|
Replying To BigBàsMan: "Don't forget Killeen took the frees for Loughrea all year and was exceptional. That would solve the niland / Flynn dilemma and you gain a forward like McLoughlin." I know you like to push Loughrea and I like killeen but based on last year he's not a county quality free taker, adn i would be worreid about the effect missing frees in a big game would ahve on a young players confidence. I'd love to be proven wrong on that as it would solve a couple of issues as you say
Overdahill (Galway) - Posts: 10 - 12/02/2025 11:10:27
2590721
Link
1
|
|
Replying To Crashingwaves: "Are there many positive posters on the Wexford thread?" No. Only a couple of us. I suppose positive happy people usually have real friends to talk to ;-)
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14701 - 12/02/2025 11:26:03
2590728
Link
1
|
|
Replying To Viking66: "Wow, a positive Galway poster!" There's positive and there's calling Fintan Burke the best hurler in the country!
Kinvara (Galway) - Posts: 195 - 12/02/2025 11:46:14
2590732
Link
1
|
|
Replying To BigBàsMan: "Don't forget Killeen took the frees for Loughrea all year and was exceptional. That would solve the niland / Flynn dilemma and you gain a forward like McLoughlin." I believe Flynn has been doing reasonably well on frees in the league so far but imo he should be about 5th choice in that regard for championship. On average I'd say Kevin Cooney is more reliable and he is not great. and Killeen definitely ahead of him too.
PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 1980 - 12/02/2025 11:47:42
2590733
Link
1
|
|
Replying To Kinvara: "There's positive and there's calling Fintan Burke the best hurler in the country!" Post of the day :-D
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14701 - 12/02/2025 12:25:59
2590741
Link
2
|
|
Replying To Kinvara: "The Niland problem will probably be solved by his little brother in the years to come. Lethal from play and dead balls" He is with the senior squad at the moment but we have to remember he is still in secondary school. I wouldn't rule out that he appears on the bench for the seniors this year at some stage though, a remarkable talent.
galway19 (Galway) - Posts: 821 - 12/02/2025 12:45:11
2590744
Link
2
|
|
R.I.P. Michael Coleman, a great hurler and a decent man. Condolences to the family during this difficult time.
suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1709 - 12/02/2025 21:01:12
2590791
Link
1
|
|
Replying To jm25: "One thing gillane isn't is a top class IC free taker, he misses plenty and generally doesn't take any from distance as left to byrnes who is a far superior free taker" Yeah I agree, and I think Limerick have it well worked with a long distance and inside free takers. Gillane is a 70% on average but he also contributes a decent amount in open play. I just don't know if we can afford to "carry" a free taker. CC, Flynn are not guaranteed spots and no where near Niland on dead balls. Niland can give you typically between 6 - 9 points on avg in a game, especially if he takes over from Mannion on the long distance ones. Its not to be sniffed at but hurling is really becoming a 15 man game not a 14 + 1.
BostonGuy (Galway) - Posts: 145 - 13/02/2025 02:37:26
2590806
Link
1
|
|
Replying To Overdahill: "I know you like to push Loughrea and I like killeen but based on last year he's not a county quality free taker, adn i would be worreid about the effect missing frees in a big game would ahve on a young players confidence. I'd love to be proven wrong on that as it would solve a couple of issues as you say" We saw enough against Cashel to know he's not an intercounty free taker.
TanCanRan (Galway) - Posts: 251 - 13/02/2025 13:04:45
2590831
Link
1
|
|
Replying To PoolSturgeon: "I believe Flynn has been doing reasonably well on frees in the league so far but imo he should be about 5th choice in that regard for championship. On average I'd say Kevin Cooney is more reliable and he is not great. and Killeen definitely ahead of him too." Don't rate Flynn as a player but he's a better freetaker than Killeen
TanCanRan (Galway) - Posts: 251 - 13/02/2025 13:07:37
2590832
Link
1
|
|
Replying To galway19: "He is with the senior squad at the moment but we have to remember he is still in secondary school. I wouldn't rule out that he appears on the bench for the seniors this year at some stage though, a remarkable talent." Hes that good is he? Cant confess to have seen him play that much. Saw him play an u20 Leinster group game v Dublin and he was devastating.
