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Galway Hurling thread

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Replying To Trump2020:  "While I agree with you I'd say it's mostly St Thomas's fault as they were fairly lackluster so far up until the Sarsfields match. While they won most of their matches they didn't dominate teams. I think you will see the REAL St Thomas's team in the County Final and beyond. And Ballygunner hammering the Tipp champions was very impressive and shows they are hungry for more."
I have to agree with you...although it's great to have East Galway represented in the Co.Final with Loughrea....I can only see a St. Thomas' win by 5 or 6pts.
Outside of sarsfields Loughrea are the most disliked Club in East Galway.....95% of East Galway Clubs would prefer the South Galway men from St. Thomas' to win!!
In my view I want to see 5 in a row

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2481 - 07/11/2022 12:37:36    2446736

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Replying To SixtiesKid:  "Did you have a flutter?"
I didnt. some may recall i tipped Loughrea a few months back for Galway. Whilst i will try not to go back on my word i was very, very, VERY, impressed with Toms at weekend. Such a well spread out team and 6 forwards to do damage. passing/movement/workrate. Most other clubs limited to 2/3 forwards. Loughrea werent impressive yesterday against a team that had 1 scorer. Anything can happen in 2 weeks, wet day, wind, pitch gone to **** at HT. All that will suit Loughrea to turn it into an arm wrestle. Same conditions as 2012 youd expect. Wont be a classic id say but should be intriguing final. Expect a few different colors of cards on the day also!!!!!

CillTormoir (Galway) - Posts: 499 - 07/11/2022 12:52:45    2446738

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Replying To CillTormoir:  "I didnt. some may recall i tipped Loughrea a few months back for Galway. Whilst i will try not to go back on my word i was very, very, VERY, impressed with Toms at weekend. Such a well spread out team and 6 forwards to do damage. passing/movement/workrate. Most other clubs limited to 2/3 forwards. Loughrea werent impressive yesterday against a team that had 1 scorer. Anything can happen in 2 weeks, wet day, wind, pitch gone to **** at HT. All that will suit Loughrea to turn it into an arm wrestle. Same conditions as 2012 youd expect. Wont be a classic id say but should be intriguing final. Expect a few different colors of cards on the day also!!!!!"
While St Thomas were very good
Sarsfields were poor enough
A lot of their forwards didnt perfrom on the day
Loughrea very stroing in defence
St Thomas will find it hard going against them
Jamie Ryan Loughrea the most exciting player in Championship

rhudson (Galway) - Posts: 1478 - 07/11/2022 13:28:31    2446744

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Replying To CillTormoir:  "I didnt. some may recall i tipped Loughrea a few months back for Galway. Whilst i will try not to go back on my word i was very, very, VERY, impressed with Toms at weekend. Such a well spread out team and 6 forwards to do damage. passing/movement/workrate. Most other clubs limited to 2/3 forwards. Loughrea werent impressive yesterday against a team that had 1 scorer. Anything can happen in 2 weeks, wet day, wind, pitch gone to **** at HT. All that will suit Loughrea to turn it into an arm wrestle. Same conditions as 2012 youd expect. Wont be a classic id say but should be intriguing final. Expect a few different colors of cards on the day also!!!!!"
St.Thomas' the drive for 5!
I must say I'm really impressed with Thomas' this year as I didn't fancy them to win the Cup....actually fancied Cappy to ambush them in the Quarter Finals but winning is a habit and they definitely know how to get the job done!

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2481 - 07/11/2022 13:33:44    2446745

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Replying To katser:  "I have to agree with you...although it's great to have East Galway represented in the Co.Final with Loughrea....I can only see a St. Thomas' win by 5 or 6pts.
Outside of sarsfields Loughrea are the most disliked Club in East Galway.....95% of East Galway Clubs would prefer the South Galway men from St. Thomas' to win!!
In my view I want to see 5 in a row"
Think you're overplaying that south/east thing a lot. Loughrea and Thomas's are neighboring parish, with half the thomass team going to school in Loughrea (other half to Gort) David Burke and Johnny Coen both teahers in Brigids. It's a derby game. Don't think anyone really cares about that east south thing anyways.

