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Well done on a very important win. We are building a strong squad and should be a match for any team come the Round Robin games. 5 games in DIV 1 with until yesterday down several men from AI final, and still down several even yesterday. Silke, Molloy, Comer, Glynn (3 all stars missing and one of our top players red carded) so this was a very good win and proves the value of throwing new players in at the deep end. giveitlong (Galway) - Posts: 1255 - 06/03/2023 11:42:48 2462222 Link
Replying To anotheralias: "Yes , it is very tight . And I honestly don't think that the head to head rule will come in to play this year. 7 points is definitely safe. But its increasingly likely a that at least 1 team on 6 points will suffer relegation. Now if that happens it will almost certainly be based on scoring difference as there would be more than 2 teams on 6. 20 division 1 games so far, 14 home wins , 3 draws and 3 away wins, Of the 6 games where home teams were non victorious 3 of them were inter Connacht derbies in which, traditionally, home advantage has had little significance over the years. So of the 17 non Connacht derbies there was 14 home wins , 2 draws and only 1 away win. If this trend were to continue for last 2 rounds, lets assume all home wins the final table would be as follows Mayo 10 Ros 8 Galway 8 Armagh 7 Kerry 6 Tyrone 6 Monaghan 6 Donegal 5 Now look at the most likely options for home defeats 1. Kerry beat Galway ... In that case Kerry and Galway toggled in table above...still 3 teams on 6 2. Mayo beat Donegal ... No impact to table still 3 teams on 6 3. Tyrone beat Monaghan ...This would be good for us as it could see Monaghan and Tyrone relegated Of course they above 3 scenarios are predicated on all other games following the home victory trend, which may get bucked a little bit in the last 2 rounds as teams place varying levels of focus on the league with an eye on championship. Mayo have the potential to really hurt us were they to lose to Monaghan and Donegal. I don't think its likely but with safety secured and no desire for a league final on their behalf, you never know." What Mayo decide to do in their last two games is the most significant unknown involved in projecting the final standings. They look capable of winning their last 2 games, but might decide that Ros in 5 weeks is the priority now, and wind up dropping ' handy' points to Donegal and Monaghan. The choice is theirs now. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3840 - 06/03/2023 11:55:29 2462230 Link
Replying To giveitlong: "Well done on a very important win. We are building a strong squad and should be a match for any team come the Round Robin games. 5 games in DIV 1 with until yesterday down several men from AI final, and still down several even yesterday. Silke, Molloy, Comer, Glynn (3 all stars missing and one of our top players red carded) so this was a very good win and proves the value of throwing new players in at the deep end." I agree with everything you said. The team should be DEEPER than last years team which is a great thing. All the great teams usually have a good bench of players to choose from in the event of injuries or whatever. Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2232 - 06/03/2023 12:00:56 2462233 Link
Replying To fairplay4ever: "not sure if management will want to be in a league final.think they may have a warm weather camp scheduled for the following week." It's a national title to be won and this trophy hasn't been won by Galway since the early 80s. Won't get many better chances to win it either. Unlike 2018 no strong Dublin team to topple, Kerry won't be in it shall Galway reach it and would be up against Mayo who will have more than one eye on their championship opener the following week. Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3466 - 06/03/2023 12:08:26 2462239 Link
Replying To Dermot_Desmond_96: "Even though Barry McHugh was awful in the FBD ?" I'm slightly annoyed by these type of comments in relation to any player and I think its particularly unfair in this instance. I'm not sure how much Barry could offer us , and maybe Padraic Joyce saw something in training to back up up his decision . But a little bit of context . Barry McHugh played 2 half hours of football in a synthetic (i.e. not real) environment. He didn't play well. But did he play "awful"? Against Mayo he scored 0-2 ( 1 free + 1 play) out of a 1st half total of 0-5. Our entire full forward line that started v Donegal scored 0-0. Were they "awful" . No. They just had a poor day and, correctly so, will be given other chances. anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 935 - 06/03/2023 12:22:16 2462243 Link
Replying To Gaa_lover: "It's a national title to be won and this trophy hasn't been won by Galway since the early 80s. Won't get many better chances to win it either. Unlike 2018 no strong Dublin team to topple, Kerry won't be in it shall Galway reach it and would be up against Mayo who will have more than one eye on their championship opener the following week." Agree totally Belclare (Galway) - Posts: 904 - 06/03/2023 12:29:30 2462247 Link
