I would interested to hear how people think this will go. Personally I think we have a chance but I would have huge concerns with our defence and its lack of experience.
Gaillimh Abu!

gaillimh73 (Galway) - Posts: 669 - 29/06/2015 15:13:21    1744756

And lack of pace!

gaillimh73 (Galway) - Posts: 669 - 29/06/2015 16:56:37    1744879

Galway look like they are at the intensity levels needed to give Km problems and of course they have a chance with all the retirements. Should be a cracking game and could go down to the wire if Galway can keep goals out.

Dubh_linn (Dublin) - Posts: 2312 - 29/06/2015 17:08:06    1744896

Look we're underdogs, but everyone will be against kilkenny. I've been impressed with us since the first day against the dubs. I mean that day we could easily have lost but ground out a draw and we've put in two impressive showings since. We are by no means the finished article but you can see a kind of game plan emerging.

Look no-one expects us to win, we have the security of a quarter final, I think we'll have a right cut at them, and with joe, you never know. Hon the tribesmen!!!

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 29/06/2015 21:02:09    1745080

I think Galway will win this one. Galway still have the vast bulk of the side who destroyed Kilkenny in the 2012 Leinster Final and looked hungry against Dublin. Kilkenny were impressive v Wexford, but with this being the Galway panel & Management's 4th year together I'd expect them to be a lot more mature in their approach.

Also I think if Cunningham is clever in how he uses Canning he can put him into positions for short spells to trouble Kilkenny.

Thing is though who will learn more from defeat? Even if the Cats lose this one they will most likely be back in the All-Ireland final come September.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6480 - 30/06/2015 10:30:52    1745196

I can see this year going like 2012... my prediction: Galway to win Leinster and KK to win AI.

mayo_hurler (Mayo) - Posts: 113 - 30/06/2015 11:46:29    1745271

Kilkenny still look very strong and there is not many missing from last years starting 15 in the All-Ireland final. Galway always look ready to step up but have failed on most occasions therefore the cats to win and go onto the final.

Byanthon (Tyrone) - Posts: 1780 - 30/06/2015 13:27:21    1745399

I think Galway should be doing their damnedest to win this, no point in thinking that they still have an All Ireland quarter final should they lose on Sunday, as let's be honest their quarter final record is horrendous, and chances are they will be facing Clare should they lose on Sunday. While Sunday is not make or break for Galway, it will tell us a lot as to where this Galway teams stands. They have been extremely poor for the last two years, and after their tame exit to Waterford in the league quarters, most people expected them to lose to Dublin, so their performances so far have been a pleasant surprise. However defensively there are major question marks over them, so it will take a major defensive effort for them to have any chance on Sunday, with in particular players such as Hanbury and Tannian having to prove the doubters wrong. Despite Kilkenny's 24 point win over a poor Wexford side, this Kilkenny side is not as strong as previous sides, so Galway have to go into this game genuinely believing that they can win.

gilly0512 (Galway) - Posts: 1176 - 30/06/2015 18:48:01    1745643

For the sake of this year championship, I sincerely hope that at a minimum Galway push Kilkenny to the limits and possibly win. Kilkenny are beatable and Wexford made them look better. They have weaknesses and I sure hope Cunningham can exploit them.

ZUL10 (Clare) - Posts: 693 - 01/07/2015 12:24:18    1745911

Galway will definitely push Kilkenny on Sunday and will be there or thereabouts come the 70 minutes....and fingers crossed will beat them and ourselves win the minor so there will be a happy Dublin-Galway house on Sunday with hersellf :)

Dubsfan28 (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 01/07/2015 12:33:50    1745926

I must say I've been very impressed with Galway so far. They showed a huge amount of hunger the first day and have gone from strength since. A demolition of the Dubs and a massacre of a laois team that has asked them serious questions the last 2 summers.

Kilkenny were ruthlessly clinical against us but we were very poor and made it pretty easy for them in the last 20 minutes or so. Everything went wrong so you can't really judge the cats on that.

