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Slightly related the point about youth but Connacht Rugby have released their academy intake for next season and Tomas Farthing has been released so he could potentially come into the senior set-up in the coming years.

ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 155 - 06/07/2026 16:17:50    2684532

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Tomas Farthing released by Connacht rugby. Wonder will be stick with the rugby elsewhere or play some football. Was a superb corner back at underage. Has missed a lot of football though while trying his hand at rugby.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2559 - 06/07/2026 16:37:11    2684538

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Replying To Marooned:  "Tomas Farthing released by Connacht rugby. Wonder will be stick with the rugby elsewhere or play some football. Was a superb corner back at underage. Has missed a lot of football though while trying his hand at rugby."
Was the winning and losing of the All-Ireland that year IMO.

ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 155 - 06/07/2026 18:57:52    2684575

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Replying To ColmFlaherty:  "Was the winning and losing of the All-Ireland that year IMO."
Yeah. Incredible performance on the day - and from corner back I think?

DubSanIarthar (Dublin) - Posts: 25 - 07/07/2026 09:25:19    2684641

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Replying To ColmFlaherty:  "Slightly related the point about youth but Connacht Rugby have released their academy intake for next season and Tomas Farthing has been released so he could potentially come into the senior set-up in the coming years."
You're after reminding me of Ja fallon turning down a semi-professional rughby contract in 98 to return to the maroon and white ,the rest as they say is history

Knocknadrough (Galway) - Posts: 44 - 07/07/2026 12:22:08    2684674

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Did anyone attend the club league finals? Any standout performers? Has anyone the team lists our do we need to wait for tomorrow's Tuam Herald. I seen Conor Gleeson was with Galway United so missed the match v Michaels. Did Tuam and Corofin go full strength?

GDL (Galway) - Posts: 968 - 07/07/2026 12:47:04    2684680

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Replying To DubSanIarthar:  "Spot on. The statistics also don't take into account the quality of the panel at various points in time ... and the quality of opposing panels.

Under Pillar Caffrey, Dublin had a squad that should've won at least one All-Ireland, but for various reasons, most of which were down to the quality of his management, this wasn't achieved. The change of management, with Pat Gilroy, proved this and we all know where Jim Gavin subsequently brought that squad (hugely helped by a golden generation of players coming through into a great setup).

Most observers would think that the Galway squad under PJ became their strongest in a generation (I don't think many people would credit PJ for this - massive under-age talent came through not long after he started). KW inherited a mess and just didn't have this talent at his disposal ... and as mentioned already, Mayo had an unbelievable squad at the time. If Galway had found a Pat Gilroy or a Jim Gavin to replace KW, it is my belief that the likes of Paul Conroy would be retiring with at least 2 or 3 celtic crosses in his back pocket."
You's didnt even win one and you're talking about 2 or 3 All Irelands ??? this sort of talk is delusional. 3 All Irelands and your in the realm of greateat ever teams, the Armagh team of the 00's is one of the best sides I've seen and they one won.
Galway have had some good talent over the past few years but this sort of talk is why you have mostly fallen short of ever even performing on the biggst days never mind winning. Sense of entitlement and great success don't go hand in hand.

JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 226 - 07/07/2026 22:14:40    2684766

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Replying To DubSanIarthar:  "Spot on. The statistics also don't take into account the quality of the panel at various points in time ... and the quality of opposing panels.

Under Pillar Caffrey, Dublin had a squad that should've won at least one All-Ireland, but for various reasons, most of which were down to the quality of his management, this wasn't achieved. The change of management, with Pat Gilroy, proved this and we all know where Jim Gavin subsequently brought that squad (hugely helped by a golden generation of players coming through into a great setup).

Most observers would think that the Galway squad under PJ became their strongest in a generation (I don't think many people would credit PJ for this - massive under-age talent came through not long after he started). KW inherited a mess and just didn't have this talent at his disposal ... and as mentioned already, Mayo had an unbelievable squad at the time. If Galway had found a Pat Gilroy or a Jim Gavin to replace KW, it is my belief that the likes of Paul Conroy would be retiring with at least 2 or 3 celtic crosses in his back pocket."
Good points about the comparisons between the Galway management and coaching teams, and other successful counties.
I hadn't posted since the Dublin match and after being at the hurling semi final, all I want to say is that it was plain to see last Saturday what good coaching and good management can bring. Galway started the year playing like this, got better and better, and now they have a chance of winning an All Ireland. They decided in the winter what they wanted to do, though the seeds were there last year too, and they've coached it into the team. Tactically they were spot on against Cork too overall.
I hope the footballers watched it and realised they'd probably do better with the Galway hurling managers and coaches over them for a year, than what they currently have.

jam83 (Galway) - Posts: 236 - 07/07/2026 22:56:20    2684773

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Replying To jam83:  "Good points about the comparisons between the Galway management and coaching teams, and other successful counties.
I hadn't posted since the Dublin match and after being at the hurling semi final, all I want to say is that it was plain to see last Saturday what good coaching and good management can bring. Galway started the year playing like this, got better and better, and now they have a chance of winning an All Ireland. They decided in the winter what they wanted to do, though the seeds were there last year too, and they've coached it into the team. Tactically they were spot on against Cork too overall.
I hope the footballers watched it and realised they'd probably do better with the Galway hurling managers and coaches over them for a year, than what they currently have."
Is our coaching set up really that poor?

David Morris, Raymond Galligan, Mickey Graham - all very, very highly regarded? Plus all the other experience?

crankyincorofin (Galway) - Posts: 132 - 08/07/2026 10:25:03    2684794

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The difference in astute management and profile-craving management between our two main codes is fairly glaring at the moment! Lord, we need a change of manager in Galway football. Generational players wasted and poorly managed, we really should have had at least one Sam - most football people you'll talk to from outside the county are in agreement on this.

togoutlads (Galway) - Posts: 1138 - 08/07/2026 10:50:43    2684798

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Replying To crankyincorofin:  "Is our coaching set up really that poor?

David Morris, Raymond Galligan, Mickey Graham - all very, very highly regarded? Plus all the other experience?"
How could you watch Galway and think the coaching is up to the level required?
Watch the hurlers, they're probably playing to a level that's more than the sum of their parts. I've never thought of that with the footballers. Maybe in an attacking sense this year's Connacht final had most of the forwards playing well together. But that's about all.
Morris is well regarded and I was happy last winter to see he was joining the backroom. But how come they played so meekly against Dublin this year, and Meath last year, in the quarter final?
Even if the coaching was adequate, the message to the players seems to be that they shouldn't lose the ball at any cost. Kickouts are criminally slow, ah no the coaching isn't up to scratch.

jam83 (Galway) - Posts: 236 - 08/07/2026 12:13:40    2684807

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I definitely think there needs to be a serious look at these so call development squads hard questions needs to be asked,, what are we developing?? Most players on senior squad at moment do not actually kick the ball very few look up when they get the ball there awareness of situations around them very poor surely these development squads should be working on these basics in my opinion most these development squads are a box ticking exercise no pathway to improve players at all the last few minor and under 20s have being well below the standard what's needed to get Galway back to top ,, in my opinion these development squads should be starting in mid sept until March when these young kids have nothing else on surely it worth trying can't keep doing what we are doing and expect things to improve,, you reap what u sow ,,

Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 1164 - 08/07/2026 14:36:40    2684841

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