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Galway Football thread

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Replying To Knocknadrough:  "According to the examiner it looks like Fitzy is in the shakeup for love island starting in majorca on June 1st ...disapointing but explains a lot if true"
Well he has a better chance of scoring in love island than playing full back for Galway.
Hard to blame the young fella.

letsgetgoing (Roscommon) - Posts: 907 - 15/05/2026 11:28:18    2673130

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Replying To Galwayboy64:  "Galway have plenty of talented footballers but too many of them seem more interested in building a profile than building a legacy for the county. A prime example is one individual leaving the squad to go on a reality TV show.

The passion and intensity that Galway teams used to have just isn't there anymore. That comes back to culture and in my opinion Joyce has to answer for that. Should have been nipped a long time ago. We are being laughed at by other counties with this headline."
Have to disagree. This Galway team have gone down fighting in every single match in the last 3-4 years. They've lost matches by the bare minimum and have pulled back huge deficit, 3 times last summer they were effectively out of that championship in different seconds halves yet fought back to survive, or at least only get beaten by the minimum.
Watch Comer's goal hit the net last Sunday, I didn't notice at the match but watch how many of the Galway lads near him have the arms up in celebration. Most players nowadays just jog back to position after a goal, that match last Sunday looked like it meant a huge amount to the Galway players the way they celebrated that goal.
Galway played very very well last Sunday and showed huge fight and character. To go 6 up against that wind, while losing most kickouts, is a sign of character. There's a stat about turnovers I don't have to hand, I think most of Galways scores came from turnovers? That's serious fight.

jam83 (Galway) - Posts: 232 - 15/05/2026 11:54:01    2673134

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Replying To Alwaysencourage:  "LOL"
Good point, well made.

JimB1991 (Donegal) - Posts: 168 - 15/05/2026 11:58:52    2673135

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Replying To jam83:  "Have to disagree. This Galway team have gone down fighting in every single match in the last 3-4 years. They've lost matches by the bare minimum and have pulled back huge deficit, 3 times last summer they were effectively out of that championship in different seconds halves yet fought back to survive, or at least only get beaten by the minimum.
Watch Comer's goal hit the net last Sunday, I didn't notice at the match but watch how many of the Galway lads near him have the arms up in celebration. Most players nowadays just jog back to position after a goal, that match last Sunday looked like it meant a huge amount to the Galway players the way they celebrated that goal.
Galway played very very well last Sunday and showed huge fight and character. To go 6 up against that wind, while losing most kickouts, is a sign of character. There's a stat about turnovers I don't have to hand, I think most of Galways scores came from turnovers? That's serious fight."
100%. One thing which can't question about this team is their willingness to battle and fight to the bitter end. In the past 4 years there hasn't been a single championship game in which they weren't extremely competitive.
They're massively committed and put in an incredible amount of work. We have plenty issues to resolve, but character isn't one of them.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2803 - 15/05/2026 12:21:32    2673140

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Replying To JimB1991:  "Good point, well made."
As opposed to you saying anything witty or creative in 168 attempts?

PressureKick (UK) - Posts: 369 - 15/05/2026 12:54:56    2673150

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Replying To Drax_the_destroyer:  "Great research Clare, while we have you here do the same on your own Mayo."
Rent free

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 1146 - 15/05/2026 13:06:11    2673152

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Replying To Rossie2020:  "100% this. Ye have such a proud tradition and it's hard to not admire Maher, Sean Kelly and Paul Conroy, I'm not a huge fan of Comer or McDaid but would love them on my side during a battle! That Fitzy fella should have been let go long ago, Jack O Connor and McGuinness wouldn't have stood for it."
Why? It's his own life, and if it's not interfering with his current commitment to the county team, I'm sure he is free to pursue whatever interests he has outside football.

Triffic (Galway) - Posts: 181 - 15/05/2026 13:29:29    2673159

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Replying To Galwayboy64:  "Galway have plenty of talented footballers but too many of them seem more interested in building a profile than building a legacy for the county. A prime example is one individual leaving the squad to go on a reality TV show.

The passion and intensity that Galway teams used to have just isn't there anymore. That comes back to culture and in my opinion Joyce has to answer for that. Should have been nipped a long time ago. We are being laughed at by other counties with this headline."
Disagree wholeheartedly with this. If you've followed Galway anyway closely in the last 5 years you'd know that passion and intensity is not an issue. They're an excellent squad.

ahsure. (Galway) - Posts: 1770 - 15/05/2026 14:19:16    2673169

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Mad to think from the u20 all ireland winning team our full back is leaving for love island and our full forward tomo culhane is going from australia to america trying to win contract at AFL & NFL. All jokes aside best of luck to him i do have concerns about FB line and to be fair to Fitzy he seemed to be the best of a bad lot of the several men we have tried there. When is the last time we had a proper Full back and dont say Sean kelly im a massive fan but he is too attacking for full back and always has been his position his wing back.

Eire89 (Galway) - Posts: 487 - 15/05/2026 15:12:35    2673182

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Replying To ahsure.:  "Disagree wholeheartedly with this. If you've followed Galway anyway closely in the last 5 years you'd know that passion and intensity is not an issue. They're an excellent squad."
Agreed and hard to believe anyone was questioning. Before Kevin Walsh stepped in one could certainly label that at Galway but not the last decade or so.

