Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "David Burke, Niall Burke, Johnny Coen, Joe Canning, Conor Cooney, Johnny Glynn, James Skehill, Joseph Cooney, Davy Glennon all there in 12. Aidan Harte started in 10, Colm Callanan in 07....but neithr were really a part of it in 12
Didn't say they were old, just weren't young, lots had put a bit of miles and if they'd won early on mightve kicked on. I do know vital cogs were added on in 15 especially, Mannions, Daithi Burke. But Galway when they won in 17 probably had the same age bracket that Limerick have now but after 4 less all Ireland's in a similar time frame. Lots of lads in mid to late 20s. 2019 or 2020 was probably the last year of the 2017 team properly together and it's been a big change up since then especially. Just saying if they'd got over the line in 12 or even 15 they mightve had a few more years with the belief and confidence that winning one brings.....you'll do well to say I'm uniformed, I admit to mistakes or misquotes. Isn't nearly half of Kilkennys 2015 team still playing in some role atm..didn't mean they were a young team playing then either."

Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "You might be 25 years waiting for a player remotely as good as David Burke imo."

Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "David Burke, Niall Burke, Johnny Coen, Joe Canning, Conor Cooney, Johnny Glynn, James Skehill, Joseph Cooney, Davy Glennon all there in 12. Aidan Harte started in 10, Colm Callanan in 07....but neithr were really a part of it in 12
Didn't say they were old, just weren't young, lots had put a bit of miles and if they'd won early on mightve kicked on. I do know vital cogs were added on in 15 especially, Mannions, Daithi Burke. But Galway when they won in 17 probably had the same age bracket that Limerick have now but after 4 less all Ireland's in a similar time frame. Lots of lads in mid to late 20s. 2019 or 2020 was probably the last year of the 2017 team properly together and it's been a big change up since then especially. Just saying if they'd got over the line in 12 or even 15 they mightve had a few more years with the belief and confidence that winning one brings.....you'll do well to say I'm uniformed, I admit to mistakes or misquotes. Isn't nearly half of Kilkennys 2015 team still playing in some role atm..didn't mean they were a young team playing then either."

Replying To tommy k:  "In fairness Galway conceded 2 very soft goals in the first half to Waterford in 2017 (as happens to Galway teams too often admittedly) but a bit like in the Tipp game this year, Galway were at least 8 points better than Waterford that year. Galway had avoidable draws before winning the replays v KK and Clare in 2018 so they were tired mentally and physically in the final but like Gilly said if JC had pointed that last free I have no doubt they would have won the replay (not sure if extra time was an option at that time)."

Replying To katser:  "Oh definitely 2018 we left it behind us."

Replying To BostonGuy:  "No one is blaming the players here, the fact that Galway have not won an U 20 ever is alarming, 100% agree that U17 is not a good barometer for senior but we are losing these players or they are not continuing to develop up to U20 level at least. if you look who's won U20 since 2014 its Clare, Limerick, Tipp and Cork, most have won two U 20s and they are the back bone of their senior teams today. What I see on the current Galway team has been outside managers without the stomach for an overhaul and a lot of players who flown the flag since 2015, thankfully most were rewarded in 2017 and they could have had a couple more with some luck, but where is the rebuild? the fact that no one has pressed Conor Cooney, GMac or the fact that David Burke hasnt been replaced in midfield (successfully) in the last 3 years says more about our lack of upcoming talent that the enduring performance of those players in recent years.
There is a rebuild along the lines of what Anthony Cunningham faced a decade or so ago that needs to be done, and as you said "no raised expectations" for 3-4 years until we can get back to being competitive again. Some will say we are close to twice beaten finalists KK in competitiveness, maybe but we are all a long ways of a Limerick team with an avg age of 27. Father time will catch up with every team including Limerick, where Galway want to be is the expectation of being in a final by 2027/28 with an up and coming team."

Replying To Stool Pigeon:  "my 'raised expectations' comment was to do with successful minor sides, nothing to do with anything else.

We are 'competitive': we have been to the last two semi finals and lost to the eventual winners. Outside of Limerick we are as competitive as anyone else, are we all supposed to wait till 2027/2028?

I have little interest in waiting for 2027/2028 because life happens while you're making other plans."

Replying To BostonGuy:  "Players don't go out to be competitive they go out to win All Irelands, the "outside of Limerick" kinda doesn't cut it, right now we are a long ways of winning one. Whether we are interested or not in waiting while the rebuild happens, the reality is we are not going to win an All Ireland IMHO anytime before then. Its not just about the senior team, its about the whole structure in Galway, minor success is a "nice" thing as it means the underling structures are producing the raw material, U20 success means a level up in S&C, skill levels maturity and "should" provide talent to the senior team
Many point to club hurling as the spring board and how players play in the club scene as reflective as to how they will do at county, its not. The academies and centers of excellences are the future, we are following a trajectory similar to rugby, we are still in the "Shamatuer" stage where we think this is an amatuer sport but the successful counties have bigger budgets, facilities and management structures and are being run professionally. Do the rugby provinces look to the club game for recruits, nope they come through their (or others) academies where resources can be concentrated, diet and skills worked on and managed as one cohesive unit, this takes smart people and time. Changing the senior manager without this overhaul is a band-aid on an a gaping wound. As for "life happens", a good plan allows for this; Look at Limerick they have won the last four All Irelands without key players due to injury and suspension. There is no easy fix here"

