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Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "I wouldn't be against that but players themselves might like the idea of being put in goals. You'll always hear rumors of teams trying it, Bryan Sheehan was going in goals for Kerry one year, Big Joe Sheridan was tried in goals for Meath during the league, Shane O'Rourke was tried in full forward and in goals for Meath. Seems to be a more done thing in hurling, a lot of the goalies are outfield players with their clubs or even started out on county panels as outfield players. I remember there was talk (rumors again) that Tadhg Haran was going in goals for galway in hurling. Paul Conroy would be the one outfielder for galway who would make the best go at it, great distribution, great under a high ball (our biggest let down in goalkeepers) etc Although I'd love to see it I'd say Paul still sees himself as contributor out the field. We've about 5/6 goalies in galway all at the same level and that's a very average level, we've surely the highest turnover in goalies of any county the last 5 years, crazy amount.
Well done to Salthill and Moycullen. Didn't expect Moycullen to win as handy. They seem a cut above the rest this year, bar the draw in the group stage, and should win by a couple of points. Did say from the start they're the best set up team for a run at an all Ireland club title, have a serious amount of options and quality on the pitch. Would make for an interesting club all Ireland Moycullen vs Kilmacud. Would Shane Walsh be the first lad ever to play against a club from his native county in a club all Ireland?"
All those players mentioned played in goal underage though. Bryan Sheehan was a goalkeeper underage and at school's level. He also mentioned in a podcast earlier this year that the rumours he was going to start in goal for the Kerry seniors were complete nonsense.
Having a goalie who's comfortable on the ball, has good positioning, decision making etc. is very important. However, they still need to have a goalkeeper's instinct and well above average reflexes.
Hopefully if Conor Flaherty stays fit, we'll see him develop in a top keeper next year. He ticks a lot of the boxes and of course has played outfield for Claregalway so he's more than comfortable on the ball.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2223 - 24/10/2022 11:05:02    2445229

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Replying To anotheralias:  "??? I walked around the pitch and hung around for a half hour talking to people from both clubs and witnessed nothing only sporting comments. Mountbellew disappointed at how much they under performed, , Moycullen delighted with a brilliant display.... but no animosity of any shape or form.... as it should be."
Gardai were involved after an incident between a young moycullen supporter and MM adult supporter after the game. I know it was only an isolated incident but with all that's going on in recent times the man should have had more sense.

fearruanua (Galway) - Posts: 366 - 24/10/2022 11:19:49    2445235

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "All those players mentioned played in goal underage though. Bryan Sheehan was a goalkeeper underage and at school's level. He also mentioned in a podcast earlier this year that the rumours he was going to start in goal for the Kerry seniors were complete nonsense.
Having a goalie who's comfortable on the ball, has good positioning, decision making etc. is very important. However, they still need to have a goalkeeper's instinct and well above average reflexes.
Hopefully if Conor Flaherty stays fit, we'll see him develop in a top keeper next year. He ticks a lot of the boxes and of course has played outfield for Claregalway so he's more than comfortable on the ball."
Flaherty has potential definitely.

I was also hugely impressed with last years minor keeper (I have only seen him playing for Galway last year so not a huge amount of games for any proper judgement). He has a long kick off a 1 or 2 step run up. This gives him huge options to disguise his kick and also the ability to react to a free player quickly (because he is so close to the ball)

The element of disguise and ability to react has been missing with a lot of our keepers. They take a long run up which means that if a man comes free and they have retreated and set themselves for a particular kick it takes them too long to adjust.

On a side note, I saw some highlights of Flahertys exploits in at 14. Looked a real handful. Now I fully realise highlights reels can be deceiving hence I am asking the question is there any possibility he is county level as a 14? Completely different level to club I know.

Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1894 - 24/10/2022 12:02:03    2445239

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conroy in goal must be a joke. one of our better players last years

cavan.galway (Galway) - Posts: 212 - 24/10/2022 12:05:55    2445240

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Replying To fearruanua:  "Gardai were involved after an incident between a young moycullen supporter and MM adult supporter after the game. I know it was only an isolated incident but with all that's going on in recent times the man should have had more sense."
Hadn't heard that and if its true your comment that he should have had more sense is valid.
However, I'm glad you clarified it as the original comment "From what I saw leaving the stadium yesterday it seems some of their supporters behaviour wasn't great either." seemed to insinuate that it was multiple MM people involved..."some" should have been replaced with "one".
It seems like a subtle difference , but important . If there was one fool then it is one too many , but the use of "some" implies multiiple and portrays an image that poor or unsporting behavior is endemic in Mountbellew, which I guarantee you it is not.
Mountbellew supporters are loyal , sporting and fair , and they congratulate Moycullen and really wish them the best of luck and hope that they can go on to win a club All Ireland. They have the potential to do so.

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 960 - 24/10/2022 12:17:49    2445243

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The upcoming keeper is Kyle Gilmore from Cortoon Shamrocks and St Jarlaths. He is still in school. He has a lot of potential but the issue is a Galway mentality to drop keepers after a few mistakes. I've seen a lot of club football this year and the best three keepers I've seen are Power, Boyle and Darragh Forkan.

