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Galway Hurling thread

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Replying To tiobraid:  "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."
I agree with your post for the most part. Thomas's will have to win another All Ireland or two to be mentioned in the same breath as Portumna. I hope they achieve it.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2113 - 11/11/2022 07:58:56    2447141

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Replying To Trump2020:  "I agree with your post for the most part. Thomas's will have to win another All Ireland or two to be mentioned in the same breath as Portumna. I hope they achieve it."
While I wouldn't rank Thomas' higher than that Portumna team, it must also be noted that this Thomas' team are extremely unlucky to be meeting the greatness of Ballyhale in the AI stages over the last number of years. They would surely have another all ireland or two if it wasnt for that Ballyhale team.

GalwaysFinest (Galway) - Posts: 190 - 11/11/2022 10:00:18    2447151

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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."
I wonder was it 'extremely impressive? If it was really 'extremely impressive', they'd surely have been capable of repeating the dose a year later at the 2010 final, but instead Ballyhale beat them by 5 points, and thwarted the Portumna 3 in a row. Clarinbridge beat Portumna a year later in Galway, and were arguably 'extremely impressive' also in dispatching the Kk champs (weren't Ballyhale needless to say) by 12 points to the allireland title.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3410 - 11/11/2022 11:17:59    2447161

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Replying To GalwaysFinest:  "While I wouldn't rank Thomas' higher than that Portumna team, it must also be noted that this Thomas' team are extremely unlucky to be meeting the greatness of Ballyhale in the AI stages over the last number of years. They would surely have another all ireland or two if it wasnt for that Ballyhale team."
Half the Thomas's team would have 'med' any of those Portumna Athenry Sarsfields sides, the likes of Fintan & David & Eanna & Darragh Burke, Conor + Shane Cooney, Regan, Ritchie Murray and probably Flannery. The lower half of Thomas's batting order is what makes them inferior to the Portumnas and Athenrys of the past imo.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3410 - 11/11/2022 11:24:59    2447163

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Replying To CillTormoir:  "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"
When Portumna were in full flow there was Loughrea and Mullagh as the top 3, but St. Thomas' had like Turloughmore, Cappataggle, Clarinbridge, Loughrea, Liam Mellows with decent Teams. Personally Portumna are the best Club Team in Galway I had the pleasure of seeing, but St.Thomas' to win 5 in a row of Galway Championships is fantastic. The East Galway men of Portumna get my vote for best Club Team!

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2192 - 11/11/2022 11:39:14    2447167

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "I wonder was it 'extremely impressive? If it was really 'extremely impressive', they'd surely have been capable of repeating the dose a year later at the 2010 final, but instead Ballyhale beat them by 5 points, and thwarted the Portumna 3 in a row. Clarinbridge beat Portumna a year later in Galway, and were arguably 'extremely impressive' also in dispatching the Kk champs (weren't Ballyhale needless to say) by 12 points to the allireland title."
Yes, it was very impressive. They put 5 goals past a Ballyhale team containing some top Kilkenny intercounty players. They also finished the job in the All-Ireland final very impressively.
Does it become less impressive because they lost the All-Ireland final the subsequent year?
Did the pundits in 2009 say, let's hold off estimating how impressive this win is until we see how they do next year? I don't remember that.
Portumna weren't as impressive in the 2010 final, but were extremely impressive in 2009.
Their achievement of 3 All-Irelands in 4 years was also very impressive.
They left a serious impression on me and many others with their performances. Maybe I'm easily impressed, but no other Galway club has won 3 in 4.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2034 - 11/11/2022 13:17:25    2447183

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "Yes, it was very impressive. They put 5 goals past a Ballyhale team containing some top Kilkenny intercounty players. They also finished the job in the All-Ireland final very impressively.
Does it become less impressive because they lost the All-Ireland final the subsequent year?
Did the pundits in 2009 say, let's hold off estimating how impressive this win is until we see how they do next year? I don't remember that.
Portumna weren't as impressive in the 2010 final, but were extremely impressive in 2009.
Their achievement of 3 All-Irelands in 4 years was also very impressive.
They left a serious impression on me and many others with their performances. Maybe I'm easily impressed, but no other Galway club has won 3 in 4."
That 09 Ballyhale team that Portumna beat was unbelievable. From midfield into the half forward line was 8 Cha Fitzpatrick 9 Michael Fennelly 10 Colin Fennelly 11 Henry 12 TJ Reid. That is as good as it has ever been at club level.

galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 672 - 11/11/2022 14:04:23    2447191

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "Yes, it was very impressive. They put 5 goals past a Ballyhale team containing some top Kilkenny intercounty players. They also finished the job in the All-Ireland final very impressively.
Does it become less impressive because they lost the All-Ireland final the subsequent year?
Did the pundits in 2009 say, let's hold off estimating how impressive this win is until we see how they do next year? I don't remember that.
Portumna weren't as impressive in the 2010 final, but were extremely impressive in 2009.
Their achievement of 3 All-Irelands in 4 years was also very impressive.
They left a serious impression on me and many others with their performances. Maybe I'm easily impressed, but no other Galway club has won 3 in 4."
Does it become less impressive because they lost the All-ireland final the subsequent year, you ask?

