Messages

Considering your last post was an attack on Mike McGurn is this another veiled personal attack 'the goal was on'?
I'd consider it a mark of our game that a GAA coach would be in demand by a team like Wasps.

John McCloskey has trained teams to win All Ireland club titles with Cross, Ulster titles, NFL's and an All Ireland with Armagh and an NFL with Derry - perhaps one of the most successful GAA trainers in Ireland - might he not actually have a point?

Many county teams have two trainers - and S&C and a Football coach/trainer. In his case Armagh did, Derry did and I can think of at least 4 Ulster counties off the top of my head and Kerry and Cork who had/have 2 'trainers' involved in their preparation.
Whether you think that's excessive or not is irrelevant - that's the norm in most counties. So he is talking sense there.

Also, when Joe took over I was always under the impression it was a 2 year deal.

I agree that you need to show some improvement in year 1 - no argument there - but I would have thought for a county like Galway to think they can win an AI in one year is nonsense, and a 2 year deal would have made perfect sense. They weren't exactly racking up provincial titles in the past decade!

WRT you dig at him 'touting for work' I'd imagine with his, Joe's experience and success rate a county could do worse than have the two of those involved.

No one in Galway was expecting an All-Ireland in year one lets be clear about this to start with. If he achieved any of the following we would  of being very happy

* brought in some new players that he could of developed further in year 2
* improved the players that were already in the panel
* beat a team outside of connaught

Instead what we got was

* 75% of the panel went backwards
* no new players brought in
* a distinct lack of team work
* couldn't keep the best 30 players on the panel

Its a bit much of John McCloskey to come out in the press complaining about the county board not coughing up the money, does he realise that we are in the middle of a recession ?? In fairness though McCloskey only got involved with Galway in June of this year, I'm not sure why he would want his name associated with what happened this  year.

For me the whole thing smells of "The Emperor's New Clothes", during the league we were told wait until the championship, now their saying wait until year 2 ... yea right ...

I'm not surprised that he is going, I doubt they could of afforded him for another year. I'm sure anyone that contributed to his "expenses" last year would not of being impressed with the return they got this year.

Guys,

Its a bit of cop out to blame Pearse Stadium for the poor attendance on Saturday, in my opinion the main factors were

1) Galway supporters are very poor, it was every evident at the replay against Sligo where the Galway support was very thin on the ground. Also if you look at minor and u21 matches that are still held in Tuam, Galway supporters are regularly outnumbered.
2) The match was on tv, much easier to stay at home and not get wet
3) 20 euros in, the terrace at 15 euros wasn't an option on Saturday
4) 2pm on a saturday is a lousy time for a match

Having the match in Tuam may have brought a slightly larger crowd, however then you will have people from the west complaining about traffic in Tuam, to say that 5000 would of attended the match is really stretching the imagination.

Part of the reason why Pearse Stadium was done up was to encourage GAA in the city. Given the steady stream of underage titles heading to the city & west things aren't going to bad in that regard.

I doubt Big Joe was very impressed by the talent on show yesterday, two of our best forwards, Meehan and Armstrong were very quiet, both matches were of a very average standard. Selectors are to be named in the coming weeks, apparently nobody has been spoken to yet, rumours still going around about Alan Mulholland being nearly a cert for one position though.

On different note, the county final is to be played in Tuam this year from what I've heard, first time in about 7 years. Fantastic crowd there yesterday, about 8,000. John Joe and the lads must have finally conceded that neutrals don't travel to Pearse Stadium.

I'm surprised to hear that there was 8,000 at it, Galway Bay FM had the attendance at half that, with the general consensus being that the crowd was boasted by the attendance of big Joe.  I don't think Pearse Stadium has hosted a county semi-final double header in recent times so we don't have any numbers to compare against. I'm yet to be convinced that Galway has a huge football following that will only come to matches in Tuam Stadium.

However it will be interesting to see how many people attend the county final in Tuam, we will be able to do a genuine comparison on last years figures. Having being at Tuam stadium over the past week its fair to say that a lot of work has gone into improving the grounds, however the toilets there are a disgrace. I had the misfortune to enter them, never again

Well done to the Galway City & West U16 team who captured the Ted Webb trophy in Ballyhaunis on Saturday. Hopefully some of this success can be brought forward to minor level where we haven't being competitive since we won the All-Ireland.

I'm not, but you don't need to be particularily intelligent to pick good selectors, that's more a football knowledge thing and I'd imagine his selectors may have been proposed by others unless he was heavily involved in Sligo club football himself. By the way, to make it clear, I'm not attacking Walsh as a manager but I am questioning the logic of those championing his case for Galway based on his record to date, which is only decent at best.

I agree, Its hard to imagine that kevin would of had that much knowledge of the Sligo scene to able to pick his own selectors. Did the county board pick them ? As far as I remember the galway county board selected Joyce & warren for O'Mahoney in 1997.

I did mention him - but I wasn't sure of his name. I was surprised he didn't get it the last time.

When Liam made it known that he was interested in the job two years ago no one had a chance.

