NFL Division Two 2022

[An Fhairche Abu]

Owen Gallagher impressed for Galway and thought young McGrath did too as the game went on, he's still under 20 this year.

Commentators certainly got a bit carried away with regards to Galways experience, a lot of young lads on this Galway team who've played very little football at the top level and even McDaid & John Daly who are a bit older haven't played much either.

There was only 3 starters who played in Galways last game pre covid, 8 of those who started that game aren't even on the panel. I like the look of some of the backs coming through but Galway are far too reliant for scores from play from Conroy and Walsh. Culhane will probably come good but he's still very young, he's still a teenager.

Good start to the campaign in terms of results and it's imperative that Galway get out of Division Two at the first attempt because the main takeaway I have from first two matches is that Galway are getting away with mistakes that would be severely punished at Division One level, there is naturally a drop when you aren't playing the top 8 teams but the pace of Division Two games, the amount of time players get on the ball etc. is miles off the top division.

Main positive would be that the standard of tackling displayed by Galway in the first two league games – and against an experimental Mayo team in the dome to an extent – is light years ahead of what was previously seen since PJ took the top job, proper pressure is being applied and the tackle is going in at the correct time a lot more. The big caveat is whether this is simply a by-product of playing lesser teams in Division Two or an actual improvement that will be seen in championship.
Other positives would be Gallagher looks a good player, can kick a score and not afraid to drive at a defence, he looks a decent addition so far. McDaid has had by far his best outings for Galway in an age the past two games.
Thought McGrath did well for a lad on debut, bar a couple of instances where he kicked a poor pass over the side-line and was dispossessed running into the tackle at the start of the game, he was tidy in defence for his main role and some really incisive running moving forward.
Conroy was excellent, whether he can sustain that for a full match on hard ground in the summer I don't know, can't really ask much more of the man at the minute though, playing well.
Any news on Patrick Kelly's ankle injury? I think he's played reasonably well this year so fingers crossed it's nothing serious, making a good impact off the bench offers a serious height for kickouts as well. Needs to be put to work on his right foot though given the mark attempt he had off the left in the second half!

Main negative is that the shot selection and conversion rate is still not at standard that is going to trouble serious teams. Lack of finishing when the shot is the correct option is disappointing but at least that is simply an execution problem. Far worse are some of the pot shots taken in the last two games which were the wrong option from the start. By far the biggest issue is that Galway have scored two goals but butchered at least 5/6 great chances outside of that. The 3 on 1 break towards the end of the Down game should have been ruthlessly finished, not to belabour the point but this will not suffice against a top quality team in Mayo at the end of April, the contrast between the neat finish of Ryan O'Donoghue for his goal in a tight space at the weekend versus Galway players making the wrong decision or blasting straight at the keeper is stark. The lazy talk of the "top forwards" in Galway is way off the mark, the real top forwards are absolute killers when goal chances are presented.
Still too reliant on Walsh for creativity, if he's shutdown (legally or illegally) Galway are going to be in bother, if Comer can stay fit then he'll at least draw serious attention away from the other forwards and be good for 0-1 or 0-2 a game but others need to step up now.
Finnerty looks fantastic at Sigerson level and clearly has loads of ability but makes some strange choices at Senior level, again Saturday he tried to allow the ball run by him and turn the defender instead of driving to the ball to secure possession, just not going to get the space to do that at IC level. If he's not going to step up into a leading FF line scorer role in Division Two, then he won't ever.

I thought that the lads playing Sigerson during the week looked tired compared to the Meath game, at least there is a break next weekend and Sigerson will be finished altogether when the league returns. If you were to be ultra-selfish from a county point of view particularly given the truncated season this year, it would be no harm if NUIG lost next Thursday and those lads had a clear week without any match.

Rossies and Derry look the other main contenders in this Division and Galway need to have at least 8 points on the board going into those two final league matches both of which are away, Offaly at home should be a banker two points and ideally would beat Clare at home and Cork away but a slip in either of those games is possible, a slip in both and Galway are in serious bother.
Looking ahead to the real big match on April 24th it's really hard to know where Galway will be at, everything at Division Two level has to come with such a health warning compared to Division One, outside of the ten minutes after half time Down were never a real threat to get a result and Meath look a busted flush altogether, will have a better idea after the final two league games.

[weareros]

We don't usually  do parochial Provincialism in Connacht but great to see all 6 won their games this weekend.

A lot of us do though to be fair.

Mr. Prenty has credited the dome for the Connacht clean sweep.

