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Replying To Green&Gold2013:  "Can anyone clarify where these players are? The players you mentioned are not old ? Have they just lost interest or moved away ?

As much as they were missing yday they still take beating."
Players not available for different reasons, short term injuries , long term injuries, travel. They are just too many lost players for a club with a relatively small population. 4 or 5 years ago definitely on a par with the best winning one FF and close a few more times. Since then attrition has been massive. The natural attrition of older players like Aaron mchugh, Stephen Boyle. Gary Sweeney and Paul Donnellan could, in my opinion, just about be absorbed by the trickle of younger players like Brian Noone, Ciaran Mulhern , Dara Newell, Proulx brothers and a few others. But what is massive is the loss of players in the 30 or younger age bracket . 7 starters from the 2021 final team who are still only 30 or younger not available currently ..mark mannion Colin murray michael daly Matthew Barrett Shane moran Patrick Kelly Eoin Finnerty. That's just an unnatural level of attrition and one that mtbellew does not have the resources to absorb.

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 1003 - 04/08/2025 12:55:02    2630016

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Replying To backtooldwall:  "After attending Sundays double header in Pearse Stadium which served up two games that were as good as over after ten mins, in the opener a goal which was against the run of play kept St Michaels in it on the score board with wind to come until the half time break.Oughterard looked far sharper and committed even with Matty Tierney "resting" on the periphery of the action for the most part,St Michaels looked like a team resigned to their fate from early on in the second half after failing to add to the two pointer they resumed with.
The Bearna na Forbacha v Maigh Cuilinn was a contest between two very understrength teams with Maigh Cuilinn lining out with only I'm told five or six go the team who contested last years county final, admittedly it did contain the Kelly brothers and Dessie Conneely, supplemented five or six from minor winning team of two or three years ago this was the big differnce in the replacements available to each managers. The game itself was a lifeless affair with the winners in almost complete control for almost the entire match although BnaF should have had a goal when hitting the post with defence beaten and the rebound being kicked straight at S Kelly on the line ( I think ) in the first half.It looks like that less than half can be competitive with the rest hoping to survive in the grade from what I take from the reports from the rest to the round."
A few teams like Michaels, Monivea, Bearna would seem to be ahead of the pack in the race to intermediate, making it unlikely that 9+ senior sides are 'hoping to survive' in the senior grade. Expecting to survive more like.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4358 - 04/08/2025 13:01:45    2630017

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Replying To jm25:  "He did in first half serious size but ran down blind alleys got a few soft frees and penalties.

They are both great athletes not sure if required football abilities"
As a Dunmore Fan at the game on Friday and having watched these two play since they were children skill is most definitely not a problem for either of them!! Great to see Dunmore firing on all cylinders, but to say these two are athletes is wrong. Diarmuid Kilcommins was the best player on the pitch by a country mile while Daithi was pulled down everytime he broke the line. Massive difference between blind alleyways and line breaks !! Great to see the blend of young and older players in the Dunmore team, a force to be reckoned with

DunmoreforFrankfox (Galway) - Posts: 1 - 04/08/2025 15:45:40    2630035

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Replying To anotheralias:  "Players not available for different reasons, short term injuries , long term injuries, travel. They are just too many lost players for a club with a relatively small population. 4 or 5 years ago definitely on a par with the best winning one FF and close a few more times. Since then attrition has been massive. The natural attrition of older players like Aaron mchugh, Stephen Boyle. Gary Sweeney and Paul Donnellan could, in my opinion, just about be absorbed by the trickle of younger players like Brian Noone, Ciaran Mulhern , Dara Newell, Proulx brothers and a few others. But what is massive is the loss of players in the 30 or younger age bracket . 7 starters from the 2021 final team who are still only 30 or younger not available currently ..mark mannion Colin murray michael daly Matthew Barrett Shane moran Patrick Kelly Eoin Finnerty. That's just an unnatural level of attrition and one that mtbellew does not have the resources to absorb."
It's impressive they got within 4 of SK with all the above players missing especially the lads who should be of prime age for football. A lot of the players you named above were on county senior panels or at least played underage for Galway. You'd suspect they are probably passing up the opportunity of another 1/2 county titles but time waits for no man and obviously they have other priorities in their life.

On the weekends action a lot of the senior games seemed to be very one sided. I hoped the new rules would have had the same effect as it did on the intercounty game and create more contenders.

