Galway Forum

Senior Club Football Championship 2020

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To mise87:  "The oranmore that have lost 4 1/4 finals in a row since coming out of junior, or the claregalway who have been talking about making this impact since 2018? Population doesn't make quality, training and coaching does. These bigger areas get mixed with other sports too like soccer so pros and cons for everything.
Long may the Cinderella story of David clubs continues Against Goliath, Killannin v claregalway, c'listrane v Tuam, spiddeal v salthill.

That's what is the attraction to sport, anything can happen on any day"
I have my doubts about Oranmore but I'd be very surprised if Claregalway are not in the top 3-4 clubs in Galway in the very near future.
Their consistent strength at underage level will ensure that. They are by far the strongest underage club in North Galway. Only Salthill in the West Board would be similarly of a consistently high standard.
They will lose some lads to soccer/hurling no doubt but still have the numbers to bring lads through.

galwayman2 (Galway) - Posts: 822 - 14/09/2020 21:41:30    2292128

Link

Replying To Galwaymaster9:  "In fairness Corofin have struggled at u 12 14 16 and minor this year..Claregalway beat Tuam in 16 and look primed for minor, Oranmore beat Tuam in 14. So although Corofin could win another 5 in a row at senior level, they will be looking at results this year for their underage teams maybe be slightly concerned."
There is an "Off the ball" episode from November/December 2019 with Ray Silke, Paul McGettigan and Frank Morris, they address that point and Frank Morris explained that Corofin have moved to a changed model, focusing on skills with development and taking the long term approach with players, he noted they couldn't compete with large urban centres in the county but that their goal was to feed the Senior team with players eventually, if they get one or two from every age group it would be considered a successful underage system. When you look at the current age profiles of, Oran Burke, Mahon, Darragh Silke, Dylan Wall, Molloy, McHugh, Brady, Martin Farragher etc they will be 30 when they get the one or two from their current U12's. Galway U20's have a Corofin player Tony Gill starting at centre back who we haven't seen start for the Corofin senior team, they have a serious number of players coming through, but they bring them through gradually and in a low profile way. Mountbellew, Moycullen, Salthill, and Claregalway have all won minors and U20's since Corofin has but all the Corofin players from the same period have the club All Ireland medals. We shouldn't dismiss the Corofin future just yet. They are always ahead of the chasing pack.

GDL (Galway) - Posts: 449 - 14/09/2020 21:52:20    2292130

Link

Seeing them struggle against a very average Killererin side, Oranmore have a long way to go to be a top club at senior. They have the population base alright but they are obviously not making the best of it at the moment.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 1812 - 14/09/2020 23:21:00    2292146

Link

Replying To togoutlads:  "Watch the next few years as population, sheer player numbers at every age group and really decent coaching come into play - Oranmore-Maree and Claregalway won't be underachieving anymore, they're looking primed to become serious forces for years to come. It'll take a while but it'll happen. Similarly, big numbers in S-K, Barna and a couple of others will start to open up gaps vs some of the smaller rural clubs, who will inevitably have to amalgamate due to population decline. Look at Northern Gaels or Kilkerrin-Clonberne-Killererin. There'll have to be more of that or great kids just won't have access to club football."
I agree that the bigger clubs will be clubs situated in and around the city. I don't think small rural clubs will imalgamate at adult level but it is hard to see them compete at senior level.
Still, the majority of best players over the years have come from small North Galway clubs and I don't think that will change. Todays team is filled with lads from smaller clubs as was 98' and 01'. Nothing has changed in 20 years. How many from Salthill, James, Bearna and Claregalway will start for Galway this year? My guess is 0.
Claregalway have been hugely successful at underage over the last 5 years and have the numbers, but they are knocked out of both the senior and junior championship.

hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 318 - 15/09/2020 09:14:23    2292158

Link

Replying To giveitlong:  "KillYes there is no doubt whatsoever that a few clubs from the city and large suburbs will dominate football at senior level. The days of a Caltra being crowned kings is gone for at least 30 years but may return in a generation or 2 . St James have over 300 members registered as players. Milltown and Killererin both have about 70 registered paid up members each made up of players AND supporters. Even Corofin could be struggling inside 10 years, the underage success their current team was built on is slowly slipping away. St James, Claregalway, Barna, Moycullen, Salthill, Oranmore and maybe Tuam are the teams of the next 10 years. Same story nationwide."
How many playing members have Corofin does anyone know. They will never struggle. Some size of a parish.

hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 318 - 15/09/2020 09:17:17    2292159