Against the very same opposition, the logical answer would be yes in many cases. That's why you get all this malarkey about good teams winning one, and great ones winning two etc.

Winning 1/2 rather than 2/2 v Ballyhale in 2009-2010 leaves Portumna somewhat vulnerable to the argument that the 2009 semi was a bit flukey, with Shamrocks getting caught on the hop. Ballyhale let in 5 goals etc, but kept a clean sheet just 12 months later, when they had the 2009 semi well processed on their harddrives. Very impressive or what.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3410 - 11/11/2022 14:31:58    2447195

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "Yes, it was very impressive. They put 5 goals past a Ballyhale team containing some top Kilkenny intercounty players. They also finished the job in the All-Ireland final very impressively.
Does it become less impressive because they lost the All-Ireland final the subsequent year?
Did the pundits in 2009 say, let's hold off estimating how impressive this win is until we see how they do next year? I don't remember that.
Portumna weren't as impressive in the 2010 final, but were extremely impressive in 2009.
Their achievement of 3 All-Irelands in 4 years was also very impressive.
They left a serious impression on me and many others with their performances. Maybe I'm easily impressed, but no other Galway club has won 3 in 4."
I'm very impressed aswell.

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2192 - 11/11/2022 14:41:13    2447196

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Replying To katser:  "I'm very impressed aswell."
Of course, a very impressive outstanding team. Like all the great sides though, zome observers might dwell more on what they lost, than what they won. Arguably should have won 7 in a row 8n Galway 2003-2009 imo. Should never have lost a final to Loughrea, as they proved more than once in that era. Got a bit starstruck maybe with Athenry in 2004, but probably 'shuda' won that too. Was a testament to their outstanding calibre that they came back for a 4th all ireland as late in their 'life cycle' as 2014.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3410 - 11/11/2022 15:19:38    2447207

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What people aren't taking into account is the top tier club teams - Ballyhale, Ballygunner, Na Piarsaigh - are much better now than the opposition team's Portumna met. If Thomas were to win one more I'd rate them as Galway's best club team ever.

TanCanRan (Galway) - Posts: 179 - 11/11/2022 16:40:00    2447217

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "Does it become less impressive because they lost the All-ireland final the subsequent year, you ask?

Against the very same opposition, the logical answer would be yes in many cases. That's why you get all this malarkey about good teams winning one, and great ones winning two etc.

Winning 1/2 rather than 2/2 v Ballyhale in 2009-2010 leaves Portumna somewhat vulnerable to the argument that the 2009 semi was a bit flukey, with Shamrocks getting caught on the hop. Ballyhale let in 5 goals etc, but kept a clean sheet just 12 months later, when they had the 2009 semi well processed on their harddrives. Very impressive or what."
Strange that you use the word flukey for 5 goals being scored. If it happens that many times, it's not a fluke. They rattled up huge scores during that period, so there was nothing flukey about them getting 5 goals. Joe and Damien tore many defences asunder.
Ironically, if you want to talk about flukes, have a look at the only goal scored in the following year's final against Ballyhale. From what I remember it was a goalkeeping howler.
If you were talking about a team that had only won 1 All-Ireland, your argument might have some merit, but they won 3 in 4 years which is something no club in the entire country has ever managed, not even the great Ballyhale.
They also added a 4th a few years later to put them top of the list in Galway.
By any of those measures, I'm very impressed.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2034 - 11/11/2022 16:45:53    2447220

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Replying To TanCanRan:  "What people aren't taking into account is the top tier club teams - Ballyhale, Ballygunner, Na Piarsaigh - are much better now than the opposition team's Portumna met. If Thomas were to win one more I'd rate them as Galway's best club team ever."
I attended my first county final in 1978 and have missed very few since I've seen castlegar, kiltomer, athenry, sarsfields, portumna St Thomas's and all the other county final winners and portumna was head and shoulders the best of the lot and I'm not from portumna

minor77 (Galway) - Posts: 223 - 11/11/2022 20:56:13    2447252

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "Does it become less impressive because they lost the All-ireland final the subsequent year, you ask?

Against the very same opposition, the logical answer would be yes in many cases. That's why you get all this malarkey about good teams winning one, and great ones winning two etc.

