I don't know if any of you were watching Sunday Sport tonight where they had an interview with Galway hurling manager John Mc Intyre in which he said the following :
Everybody thinks that Galway hurling is a whole lot better than it is -
Galway haven't won an AI in 20 years and it's time for a reality check.
Galway will not win anything of any significance in the short term.
Galway have a lot of work to do in order to even be competitive in the Leinster championship.
Michael Lyster said to Declan Ruth afterwards that John was actually saying that he had no confidence or belief in them.
Was he on the wind up, was he serious or a bit of both ?
Whatever he was, I think he's in for a short career as Galway manager after this. And it's only March.
Gutless was another word that was supposed to have been mentioned.
Would say that he's not getting through to the players and is voicing what a lot of Galway people would agree with, especially in relation to the unhealthy club rivalry. Maybe he's going dangerously over the top considering its early in the year and the Portumna players are yet to return.
The RTE interview was tame compared to the Setanta one.
"waste of money going to see them"
"no pride in the jersey"
"too many egos"
"club rivalrys too bitter"
"think they are better than they really are"
Obviously trying to get a reaction of of them but I don't know how this will play out in the long run. I mean what's he going to say come the championship?
That said they were terrible today and worst of all they visibily gave up during the game. Heads were going down before the first half was over and they were only a point or two down at that stage even though they had the wind advantage. No joke to say that Portumna would have beaten that Galway team on today's display.
To be honest, I dont think McIntyre is far off the truth based on yesterdays "performance", however, I dont think RTE or Setanta is the correct forum to be expressing these views. He cut a frustrated figure on RTE last night and its hard to blame him after what he witnessed in Salthill yesterday. Portumna would have beat that team with a bit to spare. We wont be making much of an impression on the Leinster championship unless there is a dramatic improvement between now and June which seems highly unlikely at this juncture.
Galway can't be as bad as what was shown yesterday - the Portumna contingent will fairly bolster the team - it's alright giving your players a rollcking behind closed doors but divulging your inner most thoughts to every TV station and assembled journalist is quite another thing entirely.
Unfortunately orangeman, the reality is that we are not very good and have not been for a long while now. We get hyped up in the media from time to time but you wont find too many Galwegians buying into these works of fiction.
In the last couple of years we have beaten Antrim, Laois and Westmeath in the championship and have lost to Waterford, Clare, Kilkenny and Cork. Nothing to get excited about in fairness. The return of the Portumna players will make a difference for sure but we had 4 - 5 of them involved last year also and we still lost to a very poor Cork team (by their standards).
We are struggling to fill too many pivitol positions on the team right now to compete with the top teams and the reality is that the best players available are currently involved. There are no undiscovered rough diamonds out there. We are a good way down the pecking order at the moment and that is the way it is going to stay for a while.
For what it's worth I think McIntyre was correct to speak out so. If there's a final chance it might motivate a lot of the underachievers on the team then he's right to do so. As some have correctly suggested the return of the Portumna contingent won't solve the problems on their own. I'd say there'll be a big clear out of the panel when the NH league is over (thankfully not as important for Galway now that they're in Leinster) and the domestic championship gets underway. The (current) problems in Galway started post-2005 when they never followed on properly from the good showing that year; Ger Lock exacerbated things with his bizarre team selections. And what's all this about inter-club rivalry? It's no worse than anywhere else in my estimation...
I wonder how much of Ger Loughnanes rant from a few months back was actually the truth. Galway should be better then they are if you ask me. Had a rash of great minor teams but seem to struggle in turning the boys into men.
Maybe John is just setting low expectations for the Galway public but either way he can't have endeared himself to the players in the changing room who ultimately he'll need their support later on in the year.
i think it's a mistake on his part to ridicule the team even though he used the 'I heard others say' crappola.
Quote from: thejuice on March 09, 2009, 01:56:09 PM
I wonder how much of Ger Loughnanes rant from a few months back was actually the truth. Galway should be better then they are if you ask me. Had a rash of great minor teams but seem to struggle in turning the boys into men.
Maybe Gerard's claim about winning the AI in 2 years is part of the problem as well ?
Dangerous ground, they'll either respond or go the other way.
I do believe half galways problems are mental though, back to the way they were in the 1970's. But still there is a sizeable amount of natural talent there better than 27/28 other counties. thats not a bad starting point.
