galway4liam Joyce or Moore at full back would be a whole lot better than Ger Mahon who was a disaster against Kilkenny last year.

Clash-of-da-ash (Galway) - Posts: 927 - 10/07/2008 14:13:29    46314

why dont we jus get back to the subject of james skehill.....i dont think there is any doubt of his ability as he has proven himself on the big occasion many times before.we might as well stop talking about our full back problem because there is nobody in the panel good enough for the position.

sheflin (Galway) - Posts: 25 - 10/07/2008 17:25:39    46539

Did u see Fergal Moore at full back against Laois when he was rounded very easy on a couple of ocassions by the Laois forward he was marking?? He was not exactly Eddie Brennan.. I thought Ger Mahon was doing ok full back last year until Eddie Brennan went full forward - lets face Eddie Brennan is probably the fastest player playing hurling and is probably the fastest player I have ever seen - The Kilkenny half forward line pulled out to midfield and left loads of space in front of their full back line in that second half which is very hard to defend against when you have a player as fast as Brennan full forward - Unfortunately our great manager didnt see anything and made no change to counteract this... Ger Loughanne the number 6 jersey when he took over and left him there and he has proved to our biggest success. Last year he played Ger mahon corner back and wing back in the league and earlier championship games. He played for half an hour against Wexford full back and he gets thrown in full back against Kilkenny in a championship game - not ideal preparation in my opinion... He is not the only player to be chopped and changed - look at David Collins last year played corner back. wing back and midfield. He only looked a shadow of the player he was in 2005 and his confidence looked low... I think Management have some blame to take here with the constant chopping and changing of players in key positions.. Ger Loughnanne is now two years in the job and nobody can tell who will play full back next week... If you look at all the teams that won All Irelands over the last number of years you can easily name their Goalkeeper, fullback abd centreback - you cant do that with Galway with the exception of John Lee... Ger Mahon seemed to do quite well at full back underage for Galway and looked like the player best equipped to fill the full back position going forward with John Lee at centre back.. Why wasnt he handed the full back jersey for the league last year or this year like the way John Lee was given the number six jersey to see if he was good enough.. If he was not good enough then - look for someone else - but throwing him at the deep end full back in championship is not fair on the player I think.. Lets face it we probably would not have won the U21 semi final against Cork last year if he were not moved to full back... I know before anyone says it there is a big difference between U21 and Senior.. Ger Loughnanne played Derek Hardiman full back for the league last year and anyone that knows anything about hurling knows that was a complete joke.. I thought Ger Loughnanne coming would bring Galway to that next level - now Im not so sure based on his decision making to date. When he ws writing for the star he criticided previous Galway Managers for getting rid of Rory Gantley and Greg Kennedy - now when he comes in he also got rid of them - talk about double standards... I know the players have to take responsibility when they step over that white line - but I dont think Management are helping at the moment. Maybe the players are just not good enough to win an All Ireland..
As for the person that says James Skehill has proven himself - Can I ask you the question have you been happy with his performances in the league this year?? Do you think he will not make these mistakes he made in the league in the championship?? In a game for Cappatagle this year I saw him drop two balls out of his hand - this is not intercounty standard goalkeeping - and pretty basic stuff in my opinion. I hope Im wrong about him as he will have plenty to do based on what we have seen from the defence so far this year. Also can I also ask you what did Colm Callinan do wrong last year to merit being dropped??

Model Fan (Galway) - Posts: 33 - 10/07/2008 18:42:12    46557

I agree with sheflin, we just dont have a fullback!! As for Skehill in goals....he's a good shot stopper and is a great man to catch a ball but sometimes he does lose concentration and comes out of his goals when he shouldn't but its his first year on the senior team and the older lads will coach him along. Its hard to pick an outstanding first team but this would be my team.

J.Skehill

D.Joyce
F.Moore
O.Canning

F.Healy
J.Lee
A.Cullinane

E.Lynch
A.Kerins

A.Smith
E.Cloonan/K.Hayes
I.Tannian

D.Hayes
J.Canning
N.Healy

agalwayman (Galway) - Posts: 3 - 10/07/2008 18:56:33    46565

Anyone that picks a Galway team without ger farragher in it hasent got a clue!!

Takeabowson (Galway) - Posts: 36 - 10/07/2008 23:46:19    46624

I think all of the Gantleys should have been playing when they were in their prime.

