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I agree with that in general. However, the two marks Clifford took in last year's All-Ireland weren't close in to goal. They were a bit further out. One came from a mis-hit or blocked kick which fell well short. It was caught at chest height. For the other one Sean was with Clifford but didn't even contest it, which I've no doubt he was disappointed with. At the same time, you can't take away his attacking game as it's a huge weapon. There's nobody else who can carry the ball out so effectively, and do it over and over throughout a game. He balanced the two very well against Kerry in the last league match, where he had a brilliant game. I also remember him doing similar against Mayo in the 2020 Connacht final where he was again exceptional. He marked O'Shea that day too and ran the legs off him. I wouldn't be sold on Mulkerrin being the full time option at full-back either. Apart from pace, he also struggled physically with O'Shea in the 2nd half of the 2021 Connacht final, after Kelly went off injured. There's no full-back who won't be exposed from time to time. Foley had a lot of protection last year for Kerry, but has looked very poor in some games in this year's league. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2227 - 09/04/2023 09:22:11 2469671 Link 0 |
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Maybe PK should look at the NUIG solution to taking care of Clifford and others in similar fashion where they used Mulcahy as full back and S Kelly in a covering role even though listed as midfield (worked very in that final), Moycullen do something similar and it seems to work well for them also.
backtooldwall (Galway) - Posts: 140 - 09/04/2023 11:34:43 2469705 Link 1 |
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Pity we didn't get to try Eoghan there during the league, a more natural defender.
Galwayspur (Offaly) - Posts: 231 - 09/04/2023 11:59:20 2469714 Link 2 |
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Absolutely right. Sean Kelly was poor on David Clifford in the Final last year and it was the losing of the game for Galway. Kelly is a fine footballer but he's not a fullback. Galway needed to shackle David Clifford to be All Ireland champions and not have him catching handy marks as he did.If the teams meet this year, Somebody else needs to mark David Clifford.Regardless of the result today in Castlebar and Mayo are expected to win, I think Galway will win Connacht this year.
endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2308 - 09/04/2023 12:04:47 2469720 Link 2 |
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Sean Kelly would have been fine on Clifford if Johnny Heaney was able to get anything resembling pressure on the kicker. crankyincorofin (Galway) - Posts: 98 - 09/04/2023 12:24:15 2469730 Link 2 |
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No full back will Mark Clifford if there no pressure put on the ball coming in Sean kelly is without doubt best full back In Ireland and yes it's his best position he not the best kick passer so half back line would not suit him , some posters on about eoghan kerrin it's one area Galway are good in is defending they do it in numbers Galway need keep Walsh , comer , and Finnerty up at all times if 11 players can't defend one half of field ur at nothing, if Galway keep them 3 In opponents half the opponents will def have keep 4 back to mind them it's madness see Walsh , comer Finnerty going back inside there own half and brining there markers with them , Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 969 - 09/04/2023 13:13:10 2469760 Link 2 |
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We did exactly that in Pearse Stadium two weeks ago. He was held scoreless from play and was visibly frustrated late on. At the same time Sean got up the pitch regularly when we turned over possession. It was as good a job as I've seen done on Clifford, since that Sigerson final. The terrible weather was also a big help to the NUIG backs in that Sigerson final. Of course it's a different challenge on a summer's day in Croke Park, but they key is pressure on the ball, as has been said. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2227 - 09/04/2023 14:03:02 2469778 Link 1 |
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Imagine the public lynching there'd be if Gleeson did some of the smathering the Rossie goalie did today? Triffic (Galway) - Posts: 159 - 09/04/2023 17:51:11 2469838 Link 0 |
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Of course it's a different ball game come summer - it's more unforgiving!!. But the one obvious weakness in Kelly's game, imo, is an apparent flat- footed inability to get airborne.. The fact that he gets forward, and at times scores, imo, does not necessarily compensate. In the last line of defence, the full back should be authoritative - a commanding presence and in general set the tone "Thou shalt not pass". He certainly shouldn't be joking with the opposite number.. Tbe reason I suggested Heaney be now tried is, I feel he's competitive in the air and ground, strong and athletic, and would also be able to comfortably play out of defence. AnCrúiscínLán (Galway) - Posts: 102 - 09/04/2023 18:15:13 2469855 Link 1 |
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Yes agreed. In relation to O Shea, Kevin Walsh maintained the same in his book Stand O'Shea up, and he's good for f--- all else. Galway did pretty much that last Sunday, but as the ref was hell bent on awarding Mayo enough frees to win the title, he penalised Galway for little more than breathing on big Aido.
