Connacht Championship 2013.

**Boxtyeater** Tue May 14, 2013 10:15 pm

Galway face Mayo on Sunday in the 2nd. quarter final with a home venue in Salthill. A semi-final against the Sheepstealers awaits the winner.

This of course is the easier side of the draw and the winners will fancy their chances of making the final as the Rossies, bereft of the services of Senan Kilbride, are unlikely to trouble the winners from Sunday.

The provincial heavyweights and FBD league finalists, Leitrim and Sligo lurk ominously on the other side of the draw. Sligo will approach the trip to Ruislip with warranted trepidation, given the fact that for the 1st. time on nigh on 20 years they will be without the services of Eamon O'Hara.
Say what you will about him, he gave tremendous service to the Yeats countymen and his thundering goal in a Connacht final some years ago will live long in the memory. Granted he was egotistical, loud and demonstrative but his worth to Sligo was incalculable.

So "Will Galway bate Mayo"....Well there's no Willie Joe for sure. Mayo have replaced him with big bulky muscle-bound lads around the middle who are reasonable at securing possession but overly ponderous in terms of releasing. They are also lacking a requisite in the modern game ie. a marquee forward or two. McLoughlin and O'Connor have ability but seem to lack the vision of a say Gooch or Alan Brogan. No improvement on 2012.

Galway are between a rock and a hard place, in they appear unsure whether to trust the younger lads or persist with the bulk of last years men.
Padraic Joyce has bowed out and while his 2012 campaign appearances were sporadic he'll be missed. The fitness/mobility of Meehan is unknown.

All to play for in pursuit of the Nestor Cup.

**Thomas Clarke** Tue May 14, 2013 10:27 pm

Excellent overview Boxty. If Mayo win on Sunday, they should breeze through what remains in the province. A Galway win would leave everyone believing that they could nick a title.

Recent history would point to Mayo winning in Salthill, but tradition tells us that they don't often do so. Although they made the division 1 semi finals, they didn't look good in the league, and their injury concerns seem to have mounted rather than diminished. I'll give them a tentative call here, but a Galway win (itself followed by an upset before the Nestor Cup is awarded) wouldn't surprise me at all.

**Boxtyeater** Tue May 14, 2013 10:36 pm

Thomas Clarke wrote: I'll give them a tentative call here, but a Galway win (itself followed by an upset before the Nestor Cup is awarded) wouldn't surprise me at all.

Thomas Clarke attempts to lure Boxty into over-confidence trap....Fail..

Gaa_lover Wed May 15, 2013 1:35 pm

Half of Galway team starting on Sunday is their 2011 U-21 team so they are very much giving youth a chance. I'd say a number of Mayo's "injured" players will line out on Sunday expect a few late changes and they should win but not by much.

Senan Kilbride is back for Roscommon [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] still won't be able to beat Mayo in McHale park. Then you have London,Leitrim or Sligo with the chance of reaching a Connacht final with a six day turnaround when they lose it.

**Boxtyeater** Thu May 16, 2013 12:11 am

**Boxtyeater** Thu May 16, 2013 12:18 am

No bias here folks...H'on Galway...

**Thomas Clarke** Mon May 20, 2013 12:11 am

Well, Mayo didn't take long to announce themselves in this year's championship. They finished the league well, and the gap between a side in the top half of division 1 and the top half of division 2 can rarely have been so evident.

Mayo were powerful, focussed and fast. They brushed Galway's young lads aside easily, and gave them a terrible hammering. Alan Dillon looked sharp for his first game back (I hope Karl Lacey doesn't readjust so quickly next week!), and I was delighted that Andy Moran got his goal. Tom Cunniffe and Cafferky were very solid at the back, while Cillian O'Connor is developing into much more than just a good free-taker.

For Galway, injuries have rendered Michael Meehan a shadow of the player he once was, and Sean Armstrong a shadow of the player he never was. Gareth Bradshaw and Niall Coleman were a disgrace, ducking out and leaving the young lads to take a mauling. Incredibly, Alan Mulholland says that they were harshly sent off!

Galway, like Armagh, are fortunate that they will have 6 weeks to try to put things in order.

Gaa_lover Mon May 20, 2013 1:59 pm

I don't think it's a gap between divisions more of gap between preparations. James Horan had a plan in place and his players kept to it everyone of his players knew their roles. Compared to Galway who were clueless the game was over as contest after 20mins in truth Galway made Mayo look great the attitude and lack of effort from some of the Galway players was appalling.