"I also think the fact the FBD League was played here in the Dome, and if you look at the high scoring of all the teams, fellas are getting used to shooting now and not worrying about the consequences."

[Cunny Funt]

We don't usually  do parochial Provincialism in Connacht but great to see all 6 won their games this weekend.

A lot of us do though to be fair.

Mr. Prenty has credited the dome for the Connacht clean sweep.

"I also think the fact the FBD League was played here in the Dome, and if you look at the high scoring of all the teams, fellas are getting used to shooting now and not worrying about the consequences."

Typical of Prenty to talk up his dome. Indoor matches produces higher scoring matches than outdoor games. Mayo however only managed 0-13 in their indoor match. 12 and 11 scores in their matches since then.

Of the Connacht teams results in the two rounds of league action which was shock results other than Leitrim comfortably beating Tipp in semple stadium? and that result probably says more about the situation Tipp are currently in.

[An Fhairche Abu]

Would have thought that more of the NUIG lads would get a break than just Culhane, Flaherty has Fitzgibbon final tomorrow.
No offence to Offaly but if Galway can't win that match at home venue without the Kellys and Tierney I'd suggest we are at nothing, might be more changes before throw in perhaps.

[hoynevalley]

With anything up to 18 of last years first 26 unavailable for different reasons we'll be looking at avoiding relegation!

Yerra. The Rossies strong favourites to go up now. A handy game sunday against Clare.

[Blowitupref]

With anything up to 18 of last years first 26 unavailable for different reasons we'll be looking at avoiding relegation!

Yerra. The Rossies strong favourites to go up now. A handy game sunday against Clare.

Few teams gets handy wins against Clare in the league nowadays. Derry and Galway remains the favourites to gain  promotion from this division.

[galwayman]

It's asking for trouble starting those 3 NUIG lads.
We need them for Mayo in April more than we do this weekend.
A hamstring tear due to fatigue would be a disaster at this stage.
Re the 2 Kellys in particular it shows our lack of depth for full back and midfield.
Extremely threadbare in those areas.
Dessie Conneely is blessed to get another start. He has offered zero in the game time he has had up to now. The evidence would suggest he is not up to
County senior level.
Good to see Johnny Heaney back in the subs. First time we've seen Eoin Finnerty make a match day squad also - would have been interesting to see him from the start and see what he is capable of at this level. That's an opportunity missed here imo.
Hopefully Damo stays injury free now also.

[seafoid]

With anything up to 18 of last years first 26 unavailable for different reasons we'll be looking at avoiding relegation!

Yerra. The Rossies strong favourites to go up now. A handy game sunday against Clare.

Few teams gets handy wins against Clare in the league nowadays. Derry and Galway remains the favourites to gain  promotion from this division.

I think it's too early to say. Derry, Galway and Ros have done well but the division has 4 good teams and weak and the strong teams haven't faced off yet
Derry vs Ros or Galway  could be a promotion 4 pointer.

[GaillimhIarthair]

Would have thought that more of the NUIG lads would get a break than just Culhane, Flaherty has Fitzgibbon final tomorrow.
No offence to Offaly but if Galway can't win that match at home venue without the Kellys and Tierney I'd suggest we are at nothing, might be more changes before throw in perhaps.

I'd be surprised and disappointed if there aren't changes to that starting team by 2pm tomorrow.  There should be enough quality in the overall squad to manage a home win vs Offaly based on their most recent performances. 

[Walter Cronc]

Still think we (Derry) are a bit off Rossies n Galway. Not sure if our squad is just ready for Div 1. I'd be happy enough with 3rd place and good performances/unearthing few more players.

[lenny]

Still think we (Derry) are a bit off Rossies n Galway. Not sure if our squad is just ready for Div 1. I'd be happy enough with 3rd place and good performances/unearthing few more players.

I agree. Third or fourth in the table with a few solid wins and hopefully no bad defeats. That would allow us to build the squad to hopefully push for promotion next season. We've started well but I don't think we have very much strength in depth and we've most of the tougher games to come.

[seafoid]

Galway vs Biffos is postponed

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2022/0220/1281897-sligo-cavan-postponed-due-to-unplayable-pitch/

[Rudi]

Derry Cork game is a horrid watch so far.

[Rudi]

Cross field wind do players not know only hope of scoring is from stand side of field.

[Rudi]

 Cork goal keepers kick outs are brutal, shocking stuff particularly from Cork. Derry are difficult to break down