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Galway Football thread

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Replying To ahsure.:  "Point is fairly clear…. outside managers don't work."
Yeah. It's 1966 since a connacht county won an AI with a homegrown manager. Nearly 60 years. At least that gap was bridged by a good decision to bring in the right external manager.

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 1001 - 13/07/2025 23:39:29    2625457

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Replying To JimB1991:  "Galway lost a knockout game to that Meath team because there not very good. Would have been a similiat result if Galway reached the semi. 2 best teams in the final."
And if Mayo ever got to a semi final it would be a 30 point defeat for them

Belclare7 (Galway) - Posts: 341 - 14/07/2025 00:08:27    2625463

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Replying To yew_tree:  "I'm not having a pop but a lot Roscommon posters seem a bit obsessed with underage success. The fact is it's basically development grades and success at that level guarantees nothing at senior level."
And thanks in no small thanks to James Horan he developed good successful underage players into established Senior players matter of fact the core and spine of Horan's team was built with those players. Still didn't win Sam but wasn't the want of trying plus a few regrets in finals that was there to be won under Rochford who was basically managing the team built by Horan.

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 534 - 14/07/2025 00:36:06    2625469

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Replying To StopTheLights:  "Nobody doubts that he wants to win. Does he have the smarts to?
He has to rent smarts from outside. Cian O Neill, Mickey Graham??
Would Jim Mc Guinness win the All Ireland next year with that Galway panel?
We'd all put money on it!
We have a closing window on a championship team and after watching our performance against Meath, you'd have to concede he wasn't even in the ballpark.
When have we beaten a team out the gate in the last few years?
Every game is a battle in the last 5 minutes. Raising our game for good teams, dropping standards against poorer teams.
Dropping players who were playing well, messing with goalies at the business end of the championship, playing meaningless side to side keep ball v Meath.
What was he at with Sam O Neill?
Starts for 18 minutes, doesn't make the 26 after that.
Great for a young lads attitude and confidence.
We are devastating when we attack at speed. He certainly does not promote that.
2 more years will see the end of Conroy, Comer and Walsh.
Barring some unfortunate injuries, he's never got the best out of them. S&C has to be questioned on Comer and Walsh.
He let an injured Shane Walsh miss free after free in an All Ireland Final that we lost by a point. Not knocking the lad but where was the sideline?
Matthew Tierney was a decent left footed free taker a few years ago.
Why wasn't that maintained?
Enough already."
But would someone like Jim McGuinness come to Galway to manage them? That's the thing you have to remember. What awesome manager is willing to come manage Galway. If they are awesome they are probably already hired somewhere. If they are not managing anywhere well then they may be done with it.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2595 - 14/07/2025 01:01:28    2625473

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Replying To jam83:  "My gut reaction to that is another wasted year next year. They'll probably think they could go all the way with a fully fit squad and maybe that's true, but the slow laborious style of play is what cost us this year and last year. Would've won last year even with Comer and Walsh crippled, if Joyce was encouraging a fast style of play.
Donegal are actually as cagey as Galway, they'll handpass all day until they get the perfect scoring chance. But they do it way faster than Galway and way more efficiently. They barely lose the ball."
Fully fit squad? Comer had 20 mins against Derry and 20 against meath all season. He did longer on the Sunday game tonight. At this stage no issues have been solved by Joyce in 6 years. It looks like Micky Graham was put on otb to break the news to the Galway public. It's probably the last we will hear about it. The media love Joyce because he gets them clicks. They won't ask him about the future.

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 240 - 14/07/2025 01:29:07    2625475

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Replying To ahsure.:  "Who do you all propose to bring in (realistic please) to win us an All Ireland?"
Hard to expect managers to get teams "over the line". Of course they should create the conditions and try and instill confidence but if the x-factor team leadership is not forthcoming then you're at a loss.