Mayo will now win another Connacht title won't learn much or be tested and in the long run i'm sure Horan would like some more competitive games before they face better sides in the last eight though that's unlikely to happen against Rscommon,Sligo,London or Leitrim.

**bocerty** Mon May 20, 2013 11:20 pm

Thomas Clarke wrote:Well, Mayo didn't take long to announce themselves in this year's championship. They finished the league well, and the gap between a side in the top half of division 1 and the top half of division 2 can rarely have been so evident.

Mayo were powerful, focussed and fast. They brushed Galway's young lads aside easily, and gave them a terrible hammering. Alan Dillon looked sharp for his first game back (I hope Karl Lacey doesn't readjust so quickly next week!), and I was delighted that Andy Moran got his goal. Tom Cunniffe and Cafferky were very solid at the back, while Cillian O'Connor is developing into much more than just a good free-taker.

For Galway, injuries have rendered Michael Meehan a shadow of the player he once was, and Sean Armstrong a shadow of the player he never was. Gareth Bradshaw and Niall Coleman were a disgrace, ducking out and leaving the young lads to take a mauling. Incredibly, Alan Mulholland says that they were harshly sent off!

Galway, like Armagh, are fortunate that they will have 6 weeks to try to put things in order.

you dont rate Armstrong TC?

**Thomas Clarke** Mon May 20, 2013 11:58 pm

bocerty wrote:
you dont rate Armstrong TC?

I don't really, Boc. I've seen him play quite well before, but nothing that remotely justified the hype that surrounded him since his underage days. He's now in his late 20s and, at this stage, I can't see him ever delivering. I'd view him as an oft-injured, average intercounty player.

**emmetryan** Thu May 23, 2013 9:28 pm

My apologies for the delay, here's my tactical analysis of Mayo's big win over Galway [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

**Boxtyeater** Sun May 26, 2013 7:17 pm

Thomas Clarke wrote: I'll give them a tentative call here, but a Galway win (itself followed by an upset before the Nestor Cup is awarded) wouldn't surprise me at all.

Sligo will approach the trip to Ruislip with warranted trepidation,

Tremendous forecasting in the opening 2 posts on this thread. Rebellion being threatened in Sligo... Connacht Championship 2013. Smiley13

Kevin Walshe's days are numbered I'd imagine...

There won't be a cow milked in Cricklewood for a week. All eyes now on Pairc Seán June 23rd.

**rich dublin** Tue May 28, 2013 7:07 pm

its been awhile but Laughing

hey everyone how are ye all? been away from forums for a while but back and what a day to come back in the aftermath of the worst result in the history of my poor county! i have never in my life felt just anger and disappointment! kevin welsh will surely be soon off down the n17 fast!! the outcry will not stop fro a long while i can assure ye! on a plus note whats been going on?

**Boxtyeater** Tue May 28, 2013 7:30 pm

rich dublin wrote:its been awhile but hey everyone how are ye all? been away from forums for a while but back and what a day to come back in the aftermath of the worst result in the history of my poor county! i have never in my life felt just anger and disappointment! kevin welsh will surely be soon off down the n17 fast!! the outcry will not stop fro a long while i can assure ye! on a plus note whats been going on?

Welcome back Rich. Don't let the head drop just yet, after all ye' contested the FBD league final against, I'll confess, stern opposition. Wink

Are Sligo capable of re-grouping ? Of course they are, but will they, there's the question. Walshe brought them up 2 divisions so have faith.

By round 4 of the qualifiers you'll have forgotten Sunday. London have rattled the Connacht "Big 2" ie. Mayo and Leitrim in the past 2 years so a victory was bound to come at some stage. Just a pity it wasn't over Roscommon to see real sparks fly....

**rich dublin** Tue May 28, 2013 7:43 pm

hey boxty mate how are u? tbh i dont agree with that at all people spout this stuff about london getting better and the like but i know some of those london players and they wouldnt even make the sligo junior team and they started on sunday! the issue is with welsh and the fact is he is a terrible manager with no tactical sense at all and picks the wrong team and his decisions both in play and in his squad selection has bought the county to its knees!

i know all the sligo players and either played against or with everyone of them i know the talent is there within the county but this manager is a joke he is a very poor manager in todays game! sooner he goes the better for the county!

on a plus note it is virtually certain ye will make the final now really hope ye win it! Connacht Championship 2013. 654413

**Boxtyeater** Tue May 28, 2013 8:01 pm

rich dublin wrote:
on a plus note it is virtually certain ye will make the final now really hope ye win it!

