National Forum

Galway Football thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To smallfrank:  "The positives.
Conor Flaherty.
Jack Glynn
Tierney
Thompson

The others
McGrath, had a tough time
Fitzgerald, not really involved
Molloy, played well
Kelly, carried well at times
Hernon, when he's good he's very good but turned over a bit of ball
Maher, hope he's ok
McDaid, not his best game
O'Flaherty, started well
Mannion, though he moved well
Finnerty, seems to be snatching at everything
O'Laoi, not involved

Conroy, got through it
Sweeney, missed a lot, not near starting
Egan, not involved
O'Conghaile, good cameo
Darcy, did well and won ball"
A lot of accuracies here. Remember though that New York are really a club team so at the end Galway were always going to run away with this. I would agree with the players who did well and I think Thompson is the real deal even though very left sided. I still dont think we have found a centre back. Everything good from New York came up the middle and through half backline. If Joyces wants half back who attack but don't defend then Hernon and Molloy are your men. They left McGrath and Glynn exposed even though Glynn played very well. Hernon in Particular turned over a lot of ball. Galway seem to struggle to get o Flaherty a position. He is not a corner back, half forward. He is a half back but I cannot see him replacing Silke or McHugh. I am also afraid that Conroys career may be left to substitute as the game is too fast for him and Tierney did well when they put him inside but was not good at midfield. McDaid seems to slow things up or maybe it was the streaming :-)
Takeways: Flaherty is a Gaolie option now, Glynn should be corner back. Molloy and Hernon are not good enough defenders, Maher needs to get a midfield partner. Maybe a runner not a big man. Darcy has to start even for kick outs only, Finnerty needs to straighten his boots.
Team to start:
Gleeson, Glynn, Fitz, Mcgrath, Silke, Kelly (tell him to hold the bloody centre) McHugh, Maher A.N. other, Darcy, McDaid (Though i think he slows things up), Tierney, Finnerty, Comer, Walshe.

AN Other will probably be McDaid and Thompson be 12.

Roscommon wont be a push over and if we go with the same half back line we will be beaten.

LottoPlus (Kilkenny) - Posts: 91 - 07/04/2025 12:12:41    2600947

Link

Underwhelming 1st half but it was never in doubt and we got the job done. Most important thing is no injuries and that Maher is okay for the Rossies in 2 weeks. I am worried about Conroys legs especially with new rules. Concerned about Finnertys form has been miles off it all year and his place surely must be under threat. McDaid to a lesser extend and i trust him to get back to his best differnet for a "scoring forward" like Finnerty. Could Thompson replace him? Also concerned about our defence think we need to tell Kelly to hold at 6 more although his instinct his attack and to he is a great when coming from deep but we were seriously exposed against Kerry but again that was league. Season only really with Rossies on Sunday week. I did see most of Ros final against Monaghan and would not be worried about them if we are at 80% of our level we should have enough.

Eire89 (Galway) - Posts: 325 - 07/04/2025 16:30:58    2600991

Link

Maybe McHugh is the best option for 6? Though I'd still like to see a proper defender like John Daly there but he isn't fit. Kelly is better off without the responsibility of having to hold down a specific area of the field. Think McDaid should start midfield if even just to get out of the way of the forward line. For next day I'd go:

Gleeson

Glynn
Fitz
McGrath

Silke
McHugh
Kelly

McDaid
Maher

D'Arcy
Tierney
O'Flaherty

Walsh
Comer
Finnerty (Culhane/Costello really should be taking this spot)

galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 860 - 07/04/2025 16:33:21    2600992

Link

I'd imagine a big concern for management is the amount Galway are conceding v Tyrone , dubs , Kerry and yesterday match last 2 years Galway became hard to beat because of there defence now teams are scoring at will against them Galway definitely need push up on Roscommon kickouts big time Roscommon usually get few away short all Roscommon players pull into centre then break to wings and lots of times keeper kicks it short to centre back position,, think Daniel o flaherty better at wing back much better looking down field in my opinion

Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 1045 - 07/04/2025 17:03:57    2600999

Link

Replying To Eire89:  "Underwhelming 1st half but it was never in doubt and we got the job done. Most important thing is no injuries and that Maher is okay for the Rossies in 2 weeks. I am worried about Conroys legs especially with new rules. Concerned about Finnertys form has been miles off it all year and his place surely must be under threat. McDaid to a lesser extend and i trust him to get back to his best differnet for a "scoring forward" like Finnerty. Could Thompson replace him? Also concerned about our defence think we need to tell Kelly to hold at 6 more although his instinct his attack and to he is a great when coming from deep but we were seriously exposed against Kerry but again that was league. Season only really with Rossies on Sunday week. I did see most of Ros final against Monaghan and would not be worried about them if we are at 80% of our level we should have enough."
Wouldn't be paying much attention to a Div 2 final. As Galway know themselves promotion is the main aim in that division. Still it was final in the balance until the final 15 minutes but the rossies had their eyes on trip to London 6 days later as they took off players with any little niggle.

