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Replying To Really: "People forget, even when these injured players were available, we still wern't able to beat Mayo... I'd consider Dublin and Kerry a massive step up from Mayo's standard.. So, I feel it's the right thing to concentrate on the young fringe players with a view to making a realistic challenge say 2-3 years down the road. Again just my opinion." That's a strange example to use considering we all know of the injury issues we had coming in to that game. Comer had a partially torn hamstring which caused him to miss the Armagh game. He was thrown in because it was do or die and only made it to half-time. Sean Kelly was also badly injured and also only played because of the nature of the game. He was limping around the pitch. The damage done caused him to miss much of the club championship. Shane Walsh had a back injury during last year's group stages. Even McDaid wasn't fully fit last summer. Having those players fully fit can make a massive difference to Galway. It's ridiculous to say otherwise. Whether we have them fit for this year's championship is another matter. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2042 - 06/03/2024 08:01:42 2530025 Link
We had nowhere near a fit or full deck of cards to choose from against Mayo lat year in champo but all being said it was our own fault getting turned over against Armagh in last few mins it would have given us an extra week but anyway lets look forward. As said we have more than lilely secured our Div1 status which is huge & the priority especially given the injury list. We have give game time to younger lads o cuurrain o conghaile & cunningham etc. We have a good draw in connacht should easily make final so thats 8 weeks away plenty of time to get lads back but miore importantly firing its about timing it right too. Looking forward to the next 2 games agains Dubs Kerry will tell us alot more about us defensively. Very interested to see where he deploys kelly this year & alot depends on whether Fitz can continue to hold his own at full back and again Dub Kerry game should tell us alot more. My team with a full compliment for champo would be: Gleeson Glynn Fitz McGrath Silke Daly MCHugh Maher McDaid Heaney Kelly Tierney O Curraoin Comer Walsh Than Conroy for last 20 does not have legs. O Conghaile & Cunningham also options. Let O curraoin on the frees & give Walsh license to roam Kelly also who can go deep etc. Eire89 (Galway) - Posts: 250 - 06/03/2024 09:00:36 2530030 Link
The question has to be asked is why are mainly Galway players getting all these injuries and not too many from other counties? Surely the S&C is not up to scratch in some way and it can't be just a coincidence. It also seems to be happening to Galway's "better players" / leaders. Again the last day Rob Finnerty limped out of the action after being tackled. Do opposition players deliberately target them as they are perceived to be somewhat "soft" or "vulnerable" in some way? tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3323 - 06/03/2024 09:14:25 2530032 Link
Replying To togoutlads: "I don't agree. We weren't full strength for Mayo last year. Even Mayo know that. Sean Kelly was hobbling from the start and he's the fulcrum. Comer got injured and Shane was well off the boil. Hoping that won't be the case this year. I think Shane has to use these precious few weeks this year to get himself to a place where he has his fitness, pace and hunger back. He's a showstopper when on form. Mayo lads telling me young Callanan can shackle him again, well I'd like to see Walsh tear the place asunder if he's fully ready. Comer strikes fear into any team and is devestating when he's fully on. We've a few jobs to do in the meantime but I'm expecting it to be an old firm Connacht final. Bring it!" One thing that worries me a bit even if we get all these top players back. Players train extremely hard from November to April in order to have the stamina levels to compete with the likes of Dublin in the summer. Without this training we wouldn't have a hope. Bringing 1 or 2 star players back who have not done this level of training might be managable , but 4 or 5 might be a bridge too far. From what i hear these injuries are mostly , if not all, leg injuries so there is no opportunity to do the hard yards while recovering ( like you might with a hand or shoulder injury). I hope I'm wrong, as even if these guys are not as super fit as they could be, they will still be needed. anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 840 - 06/03/2024 09:22:41 2530035 Link
Replying To WanPintWin: "That's a strange example to use considering we all know of the injury issues we had coming in to that game. Comer had a partially torn hamstring which caused him to miss the Armagh game. He was thrown in because it was do or die and only made it to half-time. Sean Kelly was also badly injured and also only played because of the nature of the game. He was limping around the pitch. The damage done caused him to miss much of the club championship. Shane Walsh had a back injury during last year's group stages. Even McDaid wasn't fully fit last summer. Having those players fully fit can make a massive difference to Galway. It's ridiculous to say otherwise. Whether we have them fit for this year's championship is another matter." Well we had all those players in 2022 and we only bet Mayo by a point. We had the majority for the 3 years previous and lost all of these games. MapleSyrup (Galway) - Posts: 165 - 06/03/2024 09:33:32 2530036 Link
