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Galway Hurling thread

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "You can throw the 2001 Munster Final. A blatant free in ignored for Limerick, at the death with the teams level, when David Kennedy lay down on the the ball and Tipp got a point from the 'free out'."
I don't know anything about the munster final but tipp fully deserved to win the semi final and final that year,, much as I wanted galway to win.

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1796 - 30/05/2024 20:08:14    2548473

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Replying To Galway9801:  "I don't know anything about the munster final but tipp fully deserved to win the semi final and final that year,, much as I wanted galway to win."
In the drawn game v Wexford, Paul Codd, probably the best dead ball striker in the game of that era was alone sixty yards out, when Pat O'Connor blew the Final Whistle. Tipp were very lucky indeed that day.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4364 - 30/05/2024 20:56:04    2548479

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Replying To Galway9801:  "I don't know anything about the munster final but tipp fully deserved to win the semi final and final that year,, much as I wanted galway to win."
That's only your opinion. It's not a fact. A lot of Galway fans found referee O'Connor to be problematic, including Alan Kerins I noted, in his recent Laochra Gael release.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3589 - 30/05/2024 21:15:39    2548482

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Replying To CillTormoir:  "I do always look at ex players and managers and those that spend their time on platforms giving opinions. Would ya go way and coach your u8 team rather than that tripe"
Maybe he is doing both? Do we know that he isn't coaching an underage side?

Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 882 - 31/05/2024 06:21:44    2548503

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "That's only your opinion. It's not a fact. A lot of Galway fans found referee O'Connor to be problematic, including Alan Kerins I noted, in his recent Laochra Gael release."
I'll never shake the feeling of frustration with the referee when I think back to that day. Admittedly we didn't help ourselves on the day. I wouldn't be first in the queue when it comes to blaming referees for defeats as it's often a bit of a copout but while balanced incompetence (for want of a better word though it's a harsh term) is tolerable, bias isn't, and often it's based on 'small calls' and a gut feeling rather than any one large incident. My overwhelming impression of that day was that a lot of the calls the referee had to make went in Tipperary's favour. Though as I said, on the day we could have done better also.

Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 882 - 31/05/2024 06:28:02    2548504

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Replying To tommy k:  "His record at U20 level left a lot to be desired which in fairness he did admit to in the interview also. I would agree with him re S&C from a young age and selection / development of tall, strong, pacy players is now the way to go now ala Cork, Limerick, Dublin etc."
I would say the more likely problem is that at minor you can move players around and play them 'out of position' and fill gaps because players are 'too good to leave out'

Then that player gets pigeonholed in a position he isn't used to or necessarily comfortable in but his raw ability will get him through any issues at minor.

That won't happen at U20, if you're a novice corner back up against an 'experienced' corner forward for example, raw 'talent' won't cut the mustard against an experienced specialist.

Perhaps the issue lies in assuming that all players on a minor winning team are played in their best positions instead of taking that competition for what it is, a collection of players selected to try to win then not relying on selection decisions made at U17 when it comes to U20 and perhaps look at where the player has played historically for school and club (though your club will play the best players in a position of need due to resources)

None of this is to criticise Lynskey or any other successful minor managers btw, it's just a theory.

Lynskey himself wasn't averse to finding new homes for the likes of TJ Brennan and Seán Neary in his time over the U20's, I doubt Neary ever played at 11 before he togged there for the Galway U20's, hardly a surprise that he didn't make a lasting impression in the role.

Hopefully with our recent entry into Leinster at minor and the additional games we are playing we will get a better idea of players who are likely to be capable of making the step up. We are facing into a 5th game this year on Monday next in the AIQF and IMO this is better than playing three matches in a season and winning the competition outright. We have won and lost games this year so it's much easier to determine the quality of individuals as well as the team overall. We are statistically likely to get maybe 3 players max from any given year at minor and this applies whether the team wins the competition or loses every game they play. We don't need 'successful teams': what we need are high calibre individuals who look capable of performing at IC level as they move on from minor.

That's how we are going to turn the ship around, there is no other way, it will be down to producing players capable of playing at the highest level and all the thinking has to be with this in mind. To be fair the soundbites are all on that same page from U20 management to minor management to the CB who pushed for access to Leinster in the first place.

