Very very depressing. Time for a refresh.

MinorChamp_09 (Galway) - Posts: 38 - 30/06/2026 08:36:22    2683111

Nobody deserves a 9-year tenure as manager of Galway. No one. You'd want to be a Jim Gavin or a Mick O'Dwyer in their management prime to be allowed all that time. Joyce has been a great servant to the county but thank you Padraic, it's time to move on and get a new voice in there. We're stale. We're out of ideas under PJ and our major problems in our play just never get addressed. PJ wants to hold on for dear life as he wants the profile given it helps him on multiple fronts, one major one in particular. He has had the best crop of players in approx 30 years under his leadership and he hasn't delivered with them. Make no mistake - this group we have is generational and were, maybe still are, capable of winning an All Ireland but I know and they know deep down that they won't under PJ. Thank you but please clear the way now.

togoutlads (Galway) - Posts: 1135 - 30/06/2026 08:53:13    2683115

candlewax (Galway) - Posts: 308 - 30/06/2026 09:24:32    2683119

I'm not expecting too many retirements, Silke most likely given what he does for a living is very demanding. Hard to know with Conroy but really can't see Walsh going anywhere. I think someone mentioned McDaid but he's only 28.

Same old issues which have caused us problems for years, throwing away big leads when well on top and losing the kickout battle. Its no good enough to be having the same issues 5 years down the line.

There's still a lot of top players who are in their prime, the likes of Molloy & O'Laoi both stepped up on Sunday and were excellent. Galway are very well stacked in the backs, especially in the half backs, could do with finding someone who can operate in the full back line, another midfielder but with Sam O'Neill & McGlinchey about that may not be an issue.

In the forward line we'll have Thompson back who was a huge loss this year, Mulhearn will be a year older and I saw enough of Mulryan in the 20's to suggest he's definitely got a good chance at this level.

But matters nothing if they don't find a new keeper and put a few set plays in place for kickouts.

TheBishop (Galway) - Posts: 327 - 30/06/2026 10:05:45    2683125

While PJ seems to be close, I think 2 many issues remain that only he can be held accountable for. No action taken no plan B when going long is clearly handing cheap scores to opposition. Team constantly unable to deliver a comprehensive win even v division 4 rivals. As PJ himself stated in his post match interview following our Leitrim game, "it was a good job McNulty had an off day". The new rules have doomed slow build up cagey teams, (no Ulster team in last 4) . Teams at all levels have adapted to more of a kicking game, but Galway, traditionally a kicking team have elected to play a running slow build up, largely hand passing game. Unprofessional team warm ups and above all, the seeming lack of passion and desire from players which only seems to click in when the team is well behind in the second half of games. I think a change would be more likely to improve things than not.

giveitlong (Galway) - Posts: 1327 - 30/06/2026 11:23:47    2683133

It was very poor on sunday, we r so slow moving the ball.cant see how joyce stays on,if he does we ll be having same conversation this time next year. Lads who done well in league got no chance in summer.crazy stuff all year.

Dunmore10 (Galway) - Posts: 187 - 30/06/2026 11:30:26    2683138

ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 131 - 30/06/2026 11:38:31    2683140

Galway have always produced good footballers but we only really caught up with the modern way of the world when Kevin Walsh came in 2015. Since then we have sustained ourselves as a top 8 team, probably in the top 4 since 2022. There is also no doubt that we continue to produce plenty of talented young players (in that 20-24 age bracket) even if underage success has dried up.

But the bigger question is why we are not getting over the line for Sam. Talent alone is not enough. We need to look honestly at what is missing. Our squad is every bit as talented as what Kerry or Dublin have, so why do they always seem to find a way? For me, it comes down to one thing... ruthlessness.

Huge credit has to go to the lads for their efforts in 2026. They are a serious squad and have given everything but the challenge now is to move from being competitive and talented to being clinical and ruthless when it matters most. Management can only take it so far (and they are not without blame ) but ultimately the squad has to drive that standard itself.

