National Forum

Galway Hurling thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "Niall Burke....that's the future alright. 33 years of age by the time the 2024 championship starts. Johnny Glynn for sure if he has moved back home permanently. Has a year or 2 yet of top class hurling ability left in him."
TJ Reid and Patrick Horgan who are the top scorers ever in the AI championship are both 35 (36 when the 2024 championship starts) and I didn't hear they have retired from intercounty (or not yet at least) so Niall is only a young lad compared to them!

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 13/08/2023 10:25:17    2500277

Link

Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "If Conor Cooney was anonymous off the panel, rather than anonymous on it, we'd be begging for his return too, alongside Niall and Jonny."
Conor Cooney has been anonymous on the panel for about 6 years now! Very good for Thomas's though but only in Galway it seems.

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3470 - 13/08/2023 12:26:01    2500283

Link

Replying To tommy k:  "Any chance of Henry & Co. enticing Johnny Glynn and Niall Burke back into the Galway squad? Two big men with big match experience in the championship including winning AI's and both seem to be back to their best form judging by last weekend at least."
I've heard many worse ideas than that. I mean if there's nobody better than them at their positions then why not? That's assuming they'd come back of course.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2483 - 14/08/2023 23:41:52    2500570

Link

Replying To Trump2020:  "I've heard many worse ideas than that. I mean if there's nobody better than them at their positions then why not? That's assuming they'd come back of course."
If so lads good enough he's old enough. And if he's good enough he certainly isn't too old. Only qualification I'd add though is that there is a big jump up in speed and fitness required for intercounty.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 15453 - 15/08/2023 11:06:27    2500600

Link

Replying To Viking66:  "If so lads good enough he's old enough. And if he's good enough he certainly isn't too old. Only qualification I'd add though is that there is a big jump up in speed and fitness required for intercounty."
Agreed. The general idea I guess is to have the best possible player at every position regardless of age.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2483 - 15/08/2023 22:08:53    2500699

Link

Replying To tommy k:  "Any chance of Henry & Co. enticing Johnny Glynn and Niall Burke back into the Galway squad? Two big men with big match experience in the championship including winning AI's and both seem to be back to their best form judging by last weekend at least."
thinking about this the past few days and it makes total sense. We need lads like this. They can hurl, they have the mentality, they are leaders, they need to be handed the 11 and 14 jerseys for 1 year and no1 else is allowed near them. I bet wed be All Ireland champs if this was done.

clare_sparrow (Galway) - Posts: 441 - 16/08/2023 09:07:32    2500716

Link

Replying To clare_sparrow:  "thinking about this the past few days and it makes total sense. We need lads like this. They can hurl, they have the mentality, they are leaders, they need to be handed the 11 and 14 jerseys for 1 year and no1 else is allowed near them. I bet wed be All Ireland champs if this was done."
WHO new it would be that simple to fix this? Ha ha ha. I don't think Limerick are too worried about these two lads. The best I would hope for is that it would bring us a little closer to winning it all and make the fight for spots on the team more fierce.

Trump2020 (Galway) - Posts: 2483 - 16/08/2023 11:44:13    2500755

Link

It's August and that's traditionally been known as the silly season. Will people have a bit of sense and give up on this nonsense re Niall Burke. That ship has sailed. Although a loss to Oranmore when he went off, he didnt exactly set the world on fire against Clarinbridge 2 weeks ago. Arguably his penalty miss was the deciding factor in the game. If it's physically big men that has ye pining for Niall Burke's return, the Ardrahan no.11 Jason Kennedy might be more in line. He's a good few years younger I'd say and did look like he could hurl a bit as well as catch a high ball in their game against Castlegar and even made it onto Galway Bay FM's subs bench on their "team of the week"!

