Ford Quits as Galway Boss
Peter Ford has become the latest inter-county manager to quit his job this summer - the former Mayo footballer ended his tenure as Galway senior football boss last night.
Ford relayed his decision to the Galway County Board last night. The board will hope to find a new manager who can guide the county back to All-Ireland SFC success and relive the glory days of 1998 and 2001.
Ford had hinted after that 2-14 to 1-14 loss to the Royals that it could have been his last game in charge of Galway.
The Mayo native took charge of Galway in October 2004 and during his time as manager he guided them to just one title - a Connacht SFC triumph - in his first year in charge.
The Galway County Board are already believed to be at an advanced stage in appointing Ford's successor.
Looks like Peters comment after they beat Mayo in a game was not so right after all."Its easy to win when you are on the right side of the border" .Ally this to Galways star men getting stale with so much football played and the new stars not really being as good as expected and you can see his lot was not that great to start with.
Quote from: mannix on August 10, 2007, 08:42:14 AM
Looks like Peters comment after they beat Mayo in a game was not so right after all."Its easy to win when you are on the right side of the border" .Ally this to Galways star men getting stale with so much football played and the new stars not really being as good as expected and you can see his lot was not that great to start with.
Don't think too many in Galway were getting carried away with Galway's "new stars" - nobody these days believes that underage success automatically transfers to senior. The 'old' stars actually haven't that much (c'ship) football played in the past few years either - they've usually been eliminated by start August latest. Staleness really shouldn't be a factor.
Quote from: mannix on August 10, 2007, 08:42:14 AM
Looks like Peters comment after they beat Mayo in a game was not so right after all."Its easy to win when you are on the right side of the border" .Ally this to Galways star men getting stale with so much football played and the new stars not really being as good as expected and you can see his lot was not that great to start with.
People in glass houses and all that Mannix. He did win an All-Ireland U21 in his first year. Before that achievement is written off, a title at that grade was celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm north of the border when Mayo won it in 2006.
We might not have been "that great to start with", but certainly better than Mayo.
Good to see Forde gone, but thankful for some of his work. Contrary to popular media belief, Galway's rebuilding doesn't just start now, it's been going on since Forde came in. We've replaced a lot of big players, Fahy, Mannion, and Finnegan with Hanley, Blake and Armstrong. We've also found Nicky Joyce who's really lead our attack this season.
Hopefully Padraig Joyce will help the young lads coming through, without halting their progress. How the next manager achieves this balancing act will be very important. We still need to scour the county for a couple of midfielders and half forwards. Unfortunately for Mayo, there's not many in Galway who think we're back to the bad days of the 80s. Moreover there's a quiet changing of the guard taking place. Galway were never going to win Sam with Forde in charge, getting rid of him is just another change in time for our capture of Sam in 2009!
Good to see Forde gone, but thankful for some of his work. Contrary to popular media belief, Galway's rebuilding doesn't just start now, it's been going on since Forde came in. We've replaced a lot of big players, Fahy, Mannion, and Finnegan with Hanley, Blake and Armstrong. We've also found Nicky Joyce who's really lead our attack this season.
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Think Galway have replaced everyone except O'Domhnaill and Walsh - two of the most under estimated midfielders in my opinion. For all the class in the forward line if you dont have quality in the middle its so much harder.. I dont think Galway would of won the All Irelands without these lads.
Quote from: heineken_on_tap on August 10, 2007, 11:14:21 AM
Good to see Forde gone, but thankful for some of his work. Contrary to popular media belief, Galway's rebuilding doesn't just start now, it's been going on since Forde came in. We've replaced a lot of big players, Fahy, Mannion, and Finnegan with Hanley, Blake and Armstrong. We've also found Nicky Joyce who's really lead our attack this season.
Think Galway have replaced everyone except O'Domhnaill and Walsh - two of the most under estimated midfielders in my opinion. For all the class in the forward line if you dont have quality in the middle its so much harder.. I dont think Galway would of won the All Irelands without these lads.
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You're definitely right with Walsh, but Ó Domhnaill I don't think so. He wasn't involved in 2001, but in fairness to him he played his part in '98.
Problem is Mickey Donnellan is/was irreplaceable as he was so unique and now it looks like PJ is well cooked and his shoes will be big ones to fill.
there is too much emphasis played on the role of the manager anyway,as magpie seanie said those players named are irreplaceable and if your lucky enough to be a manager when a bunch of talented footballers comes along like did with galway in 1998 and 2001 then you can make a name for yourself look at jom. Or course the manager can help with getting the right structures in place, tactcis and the likes but if you don't have the players forget about it.People in mayo foolishly thought that jom was going to be the answer to mayo's problems but at the end of the day he wasn't, the reason been the players were just not good enough
Quote from: magpie seanie on August 10, 2007, 12:21:48 PM
Problem is Mickey Donnellan is/was irreplaceable as he was so unique and now it looks like PJ is well cooked and his shoes will be big ones to fill.
