National Forum

Galway Football thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Well I've seen it all now. The answer to our goalkeeper problem is… the Roscommon goalkeeper!

Faherty looked like the answer but if he doesn't fancy it that's his own business.

crankyincorofin (Galway) - Posts: 80 - 29/01/2023 19:07:01    2455062

Link

Did anyone notice the amount of times Cooke slipped last night. I counted at least 4. I'd say he would want to pick the weather appropriate boots the next night!

Seemed to be a follow through on Finnerty. I didn't see our back so am a bit wary about casting aspersions. Sometimes i wonder if the officials are tuned into what is a potential very dangerous tackle.

Happy enough. Whoever kicked the last ball away will surely learn from it. We will improve as we get fitter and more cohesion.

Kick outs an issue as usual. Too slow. Watch how quick mayo got the kick out away for the last attack and compare it to us.

Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1837 - 29/01/2023 19:31:40    2455069

Link

Replying To galwayman2:  "He was sub goalie for the Galway minors a few years back - won a Connacht medal.
He's not going to transfer back now like."
In older grades Conor Flaherty and Donie Holleran made teams before him and then he went to Roscommon.

Alwaysencourage (Galway) - Posts: 222 - 29/01/2023 20:40:36    2455115

Link

Mayo fans showing their class or lack of again last night booing in their thousands for Cookes free

Belclare (Galway) - Posts: 904 - 29/01/2023 20:56:19    2455126

Link

Replying To jobseekersbent:  "Goalkeeper has been an issue for a long time now, there hasn't been a long term keeper since Martin Mac. Keane, Donohue, Doherty, Faherty, Breathnach, Healy, Donohue again Power, Lavelle have all had a handful of seasons each as number one. Gleeson has been around a bit now and is probably the worst of the names (but still a decent keeper) mentioned above but is still in goal with Power on the bench. All the names mentioned were and are good keepers but weren't given backing unlike keepers in other counties were. Beggan made plenty of mistakes over the years but was backed.

There is a keeper playing today for Roscommon, Conor Carrol from Oranmore. Have seen him in sigerson and club and looks very good on the ball and can pick players out. Not sure if he was asked into the Galway panel or not but would be as good as what's there if not better. Could be an idea for next year especially if Faherty isn't available."
Galway and goalkeeping have a very volatile relationship in both codes to be fair, not exactly a new problem. Even the best goalie in each code over the last 30 years, Martin Mac and Colm Callanan, were very average in comparison to other goalies of their eras and made some howlers in big games but in comparison to their predecessors and lads that came after them were still the best of a bad bunch. I don't know is it a lack of goalkeeping coaching at underage or what but we've yet to produce an all time great goalie.(in the last 50 years) It's the only position I can say that about, we've produced some of the best forwards, midfielders and backs of all time but dodgy goalie is a long running tradition in galway. We've been super competitive and successful at minor/u20 level the last 10 years and yet we've yet to get a goalie of any great quality. There always seems to be one glaring weakness in their game, Gleesons I think is pretty clearly the high ball. I thought Conor Flaherty would be the best hope but he's not in this year and for whatever reason that's his own decision and have to respect that. Bernard Power is probably a better bet than Gleeson at this stage I think.
Don't know how we change this goalkeeping culture in galway but it's a 40/50 year old problem not to mind a new problem. Even at club level no goalie sticks out at all really, Bernard Power probably still the best at club level and I think he's been tried a nice bit at county level already and doesn't say a whole pile for the rest if he's the answer now....still a fine goalie and his record at Corofin is unbelievable but Corofin probably suited his approach more than Galways. Conor Flaherty was playing outfield and was actually very very good for Claregalway but doesn't do his long term goalkeeping ambitions for Galway any great help, if he still has any and if not that's his choice and can't hold a lad back if he has other interests.
It cost us big time last year and it will cost us again this year.

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 271 - 29/01/2023 21:07:45    2455131

Link

Replying To Mayonman:  "Did anyone notice the amount of times Cooke slipped last night. I counted at least 4. I'd say he would want to pick the weather appropriate boots the next night!

Seemed to be a follow through on Finnerty. I didn't see our back so am a bit wary about casting aspersions. Sometimes i wonder if the officials are tuned into what is a potential very dangerous tackle.

Happy enough. Whoever kicked the last ball away will surely learn from it. We will improve as we get fitter and more cohesion.

