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Galway Football thread

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Dreadful 2nd half, 2 weeks in a row now that we've been caught in last possession and conceded a score. Shocking game management, once is a fluke but with this team it's a pattern going back to last year with mayo Armagh and even the Connacht final v Roscommon with the late goals. And Monaghan 2 years ago.
Scoring forwards is an issue with the injuries we currently have but that will clear up. Team will settle.
Biggest issue for me in 2nd half yesterday was the kickouts, some very dodgy short ones and the long ones are aimless with no plan. Have to have a look at Power next game.
In contrast, Carrol from Roscommon (who is from galway) was very good, calm and played out from the back very well. The modern keeper. We won't contest all Irelands without a modern calm keeper and a kickout strategy.

jobseekersbent (Galway) - Posts: 382 - 06/02/2023 13:57:32    2456862

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Replying To Kickitout:  "Think GAA definitely need think about cash at turnstiles several older people 2 day had no ticket or way of accessing them not very fair no regard at all for older patrons ,,"
The Gaa obviously want to go cashless for a number of reasons. One possible solution is to have a dedicated turn style just for genuine old age pensioners who would have to show their public services card / free travel card and allow them to buy one ticket only for cash. (Not for additional friends)

Another possible option is to do a deal with the post office and allow them to purchase tickets in advance there. Probably not implementable.
If the will is there to help our long time GAA supporters, there are solutions. Many of whom live alone and do not have smartphones/computers etc.

letsgetgoing (Roscommon) - Posts: 646 - 06/02/2023 15:21:05    2456872

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Can't tickets not be bought in Centra/Super Valu?

I don't understand the commotion here. There should be no surprise for anyone now turning up to the turnstiles without a ticket. How do OAPs and others manage for all ticket championship games?

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1635 - 06/02/2023 17:39:03    2456887

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Replying To Kickitout:  "Looking at Galway without Finnerty , comer Walsh hard see where we going score more than 8-10 scores max , even with them Galway have found no new forward from last year , same lads coming on in forwards and not near good enough,I suppose when management don't even look outside senior clubs no hope ,, in Meath this year they had regional trials for players who were not on county panel last year ,with the 3 forwards that are missing Galway definitely have the worse set of forwards in top 2 division,,"
Galway have played in 4 of the last 7 All-Ireland minor finals. Won the U20 All-Ireland in 2020 and club sides won senior, Intermediate, Junior Connacht titles in 2022 so there should be plenty of available forward options to choose from when injuries happen.

Yesterday Roscommon was without three starting forwards in Donie Smith, Cian McKeon, Cathal Heneghan and both midfielders Eddie Nolan, Ultan Harney. Those players was mostly replaced by their U20s from 2021 that reached the AI final.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3519 - 06/02/2023 17:54:12    2456890

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Replying To jobseekersbent:  "Dreadful 2nd half, 2 weeks in a row now that we've been caught in last possession and conceded a score. Shocking game management, once is a fluke but with this team it's a pattern going back to last year with mayo Armagh and even the Connacht final v Roscommon with the late goals. And Monaghan 2 years ago.
Scoring forwards is an issue with the injuries we currently have but that will clear up. Team will settle.
Biggest issue for me in 2nd half yesterday was the kickouts, some very dodgy short ones and the long ones are aimless with no plan. Have to have a look at Power next game.
In contrast, Carrol from Roscommon (who is from galway) was very good, calm and played out from the back very well. The modern keeper. We won't contest all Irelands without a modern calm keeper and a kickout strategy."
Where have you been? I'd like to bring to your notice that we did contest the All Ireland senior football final in 2022 with Kerry and were quite unlucky not to have won. A poor decision by the referee in penalising John Daly when the free should have gone Galway's way, probably cost us the match. So your statement that we will not contest All Irelands without making certain changes, is quite ludicrous. All Irelands are not won in February.

FatLadySinging (Galway) - Posts: 91 - 06/02/2023 18:36:32    2456895

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Replying To Kickitout:  "Looking at Galway without Finnerty , comer Walsh hard see where we going score more than 8-10 scores max , even with them Galway have found no new forward from last year , same lads coming on in forwards and not near good enough,I suppose when management don't even look outside senior clubs no hope ,, in Meath this year they had regional trials for players who were not on county panel last year ,with the 3 forwards that are missing Galway definitely have the worse set of forwards in top 2 division,,"
A tad excessive. Galway have 5 forwards out injured or unavailable. 4 of them started the All-Ireland final last year. No team is the same with all their top forwards out. It would be great if all the back ups were as good as the first choice forwards but they are back ups for a reason. They are not as good as them.

