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Galway Football thread

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Replying To anotheralias:  "Ah I'm sure all our good friends in Mayo will go and roar their heads off for Galway!!...."
Send me a Galway jersey and I'll go and support ye ;)

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11225 - 25/04/2023 08:24:16    2473539

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Replying To thedreamer:  "Can't see why Sligo couldn't hold Connacht Final. It always seems to be crazy that we give up home advantage when it is our turn"
Sligo would be the perfect venue. It's a smaller stadium like Ennis which would be conducive to a good atmosphere. You need at least 25k to have atmosphere in Castlebar.

There will hardly more than 15K in 2 weeks time?

centrefield99 (Galway) - Posts: 98 - 25/04/2023 08:26:43    2473540

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Replying To thedreamer:  "Can't see why Sligo couldn't hold Connacht Final. It always seems to be crazy that we give up home advantage when it is our turn"
The agreement I believe is a neutral venue between the counties when a provincial final? Would it be Sligo's turn in anycase? The last meeting between the sides was in Sligo in 2019. Sligo pulled out of the 2020 competition. Would seem a bit rich rules wise to demand a second consecutive game in markievicz park, as much as im sure most players and fans wouldn't mind

PressureKick (UK) - Posts: 208 - 25/04/2023 10:27:39    2473589

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Replying To candlewax:  "win a game by 4 points and still complaining somethings will never change on this forum"
I think most people have been fairly measured to be honest. A few cranky comments from a few usual suspects, but most of what I've read here has been fairly balanced.
People have commented on what we did well and what we didn't. That's normal discourse after a win or a loss. No team will ever play a perfect game and there's always room for improvement.
You can be sure Joyce isn't telling the lads everything was perfect on Sunday.
We're in a good spot but with plenty to work on.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2030 - 25/04/2023 10:36:41    2473594

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Send me a Galway jersey and I'll go and support ye ;)"
Send me your name and address and I'll gladly send it and get Sean Kelly to sign it for you. What size?Do you want a number? Home or Away jersey? But I want a photo of you in it at the pitch in Castlebar at the final on Sunday week.

GDL (Galway) - Posts: 716 - 25/04/2023 10:47:29    2473601

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Replying To tommy k:  "I saw a statistic that Galway only won 9 kickouts out of a total of 38 i.e. just over 23% - that is shocking especially when we hear about all the "big men" that Galway have in the midfield / half forwards such as Conroy, Maher, Cooke and Tierney. Something is rotten in the state of the Galway midfield diamond being able to catch high ball or win breaking ball and it has become the elephant in the room that PJ and co. don't want to talk about it seems."
Two things struck me about the HT and full-time tv coverage.

1 was Sean Kavanagh's theory that Galway were 'happy' enough to let Ros have their own kickout ball, on the basis that the Ros offensive threat was largely counter attack based, and that Ros wouldn't be a threat with kickout ball once Galway's defense was set.

2 was PJs aftermatch interview claiming that Galway decided to 'change it up' defensively after HT, to 'open it up a bit'. How did that go, I wonder?

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3410 - 25/04/2023 10:56:55    2473609

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "Two things struck me about the HT and full-time tv coverage.

1 was Sean Kavanagh's theory that Galway were 'happy' enough to let Ros have their own kickout ball, on the basis that the Ros offensive threat was largely counter attack based, and that Ros wouldn't be a threat with kickout ball once Galway's defense was set.

2 was PJs aftermatch interview claiming that Galway decided to 'change it up' defensively after HT, to 'open it up a bit'. How did that go, I wonder?"
Check out Stephen O'Meara on twitter and his match analysis from Sunday on the "Square D" GAA analysis and tactics youtube channel. Roscommon only got 3 scores on their 23 kickouts, if you exclude the 4 poor kickpasses by Conroy (x2), Daly and Heaney, Galway battered Roscommon, he comments Galway are more of an Ulster team than Donegal, Tyrone and Derry combined, and when they tried on Sunday to play traditional "Galway ball" after halftime they conceeded 1-3, they fortunately reverted back to the System. PJ will have learned from that, he got burned before in Tralee and Tuam v Mayo, whatever doubts he had about the system and it not been appealing for the neutral to watch shoild now be eliminated. He outlines why Power, Cooke, Tierney, Daly, McHugh, Conroy, Comer, Heaney and Burke are so crucial and why they will be essential to Galway winning and going deep into this years championship. His analysis on the Galway v Kerry game and Galway v Mayo are well worth a watch and probably outlines why PJ is opting for Power in goals and his restart ability. Once you see this analysis of the game the decisions of players that appear baffling to us mortals becomes a little clearer.