Albara (Galway) - Posts: 30 - 09/04/2023 18:16:00 2469856 Link 4 |
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O Shea fouling maybe 4 times at the end probably would have been a free to him last week. Wheels off now for the Mayo boys. PancakeWard (Galway) - Posts: 86 - 09/04/2023 18:39:46 2469869 Link 0 |
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As I said in an earlier post, O'Shea wasn't good enough 5 years ago, nothing was ever going to change in that regard. ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1635 - 09/04/2023 18:40:35 2469870 Link 1 |
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That makes a change because normally he can't buy a free.
Greengrass (Louth) - Posts: 6159 - 09/04/2023 18:42:50 2469874 Link 1 |
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I've heard that a bit, and while there's truth to it at times, he gets plenty frees. If you watch him in possession he also initiates contact with defenders a huge amount of the time. He carries the ball in high and swings his arms from side to side regularly. It makes it look like defenders are pulling him over and back, when in actual fact he's doing most of the jostling. It's obviously smart, but it's something refs should have copped on to at this stage. If you want to see a player who can't buy a free, look no further than Damian Comer, including last Sunday. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2227 - 09/04/2023 19:51:17 2469890 Link 0 |
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As James O Donoghue validly pointed out on the football pod during the week - the difference between your regular inside forward and O Shea is that they are looking to avoid contact and make space for themselves to get a shot in. O Shea has absolutely no interest in avoiding contact and actively initiates it in an attempt to win frees. He knows he doesn't have the forward guile or shooting accuracy so he effectively barges into would be tacklers. He's been doing it for years. galwayman2 (Galway) - Posts: 1291 - 09/04/2023 21:00:56 2469914 Link 1 |
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Why would he consider investing, when he can collect them for free
Albara (Galway) - Posts: 30 - 09/04/2023 21:50:20 2469930 Link 0 |
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Roscommon seem to be the wet day specialists. Any time they seem to play Galway or Mayo on a wet day in Connacht they seem to win. centrefield99 (Galway) - Posts: 137 - 10/04/2023 11:03:55 2469969 Link 0 |
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Heaney at full back must be the worst suggestion ever posted on here, and the competition for that title is fierce. Heaney is a runner. Nothing else. crankyincorofin (Galway) - Posts: 98 - 10/04/2023 12:48:32 2469998 Link 2 |
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Roscommon will fancy they can turn over Galway who the pundits are talking up dispite never fully clicking in the league. For all the emergence of talent in the league, Walsh's form who has rescued us vs Roscommon a few times especially in 2018 and deserved an all star, has been worrying TBH. Roscommon have 4 or 5 top quality forwards, a strong core and the rest will work tirelessly for the cause. I think Galway can beat them but Roscommon are masters of using the wind to their advantage. They adjuster their scoring zone and adjusted to the conditions in Pierce a few times and Dr Hyde park will be no different. You couldnt but like the Roscommon manager. Galway looked poor at times vs Mayo. A performance like that vs Roscommon and they'll be toppled. Glad the Dunmore keeper did well in the league final. Quieten down the crowd on here, for a while at least. OhReally (Limerick) - Posts: 24 - 10/04/2023 16:14:30 2470050 Link 0 |
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A runner, a scorer of crucial goals and points. One of our best players in the league. I agree the full-back suggestion is odd. I can't see any logic for that. He's also far too important to the team in his current role. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2227 - 11/04/2023 08:33:13 2470118 Link 3 |