Whoa, whoa....Carrick on June 23rd. is where it's at. Nothing else. We've struggled with London in league and c/ship for the past 3 years so there's nothing between us. Anyway the Connacht final may have to be abandoned/deferred until later in the year as the pursuit of hay and silage will be the focal point of all rural activities in July. Ta' feck with that oul' football !!!!

**champers** Tue May 28, 2013 9:10 pm

london on the verge of a long summer who would have thought it,as for sligo and blaming walsh what a joke he was the messiah not so long a go

**Boxtyeater** Tue May 28, 2013 9:51 pm

champers wrote:london on the verge of a long summer who would have thought it,as for sligo and blaming walsh what a joke he was the messiah not so long a go

Fair point about Walshe. The biblical reference brought back some ancient phrase about profit and their own land.....I'll get me coat..

**rich dublin** Tue May 28, 2013 10:51 pm

champers wrote:london on the verge of a long summer who would have thought it,as for sligo and blaming walsh what a joke he was the messiah not so long a go

trust me i was never an admirer of welsh, always thought he was a poor tactician and was so slow at malign any sort of call during play and when he did he inevitably got it wrong! he came for managing a club girls side and has progressed little or nothing since.

cant see ye messing up like us boxty lad unless mulligan gets injured or is called to the bog!!!

**bocerty** Tue May 28, 2013 10:57 pm

rich dublin wrote:its been awhile but hey everyone how are ye all? been away from forums for a while but back and what a day to come back in the aftermath of the worst result in the history of my poor county! i have never in my life felt just anger and disappointment! kevin welsh will surely be soon off down the n17 fast!! the outcry will not stop fro a long while i can assure ye! on a plus note whats been going on?

well come back Rich how have you been

**rich dublin** Wed May 29, 2013 9:39 am

hey boc my good mad how are u? ive been grand been very busy of late and with my playing situation i couldnt realy comment on games and stuff for a while but back now so all good Smile

how are u? disappointed after sunday?

**Thomas Clarke** Wed May 29, 2013 9:47 am

rich dublin wrote:
champers wrote:as for sligo and blaming walsh what a joke he was the messiah not so long a go

trust me i was never an admirer of welsh, always thought he was a poor tactician and was so slow at malign any sort of call during play and when he did he inevitably got it wrong! he came for managing a club girls side and has progressed little or nothing since.

Eamonn O'Hara getting stuck into Oisin McConville now, as the mono-toned one had the audacity to say that O'Hara's attack on Walsh was out of order. Apparently Oisin, one of the better analysts in the game, 'should stick to talking about Armagh'.

Whatever about the merits or otherwise of Kevin Walsh, O'Hara is letting himself down very badly here.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

**rich dublin** Wed May 29, 2013 9:54 am

hey TC ya id agree with you there ohara needs to realise that when u stick your neck out like he did and for the record i agree with him, but when you do that you are open to people commenting on you. he can not fight the country and should have just spoke about the issues he was on the sunday game. he should have just said that oisin was entitled to his opinion but that he was just speaking for the betterment of sligo football.

**Thomas Clarke** Wed May 29, 2013 9:59 am

rich dublin wrote:hey TC ya id agree with you there ohara needs to realise that when u stick your neck out like he did and for the record i agree with him, but when you do that you are open to people commenting on you. he can not fight the country and should have just spoke about the issues he was on the sunday game. he should have just said that oisin was entitled to his opinion but that he was just speaking for the betterment of sligo football.

Totally agree.

Great to have you back, Rich, and fair play to you for returning at Sligo's lowest hour. There are a few former posters (e.g. Bluearmy, Samin06, Samin08, Samin10 and Samin12) who have long departed since their sides' fortunes took a downturn.

**rich dublin** Wed May 29, 2013 10:33 am

great to be able to post again. i wont lie i am gutted with sunday. the slagging ive gotten over the last few days is unreal but i will never stop supporting the team. ive been through worse with them we just need a new manager there is some quality players there so with the right man at the helm we could do something special! id love to see rory gallagher in charge for next year!

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