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Galway Hurling thread

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Replying To Kickitout:  "In reality Galway have not had a really top class consistent team at the top of there game since 1985 to 1990 that was great period for Galway hurling and yes they definitely should have won 2 more finals but that bunch of players woukd hold there own in any era in my opinion,, at the moment well actually in last number of years Galway at best a top 5-8 side and I can't see much change coming ,, 5 all Ireland's in senior level in there history that is reality"
That Galway team of the late 80s was top class. They lost three finals, all of which they probably should have won. 1985 to Offaly, 86 and 90 to Cork who Galway have never beaten in a senior All Ireland hurling final. Galway of course won in 1987 and 1988. They lost the '89 semi final with Tony Keady suspended. That Galway team could conceivably have won 6 in a row. The half back line of Finnerty, Keady and McInerney must be the greatest ever.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2348 - 12/03/2025 20:45:34    2596146

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Replying To BostonGuy:  "
Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "[quote=BostonGuy:  "Galway had a one in a generation team between 2012 and 2018 that should have won more AIs. They were unfortunate to come up against KK towards the end of their reign and Limerick at the start of theirs. In the end we were a Joe Canning "wonder point" away from winning nothing. It's unfortunate but I would rate that generation as one of the best we have had. I would say management made some terrible decisions got the matchups wrong, made Walter Walsh a hero in KK, played an injured James Skehill and not starting Harte in one AI. I would say our mental game was not up to scratch either. The one thing we done right (after a player rebellion) was bring in MOD, who gained experience in Tipp and won an AI club, Thats why I think if we can gut and rebuild the academy, we may be able to give him the raw material he needs."
I think that is somewhat hyperbolic. A "once in a generation team between 2012 and 2018? Apart from the fact that there were some personnel changes during that period, in my opinion we also had some pretty ordinary players as regulars on the team thoughout most of the period also."
That team went to replays with KK in two AI's and where a last minute puck behind a Tipp team that hammered KK in a final and the best player in the land with Joe Canning is not a pedestrian team. They were as good as any of them in that period but mentally and strategically couldn't get over the line. That to me says more about the management than the players, MOD came in and got to 2 AIs , won one and was a whisker away from beating Limerick in the other. The team has been around since 2012 and needed a bit of refreshment but IMHO Limerick came along and changed the game dynamic so doubtful we could have caught them anyway. Limerick are now in the same phase Galway were, older players, lot of mileage and the pace and game has caught up to them. Any of 4 teams can win the AI this year and they are all in Munster."]Correlating Galways and Kilkennys 'level' on the basis of those sides performances versus Tipp, is a crooked false argument. The evidence of countless Leinster and allireland finals 2009-2025 suggests overwhelmingly that Galway would never have delivered an all Ireland win over KK as emphatically as Tipp did in 2016. KK won 11 all Irelands 2000-2015, and the Tipp '16 trouncing & Galway '17 all Ireland win notably did not occur until this KK 2000-2015 'era' was actually over.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4044 - 12/03/2025 21:42:25    2596156

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Replying To endgame:  "That Galway team of the late 80s was top class. They lost three finals, all of which they probably should have won. 1985 to Offaly, 86 and 90 to Cork who Galway have never beaten in a senior All Ireland hurling final. Galway of course won in 1987 and 1988. They lost the '89 semi final with Tony Keady suspended. That Galway team could conceivably have won 6 in a row. The half back line of Finnerty, Keady and McInerney must be the greatest ever."
Why is Galway never beating Cork in an allireland final a point of note, when Galway have also never beaten Clare, Dublin, Offaly or Wexford in this game. In fact Galway has only ever beaten 4 of the 31 counties of Ireland in an allireland hurling final.

The Galway team 1985-1990 played a total of 11 competitive championship games in those 6 seasons. The Galway team of 2018 played 8-10 competitive championship games in that one season of 2018. Big difference in schedule there.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4044 - 12/03/2025 22:01:52    2596161

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Replying To endgame:  "That Galway team of the late 80s was top class. They lost three finals, all of which they probably should have won. 1985 to Offaly, 86 and 90 to Cork who Galway have never beaten in a senior All Ireland hurling final. Galway of course won in 1987 and 1988. They lost the '89 semi final with Tony Keady suspended. That Galway team could conceivably have won 6 in a row. The half back line of Finnerty, Keady and McInerney must be the greatest ever."
You say that half backline must be the greatest ever........yet only one of them Finnerty made the Galway millennium team along with Silke and Clarke and all East Galway no 5,6 and 7 respectively.