Well Donnellan was unique although to be fair to him Nicky Joyce has done a good impression of him this year.
Well Donnellan and Paul Clancy both retired a bit early IMO even though they have both had niggling injuries in recent years. Kevin Walsh (who had his own injury troubles) played on well into his 30's and he said that "he'd be retired long enough" once he finished up. When you see the likes of the older Geraghty and Fay still doing the business for Meath you'd have to think that the the other two called it a day a bit early. Donnellan is still playing great stuff for Salthill. Joyce by the way has no intentions of retiring yet according to himself.
However there is still a lot of talent in the county certainly comparable to and probably even more than some of the sides that reached the quarter-finals this year so no reason why they shouldn't do better next year with the right managment in place and a willingness to fix certain problems. I'd guarantee the team would be improved beyond sight with a Kevin Walsh type midfielder in there. Unfortunately those types don't grow on trees.
Anyway the only names I've heard linked so far have been...
Brian Talty
Gay McManus
Eoin O'Donnellan
DJ Galliv,
I am well aware of the Mayo glasshouse, 4 senior losses in 10 years has seen to that for ever.U21 stars do not always make senior stars because its a big jump for anyone except the top few.
Peters comment after that game really stuck in my head, hard to believe a Mayoman saying that after beating his own county.After losing to Sligo he knew his day was over no matter what else happened,quite sure he was told too.
Great news for Galway fans.
If they get the right man, they'll be up there in the top 5 in no time at all.
Definitely much more talented skill-wise than the likes of Dublin or Cork.
As expected Ford has gone. Things didn't work out for him, I think that to be fair he probably didn't have the players to win an all ireland but his indecision on the line for the Cork match in 2005 was the real end of him. We were going well that year and really that was a game left behind for us, just look at first time manager's records recently and the momentum that counties seem to have under their tenure, we should have won that game.
Many of his moves during games were suspect enough, taking Meehan off in the Sligo game and moving Nicky when he was doing damage where he was were huge mistakes. In retrospect everyone critised him for dropping Joyce for the Meath game this year but hindsight is 20/20 vision, Joyce was muck in the Leitrim and Sligo games and changes were needed. Ford was a good man to get a team ready but on the line he wasn't up to the top level.
Losing to very average Westmeath and Sligo teams in 06 and 07 wasn't a good return in those years but best of luck to Peter in the future.
QuoteAnyway the only names I've heard linked so far have been...
Brian Talty
Gay McManus
Eoin O'Donnellan
Don't think that Eoin O'Donnellan or Pete Warren should be considered, a clean break from the current setup (and indeed from the previous Ford selectors) is what is needed.
QuoteGreat news for Galway fans.
If they get the right man, they'll be up there in the top 5 in no time at all.
Definitely much more talented skill-wise than the likes of Dublin or Cork.
Disagree with that, Ford wasn't the right man but there's too much talk about "potential" Galway talent; at the end of the day it's up to players on the pitch to put in the performances to match.
Whoever comes in to take the reins they need to sort out midfield (easier said than done), leave Mike Meehan at FF for 70 minutes every match, get Armstrong playing to his potential, try and coax something out of P Joyce in the half forwards, tweak the backline to be a bit tighter (I don't think it is as bad as the Meath or Sligo game would have us believe, any defence will buckle under constant pressure) and most of all sort out the way the team as a whole plays, too many lads played as individuals under Ford's tenure and a game plan was not in evidence at times.
Galway are poor enough at the minute, it's a a big ask for whoever comes in.
Forde had to go and was about to be pushed. I'm glad as I don't think he was up to the job. He had a good start but the second half collapse to Cork in the quarter final a couple of years ago was the start of the rot.
The rumour is it's going to be a local man, no money for a manager from the outside. God knows who it is but they have a big job ahead of them. Midfield and the half forward line are in serious need of repair and could do with a few new faces aswell. Hopefully some of the minors will perform next day out so give us all a lift.
Question: When was the last Galway minor team in Croke Park? Have they appeared since the back door opened in 2001. I can't remember a Galway minor team in Croke Park since 1995. Am I right?
Paidi O'Shea?
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on August 10, 2007, 01:29:39 PM
Anyway the only names I've heard linked so far have been...
Brian Talty
Gay McManus
Eoin O'Donnellan
There's a man in Castlebar with a great suntan..... 8) ;D
Pleeeeease take the *******
About time Ford stood down, now John Maughan will apply for the job.