MinorChamp_09 (Galway) - Posts: 2 - 14/02/2025 10:20:39
2590933
Link
1
|
|
Replying To galway19: "He is with the senior squad at the moment but we have to remember he is still in secondary school. I wouldn't rule out that he appears on the bench for the seniors this year at some stage though, a remarkable talent." Nearly sure I heard someone say that Sean McDonagh was a remarkable talent too.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3947 - 14/02/2025 11:58:18
2590944
Link
1
|
|
Replying To Pope_Benedict: "Nearly sure I heard someone say that Sean McDonagh was a remarkable talent too." Niland is a totally other level and is a good 6'1. McDonaghs biggest issue is he's tiny
Kinvara (Galway) - Posts: 195 - 14/02/2025 12:47:44
2590960
Link
1
|
|
Replying To Pope_Benedict: "Nearly sure I heard someone say that Sean McDonagh was a remarkable talent too." I think I heard it back in the day about a gentleman by the name of Joe Canning as well. Tis good to reminiscent.
SamandLiamSoon (Galway) - Posts: 623 - 14/02/2025 14:38:30
2591001
Link
1
|
|
Great to see some buzz back on here after a few difficult years. Shefflin was caught between two stools in that the team needed some new blood but the young players weren't ready to stand-up, and the bulk of the 2017 crew were coming to an end. I felt for him in year 3, it made no sense to start a re-build at that point but it was badly needed.
No better man than Donoghue to preside over the re-build, and his timing is pretty damn good too because there are plenty of young players there and another few to come in a year or two.
As for the rest of the league, I hope we attack the Wexford game hard and ensure our safety in the division. If we can win that then it's a free shot for some of the younger players away to Limerick and Cork. Gavin Lee, Tiernan Killeen and Anthony Burns need to continue to play every game, and I really rate Shane Morgan so I'd throw him into that mix. If Oisin Lohan recovers from injury then include him too. That's 5 young players getting crucial minutes before championship.
If we can get more minutes into Declan, McLaughlin, John Cooney, Dan Loftus, Eoin Lawless, Cillian Trayers, Sean Murphy, and Rory Burke then that would be great but Limerick and Cork are going to be very tough games. Donoghue may see some value in getting to a league final too, which we could be in position for after the Wexford game (but it's unlikely with two tough away games).
I'd like to see Darach Fahy, Darren Morrissey, Cianan Fahy and Kevin Cooney play as much as possible too. They're younger players but have been around long enough now to become real leaders. We should really be looking to take some pressure off Daithi Burke, Whelan and the Mannions. I'm still not sold on Tom Monaghan either - think Mannion should take his spot when it comes to championship. Mannion will definitely start so it's just a matter of where. Corner forward would be ideal but we probably need Niland starting.
As for frees, there are only two intercounty calibre free takers on the panel right now and they're both called Niland. If we're talking about starting Flynn or Cooney to take frees then we might as well forget it. Time to move on. I think it's fair to question Evan Niland from play but I'd put the exact same question out there for Flynn and Cooney too, and neither of them are a patch on Niland when it comes to dead balls.
On a similar note, I could see Fintan Burke being settled into no. 7 again for his ability to score from sidelines. He has definitely put his hand up during the league for a place in the team. Between Morgan from long range, Burke from sidelines and Niland from everywhere else, it'll be like having JC again!
I think the championship team is starting to look like the below. To be fair 7, 10, 12 are total guesses. They are very up for grabs. 2 and 15 are debatable too but seem to be between Morgan/Grealish and Burns/McLaughlin.
1. Darach Fahy
2. Shane Morgan/Jack Grealish
3. Daithi Burke
4. Darren Morrissey
5. Padraig Mannion
6. Gavin Lee
7. Fintan Burke
8. Cianan Fahy
9. Cathal Mannion
10. Kevin Cooney
11. Tiernan Killeen
12. Oisin Lohan
13. Evan Niland
14. Conor Whelan
15. Anthony Burns/Declan McLaughlin
Townee2018 (Galway) - Posts: 282 - 14/02/2025 15:16:31
2591011
Link
2
|
|
Replying To Townee2018: "Great to see some buzz back on here after a few difficult years. Shefflin was caught between two stools in that the team needed some new blood but the young players weren't ready to stand-up, and the bulk of the 2017 crew were coming to an end. I felt for him in year 3, it made no sense to start a re-build at that point but it was badly needed.