Replying To BostonGuy:  "Players don't go out to be competitive they go out to win All Irelands, the "outside of Limerick" kinda doesn't cut it, right now we are a long ways of winning one. Whether we are interested or not in waiting while the rebuild happens, the reality is we are not going to win an All Ireland IMHO anytime before then. Its not just about the senior team, its about the whole structure in Galway, minor success is a "nice" thing as it means the underling structures are producing the raw material, U20 success means a level up in S&C, skill levels maturity and "should" provide talent to the senior team
Many point to club hurling as the spring board and how players play in the club scene as reflective as to how they will do at county, its not. The academies and centers of excellences are the future, we are following a trajectory similar to rugby, we are still in the "Shamatuer" stage where we think this is an amatuer sport but the successful counties have bigger budgets, facilities and management structures and are being run professionally. Do the rugby provinces look to the club game for recruits, nope they come through their (or others) academies where resources can be concentrated, diet and skills worked on and managed as one cohesive unit, this takes smart people and time. Changing the senior manager without this overhaul is a band-aid on an a gaping wound. As for "life happens", a good plan allows for this; Look at Limerick they have won the last four All Irelands without key players due to injury and suspension. There is no easy fix here"

Replying To Stool Pigeon:  "If you can point out where I said there was an easy fix, go ahead.

You go out there to be competitive as a starting point. If winning All Irelands was the only acceptable outcome for a player there wouldn't be much hurling played anywhere.

We are as near/far from winning an All Ireland as anyone else not called Limerick. Whether you think that 'cuts it' or not is irrelevant. Obviously we have to try to improve as best we can of course.

'The successful counties have bigger budgets, facilities and management structures and are being run professionally'

Who are these 'successful counties' you speak of, I assume we are not just talking about Limerick alone here, because that would essentially saying that JP McManus alone is the difference, which is not the case.

So what other 'successful counties' are you referring to? I mean Cork haven't won an AI since 2005, Clare 2013, Waterford 1950something, Kilkenny 2015, Wexford?

We already have an academy/CoE system in place as it is. I would agree that you won't get players from the club game unless they are goalkeepers. But that has always been the case really. You won't tend to get into a Galway county panel off the back of club form as an outfield player.

Funny you should mention rugby, I mean what Rugby does is its own business but you appear to be forgetting the fact that (a) its a professional sport in its own right, GAA is amateur, these players are entitled to a life outside sport, for rugby players, their professional life literally is sport and (b) rugby players can and do move around, the Leinster Academy is arguably the best in the world and has provided plenty of players to other sides for example. But why would that be at all relevant to Galway hurling anyway?

Also, minor success is great for the players involved and their friends and families, and nice for supporters, but doesn't mean much beyond that. It says nothing about 'raw material'. In a given year you're better off with an 'unsuccessful' team backboned by 3-4 high calibre players instead of a 'team' full of 7/10 players who don't have the capacity to kick on straight away."

Replying To Stool Pigeon:  "If you can point out where I said there was an easy fix, go ahead.

You go out there to be competitive as a starting point. If winning All Irelands was the only acceptable outcome for a player there wouldn't be much hurling played anywhere.

We are as near/far from winning an All Ireland as anyone else not called Limerick. Whether you think that 'cuts it' or not is irrelevant. Obviously we have to try to improve as best we can of course.

'The successful counties have bigger budgets, facilities and management structures and are being run professionally'

Who are these 'successful counties' you speak of, I assume we are not just talking about Limerick alone here, because that would essentially saying that JP McManus alone is the difference, which is not the case.

So what other 'successful counties' are you referring to? I mean Cork haven't won an AI since 2005, Clare 2013, Waterford 1950something, Kilkenny 2015, Wexford?

We already have an academy/CoE system in place as it is. I would agree that you won't get players from the club game unless they are goalkeepers. But that has always been the case really. You won't tend to get into a Galway county panel off the back of club form as an outfield player.

Funny you should mention rugby, I mean what Rugby does is its own business but you appear to be forgetting the fact that (a) its a professional sport in its own right, GAA is amateur, these players are entitled to a life outside sport, for rugby players, their professional life literally is sport and (b) rugby players can and do move around, the Leinster Academy is arguably the best in the world and has provided plenty of players to other sides for example. But why would that be at all relevant to Galway hurling anyway?

Also, minor success is great for the players involved and their friends and families, and nice for supporters, but doesn't mean much beyond that. It says nothing about 'raw material'. In a given year you're better off with an 'unsuccessful' team backboned by 3-4 high calibre players instead of a 'team' full of 7/10 players who don't have the capacity to kick on straight away."