Culhane was going great guns in the Sigerson and off the bench in the FBD. He would probably have gotten a chance by now but he's also injured. Patrick Kelly injured as well. Another fella who had a promising debut year last year.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2304 - 06/02/2023 19:06:38    2456904

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Yesterday brought me back to a league game in Pearse against Cavan in ~2017 which ended 10 8 to them.
We are in bother I feel. We seem to not improve when making substitutions in games.
Best for us were S Kelly, Daly and Mc Daid.
Our kickouts were a lottery, hoof out. At least KW used to overload the side the ball was coming. If John Maher is cover for Midfield then he should have been used yesterday. We are being mongoed there. I would move Conroy inside and use as an outlet for long ball. Could also have played Billy Mannion yesterday and let Sean Kelly up the field.
For a clutch KO we have no one in midfield to win them. Tom Flynn was the last fella we had for that and the last 10 minutes against Mayo in 2018 was a good example of that

Maroonedinlongford2 (Galway) - Posts: 39 - 06/02/2023 19:28:37    2456907

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Replying To jobseekersbent:  "Dreadful 2nd half, 2 weeks in a row now that we've been caught in last possession and conceded a score. Shocking game management, once is a fluke but with this team it's a pattern going back to last year with mayo Armagh and even the Connacht final v Roscommon with the late goals. And Monaghan 2 years ago.
Scoring forwards is an issue with the injuries we currently have but that will clear up. Team will settle.
Biggest issue for me in 2nd half yesterday was the kickouts, some very dodgy short ones and the long ones are aimless with no plan. Have to have a look at Power next game.
In contrast, Carrol from Roscommon (who is from galway) was very good, calm and played out from the back very well. The modern keeper. We won't contest all Irelands without a modern calm keeper and a kickout strategy."
You could also include the AI semifinal against Derry last year where they conceded a last minute goal even though the game was over at that stage but its definitely now a worrying pattern. Not sure if its mental or physical tiredness or does the team just collectively "switch off". There was a similar pattern with Galway teams a number of years ago where they would collectively "go missing" for large parts of games leading to a number of continuous and "infamous" 1 point defeats to what many considered "weaker" teams such as Sligo, Wexford, Westmeath and Antrim. Scoring just 16 points in about 160 minutes in the last 2 games is atrocious no matter what players are picked. On another point the likes of Conroy and Heaney as the most senior players should be showing leadership to the younger players when the going gets tough but were anonymous for large parts of the last 2 games and seem to be just in the team now based on "past glories" which is not good enough.

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 06/02/2023 19:35:40    2456910

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Comer, Finnerty, Walsh, Culhane, Michael Daly, Liam Silke and Molly all injured of unavailable.

Asides from Culhane and potentially Daly all those are first 15 players.

If you take the best 3 or 4 forwards away from any team they'll struggle. If we have all those available we beat Roscommon.

Race against time to get as many of those back as possible. Hard to see anything but relegation at the minute.

centrefield99 (Galway) - Posts: 137 - 06/02/2023 20:19:04    2456916

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Actually in addition to Comer, Walsh, Finnerty and Michael Daly, we are missing Patrick Kelly, Finian O Laoi, Tom Culhane, Molloy and Silke.

9 of our match day 26. How are we supposed to compete with all thise ansentee?

Haven't even mentioned the lads who could be playing but have stepped away. Tom Flynn, Brannigan and the likes.