Stool Pigeon (Galway) - Posts: 882 - 31/05/2024 07:06:37    2548506

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Replying To Oldtourman:  "In the drawn game v Wexford, Paul Codd, probably the best dead ball striker in the game of that era was alone sixty yards out, when Pat O'Connor blew the Final Whistle. Tipp were very lucky indeed that day."
100%

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 2873 - 31/05/2024 08:02:51    2548508

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Replying To Crashingwaves:  "They won so many that it became an embarrassment to the rest of Leinster."
In 2008 they'd only won 4 in a row. The same as now.

They were dominating everyone at that time not just Leinster.

I remember the quarter final in 07 . Loughnannes Galway were excellent. Threw everything at them. Neck and neck at 60 minutes then Eddie Brennan tore it apart. Lost by 10 I think. The margin as us in the semi two weeks later after we'd beaten Tipp. In John Meylers era we beat everyone except Kilkenny between 07/08.

I developed a major soft spot for Galway that day. Supporters were fantastic and didn't have any chips on their shoulders.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 2873 - 31/05/2024 08:09:24    2548509

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Replying To jobber:  "Not an ounce of bitterness just amazement at Galway "supporters" whinging at Leinster referees.We dont here Antrim supporters doing it hence they dont get the constructive criticism.Face facts Galway nearly always are on paper All Ireland contenders and nearly always fail.
Whats wearisome is the annual nature of it."
The plain fact of the matter is that Galway have been one of the best teams in the country for the last decade or so, and Limerick have eaten every counties lunch for the last 7 or so of those years.

There are no contenders for the last 4or5 seasons, there is only Limerick. So don't be fillin your headeen with 'contender' talk you're hearing somewhere, and then ****** on the tent of those 'contenders', when they inevitably don't win out v Limerick.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3589 - 31/05/2024 10:18:49    2548523

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "The plain fact of the matter is that Galway have been one of the best teams in the country for the last decade or so, and Limerick have eaten every counties lunch for the last 7 or so of those years.

There are no contenders for the last 4or5 seasons, there is only Limerick. So don't be fillin your headeen with 'contender' talk you're hearing somewhere, and then ****** on the tent of those 'contenders', when they inevitably don't win out v Limerick."
Totally agree, I am more upset about Galway's performance in Leinster Finals than any of the game they've lost to Limerick

Kinvara (Galway) - Posts: 150 - 31/05/2024 11:43:04    2548540

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Henry spent his playing career combining playing matches and trying to referee them as well. He's one to talk about influencing refs.

gahfan (Wexford) - Posts: 638 - 31/05/2024 11:46:45    2548543

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "In 2008 they'd only won 4 in a row. The same as now.

They were dominating everyone at that time not just Leinster.

I remember the quarter final in 07 . Loughnannes Galway were excellent. Threw everything at them. Neck and neck at 60 minutes then Eddie Brennan tore it apart. Lost by 10 I think. The margin as us in the semi two weeks later after we'd beaten Tipp. In John Meylers era we beat everyone except Kilkenny between 07/08.

I developed a major soft spot for Galway that day. Supporters were fantastic and didn't have any chips on their shoulders."
That game hinged perhaps on the break of a ball, later in the match, when the scores were level, IIRC. A spilled ball nearly broke to Damien Hayes who would have been through on goal, only for Noel Hickey stuck out a leg at the last moment and diverted it away.

Triffic (Galway) - Posts: 132 - 31/05/2024 12:15:46    2548551

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Replying To gahfan:  "Henry spent his playing career combining playing matches and trying to referee them as well. He's one to talk about influencing refs."
He learned from the best of them, Brian Cody. Davy Fitz and John Kiely are a close second and third.

Crashingwaves (Galway) - Posts: 19 - 31/05/2024 12:27:42    2548554

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Replying To jobber:  "Not an ounce of bitterness just amazement at Galway "supporters" whinging at Leinster referees.We dont here Antrim supporters doing it hence they dont get the constructive criticism.Face facts Galway nearly always are on paper All Ireland contenders and nearly always fail.
Whats wearisome is the annual nature of it."
Yes well at least you have the huge comfort of knowing Westmeath supporters as well as non Westmeath supporters don't have any expectations of winning anything of note and they never disappoint in that regard in fairness to them -
hence ye never "whinge at Leinster referees" and it's never "wearisome" for ye poor auld craythurs! lol

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3463 - 31/05/2024 13:26:49    2548566

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Replying To tommy k:  "Yes well at least you have the huge comfort of knowing Westmeath supporters as well as non Westmeath supporters don't have any expectations of winning anything of note and they never disappoint in that regard in fairness to them -
hence ye never "whinge at Leinster referees" and it's never "wearisome" for ye poor auld craythurs! lol"
We have plenty of expectations but less likely to look to blame external factors when we underachieve.
As my 12 year old would say, that won't get you anywhere Daddy!

