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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: 219 - 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: 1058 - 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: 4571 - 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: 219 - 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: 1058 - 21/02/2026 13:49:54    2657630

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Handy win in Birr but a poor enough game overall. Game was effectively over at half time and with Offaly three down having played with a gale. We never really kicked into gear in the second half apart from a nice move for the first goal. Jason Rabbitte really good again, a right handful every time the ball went to him. Good for Conor Whelan to come on and get a goal. He looked in good shape physically. Big home games coming up now against Waterford and Kilkenny.

galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 1058 - 22/02/2026 15:42:02    2657805

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Replying To galway19:  "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."
Ok, so are Presentation and Raphael's out of the competition now? It's very hard to find the fixtures for this competition. I'm still sore after last years final when Presentation lost by a point. Sigh.

SouthGalway (Galway) - Posts: 219 - 24/02/2026 14:48:57    2658375

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Replying To SouthGalway:  "Ok, so are Presentation and Raphael's out of the competition now? It's very hard to find the fixtures for this competition. I'm still sore after last years final when Presentation lost by a point. Sigh."
Semi finals are
Pres v Flannans
Kierans v Nenagh
Saturday week. I think

Armchairreporter (Galway) - Posts: 142 - 24/02/2026 22:51:37    2658476

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Replying To SouthGalway:  "Ok, so are Presentation and Raphael's out of the competition now? It's very hard to find the fixtures for this competition. I'm still sore after last years final when Presentation lost by a point. Sigh."
Raphael's are out. Pres Athenry play St Flannan's and St Kieran's play Nenagh CBS in the semi-finals - not sure when.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 1049 - 24/02/2026 23:30:45    2658477

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Replying To Armchairreporter:  "Semi finals are
Pres v Flannans
Kierans v Nenagh
Saturday week. I think"
Great matches ahead. Thanks. Funny how some teams are there every year. Presentation are more than overdue to win it all.

SouthGalway (Galway) - Posts: 219 - 25/02/2026 10:56:59    2658506

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Replying To Gaillimh_Abu:  "Raphael's are out. Pres Athenry play St Flannan's and St Kieran's play Nenagh CBS in the semi-finals - not sure when."
Fair play to you. Thanks. Flannans are tough this year. I'd love to see Presentation get another crack at St Kierans in the Final. Hammered them last year just to lose the Final. Sigh.

SouthGalway (Galway) - Posts: 219 - 25/02/2026 10:59:51    2658508

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Pres should be capable of beating Flannan's in that semi final next weekend. Having Leen up front will give the Pres a chance of beating anyone at schools level.

ATU Galway are into the freshers hurling championship final against UL. Strong ATUG team this year with more of the Galway under 20s in there instead of University College Galway. Playing a UL side that beat UCC in the other semi final by 44 points though!

galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 1058 - 26/02/2026 12:54:52    2658733

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Must win game against Waterford this weekend and not being shown anywhere which is poor. Any word on Gavin lees injury or whether he will be back for this weekend. Could do with him in middle third as this is where Waterford are strongest with lot of their ballygunner lads back in the team now.

Gaagael15 (Galway) - Posts: 31 - 26/02/2026 13:25:41    2658734

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Replying To galway19:  "Pres should be capable of beating Flannan's in that semi final next weekend. Having Leen up front will give the Pres a chance of beating anyone at schools level.

ATU Galway are into the freshers hurling championship final against UL. Strong ATUG team this year with more of the Galway under 20s in there instead of University College Galway. Playing a UL side that beat UCC in the other semi final by 44 points though!"
Kilimordaly lad Cahalan was MOM v Raphaels, he was main man and he needs to play well if Pres to win

WesternSeaBoard (Galway) - Posts: 149 - 26/02/2026 15:24:39    2658758

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