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Yeah I agree with you. Both of them have been good teams over the years but I guess everyone can't win it. Best of luck to the both of them.
Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2113 - 20/10/2022 20:53:18 2444858 Link 0 |
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I think Sarsfields were in the semi final in 2018 when st Thomas's knocked them out.
plentyofstick (Galway) - Posts: 88 - 21/10/2022 07:37:54 2444866 Link 1 |
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I was at that game. I thought it was 2017 but it could well have been 2018. Sarsfields were excellent in that game and i thought were the better team. It could have went anyway right up to the end when St Thomas got a very late goal (Eanna Burke if memory serves me correctly). Sarsfields had a few really solid years after their win and were really good in group stages but failed in the knockout games more often than not where they always seemed to have their off day. I'd imagine they'll fancy their chances especially with arguably the best and most consistent club hurler in the county on their team. tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 21/10/2022 09:04:18 2444871 Link 1 |
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A team that's won 5 of the last 6 and going for 5, I wouldn't say that's too sweeping a statement. Truth be known they've probably unfinished business with the club all Ireland series and aren't going to let a chance at that go, that's the big prize for them, another county championship would be great but at this stage an all Ireland is what they want.
Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 258 - 21/10/2022 10:20:07 2444884 Link 1 |
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Slaughneill are never easy and will eventually break the duck and get to the final, but youd have to say the Galway winner will be on the favorable side to get to the final. That must drive teams on as well knowing theyll be avoiding what youd imagine will be Ballyhale/Ballygunner at the semifinal stage anyway. We havent had a Galway rep in a final since 2018 is it?
CillTormoir (Galway) - Posts: 485 - 21/10/2022 11:14:13 2444896 Link 1 |
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They're favourites for sure, but I think the gap has closed. Even when winning their recent titles, they've come out the right side of tight battles, rather than being completely dominant. That experience of winning will be a big factor for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them beaten in a semi or final. For a small club they've been phenomenal over the past decade. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2034 - 21/10/2022 11:25:08 2444900 Link 2 |
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I actually thought last years win was their handiest one to date, even the county final against Clarinbridge was a poor game, they won only going at about 70%, the always had the at arms length without needing to go at full tilt. Think the Turlough game was a major blip, much like the 2018 group game against Mellows were they also lost heavily but still won out the championship. They're probably the only team in galway who'd be able to win a game outside of the county ATM. Think they'll win this year's and then thy might start to slip but the thing is, they're not an old team at all. David Burke at 32 is their oldest players and he's still starting midfield for galway (and was outstanding against Limerick) I don't think they're going anywhere.
Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 258 - 21/10/2022 12:53:10 2444918 Link 1 |
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Very true but they love their hurling there. They have a bunch of lads that have blossomed around the same time so it's their Golden Age I guess. Awesome Club.
Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2113 - 23/10/2022 09:57:32 2445086 Link 0 |
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I'm inclined to agree with you. I might be wrong but I think the day they played Sarsfields that they had 6 or 7 players on the field under the age of 23,and as you said Davey Burke is probably the oldest. Granted some of them have a lot of mileage on the clock ,and any team can be beaten on any given day, but long term I don't think they are going away.People sometimes forget that at adult level, a couple of new players every few years will do the trick ,particularly if your an established and successful outfit like Thomas's undoubtedly are
UtahBlaine (Galway) - Posts: 145 - 23/10/2022 11:54:50 2445102 Link 1 |
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They are a small rural club. It is remarkable what they have achieved. I hope I'm wrong but it will be quite amazing if they continue to be in the top 3 or 4 clubs long term. The rural clubs nearer the city -- Clarinbridge, Oranmore, Turloughmore -- with their ever increasing populations are far more likely to be the powerhouses if they have good structures in place. Clarinbridge certainly do seem to have them in place anyway. When clubs can field 2nd teams like the Bridge and Turlough can, it's an indication of what the future holds.
PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1902 - 23/10/2022 15:38:32 2445121 Link 0 |
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Exactly. They're probably a better team now than they were at the start of this run. This current team would probably beat the 2018 Thomas's team by 5/6 points. They've added a lot of new faces since then and lads adding a lot that people forget, they've lads scoring 1-2 that'd you'd forget they have, the likes of Oisin Falnnery, Victor Manso, Damien McGlynn are doing that every day now for them. Always a help when you've one of the best club hurlers I've ever seen in Galway, Conor Cooney never letting Thomas's down. A real pity we haven't seen Conor Cooney being able to show his full quality at county level the way he can. 2014, 2017 and first half of 2018 he was one of the top forwards in Ireland. Last year we saw glimpses of what he could do, think Shefflin does have a lot of faith in him and maybe next year he'll push on a bit more again to that level. Shane Cooney is back training for Thomas's too from what I hear, a huge addition if he was back for a county final or all Ireland series, even as a sub. (Could be wrong on that info though)
Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 258 - 24/10/2022 10:13:11 2445208 Link 0 |
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Was Capppatagle ans St Thomases played yesterday and if so, how did it go?
Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4316 - 24/10/2022 10:52:31 2445225 Link 0 |
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Conor Cooney is a brilliantly talented hurler and a great lad. As you said, one the best club hurlers in the county over the last couple of decades. However, he has underperformed on quite a few occasions for Galway over the past few years. I was delighted to see him nail that very tricky free at the end of the Kilkenny match in Pearse Stadium. I was hoping he'd push on from that but he didn't and was off form even from placed balls in the Leinster final and All-Ireland semi. For a player of his ability we need to get more out of him at county level. At local level, Thomas's are far from finished, but I do think it's tighter between them and the chasing pack now. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2034 - 24/10/2022 11:39:19 2445237 Link 2 |
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No the quarter finals are two double headers next weekend. Thomas'/Cappy and Larkins/Clarinbridge in Athenry on Saturday and Turloughmore/Loughrea and Sarsfields/Portumna in Ballinasloe on Sunday.
galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 672 - 24/10/2022 13:33:58 2445258 Link 2 |
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Who ever hits like on this comment I will buy them a burger in Supermacs after the matches in Athenry on Saturday clare_sparrow (Galway) - Posts: 425 - 24/10/2022 17:02:16 2445291 Link 0 |
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One would have to be concerned that we are only at the QF stage on the last day of oct. it is not very fair to players trying to play with some level of skill. There really is no excuse. The game deserves better from the clubs and delegates. SixtiesKid (Galway) - Posts: 304 - 24/10/2022 19:08:24 2445302 Link 1 |
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There is the other side to that though which is I'm sure the Galway winner would complain if we finished the championship in early October that they would be waiting 5+ weeks to face a provincial winner. The way the system is at the moment, there is no incentive for county board to run the championship off early. Only solution that would force them into it is having the Galway winner go into the Leinster provincial championship.
galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 672 - 25/10/2022 10:10:28 2445329 Link 1 |
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I think the only reason Galway clubs haven't been put in Leinster yet is due to how competitive the Ulster clubs have been, their record isn't all too dissimilar to the munster clubs performance since 2000, both have appeared in similar number of finals and won 4 between them. If the Antrim clubs were walking it every year they too could've been put in Leinster with Galways, much like at county level, but with Slaughtneil and even Ballycran from Derry and Down performing very well and Salualghtneil dominating the antrim clubs ATM you can't do that. If Galway are put in Leinster it means there will have to be a rotation of provincial winners getting a bye to the all Ireland final. It's not like the u21 were the put galway in Leinster and the final is just the winners of munster vs Leinster because the weakness of Ulster allowed this. Ulster club champions are usually very strong and have even given out some beatings to Galway teams (just ask Sarsfields) I would love to see Galway clubs in Leinster, would really add to it and for the last 30 years the all Ireland winners have usually been Galway/Leinster winners. It's just ATM it'd leave a very uneven all Ireland series with just 3 provinces. I would an open draw all Ireland series if I had my way, set up some unbelievable fixtures but that may be too much to ask and a bit unrealistic.
Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 258 - 25/10/2022 10:42:25 2445340 Link 3 |
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Hurling in this weather IS a skill ;)
CillTormoir (Galway) - Posts: 485 - 25/10/2022 10:53:47 2445345 Link 1 |
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I hope the weather doesn't ruin the matches and crowd size. It would be a shame as they're potentially some great matches.
Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2113 - 25/10/2022 19:24:15 2445435 Link 0 |