Ban (Westmeath) - Posts: 1441 - 31/05/2024 14:13:46    2548571

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Replying To Triffic:  "That game hinged perhaps on the break of a ball, later in the match, when the scores were level, IIRC. A spilled ball nearly broke to Damien Hayes who would have been through on goal, only for Noel Hickey stuck out a leg at the last moment and diverted it away."
That was the day Eddie Brennan was 20 yards 'offside' for the initial late dam burst. Oh s***, there's no offside in hurling sure!!

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3589 - 31/05/2024 15:03:51    2548581

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Replying To thecut:  "I wouldn't be calling O Shea an outsider. He has lived and worked with galway hurling fir years at different levels be it with his club salthill and recently at County level.

Ge would be ideal for the job"
His son plays here too, he's effectively a galwayman at this stage albeit one with a deep connection and love of tipperary hurling.

I'm not sure about him as manager tho,, I've read Paidí Maher, Brendan Cummins and Lar Corbetts books and they all loved him and spoke unbelievably highly of him as a COACH. He was involved in 2 tipp all Ireland wins during the 2010s both as coach,, id defenitely keep him in the management team if he's interested but not as the actual manager. Different job.

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1796 - 01/06/2024 14:36:26    2548686

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Replying To Galway9801:  "His son plays here too, he's effectively a galwayman at this stage albeit one with a deep connection and love of tipperary hurling.

I'm not sure about him as manager tho,, I've read Paidí Maher, Brendan Cummins and Lar Corbetts books and they all loved him and spoke unbelievably highly of him as a COACH. He was involved in 2 tipp all Ireland wins during the 2010s both as coach,, id defenitely keep him in the management team if he's interested but not as the actual manager. Different job."
Rossiter gave an interesting interview to the Wexford hurling pod where he said that being a modern intercounty manager involves very little if any actual coaching.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 12742 - 01/06/2024 15:11:33    2548692

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Replying To Viking66:  "Rossiter gave an interesting interview to the Wexford hurling pod where he said that being a modern intercounty manager involves very little if any actual coaching."
Yeah I've never been involved in a backroom team but a coach I assume organises drills, keeps the players fresh, helps work on skills, weaknesses they might have etc

A manager is probably a bit more stand offish,picks the team, drops players, gives them a kick up the backside, disciplines them etc decides tactics (although a coach might have input there).

Not sure tho, it's probably slightly different with every team

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1796 - 01/06/2024 20:57:25    2548757

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Much has been said about last weekend's result and how we got there: the sending off, the wind, the referee. I've even heard people blaming Supermac's and the punditry (or lack thereof) on GalwayBayFM. However, it's fair to say that this team has been on a steep downward trajectory since Kevin Cooney missed that goal chance that would have put us nine points ahead in last year's All-Ireland semifinal. Apart from the first 20 minutes against Kilkenny, our performances all year lacked structure and any kind of a plan. It was no surprise that we limped out of the championship the way we did.
Our skill level, pace, strength, energy, and tactical awareness for this standard of hurling were lacking across every line of the field in every game this year, whether in the league or championship. Explaining such a fall-off is difficult, as the fitness, application, and desire seem to be there. Embedding a new coaching philosophy may have been more challenging than originally anticipated. Once Plan A failed, there didn't seem to be any alternative tactics, which was evident in all our games this year.
Moving forward, it's hard to see the current management team staying on, as getting Galway competitive again has turned into a long-term project, which wasn't their original vision. What the county board decides to do next will have huge ramifications for Galway hurling in the years to come, given the significant structural issues in the setup and approach of our flagship team. In addition to having a management team in place, we also need to start developing and strengthening the talent coming through.
As we enter a new era, players like Daithi Burke, the Mannions, and Conor Whelan may still have a lot to offer Galway during this period of transition.

Galway4ever (Galway) - Posts: 216 - 01/06/2024 21:24:33    2548774

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