I honestly dont think that we have had a rash of "great" minor teams to be honest. We have had a few very talented individuals (Hayes, Farragher, Lee and Canning) in competent, well managed minor teams but through constant chopping and changing by various senior managers, a lot of these lads have fallen away. Below are our last 4 winning minor teams. Not too many of these lads are making big waves on the senior scene right now with one or two notable exceptions!
1999: J. O'Loughlin, B. O'Mahoney, J. Culkin, R. Reilly, F. Moore, C. Dervan, M.J. Quinn, H. Whiriskey, G. Farragher, R. Murray, M. Coughlan, K. Brady, D. Hayes, D. Forde, C. Coen. Subs: B. Gantley, S. Tierney
2000: Aidan Diviney, B. O'Mahoney, T. Regan, N. Corcoran, S. Kavanagh, Adrian Diviney, A. Cullinane, G. Farragher, B. Coen, R. Murray, P. Garvey, K. Brady, D. Hayes, T. Kavanagh, D. Greene. Subs: J. Gantley, F. Moore, JP O'Connell, K. Brady
2004 - M Herlihy, P Loughnane, G Mahon, C O'Donovan, M Ryan, J Lee, J Hughes, A Keary, D Kennedy, K Kilkenny, K Hynes, F Coone, K Wade, J Canning, B Hanley. Sub - D White
2005 - J Skehell; A Leech, P Loughnane, P Callaghan; J Hughes, C O'Donovan, K Kilkenny; A Keary, K Coen; S Glynn, J Greene, A Callanan; C Kavanagh, J Canning, B Murphy. Subs - F Kerrigan, S Howley, T Flannery, J Gilsen, B Kenny
I might just pull my quote from the thread when he was appointed and post it here. He has form :D
Quote from: AZOffaly on November 24, 2008, 02:53:19 PM
Interesting to see how John McIntyre will get on. He was a sound man in charge of Offaly, but his sense of realism (read pessimism) was almost legendary. I remember hims being interviewed before Offaly hurled Kilkenny in one of the more recent maulings, albeit not the 31 point one. It was on Midlands Radio 3, and after appealing to the supporters to 'come out tomorrow and give the lads a big boost', he then was asked if he felt Offaly had a chance. Instead of the stock reply 'Sure we'll turn up and give it our best shot, if we play well and they have a bad day blah blah blah' John came up with this Gem.
'Look Ricey*, you have more chance of bumping into a Polar Bear in the Sahara Desert, walking around with a bag of ice on his head trying to keep cool'.
It didn't exactly rank up there with 'We'll fight them on the beaches'. :D
* May not have been Ricey Scully, but it was one of them,
you have more chance of bumping into a Polar Bear in the Sahara Desert, walking around with a bag of ice on his head trying to keep cool'.
classic :D :D :D
A feature of both McIntyre's stints in Offaly was that he never seemed to get a teams to take the field highly motivated and raring to go.
The performances tended to be very muted.
Maybe that was just bad luck, but he really needs to get a reaction out of Galway now.
He is probably right about Galway hurling, but he's taking a chance with his timing.
Another point worth pondering, is that it is often claimed that the matches in the Galway club championship are notoriously tough encounters. Savage hard hurling, wild pulling, cuts, bruises, broken bones, the whole works.
Yet the 15 players sent out to represent Galway in championship hurling always seem to have several players who wouldn't go into a dark room.
Maybe a complete clear out is needed, with a few more tough nuts and less fancy dan hurlers on on the Galway panel?
they had them in the 80's and won two all irelands!! not a bad idea
That's a good observation BnM man. Club hurling in Galway certainly used to be savage, although I'm not sure if it is as rough now, I doubt it because Portumna's style of hurling wouldn't flourish in the jungle that used to be Galway club hurling.
Quote from: Bord na Mona man on March 09, 2009, 08:55:25 PM
Another point worth pondering, is that it is often claimed that the matches in the Galway club championship are notoriously tough encounters. Savage hard hurling, wild pulling, cuts, bruises, broken bones, the whole works.
Yet the 15 players sent out to represent Galway in championship hurling always seem to have several players who wouldn't go into a dark room.
Maybe a complete clear out is needed, with a few more tough nuts and less fancy dan hurlers on on the Galway panel?
Every team needs a good smattering of 'ball winners' and Galway certainly seem to lack them all over the park.
