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Galway Hurling thread

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Replying To CillTormoir:  "Limerick came out of nowhere in 2018 and developed into a machine. Why is it never us?"
We got absolutely hammered in the 2009 AI semi final by Tipp. It was the worst experience id ever had in Croke park up to that point (which is saying something) but it laid the foundations for the current team.

Men with the absolute best interests of "Limrick" hurling (to paraphrase Katser), sat down and asked how do we make sure this never happens again ?

Despite the narrative around JP McManus money, he had been our sponsor for years at that point. But it wasn't managed wisely .. the county board, fair play omtk them, took on a lot of recommendations and a serious effort to cultivate and organise underage structures were put in place..Paul Kinnerks falling out with Davy Fitz in Clare, was a great thing for Limerick, as he got involved and was allowed to implement his coaching vision.

All that, and a generational group of hurlers gave us what we have today... but it came from some very hard work and on the back of a miserable experience where lessons had to be learned.

There's no reason why Galway can't do the same thing.. you have all the raw ingredients... to be honest, when we go into decline, I think all Limerick hurling people would be delighted to see you take over our mantle an go on a run of all Ireland wins.. it would be well deserved.. keep the faith....

skillet (Limerick) - Posts: 1124 - 23/07/2026 21:32:40    2686849

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Replying To endgame:  "Galway had a great team in the 80s but they lost three out of the five All Ireland finals they contested. Finnerty, Keady , McInerney was surely the best half back line in hurling history. Galway hurlers don't play well in All Ireland finals. 21 losses for Galway in 26 finals speaks for itself. Contrast with Tipperary who always turn up in All Ireland finals. Can't recall Tipp ever being hammered in an All Ireland final."
Can't argue with Tipperary hurling All Ireland win ratio which is at 69% in finals.

Tipperary All Ireland Hurling Finals
Total appearances: 42
Total Wins: 29
Total Losses: 13
Win Ratio: 69%

Kilkenny All Ireland Hurling Finals
Total appearances: 61
Total Wins: 36
Total Losses: 25
Win Ratio: 59%

Cork All Ireland Hurling Finals
Total appearances: 61
Total Wins: 30
Total Losses: 22
Win Ratio: 58%

Galway All Ireland Hurling Finals
Total appearances: 26
Total Wins: 5
Total Losses: 21
Win Ratio: 19%

Past hurler (None) - Posts: 1040 - 24/07/2026 09:46:07    2686873

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What is with the level of giving out about michael Donoghue. You are probably the fifth or sixth best team
In the country , going absolutely no where the past five years , your best players have either retired or nearing it and he brings ye to an all Ireland final after beating the supposed champions in waiting Cork. Ye got beat well because this is one of the all time great limerick teams. Give the man time and ye will
Be competing again in the three years. If you are not willing to wait that long it could be thirty.Better Galway teams than this one came up short and got a hammering in finals.

Ros2013 (Roscommon) - Posts: 673 - 24/07/2026 10:06:54    2686875

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Replying To skillet:  "We got absolutely hammered in the 2009 AI semi final by Tipp. It was the worst experience id ever had in Croke park up to that point (which is saying something) but it laid the foundations for the current team.

Men with the absolute best interests of "Limrick" hurling (to paraphrase Katser), sat down and asked how do we make sure this never happens again ?

Despite the narrative around JP McManus money, he had been our sponsor for years at that point. But it wasn't managed wisely .. the county board, fair play omtk them, took on a lot of recommendations and a serious effort to cultivate and organise underage structures were put in place..Paul Kinnerks falling out with Davy Fitz in Clare, was a great thing for Limerick, as he got involved and was allowed to implement his coaching vision.

All that, and a generational group of hurlers gave us what we have today... but it came from some very hard work and on the back of a miserable experience where lessons had to be learned.

There's no reason why Galway can't do the same thing.. you have all the raw ingredients... to be honest, when we go into decline, I think all Limerick hurling people would be delighted to see you take over our mantle an go on a run of all Ireland wins.. it would be well deserved.. keep the faith...."
So what your saying is that the reason as to why Limerick are dominant now is down to Davy...

ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 190 - 24/07/2026 10:52:16    2686884

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Replying To CillTormoir:  "can you do stats on the number of minor, u20 and club finals Inter and Senior both counties have contested over the last 20 years and then let me know have we not been ahead of Limerick. There is something very wrong somewhere in Galway if Limerick just had to get two underage groups together to do what theyve done the last 9 years. I dont even mean to bring Limerick into this, it was just a reference and the underlying question is...why is it never us?"
They had damn strong underage teamd all through the Teen wining. Munster Under 21 Titles in 11,15 and 17 and strong Minor teams throughout the decades, even if they did not win a All Ireland.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4565 - 24/07/2026 11:39:17    2686892

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Replying To Ros2013:  "What is with the level of giving out about michael Donoghue. You are probably the fifth or sixth best team
In the country , going absolutely no where the past five years , your best players have either retired or nearing it and he brings ye to an all Ireland final after beating the supposed champions in waiting Cork. Ye got beat well because this is one of the all time great limerick teams. Give the man time and ye will
Be competing again in the three years. If you are not willing to wait that long it could be thirty.Better Galway teams than this one came up short and got a hammering in finals."
Maybe the team from 2020 - 24/25 as 5th or 6th but not the current team.

ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 190 - 24/07/2026 12:37:37    2686911

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Replying To CillTormoir:  "can you do stats on the number of minor, u20 and club finals Inter and Senior both counties have contested over the last 20 years and then let me know have we not been ahead of Limerick. There is something very wrong somewhere in Galway if Limerick just had to get two underage groups together to do what theyve done the last 9 years. I dont even mean to bring Limerick into this, it was just a reference and the underlying question is...why is it never us?"
The difference is the quality of the groups which came through. We haven't won an U20/21 All-Ireland in 15 years. We've been hammered in the few finals we've been in since then. Hard to see how we would have great expectations based on that.
Limerick compounded two excellent teams in close succession, who won both their U21 finals well. A big difference in quality there. Almost all of those players were playing and winning Fitzgibbon finals between two different colleges also.
When is the last time we had a few groups like that in their late teens early 20s?
Minor is a long way from that. None of our consecutive All-Ireland winning minor teams came close to winning an U20/21.
That's why it was never us.
Winning underage is no guarantee, but it's very rare you'll see a dynasty type team at senior who haven't been successful at underage.
The Dublin footballers were built off 4 All-Ireland winning U21 teams, with a few years between them, which kept their reign going a bit longer. The quality of player on those teams was exceptional.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2962 - 24/07/2026 12:48:01    2686916

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