Replying To galwayford: "Galway need silverware. They need to be winning cups in my view. So the league is a priority." I'd be afraid of any more injuries if a league final was tagged on at the end. I've heard positive talk from pundits and podcasts about Galway building a solid panel but I'm still concerned about backup for the spine of the team. We've played Kelly Daly Conroy McDaid every week, who's ready to cover centre back if Daly gets injured or sent off? Cooke can cover midfield but I've been kind of disappointed in a way with him. He's gotten some scores but tends to disappear for king spells in games. He doesn't come out and demand the ball like McDaid or Conroy. He has the athleticism and football in him to do exactly what McDaid does, but just doesn't do it as much for whatever reason. jam83 (Galway) - Posts: 168 - 06/03/2023 13:30:52 2462269 Link
Replying To Gaa_lover: "It's a national title to be won and this trophy hasn't been won by Galway since the early 80s. Won't get many better chances to win it either. Unlike 2018 no strong Dublin team to topple, Kerry won't be in it shall Galway reach it and would be up against Mayo who will have more than one eye on their championship opener the following week." I think this is the league no team wants to win as nobody remembers league winners for more than a year at least but I think Galway would like at least 1 more point to be safe for sure. tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 06/03/2023 13:47:35 2462283 Link
Not sure I agree that the kickouts were much better this week. Relatively the same as against Donegal. Went short on all but one in 1st half, and lost it. Overall on long kickouts we were at 4/7 - so finally above 50%, I guess that's something! Really looking at them, were very lucky to win 2 out of those, as they were kicked to Monaghan men! Even one of the short kickouts was such a poor dribbler that Eoghan Kelly was left at the mercy of 2 Monaghan men - so essentially a lost kickout. systematic (Galway) - Posts: 101 - 06/03/2023 14:11:39 2462302 Link
Replying To systematic: "Not sure I agree that the kickouts were much better this week. Relatively the same as against Donegal. Went short on all but one in 1st half, and lost it. Overall on long kickouts we were at 4/7 - so finally above 50%, I guess that's something! Really looking at them, were very lucky to win 2 out of those, as they were kicked to Monaghan men! Even one of the short kickouts was such a poor dribbler that Eoghan Kelly was left at the mercy of 2 Monaghan men - so essentially a lost kickout." Are you for real Systematic? Were you at the match at all? Did you even see in on TV? Your prejudice against goalkeeper Conor Gleeson is appalling. Give the man a break. He is an excellent keeper and had a really outstanding game yesterday aided by the outfield players doing their own jobs in. Lay off the negativity and the unjustified criticisms please. These players are amateur and ought to be given fair play and commendation for their efforts. This Galway team displayed great character, confidence, courage, determination and skill in defeating a good Monaghan team with 14 players. We should be very proud of them and of PJ and the management team. Gaillimh Abu ! FatLadySinging (Galway) - Posts: 91 - 06/03/2023 14:56:01 2462328 Link
heaps of prominent posters have gone quiet on here lately perhaps hoping people have forgotten that they wrote off half of these players! :d candlewax (Galway) - Posts: 292 - 06/03/2023 15:40:00 2462352 Link
Replying To tommy k: "I think this is the league no team wants to win as nobody remembers league winners for more than a year at least but I think Galway would like at least 1 more point to be safe for sure." I'd love Galway to win the League........'81 is along time ago! katser (Galway) - Posts: 2448 - 06/03/2023 15:58:15 2462363 Link
In fairness to Gleeson he did what what was/should be expected of any County keeper yesterday...was competent gathering several shots that dropped short and 1 high dangerous ball that landed in on top of him. He still looks underconfident to me and seems to have been told to remain in the small square, or on his goal line, since that Mayo game up in Castlebar. Very different approach to most other County keepers who come out to get involved in play, offer an overlap or an out ball to any defender who is in trouble. Our defenders never seem to look for him or want to give him the ball no matter how under pressure they are ? Nothing against the lad , he has all the attributes to be a very good keeper and I hope he eventually does. Just not sure he will develop the confidence, presence or self assurance for that and if he dosent improve those aspects it's hard to see how his defence will trust him more ? Very good second half display yesterday, appetite was hugely improved. Some brilliant turnovers and hunting in packs on show Black+Blue (Galway) - Posts: 132 - 06/03/2023 16:05:03 2462364 Link
