Messages

Meehans, Fitzgerald return to Galway squad
09 March 2007


The Meehan brothers, Declan and Michael, along with former All-Star defender Kieran Fitzgerald, have returned to the Galway squad ahead of Sunday's NFL Division 1B meeting with Kildare.

The three took a break from the county set-up following the recent death of Mairead Meehan, girlfriend of Kieran Fitzgerald and sister of the Caltra clubmen.

Great to see the lads back in the squad after the tough times they have endured recently, although I would be surprised if any of them play a part on Sunday. 

Another must win game for Galway on Sunday.  A good win v Armagh must be built on, but definitely cannot afford to go a full half without scoring again !  PJ's return last time out combined with the introduction of Niall Coleman was crucial and in the end was the difference between the sides.  Coleman has to start this Sunday as his abrasive nature is exactly whats requied in this team at the moment.  Looks like we are still without the 2 Meehans, Fitzy and Gary Sice so team selection will not be a whole lot different from last day. 

Kildare are going very well at the moment and a win on Sunday wouldn't leave them that far off a semi spot.  I know their missing Sweeney but not sure who else is out through injury.  John Doyle is going great guns and hopefully Blake will at least break even here, if not, expect Damien Burke to be given the role of man marking him.

Galway have a very good record v Kildare in recent years, so Galway by 2 for me (hopefully !)

Just like to echo the sentiments of everyone here in wishing him a very speedy recovery.

Thanks for the match reports lads, didn't get to see it but by all accounts they had the bottle for the fight when required yesterday aganst the wind.

Derek Hardi' surpassed Pete Finnerty's 1993 record of warming up before being brought on.   

Best of luck Bud, get well soon, I expect you to be back here regularly in no time...........

Your in our thoughts

is this on the box tonight?

Yeah, BBC 1 @ 8pm

Where on Earth have all the other Galway posters gone?

On holidays till june,obviously dont want to witness the pearse stadium massacer in May

Would you ever fcuk off back to the Hoganstand or where ever you came from you Ross p***k. 

Where on Earth have all the other Galway posters gone?

There only seems to be four or five of us knocking around here at the moment.  Duine Eile is the most obvious absentee, seems to have disappeared around the same time as Barney for some reason ! 

A must win game for Galway otherwise its D2 football for us next season.  We were very poor v Derry and medicore at best v Laois, although we still should have taken at least a point from that one.  Big improvement needed from our midfield and forwards this weekend.  Both sectors have been very poor to date and scoring returns of 7 points in both our games is evidence enough of this.  Bergin needs to revert to midfield as both Cullinane and Geraghty are too similar in style and it just doesn't work.  I would probably partner him with Geraghty as IMO he is the better of the two. 

I have no doubt that confidence is low in the camp but hopefully the lads can put together 70 fully committed mins of football this weekend and get the 2 very badly needed points we require.  I will travel in hope, Galway by 2 !

A very poor match in which neither manager will have taken too much from the result for varying reasons.  Antrim started well and were the better side for the first 10 - 15 mins and a little more composure in front of the posts would have had them 3 - 4 points up in that period.  It took Galway 10 mins to register our first score (Cloonan free) and after a few more points were tagged on it became very lobsided.  The HT score was something like 2-09 to 0-03 after goals from K Broderick and D Tierney and the game was over as a contest.  McKeegan and Watson were Antrims two best players over the 70 mins and certainly deserved more for their efforts.  No points rating any of the Galway lads from this game as they were not really under any pressure for the vast majority of it.  The limerick game away will tell alot more.

Was in the vicinity (Hogan Premium) of Trevor Brennan and friends prior to the game and I can honestly say that no one mentioned his mother or pub 

As you requested milltown -

A Ryan - new to the team
D Joyce - solid defender over the past few years
S Kavanagh - has revolved between 3 & 6 over the past few years, not very consistent up to now
F Moore - didn't feature under Conor Hayes' reign, not sure if this is his best position
D Forde - centre half forward last year, interesting switch
J Lee - an outstanding minor (we have loads !!!) winner a few years back, this his best position
D Collins - was superb 2 years ago and poor last year, well capable of leading by example when in form

Galway should be chomping at the bit for this one.  Might be closer than most people think as I'm sure Loughnane is running the hole of the Galway lads this time of year and legs will be heavy !

Just like to wish Tourmak all the best at the weekend, I know a couple of the older players there and it really would be a massive achievement for them to reach an AIF. 

A very poor performance from our lads yesterday.  Competed well for the first 15 - 20 mins but Derry basically took total control of the game there after and ran out very convincing winners.  We actually went about half an hour without scoring during the second half !  As has already been said here, problems persist in the same area's as usual, but hopefully there will be a marked improvement against Laois.  Its been a tough week on alot of these fella's so I'm certainly giving them the benefit of the doubt as regards yesterday.  Need to lower the blades from next week on though.........................

Just back from hibernation GBB, hope you've wintered well 

I haven't seen a Galway team named anywhere but i imagine it will be along the lines of what was doing the business in the FBD.  Derry are as unpredictible as hell, either brilliant or shite.  They are extremely reliant on Paddy Bradley for scores and I would expect Damian Burke to be given the job of looking after him for the 70 mins.  He is well up to the task and if he succeeds i expect us to win comfortably enough, if not, we could be in for a torrid afternoon. 

Galway by 4