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2008 - 16/08/2023 22:50:08    2500890

Link

Replying To Oldtourman:  "Has any county ever 'replaced' a team like that?. The first really great Hurling was Kilkenny,('03-'13) that won 7 All Irelands in 11 years, they won 1 in the next twenty years from '13 to '32. Cork won 4 from '26 to '31, but then went 10 years without an All Ireland. KK won 4 in the Thirties, but then won 2 in 24 years, each by a single point. Tipp won five from '58 to '65 but then won one in the next 24 years and only some appalling decisions, in the decisive game that year, gave them that single win. Some would say if Galway had handled the Tony Keady debacle better, the Tipp 'Famine' might have been longer. We all know how KK have gone back since their last mighty run.
So considering the fact that we have the Sixth Hurling Population in the country, I would find it very hard to see how we can replace this exceptional side with an equally formidable one. After all far stronger counties have failed to do it."
The nearest I have seen to it has been the last great KK team(s). Cody effectively replaced the whole team incrementally over the years including Carey, Barry, Shefflin, Brennan, Hogan, Walsh and others The difference I think is that KK had players at different stages of their career in the team, so incremental worked well. Limerick seem to have a crop mostly around the same age, so incremental may not work. I would agree that this is a challenge for Limerick, and their structures to sustain the level of excellence they currently have.

BostonGuy (Galway) - Posts: 160 - 17/08/2023 05:47:43    2500898

Link

Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "No point replacing them til they're gone, and they're not gone. BostonGuy seems to think that if you're 'professional' enough with structures, you can produce perpetual quality, and replace great quality with great quality. Even his own city has a classic example of this not being possible, looking at the prospects of the post-Tom Brady New England Patriots currently. Amateur or professional, you've no right to expect to replace greatness with more greatness."
"No point in replacing them until they're gone" is a very narrow view, what happens with retirements, aging players, season ending injuries, or players who should be dropped but were not. Its not a coincidence that Wenger and Ferguson heavily monitored players aged 30+ and in many cases limited their time or sold them. Yes its soccer but the same points apply. Both managed to sustain success for extended periods of time and replace many of the parts in doing so.

The best teams are the ones where you have reserves chomping at the bit to make the team. I would rather have a selection dilemma than a team that picks itself. Skilled GAA athletes (not players) don't just magically appear they are skilled, identified early and hone their skills in academies more and more in a 'professional' like environment. The divide between club and county is too great to just let players grow organically, and its only going to get bigger.

The patriots won 6 SBs and lost 3 in 20 years. The total number of players who played in all SBs was ONE, Tom Brady. Brady only every had one hall of fame wide receiver Randy Moss ...and they lost the super bowl that year. What he did have was a group of skilled athletes who played to a system that worked for them. They were intelligent and were able to adapt mid-game to what was thrown at them and win at all costs (Like Limerick) . They suffered injuries, a murder conviction, trades and free agency but always had the skilled players to come in and their attitude has always been 'next man up' to fill the void. The patriots failure in recent years had more to do with salary cap space, and as a result free agency add to bad offensive coaching (broken system) and they are where they are.

Can you point me to where I said that structures without having the raw material to work with produced perpetual quality?......didn't think so!

BostonGuy (Galway) - Posts: 160 - 17/08/2023 06:27:03    2500899

Link

Nominees for u20 manager are Fergal Healy, Gavin Keary, Colm Callanan and Cathal Murray. Not sure there has been as much interest in an u20 group in a while!

galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 870 - 17/08/2023 08:58:13    2500905