No better man than Donoghue to preside over the re-build, and his timing is pretty damn good too because there are plenty of young players there and another few to come in a year or two.
As for the rest of the league, I hope we attack the Wexford game hard and ensure our safety in the division. If we can win that then it's a free shot for some of the younger players away to Limerick and Cork. Gavin Lee, Tiernan Killeen and Anthony Burns need to continue to play every game, and I really rate Shane Morgan so I'd throw him into that mix. If Oisin Lohan recovers from injury then include him too. That's 5 young players getting crucial minutes before championship.
If we can get more minutes into Declan, McLaughlin, John Cooney, Dan Loftus, Eoin Lawless, Cillian Trayers, Sean Murphy, and Rory Burke then that would be great but Limerick and Cork are going to be very tough games. Donoghue may see some value in getting to a league final too, which we could be in position for after the Wexford game (but it's unlikely with two tough away games).
I'd like to see Darach Fahy, Darren Morrissey, Cianan Fahy and Kevin Cooney play as much as possible too. They're younger players but have been around long enough now to become real leaders. We should really be looking to take some pressure off Daithi Burke, Whelan and the Mannions. I'm still not sold on Tom Monaghan either - think Mannion should take his spot when it comes to championship. Mannion will definitely start so it's just a matter of where. Corner forward would be ideal but we probably need Niland starting.
As for frees, there are only two intercounty calibre free takers on the panel right now and they're both called Niland. If we're talking about starting Flynn or Cooney to take frees then we might as well forget it. Time to move on. I think it's fair to question Evan Niland from play but I'd put the exact same question out there for Flynn and Cooney too, and neither of them are a patch on Niland when it comes to dead balls.
On a similar note, I could see Fintan Burke being settled into no. 7 again for his ability to score from sidelines. He has definitely put his hand up during the league for a place in the team. Between Morgan from long range, Burke from sidelines and Niland from everywhere else, it'll be like having JC again!
I think the championship team is starting to look like the below. To be fair 7, 10, 12 are total guesses. They are very up for grabs. 2 and 15 are debatable too but seem to be between Morgan/Grealish and Burns/McLaughlin.
1. Darach Fahy
2. Shane Morgan/Jack Grealish
3. Daithi Burke
4. Darren Morrissey
5. Padraig Mannion
6. Gavin Lee
7. Fintan Burke
8. Cianan Fahy
9. Cathal Mannion
10. Kevin Cooney
11. Tiernan Killeen
12. Oisin Lohan
13. Evan Niland
14. Conor Whelan
15. Anthony Burns/Declan McLaughlin" Very fair assessment, and I think you are right that Niland just about makes the team for his free taking. Niland can also put them over from distance, which is a plus. Im not keen on going for points from sidelines, the stats and odds are low for scoring and more often go wide, giving up possession. Many dribble it along the ground these days rather than pitch it up in the air, in order to keep valuable possession. Many people want 6 foot plus players on the team and that has been the trend in recent years, but I still think speed kills; having players with speed to ball and natural stick work is key along with the right game strategy and of course the unknown being injuries.
Also agree with Shefflin, I think he will show himself to be an excellent intercountry manager in the future, Galway was a poison chalice, thankfully we have admitted to ourselves that we are not contenders and need a rebuild, and I do think we have the right person/staff in place with a decent timeframe to show progress. If we can stay in D1 of league and possibly win Leinster this year its a job well done.
BostonGuy (Galway) - Posts: 145 - 15/02/2025 13:38:40
2591131
Link
2
|
|
Pres Athenry defeated St.Flannans, wasn't looking good at half time , Flannans butchered 4 goal chances, half back line and midfield were being cleaned, moving Jason Rabbitte was winning of game, was serious target man inside, scored a great point, he could a great one for Seniors, big man.
WesternSeaBoard (Galway) - Posts: 142 - 17/02/2025 22:19:23
2591688
Link
0
|