National Forum

Galway Football thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To ColmFlaherty:  "That idea is hardly picking up steam again."
The proof is in the pudding. PJ needs to swallow his pride and bring in the best kicker of a ball in the county - closely followed by John Daly. Eamon McGrath is a class act, the future number 1 and should be given ample time to develop, but if we want to win silverware in the immediate future, we have seen the current kickout strategy - tactically and personnel-wise - does not work. Phone calls need to be made.

Emmets67 (Galway) - Posts: 15 - 01/07/2026 12:56:05    2683437

Link

Replying To TheBishop:  "I thought I'd heard Farthing was released by Connacht but couldn't see anything online although if he's back playing for the club then he must have been? We've also lost Trayers to the hurlers

McGlinchy & Ross Coen were still both u16 in that team, based on his u20 form Coen will be on the senior panel next year. Colm Costello only got a handful of minutes but I thought he might take a few years to get to this level, took Finnerty until he was 23 before he look at home. Mulryan really stood out in the 20's, looked every bit as good as Darragh Beirne who's been outstanding for Mayo. Then there's Mulhearn, he's clearly very talented but physically wasn't ready for championship this tear, should be different in 12 months time.

Add in Thompson who looked a special player last year then its not all doom and gloom talent wise,"
D Farthing ,S Walsh opted go to rugby C Trayers to hurling only S McGlinchey and S O'Connor are the only ones around this yers panel.A big bunch have been part of panels over the past few years such as J McGrath ,C Heron ,S Fitzgerald ,C Sweeney D ,O'Flaherty ,TGill ,J McLaughlin ,P Kelly ,T Culhane. Some of this cohort have had injury problems others loss of form and some left to pursue other interests.There was a good return from that group but there are questions did the management get the most return from them?

backtooldwall (Galway) - Posts: 239 - 01/07/2026 13:55:40    2683449

Link

Replying To AnCrúiscínLán:  "Wouldn't it be great for Connaught football to see Mayo win the AI. If they did, it would give young Galway players coming through development squads great belief that they could progress and aspire to winning an AI title. It's great to see Kobe breaking lines and using that beautiful slicing technique to score points and goals from distance. Many Galway people have Mayo connections, so I don't see why we shouldn't support our neighbours. Before the advent of social media we always supported our neighbours - Roscommon too. But things have turned very petty and begrudging."
One of the worst takes I've ever seen on this thread

Galwayman67420 (Galway) - Posts: 50 - 01/07/2026 14:14:36    2683452

Link

Replying To Emmets67:  "Gleeson gone to Galway United, finally clearing the way for Barry McHugh to fulfil his destiny as Galway's No 1"
I really don't see why not at this stage. If mchugh can kick accurately off the ground imagine what he'd be like off the tee. Hes good in the air and has played for galway in the past. If we picked up an injury mid game he could also go up front. Frees have cost us in the past he could be our own version of Rory beggan or Niall Morgan with his skills. Well worth a trial in the FBD or Allianz league to see how it goes

Galwayman67420 (Galway) - Posts: 50 - 01/07/2026 14:18:25    2683455

Link

I feel so sorry for our lads. But I don't think you can blame management alone. PJ didn't give himself the extension. The blame is further up the chain.

It's certainly not the fault of Gough, or of a goalkeeper with a pair on him bigger than the O'Neills he hoofs out under more scrutiny than Princess Diana had to endure. GUFC fans will be kinder to him than we have been. If you could  out Celtic Crosses, he'd be my first in line. 

As for PJ, I'm sorry too that he won't take the opportunity to use Gough as cover to bow out with dignity, rather than as an excuse to stay on for a movie we've all seen before.

But we'll watch it again next year. The critics will give it rave reviews, north of the Corrib, east of the Shannon. Maybe Jim Gavin will provide snacks with his Kool-Aid next time. In truth, it's a story without any real edge. The plot always peters out. Characters whose flaws are too familiar now. Nothing fresh. The emperor might wear new clothes. Again.

Fans of the Pat Comer original could say this one jumped the shark long ago. Not a patch on the original. It's the same tired sequel. Same tired ending.

"Another Year 'Til Sunday".

Who knows? Maybe we'll salvage something from the wreckage in the years to come. We survived the nuclear winter after Tompkins dropped the bomb on us in '87. I wasn't around for the glories a quarter-century earlier; it might have been easier just to have lived through them in real time. In a county like ours, it's not difficult to understand the inclination to fall back on bygone days.

The future belongs to the Tyrones and the Kerrys. Maybe even those plucky little giantkillers, the Dubs.

I hope to remember PJ for what he did on the field rather than on the sideline.

Sin é...

Gaillimh Abú

Gaillimh_ar_dtús (Galway) - Posts: 9 - 01/07/2026 15:45:32    2683475

Link

Replying To Emmets67:  "Gleeson gone to Galway United, finally clearing the way for Barry McHugh to fulfil his destiny as Galway's No 1"
Would you give it a break.