Drax_the_destroyer (UK) - Posts: 833 - 15/05/2026 16:25:06    2673193

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Replying To Eire89:  "Mad to think from the u20 all ireland winning team our full back is leaving for love island and our full forward tomo culhane is going from australia to america trying to win contract at AFL & NFL. All jokes aside best of luck to him i do have concerns about FB line and to be fair to Fitzy he seemed to be the best of a bad lot of the several men we have tried there. When is the last time we had a proper Full back and dont say Sean kelly im a massive fan but he is too attacking for full back and always has been his position his wing back."
To answer your question, I'd say Finian Hanley, but that's well in the past now.


On the other issue, I'd say Fitzgerald has a much better chance of winning Love Island than Culhane has of getting an AFL or NFL contract. But best of luck to the both of them....

streaker (Galway) - Posts: 577 - 15/05/2026 16:28:21    2673196

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Replying To Eire89:  "Mad to think from the u20 all ireland winning team our full back is leaving for love island and our full forward tomo culhane is going from australia to america trying to win contract at AFL & NFL. All jokes aside best of luck to him i do have concerns about FB line and to be fair to Fitzy he seemed to be the best of a bad lot of the several men we have tried there. When is the last time we had a proper Full back and dont say Sean kelly im a massive fan but he is too attacking for full back and always has been his position his wing back."
Finiam Hanley

jam83 (Galway) - Posts: 232 - 15/05/2026 17:13:57    2673213

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The biggest problem with full back line and it applies to all counties if there loads of space between half back line and full back line it's almost impossible to defend as forwards have way 2 much space and the biggest problem in my opinion is no pressure put on ball coming in that's why I was surprised the last day Galway not play Mcdonnagh corner forward I seen him in league he definitely stops defenders coming out just ask mayo corner back in first league match u need to stop opposition at source I know that won't happen all the time but then u need to slow them down and give ur own defence tome to adjust ,, football is a team sport everyone has a part to play in defending and attacking they might not touch ball themselves at various times but still can have positive impact on team by turning over ball or blocking up space for opposition to run into ,,

Kickitout (Galway) - Posts: 1157 - 15/05/2026 19:52:28    2673228

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Replying To Triffic:  "Why? It's his own life, and if it's not interfering with his current commitment to the county team, I'm sure he is free to pursue whatever interests he has outside football."
I get that. But if I'm Paul Conroy after battling back from a double leg break and losing 2 All Ireland finals I don't want my full back not being tuned in because he's applying for Love Island… you're either in or you're out. I'm surprised at Joyce as he seems ruthless enough.

Rossie2020 (Roscommon) - Posts: 210 - 15/05/2026 21:28:20    2673236

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Replying To Eire89:  "Mad to think from the u20 all ireland winning team our full back is leaving for love island and our full forward tomo culhane is going from australia to america trying to win contract at AFL & NFL. All jokes aside best of luck to him i do have concerns about FB line and to be fair to Fitzy he seemed to be the best of a bad lot of the several men we have tried there. When is the last time we had a proper Full back and dont say Sean kelly im a massive fan but he is too attacking for full back and always has been his position his wing back."
best of luck to both lads, no big deal

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1797 - 15/05/2026 21:57:35    2673239

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Replying To jam83:  "Have to disagree. This Galway team have gone down fighting in every single match in the last 3-4 years. They've lost matches by the bare minimum and have pulled back huge deficit, 3 times last summer they were effectively out of that championship in different seconds halves yet fought back to survive, or at least only get beaten by the minimum.
Watch Comer's goal hit the net last Sunday, I didn't notice at the match but watch how many of the Galway lads near him have the arms up in celebration. Most players nowadays just jog back to position after a goal, that match last Sunday looked like it meant a huge amount to the Galway players the way they celebrated that goal.
Galway played very very well last Sunday and showed huge fight and character. To go 6 up against that wind, while losing most kickouts, is a sign of character. There's a stat about turnovers I don't have to hand, I think most of Galways scores came from turnovers? That's serious fight."
Exactly how many times have they looked dead and buried between championship last year and the league this year and came back and found a way to get a result, some of the negativity here is just over the top. We definitely have some issues but losing a connacht final to a very good roscommon side isn't the end of the world.
As for Fitzgerald, he's been solid at full back the last few years but he's entitled to do what he likes in his personal life, not much different to Thompson going to the US or Cooke going abroad

Jonnytest (Galway) - Posts: 23 - 16/05/2026 05:46:46    2673246

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Replying To Rossie2020:  "I get that. But if I'm Paul Conroy after battling back from a double leg break and losing 2 All Ireland finals I don't want my full back not being tuned in because he's applying for Love Island… you're either in or you're out. I'm surprised at Joyce as he seems ruthless enough."
He's out.
Wasn't on the 26 panel last week so he's obviously made his decision. It's a strange decision but he's entirely to do what he wants with his own life. If he did a bad hamstring tear he would also be gone but that would make no headlines

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2436 - 16/05/2026 09:07:37    2673253

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He's definitely out as he was playing soccer for Barna in Eamon Deacy Park during the week. I've heard Joyce remark on numerous occasions that Mayo were "miles ahead"'of us before he came in. He's either claiming credit unfairly or has a short memory, Kevin Walsh was the man who made us competitive in the modern game. We got to 2 AI finals in 3 years when Cian O'Neill came in as coach but we have become very open defensively since he left. Not sure what Graham & Galligan bring to the set up, our kickout & goalkeeper issues show no sign of being resolved. Joyce has had 7 years now and still hasn't sorted these.

johnjoe21 (Galway) - Posts: 138 - 16/05/2026 12:56:55    2673290

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