The intermediate round was a cracker, it just shows how open it is when last years relegation finalist beat the finalists.

Green&Gold2013 (Galway) - Posts: 40 - 04/08/2025 17:55:15    2630042

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Replying To Green&Gold2013:  "It's impressive they got within 4 of SK with all the above players missing especially the lads who should be of prime age for football. A lot of the players you named above were on county senior panels or at least played underage for Galway. You'd suspect they are probably passing up the opportunity of another 1/2 county titles but time waits for no man and obviously they have other priorities in their life.

On the weekends action a lot of the senior games seemed to be very one sided. I hoped the new rules would have had the same effect as it did on the intercounty game and create more contenders.

The intermediate round was a cracker, it just shows how open it is when last years relegation finalist beat the finalists."
There's probably too much of a gulf in senior between the top 4 and the rest. Also a decent number of teams were using blanket defences to "compete" in senior as a crutch. IMO Corofin and maybe salthill too are a lot like Kerry in that they never cared for the blanket defence and are only too happy to see it gone.

systematic (Galway) - Posts: 229 - 04/08/2025 20:32:46    2630059

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Examiner reporting this evening that Joyce expected to stay on. Included in article that's headlined by John Cleary staying on as Cork manager.

gaillimhboy (Galway) - Posts: 380 - 04/08/2025 21:32:58    2630068

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Replying To systematic:  "There's probably too much of a gulf in senior between the top 4 and the rest. Also a decent number of teams were using blanket defences to "compete" in senior as a crutch. IMO Corofin and maybe salthill too are a lot like Kerry in that they never cared for the blanket defence and are only too happy to see it gone."
Possibly agree kerry stoll regularly got finals with defensive and won laying that in 2014 but yet glad to see that gone

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 865 - 04/08/2025 22:00:17    2630072

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Replying To systematic:  "There's probably too much of a gulf in senior between the top 4 and the rest. Also a decent number of teams were using blanket defences to "compete" in senior as a crutch. IMO Corofin and maybe salthill too are a lot like Kerry in that they never cared for the blanket defence and are only too happy to see it gone."
You're not serious? S/K tried using a blanket defence in last year's semi final against Corofin and got a hammering.

Connect4 (Galway) - Posts: 4 - 04/08/2025 22:19:06    2630078

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Replying To WonTon5:  "Looks like Damien Comer won't feature in the club championship according to Annaghdown sources due to injury. They were absolutely crucified by Dunmore this evening in the opening game, anyone in at it? Did Daithi Kilcommins make an appearance?"
I honestly think that Damien should pack it in altogether at this stage for his own sake. Since he damaged his ankle playing soccer in 2018, he has been constantly picking up new injuries or aggravating old ones and I don't see how there is a realistic hope of him ever returning to full fitness and staying injury-free for an extended period of time. For the sake of his health in the long term, he should just retire now.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 1041 - 04/08/2025 22:46:38    2630083

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Replying To gaillimhboy:  "Examiner reporting this evening that Joyce expected to stay on. Included in article that's headlined by John Cleary staying on as Cork manager."
another year wasted i fear. hope im wrong

upgalwaygalway (Galway) - Posts: 3 - 04/08/2025 22:47:47    2630084

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Replying To systematic:  "There's probably too much of a gulf in senior between the top 4 and the rest. Also a decent number of teams were using blanket defences to "compete" in senior as a crutch. IMO Corofin and maybe salthill too are a lot like Kerry in that they never cared for the blanket defence and are only too happy to see it gone."
Can you specify what teams you're referring to as the big 4

caltra04 (Galway) - Posts: 27 - 05/08/2025 03:03:33    2630094

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Replying To anotheralias:  "Players not available for different reasons, short term injuries , long term injuries, travel. They are just too many lost players for a club with a relatively small population. 4 or 5 years ago definitely on a par with the best winning one FF and close a few more times. Since then attrition has been massive. The natural attrition of older players like Aaron mchugh, Stephen Boyle. Gary Sweeney and Paul Donnellan could, in my opinion, just about be absorbed by the trickle of younger players like Brian Noone, Ciaran Mulhern , Dara Newell, Proulx brothers and a few others. But what is massive is the loss of players in the 30 or younger age bracket . 7 starters from the 2021 final team who are still only 30 or younger not available currently ..mark mannion Colin murray michael daly Matthew Barrett Shane moran Patrick Kelly Eoin Finnerty. That's just an unnatural level of attrition and one that mtbellew does not have the resources to absorb."
Can anyone tell me where Andy Barrett's whereabouts are at the moment ? Serious player with real aggression , could bring a lot to the table

caltra04 (Galway) - Posts: 27 - 05/08/2025 03:09:34    2630095

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The gap in senior if anything is getting bigger. Corofin & moycullen well ahead of rest and you could include Salthill however they are behind corofin & moycullen. Relegation will be between Barna Michaels & Monivea. Intermediate is wide open and I believe Brendans will be team to beat with Spiddal outsiders but you could make a case for half the teams. Gabriles for the drop

