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Galway Football thread

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "A great day on Sunday. A win like that does so much good. The manner of it, the opponents, and the poor form and injury issues leading in to it, made it a bit more special.
Some people questioned whether the missing players would make a huge difference. Well it's patently obvious, and shouldn't have needed explaining what a fit Damien Comer gives to this team. He gave us oxygen in the first half when we were really struggling. Having a player who can win his own ball so well, take on and beat his man regularly is massive. As well as that he's a huge scoring threat. I just hope we can keep him fit for the year.
It's great to see a lot of other key players making their way back and making crucial contributions.
Fair play to Conor Gleeson for those huge moments, not just the kicks but also breaking the Mayo kickout when we needed an equaliser and helping us win possession. We played with real energy and hunger at the end of the game. We stayed brave and pushed up on their last kickout, winning the turnover which led to the winning free. It would have been easier to fall back into protection mode after levelling the game so late.
We needed that win big time. The players, management and supporters were all well aware of that. The result is worth savouring for sure, and let's hope it's the catalyst for bigger and better things this year."
Conor Gleeson has got a lot of stick for his kick-outs and he did lose possession in a solo up field the last day but the outfield players and management have to take responsibility for that also i.e. the outfield players to make better runs / offer more support and the management on the tactics. The kick-outs for instance should be rigorously practiced in training to ensure sloppy turnovers are at least minimized. PJ did say after the game that Conor gets a lot of unfair criticism but he should also have said that the management and other players have to take their share of the blame for that as well.

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 07/05/2024 18:23:41    2543553

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Replying To galway19:  "Are Claregalway this strong compared to everyone else at U17 this year or was this a wrong score from the league semi final - Claregalway 12-12 Corofin 0-10?"
Correct score...
They are unplayable...
Playing Tuam in the A league final ; should be another cricket score

Belclare7 (Galway) - Posts: 197 - 07/05/2024 18:36:38    2543555

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Replying To Belclare7:  "Correct score...
They are unplayable...
Playing Tuam in the A league final ; should be another cricket score"
Tuam drew with them few weeks ago.Will be good game

Alwaysencourage (Galway) - Posts: 395 - 07/05/2024 18:57:25    2543557

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Replying To Belclare7:  "Correct score...
They are unplayable...
Playing Tuam in the A league final ; should be another cricket score"
I suppose this is their team that won the All Ireland Div 1 Feile so it's as good a bunch as they have had in a while.

galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 830 - 07/05/2024 19:32:41    2543561

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Replying To Belclare7:  "Correct score...
They are unplayable...
Playing Tuam in the A league final ; should be another cricket score"
Of coarse we are strong but we cant get it through to senior. The problem is that we have a massive population (3-4 parishes really) and winning in underage is easy because of numbers. Give me 3-4 hardened Corofin, Annaghdown, Mountbellow or Tuam lads any day who know if they dont turn up for their club they get hammered. That is your senior footballer of the future. If Turloughmore started a underage football team you could see Claregalway get weakened. Remember as the old saying used to say, you can walk through claregalway but you run through Turloughmore.

LottoPlus (Kilkenny) - Posts: 88 - 08/05/2024 11:00:21    2543637

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Replying To LottoPlus:  "Of coarse we are strong but we cant get it through to senior. The problem is that we have a massive population (3-4 parishes really) and winning in underage is easy because of numbers. Give me 3-4 hardened Corofin, Annaghdown, Mountbellow or Tuam lads any day who know if they dont turn up for their club they get hammered. That is your senior footballer of the future. If Turloughmore started a underage football team you could see Claregalway get weakened. Remember as the old saying used to say, you can walk through claregalway but you run through Turloughmore."
So you are back now as a Galway man LottoPlus. You came on the Roscommon forum a while ago as a Roscommon man criticising Roscommon supporters. Says more about yourself rather than Roscommon supporters.

letsgetgoing (Roscommon) - Posts: 687 - 08/05/2024 11:13:52    2543644

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anyone know when tickets go on sale for Doire game?

emmomac (UK) - Posts: 273 - 08/05/2024 13:55:05    2543677

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You have to give credit to Pj after that win. His post match interview and defence of his players is admirable. There are sure to be more injuries as the games come on, but provided the main players just back, can stay fit and continue to improve with game time, who knows where it could take them. Moreover, it's now evident a strong bond has developed within the group. Time too for supporters to show a bit of class and really get behind the lads. Nice 'n threesey.

