffing swarm tackles like champ game really nearly all by book were free ins but all either turnover or free for over carrying. He was also very against calling frees for hijinks in kickout battles & the dubs quickly learned that he wasn't punishing the punch ball/man from behind tackle - I'm aware in some cases that's a legitimate tackle but wasn't aware you could apparently lead with closed fist if you can't see the ball??

systematic (Galway) - Posts: 140 - 16/03/2025 10:48:20    2596678

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Replying To Belclare7:  "Cannot wait for your game thoughts... I really cannot sleep waiting in anticipation..."
A bit like the rest of us waiting on a positive, relevant post from you…waiting in anticipation.

Gleeson, some great saves but kicking want great. It's going long every time now and they competed in the air.
McGrath, he was 1v1 all the time but did well. Not easy in the first half
Fitzgerald, looked a bit at sea at times.
O'Flaherty, one of our best. Made for Croke Park, our only 2 pointer and very unlucky with goal effort, needs to be out around the middle.
McHugh, wasn't himself but great point before going off
Silke, I thought he did very well on Con, he's a class defender. I'm not sure where is he needed most
Kelly, back to his best, carried very well like O'Flaherty
Conroy, slowed it down too much last night. Very little impact when moved in, need more from him.
Maher, worked really hard. One of the first names on the team sheet I'd say.
Thompson, I was very impressed. Looked composed. Took his chance well. 1 point, 1 wide and 1 hawk eye.
McDaid, looked back to himself as well, line breaker and carried well
Darcy, good game, worked hard. Needs to threaten the score board more.
Finnerty, very poor. He can't have a huge amount of chances left. He has everything except consistency.
Tierney, one of his better games. Good in the air, carried well and unlucky with the goal
Walsh, not good. Looking for the 2 pointer all the time and Dublin had it covered. First miss was poor and hand pass across to Finnerty not much better(I was in line).

O'Conghaiole, not convinced
O'Curraoin, set up the goal but decision making poor at times
Glynn, very good cameo. Good defender and can't be far away from starting.
Comer, very good and no where near fit. Was blowing hard after 10 minutes. We so need him fit this summer
O'Neill, did the basics but there is way more in him.

On the line, made the changes personnel wise quick. We were looking for 2 pointers first half which Dublin had closed off, we didn't kick a ball in until the Tierney chance and did a lot of it second half. Kick out strategy is go long every time but Dublin had Lahiff, Howard out to compete so we needed a plan B. The other puzzling thing was Conor Flaherty warming up constantly in the second half. Give him 20 minutes last night.

smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 465 - 16/03/2025 10:54:02    2596680

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Replying To smallfrank:  "On a separate note and after reading the Pearse Stadium Tuam stuff last few weeks. Galway support numbers this evening were embarrassing. 17k and us top of the league. I don't understand it, will post my game thoughts in the morning"
Galway waiting fans for the final.

CorkLiamMcCarthy24 (Cork) - Posts: 124 - 16/03/2025 12:01:14    2596692

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interesting game last night, we all know that some of our regular lads underperformed,
no need to insult them. PJ needs to consider if they are all an asset or a liability for the championship.
I think we coughed up possession too easily and we all know about the wides. Spectacular stuff from DOF.

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1714 - 16/03/2025 12:24:40    2596697

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It's hard know what make of Galway at moment lucky draw with Tyrone second best yesterday even though missed a lot very few of Galway back 6 and 2 midfielders actually kick the ball forward after 5 years under current management still not found any new scoring forward not 1 hard understand it my team for championship
Gleason ( kickouts poor but no better around )
McGrath
Kelly
Glynn / silke
Mchugh
Hernon
O flaherty
Maher
Tierney
Mcdaid
Finnerty
Darcy
Walsh
Comer
Thompson /

Think need put Finnerty out centre forward he smart player needs space think need put Kelly back full back need o flaherty wing back need more kicks into forwards only my opinion

Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 1022 - 16/03/2025 12:34:09    2596698

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Replying To galway19:  "Comer looked really sharp anyway. The rest pretty off colour. We had a grand bit of momentum going until we won a free in the back line and Gleeson decided to do a garryowen up and under into the midfield and we lost possession and conceded straight away. Under 10s stuff.

Tomo is badly needed back from injury to start in the forward line. Finnerty looks great when he is on form but it is criminal that he is still so one footed and he hasn't had a good league at all. We should be past the stage of O'Conghaile coming off the bench as a scoring option."
In fairness to finnerty he seems to be using his right a lot during league.

Was it v mayo he even was kicking frees with it

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1395 - 16/03/2025 13:51:32    2596705

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Finnerty can kick scores off his right. I've seen him do it numerous times. The issue is, he rarely even threatens to do it, so defenders don't have much doubt and can commit to covering his left.
Either way, his right foot his irrelevant unless his left is kicking accurately. He's been very clinical in the past but looked extremely rusty last night. He was snatching at his shots and almost forcing them.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2255 - 16/03/2025 13:55:44    2596706

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Galway looked very open down the middle last night. Having said that we created so many chances. It killed us last night and last year in final also. We need to be taking these chances in Croke Park for the confidence. Thompson looks like he could be a bolter if he could tidy up his shooting. I think we shoot ourselves in the foot sometimes with the short kick out and no back pass allowed to the keeper. We have to work very hard to get it out. But Dublin murdered us in midfield so Gleeson had no choice but to switch it up. Would like to see Mansion get some minutes next week, we really need another forward. Anyone have any idea what the story with Tomo Culhane is? Man seems perpetually injured.
1-15 mainly picks itself with maybe one or 2 positions up for grabs. The bench looks very competitive though. If we could improve the shooting efficiency, we'd be hard to beat.

jobseekersbent (Galway) - Posts: 384 - 16/03/2025 15:13:12    2596718

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Some very good individual performance against Dublin but as a unit we didn't perform at all.