QuotePaidi O'Shea?
Quotenow John Maughan will apply for the job.
I'd rather put Bunty Roche in charge.
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on August 10, 2007, 07:33:19 PM
QuotePaidi O'Shea?
Quotenow John Maughan will apply for the job.
I'd rather put Bunty Roche in charge.
Or Bunny Carr?
Quote from: Rossfan on August 10, 2007, 07:15:06 PM
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on August 10, 2007, 01:29:39 PM
Anyway the only names I've heard linked so far have been...
Brian Talty
Gay McManus
Eoin O'Donnellan
There's a man in Castlebar with a great suntan..... 8) ;D
Pleeeeease take the *******
Long before Maughan and O'Hara, Gay McManus sported the best tan in Connacht GAA. Was a very skillfull footballer too.
Quote from: Turlough O Carolan on August 10, 2007, 09:53:45 PM
Quote from: Rossfan on August 10, 2007, 07:15:06 PM
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on August 10, 2007, 01:29:39 PM
Anyway the only names I've heard linked so far have been...
Brian Talty
Gay McManus
Eoin O'Donnellan
There's a man in Castlebar with a great suntan..... 8) ;D
Pleeeeease take the *******
Long before Maughan and O'Hara, Gay McManus sported the best tan in Connacht GAA.
Well Galway is usually ahead of the curve in the tanning stakes in fairness. Although Maughan and O'Hara have made big strides for the rest of Connacht.
My old coach at St Mary's Liam Sammon linked with the job in today's Indo.
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on August 16, 2007, 01:04:28 PM
My old coach at St Mary's Liam Sammon linked with the job in today's Indo.
Also a big spread in todays Advertiser............. A bit of a surprise to be honest, didnt think this would would be offered to or even of interest to him at this stage of his career. Is he still involved with St Marys or is he retired ?
I presumed he was still in Mary's but I haven't been back to the old school for a few years so I could be wrong.
He's a very good coach but I'm surprised to see him linked to the job at this late stage of his career.
What age is Liam Sammon now? Ah I remember the days back in Mary's, he would eat the head off you if you didn't wear the correct Mary's gear to training, and guess who sold the only Mary's gear in town at the time - you guessed it Mr Sammon.
He is still a great coach and would have the respect of the players, unlike Mr Ford.
You need to have that with some of the names still involved in the Galway squad.
I have heard that Gay McManus will be manager with Sammon as selector/coach
see big JOE kernan says in todays Irish News he has been approached by 2 counties and has turned them down, could Galway be one
Doubtful, I thought the word was they couldn't afford an outside manager so they were going for an internal manager. I'd say it would cost a fair bit to bring Joe from Cross to "the West" a couple of times a week.
Im want to be the first to nominate the dream team....the Bunt as director of football, Maughan as manager, Ned Burns selector and bring back Ray Silke to captain the team! ;) ;) :D
Keane to play in goal!!
Eoin Donnellan is the meant to be one of the hot candidates due to him being a selector under forde and also cos of bringing my local club Salthill/Knocknacarra to 2005 All-Ireland Club championship win.
Brian Talty..still a dublin selector however he has expressed his views in recent years that he'd jump at the chance to manage Galway after playing for them all those years ago.
Liam Salmon..great player in his day..great coach also..i remember he used to run summer camps in Marys years ago..not sure if he still does, but i think he would make a great galway manager.
THe board have said that they intend to look inside the county for a manager before going outside..though if they were to go outside the likes of
John Maughan is staying on for another year at least with Roscommon, he announced it last night on RTE news.
other speculations are with Colm O'Rourke though i cant see it happening
Paidi O' Sea would be a good bet as weill in my opinion but once again i cant see it happening.
Forde tried his best with Galway but didnt get far...he didnt achieve much when he was with sligo either...there is alot of youth coming through and the likes of blake,armstrong and nicky joyce are players that will develop into a strong team and hopefully the experience of padraig joyce will guide young players through..the team has been under a transition period with forde trying different tactics and hopefully this will follow through with the new manager in order to be ready for the run up to next years all-ireland.
Galway have alot of skilful players coming through but they are missing the vital spark that they had in 98 and 01, only time will tell if they can regain this..but holding on to the past isnt the way forward only focusing on whats to come and developing a team with what they have..all galway fans will wait and see and hope the team can regain its strength in order to be decent contenders for next year.
Duine Eile, I see Pateen Devane is on the committee to select new manager......there goes the Salthill fella's chance od getting it!!!! ;D
Yeah heard that alright, sure Billy's a shoo in now! :D