Link

Replying To Oldtourman:  "Has any county ever 'replaced' a team like that?. The first really great Hurling was Kilkenny,('03-'13) that won 7 All Irelands in 11 years, they won 1 in the next twenty years from '13 to '32. Cork won 4 from '26 to '31, but then went 10 years without an All Ireland. KK won 4 in the Thirties, but then won 2 in 24 years, each by a single point. Tipp won five from '58 to '65 but then won one in the next 24 years and only some appalling decisions, in the decisive game that year, gave them that single win. Some would say if Galway had handled the Tony Keady debacle better, the Tipp 'Famine' might have been longer. We all know how KK have gone back since their last mighty run.
So considering the fact that we have the Sixth Hurling Population in the country, I would find it very hard to see how we can replace this exceptional side with an equally formidable one. After all far stronger counties have failed to do it."
As for the Keady debacle, I think Galway had every reason to be outraged. Tipp had TWO IC players playing in the very same game in NYC and got away with it. Add a ref from Wexford that never ref'ed after the semi final debacle where he literally handed Tipp the game and I can see why Galway was outraged.
Tipp were the 'Darling' team that had not won in decades, had a poster child in Nicky English, a "Davy Fitz" of his day in "Babs" and the GAA wanted to see them succeed. No doubt they were a good team, but they would never have beaten a fully stacked Galway team with a half decent ref in charge in '89.

BostonGuy (Galway) - Posts: 160 - 17/08/2023 15:48:40    2501034

Link

Replying To BostonGuy:  ""No point in replacing them until they're gone" is a very narrow view, what happens with retirements, aging players, season ending injuries, or players who should be dropped but were not. Its not a coincidence that Wenger and Ferguson heavily monitored players aged 30+ and in many cases limited their time or sold them. Yes its soccer but the same points apply. Both managed to sustain success for extended periods of time and replace many of the parts in doing so.

The best teams are the ones where you have reserves chomping at the bit to make the team. I would rather have a selection dilemma than a team that picks itself. Skilled GAA athletes (not players) don't just magically appear they are skilled, identified early and hone their skills in academies more and more in a 'professional' like environment. The divide between club and county is too great to just let players grow organically, and its only going to get bigger.

The patriots won 6 SBs and lost 3 in 20 years. The total number of players who played in all SBs was ONE, Tom Brady. Brady only every had one hall of fame wide receiver Randy Moss ...and they lost the super bowl that year. What he did have was a group of skilled athletes who played to a system that worked for them. They were intelligent and were able to adapt mid-game to what was thrown at them and win at all costs (Like Limerick) . They suffered injuries, a murder conviction, trades and free agency but always had the skilled players to come in and their attitude has always been 'next man up' to fill the void. The patriots failure in recent years had more to do with salary cap space, and as a result free agency add to bad offensive coaching (broken system) and they are where they are.

Can you point me to where I said that structures without having the raw material to work with produced perpetual quality?......didn't think so!"
Hint Boston: Don't go arguing with the Poop, sorry I mean Pope, because he's infallible…in his own mind. And certainly don't go contradicting him or answering him back. Hell, fire, and brimstone for that sort of carry on.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2194 - 18/08/2023 03:05:52    2501091

Link

This Weekends games
Senior
Turloughmore v Gort..............................Turlough
St.Thomas' v Portumna..........................Thomas'
Clarinbridge v Killimordaly.....................'Bridge
Oranmore-Maree v Tommy Larkins .....Oranmore
Castlegar v sarsfields...............................Cashel
Ardrahan v Craughwell............................Ardrahan
Kilconieron v Moycullen..........................Kilconieron
Cappataggle v Loughrea.........................Loughrea

Senior B
Liam Mellows v Athenry...........................Mellows
Mullagh v Ahasragh-Fohenagh...............Mullagh
Killimor v Kilnadeema-Leitrim.................Killimor
Padraig Pearses v Beagh..........................Pearses

katser (Galway) - Posts: 2546 - 18/08/2023 11:03:16    2501127

Link

Replying To BostonGuy:  "As for the Keady debacle, I think Galway had every reason to be outraged. Tipp had TWO IC players playing in the very same game in NYC and got away with it. Add a ref from Wexford that never ref'ed after the semi final debacle where he literally handed Tipp the game and I can see why Galway was outraged.
Tipp were the 'Darling' team that had not won in decades, had a poster child in Nicky English, a "Davy Fitz" of his day in "Babs" and the GAA wanted to see them succeed. No doubt they were a good team, but they would never have beaten a fully stacked Galway team with a half decent ref in charge in '89."
Would agree with almost all of that. It definitely seemed that the GAA mindset at the time was to preserve Tipp's at least one per decade record. Now, who was driving that, I dunno.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 2194 - 18/08/2023 11:28:44    2501130