Really (Galway) - Posts: 623 - 08/05/2024 13:58:43    2543679

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I've only just calmed down. Great weekend and that is what we live for. The raw emotion of the day.

We have a serious set of players who have a huge ceiling. If they can stay injury free (big if) they will only get better.

Gleeson deserves the day because he takes a huge amount of stick. The issue with him being caught in possession is something I have seen other teams do to him. Back of and man mark and let him come until they pounce. I think the only answer to that is have a plan to launch it into FF line as soon as he gets to the forty and let Damo fight for it. He actually did it once and it nearly caused a goal chance.

I wouldn't fault PJ for making early changes. Molloy didn't seem on it but apart from that, it was obvious we needed another kick out option in the centre. Maher made a big difference.

Hopefully the next day Mcdaid gets 20 minutes plus. Will be interesting team selection if all fit. Saying that, I hope he doesn't put square pegs in round holes. I wouldn't be too quick to change 1 - 7.

Onwards and upwards. Looking forward to Derry game.

Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1916 - 08/05/2024 14:04:24    2543680

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Great to see 6 Galway men in the GAA team of the week. Gleeson, Glynn, McHugh, D'Arcy, Finnerty and Comer - and Damo getting player of the week. Our tide is turning. Roll on the 3 group games, I think we're picking up some nice momentum going into these.
Loads of work ons from the Connacht Final - kick outs (not all keepers fault at all, backs movement for the restarts is intermediate grade), breaks (we get mopped too easily on breaks), counter attack at pace, not getting channeled into the corners upfront (see first half again) etc etc - but I'm pretty sure that mgmt and players are acutely aware of these and will be working on these areas. We're a match for anyone. Can't wait for the Derry match. Go early and leave later and the traffic is basically gone, have to say Salthill was magic on Sunday.

togoutlads (Galway) - Posts: 1026 - 08/05/2024 15:36:19    2543696

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Replying To LottoPlus:  "Of coarse we are strong but we cant get it through to senior. The problem is that we have a massive population (3-4 parishes really) and winning in underage is easy because of numbers. Give me 3-4 hardened Corofin, Annaghdown, Mountbellow or Tuam lads any day who know if they dont turn up for their club they get hammered. That is your senior footballer of the future. If Turloughmore started a underage football team you could see Claregalway get weakened. Remember as the old saying used to say, you can walk through claregalway but you run through Turloughmore."
In fairness it is not 3 or 4 parishes. Not being pedantic but the club is made up of 2 parishes in Lackagh and Claregalway itself plus a few players from Castlegar. It also loses players to a greater degree than most other football clubs. Possibly because a decent proportion of players will choose hurling in Turloughmore and Carnmore once they hit adult grade. Numbers at underage do not make it as easy as you say. Some get disillusioned if they don't get enough game time etc. In my view it is a chicken and egg scenario.

kiloughter (Galway) - Posts: 1973 - 08/05/2024 18:32:13    2543722

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Replying To emmomac:  "anyone know when tickets go on sale for Doire game?"
They've released a 3 match deal there, can buy all 3 tickets as a bundle for €50. Individual match tickets don't seem to be up yet, but that deal is good value in fairness.

LárBáire (Galway) - Posts: 43 - 08/05/2024 20:22:43    2543740

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Replying To LárBáire:  "They've released a 3 match deal there, can buy all 3 tickets as a bundle for €50. Individual match tickets don't seem to be up yet, but that deal is good value in fairness."
Doire game available now as standalone. I am away for one of them so bundle didnt make sense but its a great deal.

I see its just general admission for the Doire game. Assuming stand is first come first served like league? Hopefully thats the only similarity with the league game!

emmomac (UK) - Posts: 273 - 09/05/2024 07:25:14    2543755

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Galway only had 2 wides and 2 that dropped short although missed 2 brilliant goal chances, unusually for a Galway team there no points taken from distance although the wind stopped any chance of doing that in the 2nd half. The 2 wides were definitely within the scoring range of Conroy and Heaney.