Kick outs an issue as usual. Too slow. Watch how quick mayo got the kick out away for the last attack and compare it to us."
I've seen the replay, mayo player goes to make a block and momentum simply brings him through into contact with Finnerty as Finnerty gets the shot away.

Nothing malicious or dangerous in the tackle in fairness, just one of those coming togethers that you get in a game.

Donaldtrump (Galway) - Posts: 252 - 29/01/2023 21:25:36    2455139

Link

Replying To Belclare:  "Kevin mc loughlin is older than Paul Conroy"
Yes, born in '88, Conroy born in' 89. Good to see both of them still kicking county ball. Their experience still appreciated though McLoughlin's starting 15 days look over.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7369 - 29/01/2023 21:41:45    2455143

Link

Replying To GreenandRed:  "Yes, born in '88, Conroy born in' 89. Good to see both of them still kicking county ball. Their experience still appreciated though McLoughlin's starting 15 days look over."
Not to be pedantic, but McLoughlin was born in '89. Captained our U21 team in 2010.

MayoDan (Mayo) - Posts: 420 - 30/01/2023 08:45:11    2455158

Link

Replying To Mayonman:  "Did anyone notice the amount of times Cooke slipped last night. I counted at least 4. I'd say he would want to pick the weather appropriate boots the next night!

Seemed to be a follow through on Finnerty. I didn't see our back so am a bit wary about casting aspersions. Sometimes i wonder if the officials are tuned into what is a potential very dangerous tackle.

Happy enough. Whoever kicked the last ball away will surely learn from it. We will improve as we get fitter and more cohesion.

Kick outs an issue as usual. Too slow. Watch how quick mayo got the kick out away for the last attack and compare it to us."
Conor Sweeney kicked it out - he prob thought, put enough leather into this and the ref will blow it up. He be as well off just taking off on a wild solo and the ref prob would have blown it up!

The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 709 - 30/01/2023 09:01:54    2455162

Link

When Gleeson inevitably makes a huge error during the league and or championship which costs us..... management will only have themselves to blame. They should beg Flaherty to retrun.

James Keane, Gleeson, Lavelle, Maghnus Breathnach, Egan From James's, Tom Healy from Annaghdown etc are not the answer.

Dermot_Desmond_96 (Galway) - Posts: 36 - 30/01/2023 09:15:21    2455163

Link

I thought Mulcahy looked good for a senior debutant and Comer is in good shape but it all seems a bit pointless when the goalkeeping issue is so glaring. The 14 outfield players can be as good as what Kerry or Dublin have but really the goalkeeping situation is a Division 3 or Division 4 standard and the mistakes on kickouts and high balls are inevitable.

galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 685 - 30/01/2023 09:40:36    2455168

Link

Having been at the game and watched it back here's my take.
1. Gleeson, kick outs poor, unconvincing under the high ball. Spreads a bit of panic now even in the stand.
2. Eoghan Kelly, good debut, gave Orme lots of it off the ball, few mistakes but can break the line.
3. Sean Kelly, solid, great goal, not sure I would have given him MOTM.
4. Mulcahy, good debut, will improve. Couple of mistakes but good first day out.
5. McHugh, looks to have improved again, good to break the line, very good ball carrier.
6. Daly, my MOTM, holds the centre, carries it out well, perfect hand passes, foot passes, just class.
7. O'Flaherty, done for overcarrying twice and one wide but very good for someone still U20. Great pace, will be good in summer.
8. Conroy, in and out, good point. I thought Mayo were on top in the middle.
9. McDaid, same as above but seemed to be carrying a knock. Great runner, important he stays fit.
10. Paul Kelly, part of a working HF line, ran himself into the ground.
11. Tierney, sometimes I think he needs to be on the frees or involved, great work rate to be fair to him.
12. Heaney, huge amount of running and covering off the ball, does an awful lot of the unglamorous work.
13. Finnerty, going well, unlucky with the injury.
14. Good in patches, putting the hand up at times looking to come off. Game will have brought him on a lot.
15. Conneely, not an evening for him. Needed a free in front to get into it, not the one he got in the corner.

Cooke, very good. Worked hard. Needs to be a kick out option.
Sweeney, not a great evening but I rate him. He seems to be coming on different positions all the time.
Finnerty, good cameo, looks in good shape, clever player I'd like to see more of him.
Glynn, good to see him back. Harsh free called against him.
Davoren, Moycullen kicked nearly every kick out to him against Glen and he won them all. We didn't seem to look for him

smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 372 - 30/01/2023 09:42:56    2455169

Link

Replying To MayoDan:  "Not to be pedantic, but McLoughlin was born in '89. Captained our U21 team in 2010."
Wikipedia says 1988 .. But it also says that he is 6 foot 6 inches tall!