Link

Replying To foreveryoung:  "Would agree with almost all of that. It definitely seemed that the GAA mindset at the time was to preserve Tipp's at least one per decade record. Now, who was driving that, I dunno."
Th e fact is if Galway had adapted the 'next man up' approach that Kiely has so well used when coping with injuries etc, Galway would probably win the '89 All Ireland. I know from talking to different older hurling Tribesmen that many of them would agree with me.

Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4490 - 18/08/2023 12:54:40    2501155

Link

Replying To Oldtourman:  "Th e fact is if Galway had adapted the 'next man up' approach that Kiely has so well used when coping with injuries etc, Galway would probably win the '89 All Ireland. I know from talking to different older hurling Tribesmen that many of them would agree with me."
Easy do "next man up" when that next man is Cathal O'Neill, Richie English, Graeme Mulcahy, David Reidy etc...

Kinvara (Galway) - Posts: 200 - 18/08/2023 14:49:17    2501192

Link

Replying To BostonGuy:  ""No point in replacing them until they're gone" is a very narrow view, what happens with retirements, aging players, season ending injuries, or players who should be dropped but were not. Its not a coincidence that Wenger and Ferguson heavily monitored players aged 30+ and in many cases limited their time or sold them. Yes its soccer but the same points apply. Both managed to sustain success for extended periods of time and replace many of the parts in doing so.

The best teams are the ones where you have reserves chomping at the bit to make the team. I would rather have a selection dilemma than a team that picks itself. Skilled GAA athletes (not players) don't just magically appear they are skilled, identified early and hone their skills in academies more and more in a 'professional' like environment. The divide between club and county is too great to just let players grow organically, and its only going to get bigger.

The patriots won 6 SBs and lost 3 in 20 years. The total number of players who played in all SBs was ONE, Tom Brady. Brady only every had one hall of fame wide receiver Randy Moss ...and they lost the super bowl that year. What he did have was a group of skilled athletes who played to a system that worked for them. They were intelligent and were able to adapt mid-game to what was thrown at them and win at all costs (Like Limerick) . They suffered injuries, a murder conviction, trades and free agency but always had the skilled players to come in and their attitude has always been 'next man up' to fill the void. The patriots failure in recent years had more to do with salary cap space, and as a result free agency add to bad offensive coaching (broken system) and they are where they are.

Can you point me to where I said that structures without having the raw material to work with produced perpetual quality?......didn't think so!"
Wenger, Ferguson, Limerick, Kilkenny, the Patriots, Galway, whoever.......I'm only seeing one common theme here, and that is that the cycle of success inevitably comes to an end at some point.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4081 - 18/08/2023 14:57:44    2501193

Link

Replying To Oldtourman:  "Th e fact is if Galway had adapted the 'next man up' approach that Kiely has so well used when coping with injuries etc, Galway would probably win the '89 All Ireland. I know from talking to different older hurling Tribesmen that many of them would agree with me."
Talking to 'older hurling Tribesmen' about what Galway wuda cuda shuda won had the makings of a long night right there. Reminds one of the old adage, when all is said and done, there's a lot more said than done.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4081 - 18/08/2023 15:04:38    2501195

Link

Replying To foreveryoung:  "Hint Boston: Don't go arguing with the Poop, sorry I mean Pope, because he's infallible…in his own mind. And certainly don't go contradicting him or answering him back. Hell, fire, and brimstone for that sort of carry on."
Contradict away, but get your facts right.......which isn't possible of course, as you've pointed out here.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4081 - 18/08/2023 15:09:29    2501198

Link