Replying To katser: "I'd love Galway to win the League........'81 is along time ago!" Beat Roscommon in the Final in 1981. endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2288 - 06/03/2023 16:59:23 2462379 Link
Replying To endgame: "Beat Roscommon in the Final in 1981." A classic when men were men.... katser (Galway) - Posts: 2448 - 06/03/2023 17:02:57 2462380 Link
Replying To Yondu: "Good win and character really shone through when went down to 14 men. The few here that was questioning the importance to the team that John Heaney is got their answer now. With Armagh and Kerry to play and Shane Walsh back on the field why not push on to reach a league final?" Yondu I hope you dont mind if I change your last sentence a small bit. I think it should read why dont we push on and win the league final. Finals are for winning and I think at times that we are just too content just to get to finals. People are on here running down winning the league but I've never seen Kerry or Kilkenny turning up their snouts at a league title. I remember last year someone remarked that Jack O Connor has been in charge of Kerry on three different occasions and that each time in his first season he went out and won the league. It is in our own hands at the minute and a great oppertunity to win a National title. I think it could be the making of the team. In my opinion (and I found no one to agree with me yet) the league would be far more important to Galway than winning Connaught. The only benefit of winning the provincial is that you get your home game first but any team in the group games still gets a home an away and a neutral game. Win the league and have plenty of time to prepare for the championship group games seventyniner (Galway) - Posts: 41 - 06/03/2023 20:02:48 2462430 Link
Replying To tommy k: "I think this is the league no team wants to win as nobody remembers league winners for more than a year at least but I think Galway would like at least 1 more point to be safe for sure." Imo, we should target this league final and develop a winning habit and the confidence that comes with it. It also serves to get the supporters enthused. I can't ever remember Jim Gavin taking the league lightly or indeed Mickey Harte in his pomp with Tyrone. Kevin McStay has said his league priority is to get to a safe place, and then commence the heavy duty training, while at the same time, giving fringe players game time. So, they won't be engaged in the "survival mode" that surely Donegal and Monaghan will. Of course timing is crucial, and I feel we have the advantage there. P.S. Wouldn't it be great to again see Gay McManus' goal v Ros in 1980 final. Barry Brennan a Ballinasloe man - Great player.. Really (Galway) - Posts: 620 - 06/03/2023 21:01:31 2462437 Link
Replying To seventyniner: "Yondu I hope you dont mind if I change your last sentence a small bit. I think it should read why dont we push on and win the league final. Finals are for winning and I think at times that we are just too content just to get to finals. People are on here running down winning the league but I've never seen Kerry or Kilkenny turning up their snouts at a league title. I remember last year someone remarked that Jack O Connor has been in charge of Kerry on three different occasions and that each time in his first season he went out and won the league. It is in our own hands at the minute and a great oppertunity to win a National title. I think it could be the making of the team. In my opinion (and I found no one to agree with me yet) the league would be far more important to Galway than winning Connaught. The only benefit of winning the provincial is that you get your home game first but any team in the group games still gets a home an away and a neutral game. Win the league and have plenty of time to prepare for the championship group games" Finals are certainly for winning. Need to reach it first and might need to beat Armagh away and avoid defeat to Kerry for that to happen. Yondu (UK) - Posts: 845 - 06/03/2023 21:57:27 2462449 Link
We don't play championship until 23rd April so a league final would do us no harm at all. Different for Mayo and Ros being out on 9th of April. Especially for a few lads that were injured or didn't play in the early part of the league the extra game will help. Thinking of Comer, Walsh, Finnerty potentially Sean Mulk and James McL if they make a comeback. Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1885 - 07/03/2023 09:44:31 2462461 Link
Replying To Mayonman: "We don't play championship until 23rd April so a league final would do us no harm at all. Different for Mayo and Ros being out on 9th of April. Especially for a few lads that were injured or didn't play in the early part of the league the extra game will help. Thinking of Comer, Walsh, Finnerty potentially Sean Mulk and James McL if they make a comeback." Agreed on this League final worth more than any week in the sun… but if they can do both…. Great :-) ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1631 - 07/03/2023 10:27:11 2462473 Link