If we had all available it would be a different story.

centrefield99 (Galway) - Posts: 137 - 06/02/2023 20:48:40    2456922

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I admire these lads so much for what they put in for our county but sorry, this Galway display was simply not anywhere near good enough for this level. The last 20odd mins collapse was actually pathetic to watch. Hugely frustrating for supporters there in Pearse and listening in. Our local derbies were a real chance to build momentum for Galway football after our great run last year - but we gifted a vital league point to Mayo with ridiculous, junior b style losses of possession, and now we've blown out against the Rossies with a second half shambles again. You have to be winning your local derby games, that's where the supporter interest and momentum builds. Now the fringe supporters will go back to their sitting rooms! A lot of momentum lost. What's going on? Well for one thing, we're collapsing as a team far too often. Why are these collapses still happening? A) Are we college/snr club fit or are we top flight intercounty super fit?! There is a difference and I don't think we're the latter. We're looking gassed from 50 mins far too often. There's a trend there, you can't just put it down to Sigerson or late season club involvement. We just can't seem to close out games, and certainly not with strength. We appear to be at 50% for the last 20-25 mins in multiple games and devoid of ideas and leadership - just no cut to us at all. Nothing to instil fear into an opponent. We look like we're just prey for the taking at the end of so many games - and other teams see this. This is a fundamental problem. B) Shooting - what is going on with our shooting practice and attacking prep? It looks rudderless, there is no cut to our attack, no ripping apart of defences, finding gaps and exploiting them, a lack of the angled runner coming through like a freight train on to the ball, there doesn't seem to be discernible flow or training ground shape and movement to our attack. I know we're missing 3 of our 'scoring' forwards but all forwards need to be able to land the high percentage ones and plenty of these lads can score. Why aren't they doing it? We're dropping kicks into the keepers hands - much more demoralising than putting it wide imo - cos we're half gassed, not primed, and totally lacking confidence when we pull the trigger. Tierney, Heaney, Burke, Cooke, E Finnerty, Conneely, Gallagher, Kelly, all the forwards that now need to be far more convincing, need to step up and carry the scoring responsibility between them. These lads need serious work on their attacking moves and shooting. They're going to have to sharpen it urgently and drive the damn thing over the lat - it just looks half assed at the moment and I think the players know it too. C) Midfield. I've posted on this forum for years now about Galway's inability to develop high fielders in recent years. We can't adequately contest. We can't get off the deck. We're cleaned on catches and breaks far too often. You now simply expect to see the other team come away on breaking ball. Can our managment team please put some serious work into this? We're looking a soft touch in that department. D) Goalkeeper. Many call it the most important position in Gaelic Football now but in Galway we don't seem to get that, some of us are still living in the 90s, we can't seem to learn it, we can't seem to change it. What the hell? Kids can see the restart panic from the stands and sidelines, 80 year old veterans of the game are asking questions to the effect of what are our management not seeing here, how can they not see this glaring problem? God above lads, it's as clear as day that our restarts are an absolute time bomb and some day Kerry or the likes will put about 5 goals past us from fluffed kickouts, they're like something from u16s on an off day. The risk under the high ball into the square is still massive too. Stop the nonsense. It ain't working. Our backroom need to sort this now. It's past time.
Perhaps I'm being somewhat harsh here but PJ did say we were going to win the league! Instead, we're looking like we're in a relegation battle. Time we backed up some of the sound bites.

togoutlads (Galway) - Posts: 982 - 07/02/2023 09:22:12    2456940

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Knives appear to be very much out for PJ et al.

Granted losing Comer, Walsh and Finnerty is far from ideal seeing as they are our 3 scoring forwards....

But the desire to go so defensive is nuts. Taking the Moycullen approach which didnt win them the club AI and implemting it is only going to end in tears for us.

Dermot_Desmond_96 (Galway) - Posts: 40 - 07/02/2023 10:36:41    2456948

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Galway always have players who just did not have he interest in playing football for Galway or management thought were not good enough. Is there anyone in the county that Joyce is missing? Trying to put a team together outside the panel. I have included Maher and Fitzgerald as I dont know if they are still on Galway panel. I did not see any intermediate matches so I am sorry if I have missed a few more potential players from that competition.

1. Flaherty (CG)
2. Kerins (Ann)
3. Fitzgerald (Bearna)
4. Foley (MM)
5. Dylan Canney (Cor)
6. Potter (Ann)
7. Campbell (CG)
8. Maher (S/Hill)
9. Kilcommons (Ann)
10 Silke (Cor)
11. McWalter (Tuam)
12. Jason Leonard (Cor)
13. Brian Mannion (Tuam)
14 A. Varley (Cortoon)
15 B.McHugh (MM)

LottoPlus (Kilkenny) - Posts: 85 - 07/02/2023 10:47:40    2456952

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Replying To centrefield99:  "Actually in addition to Comer, Walsh, Finnerty and Michael Daly, we are missing Patrick Kelly, Finian O Laoi, Tom Culhane, Molloy and Silke.

