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I wonder if there is a way for the county board to boost the low attendance we saw at the football semi finals on Sunday, the same number of patrons would have been lost in Pearse Stadium.I recognise that Tuam Stadium is very dilapidated at the moment even with the new stand with its excessively high cantilever roof which offers very limited protection from the elements. It looks a bit like a scare crow wearing a new coat with the price tags still attached, nice but not very appropriate. I fear that the authorities could at any moment decide that having stewards trying to safely keep patrons away from dangerous areas, especially young children is not satisfactory. The lack of comfort and very limited of toilet facilities do not help to entice attendance.I for one is seriously considering whether I would miss a county final for first time in almost 20 years.I don't have a club allegiance with any of the four finalists this year but I hope to be in Athenry for the hurling final, as for the football final tending towards passing on it this year.

backtooldwall (Galway) - Posts: 133 - 16/10/2024 13:19:16    2575287

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Replying To backtooldwall:  "I wonder if there is a way for the county board to boost the low attendance we saw at the football semi finals on Sunday, the same number of patrons would have been lost in Pearse Stadium.I recognise that Tuam Stadium is very dilapidated at the moment even with the new stand with its excessively high cantilever roof which offers very limited protection from the elements. It looks a bit like a scare crow wearing a new coat with the price tags still attached, nice but not very appropriate. I fear that the authorities could at any moment decide that having stewards trying to safely keep patrons away from dangerous areas, especially young children is not satisfactory. The lack of comfort and very limited of toilet facilities do not help to entice attendance.I for one is seriously considering whether I would miss a county final for first time in almost 20 years.I don't have a club allegiance with any of the four finalists this year but I hope to be in Athenry for the hurling final, as for the football final tending towards passing on it this year."
Standards-wise, there's really little in the difference between Tuam and Athenry. Stand in Athenry may offer more shelter but is lower and more cramped. Tuam can host a larger attendance and isn't as tight a pitch. Toilet facilities no worse than Athenry surely.

Triffic (Galway) - Posts: 157 - 16/10/2024 13:54:50    2575295

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Replying To backtooldwall:  "I wonder if there is a way for the county board to boost the low attendance we saw at the football semi finals on Sunday, the same number of patrons would have been lost in Pearse Stadium.I recognise that Tuam Stadium is very dilapidated at the moment even with the new stand with its excessively high cantilever roof which offers very limited protection from the elements. It looks a bit like a scare crow wearing a new coat with the price tags still attached, nice but not very appropriate. I fear that the authorities could at any moment decide that having stewards trying to safely keep patrons away from dangerous areas, especially young children is not satisfactory. The lack of comfort and very limited of toilet facilities do not help to entice attendance.I for one is seriously considering whether I would miss a county final for first time in almost 20 years.I don't have a club allegiance with any of the four finalists this year but I hope to be in Athenry for the hurling final, as for the football final tending towards passing on it this year."
Just wondering have you been to Tuam Stadium lately?
New stand, new terrace seating, new dressing rooms, new toilets ...

Belclare7 (Galway) - Posts: 109 - 16/10/2024 15:17:53    2575317

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Replying To Triffic:  "Standards-wise, there's really little in the difference between Tuam and Athenry. Stand in Athenry may offer more shelter but is lower and more cramped. Tuam can host a larger attendance and isn't as tight a pitch. Toilet facilities no worse than Athenry surely."
The standards of the pitches or stands have very little to do with attendance it's the fare on show that dictates attendance comparing football to hurling is like comparing chalk and cheese

minor77 (Galway) - Posts: 238 - 16/10/2024 15:41:30    2575323

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Replying To minor77:  "The standards of the pitches or stands have very little to do with attendance it's the fare on show that dictates attendance comparing football to hurling is like comparing chalk and cheese"
Also the fact it is possible to stream these matches must be having an effect on attendance

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1264 - 16/10/2024 16:33:02    2575335

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Replying To Belclare7:  "Just wondering have you been to Tuam Stadium lately?
New stand, new terrace seating, new dressing rooms, new toilets ..."
I hadn't been there for five or six years the last game I attended there was in inter county U 20 or maybe 21 game, it wasn't of a good standard then but I had been hearing and reading about the great new developments that had taken place there.Last Sunday I was looking forward to enjoying two good games in a nice new upgraded ground but I was greatly disappointed with what I encountered, it was like being sold an nice juicy apple only to find somebody else had already eaten a bite or two out it.The spectre of stewards trying to enforce a dangerous no go area does not fit my idea of a venue to showcase the top three games in our club championship. I'm sorry if you think that I'm asking for too much.

