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So here we go, can't wait for this game. Mayo got exactly what they needed out of today, got the win, played in second gear and didn't show their full hand yet. I think the Galway forwards have the beating of the Mayo backs but our defence is our weak link. Midfield will have a big bearing, Ó Curraoin and Conroy need to really put it up to Seamie O'Shea and Tom Parsons, Fiontán especially.

So Conor Lane is down to referee this one, he seems to be following Galway wherever we go lately, this will be the 4th Galway match he'll be involved in this year I think. Strange!

Well here goes! Can't see anything other than a Mayo win unfortunately. While doing quite well against Cork in that recent challenge, we still conceded 3-18 and still have no settled full back. Cathal Sweeney is nearly definitely out with a shoulder injury, he was probably one of our best players in last year's championship. Our subs bench is also a bit lacking in quality. Rochford also knows the Corofin lads inside out so I can see Liam Silke and Gary Sice having a difficult day. On the plus side Shane Walsh and Paul Conroy seem to be in fine form lately and Eamon Brannigan was playing well during the league. Hopefully Damo Comer can keep the head and play to his ability. We'll see, looking forward to it anyway, nothing like Galway and Mayo meeting in the championship!

From HoganStand:
O Flatharta's Galway reign over
06 August 2011

Galway manager Tomas O'FlathartaTomas O Flatharta's reign as Galway senior football manager came to an end last night after the county board decided not to grant him another year in his term.

The Kerry native, who is just one season into his term a desire to stay in charge for a second year, but after relegation to Division Two of the NFL, a disappointing Connacht SFC semi-final defeat to Mayo and qualifier loss to Meath the decision was taken not to keep him on in the role.

Ó Flatharta, who succeeded Joe Kernan after only one year in charge, had been given a three-year term by the county board last October with an annual review.

A statement released last night by the board read: "Club delegate's last night ratified a decision made by the Football Board executive on Tuesday evening not to grant another year to the present senior football management team, it followed an end year review by the selection committee and the manager. The clubs will now be circulated with nomination papers for the election of a new manager in the coming weeks."

Galway team named this evening, shows a couple of changes from the last day:

1 Adrian Faherty
2 Alan Burke
3 Finian Hanley
4 Kieran McGrath
5 Gary ODonnell
6 Colin Forde
7 David Reilly
8 Garreth Bradshaw
9 Eddie Hoare
10 Joe Bergin
11 Cormac Bane
12 Gary Sice
13 Matthew Clancy
14 Cillín De Paor
15 Sean Armstrong

According to Galway Bay Fm this morning Kieran Fitz has retired from inter county football and Niall Coleman has left the panel citing work commitments as his reason for leaving. Now call me cynical but is it not a strange time of the year to decide to retire/leave the panel? Along with that in last weeks Connacht Tribune Kieran Fitz said he thought Joe Kernan should have gotten another year in charge. Sounds like Tomas wouldn't be his favourite person.

From Hogan Stand

"Joyce turns down Laois

12 August 2010

Padraic Joyce has rebuffed attempts by Laois to lure him to the midlands.

The veteran Galway attacker, who could continue on playing next year, is understood to have spoken to Laois officials in recent days about the possibility of him succeeding Sean Dempsey as senior football manager.

He is the latest high-profile name to have turned down the O'Moore County. Seamus McEnaney, who has committed to Monaghan for three more years, and former Kerry midfielder Darragh O Se were also approached.


Pat Roe, who has been nominated for the position along with Mick O'Dwyer and Ollie Phelan, this week criticised the Laois county board for stalling on the appointment of a new manager."


Where did Laois get this notion out of? The man hasn't even made a decision about his retirement yet and they want him to become their manager? It's a bit strange!