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2531 - 12/03/2025 23:00:58    2596167

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "Why is Galway never beating Cork in an allireland final a point of note, when Galway have also never beaten Clare, Dublin, Offaly or Wexford in this game. In fact Galway has only ever beaten 4 of the 31 counties of Ireland in an allireland hurling final.

The Galway team 1985-1990 played a total of 11 competitive championship games in those 6 seasons. The Galway team of 2018 played 8-10 competitive championship games in that one season of 2018. Big difference in schedule there."
Stop talking sense, you know this is no place for that kinda carry-on!

The_DOC (Galway) - Posts: 752 - 13/03/2025 16:25:02    2596276

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "Why is Galway never beating Cork in an allireland final a point of note, when Galway have also never beaten Clare, Dublin, Offaly or Wexford in this game. In fact Galway has only ever beaten 4 of the 31 counties of Ireland in an allireland hurling final.

The Galway team 1985-1990 played a total of 11 competitive championship games in those 6 seasons. The Galway team of 2018 played 8-10 competitive championship games in that one season of 2018. Big difference in schedule there."
The only county we ever played in All hurling Ireland finals that we never beat was Kerry. And that's a record that's stood for over a hundred years, and the way we are both going at hurling it's one that's likely to stand for many more ;-)

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15252 - 13/03/2025 18:32:23    2596292

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With Limerick deciding to avoid a league final for their Munster championship preparation, Cork v Galway is now a league semi effectively. If Cork 'do a Limerick' next weekend to suit their championship prep, we'll be in the final.

The leagues have been farcical competitions in the context of trying to win them, since the championship was restructured into 'leagues'! Allianz will surely pull the plug on this soon. There's an advert on the airwaves trying to tell supporters 'it's time to rise again etc', and attend Allianz league games. No it's not time, that time is next month in the current scheduling arrangement.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4044 - 15/03/2025 18:16:48    2596550

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Replying To katser:  "You say that half backline must be the greatest ever........yet only one of them Finnerty made the Galway millennium team along with Silke and Clarke and all East Galway no 5,6 and 7 respectively."
The greatest ever I saw anyway. If there was better, they were good, very very good.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2348 - 15/03/2025 19:11:12    2596556

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "Why is Galway never beating Cork in an allireland final a point of note, when Galway have also never beaten Clare, Dublin, Offaly or Wexford in this game. In fact Galway has only ever beaten 4 of the 31 counties of Ireland in an allireland hurling final.

The Galway team 1985-1990 played a total of 11 competitive championship games in those 6 seasons. The Galway team of 2018 played 8-10 competitive championship games in that one season of 2018. Big difference in schedule there."
There are three traditional superpowers of hurling. Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary. Galway have beaten two of the three in All Ireland finals but never Cork. That's why it's a point of note. The other counties you mention have had occasional success but are not superpowers of the game of hurling.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2348 - 15/03/2025 19:19:05    2596560

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "With Limerick deciding to avoid a league final for their Munster championship preparation, Cork v Galway is now a league semi effectively. If Cork 'do a Limerick' next weekend to suit their championship prep, we'll be in the final.

The leagues have been farcical competitions in the context of trying to win them, since the championship was restructured into 'leagues'! Allianz will surely pull the plug on this soon. There's an advert on the airwaves trying to tell supporters 'it's time to rise again etc', and attend Allianz league games. No it's not time, that time is next month in the current scheduling arrangement."
Still wouldn't like how lost soke credit to kk though needed win for them no guarantee galway walk leonster now like some wer suggesting

Gaaforlife2023 (Longford) - Posts: 661 - 15/03/2025 20:35:12    2596593

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Replying To Gaaforlife2023:  "Still wouldn't like how lost soke credit to kk though needed win for them no guarantee galway walk leonster now like some wer suggesting"
soke yeah

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4044 - 15/03/2025 20:51:13    2596599

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So league semi Saturday night. What we thinking. Is it that foregone conclusion where you are playing for the respectful defeat or will it be one of those games every man hurls out of their skins and we progress to the final. As a supporter I want to be in the final just hope the usual "galway never plan to be there" wears thin. As supporters we are denied finals be it championship league or even walsh cup. Give us an extra day out, please.

CillTormoir (Galway) - Posts: 508 - 17/03/2025 15:09:15    2596907

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Replying To katser:  "You say that half backline must be the greatest ever........yet only one of them Finnerty made the Galway millennium team along with Silke and Clarke and all East Galway no 5,6 and 7 respectively."
Katser, can you please post/name that Galway team of the millennium on here?