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1786 - 30/06/2026 12:31:07    2683157

Really can't believe Joyce would stay on after another flop in Croke Park.
He has changed his backroom team, but the results are even worse.
Won a few Connachts - after Mayo's best players retired.

Galway still have players who played in 2017 and 2020 all ireland U20/21 finals. Some serious talent.

But the same flaws appear every year in Croke Park - Goalkeeper and late match free taking.
McDaid/Tierney/Finnerty - these are the top quality players who should be relied on to win the big matches - instead they have to defer to Walsh/Comer and Conroy. Those lads had their day and haven't been able to get it done.

Does anyone think that a serious all Ireland contender and manager would have his full back on love island? Not if the player believed there was an All Ireland in the team. The way they finished the last 10 mins - you could see the players don't believe it - as soon as the going gets tough, the falter - every time.

Galways chance came and went in 2023 - new ideas are needed before the current (2017-2020 U21/20's) crop go to waste too. Galway aren't pulling up trees at underage since then as all the counties resources are going into this team.
If Galway retain Joyce for 9 years - they will have nothing to show for it and another 10 years in the wilderness to follow.

In Mayo, we put 12 years of resources into Horan ball (albeit with 3 different managers) and had nothing to show for it. Lost our way at underage as well (2xU20/21 provincial titles in 15 years, 3x minor in 12 years), resulting in an average team for the past 5 years.
Every county gets a few years to deliver and then goes into regression. Galway are just following Mayo's example - better to throw the dice now and see if a new face can re invigorate the existing players - because its an absolute certainty that those players no longer believe they can do it with this regime.

If they stick with Joyce, there will be 2 more bad years and a long hangover afterwards. No provincial minor win for 8 years and no provincial U20 for 6 years - that's at least a 5-6 years of no Sam after Joyces tenure is over too.

Galways biggest fear will be who to replace him with. Cathal Clancy, Kevin O Brien, Kevin Johnson? Their lack of intercounty playing careers will mean there will be a lot of nay sayers.
The lack of intercounty medals doesn't stop Joe O Connor, Malachy O Rourke or Jim McGuiness. Didn't stop John O Mahony or Sean Boylan either. Often the very best managers never played ball at the highest level

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1956 - 30/06/2026 12:31:25    2683158

Just on Pj and his management, IS lynda Duffy still on the scene?

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1299 - 30/06/2026 12:35:38    2683161

candlewax (Galway) - Posts: 308 - 30/06/2026 12:39:54    2683162

Ros2013 (Roscommon) - Posts: 667 - 30/06/2026 12:43:14    2683163

walsh only one point, tierney-comer no score, what hope do we have?
our midfield trio actually scored 1-6 between them as much as we didn't win the midfield battle
as mentioned already mcdaid very quiet. we are guilty ourselves of overrated these players.

anytime there was a breaking ball, besides o'laoi no one was winning it for us. truth be told we are as far away as ever, think mangement needs a shake up, same issues with closing out games/kickout strategy that we have been talking about since 2022 final and no sign of it changing

cavan.galway (Galway) - Posts: 264 - 30/06/2026 12:51:48    2683167

If Pj wants to remain he needs to part company with Graham and Galligan, going absolutely nowhere if they stay involved. Ask Divilly to come back or if O'Connor steps away from Kerry, pick up the phone to Cian O'Neill and see if he would like to return.

gaillimhboy (Galway) - Posts: 418 - 30/06/2026 12:55:20    2683170

Galway still playing a brand of football that belongs under the old rules. Running the ball up the field. Getting to the 45 and then turning back and waiting for everyone to get into position. Unfortunately this allows the defence to get into position as well. No urgency to get the head up and kick the ball down the field. The ball moves quicker than any player can. Right from throw in the last day you could see Galway slow it down and take 3 minutes to try and work a scoring chance. Dubs were kicking the ball into Con and engineering much handier scores. Now it helps if you have Con but even when Comer came on I think they only kicked one ball into him.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2556 - 30/06/2026 13:47:44    2683180

candlewax (Galway) - Posts: 308 - 30/06/2026 14:12:25    2683185

There is much talk about ponderous slow build up play by the team I also keep hearing from clubs that they have to try and wean negitivy out of lads who were cut from the county panel, so maybe it might be an option to coach the county team to play in the manner favoured by most club teams in order to make them feel more comfortable in what they were trying to do during games.