Sylvie, Finnerty, Coleman and Co. must cry when they look at some of the gutless performances from modern Galway teams.
some might say hurling has moved on and it has but you get round Noel Hickey, Derek Lyng and even wee Tommy Walsh and you'll know you've been in a battle..
Quote from: AZOffaly on March 10, 2009, 09:20:22 AM
That's a good observation BnM man. Club hurling in Galway certainly used to be savage, although I'm not sure if it is as rough now, I doubt it because Portumna's style of hurling wouldn't flourish in the jungle that used to be Galway club hurling.
The club hurling in Galway can still be fairly wild. You don't have to go back too far too see when it hit the headlines for the wrong reasons. Portumna are so good at the moment though that they can just rise up above it for the most part and while they are not a team full of hard men they can at least take care of themselves.
I would say though that there aren't quite as many axe murderers about as there used to be in Galway club hurling. The lads from the 80's were great hurlers but they loved a battle and would bury you in the ground a minute after shaking your hand. The current lot I just don't know. It looks like they are depending on a 20 year old for leadership. Granted a 20 year old genius but he won't be able to do it alone.
John Lee will be back after his exams in April, so it's not all doom and gloom for Galway!
Quote from: cicfada on March 24, 2009, 09:32:59 PM
John Lee will be back after his exams in April, so it's not all doom and gloom for Galway!
Back training already apparently.
Quote from: johnneycool on March 10, 2009, 10:09:49 AM
Quote from: Bord na Mona man on March 09, 2009, 08:55:25 PM
Another point worth pondering, is that it is often claimed that the matches in the Galway club championship are notoriously tough encounters. Savage hard hurling, wild pulling, cuts, bruises, broken bones, the whole works.
Yet the 15 players sent out to represent Galway in championship hurling always seem to have several players who wouldn't go into a dark room.
Maybe a complete clear out is needed, with a few more tough nuts and less fancy dan hurlers on on the Galway panel?
Every team needs a good smattering of 'ball winners' and Galway certainly seem to lack them all over the park.
Sylvie, Finnerty, Coleman and Co. must cry when they look at some of the gutless performances from modern Galway teams.
some might say hurling has moved on and it has but you get round Noel Hickey, Derek Lyng and even wee Tommy Walsh and you'll know you've been in a battle..
Lynskey would have been top of the list surely?
What a class act Lynskey was, saw him in 87,88 and especially 89 in the all ireland semi finals and he was class. For a man with no pace and not overly tall he caught some balls and his distribution was the best in Ireland. He could certainly stand up for himself but that was a prerequisite back then. Galway should kil for a player with his leadership and ability now.
Quote from: slow corner back on April 18, 2009, 06:48:03 PM
What a class act Lynskey was, saw him in 87,88 and especially 89 in the all ireland semi finals and he was class. For a man with no pace and not overly tall he caught some balls and his distribution was the best in Ireland. He could certainly stand up for himself but that was a prerequisite back then. Galway should kil for a player with his leadership and ability now.
In Ice Hockey terms Brendan Lynskey was an enforcer. Someone who would get stuck into any of the opposition who would be roughing up his own side's more gifted players. That said Brendan Lynskey could hurl when he needed to. Players like that are really invaluable and someone like Joe Canning would thrive even more if he had a Lynskey playing just behind him.
Quote from: GalwayBayBoy on April 19, 2009, 02:31:49 AM
Quote from: slow corner back on April 18, 2009, 06:48:03 PM
What a class act Lynskey was, saw him in 87,88 and especially 89 in the all ireland semi finals and he was class. For a man with no pace and not overly tall he caught some balls and his distribution was the best in Ireland. He could certainly stand up for himself but that was a prerequisite back then. Galway should kil for a player with his leadership and ability now.
In Ice Hockey terms Brendan Lynskey was an enforcer. Someone who would get stuck into any of the opposition who would be roughing up his own side's more gifted players. That said Brendan Lynskey could hurl when he needed to. Players like that are really invaluable and someone like Joe Canning would thrive even more if he had a Lynskey playing just behind him.
Niall Mc Carthy, Cork would be in the same mould - never afraid to get stuck in - in fact that was his job and like Lynskey could hurl when he needed to.
