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Any word on Mc Daid's injury? He fell really awkeardly on it. Looks like he went down clutching his knee which is worrying. centrefield99 (Galway) - Posts: 149 - 13/05/2026 15:57:18 2672815 Link 0 |
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Especially when there was such truck loads of space down through our centre channels. We had a half back playing full back, and a wing back playing centre back, both of whom spent most of the game miles out of their selected positions Kelly up in the forwards and Molloy tracking Smith out the wings leaving a big hole down the middle. Not blaming the two lads, they actually both played fairly well with Molloy doing a good job on Smyth and Kelly looked dangerous going forward, it is a tactical issue in terms of the space left open. If they were that worried about Smyth(justifiably), we could have gone back to the previous defensive system of the two wing backs sitting into the pockets and the two wing forwards dropping back to fill the wing back slots and then breaking forward when we were attacking. It was worse in the forwards, Flaherty a back, McDaid, a midfielder, Darcy a midfielder, and Roche, a midfielder all playing in the forwards. I know these lads are very versatile and talented and all are capable of playing up there but in my opinion it is too many lads playing out of their most natural position and it led to a complete lack of cohesion imo with every one wandering all over the place and the pitch. I cant understand why some of the lads who did really well in the league were not used, Oisin McDonagh/ Fionn McDonagh/O Conghaile or McGrath who only got a late run out. I think this would be an example of a more balanced team: Gleeson(hit that half forward line!!) McGrath, Hernon/Fitz(depending on who we are playing), Glynn/Silke(same as full back) McHugh, Kelly, O Laoi Maher / Conroy(McDaid when Thompson comes back) Tierney, McDaid/Thompson, Darcy Finnerty, Walsh, O McDonnagh Trucker1 (Galway) - Posts: 471 - 13/05/2026 16:04:47 2672817 Link 0 |
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Great research Clare, while we have you here do the same on your own Mayo.
Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 830 - 13/05/2026 16:18:38 2672820 Link 3 |
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I vividly recall 2001, Galway lost to Roscommon in the championship. We were suspect under the high ball around the square and other teams started to exploit that. Gary Fahy was a brilliant full back but controlling the high ball wasn't one of his main attributes. The late John O'Mahony said at the time that sometimes we learn more in defeat than in victory, because victory can mask weaknesses. He called Alan Keane from Killererin who was based in Cork, Alan was a big man and good under the high ball but hadn't played inter county by then. He was training with the team the following evening. That put an end to dropping high ball around the Galway goal. He also moved Tomas Mannion from corner back to centre back. These two changes turned Galway into an beatable team that year 2001. Some contributers on this site put a lot of thought and effort into their analysis. Some have suggested recalling Barry MC Hugh and try him in goal. Why not. We tend to blame our goalkeepers kicking distribution for our failure to win primary possession from our kick outs. It appears that players are not showing or moving into space to be a target. The best goalkeeper in recent years was Stephen Cluxton. Wouldn't it be advisable to get him or his equivalent to do some coaching on kick outs. Some of contributers highlighted lack of pace in our half back line. Obviously Hernon and O Laoi could play some role in that line because they have speed and youth. McDaid and Kelly gave a master display in grit effort and awesome determination in last Sunday's game. It would be great to edit these moments from the recorded match to show the whole panel what can be done with this determination. They should also look at their work when they didn't have the ball. The return of Tierney is also hopeful going forward and affording to call on the great Conroy later in the game when the need arises. I'm very hopeful that our team will have a very long run in this year's championship once we can correct a few things. Padraiciarchonnacht (Galway) - Posts: 11 - 13/05/2026 19:28:21 2672855 Link 0 |
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Looking at the halfback line, which is often the main platform for championship teams in recent years, I think Joyce should look a solid, holder at 6. And pace on the wings. rover08 (Longford) - Posts: 448 - 13/05/2026 20:54:27 2672861 Link 0 |
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Is there a story there? He started full back against Leitrim in the previous game like. Off the top of my head - Mulkerrin was the only real cover on the bench for the full back line on Sunday and I wouldn't say he's the tightest of man markers. Very strange decision no more than parachuting the 3 lads into the starting team and not bringing o Conghaile in off the bench at all. galwayman2 (Galway) - Posts: 1412 - 13/05/2026 23:06:29 2672884 Link 0 |
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Took me a few days to have the stomach to post! Very disappointing result but Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1952 - 14/05/2026 09:27:05 2672900 Link 0 |
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Forcing 2 pointers in the first half I think has to be part of why we lost, spending just over 2 minutes on each attack at an attempt, contrast to the 2nd half where the shooting was more clinical. Largely agree with your team. Hernon seriously tightened the defence and O'Laoi was an improvement when he came on. ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 40 - 14/05/2026 12:40:19 2672941 Link 0 |
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In fairness to Galway, they did really well to be in the game at all considering the way the were destroyed in midfield. tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1808 - 14/05/2026 13:04:53 2672953 Link 0 |
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Agree with you on the forcing 2 pointers. even some that went over should probably not have been attempted. I think at times and it was the same in the league, we panic with the wind and try and force the 2 pointers. Wides are fine if you have a good kick out press. It is nearly an attacking tactic! Take the easy singles and eventually the other team will have to mark that, leaving the space outside. Mayonman (Galway) - Posts: 1952 - 14/05/2026 15:29:32 2672980 Link 0 |
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Exactly. The last 9 minutes or so highlighted this very well. Yes, there were mistakes made in this time in terms of a free getting moved up, lads left unmarked kicking two-pointers, but the main issue in that time is that we hardly had the ball. We lost the majority of our kickouts and it allowed Roscommon to keep attacking and build the momentum. I think we had two attacks in that time, including our late equaliser attempt. We lost a bad turnover as well, but that was it. We were starved of the ball at the most critical part of the game. Not squeezing Roscommon's short kickout in the first-half was a massive mistake. It's no criticism of Roche, but he was never going to be quick enough to cover the runs his marker was making to take the short one. From the very poor platform we had, we put a very big score. We had a few two point wides in the first half, but our overall efficiency was good. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2801 - 14/05/2026 15:49:58 2672983 Link 0 |