backtooldwall (Galway) - Posts: 237 - 30/06/2026 14:22:57    2683189

As the dust settles and having reflected on this latest defeat, while also hearing described on a well known GAA podcast as like a DVD of the Meath QF in '25 and not dissimilar to the Armagh final in '24 - it's clear this Galway era will be remembered as a talented group and nearly men. That said, they are still only subtle tweaks away from success.
Here are the key areas I think needs changing.

1. Management Personnel - PJ has his friends on the back room team. All successful/bring value in their own right, Mickey Graham, Dave Morris etc but it's clear that a quality coach like Cian O'Neill or Kieran Donaghy (Dave Herity or Paul Kinney in Hurling) are not involved. These are people who bring the key edge, that extra 5%. Could a Jason Sherlock be tempted to move from Roscommon ? . Maybe he is not an option but there has to be some coach out there who can bring that 'grain of rice'?
2. Playing Personnel - PJ has been too loyal to this group for too long. Look at Kerry, Dublin, Armagh - all make two-three new additions to the team each year - and not forced changes. The injection of new faces keeps things fresh, keeps the more established lads on their toes and drives up training intensity.
Replace Conroy with Patrick Egan (may be forced), get Costello game time, get Cogger game time. Make new leaders like Hernon, Shane McGrath. Be ruthless with lads not performing consistently. It's been 3-4 seasons since this last done.
3. Playing style - management are welded to a system - slow & methodical that suits and old game. The current game is built on pace and quick ball. Look at Mayo - not as good as Galway on paper, but it's heads up football, scanning who is an option and pinging it in.
With Walsh, Comer & Finnerty (among others) as inside men, let the ball do the work. In parallel, the O'Laois and Sean Kelly's can cover ground, while the physicality is there in spades to win primary ball, allied with a kick out strategy.
4. Ruthlessness - arguably the biggest flaw with this group looking back to Mayo '23 and the defeats that ended the championship in all years since. The ability to go for the jugular, when 6 up with 15 to go - the next 5 minutes are hell for the opposition! Foot on the throat - kill the game.

Galway are not that far away but the management team and players need freshening up, a new style and a ruthlessness are needed.

In terms of coaches to come in - to replace Cian O'Neill, anyone have any ideas?

In terms of new managers - also tricky to see right now who internally is ready but maybe if Joyce and county board are focussed on the next two years - why not start a succession plan now, with a Kevin Johnson as someone touted?

The next 12 months will be a transition but if done right, can be a transition that keeps us at the top table as a contender, if done wrong - it could set Galway back a few years.

rover08 (Longford) - Posts: 449 - 30/06/2026 14:33:31    2683191

It's very similar situation to the Galway hurlers in 2015 when they got rid of Anthony Cunningham. Both PJ and Cunningham were Galway legends that had done solid jobs. Been to All-Ireland finals but just couldn't get over the hump. The hurlers knew something had to change before their chance was gone completely. Micheal Donoghue came in and they finally dragged themselves over the line. If anything the need is even more urgent for the footballers as the age profile of some of their top players is older than the hurlers were in 2015.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2556 - 30/06/2026 15:16:51    2683208

A good bit of discussion of late of how the spine of the time is made from the 2 underage teams that won AIs.

There's another team that we had underage success with and from that group and there's only Shay McGlinchey and Colm Costello from that team with Ciarán Mulhern and Mikey Mulryan from the one after.

AFAIK from that team they've lost Tom Farthing to Connacht Rugby and Cillian Tryaers do the Galway Senior hurlers.

From what I've heard from Corofin people is that Ross Coen is expected to start for their Seniors next year and is a player I'd think will have a future with Galway Football. There's got to be another player or 2 aside from them to at least be worth a look.

ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 131 - 30/06/2026 15:30:24    2683209