Clash-of-da-ash (Galway) - Posts: 927 - 11/07/2008 12:02:39    46870

Right first of all Skehill has to be in goals hes one of the best shot stoppers in the game and the mistakes will go away with experience which he can only get with game time.... Ollie and Fergal in the two corners definately.. Full back a problem in my opinion you have a choice of 2 kavanagh or mahon.. Kavanagh probly playin the hurlin of his life at the moment and did well on corbet when switched in the league final.. Mahon the more long term solution though you have to remember he did well against Kilkenny for an hour last year is only 22 and was outstanding for the u21s last year like Skehill mistakes will be ironed out with game time but thats only any good if he is in that position..... Center Back picks itself... You have a number of choices for wing backs DAVID FORDE NOT BEING ONE OF THEM Keary, Kavanagh, Mahon, Cullinane etc.. have your pick. Midfield would pick itself if Hynes was fit (Hynes and Healy as good as any pairing) Niall Healy and aln kerins on the wings and then Center Forward I havent a clue.. Donnelan not the answer anyway but agin you could put anyone in it DAVID FORDE NOT BEING ONE OF THEM.. Healy wasnt too bad when he was in it for the league and Hynes scored 2 points off Mahony when he went in it but then ideally you wud want them midfield and Niall healy was excellent aginst Kilkenny when he played there.. Tanian maybe but probly not.. Canning full forward Hayes one corner and then take your pick out of Cullinane callnan farragher wade tanian
My team then with the players that are fit is: Ideal team
Skehill Skehill

OC OC
Mahon Mahon
Moore Moore

Kavangh Kavanagh
Lee Lee
Keary Keary

Cullinane Culliane
Healy Healy

Tanian Healy
N Healy Hynes
Kerins Kerins

Hayes Hayes
JC JC
Farragher Farragher

john3_7 (Galway) - Posts: 15 - 15/07/2008 13:53:16    48720

any consideration for ciaran o'donovan of athenry at full back , has been very solid in all group games this year , good in air and consistant player better option than conor dervan and david forde. prob too late this year tho !!!

gaa gal (Galway) - Posts: 20 - 15/07/2008 15:54:53    48873

John3_7. I think you may be holding up that yellow sign for too long

Your current and ideal team seem at odds with your comments.

I thought Mahon was just coming back from injury. Has he played in challenge games recently.

Niall Healy for Centre Forward? Is he not too light

Other than that I agree with your team

Will Kerins have recovered from the concussion

Spudsareboilin (Galway) - Posts: 46 - 15/07/2008 18:46:36    48975

any consideration for ciaran o'donovan of athenry at full back , has been very solid in all group games this year , good in air and consistant player better option than conor dervan and david forde. prob too late this year tho !!!

If you are using club form as your guide then Alan Leech is the answer. Has been full back in all four group games Kinvara played and they have not conceded a single goal in any of them.

Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 941 - 15/07/2008 19:33:30    48993

Ok this is my Galway team....

Shehill

Joye, Dervan, Canning

Kavanagh, Lee, Cullinane

Alam Keirns, Fergal Healy

Farragher, "Chunky Hayes", Tannian

Damian Hayes, Niall Healy, Canning

hoganstand10 (Galway) - Posts: 40 - 15/07/2008 23:01:50    49071

That team would be close enough hoganstand10. I take it your view is that Moore will be missing?

nailhimstones (Galway) - Posts: 114 - 16/07/2008 09:13:35    49158

Hoganstand that halfforward line is too slow. Farragher and Tannian would be eaten alive by O'Hailpin and Gardiner. Not sure if Chunky has all the skill required for CF but there are no other outstanding options a tthe moment. Smith, Kerins or Niall Healy should probably be the wing forwards.

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 16/07/2008 12:23:12    49438

When was farragher ever eaten alive my O'hailpin, he is one of our most consistant forwards. Did you watch the league semi final this year

burst him (Galway) - Posts: 22 - 17/07/2008 00:05:00    50030

Team Loughnane will probably pick.
Skehill

O.Canning Forde Joyce
Kavanagh Lee Cullinane

Smyth F.Healy

Farragher J.Canning N.Healy
Wade Tannian Hayes

Clash-of-da-ash (Galway) - Posts: 927 - 17/07/2008 12:58:05    50348