The Galway No.1 shirt and kickout requires stability and certainty, quickly
If Shane Walsh has not shaken off the shoulder injury picked up at Páirc Esler last Sunday, well then Galway boss Pádraic Joyce has an enforced change to make.
There's no injury on the goalkeeping front and yet it is easy to make the argument of how there's an enforced need to once again review their No.1 shirt.
That No.1 shirt has been unsure of its owner all summer. Connor Gleeson finished the League, Conor Flaherty started in New York for his championship debut. Gleeson returned for the Connacht semi-final on home soil and remained between the sticks all the way up to and including the season-saving stalemate away to Derry.
The following is what happened at Celtic Park on the first day of this month that contributed to Gleeson taking residence on the bench in the four weeks since.
Derry pressed on his restart from the off. His restart creaked under the pressure. Galway failed to retain five of his opening seven kickouts. From the five they lost, including two mid-range kicks, Derry raised three orange flags and one white. Less than halfway through the opening half and the Galway kickout had already been taken for 0-7.
The beginning of the second period was challenging too. Derry claimed two of the first four Galway kickouts and mined 1-1 in the process. And while a maroon 1-1 off the Galway restart later in the half had a neutralising effect, management saw enough, including a Gleeson free punted out over the sideline that ended in a Derry point, to give Flaherty his second championship start for the subsequent group fixture against Armagh.
The question now is: Did management see enough in Páirc Esler last Sunday to return Flaherty to the stand and Gleeson to the starting line-up?
In the second half against Down, the hosts won nine of Flaherty's first 11 restarts. They were 10/18 in total for that second period. The hosts found a second-half 0-4 off Flaherty's restart. A green flag save and three wides prevented Down finding another 1-3 from that same source.
'We gave away three or four in-a-row again and just didn't go to our kickout routine that we should have gone to when the pressure was on. Put a few over the sideline. Disappointed with that,' Joyce said after the preliminary quarter-final win.
Twice in the second-half, Joyce called Gleeson down from the stand to warm-up. He clarified post-match that such was the strength of the wind Flaherty was kicking into, Gleeson's greater distance meant he was considered for introduction.
On top of warming up Gleeson, the Galway management on more than one occasion went behind Flaherty's goal to pass in comment and information to the under-pressure No.1.
At this stage of championship, argued James Horan, a management needs to be building up their goalkeeper, not having him see his rival for the jersey warming up and down the sideline.
'One thing you got to give 'keepers is confidence and assurance. If it's doubt and going game-to-game changes, that doesn't help anyone,' the former Mayo boss said on the Irish Examiner Gaelic football podcast this week.
'Plus, at this stage, your defence for your kickout strategy, they time their runs depending on the keeper that is there. One keeper might have a shorter run-up, might have a quicker or lower trajectory, or whatever it is. So all those things could be a little bit off if you are chopping and changing your 'keeper. You back one and you go with it, unless something goes horribly wrong.'
The stick or twist dilemma in front of Joyce has to be got right. And not just for their Sam Maguire ambitions next month. It has to be got right for this Sunday.
Opponents Meath, lest anyone forget, spoiled 13 of Stephen Cluxton's 19 first-half kickouts in the Leinster semi-final shock.
For those who immediately make the counterargument that Cluxton was kicking into the wind, consider that when Cork goalkeeper Micheál Aodh Martin was kicking with the wind in the second half of the Cork-Meath Sam Maguire opener, the Royals won seven of Cork's 14 restarts and engineered 0-5 off that possession.
The Galway No.1 shirt, the same as the Galway kickout, requires stability and certainty, and quickly.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Munster's versatile Tom Ahern hopes he can live up to ‘Slim Reaper' moniker in summer Tests
Simon Zebo refers to Tom Ahern as the 'Slim Reaper' whenever the opportunity arises. Given the fusion of a slim, 6ft 9in build with a knack of scoring tries, it's a moniker that fits. US basketball great Kevin Durant beat Ahern to the nickname, but the American star is less well known in Youghal, Dungarvan and Waterpark circles. Ahern is part of the Ireland squad for the two Test summer series in Georgia and Portugal. He's been within arm's reach of a first cap in the past only to be denied by injury. And it is that bedfellow that's unfortunately looming in the background. Connacht's Josh Murphy has been called in to train with the Ireland squad in advance of next Wednesday's departure to Georgia as Ahern looks to shake off a hamstring niggle. He'll be managed carefully. READ MORE Two years at Irish under-20s and a place on the first Emerging Ireland tour underlined his potential. Being called up for the week leading into the Scotland match in the Six Nations this year provided not only a confidence boost, but Ahern also took some impetus back to Munster. 'It's a fantastic, exceptional group and I was buzzing when I got called up to the Six Nations, even though it was just a week,' Ahern said. 'I was delighted to be up here, just working with the class coaches, class players, and it definitely gave me a bit of confidence to push on the rest of the season [in the hope] of ending up back here.' The default setting for most players is to try to be philosophical about injuries, acknowledging these as a byproduct of playing sport. In that respect, the 25-year-old is no different. Shoulder surgery, an ankle issue and concussion are just some of those hurdles he's had to negotiate. He describes the setbacks 'as tough moments', but doesn't dwell on them. Life has taught him to surround himself with good, positive people as this helps in discarding disappointment as quickly as possible, whether that's personal or from a team perspective. There was an element of frustration to how Munster's season finished, but there's no worthwhile baggage to be carried forward. Ahern's rangy athleticism was honed initially in the GAA, playing football and hurling for his local club Ardmore, where there was a family background in the sport. A summer camp in his mother's hometown introduced him to rugby. He loved it and he kept playing in Youghal, Dungarvan and Waterpark, before being chosen for the Munster academy and provincial and national age-grade teams. Munster's Tom Ahern scores a try in March's URC match against Connacht. Photograph: James Crombie/INPHO Last year he doubled up with Munster, playing in the backrow as well as secondrow, a versatility that has stood to him in much the same way as it has Tadhg Beirne or Ryan Baird. Ahern didn't have to look too far for help in broadening those horizons. 