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 286 - 07/11/2022 13:46:24    2446746

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Anyone at the games yesterday could have had their houses on St Thomas / Loughrea victories at HT.

On a day when the " toss" took on hugely significant importance & if the team against the elements in the first half had managed to go in at HT without too much damage - 99/100 they would win.

Don't know what the long range forecast is but anyone that thinks that Pearse Stadium is the ideal location for our showpiece club game is deluded .

TownLad09 (Galway) - Posts: 20 - 07/11/2022 14:01:02    2446749

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Replying To katser:  "St.Thomas' the drive for 5!
I must say I'm really impressed with Thomas' this year as I didn't fancy them to win the Cup....actually fancied Cappy to ambush them in the Quarter Finals but winning is a habit and they definitely know how to get the job done!"
Cant see a date for AI Semi ? is it this side of Xmas or Jan? I know its v Ulster this year as read somewhere before

CillTormoir (Galway) - Posts: 499 - 07/11/2022 14:36:20    2446755

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Replying To rhudson:  "While St Thomas were very good
Sarsfields were poor enough
A lot of their forwards didnt perfrom on the day
Loughrea very stroing in defence
St Thomas will find it hard going against them
Jamie Ryan Loughrea the most exciting player in Championship"
I think SARS forwards didn't perform because they were out hurled not because they had a bad day. The bridge weren't let hurl either town backs are solid but I dont think they have come up against 6 scoring forwards this year in the championship if ryan is allowed hes dangerous McManus looks very good inside but Tom's have a pretty good defensive system also. It's going to be interesting.

SupermanSub (Galway) - Posts: 36 - 07/11/2022 15:43:51    2446763

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Replying To katser:  "I have to agree with you...although it's great to have East Galway represented in the Co.Final with Loughrea....I can only see a St. Thomas' win by 5 or 6pts.
Outside of sarsfields Loughrea are the most disliked Club in East Galway.....95% of East Galway Clubs would prefer the South Galway men from St. Thomas' to win!!
In my view I want to see 5 in a row"
While I'd prefer St Thomas's to win I'd mostly like whoever can go the furthest of the two teams. Hopefully no major injuries from either team.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2282 - 07/11/2022 18:24:53    2446793

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Replying To Trump2020:  "While I'd prefer St Thomas's to win I'd mostly like whoever can go the furthest of the two teams. Hopefully no major injuries from either team."
What we could witness from St.Thomas' should they win is extremely rare.......to achieve 5 in a row hasn't been done since Turlough won 6 in a row in the 1960's!!

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2481 - 07/11/2022 21:09:04    2446812

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Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "Think you're overplaying that south/east thing a lot. Loughrea and Thomas's are neighboring parish, with half the thomass team going to school in Loughrea (other half to Gort) David Burke and Johnny Coen both teahers in Brigids. It's a derby game. Don't think anyone really cares about that east south thing anyways."
It's probably majority of St. Thomas' we're educated in Loughrea with a pocket of the Peterswell lads going to Gort.
The Loughrea Collages would draw their players from St.Thomas', Kilconeiron, sarsfields, Mullagh, Cappataggle, Tynagh Abbey-Duniry, Kilnadeema-Leitrim,Craughwell, Killimordaly.
Remember 1995 the only Town in Ireland to win both All Ireland Schools Senior Hurling Finals St. Raphaels College and St. Brigids Vocational School.

