Sam Maguire 2024 Group 1 - Galway, Armagh, Derry, Westmeath

[illdecide]

If it's one thing I've learned over the years is not to get carried away with Armagh as they will bite you on the ass at some stage, the win against Derry was great but i'm not losing the run of myself over it either. My mind hasn't changed much from a month ago, Dublin are no 1 and Kerry are no 2 teams in the Country. There is little to nothing separating the other Counties below who can all beat each other in any given day with a bit of luck. (They're in random order BTW)

Armagh
Derry
Tyrone
Mayo
Donegal
Cork
Galway

Roscommon and Monaghan can still pack a punch but seem to have dropped a bit this year. TBH I've not looked at the draw if in fact it has been made at this stage but if Dublin and Kerry can meet at a potential Semi final then one of the 7 teams above will get to an All Ireland Final and anything can happen in a one off game.

[Maroon Manc]

You can't fancy Galway in any big game without Damo. He is that important to us.
The other two bucks big losses also - Finnerty especially as we only have three lads who can do damage on the scoreboard and himself and Comer are two of them.

Galway definitely not the same side without Comer. He's literally a difference maker. He raises the level of the players around him when he's on the pitch. Kelly and Finnerty serious losses as well. Finnerty is playing the best football of his career. Kelly not back to his best yet after his long injury but one of the best footballers in the country when he's 100%. Those are players you need going up against the best sides.

Even from kickouts he's a huge out ball for Gleeson, took 2 marks against Derry & Mayo  from kickouts which is phenomenal for someone playing full forward.

Didn't see the Westmeath game, did McDaid spend much time in the full forward line?

If Finnerty doesn't return then I just don't see how they'll get enough scores, just not enough scoring threat on the pitch last Sunday against Westmeath; Started the game with 7 natural defenders and 4 midfielders, O'Currain after a promising league is getting very little game time.

Lose and Galway are going to need a lot of luck to make inroads in the championship.

[yellowcard]

If it's one thing I've learned over the years is not to get carried away with Armagh as they will bite you on the ass at some stage, the win against Derry was great but i'm not losing the run of myself over it either. My mind hasn't changed much from a month ago, Dublin are no 1 and Kerry are no 2 teams in the Country. There is little to nothing separating the other Counties below who can all beat each other in any given day with a bit of luck. (They're in random order BTW)

Armagh
Derry
Tyrone
Mayo
Donegal
Cork
Galway

Roscommon and Monaghan can still pack a punch but seem to have dropped a bit this year. TBH I've not looked at the draw if in fact it has been made at this stage but if Dublin and Kerry can meet at a potential Semi final then one of the 7 teams above will get to an All Ireland Final and anything can happen in a one off game.

I don't see either Tyrone or Cork as being good enough to get to an AI final. With Derry's self implosion I don't see them salvaging anything from their season now either - a quarter final is the best they can hope for now. Armagh, Donegal, Mayo or Galway all have the potential to make a final depending on the draw. Otherwise I can only see it as being another Dublin v Kerry final.   

[maddog]

Honestly think McDaid, Tierney Kelly and Daly are the vital cogs for Galway. Walsh and Comer can go missing at times. Great players all the same. Should be a good game.

[J70]

What is the minimum for Geezer this year. Like if he had them last 4 would people be delighted?

Why would you be  delighted?  We're in the semis  lads, sure that'll do us.

If a team don't believe they can win Sam ,  why  are they even bothering?

I'm sure they all prepare to the best of their ability and go out and hope that it will go their way on the day and their coaches will come up with some sliver of something to give them an edge, but does any team outside of Kerry REALLY believe they'd beat Dublin more than 1-2 times out of 10?

[blanketattack]

In hindsight rushing The Glen players back with Derry without rest seems like such a dumb move.
Actually, forget hindsight, at the time it seemed a dumb move.

[clarshack]

In hindsight rushing The Glen players back with Derry without rest seems like such a dumb move.
Actually, forget hindsight, at the time it seemed a dumb move.

It was 2 years in a row as well they didn't get a break. Gallagher played them in first league game v Limerick in 2023 so even more reason to rest them this season.

[Blowitupref]

Armagh are now 3rd favourites for the all Ireland with some bookies.

A meteoric rise in one weekend.

They've looked good in Ulster final and at the weekend.

But we need to be wary of recency bias.

Would love to see them get to a semi or final however.

Bookies and punters are expecting the group winners to reach the last four.

Armagh couldn't have got any closer to semi finals the last two years with Quarter final penalty shoot out losses. Back in Div 1 again next year which will be their 4th year in the last 5 years in the top division the job and improvement McGeeney has brought to Armagh is underrated IMO.

The funny thing is that Paddy Power have Armagh as favourites for the Galway game.

But Galway as 3rd favourites for All Ireland ahead of Armagh.

Boyle have Armagh at 3rd favourites however.

Paddy Power expecting the return of Comer and Finnerty in a last 12 game it seems.

And even then if Galway was to finish 2nd and win their Prem Quarter final they would likely face Kerry or Dublin in the last 8 and I can't see even a full strength Galway beating them in a knock out championship game. 