QuoteNiall Mc Carthy, Cork would be in the same mould - never afraid to get stuck in - in fact that was his job and like Lynskey could hurl when he needed to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8miOmqcKI-0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8miOmqcKI-0)
I preferred real men who dropped the hurley first when proving how hard they were. IMHO McCarthy is not one and Lynskey certainly was.
Quote from: muppet on April 19, 2009, 05:14:48 PM
QuoteNiall Mc Carthy, Cork would be in the same mould - never afraid to get stuck in - in fact that was his job and like Lynskey could hurl when he needed to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8miOmqcKI-0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8miOmqcKI-0)
I preferred real men who dropped the hurley first when proving how hard they were. IMHO McCarthy is not one and Lynskey certainly was.
To be fair, I don't think he'll look back fondly at that "stroke" but IMO was a handful and is / was a tough, uncompromising player.
I take your point alright but don't think we should judge him on this one incident.
Reillers - please take note of my defence of Niall here. ;)
Niall McCarthy isn't half the hurler that Lynskey was. Lynskey was rough as a badger's arse at times, but when it called for hurling, he could hurl. Niall McCarthy is more of a workhorse.
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 20, 2009, 10:37:41 AM
Niall McCarthy isn't half the hurler that Lynskey was. Lynskey was rough as a badger's arse at times, but when it called for hurling, he could hurl. Niall McCarthy is more of a workhorse.
Jesus lads, it's hard to compare Lysnkey of the 80s and Niall of this decade. Niall is / was a good hurler and IMO would compare favourably to Lynskey but maybe that's me being too much of a Cork fan and a defender of their honour ! ;)
It's obviously hard to compare teams from 20 years apart, but individuals and their style of play can be a little easier. Doubtless the game is a lot quicker now, but Brendan Lynskey had more skills than Niall McCarthy in my opinion. McCarthy is/was an important cog in that Cork team, but generally he was a 'break up the play' centre forward. Lynskey could break up the play (and a lot of other things), but he could also show more skill than McCarthy.
Lynskey used to get rare punishment in Galway club hurling as well. I think he was Meelick/Eyrecourt. Jaysus Galway club hurling back then was ferocious stuff altogether. I'd see an odd game in Ballinasloe and it was like the Killing Fields of Cambodia at times.
Quote from: orangeman on April 20, 2009, 10:47:46 AM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 20, 2009, 10:37:41 AM
Niall McCarthy isn't half the hurler that Lynskey was. Lynskey was rough as a badger's arse at times, but when it called for hurling, he could hurl. Niall McCarthy is more of a workhorse.
Jesus lads, it's hard to compare Lysnkey of the 80s and Niall of this decade. Niall is / was a good hurler and IMO would compare favourably to Lynskey but maybe that's me being too much of a Cork fan and a defender of their honour ! ;)
OM you clealy never saw Lynskey in his prime, he was at the time the best centre forward in Ireland something which could never be said about Niall McCarthy good player that he was
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 20, 2009, 10:52:55 AM
It's obviously hard to compare teams from 20 years apart, but individuals and their style of play can be a little easier. Doubtless the game is a lot quicker now, but Brendan Lynskey had more skills than Niall McCarthy in my opinion. McCarthy is/was an important cog in that Cork team, but generally he was a 'break up the play' centre forward. Lynskey could break up the play (and a lot of other things), but he could also show more skill than McCarthy.
Lynskey used to get rare punishment in Galway club hurling as well. I think he was Meelick/Eyrecourt. Jaysus Galway club hurling back then was ferocious stuff altogether. I'd see an odd game in Ballinasloe and it was like the Killing Fields of Cambodia at times.
Was Sylvie involved in any of that by chance ?? Was there not a game last year, Liam Mellows and somebody - turned out a bad handling ??
You're probably right about Lynskey - he had the heart of a lion and as you say had the skills to go with it. A hard man by anybody's standards.
Quote from: orangeman on April 20, 2009, 11:09:37 AM
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 20, 2009, 10:52:55 AM
It's obviously hard to compare teams from 20 years apart, but individuals and their style of play can be a little easier. Doubtless the game is a lot quicker now, but Brendan Lynskey had more skills than Niall McCarthy in my opinion. McCarthy is/was an important cog in that Cork team, but generally he was a 'break up the play' centre forward. Lynskey could break up the play (and a lot of other things), but he could also show more skill than McCarthy.
