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Replying To Gearoid1998ffowaed:  "I was up there last night came on to talk about midfield - what are ye on about? Seán Kelly was unreal. Absolute work horse. The three nearly-certain goal chances he blocked when the defenders lost their men… he just read it, stepped in, and got them out of danger every single time. Proper leader on the pitch too."
What they're on about, based on Drax stats there, is Armagh kicking the ball out 7 less times than Galway, but still winning 11 more kickout possessions than Galway on the night.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4534 - 01/02/2026 12:25:04    2654279

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Replying To Gearoid1998ffowaed:  "I was up there last night came on to talk about midfield - what are ye on about? Seán Kelly was unreal. Absolute work horse. The three nearly-certain goal chances he blocked when the defenders lost their men… he just read it, stepped in, and got them out of danger every single time. Proper leader on the pitch too."
Yes we are not discounting that - but also have to look at the multiple times he lost his own man resulting in a point for armagh. On balance more pluses than negatives.

systematic (Galway) - Posts: 242 - 01/02/2026 12:29:04    2654280

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Replying To Gearoid1998ffowaed:  "I was up there last night came on to talk about midfield - what are ye on about? Seán Kelly was unreal. Absolute work horse. The three nearly-certain goal chances he blocked when the defenders lost their men… he just read it, stepped in, and got them out of danger every single time. Proper leader on the pitch too."
He played very well in general play as he did in the final 10/15 min in the Mayo match. However, still don't think he is a midfielder or that his best plays were as a midfielder where both Mayo and Armagh got the better of us. One of the puzzles we need to solve is where to play him to get the best out of him, if we can get him playing to the best of his potential he is unreal . I think under the new rules he is possibly too loose for the full back line. McHugh has right half back locked down and I don't think he holds the space well enough to be centre back , I'd like to see him at left half back or move McHugh over to left and try him at right half back, he is lethal coming into the ball

Trucker1 (Galway) - Posts: 466 - 01/02/2026 12:38:44    2654281

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Replying To Trucker1:  "He played very well in general play as he did in the final 10/15 min in the Mayo match. However, still don't think he is a midfielder or that his best plays were as a midfielder where both Mayo and Armagh got the better of us. One of the puzzles we need to solve is where to play him to get the best out of him, if we can get him playing to the best of his potential he is unreal . I think under the new rules he is possibly too loose for the full back line. McHugh has right half back locked down and I don't think he holds the space well enough to be centre back , I'd like to see him at left half back or move McHugh over to left and try him at right half back, he is lethal coming into the ball"
It's because where ever the fire breaks out in this team he seems to be the first or option to quench it, so he was never allowed to develop a one set of plays for a specific facet of play. He initially started as a half forward, I remember him coming on as a sub v Mayo in Castlebar and linking with Burke to set up Heaney for a late goal next up full back then half back and now mid field.It's not surprising that he doesn't feature in MOM discussions, as rectifying defenders errors doesn't lend itself to a more orthordox form of play.

backtooldwall (Galway) - Posts: 213 - 01/02/2026 13:21:35    2654290

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I enjoyed Oisin McDonagh's two shoulders in a row to Armagh men. Sent them flying.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2479 - 01/02/2026 14:21:45    2654296

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It's early days yet with the league but overall good to see green shoots in terms of squad depth and development. I'd still be worried of our kickout "strategy" (if a coherent one exists in all honesty). Hard to know if our openness to runners from deep is a facet of the new rules or just bad tracking from some of our half forwards/midfielders. Big game down in Tralee in 2 weeks time

LárBáire (Galway) - Posts: 70 - 01/02/2026 17:23:13    2654348

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Replying To Trucker1:  "He played very well in general play as he did in the final 10/15 min in the Mayo match. However, still don't think he is a midfielder or that his best plays were as a midfielder where both Mayo and Armagh got the better of us. One of the puzzles we need to solve is where to play him to get the best out of him, if we can get him playing to the best of his potential he is unreal . I think under the new rules he is possibly too loose for the full back line. McHugh has right half back locked down and I don't think he holds the space well enough to be centre back , I'd like to see him at left half back or move McHugh over to left and try him at right half back, he is lethal coming into the ball"
Midfield is the one area Galway need to focus on. We have some big men around the area but not consistent good fielders. Andy Murnin gave an exhibition of the skill yesterday, and imo there's no reason several Galway players shouldn't be able to do the same. I think McGlinchey has this skill in his locker, as does Darcy. O'Laoi has improved a lot, contributes on the scoreboard and hopefully he can stay injury free. It was great to see Tuam and Dunmore represented yesterday and proving so influential.