Was there interviews two years ago ?  Possibly, but that was just to please the delegates. Originally the line from the football board was,

"there is a man who has a fierce interest in Galway football and the board thinks he should get the job"

Things will be a bit more formal this time around with John Joe and Seamus O'Grady at the helm of the football board now.

Mick Deegan- took fingal ravens from inter to senior and to the all-ireland intermediate club final last year. Trained the dublin juniors to win the ll-ireland last year as well. No dis-respect to my clubmen- but he should have got the Dublin job IMO.

As for Galway- beyond Frank Doherty you're struggling fro native Galway men.

Why is Eoin Donnellon being ignored on this thread ? He has managed Salthill to an All Ireland, He also managed NUI,G in 07 , was a selector with Galway for a year. He's currently involved with Michael Breatnachs and St Brigids in Roscommon.

As far as I'm aware Frank Doherty was ran out of Clare. His background wasn't gaelic football as far as I'm aware either.

What's with the Kevin Walsh love-in, what exactly has he achieved that makes him a good candidate for the Galway job? Last year Jason Ryan was being lauded as the best young manager in Ireland and Liam Sammon was hailed for the way he had Galway playing, 12 months on neither is flavour of the month. Walsh got Sligo out of division 4 but that should have been a given and his team were beaten in both of their championship games against division 1 teams so while Sligo did ok under his stewardship he hasn't proven anything yet and it would be a risk and ultimately a mistake to try and give him the Galway job now.

Well said, As far as I'm aware Kevin has only managed two teams (Aran Islands, a Junior A outfit) and Sligo. Basically two years of management experience. Last Autumn he wasn't rated enough to be given the Galway minor job and now after a reasonable run with Sligo he is being touted as a Galway Senior manager. It would be a huge mistake to have a cursory look at how sligo performed this year and credit all the success to one man. What role did his selectors play ? We need someone who has experience of managing teams or failing that some ex player who has a strong interest in the preparation of teams.

Also we need to start bringing ex players into county management roles at underage, so as they can be groomed for bigger jobs in the future.

Liam Sammon has put in a huge amount of work into Galway football over the years and should be commended for it, however his time as Galway manager was up.

The only credible name that comes to mind within the County is Eoin Donnellan, he was interested in the job two years ago so hopefully he is still interested.

it could be a close one but as the fella says its all on the day and who gets the breaks.is it really that hard to get to and from pearse stadium with traffic?

Fairly hard alright. Pearse Stadium is smack bang in the middle of a huge housing estate so you have to negotiate a maze of roads to get into and out of Salthill and the main road from Salthill back into the city centre is sure to be jammers. The traffic is woeful there even after club games played in front of 10,000 so you can imagine what it's like with 30,000+ there.

not many club matches in Galway attract crowds of 10,000+, i would say only the hurling club final attracts that type of crowd. Galway people aren't great for following their teams, take for example Galway V Ros in the minors last year, we were out numbers in Tuam.

Tuam is not without its traffic problems, the league match this year was delayed by 15 minutes due to crowd congestion. The traffic going into Tuam that day was crazy.