I'd rate Malachy O'Rourke a really good manager in every aspect. But to see how his side underperformed in semi. I'd firstly question the team leadership. Tyrone have been so reliant on Peter Harte to provide inspiration. In this regard I'd draw parallels with Galway - apart from Damo when introduced, where is the leadership. Experienced players still run down cul-de-sacs - Kelly, O'Flaherty. Of course you'd always feel Galway could have made it to AI final but imho had they done so, they'd have suffered another crushing defeat simply because they're just not good enough at the moment.

AnCrúiscínLán (Galway) - Posts: 104 - 14/07/2025 01:29:24    2625476

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Replying To giveitlong:  "Looks bad for Galway no matter how one looks at it after that game today, A 20 point win in a semi final. In truth it has been a long time since Galway played really well, I know it was a big win v Dubs last year but this team was at its best in 22 v Derry and Armagh. Although he has improved as the year we on SK has not regained his 22 form or come near it. McHugh had a brilliant understanding with Daly and is struggling since Daly has been sidelined. Tierney form has dipped a lot also. Finnerty is probably the only player who has improved since 22 and was superb this year. The 2 teams left in it now have important similar traits, no rambling goalie, no sideways football and no celebrities. I have been unwavering in my support for PJ but maybe a different style on management is required. Maybe and maybe not. Any suggestions on why Galway are flat, lacking hunger and purpose, and reluctant to go at teams in so many of their games. All teams have bad days like Mayo v Cavan but it is very rare . More often than not they play to their full potential and give 100% . Is there a fancy dan streak in this team??"
Nonsense mchugh was near footballer of year last year with silke at 6.

Mchugh form drop not related to Daly

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1623 - 14/07/2025 08:02:41    2625483

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Replying To jam83:  "I disagree on Donegal not playing sideways. Countless times today they turned back from middling shooting opportunities to handpass around until they'd a player in front of goal. It's just done in fifth year, Galway do it in 2nd or 3rd gear. They've serious pace too coming onto those passes.
I think Joyce has criticised players too much after matches, and has shamed them by taking players off early and not giving them a chance the next day, as someone said Sam O'Neill didn't make the 26 the next day after being taken off very early. I think he has knocked a lot of players confidence. Time for change."
What with no celebrities comment?

I'd say Clifford Murphy Jimmy get far more attention then anyone in Galway

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1623 - 14/07/2025 08:05:35    2625484

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Replying To StopTheLights:  "Homegrown managers haven't gotten it done in 50 years.An outside manager has.
Mattie Mc Donagh,
Billy Joyce,
Kevin Walsh,
Alan Mulholland,
Padraig Joyce.
All great players.............
Never got it done even when we had the players.
You are completely wrong.
That's the problem with Galway.
Pick the Roy of the Rovers candidate who was completly unproven and unqualified as a manager in the first place.
Ah sure, give it to Padraig, he got the job done as a player.
Well he hasn't as a manager.
As someone previously stated, if he was the Kerry manager, would he get another year.
NO!"
This 'getting it done' notion needs to be broadened past the idea of winning Sam imo. Are you seriously charging Mulholland and Walsh for not 'getting it done' with the squads they had, and the squad Mayo had 2011-2017? Did you state here that Mulholland and Walsh 'had the players'? To win an all-ireland? To quote JPMc, you cannot be serious.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4317 - 14/07/2025 08:59:08    2625490

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Galway wouldn't have beaten Donegal or Kerry, both of whom are at least 6 points better than Galway.
But Meath's defeat yesterday shows how bad Galway were versus them.

What do Galway, Mayo and Tyrone have in common? All moved the ball too slowly this year. Mayo are a poor team in any case with limited forward options.
Galway lost to Meath because of their misguided tactic of trying to play too slow and measured - a tactic which worked well in the ultra defensive era but is now an out of date tactic. Galway also do not start their best team. One Galway player who always starts, hasn't played well since 2023. One Galway player, who mostly starts, never plays well for Galway or indeed his club - he doesn't stand out at club level.

Galway missed their chance in 2024 and simply aren't good enough anymore. They still should have beaten Meath, except for their over cautious gameplan and players not performing on the day.