Galway better come up with a plan for when Gleeson moves up the pitch as Derry will set that trap for him, I'd rather that ball was pumped into Comer.

Lets hope we don't see that 1st half repeated again, a better team won't leave Galway in the game.

Where to play Sean Kelly? He's clearly not back to his best yet but I prefer him coming from deeper, teams are just going to man mark him if he's left around the middle.

Suspect he'll pay around the middle again but once McDaid is fully fit there'll be a decision to make, Tierney probably won't start the next day so he'll go with Maher, Conroy, Kelly, D'Arcy & Heaney, Walsh, Comer & Finnerty as the front 8.

TheBishop (Galway) - Posts: 289 - 09/05/2024 09:33:38    2543782

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Replying To kiloughter:  "In fairness it is not 3 or 4 parishes. Not being pedantic but the club is made up of 2 parishes in Lackagh and Claregalway itself plus a few players from Castlegar. It also loses players to a greater degree than most other football clubs. Possibly because a decent proportion of players will choose hurling in Turloughmore and Carnmore once they hit adult grade. Numbers at underage do not make it as easy as you say. Some get disillusioned if they don't get enough game time etc. In my view it is a chicken and egg scenario."
Also there is a big pull from rugby and soccer.

Alwaysencourage (Galway) - Posts: 395 - 09/05/2024 10:42:15    2543797

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I see on the mayo blog they are still building themselves up to be big challengers to dublin and derry are going to hammer us,such rubbish but a good laugh all the same!

Dunmore10 (Galway) - Posts: 153 - 09/05/2024 12:25:12    2543816

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Replying To Alwaysencourage:  "Also there is a big pull from rugby and soccer."
The Castlegar lads should be playing with Eire Og.

There was a big push last year to get football going in Turlough and I know that the hurling club's expansion caters for space for football teams. Letters went to houses etc about appetite for underage football. When you have the same club winning minor a and b in the one year, something has to give.

crankyincorofin (Galway) - Posts: 101 - 09/05/2024 17:15:04    2543884

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Replying To crankyincorofin:  "The Castlegar lads should be playing with Eire Og.

There was a big push last year to get football going in Turlough and I know that the hurling club's expansion caters for space for football teams. Letters went to houses etc about appetite for underage football. When you have the same club winning minor a and b in the one year, something has to give."
Claregalway haven't even won a senior football title or even gotten into a semi.How many senior titles have Corofin won in a row and there wasn't any talk of new clubs being formed?

Alwaysencourage (Galway) - Posts: 395 - 10/05/2024 07:06:14    2543911

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Replying To Dunmore10:  "I see on the mayo blog they are still building themselves up to be big challengers to dublin and derry are going to hammer us,such rubbish but a good laugh all the same!"
Do you mean the Mayo thread on Hoganstand or another Mayo blog? I'm not surprised by some of their "claims" but Derry will be a very difficult game for Galway no doubt and the other games in the group will be very difficult also. If Galway have all their best players back in their best positions, performing to a high standard and they still lose, then there will be no excuses from me at least.

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 10/05/2024 08:16:35    2543916

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Replying To Alwaysencourage:  "Claregalway haven't even won a senior football title or even gotten into a semi.How many senior titles have Corofin won in a row and there wasn't any talk of new clubs being formed?"
That's the point he's making though. Having that many players at underage might not be the best thing, even for Claregalway themselves.
It can lead to disillusionment with a lot of young lads and a very high drop out rate as they go up the age groups. The later developers could be lost to the game.
With such a disparity of pick, winning underage will come a lot easier for them and it could also stifle their development a bit. They won't be challenged as much in games and may not learn as a result.
While Corofin have a good pick, it's nothing close to what Claregalway have. Corofin have built their club through excellent coaching and bringing players all the way through to adult level, improving them as footballers.
I've no doubt Claregalway are trying to do the same and have some great coaches, but it might actually be harder for them, given the numbers.
I think we might see something similar with Oranmore. They have massive numbers underage too and are fielding a lot of teams at different age groups.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2255 - 10/05/2024 09:36:54    2543932

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