GDL (Galway) - Posts: 776 - 24/10/2022 12:54:29    2445249

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Tomo kicked two scores in the second half yesterday that were as sweet a strike as you would see anywhere. Hopefully he takes another leap of improvement heading into county next year and he can definitely be a good option in that forward line. Finnerty was good, if he just had any semblance of a right foot he would be impossible to mark inside.

I can see the final being very cagey. Both teams thrive off turning over the opposition and then breaking forward at pace. I can see both sides being quite cautious with the ball.

galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 806 - 24/10/2022 12:58:04    2445250

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You'd certainly hope to see more of Tomo Culhane for Galway next year. He's had a very good club championship. Kicked 3 absolute dingers from distance yesterday during the 2nd half. I imagine the only thing holding him back this year was maybe they didn't think his work rate was high enough compared to some lads who got off the bench ahead of him but it terms of ability he's a natural scorer.

Also thought Eoghan Kerin had a very good game marking him despite those scores. Came away with a mountain of ball out of defence. Just hard to stop an accurate long range shooter like Culhane if he gets possession in the right spots. Not sure if Kerin or the Galway management would be interested in him going back but he'd certainly be worth a look again.

Also a few words for how much Comer has worked on his game and improved. Used to be a bit of a bull in a china shop a few years ago but he's really a complete footballer now and had added so much to his all round game. Kicked some great scores yesterday and you could almost play him anywhere and he'd still be very effective.

Didn't think it was one of Peter Cooke's stand out games yesterday but he still ended up with 1-2 and handled an awful lot of ball around the middle third. Not sure what his work circumstances are for next year but Galway should certainly be doing everything they can to make sure he's involved.

Any word on James McLaughlin? Presume the injury that kept him out all year is still bothering him as there was no sign of him yesterday.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2302 - 24/10/2022 13:38:37    2445259

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Replying To Mayonman:  "Flaherty has potential definitely.

I was also hugely impressed with last years minor keeper (I have only seen him playing for Galway last year so not a huge amount of games for any proper judgement). He has a long kick off a 1 or 2 step run up. This gives him huge options to disguise his kick and also the ability to react to a free player quickly (because he is so close to the ball)

The element of disguise and ability to react has been missing with a lot of our keepers. They take a long run up which means that if a man comes free and they have retreated and set themselves for a particular kick it takes them too long to adjust.

On a side note, I saw some highlights of Flahertys exploits in at 14. Looked a real handful. Now I fully realise highlights reels can be deceiving hence I am asking the question is there any possibility he is county level as a 14? Completely different level to club I know."
In my opinion anyway - whatever about in the ability stakes & I haven't seen enough to call that - he isn't athletic enough for outfield county ball.

galwayman2 (Galway) - Posts: 1291 - 24/10/2022 13:57:36    2445263

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Replying To galway19:  "Tomo kicked two scores in the second half yesterday that were as sweet a strike as you would see anywhere. Hopefully he takes another leap of improvement heading into county next year and he can definitely be a good option in that forward line. Finnerty was good, if he just had any semblance of a right foot he would be impossible to mark inside.

I can see the final being very cagey. Both teams thrive off turning over the opposition and then breaking forward at pace. I can see both sides being quite cautious with the ball."
Tomo was absolutely outstanding. Hopefully we can keep him quiet but Kerin in my opinion had a good game Tomo was just brilliant.

I think if it's a close game at half time both teams will go for it in the second half. Moycullens experience of having been there before should really stand to them.

galwayfball (Galway) - Posts: 1704 - 24/10/2022 14:59:59    2445274

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Replying To LottoPlus:  "Honestly I thought that Annaghdown did well around the middle. I thought Maher (after a good year) was very anonymous yesterday. Thought that Daithi Kilcommins was super for a lad of only 18 though for some reason he was not on Galway Under 20 this year. I thought the other Kilcommins also did well in a holding role and Comer was the Star for Annaghdown. Thought Sweeney was good in spots and the stars for Salthill was Culhane and Finnerty. Lovely sweet kickers of the ball, both of them."
I was at the game's yesterday in the company of 2 friends from a neighbouring football mad county they couldn't get over the annaghdown tactics when you have one of the best inside forwards in the country get the ball into him as quickly as possible instead what you had was slow lateral passing even when they turned over saltill ball their first reaction is to solo across the pitch and then go backwards their two midfielders were especially guilty of this and as for their substitutions they were bizarre to say the least

minor77 (Galway) - Posts: 249 - 24/10/2022 15:11:03    2445275

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Replying To galwayman2:  "In my opinion anyway - whatever about in the ability stakes & I haven't seen enough to call that - he isn't athletic enough for outfield county ball."
It's not just about being an athlete.Its about knowing what to do with the ball when you get it.Its a combination and you can train to become faster and more athletic.Conor Flaherty had been out for almost 4 months injured and for someone not athletic enough ,he did very well for first season outfield for a long time.