NoughtiesFootball (USA) - Posts: 8 - 14/07/2025 09:02:28    2625494

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I agree that it looks bad for Galway that they lost to that Meath team but for a bit of perspective let's also not forget that Meath topped their round robin group, they beat Kerry by SEVEN points, and also Cork , and beat Dublin in the Leinster championship. Galway were in a very hard round robin group and they needed to finish first in that group to optimise their chance of progress. Their goose was cooked when they finished 3rd as it meant playing 3 weeks in a row and playing against a rested table-topper. It can be argued that Galway showed too much respect to Meath in the qf but I think it might also have been a matter of energy levels , not wanting to risk going for the jugular from the start against a team that had proven themselves up to that point in case tiredness would kick in later on. Now as it happens, had Galway finished top of their group they would still have lost their quarter final because they would not have beaten Kerry but a loss to Kerry would be seen as more acceptable. Giantkillers tend to fizzle out eventually after notable shock wins, it happened to Dublin hurlers after beating Limerick ,and it happened to Meath yesterday.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2056 - 14/07/2025 09:04:34    2625495

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Replying To StopTheLights:  "Homegrown managers haven't gotten it done in 50 years.An outside manager has.
Mattie Mc Donagh,
Billy Joyce,
Kevin Walsh,
Alan Mulholland,
Padraig Joyce.
All great players.............
Never got it done even when we had the players.
You are completely wrong.
That's the problem with Galway.
Pick the Roy of the Rovers candidate who was completly unproven and unqualified as a manager in the first place.
Ah sure, give it to Padraig, he got the job done as a player.
Well he hasn't as a manager.
As someone previously stated, if he was the Kerry manager, would he get another year.
NO!"
I'm not claiming Joyce is the answer but I genuinely don't know who is.

O'Mahony was undoubtedly a visionary, miles ahead of his time in how he prepared teams and we were fortunate to have him. But the reality is, aside from him and Eugene McGee with Offaly in the '80s, outside managers haven't really delivered All Irelands. And they are the facts.

You mention Kerry, would they ever go outside the county? Absolutely not. They understand the value of keeping it in-house.

As the saying goes, "Read your history."

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1727 - 14/07/2025 09:07:16    2625497

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Correction: Meath beat Kerry, by NINE points. I think it is understandable that a team and a manager would approach with caution a game against a team that had beaten Kerry by 9 points.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2056 - 14/07/2025 09:10:40    2625502

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Lads, I listened back to Mickey Graham on OTB. At no stage did he commit to 2026 with Galway. He referred to Galway as "they" numerous and mentioned it was a pleasure being involved with the group. Maybe the playback left out some of the interview but I certainly didn't hear a definite commitment in the bit I listened to. If anyone has link to the full thing please post.

gaillimhboy (Galway) - Posts: 376 - 14/07/2025 09:45:49    2625513

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Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "Correction: Meath beat Kerry, by NINE points. I think it is understandable that a team and a manager would approach with caution a game against a team that had beaten Kerry by 9 points."
Not with the new rules, Galway failed to adapt.
Basic of football - move the ball fast whether by foot or by hand. Donegal play a running game but it's all done at pace.

Galway did not adapt this year and they didn't make the last 4. Beating poor Mayo and Roscommon teams probably gave a false sense of confidence.

SK hasn't played well since 2023.
Another defender never plays well for Galway but has been getting picked since the start of 2022. John Daly should never have been frozen out.

NoughtiesFootball (USA) - Posts: 8 - 14/07/2025 10:05:41    2625522

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Replying To StopTheLights:  "Homegrown managers haven't gotten it done in 50 years.An outside manager has.
Mattie Mc Donagh,
Billy Joyce,
Kevin Walsh,
Alan Mulholland,
Padraig Joyce.
All great players.............
Never got it done even when we had the players.
You are completely wrong.
That's the problem with Galway.
Pick the Roy of the Rovers candidate who was completly unproven and unqualified as a manager in the first place.
Ah sure, give it to Padraig, he got the job done as a player.
Well he hasn't as a manager.
As someone previously stated, if he was the Kerry manager, would he get another year.
NO!"
Has an outside manager won all All Ireland winning manager since John O Mahony? They are few and far between. Maybe Joyce isn't the answer but I do think we need to keep inside the county. Bring in outside coaches and selectors by all means.

hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 448 - 14/07/2025 10:11:56    2625526

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Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "Correction: Meath beat Kerry, by NINE points. I think it is understandable that a team and a manager would approach with caution a game against a team that had beaten Kerry by 9 points."
Or maybe Galway are overated .

