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[If Galway get beat by Mayo on the May the 13th it won't be down to two hammerings at the hands of the Dubs.]

Poorest performance of the league so far by Galway yesterday in the first half, weren't at the pitch of the game at all really I thought, some of the poor shot selections (e.g. Kyne) and mistakes (e.g. Brannigan double hop when in a good position) in the first 35 were not what they had displayed in the first four games where good economy in front of the posts was generally the norm, a lot of bad wides yesterday.
Monaghan were looking much the more likely winners heading into the tail end of the first half. The sending off completely changed the terms of engagement for the match and - to be fair - Galway exploited the man advantage very successfully in the second half.

What to do with Shane Walsh? Will he ever learn to just do the simple things well? You don't have to showcase your talent at all time, the easy pass or shot that 90% of players can execute is sometimes all that's necessary in a situation. It's getting to the point where it should have clicked for him at this stage, he's either going to be a 4/10 or a 9/10 depending on the day, a 7/10 every day might be more preferable. While harsh it was a bit of a mé feiner performance from him yesterday, it's just more frustrating when someone has the ability and doesn't execute I guess.
Overall again securing primary possession is a continuing problem, I don't know if the solution will be found this year by the looks of it, it's the one real killer looking to the summer, we'd give any team outside of the top 4 a game if this problem was fixed or at least mitigated to an extent that is wasn't the glaring problem.
It's good to have complaints while winning but I'm sure that it's the same things that the management and players are focussed on themselves. If you'd offered this set of results at the start of the league to any Galway football fan we'd have took the hand off you. Contrast Galway with our fellow 2017 Division 2 finalists, it might only be the league but there is nothing to be said for losing every week.
Kyne and Kerins played very well defensively yesterday, Heaney was also excellent I thought, what a superb score from the mark and long sideline run in the first half, if it was a Kerryman or Dub that scored it their media heads would be fawning over it. Comer was effective when in possession, Brannigan was back to decent form in the second half as well.

I'll be heading to Salthill with trepidation for next week but it's better that the weak links are fully exposed ahead of May 13th. People are talking about psychological damage from taking a pasting from Dublin but they battered Kerry by 12 (it could have been 18/20) yesterday and they can do it to any team.
I could be very wrong but I don't think there's any better prep for the team ahead of May 13th than two matches against the Dubs, trying to match them is the standard Mayo have lifted themselves to every year since 2012, this is where Galway are looking to get to.

Speaking of Dublin, I was in CP for the Dublin-Kerry match yesterday and the bottom line is that unless Mayo have a massive performance in a win or go home game next August/September against the Dubs, I can't see them being caught by anyone, they toyed with Kerry yesterday and taking into account the list of players that didn't tog out for them, it's hard to believe how far out in front of everyone they are in terms of quality throughout a squad.
The Galway lads will surely know what the gold standard to aspire to is after the league final on the 1st April, hopefully Galway Aprils Fools day related headlines on the match reports won't be what we're just looking at on the 2nd!

Spot on as usual, would have too see some stats but thought their was their was a slight improvement on kickouts in the first half or more likely it was my imagination. There's no point in over analysing the 2nd half kickouts because of the extra man. The 2nd half did show that when Galway applied more pressure to Monaghans kickouts they did well on them and got plenty of scores as a direct result of winning them. I'm expecting Galway to really struggle for possession on Sunday which should lead to a comfortable Dublin win, I'm hoping this will lead to a change in strategy going forward with the kickouts.

It appears its only Galway who will suffer from a hammering by the Dubs, they've dished out hidings to practically everyone the last few years but its only it appears its only Galway who will suffer a huge psychological blow because of it. If Galway get beat by Mayo on the May the 13th it won't be down to two hammerings at the hands of the Dubs.

This is a young Galway panel who hopefully in a couple of years with 3 or 4 more additions may have a chance of challenging for the big prize.

I would not be so sure! Heavy defeats can be soul destroying especially for defenders!

Has anyone the view that Galway might go on and win this league title? Kerry this time last year fell into the final their form wasnt great while Galway have strolled into the final with a few games to spare. I suppose it all depends what is Galways plan B if and when Dublin break down their defensive system.

He's a bollix for doing it. So's the other guy as well. But Carragher should have known better.

Certainly should have known better. What was he at slowing down for a moron and then rolling down the window of his car to hear what he had to say in the first place? The reaction of spitting is downright disgusting.

Mayo team

1. Rob Hennelly - Breaffy
2. Caolan Crowe - Garrymore
3. Ger Cafferkey - Ballina Stephenites
4. Eoin O’Donoghue - Belmullet
5. Colm Boyle - Davitts
6. Lee Keegan - Westport
7. Michael Hall - Breaffy
8. Stephen Coen - Hollymount/Carramore
9. Seamus O'Shea - Breaffy
10. Kevin McLoughlin - Knockmore
11. Aidan O’Shea - Breaffy
12. Diarmuid O’Connor - Ballintubber
13. Jason Doherty - Burrishoole
14. Andy Moran - Ballaghaderreen
15. Adam Gallagher - Mayo Gaels

Team Manager: Stephen Rochford
Selectors: Donie Buckley, Peter Burke, Joe Keane & Tony McEntee.

The odds on P Durcan,T Parsons and C O Connor to start now after that dummy team is published?

A deserved win for Man United they defended and attacked better than Liverpool. The win all the more impressive when you consider United were without 7 players that probably would have featured if available for selection today.

Lucky break for Liverpool there poor from Bailly still think DeGea should have saved it. Game on again.

First one was a v good goal, second had plenty of luck with it

Poor nervous defending than luck to be honest.

2 deflections?

Lack of concentration and composure.

First one was a v good goal, second had plenty of luck with it

Poor nervous defending than luck to be honest.

Good goals from Arsenal. Milan were poor. Liverpool happy enough to have off loaded thon winger after that performance and Utd must be wondering about letting their lad go !

If Arsenal get as many important Europa league goals out of Mkhitaryan as United did last year they will be more than happy.

A lot of the energy is gone out of Spurs play, up to Kane to deliver another important late goal...

Lifeline for Juve out of nothing really.

Are Eir showing any live games on Sat night?

Tyrone v Donegal.

I've watched more competitive pre season games than that tonight 
No matter. None of the players broke a sweat and no injuries so all good.
Would have loved to see Ings get a goal though.

Talk about going through the motions!

Both teams.

Porto just wanted to avoid defeat on the night. Liverpool just wanted to get through the game with the minimum of effort.

The Porto support seemed to enjoy themselves anyway.

Did Mourinho kick a bottle into the crowd last night?

Amusing incidents as said there. At least he can crack a smile once in a while.

https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/970987790539415554

[Kildare v mayo could be the game of the weekend]

Kildare v mayo could be the game of the weekend,it's do or die for kildare,a win gives them a chance while mayo have the cushion of Tyrone at home in there next match to garner a minimum 4pts.i expect Galway to beat Monahan in a tight game what odds on both finishing with 15?
Wins for Dublin and donegal.

It could be, the last league meeting between the two was a high scoring game with Paddy Brophy standing out in a narrow win for Kildare.