'I have good lads in Munster. I've got Pete [O'Mahony] who was very helpful towards my game when I was playing six. I have Leams [assistant coach Denis Leamy] as well, very helpful, so definitely a lot more comfortable playing [six] this season,' he said. Ahern was asked whether there was large-scale similarity in detail between Munster and Ireland and what differences they were in terms of the two positions. 'I suppose down in Munster it's a bit different from up here [with Ireland],' he said. 'I think up here everybody in the pack is kind of in the middle of the field working together. While back down in Munster it's usually the two backrows are kind of holding the edges a bit more, so you're playing [out wide] a bit more. So, it's only really different down in Munster; up here whether you're playing secondrow or backrow it's similar enough.' The Ardmore native is surrounded by several familiar faces in terms of the coaching team with Leamy and Mike Prendergast , and the tour captain, scrumhalf Craig Casey . Ahern was also asked about Casey's leadership qualities. 'He's a fantastic leader on and off the field. There's not a more dedicated man in this sport. All the stuff he does off the field goes unseen to most people, but he's such a good leader, a good guy in general. He's the perfect person for this tour because everybody gets behind him and there's great energy around the place,' he said. 'Mike's a class coach and I think he's done very well since he's been up here, same with Leams, same with Collie [Tucker, who also coached Ahern at Irish 20s]; I think they've all been fantastic. They're all kind of just finding their bearings as well at the same time. It's a new environment for all of them, but I think they've done an excellent job so far.' Ahern will be keeping fingers crossed that the hamstring injury goes away. He deserves his chance to take a giant stride forward in career terms.
Irish Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Shane Walsh out to deliver knock-out to boss who delivered him top club title
A freakish performance - Robbie Brennan was blown away by Shane Walsh's comeback for Kilmacud Crokes. It was the night of September 21st in Parnell Park and the Crokes boss marvelled as Walsh fired 1-4 against Ballyboden St Endas on his return to action, having picked up ankle and hamstring injuries during Galway's run to the All-Ireland final and their defeat to Armagh. 'He hadn't trained properly since the Dublin game," said Brennan, referring to the Tribesmen's All-Ireland quarter-final victory in June. 'He trained during the week and you'd swear there was nothing wrong with him. He's a bit of a freak. I don't know how they make fellas like him." Fast forward nine months and, after three years working together, Walsh and Brennan are in direct opposition for a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals tomorrow as Galway and Meath clash in the championship for the first time in 14 years. Brennan was asked that same September night in Donnycarney about reports that he was to be Meath's new manager, taking up the position after Crokes' county campaign ended, but he wouldn't comment on the speculation. The position was his, however, with Crokes' All-Ireland club final triumph in 2023 ushering him to the front of potential targets for the Royals. Walsh had played a massive role in that success, the final and vital piece of the jigsaw for Brennan to achieve a lifelong dream with his own club. It was in late August of 2022 when the high-profile - and much debated -transfer finally went through as Walsh left his home club Kilkerrin/Clonberne for Crokes, citing the constant demands of travelling west as too much given that he was living and working in the capital. There were plenty who were unhappy with the move but Walsh got on with it and, after his coming off the bench in his first game for the big south Dublin outfit - a facile victory against Templeogue Synge Street - Brennan spoke about the qualities that were evident in his new player. 'No matter when he came, just the fact that who he was and the All-Ireland final and what he produced, and coming to us and the perceptions around us as a big club which isn't actually the case when you drill down into the numbers and that, but look, there was always going to be a bit of noise,' said Brennan. 'But it's done now and he's in and that was the first game to get out of the way and he did decent when he came in. What would we do, turn him away? There is a process in Kilmacud and just because you want to join doesn't mean you get to join. "There's plenty of guys who get turned away for different reasons but Shane ticked all the boxes. You're not going to say no, obviously, when he wants to come and join you. So just fitting him in now is the challenge for us." Brennan had been hugely impressed when Walsh spoke to his new team-mates a few days before the game. "He speaks brilliantly about the game, he sees it very clearly. He understands it as you'd expect from someone at that level," said the then Crokes supremo. 'I don't expect there's a whole lot of coaching on him, I'd say whatever has been done has been done at this stage, at 29. "I don't think we'll add a whole lot to his game. It's more just fitting him into the system and the way we try to play and what we'd like to do. But yeah, he's a big plus." The noise eventually died down and Walsh played a huge role for Brennan over the next three years. Crokes collected back to back Dublin SFC titles in 2022 and '23, successive Leinster club medals in that same period. And then came their crowning achievement, the All-Ireland club crown in January 2023, beating Derry champions Glen. Walsh scored 1-3 of his side's 1-11 total - his goal from the penalty spot bringing the Stillorgan outfit back into the game before half-time. He took an extended break in Dubai afterwards as controversy raged over Crokes fielding an extra player in the final moments of the final. "Things could have been handled better in that scene," said Walsh on his return. "I was probably in the right place at the right time in terms of being away from all the noise about it." He had told Brennan that he would return for a replay if required. "But it's great that there was a line drawn in the sand to it and it's great just to have that medal forever," added Walsh. "We enjoyed every minute of it (the celebrations), you can ask any of the lads and they'll tell you the same. "I hadn't been to an All-Ireland final with Galway and I hadn't been in one with the club, and to hit both in the same year, and just mentally I felt a lot different to how I feel now." Clearly their time together was mutually beneficial but, for Brennan and Walsh, friendship will be put aside for 70 minutes tomorrow afternoon.