M   Comer : Michael Comer, Corofin
R   Silke : Ray Silke, Corofin
J   Divilly : John Divilly, Kilkerrin/Clonberne (Later Leixlip)
S_Óg   de Paor   : Sean Óg DePaor,Carraroe
M   Duggan   : Morgan Duggan (Annaghdown)
P   Clancy   : Paul Clancy, Moycullen
S   Walsh   : Shay Walsh, Glenamaddy
L   Colleran : Lorcan Colleran, Spiddal
D   Savage  : Derek Savage, Cortoon
J   Donnellan  : John Donnellan, Dunmore (Later Tuam)
C   Donnellan  : Chris Donnellan, Dunmore
A   Fitzpatrick  : Adrian Fitzpatrick (Annaghdown)
M   Colleran   : Michael Colleran, Spiddal
T   Joyce   : Tommie Joyce, Kilererin
P   Lally   : Padraig Lally, Spiddal (Spiddal is correct)
T   Meehan   : Tomás Meehan, Caltra
G   Fahey   : Gary Fahey, Kilanin
R   Fahey   : Richie Fahey, Kilanin
D   Meehan   : Declan Meehan, Caltra
J   Killeen      : Jason Killeen, Corofin
K   Naughton   : Karl ? Naughton, Ballinasloe (St. Grellans)
P   Joyce   : Padraig Joyce, Kilererin
K   Fitzgerald   : Kieran Fitxgerad, Corofin
J   Bergin   : Joe Bergin: Mountbellew/Moylough
M   Donnellan   : Michael Donnellan, Dunmore (Later Salthill/Knocknacarra)
K   Comer   : Kieran Comer (Corofin)
S   O'Domhnaill   : Sean O'Domhaill (Carraroe)
M   Clancy   : Matthew Clancy (Ougterard)
T   Mannion   : Tomás Mannion (Monivea / Abbey)
J   Fallon   : Jarlath Fallon (Tuam Stars)
A   Kerins   : Alan Kerins (Salthill / Knocknacarra)
K   Walsh   : Kevin Walsh (Kilanin)
A   Keane  : Alan Keane (Kilererin)
D   Cronin   : David Cronin (Dunmore)
D   Blake    : Diarmuid Blake (Milltown)
D   Burke   : Damien Burke (Corofin)
B   Dooney : Barry Dooney (Salthill / Knocknacarra)
C   Fitzgerald  ---> Different to K fitzgerald?
M   Cloherty : Michael Cloerthy (Carna/ Cashel)
D   O'Brien   : Derry O'Brien (Mountbellew / Moylough(
E   Killeen    : Emmett Kileen (Corofin)
T   Carton   : Tommy Carton (Tuam Stars)
M   Meehan   : Michael Meehan (Caltra)
N   Joyce   : Nicky Joyce (kilererin)
K   Brady   : kevin Brady (Kilconly)
B   Donoghue   : Brian Donoghue (Claregalway)
C   Monaghan   : Clive Monaghan (Caherlistrane)
D   Mullahy   : Darraen Mullahy (Milltown)
J   Devane   : John Devane (Milltown)
N   Meehan   Noel Meehan (Caltra)
T   Giblin   : Tomás Giblin (Glenamaddy
T   Costelloe  :: Thomas Costello (Corofin)
N   Coleman   : Niall Coleman (Annaghdown)
V   Feeney   : Val feeney ( Carna / Casehl)
P   Geraghty  : Paul geraghty ( Glenamaddy)
S   Armstrong :  Sean Armstrong (Salthill /Knocjnacarra)
A   Burke   : Alan Burke (Corofin)
B   Cullinane   : Barry Cullinane (Claregalway)
F   Hanley   : Finian Hanley (Salthill Knocknacarra)
D   Dunleavy   : Damien Dunleavy (Kilkerrin / Clonberne)
B_Og   O'Callarain : Brendan Óg O'Callarain (Spiddal)
C   Bane   : Cormac Bane (Caherlistrane)
D   Marley   
C   Blake   : Cathal Blake (Milltown)
P   Skelly  : Philip Skelly (Caherlistrane)
R   Gibbons   : Raymond Gibbons (Killanin)
D   Ward   : David Ward (Cortoon)
A   O'Donovan   : Alan O'Donavan (Corofin)
D   O'Curraoin   
D   O'Malley   : Daragh O'Malley (St. brendans)
F   Burke   : Frankie Burke (Annaghdown)
N   Coyne   : Niall Coyne (Carna / Cashel)
B   Faherty   : Brian Faherty (Moycullen)
F   Breathnach   : Fiachra Breathnach (Leitir Mór)
K   Kilroy   : Kevin Kilroy (Caltra)
P   Doherty   : Paul Doherty (Tuam Stars)
A   Glynn   : Alan Glynn (St. Michaels)
G   Sice   : gary Sice (Corofin)
J   Boylan   : John Boylan (Salthill / Knocknacarra)
P   Gately  : paul Gately (Caltra)
C   King   : Colm King (Monivea / Abbey)
A   Faherty : Adrian Faherty (Claregalway)
M   Lydon   : Mark Lydon (Moycullen)
M   Gottsche   : Mark Gottsche (Oranmore / Maree)
C   Kenny   : Cathal Kenny (Mountbellew / Moylough)
G   Bradshaw   : Gareth Bradshaw (Moycullen)
D   Finnegan   : David Finnegan (Cortoon Shamrocks)
G   O'Donnell   : Gary O'Donnell (Tuam Stars)
E   Hoare   : Eddie Hoare (St Michaels)
P   Conroy  : Paul Conroy (St. James)
T   Hughes  : Thomas Hughes (Kilererin)
J   Ryan   : Jonathan Ryan  (Kilkerrin Clonberne)
M   Coady   : Martin Coady (Oughterard)
JJ   Greaney : Joe Joe Greaney (Oughterard)
D   Reilly   David Reilly (Menlough)
C   Hands  Colman ? Hands (Oranmore Maree)
Fiachra   Breathnach   ----> F   Breathnach

Well Done to Seamus on being elected the new football board secretary.

Westboard Junior A,B,C Minor A,B U21 A,B draws

http://www.barnagaa.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=156

well done to Killererin, definitely the better team on the day, Nicky was wasted for most of the first half until he was brought out the pitch, he started to do some real damage then. Killererin's midfield dominence was pretty impressive, after a lot of niggling between the teams in the second half, PJ gave a very modest speech ... inviting all the scans back to the red gap...

The crowd was pathetic, compared to the crowd that attended the hurling final last weekend, 5,000 v 15,000, would three times as many people have attended the match if it was on in tuam ?

Martin Mac was way over board, it wont be long before selectors will be banned from the sideline, even two on the milltown subs who were "warming up" got into spot of bother

Monivea pushed St James all the way in the minor, Im sure they will feel agrieved that they had to play the intermediate final the day before the minor A final.