I'd like to run my critical eye over it!

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2168 - 17/03/2025 16:48:08    2596921

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Very disappointing result for Pres Athenry. That one will hurt for a long time, given the position they were in with around 15 minutes left.
They're young lads, so they don't need the likes of me giving my two cents on what they could and should have done. Some poor decision making for sure, when cooler heads were needed.
Management could have been stronger at the end in a few key moments too. They also never got to grips with Thurles' running game through the middle, especially Rossitter who was outstanding.
Plenty talent in that Athenry team. It's an awful shame they couldn't get over the line.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2262 - 17/03/2025 17:40:46    2596924

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Replying To CillTormoir:  "So league semi Saturday night. What we thinking. Is it that foregone conclusion where you are playing for the respectful defeat or will it be one of those games every man hurls out of their skins and we progress to the final. As a supporter I want to be in the final just hope the usual "galway never plan to be there" wears thin. As supporters we are denied finals be it championship league or even walsh cup. Give us an extra day out, please."
You were in the Walsh Cup final last year. Maybe the last one ever.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15252 - 17/03/2025 19:27:17    2596936

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Replying To katser:  "You say that half backline must be the greatest ever........yet only one of them Finnerty made the Galway millennium team along with Silke and Clarke and all East Galway no 5,6 and 7 respectively."
In one swoop there is 5 great players that played the game. I never use the word greatest because it is unfair to all the greats. Different times etc. The enjoyment of watching these guys was something to behold.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2991 - 17/03/2025 22:45:28    2596962

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Replying To foreveryoung:  "Katser, can you please post/name that Galway team of the millennium on here?

I'd like to run my critical eye over it!"
Seanie Duggan from the 1940's/50's, Sylvie Linnane, Conor Hayes, Pete Finnerty,Iggy Clarke, Sean Silke,
Joe Salmon,Josie Gallagher, Paddy Gantley mainly from the40's/50's I think. Mick Derivan and Mick King from the 1920s.
Joe Cooney, John Connolly, Noel Lane, PJMolloy

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1997 - 18/03/2025 00:20:21    2596967

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Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "Seanie Duggan from the 1940's/50's, Sylvie Linnane, Conor Hayes, Pete Finnerty,Iggy Clarke, Sean Silke,
Joe Salmon,Josie Gallagher, Paddy Gantley mainly from the40's/50's I think. Mick Derivan and Mick King from the 1920s.
Joe Cooney, John Connolly, Noel Lane, PJMolloy"
Not a very good team, as Trump might say. Certainly not a team equipped for the modern lacrosse short passing run game that passes for hurling at county level these days. That's why they were the millennium team, I suppose.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4044 - 18/03/2025 10:29:36    2596987

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "Very disappointing result for Pres Athenry. That one will hurt for a long time, given the position they were in with around 15 minutes left.
They're young lads, so they don't need the likes of me giving my two cents on what they could and should have done. Some poor decision making for sure, when cooler heads were needed.
Management could have been stronger at the end in a few key moments too. They also never got to grips with Thurles' running game through the middle, especially Rossitter who was outstanding.
Plenty talent in that Athenry team. It's an awful shame they couldn't get over the line."
They blew it. 8 points up with 20 mins to go. Thurles outscored them 12 points to 3. Players seemed to be going for the MOM award. Midfield destroyed all game, puckouts very poor, only for Rabbitte they would have won none, despite that found themselves 8 points up.
Game mgmt was very bad , no changes outside of Niland until 59th min, Thurles not afraid to take off County minors.
Lads on radio saying this lad play for Senior county, it's a joke, all nice hurlers but no resilience, Thurles had in spades and played as a team.

WesternSeaBoard (Galway) - Posts: 143 - 18/03/2025 11:28:22    2597005

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "Very disappointing result for Pres Athenry. That one will hurt for a long time, given the position they were in with around 15 minutes left.
They're young lads, so they don't need the likes of me giving my two cents on what they could and should have done. Some poor decision making for sure, when cooler heads were needed.
Management could have been stronger at the end in a few key moments too. They also never got to grips with Thurles' running game through the middle, especially Rossitter who was outstanding.
Plenty talent in that Athenry team. It's an awful shame they couldn't get over the line."
Heartbreaking loss. Niland should have taken the sure point instead of going for a goal when they didn't need it. Just keep the scoreboard clicking which puts pressure on the trailing team with time ticking away. Golden opportunity wasted. Sigh.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2443 - 18/03/2025 16:16:05    2597099

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