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Galway GAA officials tonight have scotched widespread rumours that Padraic Joyce is stepping down as senior football team manager.

If you believe the rumours going around the squad members had a vote this week and voted overwhelmingly for a change in management.

Dublin got all the calls after the end of normal time against Donegal, can't feel that sorry for them today

Got the calls against Galway as well. Swings and roundabouts.

So the free count from Sunday was 21-6 in Dublins favour, Galway every right to feel cheated. Countless frees for a Dublin player grabbing a Galways players arm and holding it in, thought refs were wise to this especially when it happened in full view of Gough. He was right in front of Conroy in the build up to the penalty when he went to grab a bouncing ball when the boot of a Dublin player came in, a free obvious free which he would given in the other direction.


Bad enough trying to win a game when the kickout out strategy stinks but you've got no chance with a ref like that.

I've been looking for the free count since Sunday and found it very difficult to find for such a basic statistic.

As a neutral - I didn't want either Dublin or Galway to win. But at a push - I wanted Galway to lose.

With that in mind - how in the F*ck did David Gough get a Dublin game?
The lad lives and works in Dublin. He gave all the tight calls to Dublin.
There is no doubt about that.

Ignore the final 15 minutes. Before all that he gave Dublin 3 or 4 frees on kick outs. Galway got zero. Are you telling me only Galway were fouling going up for kick outs? Give me a break.

Plenty to criticise Galway for today. Kick outs, certain players not performing, etc. But the least you expect is fair play from the ref.

Cork very limited up front outside Sherlock who is their only reliable shooter. Especially now that Hurley is a sub. Chris Og Jones dangerous with his pace running the ball alright. Some of their shooting was atrocious. Energy draining wides. Had more than enough possession.

All Ireland SFC QF details:

Saturday

1600 - Cork v Mayo - GAA+

1815 - Kerry v Tyrone - GAA+

Sunday

1345 - Louth v Monaghan - RTÉ

1600 - Dublin v Galway - RTÉ

I'm not sure where all the belief in Galway is coming from. They have been bang average and haven't set the place alight. As others have said Kerry look to be coming good at the right time. Galway to me are at a level with the rest.

We know the talent they have and for the first time since 2022 they've near enough a full deck. (Bar the new celebrity) They're a very good side and will be hard stopped.

Matthew Thompson is still out. And is a big loss. I would feel more confident in our chances if he was available. Despite last year being his first year on the panel.

Meath red card looked a very dubious decision. More or less settled the game as well. Was 8 points to 1 after that.

Very poor performance from Galway today. Whoever wins on Sunday will be favourites for the Connacht title despite Galway going for 5 in a row or whatever. They just didn't seem up for the game at all. If Barry McNulty had his shooting boots on, Leitrim could have won that game. Goalkeeper issue hangs over this Galway side like a black veil.  You can't be coughing up scores due to your own awful kick outs.

Not unusual to struggle in the first game out. Galway could easily have lost to Sligo 2 years ago and they ended up in the AI final. They need something similar to compete the next day out. Best you can say is that Joyce said he has a stick to beat them with now for the next 2 weeks. It'll be badly needed.

Main team news for Galway Comer,Walsh return from injury



For Mayo a championship debut for Kobe.

Is that 5 players from the Gaeltacht region starting for Galway?

Yes, few more on the bench as well. Technically Moycullen is in the Gaeltacht as well even though it's largely English speaking so you have to include Sean Kelly. I think he has Irish. 

Think I can count 6 Irish speakers starting and another 2 on the bench. Cian Hernon's father is from the Aran Islands so presume he has Irish. Paul Conroy's father is from Connemara.

Possibility Comer has Irish as well but don't think I've heard him speaking it.

Nice mix of lads from the city gaeltacht and north of the county.

Is Claregalway loosely classified as Galetacht also?

Always in irish on road signs.

Yes, Most it not all of Claregalway is still in the Gaeltacht I believe. Although wouldn't be much Irish spoken out there these days. Traditionally there was a good bit.

Main team news for Galway Comer,Walsh return from injury



For Mayo a championship debut for Kobe.

Is that 5 players from the Gaeltacht region starting for Galway?

Yes, few more on the bench as well. Technically Moycullen is in the Gaeltacht as well even though it's largely English speaking so you have to include Sean Kelly. I think he has Irish. 

Think I can count 6 Irish speakers starting and another 2 on the bench. Cian Hernon's father is from the Aran Islands so presume he has Irish. Paul Conroy's father is from Connemara.

Possibility Comer has Irish as well but don't think I've heard him speaking it.

Armagh should be looking to stay up from here. Win in croker vs a no great shakes Dublin and then a big home performance vs a half motivated Kerry on the last day. Would leave them on 6. Galway will beat monaghan to get to 6. Dublin if they need it will beat Galway on last day in Salthill to get to 6. Ros will lose to Donegal at home and Mayo away most likely to also finish on 6 but will go back down with Monaghan on scoring difference.

Would be some effort from the Rossies to go down from where they were this morning. Still think Monaghan and Armagh is the most likely pair to drop. Looking at the fixtures. Not impossible that there could be a 3 or even 4 way tie though.

Armagh the wild card. They could beat the Dubs in Croker and could beat a disinterested Kerry at home on the last day.

Robbed off X. I imagine Padraig Joyce would swap all those wins for one in the AI final.

Armagh-Galway recent rivalry:

Galway on penalties
Galway by 2
Armagh by 1
Draw
Armagh by 1 (All-Ire final)
Galway by 6
Galway by 1
Galway by 1