The Irish Sun
11 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Sam Todd and Ronan Boyce pop up with goals as Derry City hammer Drogheda Utd to take second place in Premier Division
DEFENDERS Sam Todd and Ronan Boyce struck a goal apiece as Derry City swatted Drogheda United aside to move into second place. Todd and Boyce — who both hail from 2 Derry City hammered Drogheda United Credit: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile 2 Danny Mullen of Derry City celebrates after scoring his side's third goal against Drogheda Credit: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile Carndonagh man Todd headed home the opener on 33 minutes from Michael Duffy's clipped cross. Ramelton lad Boyce then pounced to fire home a rebound after Andrew Quinn cleared Duffy's strike off the line. Substitute Danny Mullen added a third five minutes into stoppage time. Duffy was again involved as his strike at the near post was turned into the path of the Scotsman by Drogheda keeper Luke Dennison. Read More on Derry City It was a third win and clean sheet on the bounce for the Foylesiders who remain 11 points behind leaders They are now above Bohemians on goal difference. And Kevin Holt also came close to breaking the deadlock midway through the opening period when he met Duffy's inswinging free-kick. Most read in Football But his glancing header bounced just wide. Sadou Diallo then tried his luck from distance on the half hour but his effort sailed harmlessly off target . Electricity goes out during Shelbourne vs Derry City in League of Ireland opener Derry eventually broke Drogheda's resolve from a short corner. Duffy received the ball back from Whyte and clipped it into a crowded penalty area where Todd headed into the corner of the net. The hosts doubled their lead three minutes later when Duffy raced on to Liam Boyce's through ball and rounded the keeper but his strike was cleared off the line by Quinn. The clearance fell to Ronan Boyce who steered the ball into the net. Derry were well in control but Drogheda found a way in behind the City defence moments later. Thomas Oluwa got away from Mark Connolly and sent a strike towards goal but Brian Maher stood tall and saved at the front post. Carl Winchester had the ball in the net when he received the ball from a sublime defence-splitting pass from Whyte. But the Belfast man strayed offside and the goal was ruled out. Diallo then picked out the run of Duffy with a pass over the top. But the winger's effort on the volley dipped over the crossbar as Derry threatened to put the match to bed before the break. SECOND GEAR Derry continued to dominate at the start of the second half. And livewire Duffy was the next to threaten as his effort from the edge of the penalty area was just deflected behind by Conor Keeley's block. Keeley — scorer of a brace on Drogheda's last visit to the Brandywell — was then in the thick of the action at the other end. The former St Pat's defender chested down a cross inside the Derry box before volleying narrowly wide of the target on 63 minutes. Substitute Mullen put the icing on the cake in the fifth minute of stoppage time for the hosts. Duffy's strike was saved by the foot of Dennison — but it fell straight to the feet of the ex-Livingston ace who tapped in from four yards. SUN STAR MAN Michael Duffy (Derry) DERRY CITY : Maher 7; Cann 7, Connolly 7, Holt 7; R Boyce 8, Winchester 8 (McMullan 76, 6), Diallo 8 (O'Reilly 63, 6), Whyte 7 (Mullen 75, 7), Duffy 9, S Todd 8; L Boyce 7 (Benson 75, 6). DROGHEDA UNITED : Dennison 5, Kane 6 (Cruise 55, 5), Quinn 7, Harper-Bailey 6, James-Taylor 6 (Bosakani 87, 6), Farrell 5, Brennan 5 (Markey 55, 6), Heeney 6, Keeley 6, Lambe 6, Oluwa 5 (Kareem 60, 6). REFEREE : R Harvey (Dublin) 6.
