i beleve he drives on the team with his shouting and encouragement............but lacks the speed and energy that the likes of davy fitz has had and liam donoghue!he may struggle as he gets older to cop with the ever growing speed of the game.

galway4liam (Galway) - Posts: 59 - 07/07/2008 17:19:39    44165

Best keeper we have, and definitely better than Liam Donoghue!

aidangalway (Galway) - Posts: 648 - 07/07/2008 17:44:41    44188

and wat about colm callanan????or wat happend to ex-minor star aidan ryan??hes worth giving a chance agen,wat hapend to him??any1 know??

galway4liam (Galway) - Posts: 59 - 07/07/2008 17:49:13    44192

Skehill is an absolutely fantasic shot stopper. Don't think you can compare him to Liam Donaghue who was a very average intercounty keeper. Skehill does tend to want to get involved and sometimes rushes out from his goal when he doesn't really have to. However he is still very young and this is his first year of senior intercounty hurling. Be patient with him and he will develop into a top class netminder IMO.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2405 - 07/07/2008 18:13:54    44214

The best two goal keepers are on the panel. Might be more sensible this year to have Callinan in goals as he has more experience. Still having said that there is very few better shot stoppers in the game than Skehill, we might need that if we meet Kilkenny later this year!

nailhimstones (Galway) - Posts: 114 - 08/07/2008 08:56:43    44386

James Skehill played very well for County U21's lasy year against Cork - however he has not taken this form to the Senior team this year and he has made numerious mistakes in the league (I have seen all the league games except Laois) - the worst being in the league final when he let a ball in under his legs - we lost the match by 2 points and that was the difference in the end. I dont like criticising the lad but that is the harsh reality of playing in goals - either the hero or villan. I believe Colm Callinan should have been left in goals this year as he did not set a foot wrong when he was thrown in at the deep end last year. I also noticed when looking at the groups in the senior championship in Glaway - he was the only goalie not to conced a goal yet in this years championship - really dont know what more he had to do to hold his place on the team. I know people will point out he conceeded seven goals in last years county final - for the people that say that - none of them were his fault and It would have been 10 only for some of the saves he made.

Thats not my only gripe with this team - I was at the match last sunday and how David Forde gets on the team is beyond belief - he cleared two balls in the whole match. I would really like to know what Ger Loughnanne sees in David Forde - One thing is for sure we will not progress very far in the championship if he jeeps picking players like that. If he is playing the next day I doubt if I will go to the match to be honest as I am so disheartened about it at this stage as I dearly want Galway to win an All Ireland..

He played Tony Og full back for the whole league and yet he couldnt make the first 27 the last day against Laois. He has played Fergal Moore full back who is not a full back and looked a poor shadow of himself against Laois. He is our best corner back along with Ollie Canning and he puts him in full back - doesnt make sense - he hasnt even played there for his club.. I would hate to see what Kilkenny would do to us physically based on the way he is picking the team now..

I agree we have been hit hard by injuries to David Collins, Hynes and Ger Mahon - at least 2 of them would have been first choice.. He plays Conor Dervan corner back for most of the league which is not his best position as most seasoned observers in the county would agree - yet he did quite well in my opinion. What happens come the championship he gets dropped for David Forde - I am at a loss to explain all this...

Sorry for the rant - but it is very hard to see Galway winning An All Ireland with the current team selection - Does anyone agree with me or am I going over the top. The way Im looking at it is that Kilkenny are the standard bearers and I dont think we are any nearer to them this year than we were last year.

My Team for championship as follows based on who is available:

C. Callinan
D. Joyce
J. Lee
O. Canning
S. Kavanagh
C. Dervan
F. Moore
F. Healy
A. Smith
I. Tannian
M. Kerins
D. Hayes
A. Callinan
J. Canning
G. Farragher

I would play John Lee full back as we need to stop conceding goals if we are to have any chance and I think Conor Dervan or Shane Kavanagh would do a job centre back.
Reason Fergal Moore is in half back line is because he plays in the same corner as Ollie Canning.

