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Galway Football thread

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Replying To Eire89:  "St Michaels to win intermediate they should have plenty enough for Gabriels best draw they could have got in quarters. Will Oanmore be their biggest danger? Football in the wesht is at a very low ebb. Michael Breathanchs & Spiddal exiting at last 12 stage. Carraroe down in junior only lettermoe flying the flag for connemara. Carraroe should bounce straight back up although headford will feel they will have a say. Any players PJ should be looking at to get involved with Galway. Obvious answer is Cooke he should do everything in his power to get him in a maroon jersey in 2025."
Cooke played in 2023 of course, and we failed to bate Mayo at the NFL final, and again when exiting the championship in Salthill. Cooke has attributes, but searing pace is not one of them, and that's an ingredient Galway need to add imo, especially up front in 2025.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3875 - 30/09/2024 12:46:36    2572521

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Replying To Black+Blue:  "Looking at the line ups for the latter end of Senior and Intermediate Championships you would wonder how some clubs will manage to keep going.
The gap is getting more pronounced between the top clubs and the rest.
Lower Intermediate and Junior level is awful poor stuff
Wonder would divisional teams be worth considering ?

There must be a few players from the likes of Williamstown, St Gabriel's, Menlough, Killererin, Athenry, Ballinasloe, Headford, Clonbur etc who would benefit from playing at a better lever than their clubs are currently providing ?

Those clubs are really struggling at Adult grade so maybe amalgamations or divisional teams would Help improve the standards of many of their players ?

Just a thought, thankfully my own club is out of that mix at the moment but you never know, we could benefit from it in the future."
Divisional teams definitely worth considering. One North team and one West team.

hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 417 - 30/09/2024 13:06:29    2572534

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "Cooke played in 2023 of course, and we failed to bate Mayo at the NFL final, and again when exiting the championship in Salthill. Cooke has attributes, but searing pace is not one of them, and that's an ingredient Galway need to add imo, especially up front in 2025."
We could have done with his place kicking alone against Armagh & we would be AI champs

Eire89 (Galway) - Posts: 300 - 30/09/2024 14:09:48    2572544

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I know Galway got to 2 All-Ireland finals without Peter Cooke but they should still be looking to have him involved next year. Outstanding performance at the weekend. Each point he scored was better than the last one. Can kick long range points from the ground as well. When he was last involved in 23 he started the year slowly but I thought he was one of Galway's better players as the year went on. Unfortunately the team was sunk with the Kelly and Comer injuries that year. But Cooke was fairly good I thought. Of course it may not even matter if he's off working abroad again next year.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2290 - 30/09/2024 14:12:02    2572545

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Replying To smallfrank:  "Athenry, Ballinasloe and Headford should never in a million years be amalgamating with anyone. The no 1 job of coaching officers should be to make sure the bigger towns are in the top divisions regardless of area.
Agree that amalgamation the way for smaller populations. I'm from a small club myself and recently visited Naomh Mearnog in Dublin which was an eye opener. Coaching officers and working in the schools seems to be the key and getting the parents involved in any way at all."
Don't disagree with you smallfrank about the fact Clubs shouldnt be amalgamating.

I just think it may be inevitable for a lot of clubs
It seems if a town/parishhas no interest in football or desire to improve then it dosent really matter how big or small it is.

Ballinasloe is a classic example of a big enough town that seems to have just lost interest.
I'm not saying there aren't plenty of good people trying hard there it's just they are currently a poor club.
There's lots of other West and North clubs in the same boat.

If the Main Adult team in a club is poor then its very hard to get interest or excitement or buy in from Parents.

Black+Blue (Galway) - Posts: 134 - 30/09/2024 14:17:58    2572548

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Replying To StopTheLights:  "Shane Walsh developed in Kilkerrin Clonberne. David Clifford came from a junior club. If the talent and commitment is there, it will happen."
That's true, there will always be exceptions.

Clifford gets the opportunity to test himself at the highest level in Kerry by being part of a divisional team.

What would be wrong with a Galway lad getting the same opportunity ?

Black+Blue (Galway) - Posts: 134 - 30/09/2024 14:21:07    2572552

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Replying To hopballref:  "Divisional teams definitely worth considering. One North team and one West team."
I'm sure a huge amount of club players would love the opportunity to test themselves at a higher level than Lower Intermediate or Junior

Black+Blue (Galway) - Posts: 134 - 30/09/2024 14:23:37    2572554

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Replying To Marooned:  "I know Galway got to 2 All-Ireland finals without Peter Cooke but they should still be looking to have him involved next year. Outstanding performance at the weekend. Each point he scored was better than the last one. Can kick long range points from the ground as well. When he was last involved in 23 he started the year slowly but I thought he was one of Galway's better players as the year went on. Unfortunately the team was sunk with the Kelly and Comer injuries that year. But Cooke was fairly good I thought. Of course it may not even matter if he's off working abroad again next year."
He said he could make himself available for the Championship and PJ said no. He was hoping to play for Galway as much as anyone. The company could not let him work remotely from January - March, but but he was available to be back in for the championship if asked. It's PJ who has the questions to answer. You can't blame lads who've full time jobs to hold onto while training five nights a week between gym and football training, and then matches at weekends.