Replying To Kickitout: "I think a lot of Galway supporters have very short memories or maybe selective memories Shane Walsh is a class player has being doing it for Galway 10 years he would walk on 2 any team in Ireland over last 20 years than include the great Dublin team ,, we in Galway are blessed to have him unfortunately lots don't appreciate how good he has being for Galway of course he had some poor games but ever player does ,I guarantee you that any team galway play be happier if he was not playing, people have to accept he not going 2 be making them runs like he was 5/6 years ago but in full flight soloing left snd right and kicking off either foot he is a joy 2 watch that's a proper player only wish we had 6 forwards like him then football be a great entertaining game again and Dublin not be dominating football. Even though I do enjoy watching them they play it the way it was meant to be ,," Controversial take incoming: Shane Walsh has not delivered on his potential. I don't think anybody doubts Shane Walsh's talent and maybe due to that talent he is held up to a higher standard and so much is expected of him. I think I am correct in saying he made his debut it 2013, so this is his 12th season at IC. Apart from KWs 1st league, Walsh has started when fit. In all the games I have seen him play for Galway (a lot), I have rarely seen him take a game by the scruff of the neck and produce game changing moments (much of his career has been Division 2 also). Yes the all Ireland 2022 and Connacht 2018 and even 2022 he was very good. For me, he has mainly produced little flashes here and there, the flick against tipp in 2014, some lovely scores in games when we were well beaten (Kerry 2014, Dubs 2018). People would leave games talking about his skill and potential and his electric pace. But I feel it's been few and far between where he has terrorised opposition teams and dragged his team over the line or produced big, game changing moments like other top forwards. Contrast it with Comer who when fit is a more consistent and a constant thorn for opposition. He usually impacts most games. Even McDaid and Kelly in their much shorter Galway careers have produced huge game changing moments. Johnny Heaney has scored massive goals over the years, even game saving blocks v Mayo in 2017. Even Tom Flynn was able to produce huge moments to win games for his team (Mayo. 2016 comes to mind). And if we contrast Walsh with other top forwards (McGuigan, Cliffords, McManus, CON, Kilkenny, Mannion, Cillian O Connor even), he is nowhere near as consistent. Again, maybe I'm holding Walsh up to a much higher standard due to his unquestionable talent but I feel his Galway career has flattered to deceive and hasn't delivered on the promise but in sparse patches. Because so much is expected of Walsh, every time he misses, it sucks so much life from a team. The flip side is when he scores from play, it's a huge boost. Of course if he's fit, he starts. A sub par Walsh is still a threat. And if he does hit form in some game, we could beat anyone and win an all Ireland. I'm not naive enough to think he is the reason we didn't win an Ireland last year or over his career, it's a team game. But if we are to win one, we need him on fire throughout a championship not just for 1 or 2 games. jobseekersbent (Galway) - Posts: 373 - 06/03/2024 09:53:36 2530039 Link
Galway play Dublin next. I remember the 1963 final. I've seen Galway play Dublin numerous times since. i genuinely cannot remember Galway ever beating Dublin. Can anyone? SixtiesKid (Galway) - Posts: 304 - 06/03/2024 10:12:34 2530044 Link
Replying To MapleSyrup: "Well we had all those players in 2022 and we only bet Mayo by a point. We had the majority for the 3 years previous and lost all of these games." Only beat them by a point? They'd been in the previous two All-Ireland finals. I'd take a any win against Mayo in championship. Comer, Walsh, Kelly and McDaid when introduced were key to that win. With all those players in 2022, we got to an All-Ireland final. The point is not that having them fit is a guarantee of success, but that it definitely makes us a stronger team. How anyone can say otherwise is very odd. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2042 - 06/03/2024 10:22:28 2530045 Link
Replying To SixtiesKid: "Galway play Dublin next. I remember the 1963 final. I've seen Galway play Dublin numerous times since. i genuinely cannot remember Galway ever beating Dublin. Can anyone?" We beat them two years in a row in the league in 2009 and 2010. We had a good few draws with them in the league around those years too. After we went down to Division 2, we didn't play them for a good few years. In championship, I don't think we played them from 1983 until the semi-final in 2018. We drew with them in the league that year, before losing the final. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2042 - 06/03/2024 11:25:46 2530055 Link
I'm trying to think of a way Galway can be competitive, but I honestly cant see how it wont be a 5 or 6 point loss (at least) Good job its not in Croker - hopefully a wet & windy Salthill. hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 377 - 06/03/2024 12:11:49 2530065 Link