[Armagh18]

Armagh are now 3rd favourites for the all Ireland with some bookies.

A meteoric rise in one weekend.

They've looked good in Ulster final and at the weekend.

But we need to be wary of recency bias.

Would love to see them get to a semi or final however.

Bookies and punters are expecting the group winners to reach the last four.

Armagh couldn't have got any closer to semi finals the last two years with Quarter final penalty shoot out losses. Back in Div 1 again next year which will be their 4th year in the last 5 years in the top division the job and improvement McGeeney has brought to Armagh is underrated IMO.

The funny thing is that Paddy Power have Armagh as favourites for the Galway game.

But Galway as 3rd favourites for All Ireland ahead of Armagh.

Boyle have Armagh at 3rd favourites however.

Paddy Power expecting the return of Comer and Finnerty in a last 12 game it seems.

And even then if Galway was to finish 2nd and win their Prem Quarter final they would likely face Kerry or Dublin in the last 8 and I can't see even a full strength Galway beating them in a knock out championship game.

i think Galway full out would have every chance. Kerry especially are nothing that special and Galway have the players to hurt them.

[blanketattack]

In hindsight rushing The Glen players back with Derry without rest seems like such a dumb move.
Actually, forget hindsight, at the time it seemed a dumb move.

It was 2 years in a row as well they didn't get a break. Gallagher played them in first league game v Limerick in 2023 so even more reason to rest them this season.

Didn't realise about the Limerick game. The game they won 0-16 to 0-04. Lucky they had the big guns back for that 🙄

[Mario]

In hindsight rushing The Glen players back with Derry without rest seems like such a dumb move.
Actually, forget hindsight, at the time it seemed a dumb move.

What's the max you give them 2 weeks? Would that make much of a difference now. They all got time off during the league. Glass said he likes a game every week rather than long rest periods, it means lighter training. None of them have been injured. They had 4 weeks without a game after the Donegal game. There are plenty of reasons to criticise Harte the past few weeks but I don't think that's a factor.

No one mentioned it as an issue last year when they should have beat Kerry in the AI semi

[JoG2]

In hindsight rushing The Glen players back with Derry without rest seems like such a dumb move.
Actually, forget hindsight, at the time it seemed a dumb move.

What's the max you give them 2 weeks? Would that make much of a difference now. They all got time off during the league. Glass said he likes a game every week rather than long rest periods, it means lighter training. None of them have been injured. They had 4 weeks without a game after the Donegal game. There are plenty of reasons to criticise Harte the past few weeks but I don't think that's a factor.

When the dust settles, we'll look back to the few glorious years before Portugal and be thankful we had them  . Post-Portugal is akin to some kind of GAA purgatory.

[Blowitupref]

Armagh are now 3rd favourites for the all Ireland with some bookies.

A meteoric rise in one weekend.

They've looked good in Ulster final and at the weekend.

But we need to be wary of recency bias.

Would love to see them get to a semi or final however.

Bookies and punters are expecting the group winners to reach the last four.

Armagh couldn't have got any closer to semi finals the last two years with Quarter final penalty shoot out losses. Back in Div 1 again next year which will be their 4th year in the last 5 years in the top division the job and improvement McGeeney has brought to Armagh is underrated IMO.

The funny thing is that Paddy Power have Armagh as favourites for the Galway game.

But Galway as 3rd favourites for All Ireland ahead of Armagh.

Boyle have Armagh at 3rd favourites however.

Paddy Power expecting the return of Comer and Finnerty in a last 12 game it seems.

And even then if Galway was to finish 2nd and win their Prem Quarter final they would likely face Kerry or Dublin in the last 8 and I can't see even a full strength Galway beating them in a knock out championship game.

i think Galway full out would have every chance. Kerry especially are nothing that special and Galway have the players to hurt them.

Players to hurt them no doubt but for me Kerry would find a way to edge a knock out championship game against Galway in the same way Dublin would against Kerry should they meet in the latter stages again.

[Armagh18]

Would love to see ourselves, Donegal or Galway get a go at Dublin, not saying any of those would beat them but just a fixture that hasn't happened in championship in a good few years, give us all something different. We've seen Kerry Dublin and Dublin Mayo enough over the last few years!

[Armagh18]

If it's one thing I've learned over the years is not to get carried away with Armagh as they will bite you on the ass at some stage, the win against Derry was great but i'm not losing the run of myself over it either. My mind hasn't changed much from a month ago, Dublin are no 1 and Kerry are no 2 teams in the Country. There is little to nothing separating the other Counties below who can all beat each other in any given day with a bit of luck. (They're in random order BTW)

Armagh
Derry
Tyrone
Mayo
Donegal
Cork
Galway

Roscommon and Monaghan can still pack a punch but seem to have dropped a bit this year. TBH I've not looked at the draw if in fact it has been made at this stage but if Dublin and Kerry can meet at a potential Semi final then one of the 7 teams above will get to an All Ireland Final and anything can happen in a one off game.

I think I'd have Kerry closer to the pack than to Dublin, imo but agree with the rest.