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 281 - 14/07/2025 10:32:31    2625530

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Replying To NoughtiesFootball:  "Galway wouldn't have beaten Donegal or Kerry, both of whom are at least 6 points better than Galway.
But Meath's defeat yesterday shows how bad Galway were versus them.

What do Galway, Mayo and Tyrone have in common? All moved the ball too slowly this year. Mayo are a poor team in any case with limited forward options.
Galway lost to Meath because of their misguided tactic of trying to play too slow and measured - a tactic which worked well in the ultra defensive era but is now an out of date tactic. Galway also do not start their best team. One Galway player who always starts, hasn't played well since 2023. One Galway player, who mostly starts, never plays well for Galway or indeed his club - he doesn't stand out at club level.

Galway missed their chance in 2024 and simply aren't good enough anymore. They still should have beaten Meath, except for their over cautious gameplan and players not performing on the day."
Mayo are not a poor team. Sure we only lost by a point to Donegal in the dying seconds eho just death Meath out the gate and Meath also beat you lot .

If we are poor then you lot are absolutely terrible!

Your an ageing team we've great under 20s coming up hope for us unlike you who've been poor at underage level !

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 281 - 14/07/2025 10:39:21    2625532

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Replying To Kew:  "Fully fit squad? Comer had 20 mins against Derry and 20 against meath all season. He did longer on the Sunday game tonight. At this stage no issues have been solved by Joyce in 6 years. It looks like Micky Graham was put on otb to break the news to the Galway public. It's probably the last we will hear about it. The media love Joyce because he gets them clicks. They won't ask him about the future."
Those craic of pj staying on and new selectors is lnt going to work, pj said he camt put a finger on what's going wrong, well if you can't do that we are in bigger trouble than most realise. We go on bout top forwards in galway, Clifford, Murphy, Con are my top 3.

jj19 (Galway) - Posts: 467 - 14/07/2025 10:45:05    2625534

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Replying To giveitlong:  "Looks bad for Galway no matter how one looks at it after that game today, A 20 point win in a semi final. In truth it has been a long time since Galway played really well, I know it was a big win v Dubs last year but this team was at its best in 22 v Derry and Armagh. Although he has improved as the year we on SK has not regained his 22 form or come near it. McHugh had a brilliant understanding with Daly and is struggling since Daly has been sidelined. Tierney form has dipped a lot also. Finnerty is probably the only player who has improved since 22 and was superb this year. The 2 teams left in it now have important similar traits, no rambling goalie, no sideways football and no celebrities. I have been unwavering in my support for PJ but maybe a different style on management is required. Maybe and maybe not. Any suggestions on why Galway are flat, lacking hunger and purpose, and reluctant to go at teams in so many of their games. All teams have bad days like Mayo v Cavan but it is very rare . More often than not they play to their full potential and give 100% . Is there a fancy dan streak in this team??"
SK hasn't come close to regaining his 2022 form - and it's no mystery why. He's never taken a proper break or allowed his injuries or body to fully recover. And what does he do this summer? Flies straight to Boston to play. It's actual madness. I've said it before: unless the key players take this window to rest and rebuild, we'll be back in the same cycle of burnout and injury by next summer. I would go as far as saying theyd have possibly two all Irelands now if they took recovery seriously. The injuries made the difference. But no lessons learnt.

Gearoid1998ffowaed (Galway) - Posts: 168 - 14/07/2025 10:50:39    2625535

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