Replying To baire:  "Where are these academies and 'centres if excellence' getting their players from if not from the clubs?"

Replying To BostonGuy:  "They are not getting them from the senior clubs, they are scouting at a younger age from clubs, schools and sports camps. Of course there will be some outliers who fell thru the cracks, but as these structures mature there will be fewer and fewer selected from the senior club scene promoted. Look at Connacht (besides xfers) they are not looking at Corinthians or Glaswegians senior club games to select talent. What I mean is the days of a senior club player outside of an academy playing out of his skin and getting called up is close to done."

Replying To BostonGuy:  "True you didn't outright say easy fix but a rebuild is necessary and as such its not an easy fix. There is no plug a few holes with this current Galway setup, its a rebuild. Limerick in reality should be going for 7 in a row except for a fluke win by KK that allowed a very mediocre Tipp team (hammered by Limerick) get in for an AI to break the Limerick sequence. I never said this was all down to JP or money, I said a foundational platform and plan that included academies, state or the art faculties, sports science, diet management, video/GPS and data analysis (this is huge area), psychological and mental management, post GAA career help etc and this takes time to implement. Now does this sound like an amatuer sport or people playing for "the love of the game". The GAA in Ireland is a big sport business, up there with Rugby in terms of TV rights, popularity, sponsorship, replica jersey, player tie-ins, media such as papers and social media and of course GAAGO. You stated we already have a COE/Academy for the hurlers, where is the COE? I know there is one for the footballers in Claregalway where is the one for the hurlers? There is a plan for one in Oranmore but its not built yet, the one in Craughwell never materialized and cost millions that Galway GAA took a massive haircut on. Having an academy does not mean its working. I can put up a sign saying hurling academy but is it staffed? are they qualified? (not just former hurlers) and do they have a plan, a budget and how do I measure success? If I sound like this is very business like, it absolutely is, there is a lot of money riding on its success.

As for what Rugby does is its own business, that's a very narrow view of reality, there is huge dialog across the bodies. The swarm tactic, the sweeper system, the mark, possession game did not originate in GAA, they came from other sports and were adapted into the current game. Dublin footballers are tied into Leinster academy, Donal O Grady while with Cork and Limerick and Clare have communicated with Munster Rugby on a continual basis. Limerick and Clare are also heavily tied into NUI Limerick's sport science program, the goal is getting the best performing (less injury prone) athlete on the field to give the best opportunity to win, this is shared across all sports bodies both pros and "amatuer".
The GAA in its current form, is EXACTLY like rugby in the 80's players like Jeremy Guscott, Will Carling, Phillip Sella and Serge Blanco or the whole All Blacks had "rep" or "Bank jobs" or "Rugby ambassador" that allowed them to train as professionals (sound familiar to DJ, Shefflin, Colin Cooper, Diarmuid Connolly) while the Irish and Scottish guys worked real jobs. The "Irish Blazers" also thought we were competitive and yeah we could go out and show well but it was men against boys. If its had to swallow the word Sham-amateurism then lets just say there are different "levels" of amateurs playing GAA at the top level at the moment."

Replying To John Doe:  "Ah don't be so stupid to believe that something on the front of a jersey is a reason why a team is not winning. I've never heard such utter rubbish.
Limerick are simply too good for everyone at present and ARE the best team of all time. Their sheer power and physicality would blow away any of the great teams of the past such as Kilkenny's 4 in a row team in the 00's.
Galway like other posters have said are just too inconsistent and can never be relied upon to put a string of results together.
While is was fantastic I believe we were very fortunate to win the All Ireland in 2017 as I firmly believe the only reason we won it is because it was only Waterford in the final. Can anyone honestly say we would have beaten a Kilkenny or Tipp in a final - I don't think so. I know people will say we beat Tipp in the semi but a final is a different story altogether. Would have been a shame if Joe never got to win one so we'll take it but can't see another one coming anytime soon."

Replying To galway19:  "This seems like madness. How do you reward Shefflin with an extra year? We are hardly 12-24 months within of winning an All-Ireland. He is hardly going to promote young players for senior debuts if he knows he will be gone in 2025. https://galwaybayfm.ie/sports/joyce-and-shefflin-to-stay-on-as-galway-managers/"

Replying To Stool Pigeon:  "How do you know that 'he knows he will be gone in 2025'

Where does it say that in your link?

He sure as hell won't 'promote young players for senior debuts' if he knows he will be gone in 2024 anyway, that's for certain"

Replying To Stool Pigeon:  "How do you know that 'he knows he will be gone in 2025'

Where does it say that in your link?

He sure as hell won't 'promote young players for senior debuts' if he knows he will be gone in 2024 anyway, that's for certain"

Replying To galway19:  "This seems like madness. How do you reward Shefflin with an extra year? We are hardly 12-24 months within of winning an All-Ireland. He is hardly going to promote young players for senior debuts if he knows he will be gone in 2025. https://galwaybayfm.ie/sports/joyce-and-shefflin-to-stay-on-as-galway-managers/"