9 of our match day 26. How are we supposed to compete with all thise ansentee?

Haven't even mentioned the lads who could be playing but have stepped away. Tom Flynn, Brannigan and the likes.

If we had all available it would be a different story."
Can anybody confirm what Tomo's injury is?

Wasnt convinced he'd make the grade but very very impressed with him for NUIG and Saltill in 2022.

May not be the quickest or strongest but he is guaranteed to get scores.

GalwaysFinest (Galway) - Posts: 191 - 07/02/2023 11:32:47    2456970

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Replying To LottoPlus:  "Galway always have players who just did not have he interest in playing football for Galway or management thought were not good enough. Is there anyone in the county that Joyce is missing? Trying to put a team together outside the panel. I have included Maher and Fitzgerald as I dont know if they are still on Galway panel. I did not see any intermediate matches so I am sorry if I have missed a few more potential players from that competition.

1. Flaherty (CG)
2. Kerins (Ann)
3. Fitzgerald (Bearna)
4. Foley (MM)
5. Dylan Canney (Cor)
6. Potter (Ann)
7. Campbell (CG)
8. Maher (S/Hill)
9. Kilcommons (Ann)
10 Silke (Cor)
11. McWalter (Tuam)
12. Jason Leonard (Cor)
13. Brian Mannion (Tuam)
14 A. Varley (Cortoon)
15 B.McHugh (MM)"
Looking at that team 14 from senior clubs there lies the problem In Galway,, I'd love know breakdown off other counties regarding inter and junior clubs I know Kerry system different

Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 968 - 07/02/2023 12:55:47    2457010

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Replying To LottoPlus:  "Galway always have players who just did not have he interest in playing football for Galway or management thought were not good enough. Is there anyone in the county that Joyce is missing? Trying to put a team together outside the panel. I have included Maher and Fitzgerald as I dont know if they are still on Galway panel. I did not see any intermediate matches so I am sorry if I have missed a few more potential players from that competition.

1. Flaherty (CG)
2. Kerins (Ann)
3. Fitzgerald (Bearna)
4. Foley (MM)
5. Dylan Canney (Cor)
6. Potter (Ann)
7. Campbell (CG)
8. Maher (S/Hill)
9. Kilcommons (Ann)
10 Silke (Cor)
11. McWalter (Tuam)
12. Jason Leonard (Cor)
13. Brian Mannion (Tuam)
14 A. Varley (Cortoon)
15 B.McHugh (MM)"
Jason Leonard ! Proven to be not good enough.

Dermot_Desmond_96 (Galway) - Posts: 40 - 07/02/2023 13:14:11    2457019

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Replying To GalwaysFinest:  "Can anybody confirm what Tomo's injury is?

Wasnt convinced he'd make the grade but very very impressed with him for NUIG and Saltill in 2022.

May not be the quickest or strongest but he is guaranteed to get scores."
Hoping this can be a big year for tomo. He's another scorer and he's still very young. Will definitely get game time when he's back

allstars23 (Galway) - Posts: 48 - 07/02/2023 13:41:34    2457034

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Replying To LottoPlus:  "Galway always have players who just did not have he interest in playing football for Galway or management thought were not good enough. Is there anyone in the county that Joyce is missing? Trying to put a team together outside the panel. I have included Maher and Fitzgerald as I dont know if they are still on Galway panel. I did not see any intermediate matches so I am sorry if I have missed a few more potential players from that competition.

1. Flaherty (CG)
2. Kerins (Ann)
3. Fitzgerald (Bearna)
4. Foley (MM)
5. Dylan Canney (Cor)
6. Potter (Ann)
7. Campbell (CG)
8. Maher (S/Hill)
9. Kilcommons (Ann)
10 Silke (Cor)
11. McWalter (Tuam)
12. Jason Leonard (Cor)
13. Brian Mannion (Tuam)
14 A. Varley (Cortoon)
15 B.McHugh (MM)"
Kerins, Varley & Tom Flynn still had much to offer in a Galway jersey

allstars23 (Galway) - Posts: 48 - 07/02/2023 13:47:05    2457043

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Replying To centrefield99:  "Actually in addition to Comer, Walsh, Finnerty and Michael Daly, we are missing Patrick Kelly, Finian O Laoi, Tom Culhane, Molloy and Silke.