Link

Replying To Galwaymaster9:  "In fairness Corofin have struggled at u 12 14 16 and minor this year..Claregalway beat Tuam in 16 and look primed for minor, Oranmore beat Tuam in 14. So although Corofin could win another 5 in a row at senior level, they will be looking at results this year for their underage teams maybe be slightly concerned."
Underage does not mean success at senior level we should know this better then anyone amount of minor & u21 AI we won in hurling especially that did not translate to us delivering Liam. Salthill have been coming for years now were lucky to get out of their group & corofin won in 2nd gear. Claregalway are the up & coming team the last 5 years now too. Its laughable that people think Corofin are on the wane they have won 3 AI in a row have not lost a hampionship game in Galway in what 50?

Eire89 (Galway) - Posts: 210 - 15/09/2020 09:21:57    2292160

Link

Replying To hopballref:  "How many playing members have Corofin does anyone know. They will never struggle. Some size of a parish."
Corofin is a big parish in area, not by population. Just over a thousand people between the parishes so using size as an excuse is far from reality. Its about structures, keeping youth involved into adult level, senior players mentoring the younger lads, focus on skills etc. The success they have achieved in recent times is as a result of years of work and it is very easy to keep young lads involved off the back of this.

bogmaster19 (Galway) - Posts: 10 - 15/09/2020 10:13:06    2292171

Link

Replying To bogmaster19:  "Corofin is a big parish in area, not by population. Just over a thousand people between the parishes so using size as an excuse is far from reality. Its about structures, keeping youth involved into adult level, senior players mentoring the younger lads, focus on skills etc. The success they have achieved in recent times is as a result of years of work and it is very easy to keep young lads involved off the back of this."
Im afraid you are incorrect. Corofin is a very big parish by population also . More than twice the population of any of the other traditional North Galway parishes ( possible exceptions being Tuam and Annaghdown) . For sure its not as dense a population as those in or closer to the city but Population = Density x Area. and Corofin has the largest parish area in the county. For sure Corofin deserve credit for structure and club spirit , but their unprecendented success has also coincided with a population explosion in Galway city that has overflowed in to all areas within a convenient commuting distance of the city.

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 138 - 15/09/2020 10:59:17    2292184

Link

Would there be many players in this current Corofin side that was not born an reared in the parish but moved in to the parish?

Tizcold (Galway) - Posts: 239 - 15/09/2020 11:55:39    2292202

Link

Replying To bogmaster19:  "Corofin is a big parish in area, not by population. Just over a thousand people between the parishes so using size as an excuse is far from reality. Its about structures, keeping youth involved into adult level, senior players mentoring the younger lads, focus on skills etc. The success they have achieved in recent times is as a result of years of work and it is very easy to keep young lads involved off the back of this."
No doubting their structure and the work they put in is the main reason for their success. A seriously impressive club.
But they have 4 adult teams which not many clubs are able to do. Its unreasonable to say that the population in Corofin parish does not contribute to their success.

hopballref (Galway) - Posts: 318 - 15/09/2020 14:54:19    2292268

Link

Replying To bogmaster19:  "Corofin is a big parish in area, not by population. Just over a thousand people between the parishes so using size as an excuse is far from reality. Its about structures, keeping youth involved into adult level, senior players mentoring the younger lads, focus on skills etc. The success they have achieved in recent times is as a result of years of work and it is very easy to keep young lads involved off the back of this."
I mean this is just patently not true.

kazoochka (Galway) - Posts: 330 - 15/09/2020 16:53:13    2292295

Link

Replying To Eire89:  "Underage does not mean success at senior level we should know this better then anyone amount of minor & u21 AI we won in hurling especially that did not translate to us delivering Liam. Salthill have been coming for years now were lucky to get out of their group & corofin won in 2nd gear. Claregalway are the up & coming team the last 5 years now too. Its laughable that people think Corofin are on the wane they have won 3 AI in a row have not lost a hampionship game in Galway in what 50?"
Corofin have won the County Championship far more often than not since 1998 but the current 8 year run is based in large part of an incredible crop of youngsters who came through minor around 2012-13 ie Ian Burke, Kieran Molloy, the Farraghers, Daithi Burke, Ronan Steed, Dylan Wall etc etc. Core of the team set them up for another decade.

