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Replying To LottoPlus:  "Any thoughts on who will win Sunday. MM are strong favourites to go all the way. Players like Kelly, Daly, Foley (one of the most underrated players in the championship) McHugh, Finnerty etc they will be hard to stop. They are all relatively young so MM could be around for a while. I was at the Salthill and Annaghdown match and they were awesome. I only saw Moycullen play once and that was against Claregalway, and they took the foot off the gas in last 10 mins to let the Claregalway Franchise (well they are a mixture of a few parishes) back into the game. Fall asleep against MM and they will lose by 7-8 points. If they don't it will some match because Moycullen also have a litany of stars Kelly's, Connelly, Gallagher, Cooke, etc.
In other Semi-final Salthill must be odds on. Sweeney, Finnerty, Culhane, Maher, Lavelle etc they have stars all over the pitch. I saw the Tuam match, and they were quite workmanlike especially when Finnerty went off. They did well for 30 mins against MM but MM were battled hardened and won out easy winners. For Annaghdown to win must stop the ball going into Finnerty especially and stop Sweeneys runs. Sweeney is doing his county chances no harm.
Burke and Comer in Annaghdown are serious scorers but the ball there are getting has been good. I was at the Annaghdown against St Michaels, and I thought they were comfortable and despite the ball hitting the crossbar, Michaels never threatened the goal. Diarmuid Kilcommins has improved a lot this year (I heard that he was on Joyces panel last year, I can see why but I thought he was a hurler) and from what I saw against Michael he is a key man for Annaghdown. Stop him and you stop the ball going into Comer and Burke. It is not only those three Annaghdown have Meehan, Potter, Burkes and the other Kilcommins lad all who did well last day. Ryan Forde came on against St M and if he is fit i would be a great assent to them. Talking to an Annaghdown man leaving last Sunday he mentioned that Annaghdown are down the 2 Kerins, Ciaran Duggan and Forde so he felt Annaghdown has done well to get to semi-final.
That said my predictions.

Predictions
MM by 5
Salthill by 1"
Could also say Mountbellew -Moylough and Salthill-Knocknacarra we're mixture of parishes.Why single out Claregalway?

Alwaysencourage (Galway) - Posts: 218 - 20/10/2022 21:34:34    2444862

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Replying To Alwaysencourage:  "Could also say Mountbellew -Moylough and Salthill-Knocknacarra we're mixture of parishes.Why single out Claregalway?"
Mountbellew Moylough is ONE parish.

Salthill Knocnacarra maybe 2 parishes now. I think it was one originally , but could be 2 now.

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 840 - 21/10/2022 10:01:34    2444880

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Will Mikey Daly feature at this year if M/M get to county and maybe the connacht/all Ireland series? Felt he was going to be another Marque forward for galway, someone like Comer or Walsh who could change a game and bend it to his will. Doesn't seem to have kicked on from his early promise, maybe injuries are a lot to blame. His younger brother overcame those and is one of the finest backs in the country now.

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 258 - 21/10/2022 10:54:40    2444894

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Replying To Alwaysencourage:  "Could also say Mountbellew -Moylough and Salthill-Knocknacarra we're mixture of parishes.Why single out Claregalway?"
I'm sorry to harp on about this point . I think that over the years I, as well as others , have clarified the parish situation in Galway on a number of occasions.
But lets have another go at it as people still dont seem to understand and it really annoys me for some reason.

Since pre GAA days sparsely populated areas in rural Ireland tended to have more than 1 church in a SINGLE parish. Generally the Parish priest resided close to 1 church with curates residing close to the other church.
GAA teams in general revolved around a parish with the teams assuming either a) double barrelled name b) the name of one of the areas or c) a parish name or a the name of a saint .

I have listed a subset of examples below across those 3 categories

Mountbellew - Moylough
Monivea- Abbeyknockmoy
Newbridge-Ballygar ( St Brendans)
Caltra-Ahascragh ( Caltra)
Corofin Belclare ( Corofin)
Dunmore Garrafrauns ( Dunmore MacHales)
Kilkerrin Clonberne

plus numerous others

Theres probably a story behind a lot of these . In Corofin's case , the story goes that a match was played between lads from both halves of the parish to determine the name.

In Mountbellew's case , its a bit convoluted. If you look at the history books you will see that of their 5 county titles , 3 were attributed to "Mountbellew" ( 1964, 1965 , 1974) and 2 to "Mountbellew Moylough" (1986 and 2021) which gives a misconception that there was an amalgamation between 1974 and 1986. This is NOT the case, however. Both halves of the parish always played together, but a vote took place to decide if the club should change its name sometime in that period , and the vote was carried narrowly.