Eire89 (Galway) - Posts: 380 - 05/08/2025 10:18:09    2630105

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Replying To caltra04:  "Can you specify what teams you're referring to as the big 4"
There's a different one each year. Currently the biggest teams with the most chance of success are Corofin, Moycullen, Salthill, Tuam. Can even say there's a gap between Corofin, Moycullen and the other two also. Other teams can definitely come close eg Claregalway and Mountbellew (who were at the top only a few years ago) but I would see a difference in the top 4 and the rest. I'd like to see this year one of the other teams in the 5-10 bracket like Killannin, Milltown, Oughterard, Dunmore challenge one of the top 4 - a result there would change my mind about the gap.

systematic (Galway) - Posts: 229 - 05/08/2025 10:34:03    2630112

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Was in Pearse Stadium on Sunday - both Oughterard and Maigh Cuilinn looked really impressive. Oughterard actually seem stronger than last year and will definitely be contenders if they keep building like this. Maigh Cuilinn were a joy to watch at times: well-organised, brilliant link play, serious pace, and clinical when they went for goal. A lot of new faces too. Charlie Cox and Fiachra McDonagh showed real flashes, but they could have backed themselves more - passed up a few scoring chances they should've taken on. Hopefully that confidence will come. Niall Walsh and Dessie were razor sharp. Tom Clarke and Johnny Maloney looked like they've a bit of work to do on fitness. Mícheál Maughan had a great game. He's really stepped up.

Gearoid1998ffowaed (Galway) - Posts: 177 - 05/08/2025 10:36:01    2630113

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Replying To Connect4:  "You're not serious? S/K tried using a blanket defence in last year's semi final against Corofin and got a hammering."
See that was funny too as SK didn't play overly defensive in many of their other games last year. Corofin tactically dominated them and made their attack look weak and toothless - so I think that made things look more defensive. I did say maybe salthill as their best players are their forwards so they should play an attacking style. Remains to be seen what they do in the big matches this year.

systematic (Galway) - Posts: 229 - 05/08/2025 10:39:07    2630114

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Replying To Gaillimh_Abu:  "I honestly think that Damien should pack it in altogether at this stage for his own sake. Since he damaged his ankle playing soccer in 2018, he has been constantly picking up new injuries or aggravating old ones and I don't see how there is a realistic hope of him ever returning to full fitness and staying injury-free for an extended period of time. For the sake of his health in the long term, he should just retire now."
Thought he would have been fit enough to play club this year. He didn't seem to have any really serious injury this year. Just a bunch of small ones one after another. You'd wonder what will change by next year to keep him any fitter and available? I'm sure he won't want to go out like this but his availability is a big concern now.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2410 - 05/08/2025 11:53:08    2630126

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RIP Don Connellan.
Gave a lot of his time to his home club, county, adopted club and Alma Mater on the playing fields as player and coach.

smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 551 - 05/08/2025 12:38:13    2630135

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RIP Don Connellan - one of the GAAs true gents. He took great care of the players and earned huge respect wherever he went. There was serious talk of him stepping into the Galway job after Maigh Cuilinn's brilliant run in 2022 and it's hard not to think now of what could have been. A huge loss to the game and to the people who knew him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Gearoid1998ffowaed (Galway) - Posts: 177 - 05/08/2025 12:55:25    2630141

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Replying To smallfrank:  "RIP Don Connellan.
Gave a lot of his time to his home club, county, adopted club and Alma Mater on the playing fields as player and coach."
RIP Don Connellan.

Highly respected manager and man in Moycullen and farther a field. Brought them there two county successes. He was also involved in University Galway's sigerson win. Condolences to his young family. Very Sad.

Green&Gold2013 (Galway) - Posts: 40 - 05/08/2025 13:26:45    2630148

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