Not a side that doesn't has concerns about their defence at the moment. The over the top new rules has made games like that even Jim McGuinness has come out to say its near impossible to defend properly now.

On the game Easter Sunday I think Galways ability to kick two pointers will prove the difference and windy Salthill helps in that regard also.

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 365 - 07/04/2025 19:02:50    2601013

Link

Replying To Kickitout:  "I'd imagine a big concern for management is the amount Galway are conceding v Tyrone , dubs , Kerry and yesterday match last 2 years Galway became hard to beat because of there defence now teams are scoring at will against them Galway definitely need push up on Roscommon kickouts big time Roscommon usually get few away short all Roscommon players pull into centre then break to wings and lots of times keeper kicks it short to centre back position,, think Daniel o flaherty better at wing back much better looking down field in my opinion"
Galway conceding big scores has to a huge concern for them when you consider the greater firepower the other division 1 teams have. Galways competitiveness over the last few years has been built on solid defence.

JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 18 - 07/04/2025 19:04:36    2601014

Link

Replying To galway19:  "Maybe McHugh is the best option for 6? Though I'd still like to see a proper defender like John Daly there but he isn't fit. Kelly is better off without the responsibility of having to hold down a specific area of the field. Think McDaid should start midfield if even just to get out of the way of the forward line. For next day I'd go:

Gleeson

Glynn
Fitz
McGrath

Silke
McHugh
Kelly

McDaid
Maher

D'Arcy
Tierney
O'Flaherty

Walsh
Comer
Finnerty (Culhane/Costello really should be taking this spot)"
where are the scores going to come from??

candlewax (Galway) - Posts: 294 - 07/04/2025 20:06:39    2601019

Link

did not get the chance to go over this year. i was there in 2015 and it was magical.
like any game there were positives and negatives. first 20 mins were very sloppy but once they got motoring there was only one winner. i thought mcdaid ,kelly and finnerty had poor games but maybe they were minding themselves.
mcgrath had a tough day which we dont see too often. molloy started well and looks like he will keep his spot in the team.
maher i think will be ok. darcy caught some balls but other than all ireland final he is not a reliable scorer so might start as a kickout option. conroy kicked some great balls into tierney who fetches well, might be a good tactic for summer. tierney was one of the better players i thot, hope he can carry that form against some of the bigger teams. hernon got a good goal but can be dispossed easily sometimes. thompson and o'flaherty are good for a score of the left boot.
overall good to give some new faces a game. my team for roscommon
gleason
mcgrath
fitz
glynn
molloy
kelly
mchugh
conroy
maher
o'flaherty
tierney
mcdaid
finnerty
comer
walsh

not sure if silke will be fit. darcy/hernon/thompson off the bench.

cocopop (Roscommon) - Posts: 44 - 07/04/2025 20:25:19    2601020

Link

My team v Ross
O flaherty
McGrath. Kelly. Glynn
Mchugh. Hernon. O flaherty
Maher/ Mcdaid
Tierney. Walsh. Thompson
Finnerty. Comer. Mannion
I know thar team won't start Fitz prib full back
Kelly centre heron on wing and o flaherty prob wing forward with Thompson corner

Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 1045 - 07/04/2025 22:11:10    2601032

Link

Replying To JimB1991:  "Galway conceding big scores has to a huge concern for them when you consider the greater firepower the other division 1 teams have. Galways competitiveness over the last few years has been built on solid defence."
Clare, Clare, forwards win All Irelands, as PJ explained to your brethren one night, if he'd been born in Mayo.....Mayo could be up to 4 or 5 titles now.

GDL (Galway) - Posts: 787 - 08/04/2025 00:15:16    2601044

Link

Replying To Kickitout:  "My team v Ross
O flaherty
McGrath. Kelly. Glynn
Mchugh. Hernon. O flaherty
Maher/ Mcdaid
Tierney. Walsh. Thompson
Finnerty. Comer. Mannion
I know thar team won't start Fitz prib full back
Kelly centre heron on wing and o flaherty prob wing forward with Thompson corner"
No Silke our best man marker along with McGrath and a certain starter unless injured

Eire89 (Galway) - Posts: 325 - 08/04/2025 09:11:40    2601054

Link

Kieran Molloy had a fine game Sunday also

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1726 - 08/04/2025 09:56:45    2601058