Replying To anotheralias: "One thing that worries me a bit even if we get all these top players back. Players train extremely hard from November to April in order to have the stamina levels to compete with the likes of Dublin in the summer. Without this training we wouldn't have a hope. Bringing 1 or 2 star players back who have not done this level of training might be managable , but 4 or 5 might be a bridge too far. From what i hear these injuries are mostly , if not all, leg injuries so there is no opportunity to do the hard yards while recovering ( like you might with a hand or shoulder injury). I hope I'm wrong, as even if these guys are not as super fit as they could be, they will still be needed." Its a fair point but Galway will likely have 6 championship games before they play a knockout game so its almost like the league again. Its no ideal but at least the current format gives injured players more of a chance to get match fit. TheBishop (Galway) - Posts: 260 - 06/03/2024 13:28:28 2530073 Link
Replying To OhReally: "Shane Walsh has the most money in the bank going back over the last decade. He has just been nominated for club footballer of the year! He makes the odd poor decision but the amount of games he has won single handedly! His contribution to the cause is prob 2nd only to Paul Conroy! 2nd half in Dr Hyde park in 2018. Show me a better performance in a Galway shirt? They gave an all star to handpass McHugh that year at wing forward! He looked a little off last year but look closely and every team will have their best marker and a sweeper in the space in front of him. He went through a strange year last year & all the controversy over his transfer couldn't have helped but he wasn't flying for Crokes." Walsh not getting an All Star in 2018 was a shocking decision. He was by far our best player all year. Ian Burke did get an All Star and while he was decent, Walsh was better. galwayman2 (Galway) - Posts: 1241 - 06/03/2024 15:38:57 2530094 Link
Walsh is capable of turning a game on his own which is a serious weapon for Galway to have. JahTribe (Galway) - Posts: 78 - 06/03/2024 20:51:31 2530136 Link
Replying To tommy k: "Just on the turnovers (sloppy passes, losing possession etc.) that Galway had yesterday, I counted 20 of them in total that led directly / indirectly to 5 points being conceded to Monaghan. There were 13 of them in the first half and 7 in the second half with Fitzgerald, McHugh and O'Flaherty responsible for 3 each, Mulkerrin 2 , Heaney 2 and 1 each by 7 other players. Those are just basic, stupid errors that should not be happening at that level and they would cost us dearly against the better teams. I know PJ alluded to them afterwards but he thought they happened mainly in the second half which was a bit strange if he was keeping count!" We're in our 5th year under Joyce and he's still talking about routinely coughing up turnovers and unnecessarily running down blind alleys. Are these not problems a manager should be addressing in his first year????? StopTheLights (Galway) - Posts: 343 - 07/03/2024 09:29:56 2530159 Link
Replying To Pope_Benedict: "Hot and cold maybe, but one shudders to think where we'd have come up with a credible scoreline at the 2022 allireland final v Kerry, if Walsh hadn't magic'd up his memorable first half hot hot streak on the day. Certainly impressed any Kilmacud scouts looking in on the day." In fairness, Kerry wouldn't have been up to much without Cliffords 8 points either. StopTheLights (Galway) - Posts: 343 - 07/03/2024 09:37:38 2530160 Link
Replying To StopTheLights: "We're in our 5th year under Joyce and he's still talking about routinely coughing up turnovers and unnecessarily running down blind alleys. Are these not problems a manager should be addressing in his first year?????" Agreed - 5 years is a long time to be still ironing out sloppy turnovers and many even by more "experienced" players! tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3323 - 07/03/2024 10:30:54 2530166 Link
The last day v Monaghan Galway very poor in going into unnecessary contact players just giving ball away and unfortunately it's happening more and more in every game ,, I know Padraig was talking about it after game in interviews but if he keeps picking the same players who are doing it nothing will change , Galway are definitely conceding more now in games than have being , I think a player like Liam Boyle deserve a chance he very smart player quick and kick a score and rarely gives ball away ; Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 841 - 07/03/2024 14:22:26 2530195 Link
I will have a go at picking team v dubs Gleason McGrath. Fitzgerald. Glynn Mchugh. Daly. Flaherty Maher / Kelly Heaney. Finnerty. Sweeney Cunningham. Daly. O curraine I for one like see Finnerty tried out the field at center forward he has good vision and can pick a pass and score from distance Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 841 - 12/03/2024 18:42:56 2530946 Link
Replying To Kickitout: "I will have a go at picking team v dubs Gleason McGrath. Fitzgerald. Glynn Mchugh. Daly. Flaherty Maher / Kelly Heaney. Finnerty. Sweeney Cunningham. Daly. O curraine I for one like see Finnerty tried out the field at center forward he has good vision and can pick a pass and score from distance" Can't see it being much different from that. If Finnerty is injured, Darcy will start. Hopefully Conroy is fit enough to play some part. jobseekersbent (Galway) - Posts: 373 - 13/03/2024 09:16:24 2530989 Link
Replying To Kickitout: "I will have a go at picking team v dubs Gleason McGrath. Fitzgerald. Glynn Mchugh. Daly. Flaherty Maher / Kelly Heaney. Finnerty. Sweeney Cunningham. Daly. O curraine I for one like see Finnerty tried out the field at center forward he has good vision and can pick a pass and score from distance" The Dubs won't be too frightened by that forward line, have we no one better than Daly at full forward? hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 377 - 13/03/2024 09:19:33 2530990 Link