Alwaysencourage (Galway) - Posts: 615 - 01/07/2026 15:56:12    2683477

Link

Replying To Eire89:  "I feel we have missed the boat with our most talented group in 20 years and I feel PJ has alot to answer. The Armagh final really was the one that got away and since then we have flopped in successive QF when we were fancied against Meath & Dublin we were poor in both these matches but got ourselves in a position to win in last 10-15 and fell short. PJs conservative approach in these matches especially the first half cost us. 10mins to go in a QF to only score a point. PJ said from day one his job & ambition is to win an All Ireland and it seems we are as far away as ever and I still feel we have a quality team on paper but not on grass. PJ could do worse than shake up a backroom team and I think he should move heaven and earth to get Caroline Currid on board she was with Moycullen and look at her CV and how the all conquering limerick hurlers spoke so highly of her. I feel there is a mental block with Galway and any edge we can get we need. Hopefully he is at every club game looking at every goalkeeper in Galway."
I wouldn't look too far beyond Conroy as to why we lost those late leads so abjectly v Ros and Dublin. I think a leader like Conroy 2016-2018, or Conroy 2022-2024 would have played a central role in icing those games. But, a 37 year old PC in 2026 just hasn't anything to offer really that can compare to the results he willed in our direction 2016-2024. And this Galway squad is currently very shorn of those calibre of leaders, leaders capable of leading when the fat is in the fire. PCs midfield/leadership contribution in 2026 amounted to little more than hanging around the arc sniffing 2pointer chances. And in terms of heir apparent to Paul Conroy and his capacity 2016-2024, there isn't one. Presumably that's why PJ resorts to picking him at 37 years of age.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4842 - 01/07/2026 16:00:14    2683478

Link

Replying To TheBishop:  "I thought I'd heard Farthing was released by Connacht but couldn't see anything online although if he's back playing for the club then he must have been? We've also lost Trayers to the hurlers

McGlinchy & Ross Coen were still both u16 in that team, based on his u20 form Coen will be on the senior panel next year. Colm Costello only got a handful of minutes but I thought he might take a few years to get to this level, took Finnerty until he was 23 before he look at home. Mulryan really stood out in the 20's, looked every bit as good as Darragh Beirne who's been outstanding for Mayo. Then there's Mulhearn, he's clearly very talented but physically wasn't ready for championship this tear, should be different in 12 months time.

Add in Thompson who looked a special player last year then its not all doom and gloom talent wise,"
I neglected to state the minor team with most progress tp senior were 2018/19 teams.They like 94 teams lost both finals narrowly.

backtooldwall (Galway) - Posts: 239 - 01/07/2026 17:29:17    2683495

Link

Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "I wouldn't look too far beyond Conroy as to why we lost those late leads so abjectly v Ros and Dublin. I think a leader like Conroy 2016-2018, or Conroy 2022-2024 would have played a central role in icing those games. But, a 37 year old PC in 2026 just hasn't anything to offer really that can compare to the results he willed in our direction 2016-2024. And this Galway squad is currently very shorn of those calibre of leaders, leaders capable of leading when the fat is in the fire. PCs midfield/leadership contribution in 2026 amounted to little more than hanging around the arc sniffing 2pointer chances. And in terms of heir apparent to Paul Conroy and his capacity 2016-2024, there isn't one. Presumably that's why PJ resorts to picking him at 37 years of age."
Management surely have to put faith in McGlinchey at some point with his potential.

ColmFlaherty (Galway) - Posts: 136 - 01/07/2026 18:13:36    2683505

Link

Totally disagree. Age is irrelevant. Paul Conroy was one of the most influential players this year and he'd be a huge loss if he's not there next year. He's a solid fighter and tough as nails and highly experienced. I'd love to see Dessie Connelly come in for his accuracy of frees and 2 pointers. The talent is there in Galway, it all needs to gel as a team. No point knocking the lads now. Mindset needs a change and real character over style needs to come in.

Gearoid1998ffowaed (Galway) - Posts: 222 - 01/07/2026 18:35:39    2683509

Link

Replying To Knocknadrough:  "Not half ruthless enough here i'm afraid ...kerry got rid of Paudie o Sè one of the greatest to ever wear the green and gold even though he had won 2 all-Irelands during his tenure ,thats why they're hunting for their 40th ,we dont have that here ,its all too cozy and pally-pally in the management camp ....like our country at the moment we're not a serious team imv"
You're not a serious team in terms of All Ireland contenders but the management and lack of ruthlessness is not the reason why. You had a brief spell were you're few genuine top class players were all in their prime, now there into their 30's and late 30's in one case the bubbles burst. Galway never had the depth of talent the media would have you believe. The media hype was part of the downfall, if you had gone into the 2024 All Ireland final with a more realistic expectation of where you were in relation to Armagh and less unjustified hype you might have turned them over. What Galway fans have never been willing to accept is Armagh just had a better team, they didnt really perform to their level at all for most of that game but were still were the better side and beat you.

JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 222 - 01/07/2026 19:52:17    2683516

Link