Winning 1/2 rather than 2/2 v Ballyhale in 2009-2010 leaves Portumna somewhat vulnerable to the argument that the 2009 semi was a bit flukey, with Shamrocks getting caught on the hop. Ballyhale let in 5 goals etc, but kept a clean sheet just 12 months later, when they had the 2009 semi well processed on their harddrives. Very impressive or what."
Portumna got to 5 all Ireland finals and won 4 of them, you're hardly going to use that 1 against them as proof they weren't great? They beat 4 time all ireland winners Birr in the 2008 all Ireland which at the time was probably as big a statement win than beating Ballyhale around then. Ballyhale hadn't become the beast they have been the last 4/5 years. The teams Portumna beat in their glory period were no soft touches. They beat Athenry, Clarinbridge, James Stephen's, Ballyhale, Birr, Newtownshandrum, Na Piarsaigh all were all Ireland club champions during the years so they definitely didn't do it the easy way. It's some CV of clubs beaten. If by that measure this current Ballyhale team cat be called great either because they didn't win the 3 in a row either loosing to Ballygunner (maybe them beating Ballygunner in the semi final in 18 was flukey too?)

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 258 - 12/11/2022 10:57:12    2447277

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Need to get this in before the weekend but Thomas' are a great bet at 15/2 to win the all Ireland this year. Pretty much a shoe in to be in the final with the way the draw works out and two of the three ahead of them (Ballyhale, Ballygunner and Na Piarsaigh) will be out by then.

galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 672 - 14/11/2022 15:25:17    2447539

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Replying To galway19:  "Need to get this in before the weekend but Thomas' are a great bet at 15/2 to win the all Ireland this year. Pretty much a shoe in to be in the final with the way the draw works out and two of the three ahead of them (Ballyhale, Ballygunner and Na Piarsaigh) will be out by then."
No disrespect to anyone but if you offered Loughrea and Ulster Champs as a route to an all Ireland final to Thomas's at the start of the year they'd have gladly taken it. Hopefully it doesn't work against them coming up against a very tested team from the other side. I'm sure Loughrea won't see it tha way but I think most people are looking at it like that.

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 258 - 14/11/2022 15:31:21    2447540

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Replying To galway19:  "Need to get this in before the weekend but Thomas' are a great bet at 15/2 to win the all Ireland this year. Pretty much a shoe in to be in the final with the way the draw works out and two of the three ahead of them (Ballyhale, Ballygunner and Na Piarsaigh) will be out by then."
if you think its a shoe in for Galway reps to beat Ulster champs, in an Ulster venue, i need only to remind your off that great Ballyhales team in 2020 barely getting out of Newry with a win, I imagine this is one Slaughneil will be looking at, theyve had Munster champs and Leinister champs the last 2 years and will be seeing this years draw as the easier side and to finally break the duck and get to Croke Park

CillTormoir (Galway) - Posts: 485 - 15/11/2022 11:06:55    2447617

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Replying To CillTormoir:  "if you think its a shoe in for Galway reps to beat Ulster champs, in an Ulster venue, i need only to remind your off that great Ballyhales team in 2020 barely getting out of Newry with a win, I imagine this is one Slaughneil will be looking at, theyve had Munster champs and Leinister champs the last 2 years and will be seeing this years draw as the easier side and to finally break the duck and get to Croke Park"
Its a tricky game but Thomas' would be heavy favourites compared to the other side of the draw which is a gauntlet. Slaughtneil also not as strong this year.

galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 672 - 15/11/2022 11:12:34    2447620

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Replying To galway19:  "Its a tricky game but Thomas' would be heavy favourites compared to the other side of the draw which is a gauntlet. Slaughtneil also not as strong this year."
If Thomas's vs Slaughtneil happened 3 years ago I'd say Slaughtneil would probably take them but I think Thomas's are probably 6/7 points at least a better team than they were around 2018/19 an even maybe 2020. They weren't up against much in Galway around then and it showed in the all Ireland series. The competition in galway has improved but so have Thomas's but at least they've some higher quality teams to play against in the lead up. If Loughrea win now I'll look foolish but I still think the gap between Thomas's and the rest is still a big one. If Loughrea did win I'd fancy Slaughtneil to take them. The Ulster Champs did take their chances against anyone below the top tier clubs, just ask Sarsfields who took an awful hammering against Cushendall when they got out. I'd fancy Thomas's to beat Slaughtneil by 3/4 points after a good battle.

Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin (Wexford) - Posts: 258 - 15/11/2022 11:38:03    2447624

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Replying To Throughthemidfieldhewasstormin:  "If Thomas's vs Slaughtneil happened 3 years ago I'd say Slaughtneil would probably take them but I think Thomas's are probably 6/7 points at least a better team than they were around 2018/19 an even maybe 2020. They weren't up against much in Galway around then and it showed in the all Ireland series. The competition in galway has improved but so have Thomas's but at least they've some higher quality teams to play against in the lead up. If Loughrea win now I'll look foolish but I still think the gap between Thomas's and the rest is still a big one. If Loughrea did win I'd fancy Slaughtneil to take them. The Ulster Champs did take their chances against anyone below the top tier clubs, just ask Sarsfields who took an awful hammering against Cushendall when they got out. I'd fancy Thomas's to beat Slaughtneil by 3/4 points after a good battle."
Slaughneil are in Semi final this weekend against a good Down team. We have them as Ulster champs already, we both could look foolish!!

CillTormoir (Galway) - Posts: 485 - 15/11/2022 13:21:12    2447642

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