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2481 - 07/11/2022 21:23:56    2446817

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Replying To katser:  "I have to agree with you...although it's great to have East Galway represented in the Co.Final with Loughrea....I can only see a St. Thomas' win by 5 or 6pts.
Outside of sarsfields Loughrea are the most disliked Club in East Galway.....95% of East Galway Clubs would prefer the South Galway men from St. Thomas' to win!!
In my view I want to see 5 in a row"
You're some boyo! So as well as Limerick hurlers you hate Loughrea and Sarsfields hurlers! (And why Sarsfields, a small rural club with a small pick who produce so many quality hurlers and are punching way above where they should be given their size.)
You're very deluded if you think Cappy had even the remotest chance of beating Thomas's this year. All of the other 6 quarter finalists would have beaten Cappy this year with the possible exception of Portumna.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1968 - 08/11/2022 12:05:11    2446855

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Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "You're some boyo! So as well as Limerick hurlers you hate Loughrea and Sarsfields hurlers! (And why Sarsfields, a small rural club with a small pick who produce so many quality hurlers and are punching way above where they should be given their size.)
You're very deluded if you think Cappy had even the remotest chance of beating Thomas's this year. All of the other 6 quarter finalists would have beaten Cappy this year with the possible exception of Portumna."
Well all the pundits were thinking the same as I....in that there was a possibility of an upset in the Cappy v Thomas' game and infairness even though Cappy didn't play to the best of their ability and missed alot of scores it was the late goal from Thomas' that put daylight between them 1-19 to 0-16 that game was in the melting pot up until few minutes from the end unlike sarsfields who were bet once the 2nd half started.

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2481 - 08/11/2022 13:48:33    2446879

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Replying To katser:  "Well all the pundits were thinking the same as I....in that there was a possibility of an upset in the Cappy v Thomas' game and infairness even though Cappy didn't play to the best of their ability and missed alot of scores it was the late goal from Thomas' that put daylight between them 1-19 to 0-16 that game was in the melting pot up until few minutes from the end unlike sarsfields who were bet once the 2nd half started."
Cappy haven't played to their best in a couple of years now. The team that got to 4 semis in a row isn't what it was at all and even last years defeat to Gort showed that, I don't think too many gave them a chance and it's rare on local media you'll hear someone completely say 100% their going to loose without sounding insulting, just not the style, but anyone following the championship would said Thomas's all day long and it was a very comfortable game, bordering on boring, win for Thomas's. Kinda like last years final, even if the score makes it look like it was close in reality it just wasn't, Thomas's don't need to get out of third gear for a lot of teams in galway. Two best teams this year are in the final now. Thomas's 100% in county finals is another amazing stat and don't see that ending.

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 286 - 08/11/2022 15:04:33    2446883

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Cappy are like Turlough light. All hype, but when it comes to it they dont have the bottle. never had. Shur how many years did it take them to come out of intermediate.
If thomass win or lose sunday they are still for me the best of all Galway teams of the past 30 years. and there has been some gems between Athenry Sarfields and Portumna.

clare_sparrow (Galway) - Posts: 441 - 09/11/2022 16:20:06    2447001

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Replying To clare_sparrow:  "Cappy are like Turlough light. All hype, but when it comes to it they dont have the bottle. never had. Shur how many years did it take them to come out of intermediate.
If thomass win or lose sunday they are still for me the best of all Galway teams of the past 30 years. and there has been some gems between Athenry Sarfields and Portumna."
You'd really have them above all of those sides? Thats a fairly big statement for me!

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 09/11/2022 16:56:26    2447005

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Replying To tiobraid:  "You'd really have them above all of those sides? Thats a fairly big statement for me!"
If they add a second all Ireland and have a 5 in row under their belts, it'd be a fair CV to have. If they beat Ballyhale as I think is the most likely opponent in the ll ireland final it'd be an unbelievable achievement. It's hard compare generations but 4 all Ireland's for Portumna and 3 for Athenry is hard beat especially when the teams they played were no soft touches either e.g Ballyhale, Birr, etc. I do think it is harder win the all Ireland now with the level of clubs like Ballyhale, Ballygunner, Thomas's and Na Piarsaigh. If they won another club all Ireland I'd have them ranked higher than Sarsfields but still behind Athenry and Portumna. Portumna are up there for the greatest club team of all time. When it comes to Galway championship, none of them can eclipse Thomas's and that is a fair achievement in a county like galway when no one dominates for too long (the fact that only two clubs have more than 10 county titles Ardrahan and Castlegar shows this) Conor Cooney is probably the best club hurler I've seen in galway though, people can say whatever about him for galway but I've never seen a man to dominate a club championship like him, especially county finals, he has man of the match in 3 or 4 of them.