Alwaysencourage (Galway) - Posts: 372 - 24/10/2022 17:50:25    2445296

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Just re watched the highlights and pictures from FB, it's obvious that sean was told to go out there and hammer the hammer, he went straight into 11 and went at JD, JD is MM best player everything good goes through him, he still had a solid game but that tactic by sean sets a tone and subconsciously ate away at MM.
That type of player is few and far between.
On another note moycullens variance in player type is very telling, they had a tall rangey corner back on Mchugh, kept Mchugh quite and made the 2nd goal, their a big physical fit team, strong favs for the championship and the best set team to take on the westport/Ballina teams, no offence to salthill but they just don't have a sean kelly enforcer In their backs
Moycullen by 8 or 9

Sportsfanatic90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 226 - 24/10/2022 18:27:57    2445299

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Replying To Marooned:  "You'd certainly hope to see more of Tomo Culhane for Galway next year. He's had a very good club championship. Kicked 3 absolute dingers from distance yesterday during the 2nd half. I imagine the only thing holding him back this year was maybe they didn't think his work rate was high enough compared to some lads who got off the bench ahead of him but it terms of ability he's a natural scorer.

Also thought Eoghan Kerin had a very good game marking him despite those scores. Came away with a mountain of ball out of defence. Just hard to stop an accurate long range shooter like Culhane if he gets possession in the right spots. Not sure if Kerin or the Galway management would be interested in him going back but he'd certainly be worth a look again.

Also a few words for how much Comer has worked on his game and improved. Used to be a bit of a bull in a china shop a few years ago but he's really a complete footballer now and had added so much to his all round game. Kicked some great scores yesterday and you could almost play him anywhere and he'd still be very effective.

Didn't think it was one of Peter Cooke's stand out games yesterday but he still ended up with 1-2 and handled an awful lot of ball around the middle third. Not sure what his work circumstances are for next year but Galway should certainly be doing everything they can to make sure he's involved.

Any word on James McLaughlin? Presume the injury that kept him out all year is still bothering him as there was no sign of him yesterday."
I think anyone who attended yesterdays games would (or should) know that Peter Cooke did'nt actually score 1-2

UtahBlaine (Galway) - Posts: 151 - 24/10/2022 19:15:23    2445303

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Replying To galwayman2:  "In my opinion anyway - whatever about in the ability stakes & I haven't seen enough to call that - he isn't athletic enough for outfield county ball."
Plays outfield in hurling for club, college and county at numerous different age groups. Not sure why you would think he lacks mobility.

SamandLiamSoon (Galway) - Posts: 622 - 24/10/2022 22:01:00    2445315

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Replying To UtahBlaine:  "I think anyone who attended yesterdays games would (or should) know that Peter Cooke did'nt actually score 1-2"
Sorry, that should have read 0-2. No ability to edit a post here unfortunately.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2302 - 25/10/2022 13:32:27    2445374

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Replying To SamandLiamSoon:  "Plays outfield in hurling for club, college and county at numerous different age groups. Not sure why you would think he lacks mobility."
Ah yeah I'm aware of that - I have seen him play. And to me he looks to lack a bit of mobility as I said.
Just my opinion.

galwayman2 (Galway) - Posts: 1291 - 25/10/2022 14:42:55    2445388

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Replying To Alwaysencourage:  "It's not just about being an athlete.Its about knowing what to do with the ball when you get it.Its a combination and you can train to become faster and more athletic.Conor Flaherty had been out for almost 4 months injured and for someone not athletic enough ,he did very well for first season outfield for a long time."
Jaysus some of ye are awful touchy.
Not disagreeing with you he did very well for Claregalway this year.
Just a personal opinion re county level.
Has great potential as a keeper for the county for sure,

galwayman2 (Galway) - Posts: 1291 - 25/10/2022 14:45:22    2445389

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So Paul Conroy in goal and Conor Flaherty up front seem to be the suggestions.
At a time when we're desperately trying to develop a quality goalkeeper, why on earth would anyone be thinking about playing Flaherty outfield?
Let's hope he gets a good run as keeper in next year's league and we can see how he develops.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2223 - 25/10/2022 15:33:41    2445402

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "So Paul Conroy in goal and Conor Flaherty up front seem to be the suggestions.
At a time when we're desperately trying to develop a quality goalkeeper, why on earth would anyone be thinking about playing Flaherty outfield?
Let's hope he gets a good run as keeper in next year's league and we can see how he develops."
Just to clarify. It was people within his own club that suggested playing Paul Conroy in goal...after he broke his 2 legs and they were not sure if he would recover sufficiently to play intercounty again. He had played underage soccer in goal to international level.

He did recover from that horrific injury and has just been nominated for a midfield all star so huge credit due to the man and I don't know him.

P.S. I'd have Don Conroy in goal ahead last years No.1

smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 443 - 25/10/2022 17:59:14    2445428

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