backtooldwall (Galway) - Posts: 133 - 16/10/2024 17:21:31    2575345

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Replying To anotheralias:  "Dont think its black and white as to how such a once powerful club like Griffin's slipped away. Lots of factors To my knowledge they had a wider base than just the inner city. I'm fairly sure that they pulled from Salthill area also. They were the caretakers of Pearse Stadium at one point ( might even have been their home ground, not sure) . Fr Griffin himself was from Rahoon. The great work done by the newly formed Salthill club in the 1970s definitely led to a situation whereby Griffin's were squeezed out of that catchment but they probably could have still pulled from that growing population ( Salthill Knocknacarra has the population to support 2 clubs) if they concentrated more at under age and less at pulling adult players from other clubs outside the city. But yes the evolving demographics of the inner city was also a factor as you have alluded to. I would say that Liam Mellowes were in the same boat but it didn't seem to impact them as much.
Just as an aside , what is Fr Griffin's catchment now? Is it just the old Eire Og catchment or does it include inner city, parts of Westside, Woodquay, Bohermore.. I always though that St Michaels extended in there and if thats the case was there ever a clear definition of what was Fr Griffin's catchment?"
You are correct mostly but Mellows built a pitch out in Ballyloughane in the 70s which moved the base of the club really. There aren't too many College Rd or Woodquay lads playing for Mellows now. I know Mervue Utd are currently dealing with this where there just aren't any young kids living in the area.
I

smallfrank (Galway) - Posts: 440 - 16/10/2024 17:46:33    2575352

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Oranmore Maree seriously impressive hammering Dunmore in the U19 A final. Dunmore haven't been bad at all. Just can't handle OM's combination of size, athleticism and footballing ability.

Dunmore get a goal to get it back to 5. And a point to get it back to 4. Gutsy stuff from Dunmore as they were 10 down at one stage.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2288 - 16/10/2024 20:59:15    2575391

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FT

Dunmore 2-14 Oranmore Maree 2-18

Dunmore can be very proud of their effort. Never gave up. Oranmore have some serious players. Big athletic lads. Harry Keady was unreal in midfield. Tremendous prospect.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2288 - 16/10/2024 21:06:29    2575393

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Only a matter of time before Oranmore are senior & competing. i dont think we will get past Michaels in the SF however this year.

Eire89 (Galway) - Posts: 299 - 17/10/2024 12:13:14    2575448

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Replying To Marooned:  "FT

Dunmore 2-14 Oranmore Maree 2-18

Dunmore can be very proud of their effort. Never gave up. Oranmore have some serious players. Big athletic lads. Harry Keady was unreal in midfield. Tremendous prospect."
Killannin were arguably even more impressive in the semi-final. They only lost to Oranmore by 1 point, and put up more scores (14 scores to 11, Oranmore's goals being the difference). Having lost a lot of their best players from the team which won the U19 county title last year, it's impressive that they were so close again this year.
It's great to see Dunmore competing at this level underage as well. It should give them great hope for the future.
Oranmore are in the minor semi-final too and will continue to compete for these titles. Like Claregalway, they have very large numbers and field 4 or 5 teams at some of the younger grades. They were in the minor A hurling final last weekend too.
You'd suspect it's only a matter of time before they're senior in football (could be after this year), but competing for senior titles is not an inevitability, as we've seen with Claregalway.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2187 - 17/10/2024 12:28:55    2575450

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "Killannin were arguably even more impressive in the semi-final. They only lost to Oranmore by 1 point, and put up more scores (14 scores to 11, Oranmore's goals being the difference). Having lost a lot of their best players from the team which won the U19 county title last year, it's impressive that they were so close again this year.
It's great to see Dunmore competing at this level underage as well. It should give them great hope for the future.
Oranmore are in the minor semi-final too and will continue to compete for these titles. Like Claregalway, they have very large numbers and field 4 or 5 teams at some of the younger grades. They were in the minor A hurling final last weekend too.
You'd suspect it's only a matter of time before they're senior in football (could be after this year), but competing for senior titles is not an inevitability, as we've seen with Claregalway."
Yes Oranmore Maree were very fortunate against Killanin as they themselves were in overcoming an understrength Moycullen side also by 1 point I believe, in a game that yielded 7 or 8 goals it is reported.Saying all that OM are the champions having being on the right side of results when they mattered.