Model Fan (Galway) - Posts: 33 - 08/07/2008 15:10:03    44877

ok hold it ther model fan!!!

u leave adrian cullinane out of da team????hes been the best player for galway so far this year!!!!
and to put damian hayes wing forward wud be a crime!!hes a pacey corner forward!!!!aonghus callinan on the team??u'd want to think wat u write before typing mate!becos that galway team wud lose to antrim!!

galway4liam (Galway) - Posts: 59 - 08/07/2008 15:33:29    44903

Responding to Galway for Liam - what would your team be??
The reason I left Adrain Cullinane off is because I dont think he would not be able for the Kilkenny forwards physically - How many points did he concede from play in the league final - when he had to be moved to wing forward?? Do you really think he would be able to mark Martin Comferford and Eoin Larkin who are the two wing forwards for Kilkenny!!! I saw him against Gort in the club championship this year and he didnt want to know after Tadhg Linnane hit a shoulder on him - doesnt inspire me with confidence when you come up against Kilkenny. If im wrong I will will be the first to take it back.. Aonghus Callinan has flattered to deceive a small bit - but I think he has great potential and is not afraid to stick up his hand which very few of the Galway forwards do. Think he could work very well beside Joe Canning. He needs to improve his finishing though..
By the way Damien Hayes has spent most of his time playing wing forward in training the last number of weeks in training and I think the reason he will be out there is to help midfield. I honestly think he could do with a change from the corner..

Model Fan (Galway) - Posts: 33 - 08/07/2008 18:54:36    45155

Model Fan.....why in the name of God would u take out our most solid player (John Lee) out of centre-back and put him in full-back???

hoganstand10 (Galway) - Posts: 40 - 08/07/2008 23:19:31    45222

Well I asked u in the previous email what team would you play and u have not come up with a reponce yet..
Reasons are as follows:
Look at Galway's history in big games over the last number of years and ask yourself the question how may goals have been conceded because of our full back line - Against Kilkenny last year 3 goals were conceded because of full back line - the league final 2 goals came from the full back position and one as a result of a goalkeeping error. In my opinion we have no hope of beating the big teams if we continue to concede goals at a rate like this. Look at what we score in most games - it is enough to win these games but because we concede so many goals it is not enough..
I dont like taking John Lee out of centre back as he has been the one shining grace under Loughnanes Management - but I dont see another option. If you have another option please let us know. Also I have seen Conor Dervan and Shane Kavanagh play centre back for their clubs and they were more than adequate in that position if not as good as John Lee..
We tried Shane Kavanagh full back in 2005 and it did not work.. He also played centre back in the 2005 final against Cork and more than held his own with Nial McCarthy taken off..
We cant expect to outscore teams all the time..
If you look at Waterford they have the same problem....

Model Fan (Galway) - Posts: 33 - 09/07/2008 10:03:52    45327

I would agree with some of your points Model fan but I would not take Lee out of centreback at this stage. We know he has been pretty consistent and solid in that position. Still think Diarmuid Cloonan would be best choice as fullback - if Mark Kerins and Eugene Cloonan can be recalled late in the day so could Diarmuid. My team would be:

J Skehill
F Moore
D Cloonan
O Canning
S Kavanagh
J Lee
C Dervan
A Cullinane
F Healy
N Healy
M Kerins
A Kerins
D Hayes
J Canning
A Callinan

Anyone agree?

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 09/07/2008 10:54:03    45417

have to laugh at model fans team selection. we all have being crying out for a centre back for the last 10-15 years saying we havent had a good one since keady. now we have one and they want to go putting him in fullback. hilarious really. robbing peter to pay paul.

allforone (Galway) - Posts: 38 - 09/07/2008 11:47:12    45482

Whats the point naming a team with Duirmuid Cloonan who hasn't been playing for the club not mind county. Mark Kerins is tried tested and failed. Tannian put in a great performance the last day, admittedly against a poor side but his problem was never his hurling ability (he has loads of that), its consistancy and work rate which have been his downfall. He showed great leadership the last day and in my opinion is our only hope of a big strong leader in the half forward line. Loughnane knows that too.