I'd be expecting a fantastic game and would fancy KK to sneak it but certainly not by much. It could go either way.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 2732 - 01/07/2015 12:48:07    1745937

Agree with your analysis gilly, It's very important that Galway do well on Sunday and go on to win the match if possible. The front door is the way to go because the backdoor is full of minefields...Clare Limerick Tipp/Waterford, even Cork...wouldnt fancy meeting any of those teams following the setback that a defeat would do to us on Sunday. I wouldnt fear any of them , but would just prefer to see those teams batter each other and we meet the survivor(s) at All Ireland semi-final/ final stage!! Our defence is crucial...I'm not too concerned about Tannion, especially if we play with a sweeper but the likes of Hanbury needs to really step up to the plate.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1908 - 01/07/2015 12:57:05    1745950

Personaly i dont no how we will fair of sunday. Because i dont no were we are at. The wexford game? Cant really tell alot from that besides there routelessness < which they alway had>.And with galway? You just never no what galway team is goen to turn up. I guess win are lose sunday i'll get some idea of where we are at this summer.

hogan35 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 93 - 01/07/2015 13:32:29    1745984

What would be the expected crowd for this?

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 01/07/2015 17:58:30    1746151

Jack_Goff
County: Meath
What would be the expected crowd for this?

I'd say anything above 25000 would be a bonus

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 01/07/2015 18:09:20    1746159

Would it not have made more sense to play it in thurles?

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 01/07/2015 19:00:26    1746189

Jack_Goff
County: Meath
Would it not have made more sense to play it in thurles?

I don't believe so. Its the Leinster final after all, so that should probably stay in Croke Park. Plus, we actually get so few hurling Championship games in Croke Park, it would be a shame to have even less hurling at headquarters. At the moment, outside the Ring/Rackard/Meagher finals, the only inter-county hurling games played in Croke Park are the Leinster final, AI semi's, and AI. That's actually a very small number of inter-county hurlers that get to play in our only real world class stadium each year.

You know, I hope we get more that 25,000, but there hasn't been much build up to the game. You never know, get good weather, and there might be a bigger crowd than expected.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 01/07/2015 19:49:32    1746218

Jack_Goff,

No. Galway would sooner play on the North pole than play in Thurles.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 01/07/2015 20:28:24    1746232

Looking forward to this game.I think its time for Galway to tame the cats again.Galway are hurling well and the 3 games will stand to them.Theyve had a couple of outings in HQ already this year,and even though i rarely ever back against KK,i feel this is a game Galway can win.
Kilkenny were pretty impressive against Wexford.I never fancied Wexford in Nowlan Park.I never fancy anyone in Nowlan Park.After a couple of goal chances were squandered.it was always going to be a long day Noreside.Galway will more than likely have to score 2 or more goals,which they are well capable of.Joey Holden,while efficiant,didnt get overly troubled by Wexford.Im sure he will have a more testing afternoon on Sunday.Maybe Holden will turn out to be a brilliant full back,but Joe might continue his good form,and put a few doubts in the Kilkenny full back line.There is a lot riding on this game.Neither will fancy dropping in the back door.A Croke Park semi final date awaits the winners.Although ive backed Kilkenny to win the All Ireland every year since 2003,this year ive tipped a different winner - Clare.The first signs of the cats demise might be fanciful thinking,but im giving the men from the west a tentative nod to win the Bob O Keefe trophy.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 01/07/2015 21:50:03    1746268

The Galway full-back line is the weak link and looking at the way Aylward destroyed the Wexford one last time out I'm not filled with confidence for this them. Looks like Collins will now be out, which means Moore may be back in defence, with Coen going to the wing. This may be a blessing in disguise, as Collins is not the player he was. Also, Coen is better suited to the wing. He struggles with man-marking jobs, Paul Schutte and Walter Walsh come to mind. Jason Flynn may also not be fully ready to start following his hand injury and Davy Glennon could get a start, but according to reports and the Intermediate game yesterday evening, Shane Maloney is flying.

Dáithí Burke will most likely man-mark Richie Hogan, but as Hogan did in last year's All-Ireland Replay he could withdraw, bringing Burke with him and leaving huge space in the middle. If they leave Hogan to wander and he can pick off points from out the field. Will it mean Coen operating as a sweeper behind Burke to block that gap and someone else dropping back to his wing.

Though it has been against poor opposition Canning looks to be coming back into serious form. Needless to say this is a huge plus and on form he can give Holden and Kilkenny big problems. KK know this and will restrict the supply lines. Mannion is a good foil for Canning, but will have his work cut out against Tyrell or Murphy. Cyril Donnellan's battle with Joyce is also important. Joyce cleaned up in the air the last day, but Donnellan is no slouch under a high ball either.

There's so many match-ups and possibilities and so hard to judge how the game will go. Kilkenny had a big win the last day, but Wexford were shocking and Laois also were not a serious test for Galway. It boils down to whether Canning or Hogan can be kept quiet.

CyberDave (Galway) - Posts: 45 - 02/07/2015 09:02:05    1746294