To really add to the irony , the 2 titles won in the 60s were actually an amalgamated team . At the time Mountbellew ( as in Mountbellew Moylough parish) had a Junior team , but also fielded a senior team ( almost like the Kerry divisional model) with players from Menlough and Clonberne parishes. Around that time the Junior team also won a Junior title , and as there was no Intermediate grade at the time they went straight to senior. Obviously that was the end of the amalgamated team and Mountbellew or Mountbellew Moylough have always fielded since then as a single parish team. I seem to recall that for a couple of years in the late sixties that Menlough and Kilkerrin players continued to field under a different name ( St Paul's I think, could be wrong) but without much success)

I hope tis clarifies this issue , but I assume that I will be back ranting about this again in a year or two . Ignorance of this topic is one of my pet hates , and I will always rise to the bait on this. Sorry.

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 840 - 21/10/2022 16:13:22    2444960

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Great post, Claregalway were junior 30 years ago and only went well when Carnmore and Turlough went out of the championship early. What they have now is a proper football club. Similar with James' playing second fiddle to Cashel, Mellows, Mervue Utd, for years. The common thing is that those people in the clubs regardless of grade fought to keep the thing going.

Got me thinking about the divisional system in Kerry. It does the likes of Paudi Clifford no harm. Loads of lads of Galway capable of playing in our senior championship if given a chance on a divisional team. I'm thinking Gary Kelly, Tom Flynn and the likes of Robert Hughes in the past. I seem to remember a Connemara Thiar team taking part in the senior championship in the 90's. Players from non senior Connemara clubs. Memory isn't great but the Clohertys from Carna and Gerry Gannon from Renvyle played. It didn't last long. I think it would work and develop lads that are standout at Junior level in particular

smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 365 - 21/10/2022 19:38:30    2444975

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Replying To smallfrank:  "Great post, Claregalway were junior 30 years ago and only went well when Carnmore and Turlough went out of the championship early. What they have now is a proper football club. Similar with James' playing second fiddle to Cashel, Mellows, Mervue Utd, for years. The common thing is that those people in the clubs regardless of grade fought to keep the thing going.

Got me thinking about the divisional system in Kerry. It does the likes of Paudi Clifford no harm. Loads of lads of Galway capable of playing in our senior championship if given a chance on a divisional team. I'm thinking Gary Kelly, Tom Flynn and the likes of Robert Hughes in the past. I seem to remember a Connemara Thiar team taking part in the senior championship in the 90's. Players from non senior Connemara clubs. Memory isn't great but the Clohertys from Carna and Gerry Gannon from Renvyle played. It didn't last long. I think it would work and develop lads that are standout at Junior level in particular"
Agree very much so with the first paragraph.

Divisional system may work in Kerry where the vast majority of those footballers don't play hurling. In Galway, I don't see where lads would find the time to play with divisional teams with a good few dual players. Tom Flynn for example played 2 games in 48 hours a fortnight ago. A Senior B game with the Athenry hurlers and a Junior North Final with the footballers.

It's also worth noting that the Kerry championships tend to drag on to ridiculous extents with a divisional final played on the 26th of December last year. I'm not sure that's desirable for club players either.

Donaldtrump (Galway) - Posts: 252 - 22/10/2022 10:49:26    2445009

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Replying To anotheralias:  "I'm sorry to harp on about this point . I think that over the years I, as well as others , have clarified the parish situation in Galway on a number of occasions.
But lets have another go at it as people still dont seem to understand and it really annoys me for some reason.

Since pre GAA days sparsely populated areas in rural Ireland tended to have more than 1 church in a SINGLE parish. Generally the Parish priest resided close to 1 church with curates residing close to the other church.
GAA teams in general revolved around a parish with the teams assuming either a) double barrelled name b) the name of one of the areas or c) a parish name or a the name of a saint .

I have listed a subset of examples below across those 3 categories

Mountbellew - Moylough
Monivea- Abbeyknockmoy
Newbridge-Ballygar ( St Brendans)
Caltra-Ahascragh ( Caltra)
Corofin Belclare ( Corofin)
Dunmore Garrafrauns ( Dunmore MacHales)
Kilkerrin Clonberne

plus numerous others

Theres probably a story behind a lot of these . In Corofin's case , the story goes that a match was played between lads from both halves of the parish to determine the name.

In Mountbellew's case , its a bit convoluted. If you look at the history books you will see that of their 5 county titles , 3 were attributed to "Mountbellew" ( 1964, 1965 , 1974) and 2 to "Mountbellew Moylough" (1986 and 2021) which gives a misconception that there was an amalgamation between 1974 and 1986. This is NOT the case, however. Both halves of the parish always played together, but a vote took place to decide if the club should change its name sometime in that period , and the vote was carried narrowly.