Gearoid1998ffowaed (Galway) - Posts: 131 - 30/09/2024 14:40:14    2572557

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Jonah Culligan having a great season with St James. Will be on Galway team next year.

LimerickForLiam24 (Limerick) - Posts: 143 - 30/09/2024 15:17:35    2572567

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Replying To Gearoid1998ffowaed:  "He said he could make himself available for the Championship and PJ said no. He was hoping to play for Galway as much as anyone. The company could not let him work remotely from January - March, but but he was available to be back in for the championship if asked. It's PJ who has the questions to answer. You can't blame lads who've full time jobs to hold onto while training five nights a week between gym and football training, and then matches at weekends."
I'd agree with PJ on this and I also completely understand that Cooke couldn't give up his job obviously.

I don't think a player should be allowed to take a break like that from the panel unless it's due to their health (mental or physical) or the health of a family member. It sets a precedent. If you allow one do it then it should be available to all players to take months long breaks from the panel for their work

galwayfball (Galway) - Posts: 1704 - 30/09/2024 15:43:59    2572574

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Replying To Black+Blue:  "I'm sure a huge amount of club players would love the opportunity to test themselves at a higher level than Lower Intermediate or Junior"
It's heading that way alright just with the demographics in rural areas. Someone recently told me that when Killererin were in their pomp in the late 90s, Coaregalway and St James' were junior. Another crazy stat is that there is one adult football club catering for Clarenbridge, Ardrahan, Ballindereen, Gort, Beagh, Kinvara, St Thomas', Kilbeacanty but we won't go there.

smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 442 - 30/09/2024 15:49:37    2572575

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Replying To galwayfball:  "I'd agree with PJ on this and I also completely understand that Cooke couldn't give up his job obviously.

I don't think a player should be allowed to take a break like that from the panel unless it's due to their health (mental or physical) or the health of a family member. It sets a precedent. If you allow one do it then it should be available to all players to take months long breaks from the panel for their work"
I hear you but Cian Hernon was allowed back in after his Erasmus. He wasn't available for the league at all.
Both are similar situations

galwayman2 (Galway) - Posts: 1278 - 30/09/2024 16:18:39    2572584

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Replying To galwayman2:  "I hear you but Cian Hernon was allowed back in after his Erasmus. He wasn't available for the league at all.
Both are similar situations"
Agreed very similar. I don't think it should be allowed. One rule for some is not the way to go.

Health and the health of family is the only exception in my opinion

galwayfball (Galway) - Posts: 1704 - 30/09/2024 16:50:39    2572589

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Replying To galwayfball:  "Agreed very similar. I don't think it should be allowed. One rule for some is not the way to go.

Health and the health of family is the only exception in my opinion"
Yes! County teams should be confined to those on job finders benefit or those classed as dependents.Its time to do away with career and study side issues.

backtooldwall (Galway) - Posts: 138 - 30/09/2024 17:11:11    2572591

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No doubt Peter cook be a massive addition but looking at way management picked teams all year Cooke prob be wing back or somewhere daft ,,,,

Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 953 - 30/09/2024 17:19:25    2572593

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Replying To backtooldwall:  "Yes! County teams should be confined to those on job finders benefit or those classed as dependents.Its time to do away with career and study side issues."
Yes that's exactly what I said and couldn't be taken any other way

galwayfball (Galway) - Posts: 1704 - 30/09/2024 17:25:52    2572594

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Replying To galwayfball:  "Agreed very similar. I don't think it should be allowed. One rule for some is not the way to go.

Health and the health of family is the only exception in my opinion"
Gerry mac did it for a few years with the hurlers never played in the league as he was in the US came home for the championship didn't here anyone complaining

minor77 (Galway) - Posts: 241 - 30/09/2024 19:17:37    2572609

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Replying To galwayfball:  "I'd agree with PJ on this and I also completely understand that Cooke couldn't give up his job obviously.

I don't think a player should be allowed to take a break like that from the panel unless it's due to their health (mental or physical) or the health of a family member. It sets a precedent. If you allow one do it then it should be available to all players to take months long breaks from the panel for their work"
Well the proof is in the pudding. He obviously has work put in, hes back and he's better than anyone else who've been training county since he left.

Gearoid1998ffowaed (Galway) - Posts: 131 - 30/09/2024 22:10:46    2572626

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Replying To minor77:  "Gerry mac did it for a few years with the hurlers never played in the league as he was in the US came home for the championship didn't here anyone complaining"
And it's absolutely fine to disagree with me

galwayfball (Galway) - Posts: 1704 - 30/09/2024 22:10:50    2572627

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Replying To smallfrank:  "It's heading that way alright just with the demographics in rural areas. Someone recently told me that when Killererin were in their pomp in the late 90s, Coaregalway and St James' were junior. Another crazy stat is that there is one adult football club catering for Clarenbridge, Ardrahan, Ballindereen, Gort, Beagh, Kinvara, St Thomas', Kilbeacanty but we won't go there."
Loughrea football club draws from 7/8 hurling clubs…it's a great starting point if you can get things together!

BellewsBoys (Galway) - Posts: 8 - 30/09/2024 22:27:32    2572630

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