backtooldwall (Galway) - Posts: 133 - 17/10/2024 12:52:08    2575457

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Replying To backtooldwall:  "Yes Oranmore Maree were very fortunate against Killanin as they themselves were in overcoming an understrength Moycullen side also by 1 point I believe, in a game that yielded 7 or 8 goals it is reported.Saying all that OM are the champions having being on the right side of results when they mattered."
Oranmore are definitely deserved winners. They were the most impressive team across the competition. I was just surprised by how well Killannin did against them in the west board final. Oranmore had given them a good beating in the group, as did Maigh Cuilinn.
It's a great achievement for a club which historically competes at lower grades in many age groups. To win it out last year and be very competitive again this year, with a group which had lost a good few of last year's team. That's very difficult for a club which doesn't tend to have huge numbers.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2187 - 17/10/2024 14:22:27    2575472

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Replying To backtooldwall:  "I hadn't been there for five or six years the last game I attended there was in inter county U 20 or maybe 21 game, it wasn't of a good standard then but I had been hearing and reading about the great new developments that had taken place there.Last Sunday I was looking forward to enjoying two good games in a nice new upgraded ground but I was greatly disappointed with what I encountered, it was like being sold an nice juicy apple only to find somebody else had already eaten a bite or two out it.The spectre of stewards trying to enforce a dangerous no go area does not fit my idea of a venue to showcase the top three games in our club championship. I'm sorry if you think that I'm asking for too much."
So what's in Athenry or anywhere else that is distinctly better?

Triffic (Galway) - Posts: 157 - 17/10/2024 15:12:21    2575483

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Replying To smallfrank:  "You are correct mostly but Mellows built a pitch out in Ballyloughane in the 70s which moved the base of the club really. There aren't too many College Rd or Woodquay lads playing for Mellows now. I know Mervue Utd are currently dealing with this where there just aren't any young kids living in the area.
I"
Good point about the Ballyloughane pitch , Franko. I hadnt realised that had happened that far back and probably saved them. Its logical that teams who set up facilities outside their own catchment end up either with an expanded or, at least, a different catchment area.
Hence the opposition to the proposed Salthill Knocknacarra facility.

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 953 - 17/10/2024 15:38:33    2575486

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "Killannin were arguably even more impressive in the semi-final. They only lost to Oranmore by 1 point, and put up more scores (14 scores to 11, Oranmore's goals being the difference). Having lost a lot of their best players from the team which won the U19 county title last year, it's impressive that they were so close again this year.
It's great to see Dunmore competing at this level underage as well. It should give them great hope for the future.
Oranmore are in the minor semi-final too and will continue to compete for these titles. Like Claregalway, they have very large numbers and field 4 or 5 teams at some of the younger grades. They were in the minor A hurling final last weekend too.
You'd suspect it's only a matter of time before they're senior in football (could be after this year), but competing for senior titles is not an inevitability, as we've seen with Claregalway."
Oranmore are in the Minor A Cup Final v Claregalway
Salthill/Knocknacarra play Barna in the Shield A Final

ref (Galway) - Posts: 251 - 17/10/2024 20:37:34    2575534

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Replying To Gearoid1998ffowaed:  "Is anyone going to the Connacht V Leinster game at the weekend ?"
Mayo might win the all Ireland with these rules. Aidan O'Shea kicking scores like he never kicked in a Mayo shirt. John Daly good enough for Connacht, not good enough for Galway. To add insult to injury, Conor Gleeson landed a 2pointer ground ball from exactly the spot where Walsh 'went short' in the all ireland final.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3857 - 18/10/2024 19:16:35    2575725

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If Dessie Dolan is going to be Cian O'Neill's replacement I hope he makes a better job of it than he did with Leinster.

Marooned (Galway) - Posts: 2288 - 18/10/2024 19:24:25    2575726

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "Mayo might win the all Ireland with these rules. Aidan O'Shea kicking scores like he never kicked in a Mayo shirt. John Daly good enough for Connacht, not good enough for Galway. To add insult to injury, Conor Gleeson landed a 2pointer ground ball from exactly the spot where Walsh 'went short' in the all ireland final."
Aidan O'Shea will be 35 next June. Has the ship not sailed for him and Mayo. Galway will have regrets about this year's All Ireland Final for many a long day.

endgame (Roscommon) - Posts: 2300 - 19/10/2024 09:27:12    2575777

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Replying To Marooned:  "If Dessie Dolan is going to be Cian O'Neill's replacement I hope he makes a better job of it than he did with Leinster."
I have heard the rumours circulating since August, I hope it is not true. He has no experience as a coach, he was a selector with Jack Cooney, Sherlock was the coach. He managed Westmeath and was player manager with Garrycastle, I am open to correction on this but that is what I understand.

I have heard Jayos name mentioned too, I would like that, along with Divilly

Jellybaby (Dublin) - Posts: 357 - 19/10/2024 13:26:27    2575812

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