nailhimstones (Galway) - Posts: 114 - 09/07/2008 12:06:59    45505

james skehill
fergal moore
ger mahon
ollie canning
shane kavanagh
john lee
adrian cullinane
fergal healy
andy smith
niall healy
eugene cloonan/mark kerins
alan kerins
damien hayes
joe canning
keril wade/ger farragher



team for all ireland!

galway4liam (Galway) - Posts: 59 - 09/07/2008 14:56:51    45752

Skehill

Moore
Joyce
Canning
Kavanagh
Lee
Keary

F.Healy
Kerins

Farragher
N. Healy
Tannian
Hayes
Canning
Wade

Clash-of-da-ash (Galway) - Posts: 927 - 09/07/2008 15:20:08    45777

Galway For Liam - are u serious about putting Eugene Cloonan centre forward - u slagged my team saying they wouldnt beat Antrim. Seriously when has Eugene Cloonan performed in Championship hurling for Galway??? He played against Clare last year and Frank Lohan (at 34 years of age) could beat him in a sprint... He came on against Kilkenny lasy year and he was a disaster on Noel Hickey and if you look at the replay of that match a few of the Kilkenny goals came from clearances from Noel Hickey. He scores a lot in the league when it doesnt matter and he has not cut it in championship hurling for Galway and he is hardly going to start now that he is approaching 30 years of age.

Just wondering why does everyone put James Skehill in goals considering all the mistakes he has made in the league.
Last year I thought John Lee was our best find and performed well at centre back.
I would have said Colm Callinan was our second best find and didnt put a foot wrong when thrown in at the deep end - he certaintly didnt make the mistakes James Skehill has made to date in the league. You look at someone like David Forde and he gets chance after chance when anyone with two eyes can see he is simply not an inter county hurler... It must be very demoralising for other players on the panel looking at this..

Model Fan (Galway) - Posts: 33 - 09/07/2008 16:55:28    45883

model fan.....u need to think about the present......ok eugene cloonan was his best last year,but he had back injuries and other problems!!his current form and play is top class!!

while "clash of da ash"........damien joyce full back????hes about 4 foot tall!!!aand andrew keary wing bak,please,hes jus there to make up the squad,what are u thinkin???

galway4liam (Galway) - Posts: 59 - 09/07/2008 20:08:19    45958

model fan-i am laughing at your comments as you know nothing about hurling.your comments about cloonan are very harsh.you seem to forget the great games cloonan had for galway in past championships.to say he has never performed in championship hurling is crazy.you should change your name from model fan if all your going to do is give out about our players

sheflin (Galway) - Posts: 25 - 09/07/2008 20:39:09    45974

First of all I have nothing personal against any of the Galway players and Im calling it as I see it - and if some people think that is harsh so be it.
Anyone that knows anything about hurling knows that Eugene Cloonan has no pace.. I really cant remember the last time he had a good game for Galway in Championship.. maybe the 2001 semi final against Kilkenny. I remember him in 2002 against Clare when we lost by a point and he smiled when he missed a free in front of the posts. Dont remember any good game he had after this - but if you know of any please point them out and dont include league games..
If any Cloonan should have been on the Galway team last year it should have been Diarmuid and if he was full back I dont think we would have conceeded 3 goals against Kilkenny.

Model Fan (Galway) - Posts: 33 - 10/07/2008 11:55:14    46188

Model fan - yes Eugene Cloonan was always slow but my biggest problem with him was his selfishness in the past where he would rather try for point out near the sideline rather than look for a better placed colleague. Besides the 2001 semifinal he played well against Tipp in the 2000 quarterfinal and when introduced as a sub in 2006 against KK in the second half he won / scored a penalty and crossed the ball for Tierney to score another goal. Most other days he has been disappointing. We have not had a decent fullback since Diarmuid Cloonan in 2002. Regan, Kavanagh, Mahon have all been tried since and failed. Diarmuid Cloonan should never have been left off the panel.

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 10/07/2008 12:47:38    46240