Galway team named:

1.    Eoin Ó Conghaile, Leitir Mor

2.    Donal Ó Neill (Donal ONeill) Seamroige Cortuin

3.    Finian Ó hAinle (Finian Hanley) Bothar na Tra-Cnoc na Cathrach

4.    Damien De Burca (Damien Burke) Corafinne

5.    Garrai Ó Domhnaill (Garry ODonnell) Realta Thuama

6.    Diarmuid De Blaca (Diarmuid Blake) Baile an Mhuilinn

7.    Daithi Ó Raghallaigh (David Reilly) Menlough

8.    Barrai Ó Cuileannain (Barry Cullinane) Baile Clar na Gaillimhe

9.    Pol Ó Connaire (Paul Conroy) Naomh Sheamus

10.  Garrai Ó Saigheas (Garry Sice) Corafinne

11.  Seosamh Ó Beirgin (Joe Bergin) An Creagan-Maigh Locha

12.  Niall Ó Colmain (Niall Coleman) Anach Cuain

13.  Micheal Ó Miochain (Michael Meehan) Cealltrach

14.  Nioclas Seoighe (Nickey Joyce) Cill Fhir Iarainn

15.  Maitiu Mac Fhlannchadha (Mathew Clancy) Uachtar Ard

From Hogan Stand:

Galway football boss Joe Kernan has been shook by the news that ace attacker Padraig Joyce is set to miss out on the remainder of the county's NFL campaign.

Joyce had hoped to get rid of a niggling Achilles tendon problem within the next month but medics have informed him that he needs more recovery time.

Joyce is currently recuperating from having an operation on his tendon last September.
Team-manager Kernan is keeping his fingers crossed that the 32 year old Killererin clubman will be at the height of his powers 'cum championship time.

"A player of his class and experience is a great asset in any squad," said Kernan. "Hopefully, he'll be back to full power and fitness for the championship. That's the target now."


Bugger anyway, I know the aim was to be back for the next league game against Cork, must be a fairly serious setback for him to be out til May. It'll be a hard ask to come straight into championship football with no game time under his belt.

Just on Galway Bay that at a meeting last might it was announced he's decided not to go for another year in charge.

Since he took over from Peter Forde we don't seem to have made one iota of progress. Both seasons we've started the league brightly but fallen short at the end, we still haven't managed to win a game in Croke Park since 2001 and we're no closer to finding 2 decent midfielders and our displays against Sligo, Mayo and Donegal this year were abysmal, no game plan, no tactics, lads had no idea where hey were playing or who they were meant to be marking. So the question is should he be kept for another year as per his contract or shown the door? Seems he wants to stay on himself:

From Hogan Stand: Sammon eager to continue


27 July 2009

Liam Sammon expressed a desire to continue as Galway football manager after their All-Ireland qualifier loss to Donegal.

2009 has proven to be a disappointing year for Sammon after he guided the Tribesmen to a Connacht title at his first attempt last year.

"I would like to see Galway football improve and continue to improve and if I can help in any way in doing that, I will do it," he said.



Reflecting on Galway's second one-point defeat in six days, he added: "A few things turned the game, we had chances but we conceded too many soft frees.

"That's football, we gave it our best shot and couldn't ask for more from the players. We gave everything out on the field - we were unfortunate.

"I felt maybe there was a few times we could have pushed ahead. When we got the two points ahead, I felt maybe there was a greater opportunity to move further ahead.

"In fairness to Donegal, they kept on fighting and at the end of the day maybe they deserved it."

Galway's Frank Stockwell passed away this evening after a long illness. RIP Frankie, sad to think both of the Terrible Twins are gone now.

Well lads, how will this one go? It'll be interesting to see what kind of  team Liam and the boys will name, a lot of experimentation carried out during the FBD. The only definites would probably be Hanley, Bergin, Cullinane, Padraic, Nicky, Mikey Meehan and maybe Mullahy. Hopefully we'll carry the prominse we showed last year into this season. Think we'll have enough for Westmeath, they're not an easy team to beat especially in Mullingar but think we just have that more up front and that should shade it for us. Have we played them since that disaster in Salthill 2 years ago? Feck that was a bad evening.

Anyone on here have O2 broadband? I have and it's driving me mad, had it installed on my laptop but said laptop calfed on me about a month ago ()so installed it on the PC instead but now it's nearly as slow as dial up whereas it was grand on the laptop, apart from disconnecting the odd time.Anyone else have any problems with it?

