I also agree that the biggest threat to Galway will come from within, there is no doubt that this team is good enough to win at least one or two more All Irelands, but will the desire be there? I also think that at times we played within ourselves, there is no doubt that we were the best team by a long way last year, but probably the fear of losing prevented us from driving on. Tipperary were the closest team to us last year and probably will be again next season, but if the desire is there again next year, not to mention if we can start scoring goals, we will definitely be the team to beat?

gilly0512 (Galway) - Posts: 1176 - 27/10/2017 12:08:05    2058533

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4321 - 27/10/2017 13:03:41    2058554

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4321 - 27/10/2017 13:10:41    2058559

Maroonforever (Galway) - Posts: 414 - 27/10/2017 14:33:09    2058592

Tipp are the obvious ones.Recent games have shown that there is nothing between them and Galway, I would say Galway have a slightly better team but that Tipp have a stronger forward unit.I think if Tipp had beaten Galway in the semi this year they would have comfortably beaten Waterford in the final.
After Tipp I would still rate Kilkenny very highly if only because of their innate ability to win games.
Then Waterford and after them Limerick would be dangerous I feel.Similar to Galway they have a lot of talent but just haven't put a winning team together.
Cork are improving but not contenders just yet.
I would fancy Galway against Clare, Wexford or Dublin.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 28/10/2017 10:48:12    2058759

I feel if Galway can bring a couple of players through the minor team and under 21 team it will be of huge benefit to the entire panel cos then no one is relaxed about their places. You see what Kilkenny have done over the years integrating young players into the team and I hope Michael Donoghue is thinking the same. I know that he will not do a Brian Cody on it but I hope Donoghue stays with Galway for a number of years considering he's probably one of the most astute managers in the game at the moment!!!

Maroonforever (Galway) - Posts: 414 - 01/11/2017 12:58:13    2059497

2018 has to be Galway's year, agree completely that we need to blood a few new players, certain guys have reached their sell-by date and it was somewhat obvious in the All-Ireland Final, we leaked two soft goals and were a beaten ticket until we started to bring on Niall and Jason, let's not fool ourselves that we are even close to the finished article - but we can and we will improve, now that the monkey is off our backs, our full back line will grow in confidence, more worried about our middle third, our Captain peaked for the final but has a lot of milage now.

Waterford are a poor outfit, some great individuals like Connors at 4 but Aussie went backward in his progress since 2016, sweeper system will not get you enough scores in finals, Clare are in turmoil, loads of retirements, loads of foreign travel requests, inexperienced management, they will capitulate in 2018, serious contenders in 2017 no longer have the magic, Limerick cannot transition from U21 as they don't have skilful Seniors as a base, they have no Cannings or Cooneys or Burkes, Kilkenny are in transition and may spend a few years there but they will remerge, just not in 2018, Wexford don't have the depth to bother anyone - Tipperary, if they can heal the scars from 2017 and build a tighter defence will be serious contenders as they have the middle third and forwards to win tight matches, Cork will grow from last year but I fear the management change was one year too soon. Dark Horses - Dublin - get them boys regrouped, fit and on a run

Yes, Galway for the double but we cannot sit on the fence, we need to rebuild and refresh and we have the young tribes ready now to complete the transition

TouchOfClass (Galway) - Posts: 730 - 01/11/2017 13:58:51    2059521

Read Donal O'Grady piece on GAA website and his view on 2017 he suggested that Galway are the team to beat next year with Tipp, as second Waterford and Cork shared for 3rd those were his top 4 which O can't disagree with he said Kilkenny could be gone for a while and feels Wexford are the coming team but he said you cant rule out Limerick or Clare either didn't mention Dublin either which I was suprised about could be a revival there with Pat Gilroy taking over. Still though always interested with what he has to say suprised he has not got back involved in inter county management very shrewd man.

Maroonforever (Galway) - Posts: 414 - 13/11/2017 16:22:46    2062115

Clare will take beating in 2018.....off to a flyer already.......

hoppingball (Galway) - Posts: 963 - 19/11/2017 22:47:19    2063044

Diarmuid Kirwan is a threat, and we'll have to take all steps to ensure he's not 'involved' in our pivotal games next season. Struck again at Fenway imo, running after a lad with a dubious looking yellow and failing to award obvious free, to kill our momentum after HT in the final, probably the only time we had momentum v Clare.

Old bugbear of not scoring goals came home to roost too!! How the fcuk were we invited to play in that game, when we don't score goals!

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3423 - 20/11/2017 09:59:07    2063064

Diarmuid Kirwan is a threat, and we'll have to take all steps to ensure he's not 'involved' in our pivotal games next season. Struck again at Fenway imo, running after a lad with a dubious looking yellow and failing to award obvious free, to kill our momentum after HT in the final, probably the only time we had momentum v Clare.

Old bugbear of not scoring goals came home to roost too!! How the fcuk were we invited to play in that game, when we don't score goals!

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3423 - 20/11/2017 09:59:26    2063065

Jason Flynn seemed to have no problem hitting the net yesterday!
Agree re Kirwin, he's beyond a joke at this stage.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 20/11/2017 13:49:11    2063087

So a few months later with the league over and the championship starting in a few weeks who do many people see as Galway's main threat's to their all-ireland in my opinion this is who I rank as Galway's main threat's.

Tipperary
Kilkenny
Waterford
Limerick
Clare

I'm sure mine won't be the same like every one else is.

Maroonforever (Galway) - Posts: 414 - 17/04/2018 00:17:41    2093434

Clare are the team to beat in 2018.....

hoppingball (Galway) - Posts: 963 - 17/04/2018 15:24:16    2093584

clare_sparrow (Galway) - Posts: 426 - 01/05/2018 15:16:48    2096016

Dont write off Cork,,, but Clare seem to be the team to beat

hoppingball (Galway) - Posts: 963 - 01/05/2018 19:38:36    2096080

Tipp and Kilkenny.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 02/05/2018 10:45:56    2096195

Me excited as the games are about to begin. I really fancy Galway as I think the hunger is there. The lads have put away the cups and reports are team in a good place. The main danger is Tip followed by limerick and Kilkenny. I think Clare and wexford peeked two early and Waterford have lost confidence in their system. a chance of management for Cork is a worry with them having a good championship last year , I fear it won't be repeated this year.

heartbroken (Galway) - Posts: 370 - 04/05/2018 22:40:18    2096744

hoppingball (Galway) - Posts: 963 - 31/07/2018 20:17:47    2128008