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 286 - 09/11/2022 17:49:49    2447010

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Replying To clare_sparrow:  "Cappy are like Turlough light. All hype, but when it comes to it they dont have the bottle. never had. Shur how many years did it take them to come out of intermediate.
If thomass win or lose sunday they are still for me the best of all Galway teams of the past 30 years. and there has been some gems between Athenry Sarfields and Portumna."
I'd have Portumna at their peak as the best we've produced, but of course it's completely subjective. The beating they gave Ballyhale in the All-Ireland semi on their way to winning 2 in a row and a 3rd in 4 years, was extremely impressive. They went on to hammer De La Salle in the final.
Joe Canning and Damien Hayes were a lethal combination at the time.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2223 - 09/11/2022 17:52:50    2447011

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "I'd have Portumna at their peak as the best we've produced, but of course it's completely subjective. The beating they gave Ballyhale in the All-Ireland semi on their way to winning 2 in a row and a 3rd in 4 years, was extremely impressive. They went on to hammer De La Salle in the final.
Joe Canning and Damien Hayes were a lethal combination at the time."
Its a double-edged question isnt it, surely the team with most AIs should be called Galways best, and on the other hand any team going for 5 in a row of galway titles should be called Galways best as it hasnt been done in so long. I think Als will always overshadow this question but for me I would fancy St Toms in their peak v Portumna at theirs, so its Toms for me

CillTormoir (Galway) - Posts: 499 - 10/11/2022 12:04:44    2447077

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Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "If they add a second all Ireland and have a 5 in row under their belts, it'd be a fair CV to have. If they beat Ballyhale as I think is the most likely opponent in the ll ireland final it'd be an unbelievable achievement. It's hard compare generations but 4 all Ireland's for Portumna and 3 for Athenry is hard beat especially when the teams they played were no soft touches either e.g Ballyhale, Birr, etc. I do think it is harder win the all Ireland now with the level of clubs like Ballyhale, Ballygunner, Thomas's and Na Piarsaigh. If they won another club all Ireland I'd have them ranked higher than Sarsfields but still behind Athenry and Portumna. Portumna are up there for the greatest club team of all time. When it comes to Galway championship, none of them can eclipse Thomas's and that is a fair achievement in a county like galway when no one dominates for too long (the fact that only two clubs have more than 10 county titles Ardrahan and Castlegar shows this) Conor Cooney is probably the best club hurler I've seen in galway though, people can say whatever about him for galway but I've never seen a man to dominate a club championship like him, especially county finals, he has man of the match in 3 or 4 of them."
Its very subjective and Galway posters have obviously seen a lot more Galway club hurling than I have. Its absolutely no disrepect meant to Thomas' but I couldnt say they come close to Portumna in terms of greatness but who am I to judge. The All Ireland club chsip has more strong teams than ever before arguably.
Its impossible to judge different eras tho - and I think this is a different era.

In every sport I often ask the question if a team/individual's dominance is down to their brilliance alone or the fact the oppositions are all below par. Its often a combination of the two in my opinion. Personally, I have felt that maybe St Thomas have benefited from other clubs not being quite as good as previously - albeit they are an exceptional team too.

Galway club hurling is the most unique competition I've ever seen in that teams dominate for a period and then disappear and are replaced by another at the top. The Galway club hurling Roll of Honour is unreal to look at. If only more sporting competitions could be like it.

tiobraid (Tipperary) - Posts: 4119 - 10/11/2022 16:27:06    2447114

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