So boys and girls, what are the thoughts on this one? Going on present form you'd have to say Galway are favourites for this one but Galway Mayo clashes are anything but predictable. Both sides are going into this one on the back of impressive victories. A win here would almost certainly see Galway secure a place in the league finals but I'm sure our lovely neighbours will have something to say about that! Our forwards and midfield were impressive today, both Padraic and Mikey Meehan are in a rich vein of form of late and are finally clicking, Matty Clancy is playing like a man possessed and is winning an amount of ball. (Judging by his hair he's also doing his best to bring back the mullet and succeeding there also ) Cullinane played brilliantly today. I've never really been a fan but have no problem in admitting he was very impressive today, some of his fielding was phenomenal. I'd like to see Doherty given a chance in goal on Sunday though. On more than one occasion today Faherty was like a deer caught in headlights and had to rely on Damien Burke and Gary Sice to get him out of bother, he doesn't inspire confidence in one on one situations at all. But other than that we seem to be ticking over alright. Great to see Nicky back today after his operation, gives us another option in the forwards.

So what do ye think? Personally I think he should go, even if Galway do the unthinkable and beat Kerry or Tyrone. (highly doubtful really!) Backwards we've gone since he came in as manager, the forwards are still a shambles as a unit, midfield is a mess, the backs, fair enough have gotten tighter but the wheels are starting to come off the cart here too, O'Hara was through like a hot knife through butter for that goal on Sunday. Pat Egan can say what he likes about there being no pressure on Ford but the dogs in the street know his jobs on the line if something spectacular isn't produced before the seasons over. Also does anyone else think it peculiar that we have a full round of club championship games just 6 days before a make or break championship game, in previous years at least two weekends before county matches were kept free in case anyone picked up knocks, are the county board resigned to the fact that this year's championship is effectively over?

Hard to know how this one will go. A lot depends on which version of Galway will turn up I suppose. The improvement in Galway's fortunes and the return of Padraic Joyce were not a coincidence, his influence turned Galway's league campaign around and hopefully the return of Mike Meehan, along with Deccy and Kieran Fitz will give Galway a further boost.  On the negative side Niall Coleman is supposed to have picked up an injury over the weekend playing for Annaghdown, he played well in Galway's last two outings so let's hope it's not too serious. At least a 60 minute performance is needed this time round though, we were lucky twice, I doubt it'll happen a third time.

[Senior Draw:]

Senior Draw:

Killanain v Mountbellew-Moylough
Glenamaddy v Dunmore McHales
Killererin v Annaghdown
Claregalway v Tuam Stars
Ml. Breathnach v Cortoon Shamrocks
Milltown v Caherlistrane
Menlough v Caltra
Corofin v An Cheathru Rua
Kilkerrin-Clonberne v St.Brendan's
Salthill-Knocknacarra v Barna

Intermediate Draw:

An Spideal v Corofin
Oranmore-Maree v St. Michael's
St.James v Clonbur
Headford v Carna-Caiseal
Oughterard v Kilconly
Moycullen v Williamstown
Monivea-Abbey v Clifden
Ml.Breathnach v Litir Mór

All games scheduled to take place on weekend of May 26th and 27th. (Depending on the outcome of Galway v Mayo the weekend before.)

So the good news from a Galway point of view is Padraic Joyce will be back in the maroon at some stage, just a matter of when but it won't be before next weekend so that's enough about that for now. Have we any chance against Laois? Who is going to do the scoring, the forwards that played today only scored 7 points between them with Mike Comer scoring one point so only 6 really.Both teams need the points next Saturday after losing today. My team:

1.Colm King (just to see if he's a better option that Doherty)
2.Damien Burke
3.Finian Hanley (think the captaincy weighed heavily on him today and should be given to Savo or Ja or somebody with more experience)
4.Darren Mullahy
5.Mike Comer
6.Diarmuid Blake
7.Alan Burke
8.Barry Cullinane
9.Joe Bergin
10.Matt Clancy
11.Ja Fallon
12.Cormac Bane
13.Derek Savage
14.Nicky Joyce
15.Sean Armstrong

You'd think that forward line has serious scoring potential and it does, just depends on which version of it turns up, nearly every lad in it is wildly unpredictable!Anyway, onwards and upwards, hopefully I'll be proved completely wrong and we'll come out of it with the 2 points.

Everyone else has their own poll so why not us! So who in ye're opinion is the most talented, and well rounded Galway player since 1990? (I've only picked 1990 coz that's as far back as my area of expertise goes!Feel free to let me know of anyone I should have included!)