Lynskey used to get rare punishment in Galway club hurling as well. I think he was Meelick/Eyrecourt. Jaysus Galway club hurling back then was ferocious stuff altogether. I'd see an odd game in Ballinasloe and it was like the Killing Fields of Cambodia at times.
Was Sylvie involved in any of that by chance ?? Was there not a game last year, Liam Mellows and somebody - turned out a bad handling ??
You're probably right about Lynskey - he had the heart of a lion and as you say had the skills to go with it. A hard man by anybody's standards.
Sylvie was involved in his fair share, but in fairness there were hard men, and some butchers, dotted around every club team in Galway.
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 20, 2009, 10:52:55 AM
It's obviously hard to compare teams from 20 years apart, but individuals and their style of play can be a little easier. Doubtless the game is a lot quicker now, but Brendan Lynskey had more skills than Niall McCarthy in my opinion. McCarthy is/was an important cog in that Cork team, but generally he was a 'break up the play' centre forward. Lynskey could break up the play (and a lot of other things), but he could also show more skill than McCarthy.
Lynskey used to get rare punishment in Galway club hurling as well. I think he was Meelick/Eyrecourt. Jaysus Galway club hurling back then was ferocious stuff altogether. I'd see an odd game in Ballinasloe and it was like the Killing Fields of Cambodia at times.
He was indeed from Meelick & to compare Niall McCarthy to him is pure rubbish talk. The hatchet men are still alive and well in Galway club hurling, Joe Canning wasn't too impressed with Clarinbridge in the county semi-final as he outlined walking off the field in the documentary "Pride of the Parish" that aired last Friday...
Quote from: AZOffaly on April 20, 2009, 10:52:55 AM
Lynskey used to get rare punishment in Galway club hurling as well. I think he was Meelick/Eyrecourt. Jaysus Galway club hurling back then was ferocious stuff altogether. I'd see an odd game in Ballinasloe and it was like the Killing Fields of Cambodia at times.
Lynskey was Meelick-Eyrecourt alright. One of the oldest clubs in the country. Founded in 1884.
Mc Intyre is one cute hoor !!!! Fair play to him.
McIntyre is very cute. He doesn't talk about galway in terms of "we". He says "they".
It is as if he is a passerby who just got involved by accident. He's from Tipp. He probably taunts them to get the right response.
It seems to work..
John OM did the same thing when managing the footballers. It promotes responsibility among the players. This is the key difference between McIntyre and the previous 3 or 4 managers. Responsibility and taking control of a situation yourself as opposed to hoping someone else will do it.
Mullane having a bad time of it otday. Galway coasting home. 6 in it.
don't think so
Quote from: orangeman on July 26, 2009, 05:20:23 PM
Quote from: Clarin Pearl on July 26, 2009, 05:18:36 PM
don't think so
Squeaky bum time alright. ;)
Point in it now to Galway. Waterford goal. Game on. Minute left plus 2 additional.
Draw.
This ref won't be doing the AI this year.
Galway bate. How did that happen ???
Galway threw it away big time. Incredibly poor hurling from both games today. The 4 in a row is deffinetly on for KK. Galway could have put it up to them but typical Galway excellent one day, asleep the next. The standard of hurling was crap.
What has happened hurling over the last few years. It was some shocking match, the standards of the games were shocking. So much fumbling, poor attempts at lifting and bad striking etc.
Should have wrapped up that game no doubt. Comfortably the better side for 60 minutes and even though we got into a 6 point lead we never really killed off Waterford. Missed a couple of chances to finish them off and you should never give a sucker an even break as it will usually cost you. Legs seemed to go completely during the last 10 minutes. Wonder if being out for the 3rd weekend on the trot just begun to catch up on them as lads who were flying in the first half could barely run the length of themselves. McEntee should have been more cynical and dragged Dan to the ground and conceded the free instead of the goal. He actually held him and then let him go again. Bad mistake.
(http://deiseach.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/galway09finalscore.jpg?w=450&h=337)
;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Reillers on July 26, 2009, 07:21:13 PM
Galway threw it away big time. Incredibly poor hurling from both games today. The 4 in a row is deffinetly on for KK. Galway could have put it up to them but typical Galway excellent one day, asleep the next. The standard of hurling was crap.
What has happened hurling over the last few years. It was some shocking match, the standards of the games were shocking. So much fumbling, poor attempts at lifting and bad striking etc.
Galway manager said that the lack of a competitive match against Cork was their downfall today. ;)