When you have the depth of talent they do you can easily go 3 or 4 years without winning much underage without it being an issue. Also, Corofin put less stock in underage success generally than some clubs . Underage is development for the Senior team not a means to an end itself. They also don't lose to many to soccer, abroad, or other interests, and why would they, people want to stick around and be part of a winning machine.

kazoochka (Galway) - Posts: 330 - 15/09/2020 16:58:01    2292296

Link

Replying To kazoochka:  "Corofin have won the County Championship far more often than not since 1998 but the current 8 year run is based in large part of an incredible crop of youngsters who came through minor around 2012-13 ie Ian Burke, Kieran Molloy, the Farraghers, Daithi Burke, Ronan Steed, Dylan Wall etc etc. Core of the team set them up for another decade.

When you have the depth of talent they do you can easily go 3 or 4 years without winning much underage without it being an issue. Also, Corofin put less stock in underage success generally than some clubs . Underage is development for the Senior team not a means to an end itself. They also don't lose to many to soccer, abroad, or other interests, and why would they, people want to stick around and be part of a winning machine."
They actually had two players starting for Galway United last year, Kelly and Ludden.

GDL (Galway) - Posts: 449 - 15/09/2020 19:12:33    2292324

Link

Replying To GDL:  "They actually had two players starting for Galway United last year, Kelly and Ludden."
And your point is?

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 138 - 15/09/2020 22:28:26    2292366

Link

Replying To anotheralias:  "And your point is?"
Previous poster made the point they don't lose players to soccer when in fact two of the Galway Utd starting 11 last year came from Corofin.

GDL (Galway) - Posts: 449 - 15/09/2020 23:00:05    2292375

Link

Replying To kazoochka:  "I mean this is just patently not true."
If numbers are the key how have clubs such as Tuam, Annaghdown, Athenry, Claregalway, Oranmore, Ballinasloe, Bearna, Moycullen and others with greater populations bases not come to the fore? While I agree numbers help, it cannot be used as the main reason for Corofin's success as so many people seem to proclaim. Corofin's focus is on transitioning from underage to Senior level; they have had minimal success in the recent years at underage but yet brought through players who can make the step up to Senior.

bogmaster19 (Galway) - Posts: 10 - 16/09/2020 08:38:20    2292389

Link

Replying To GDL:  "Previous poster made the point they don't lose players to soccer when in fact two of the Galway Utd starting 11 last year came from Corofin."
Previous poster stated they dont lose many to other sports not that they don't lose anyone to other sports

galwayfball (Galway) - Posts: 1269 - 16/09/2020 10:21:49    2292420

Link

Replying To bogmaster19:  "If numbers are the key how have clubs such as Tuam, Annaghdown, Athenry, Claregalway, Oranmore, Ballinasloe, Bearna, Moycullen and others with greater populations bases not come to the fore? While I agree numbers help, it cannot be used as the main reason for Corofin's success as so many people seem to proclaim. Corofin's focus is on transitioning from underage to Senior level; they have had minimal success in the recent years at underage but yet brought through players who can make the step up to Senior."
Population definitely helps but absolutely the are still massively over achieving and the people behind the scenes at the club deserve massive amounts of credit for the work they put in. They are now reaping the rewards.

galwayfball (Galway) - Posts: 1269 - 16/09/2020 10:23:50    2292421

Link

Replying To bogmaster19:  "If numbers are the key how have clubs such as Tuam, Annaghdown, Athenry, Claregalway, Oranmore, Ballinasloe, Bearna, Moycullen and others with greater populations bases not come to the fore? While I agree numbers help, it cannot be used as the main reason for Corofin's success as so many people seem to proclaim. Corofin's focus is on transitioning from underage to Senior level; they have had minimal success in the recent years at underage but yet brought through players who can make the step up to Senior."
I was referring to idea Corofin only have 1000 people in their catchment area, which is fairly obvious to anyone not correct.

Salthill-Knocknacarra are Exhibit A that a big pick isn't a guarantee of success at Senior Level.

kazoochka (Galway) - Posts: 330 - 16/09/2020 11:27:57    2292442

Link

Just to give some numbers to quell the myth that Corofin are just a great country team. They also have massive numbers to work with.

Taking the 5 national schools in the parish. Annaghhill 101, Ballinderry 208, Belclare 237, Cummer 251 and Sylane 90:
Total Enrolment 887
Boys - 425 Girls 426 Per class in total 53. Now I know that not all are eligible to play for Corofin and some kids just don't play football and some play hurling etc. So if you take 25% away for all reasons you are still left with nearly 40 boys at each class. The same calculation can be made for girls but probably a higher number that don't play football.

galwaygoal (Galway) - Posts: 111 - 16/09/2020 11:57:41    2292448

Link