EDH (Galway) - Posts: 367 - 25/04/2023 11:50:39    2473643

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Replying To PressureKick:  "The agreement I believe is a neutral venue between the counties when a provincial final? Would it be Sligo's turn in anycase? The last meeting between the sides was in Sligo in 2019. Sligo pulled out of the 2020 competition. Would seem a bit rich rules wise to demand a second consecutive game in markievicz park, as much as im sure most players and fans wouldn't mind"
Agreement fine if capacity is an issue. Sligo is more than capable of holding final in a couple of weeks and it would be a cracking atmosphere as opposed to only 12 to 15 k in Castlebar

thedreamer (Sligo) - Posts: 52 - 25/04/2023 11:57:57    2473648

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The game against Ros will stand to us far more than Kerry and Dublin demolishing Tipp and Laois. Getting over the line in a game like that with a big home support and considering we threatened to throw away a healthy half time lead will be massive for the continued development of this group. After a national final defeat to Mayo throwing away the lead on Sunday could have been damaging. There seems to be a serious professionalism implemented by PJ that is so great to see after quite a few years of it being the opposite.

So much football to be played and plenty to improve on as we are far from the finished article but with the new additions to the panel and a mix of youth and experience I'm cautiously growing in optimism that ill hopefully be looking to book a few days holidays at the end of July.

Gaillimh Abu.

tribesman125 (Galway) - Posts: 173 - 25/04/2023 12:48:39    2473677

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "I think most people have been fairly measured to be honest. A few cranky comments from a few usual suspects, but most of what I've read here has been fairly balanced.
People have commented on what we did well and what we didn't. That's normal discourse after a win or a loss. No team will ever play a perfect game and there's always room for improvement.
You can be sure Joyce isn't telling the lads everything was perfect on Sunday.
We're in a good spot but with plenty to work on."
I think its no harm to be realistic about the bad things as well as the good things the team are doing. Its not being "negative" for the sake of it but for the betterment of the team overall to at least try to reach their full potential - there is no point aiming for 80% and achieving 60% when you can aim for 100% and possibly achieve 80% (no team is perfect!). The "work-ons" for this particular team are the finding their men with quick kick-outs, winning possession at midfield, more accurate kick-passing and more incisive forward movement / passes to open up space to take more scores.

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3314 - 25/04/2023 12:56:37    2473682

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Replying To thedreamer:  "Agreement fine if capacity is an issue. Sligo is more than capable of holding final in a couple of weeks and it would be a cracking atmosphere as opposed to only 12 to 15 k in Castlebar"
You're not explaining why the game would be on in Sligo though? If Galway and Sligo decided to have a home/away arrangement, then the next game is due to be in Galway as the last meeting between the sides was in markievicz park. Galway were due a home game in 2020 but Sligo pulled out of the competition.

Im sure Galway would toss a coin for it in anycase but its all a moot point at this stage, venue date and time is set already

PressureKick (UK) - Posts: 208 - 25/04/2023 13:41:44    2473705

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Replying To PressureKick:  "You're not explaining why the game would be on in Sligo though? If Galway and Sligo decided to have a home/away arrangement, then the next game is due to be in Galway as the last meeting between the sides was in markievicz park. Galway were due a home game in 2020 but Sligo pulled out of the competition.

Im sure Galway would toss a coin for it in anycase but its all a moot point at this stage, venue date and time is set already"
OK we can argue over and back about Sligo giving Galway the game in 2020 and so losing right to home venue this year. Personally I think Galway used up that home game regardless. On current attendances maybe the old agreement should be tweaked to allow for sensible venue allocations. Sligo with 15k in it would be a right atmosphere. If it made you happy we could have the game in Salthill this year so that Markievicz could be an option for the future if 15k to 18k only likely to attend and it is Sligo's "turn". As my username suggests... a great problem for Sligo football and Connacht finals

thedreamer (Sligo) - Posts: 52 - 25/04/2023 13:53:01    2473710

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Replying To PressureKick:  "You're not explaining why the game would be on in Sligo though? If Galway and Sligo decided to have a home/away arrangement, then the next game is due to be in Galway as the last meeting between the sides was in markievicz park. Galway were due a home game in 2020 but Sligo pulled out of the competition.

Im sure Galway would toss a coin for it in anycase but its all a moot point at this stage, venue date and time is set already"
By the way I think GAA are losing revenue having it in Castlebar. I reckon bigger Sligo crowd would turn up if in Sligo.
Castlebar 15k max Sligo 18k max(sell out). thats my thinking

thedreamer (Sligo) - Posts: 52 - 25/04/2023 13:57:13    2473714

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Replying To PressureKick:  "You're not explaining why the game would be on in Sligo though? If Galway and Sligo decided to have a home/away arrangement, then the next game is due to be in Galway as the last meeting between the sides was in markievicz park. Galway were due a home game in 2020 but Sligo pulled out of the competition.