Link

Replying To Kickitout:  "My team v Ross
O flaherty
McGrath. Kelly. Glynn
Mchugh. Hernon. O flaherty
Maher/ Mcdaid
Tierney. Walsh. Thompson
Finnerty. Comer. Mannion
I know thar team won't start Fitz prib full back
Kelly centre heron on wing and o flaherty prob wing forward with Thompson corner"
No Liam Silke probably our best defender are you well? And no Paul Conroy footballer of the year. I understand you are adamant his legs are gone but he deserves a start in our first proper championship game

Flemenstar200 (Galway) - Posts: 79 - 08/04/2025 10:48:13    2601065

Link

Replying To Flemenstar200:  "No Liam Silke probably our best defender are you well? And no Paul Conroy footballer of the year. I understand you are adamant his legs are gone but he deserves a start in our first proper championship game"
silke has to start. he was also adamant about conroy last year but changed his tune

cocopop (Roscommon) - Posts: 44 - 08/04/2025 11:13:28    2601070

Link

Shane Walsh is a doubt for the Roscommon game

Jellybaby (Dublin) - Posts: 361 - 08/04/2025 11:19:07    2601071

Link

Replying To Flemenstar200:  "No Liam Silke probably our best defender are you well? And no Paul Conroy footballer of the year. I understand you are adamant his legs are gone but he deserves a start in our first proper championship game"
No one 'deserves' a start. Selection has to based on current form, fitness, gameplan etc, and certainly has nothing to do with awards handed out last year.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4064 - 08/04/2025 13:21:20    2601095

Link

I think if silke starts it has to be corner back he has struggled last few matches when centre back and he not a wing back now either corner probably as for conroy he has struggled big time last few matches and in my opinion it's even effecting Maher game as he has so much ground to cover teams are moving conroy around field a lot more now it's not a criticism of him it's just he up against lads now 8-10 years younger that's why I'd put Mcdaid out there with Maher Also no point putting Walsh and comer in full forward line 2 easy for opposing teams fill space in front of them play Walsh at 11 that's his best position now

Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 1045 - 08/04/2025 17:24:08    2601139

Link

Replying To Kickitout:  "I think if silke starts it has to be corner back he has struggled last few matches when centre back and he not a wing back now either corner probably as for conroy he has struggled big time last few matches and in my opinion it's even effecting Maher game as he has so much ground to cover teams are moving conroy around field a lot more now it's not a criticism of him it's just he up against lads now 8-10 years younger that's why I'd put Mcdaid out there with Maher Also no point putting Walsh and comer in full forward line 2 easy for opposing teams fill space in front of them play Walsh at 11 that's his best position now"
Since when is Silke not a wing back?

Eire89 (Galway) - Posts: 325 - 09/04/2025 15:44:27    2601250

Link

I think we need to mind John Maher and Shane Walsh for now, and make sure they are recovered properly and in good form for May, June onwards. Look we're in a much better position than this time last year and we got to the All Ireland.
Great to get other players involved and gaining more experience on the pitch. I'd keep Kelly at number six, thought he was effective, when youre there at the matches you can see the level of organisation and engagement he does on the pitch between the lads, so seems like the best place to put him. I'd get Matthew Tierney going for goal chances at every chance he gets to build confidence because we will need them come summer, goals will win games and change games. Hernon and Molly played great also. Any word on Peter Cooke? Doesn't seem to be confirmed. I hate to be negative but Rob Finnerty was calling for the ball the whole time and missing loads. He needs to work on his accuracy if we're to win games, because we can't be relying on Walsh or Comer with their injuries.

Gearoid1998ffowaed (Galway) - Posts: 144 - 09/04/2025 15:46:20    2601251

Link

Replying To Gearoid1998ffowaed:  "I think we need to mind John Maher and Shane Walsh for now, and make sure they are recovered properly and in good form for May, June onwards. Look we're in a much better position than this time last year and we got to the All Ireland.
Great to get other players involved and gaining more experience on the pitch. I'd keep Kelly at number six, thought he was effective, when youre there at the matches you can see the level of organisation and engagement he does on the pitch between the lads, so seems like the best place to put him. I'd get Matthew Tierney going for goal chances at every chance he gets to build confidence because we will need them come summer, goals will win games and change games. Hernon and Molly played great also. Any word on Peter Cooke? Doesn't seem to be confirmed. I hate to be negative but Rob Finnerty was calling for the ball the whole time and missing loads. He needs to work on his accuracy if we're to win games, because we can't be relying on Walsh or Comer with their injuries."
Joyce confirmed post game Cooke back this week put 4 to 6 weeks for him got be ready.

Said he'd been tipping away training om his own since January

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1439 - 09/04/2025 16:46:56    2601263

Link