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 843 - 30/01/2023 09:43:24    2455170

Link

Replying To Dermot_Desmond_96:  "When Gleeson inevitably makes a huge error during the league and or championship which costs us..... management will only have themselves to blame. They should beg Flaherty to retrun.

James Keane, Gleeson, Lavelle, Maghnus Breathnach, Egan From James's, Tom Healy from Annaghdown etc are not the answer."
Well to be fair - Lavelle has a range of kicking far beyond what any of the others named have.
James Egan I have only seen play once for the u20s on that horrible evening in Bekan last year. He hasn't been tried for the seniors though so it's hard to make any judgement.

galwayman2 (Galway) - Posts: 1247 - 30/01/2023 10:04:55    2455178

Link

Power has made mistakes in the past but he is without doubt a far better keeper than Gleeson.

galwayman2 (Galway) - Posts: 1247 - 30/01/2023 10:07:33    2455181

Link

Replying To Dermot_Desmond_96:  "When Gleeson inevitably makes a huge error during the league and or championship which costs us..... management will only have themselves to blame. They should beg Flaherty to retrun.

James Keane, Gleeson, Lavelle, Maghnus Breathnach, Egan From James's, Tom Healy from Annaghdown etc are not the answer."
Agreed, Id have Power in for now with Gleenson as backup and Id be out hounding Flaherty to give it a shot. PJ should be burning the ear off him!

The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 709 - 30/01/2023 10:33:18    2455192

Link

Replying To smallfrank:  "Having been at the game and watched it back here's my take.
1. Gleeson, kick outs poor, unconvincing under the high ball. Spreads a bit of panic now even in the stand.
2. Eoghan Kelly, good debut, gave Orme lots of it off the ball, few mistakes but can break the line.
3. Sean Kelly, solid, great goal, not sure I would have given him MOTM.
4. Mulcahy, good debut, will improve. Couple of mistakes but good first day out.
5. McHugh, looks to have improved again, good to break the line, very good ball carrier.
6. Daly, my MOTM, holds the centre, carries it out well, perfect hand passes, foot passes, just class.
7. O'Flaherty, done for overcarrying twice and one wide but very good for someone still U20. Great pace, will be good in summer.
8. Conroy, in and out, good point. I thought Mayo were on top in the middle.
9. McDaid, same as above but seemed to be carrying a knock. Great runner, important he stays fit.
10. Paul Kelly, part of a working HF line, ran himself into the ground.
11. Tierney, sometimes I think he needs to be on the frees or involved, great work rate to be fair to him.
12. Heaney, huge amount of running and covering off the ball, does an awful lot of the unglamorous work.
13. Finnerty, going well, unlucky with the injury.
14. Good in patches, putting the hand up at times looking to come off. Game will have brought him on a lot.
15. Conneely, not an evening for him. Needed a free in front to get into it, not the one he got in the corner.

Cooke, very good. Worked hard. Needs to be a kick out option.
Sweeney, not a great evening but I rate him. He seems to be coming on different positions all the time.
Finnerty, good cameo, looks in good shape, clever player I'd like to see more of him.
Glynn, good to see him back. Harsh free called against him.
Davoren, Moycullen kicked nearly every kick out to him against Glen and he won them all. We didn't seem to look for him"
Very good synopsis smallfrank. I hope Joyce brings you into his match stats team!

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3375 - 30/01/2023 11:12:41    2455207

Link

cooke needs to get up to speed of inter county, lost the ball on a few occasions most notable giving o connor chance to score equiliser

cavan.galway (Galway) - Posts: 185 - 30/01/2023 11:15:48    2455208

Link

Any word on Sean Mulkerrin?

MaroonedinDublin (Galway) - Posts: 28 - 30/01/2023 11:35:27    2455218

Link

Replying To galwayman2:  "Well to be fair - Lavelle has a range of kicking far beyond what any of the others named have.
James Egan I have only seen play once for the u20s on that horrible evening in Bekan last year. He hasn't been tried for the seniors though so it's hard to make any judgement."
I was referring to John Egan from James's. Haven't seen anything of James.

Dermot_Desmond_96 (Galway) - Posts: 36 - 30/01/2023 11:37:00    2455220

Link