To really add to the irony , the 2 titles won in the 60s were actually an amalgamated team . At the time Mountbellew ( as in Mountbellew Moylough parish) had a Junior team , but also fielded a senior team ( almost like the Kerry divisional model) with players from Menlough and Clonberne parishes. Around that time the Junior team also won a Junior title , and as there was no Intermediate grade at the time they went straight to senior. Obviously that was the end of the amalgamated team and Mountbellew or Mountbellew Moylough have always fielded since then as a single parish team. I seem to recall that for a couple of years in the late sixties that Menlough and Kilkerrin players continued to field under a different name ( St Paul's I think, could be wrong) but without much success)

I hope tis clarifies this issue , but I assume that I will be back ranting about this again in a year or two . Ignorance of this topic is one of my pet hates , and I will always rise to the bait on this. Sorry."
A lot must be said for the smaller clubs still competing at the top table, kilanin milltown spiddal annaghdown clubs with small populations, I feel amalgamation will only hurt these smaller clubs more

Sportsfanatic90 (Westmeath) - Posts: 213 - 22/10/2022 10:54:35    2445012

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This cud go anyway now with the weather. Pedelium swinging towards kilconly now.

Stripsandbanners (Galway) - Posts: 80 - 22/10/2022 11:52:41    2445013

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I'm not sure how anyone could say that Annaghdown have a small population , I don't know how many National schools in there area. But I'd say they surely have 5/ 6 hundred kids in there schools ( only guessing I may be way. Out ))

Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 840 - 22/10/2022 12:10:27    2445015

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Replying To Sportsfanatic90:  "A lot must be said for the smaller clubs still competing at the top table, kilanin milltown spiddal annaghdown clubs with small populations, I feel amalgamation will only hurt these smaller clubs more"
You are getting a bit hoodwinked into thinking that if there is one name in the club and that name is a relatively small village that then it is a small club.
I would agree with Milltown who really do over achieve versus resources.
But all of the others you mentioned are very much within the city catchment and hence have burgeoning populations.
Annaghdown for certain has a larger population than Mountbellew Moylough , which in turn has probably twice the population of Kilkerrin Clonbern.

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 840 - 22/10/2022 13:36:15    2445020

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Hopefully the weather doesn't ruin what has the potential to be two good senior semi finals on Sunday. Will need the rain gear.

Yondu (UK) - Posts: 845 - 22/10/2022 13:48:14    2445022

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Replying To Kickitout:  "I'm not sure how anyone could say that Annaghdown have a small population , I don't know how many National schools in there area. But I'd say they surely have 5/ 6 hundred kids in there schools ( only guessing I may be way. Out ))"
5 schools in annaghdown parish and possibly 6 they run their own football summer camp with between 150 to 200 attending they have a massive pick lots of people moving into the parish that work in galway

minor77 (Galway) - Posts: 223 - 22/10/2022 14:17:06    2445024

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Replying To anotheralias:  "I'm sorry to harp on about this point . I think that over the years I, as well as others , have clarified the parish situation in Galway on a number of occasions.
But lets have another go at it as people still dont seem to understand and it really annoys me for some reason.

Since pre GAA days sparsely populated areas in rural Ireland tended to have more than 1 church in a SINGLE parish. Generally the Parish priest resided close to 1 church with curates residing close to the other church.
GAA teams in general revolved around a parish with the teams assuming either a) double barrelled name b) the name of one of the areas or c) a parish name or a the name of a saint .

I have listed a subset of examples below across those 3 categories

Mountbellew - Moylough
Monivea- Abbeyknockmoy
Newbridge-Ballygar ( St Brendans)
Caltra-Ahascragh ( Caltra)
Corofin Belclare ( Corofin)
Dunmore Garrafrauns ( Dunmore MacHales)
Kilkerrin Clonberne

plus numerous others

Theres probably a story behind a lot of these . In Corofin's case , the story goes that a match was played between lads from both halves of the parish to determine the name.

In Mountbellew's case , its a bit convoluted. If you look at the history books you will see that of their 5 county titles , 3 were attributed to "Mountbellew" ( 1964, 1965 , 1974) and 2 to "Mountbellew Moylough" (1986 and 2021) which gives a misconception that there was an amalgamation between 1974 and 1986. This is NOT the case, however. Both halves of the parish always played together, but a vote took place to decide if the club should change its name sometime in that period , and the vote was carried narrowly.