AnCrúiscínLán (Galway) - Posts: 109 - 01/02/2026 17:59:55    2654364

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Fair play on the result last day, think both teams can be happy with alot of what they seen and bother missing alot of men, both teams will improve, never much between Armagh and Galway over the last 4 years, I'd actually say this was the best Armagh looked against Galway in a long time and can be really happy with the general performance but not the result, think Armagh going forward look very good and in midfield look strong, both teams will be there or there abouts come business end of things,

Liftball (Armagh) - Posts: 45 - 01/02/2026 20:48:21    2654441

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Replying To Marooned:  "I enjoyed Oisin McDonagh's two shoulders in a row to Armagh men. Sent them flying."
Very impressive and a credit to the standard of conditioning at club level now. Oisin looks like someone who's been there years already. That hardness and work rate don't appear overnight but being a tough Connemara lad by nature certainly doesn't hurt either.
Someone mentioned its also great to see Dunmore and Tuam represented again. There was always some truth in that old saying that you'd never win an All Ireland without a Dunmore man but Tuam still remains the heart of Galway football. Having Stars players involved is a massive boost for the club and the town, and it's good for the county too that blend of tradition, toughness and footballing pedigree feels very Galway.

Reports from Tuam are saying Aussie Rules scouts sniffing around Mcglinchy, let's be selfish and hope this doesn't progress

WonTon5 (Galway) - Posts: 122 - 02/02/2026 12:37:51    2654580

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Replying To WonTon5:  "Very impressive and a credit to the standard of conditioning at club level now. Oisin looks like someone who's been there years already. That hardness and work rate don't appear overnight but being a tough Connemara lad by nature certainly doesn't hurt either.
Someone mentioned its also great to see Dunmore and Tuam represented again. There was always some truth in that old saying that you'd never win an All Ireland without a Dunmore man but Tuam still remains the heart of Galway football. Having Stars players involved is a massive boost for the club and the town, and it's good for the county too that blend of tradition, toughness and footballing pedigree feels very Galway.

Reports from Tuam are saying Aussie Rules scouts sniffing around Mcglinchy, let's be selfish and hope this doesn't progress"
Hope so too, seeing as we have already lost the standout big man player of the most recent 4 or 5 years Walsh to rugby.Galway can't afford to bleed their best young talent and hope to be successful.

backtooldwall (Galway) - Posts: 213 - 02/02/2026 13:27:59    2654585

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There was a lad on the minor team a few years ago from Spiddal who played rugby? Is he still playing rugby because he was a good player. Speaking of Tuam is Brian Mannion still involved or Colm Costello from Dunmore? They would be 2 standout forwards from club game. Walsh from Kilannin was good this year also and thought he'd be in the FBD at least.

jobseekersbent (Galway) - Posts: 396 - 02/02/2026 14:13:42    2654589

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Replying To smallfrank:  "Watched the game back.
23 Galway Kick Outs, we won possession from 7
12 in the first half we won 5
11 in the second half we won 2
20 of the 23 went long and we won possession on 4 of them.
Won 3 from 3 on the short ones.
Unbelievable that he kept going long when you watch it back."
Vs Armagh
26 Galway Kick Outs, we won posession from 11
13 in the first half, we won 8
13 in the second half, we won 3
20 of the 26 went long, we won 6 of them
Won 5 from 6 on the short ones mostly in the first half.
One short one lost should have been an Armagh goal and one short one to Cogger and Glynn got turned over and led to a 3 v 1 where Duffy unbelievably fisted and over

smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 577 - 02/02/2026 14:36:48    2654603

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Watched the game back, work rate won us this game.
Jarly Og took a solo and go in the first half and Liam Silke started 5 yards behind him, made up the ground and blocked his shot, this led to a Galway point, outstanding. As mentioned by others, Oisin McDonagh with 2 massive hits and the ball gets to Finnerty for a point. Finian O'Laoi, won 3 kick outs(1 clean and 2 breaks), scored a point and created a goal in the first half. Matthew Tierney, one of the most underrated players, covered huge ground, tackled, and got a goal. Shane McGrath, great cameo, looks made for this level.
You throw Maher and Darcy into that and we have a very hard working team.

smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 577 - 02/02/2026 14:44:13    2654605

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Replying To jobseekersbent:  "There was a lad on the minor team a few years ago from Spiddal who played rugby? Is he still playing rugby because he was a good player. Speaking of Tuam is Brian Mannion still involved or Colm Costello from Dunmore? They would be 2 standout forwards from club game. Walsh from Kilannin was good this year also and thought he'd be in the FBD at least."
Tomas Farthing. He's still in the Connacht academy but there are a lot of young scrum halves ahead of him. He'll have a job to make it. Pity as he had the makings of a top class corner back. Easily could have been another Johnny McGrath in the other corner.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2479 - 02/02/2026 14:54:46    2654610

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Replying To smallfrank:  "Vs Armagh
26 Galway Kick Outs, we won posession from 11
13 in the first half, we won 8
13 in the second half, we won 3
20 of the 26 went long, we won 6 of them
Won 5 from 6 on the short ones mostly in the first half.
One short one lost should have been an Armagh goal and one short one to Cogger and Glynn got turned over and led to a 3 v 1 where Duffy unbelievably fisted and over"
Lies damn lies and statistics

That last one we won going short cogger and Glynn made a haymes bringing it out and Armagh should have finished game

Very similar to goal v Meath that cost us game

Great win Saturday night and good to see mcdaid Kelly mchugh kind of embracing McGrath Mcglinchey almost see them becoming accepted into group

Any word on John Daly I don't see him in extended group after the match and no word on an injury or leaving panel

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1920 - 02/02/2026 15:14:52    2654617

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