Im sure Galway would toss a coin for it in anycase but its all a moot point at this stage, venue date and time is set already"
I think the logic is that the next game in Connacht ( except for a final) was due to be a home game in Sligo.
Sligo's forfeiture of the last game still counts as a played game. If at the time Sligo felt that failure to field would mean that they would still have to play the next game at a Galway venue then they could have easily ( and farcically) sent down a club Junior C team , fielded and conceded a cricket score. But no, they didn't , because they knew that a) that would be silly and b) that the fixture would still go down as having been a Galway home fixture.
So Sligo play Galway in Castlebar in 2023 and the if the next time they meet if its in a QF or SF it will be in Markiewicz. Simple enough stuff.

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 839 - 25/04/2023 14:25:54    2473727

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Replying To thedreamer:  "By the way I think GAA are losing revenue having it in Castlebar. I reckon bigger Sligo crowd would turn up if in Sligo.
Castlebar 15k max Sligo 18k max(sell out). thats my thinking"
Going by recent history I think Galway footballers don't mind travelling to an "away" venue as they have a much better record in those venues than in Pearse Stadium or Tuam!

tommy k (Galway) - Posts: 3314 - 25/04/2023 14:55:21    2473741

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Replying To anotheralias:  "I think the logic is that the next game in Connacht ( except for a final) was due to be a home game in Sligo.
Sligo's forfeiture of the last game still counts as a played game. If at the time Sligo felt that failure to field would mean that they would still have to play the next game at a Galway venue then they could have easily ( and farcically) sent down a club Junior C team , fielded and conceded a cricket score. But no, they didn't , because they knew that a) that would be silly and b) that the fixture would still go down as having been a Galway home fixture.
So Sligo play Galway in Castlebar in 2023 and the if the next time they meet if its in a QF or SF it will be in Markiewicz. Simple enough stuff."
I agree with all you are saying. it is simple stuff to understand. I'm only muting Markievicz as crowd for final won't be huge.

thedreamer (Sligo) - Posts: 52 - 25/04/2023 15:12:34    2473749

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Replying To thedreamer:  "Can't see why Sligo couldn't hold Connacht Final. It always seems to be crazy that we give up home advantage when it is our turn"
Connactht GAA set rules in place is for 20k capacity stadium only to host Connacht senior finals. At the moment that is only Pearses Staduim and MacHale Park as Dr Hyde park capacity is restricted to a little under 19k until they get work done there.

When county is due a home game and don't have 20k capacity stadium they get to nominate a ground to play in. Yes it can be debated that the sized crowd that will turn up to Castlebar on May 7th will likely be a crowd that Markievicz Park could hold but the Connacht GAA chiefs are too stubborn.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3336 - 25/04/2023 15:46:31    2473758

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Replying To GDL:  "Send me your name and address and I'll gladly send it and get Sean Kelly to sign it for you. What size?Do you want a number? Home or Away jersey? But I want a photo of you in it at the pitch in Castlebar at the final on Sunday week."
Name: Joe
Address: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW; Washington, D.C. 20500; U.S

Thanks

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11225 - 25/04/2023 15:53:49    2473762

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Interesting Stats and tactics for the Game here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1cwmYSpzv4

brisbane (Galway) - Posts: 674 - 25/04/2023 22:07:16    2473853

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I find it mildly amusing that I see posters on the Roscommon thread now saying that its good that they lost the semi final.
Mayo GAA blog had the same rhetoric after the Ros defeat.
Now, I wont reply on those forums , because I have no interest in grigging either Ros or Mayo supporters , but I want to re-iterate that I am absolutely delighted that we won last Sunday and I would have seen no silver lining in defeat.
A Connacht final v Sligo is ideal preparation.
I am slightly wary about an ever improving Sligo and I don't believe that this game is a foregone conclusion. One decision that management need to make is do they optimise the training plan for the group stages , ignoring the Sligo game or do we prioritise the Connacht final. I think there will be a little bit of dual prioritisation/balancing , but ensuring win in Connacht final is very very important for 3 reasons
1. Its a Nestor Cup after all ..not to be sneezed at
2. A loss could dent confidence
3. A loss puts us in a group with a Provincial champ and a dangerous tier 3. Throw in a strong tier 4 and you have a really difficult group.

anotheralias (Galway) - Posts: 839 - 26/04/2023 12:29:50    2473966

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