9 of our match day 26. How are we supposed to compete with all thise ansentee?

Haven't even mentioned the lads who could be playing but have stepped away. Tom Flynn, Brannigan and the likes.

If we had all available it would be a different story."
You could also include Seán Mulkerrin who has been injured for more than a year now. With all the injured and absent players (who also happen to be our best players for some bizarre reason) it is difficult to see us making much of an impact this year as most of the current players don't appear to be up to intercounty standard.

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 07/02/2023 13:48:55    2457044

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Replying To togoutlads:  "I admire these lads so much for what they put in for our county but sorry, this Galway display was simply not anywhere near good enough for this level. The last 20odd mins collapse was actually pathetic to watch. Hugely frustrating for supporters there in Pearse and listening in. Our local derbies were a real chance to build momentum for Galway football after our great run last year - but we gifted a vital league point to Mayo with ridiculous, junior b style losses of possession, and now we've blown out against the Rossies with a second half shambles again. You have to be winning your local derby games, that's where the supporter interest and momentum builds. Now the fringe supporters will go back to their sitting rooms! A lot of momentum lost. What's going on? Well for one thing, we're collapsing as a team far too often. Why are these collapses still happening? A) Are we college/snr club fit or are we top flight intercounty super fit?! There is a difference and I don't think we're the latter. We're looking gassed from 50 mins far too often. There's a trend there, you can't just put it down to Sigerson or late season club involvement. We just can't seem to close out games, and certainly not with strength. We appear to be at 50% for the last 20-25 mins in multiple games and devoid of ideas and leadership - just no cut to us at all. Nothing to instil fear into an opponent. We look like we're just prey for the taking at the end of so many games - and other teams see this. This is a fundamental problem. B) Shooting - what is going on with our shooting practice and attacking prep? It looks rudderless, there is no cut to our attack, no ripping apart of defences, finding gaps and exploiting them, a lack of the angled runner coming through like a freight train on to the ball, there doesn't seem to be discernible flow or training ground shape and movement to our attack. I know we're missing 3 of our 'scoring' forwards but all forwards need to be able to land the high percentage ones and plenty of these lads can score. Why aren't they doing it? We're dropping kicks into the keepers hands - much more demoralising than putting it wide imo - cos we're half gassed, not primed, and totally lacking confidence when we pull the trigger. Tierney, Heaney, Burke, Cooke, E Finnerty, Conneely, Gallagher, Kelly, all the forwards that now need to be far more convincing, need to step up and carry the scoring responsibility between them. These lads need serious work on their attacking moves and shooting. They're going to have to sharpen it urgently and drive the damn thing over the lat - it just looks half assed at the moment and I think the players know it too. C) Midfield. I've posted on this forum for years now about Galway's inability to develop high fielders in recent years. We can't adequately contest. We can't get off the deck. We're cleaned on catches and breaks far too often. You now simply expect to see the other team come away on breaking ball. Can our managment team please put some serious work into this? We're looking a soft touch in that department. D) Goalkeeper. Many call it the most important position in Gaelic Football now but in Galway we don't seem to get that, some of us are still living in the 90s, we can't seem to learn it, we can't seem to change it. What the hell? Kids can see the restart panic from the stands and sidelines, 80 year old veterans of the game are asking questions to the effect of what are our management not seeing here, how can they not see this glaring problem? God above lads, it's as clear as day that our restarts are an absolute time bomb and some day Kerry or the likes will put about 5 goals past us from fluffed kickouts, they're like something from u16s on an off day. The risk under the high ball into the square is still massive too. Stop the nonsense. It ain't working. Our backroom need to sort this now. It's past time.
Perhaps I'm being somewhat harsh here but PJ did say we were going to win the league! Instead, we're looking like we're in a relegation battle. Time we backed up some of the sound bites."
Very good post - fully agree with all of that but does PJ and Cian O'Neill see the glaring problems that everyone else sees and if so are they doing anything about correcting them as at the moment it appears not!

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 07/02/2023 14:03:55    2457052

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