To really add to the irony , the 2 titles won in the 60s were actually an amalgamated team . At the time Mountbellew ( as in Mountbellew Moylough parish) had a Junior team , but also fielded a senior team ( almost like the Kerry divisional model) with players from Menlough and Clonberne parishes. Around that time the Junior team also won a Junior title , and as there was no Intermediate grade at the time they went straight to senior. Obviously that was the end of the amalgamated team and Mountbellew or Mountbellew Moylough have always fielded since then as a single parish team. I seem to recall that for a couple of years in the late sixties that Menlough and Kilkerrin players continued to field under a different name ( St Paul's I think, could be wrong) but without much success)

I hope tis clarifies this issue , but I assume that I will be back ranting about this again in a year or two . Ignorance of this topic is one of my pet hates , and I will always rise to the bait on this. Sorry."
Annaghdown/Corrandulla is one of the biggest Parishes in Galway
I t covers a large area and a growing population
A Strong Traditional Club That will only get stronger

rhudson (Galway) - Posts: 1478 - 22/10/2022 17:16:23    2445042

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Replying To anotheralias:  "You are getting a bit hoodwinked into thinking that if there is one name in the club and that name is a relatively small village that then it is a small club.
I would agree with Milltown who really do over achieve versus resources.
But all of the others you mentioned are very much within the city catchment and hence have burgeoning populations.
Annaghdown for certain has a larger population than Mountbellew Moylough , which in turn has probably twice the population of Kilkerrin Clonbern."
Killanin is a small club too. They dont even have a village. If they've to pop to the shop for milk they've to go to Moycullen. The pitch is the epicentre. Their volunteers and senior players do phenomenal work to keep the young people interested. Very few kids in the area would not have a kilanin zippy or jersey in the wardrobe.

galwayfball (Galway) - Posts: 1678 - 22/10/2022 17:44:47    2445045

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Dunmore doing everything they could to lose that in the end. Short kickouts on a wet day when you're winning , the clock is running down and you've a goalie well capable of long range kicks was a weird tactic to keep to the end.

Kilconly will have serious regrets. When they were chasing the game they did not commit enough players to attack

Well done Dunmore. I do think they were the deserving winners . In my opinion they are better than a few of the weaker senior teams

galwayfball (Galway) - Posts: 1678 - 22/10/2022 17:50:24    2445046

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Congrats to Dunmore. Hard luck Kilconly. A keeper howler near the end almost got Kilconly back in it. Missed a couple chances to equalise before Dunmore got the insurance point. Tough going in those conditions.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2215 - 22/10/2022 19:52:40    2445060

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Replying To galwayfball:  "Dunmore doing everything they could to lose that in the end. Short kickouts on a wet day when you're winning , the clock is running down and you've a goalie well capable of long range kicks was a weird tactic to keep to the end.

Kilconly will have serious regrets. When they were chasing the game they did not commit enough players to attack

Well done Dunmore. I do think they were the deserving winners . In my opinion they are better than a few of the weaker senior teams"
Fair play to Dunmore. Well done

giveitlong (Galway) - Posts: 1222 - 22/10/2022 20:06:54    2445062

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Dunmore were the better team overall, had a very low conversion rate which kept Kilconly in the game.
Poor handling and choice of kick outs by Gleeson towards the end of the game gave Kilconly a life line but it would have been a steal if they won it.
Congrats to Dunmore, they have good young players coming through. Hopefully they can consolidate in senior but will need to improve to do so.

galway2015 (Galway) - Posts: 52 - 22/10/2022 21:28:46    2445070

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After the Intermediate final lads and maybe the championship can we have a serious discussion about the No.1 jersey for Galway. I'm not going to go to town on the guy but we now have quality throughout the field on our team. It's the one position that we have really struggled with for 10 years now. I would say Gleeson, Tom Healy, Bernard Power, Ruairi Lavelle, Ronan O'Beolain, Manus Breathnach. We are going nowhere if we keep going like this

smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 365 - 23/10/2022 11:40:48    2445100

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Replying To smallfrank:  "After the Intermediate final lads and maybe the championship can we have a serious discussion about the No.1 jersey for Galway. I'm not going to go to town on the guy but we now have quality throughout the field on our team. It's the one position that we have really struggled with for 10 years now. I would say Gleeson, Tom Healy, Bernard Power, Ruairi Lavelle, Ronan O'Beolain, Manus Breathnach. We are going nowhere if we keep going like this"
Perhaps we should do an Armagh on it and place a outfield player in goals. They could attend a recently set up Goal Keeping school here in Galway, everything covered except kickouts and how to deal with high balls.

GDL (Galway) - Posts: 721 - 23/10/2022 17:22:34    2445135

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