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Galway Hurling thread

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Replying To galway19:  "U20 fixtures are out for championship. We face Wexford on either the 2nd or 4th of April, Dublin on 11/12 April and Kilkenny on April 22nd. Big grade for us this year and will be interesting how Gavin Keary gets on in charge of a squad that a lot is expected of."
Just curious: why is a lot expected of this current squad? We won 4 minors AIs in a row and nothing translated up so why this crowd? Thanks in advance.

SouthGalway (Galway) - Posts: 214 - 20/02/2026 14:17:30    2657484

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Replying To katser:  "It's time to be getting the team finalised and upto Championship pace. Whatever about Offaly next, they would want to have the team sorted for home games v Waterford and Kilkenny. 3 wins on the spin would see us set for possible winner takes all (league semi finals v limrik)
Then crack at Cork in League Final two weeks before opening Round of Championship v Kilkenny.
The diddling around with players was tried with Tipp and Cork and most likely with Offaly next, But after that in the words of Jim Telfer..." gloves are off its bare knuckle stuff from here onwards and only the last man standing will win the fight""
No League Semi Finald this year. Two top teams contest the Final in both Divisions 1 and 2

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4539 - 20/02/2026 19:40:41    2657546

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Replying To SouthGalway:  "Just curious: why is a lot expected of this current squad? We won 4 minors AIs in a row and nothing translated up so why this crowd? Thanks in advance."
As minors this team laid waste to leinster, hammered KK twice and then Cork. Clare fairly put a stop to them though in the All Ireland. Think its fair to say that a lot us expected of them based on their performances in 23 though

Overdahill (Galway) - Posts: 89 - 20/02/2026 21:22:22    2657567

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Replying To SouthGalway:  "Just curious: why is a lot expected of this current squad? We won 4 minors AIs in a row and nothing translated up so why this crowd? Thanks in advance."
The top end of this age group had won every game by double digits at minor until they fluffed their lines in the all ireland final. As strong as the the minor teams we've had for past six or seven years, we haven't had as many u20s start or be on the panel for the seniors as this year's group. Will be interesting to see how they get on but even if the seniors weren't released for the group matches and you left off Niland and Rabbitte out of the forwards, you'd still have the likes of Callanan, Leen, Holmes, Vince Morgan, Michael Burke up front. Cullen Killeen and Sean Murphy both on the senior panel further back the field. I would be amazed if we weren't looking back on this group in a few years time and looking at least five or six consistent starters at senior level for Galway.

galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 1056 - 20/02/2026 22:28:48    2657573

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Replying To galway19:  "The top end of this age group had won every game by double digits at minor until they fluffed their lines in the all ireland final. As strong as the the minor teams we've had for past six or seven years, we haven't had as many u20s start or be on the panel for the seniors as this year's group. Will be interesting to see how they get on but even if the seniors weren't released for the group matches and you left off Niland and Rabbitte out of the forwards, you'd still have the likes of Callanan, Leen, Holmes, Vince Morgan, Michael Burke up front. Cullen Killeen and Sean Murphy both on the senior panel further back the field. I would be amazed if we weren't looking back on this group in a few years time and looking at least five or six consistent starters at senior level for Galway."
I didn't think they fluffed their lines in the final. I thought it was more a case that they were wedded to one style of play/tactics all season long, and Clare feasted on that sheer predictability, and complete lack of capacity from Galway to exercise a plan b,c,d etc. With that Galway side, plan A was to go short/'play thru the lines', and there wasn't any other gameplan evident in their repertoire. Clare 'saw us coming' for that final imo.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4562 - 21/02/2026 11:35:54    2657612

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Replying To galway19:  "The top end of this age group had won every game by double digits at minor until they fluffed their lines in the all ireland final. As strong as the the minor teams we've had for past six or seven years, we haven't had as many u20s start or be on the panel for the seniors as this year's group. Will be interesting to see how they get on but even if the seniors weren't released for the group matches and you left off Niland and Rabbitte out of the forwards, you'd still have the likes of Callanan, Leen, Holmes, Vince Morgan, Michael Burke up front. Cullen Killeen and Sean Murphy both on the senior panel further back the field. I would be amazed if we weren't looking back on this group in a few years time and looking at least five or six consistent starters at senior level for Galway."
Fair play. Let's hope it pans out. We could use some hurling success again.

SouthGalway (Galway) - Posts: 214 - 21/02/2026 12:53:43    2657626

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Raphael's just ran out of steam in the last ten minutes against Kierans. Looked to be gaining control being four points up with 15 minutes to go until Gavin Maher got sent off and then the space opened up in the Loughrea back line. Kierans probably not as strong as their 20 point wins in Leinster would make them out to be. They are very big in the back line but also quite slow. I'd say Nenagh CBS will fancy beating them if it is a dry day in the semi final.

galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 1056 - 21/02/2026 13:49:54    2657630

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