Very open down the middle. So were Dublin. Both teams could have easily scored 5 goals.

Damo has slimmed down big time but still seems to have plenty of power.

PJ doesn't mince his words about Shane and Robs performance in first half. Inlmplied there was no injury issues. For that fee Shane kicked into the keepers hands, he seemed not to want to take it. Hopefully no injury.

Very surprised Cian Hernon didn't play. Hopefully no injury.

Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1916 - 16/03/2025 16:23:03    2596733

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Replying To Mayonman:  "Some very good individual performance against Dublin but as a unit we didn't perform at all.

Very open down the middle. So were Dublin. Both teams could have easily scored 5 goals.

Damo has slimmed down big time but still seems to have plenty of power.

PJ doesn't mince his words about Shane and Robs performance in first half. Inlmplied there was no injury issues. For that fee Shane kicked into the keepers hands, he seemed not to want to take it. Hopefully no injury.

Very surprised Cian Hernon didn't play. Hopefully no injury."
Time to sort out the free taking. Shane needs to figure out whether he wants to kick frees every day or not. Enough excuses, injury or otherwise. Have we learned anything from last year's final. We'll be the new Mayo if we lose another final to inferior opposition. We only needed one of the countless missed frees last year in thr final. Finnerty and Walsh, casually stroking balls into the opposing keepers arms from 30 yards is unforgivable and way too casual.

StopTheLights (Galway) - Posts: 402 - 16/03/2025 17:13:59    2596748

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Replying To StopTheLights:  "Time to sort out the free taking. Shane needs to figure out whether he wants to kick frees every day or not. Enough excuses, injury or otherwise. Have we learned anything from last year's final. We'll be the new Mayo if we lose another final to inferior opposition. We only needed one of the countless missed frees last year in thr final. Finnerty and Walsh, casually stroking balls into the opposing keepers arms from 30 yards is unforgivable and way too casual."
"Inferior opposition" some WHIFF of arrogance there, maybe already the new Mayo.

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 858 - 16/03/2025 17:28:25    2596754

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Replying To sligo joe:  ""Inferior opposition" some WHIFF of arrogance there, maybe already the new Mayo."
I'm speaking of last years final. Nothing but respect for Dublin, what they've achieved and what they've done for the game. Any team that gets to an All Ireland final and doesn't face Kerry or Dublin must look at it as a massive opportunity.

StopTheLights (Galway) - Posts: 402 - 16/03/2025 17:45:10    2596759

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Replying To StopTheLights:  "Time to sort out the free taking. Shane needs to figure out whether he wants to kick frees every day or not. Enough excuses, injury or otherwise. Have we learned anything from last year's final. We'll be the new Mayo if we lose another final to inferior opposition. We only needed one of the countless missed frees last year in thr final. Finnerty and Walsh, casually stroking balls into the opposing keepers arms from 30 yards is unforgivable and way too casual."
Last year we had Walsh taking frees [including the final] when clearly injured and he's not a 100% reliable free taker when he's injury free. If we're still depending on him almost a year later, maybe it's high time PJ found someone who is.

Not great man management to be throwing both Walsh and Finnerty under the bus in his interview after either. And not for the 1st time [the interview after the Monaghan game last year comes to mind].

Ailteoir (Galway) - Posts: 891 - 16/03/2025 18:27:47    2596768

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Replying To StopTheLights:  "I'm speaking of last years final. Nothing but respect for Dublin, what they've achieved and what they've done for the game. Any team that gets to an All Ireland final and doesn't face Kerry or Dublin must look at it as a massive opportunity."
You sound a lot like some Mayo supporters though. We lost those finals. The opposition didn't win them. That's still the thinking from a lot of Mayo supporters, unfortunately. We were never beat by inferior teams. They scored more than us so we were the inferior teams on each occasion. Playing nicer football and having more scoring chances don't always decide results. Just like ye last year. Armagh did what they had to do on the day. You think it was because ye didn't take the scores on the day? What can ye learn if ye though the game was decided by that? That's one factor but I thought the goal ye conceded swung the momentum for Armagh and they deserve respect for winning the All Ireland. I watched ye beat Dublin and ye were mighty that day and, despite plenty of injuries, ye got to the final. But Armagh beat ye fair and square. Thinking ye deserved to win won't improve ye. Believe me!

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7820 - 16/03/2025 18:34:55    2596771

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Mayo v Galway league final on the cards? Donegal likely to field a weakened team again v Mayo which will give Mayo 9 points. Dublin v Tyrone hard to call but Tyrone's need is greater so they might shade it. I think us against Kerry is 50:50, if Walsh is fit, himself and Finnerty will hardly be as inaccurate again, comer will probably play another 20 min so really we will not be far off full strength. If Kerry beat us , will it be scoring difference or head to head that matters as they would need to be us by 7 to over turn scoring difference?

Trucker1 (Galway) - Posts: 410 - 16/03/2025 18:43:16    2596774

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