Originally posted by gaillimh73:
The Allianz HL Division 1A relegation tie between Dublin and Galway has been brought forward to 2.30pm in Tullamore on Sunday after the Division 3A final was called off.

Originally posted by dubliner 2:
Didn't take the G.A.A. long to accept Monaghan's refusal to play, did it?

Originally posted by dubliner 2:
Didn't take the G.A.A. long to accept Monaghan's refusal to play, did it?

Originally posted by faldo:
whats that all about d2?

Originally posted by dubliner 2:
Monaghan refused to cancel football club games tomorrow night to allow their hurlers prepare for Sunday's Div 3A final. The hurlers said they would not play if forced to play football tomorrow.The County Board then conceded the hurling final in what has to be the most disgraceful decision I've ever heard of.And the G.A.A. simply ignores it and changes the time of the Dublin/Galway game.There are so many people guilty of the gross neglect of hurling here it defies belief.

This message has been edited - 10-apr-2012 @ 22:10

Originally posted by KickingKing:
Any news on Canning for this one?Can he be parachuted straight in if fit?

Originally posted by Deise go deo:
Is this game on tv? Hope so!

This message has been edited - 10-apr-2012 @ 23:17

Originally posted by Stool Pigeon:
Cunningham will need time alright, unfortunately for him he ain't gonna get it.
Short-termism rules in Galway, you know that as well as i do. If we get relegated and crash out of the championship early there will be a clamour for change. He is taking the right approach but like Moses, he will be wiped out before we reach the promised land, unless he can find a way to part the red sea, or maybe even a black&amber one.

Originally posted by South Limerick Referee:
I think Cunningham had to go with the youth since he has them. The old brigade had taken too many beatings, Cork 08, Waterford 09, Kilkenny 10 and Waterford last year was probably the final straw. I dont think the same group of players could ever be depended upon to deliver again. The heart was probably gone out of them. The irony of it all is that had Ollie Canning not got injured in 2010 they might have been All Ireland Champions. On such fine lines are success and failures builtIf Galway didnt have the youth, they might have had to stick with what they had, and at other times they might have got rid of the older guys too quickly.

Originally posted by labane1917:
I would suggest it was the cumulative effect of narrow losses in successive seasons that did in the Galway team of 2007 - 2011. The only games that truly matter are knock out championship games and that's where any team should be judged. Galway were neck and neck with Kilkenny for 60 minutes in 2007 and then got blitzed, they lost by 2 points to Cork in 2008, an injury time one point loss to Waterford in 2009 and an injury time one point loss to Tipp in 2010. These could hardly be described as collapses but the feeling would have permeated that team that they could not win the tight matches and lacked the self belief to go that extra step. I think last year you were looking at a team that had lost it's confidence and belief and if you go onto a hurling field at any level not 100% committed you get eaten.I think it will be a long road back for Galway to get to the level of say 2005. This is an exceptionally young squad with only a few senior players, similar in many ways to Clare for the past 3 years. Galway fans need to be patient and supportive, in particular if we lose to Dublin. The good news is Galway always produce good hurlers, last year's minor team was a fine side with the kind of physical attributes you need in todays's game. Cunningham should be given at least 3 years and perhaps 5 to develop a team from the young hurlers that are there now and the ones coming through. Galway supporters should remember that we won the minor and U21 titles in 1983 with exceptional teams but it was still 4 years later before a senior AI was won.

Originally posted by macdaddy:
Has canning done much proper, as in contact training yet I wonder? Huge pressure now on galway to remain where they have been since 1974 with all the aces in the Dubs hands!!! Ignore that first match, it has no bearing on his one! Dublin now have their men nice and rested and are facing a demoralised Galway side! Dublin were unlucky not to pick up more points during the League against cork, Kilkenny and Tipp!!This is one match result that is very predictable!!!

Originally posted by nlgbbbblth:
Galway not relegated since 1974? Some record. I remember them beating Wexford in a relegation play off in the early 1980s. It's a pity past league tables and results are not available or archived properly.

Originally posted by theblack&amber:
Kilkenny 2007 – Played well but were blitzed in last 10 minutes when Kilkenny went up a gear, couldn't handle it.
Cork 2008 – Cork down a man, Galway had a great chance to claim a major scalp, but blew that opportunity by being outplayed by 14 men.
Waterford 09 – Blew a decent lead through bad defending.
Kilkenny 2010 – Dismantled with ease, showed no fight.
Tipp 2010 – Played well but blew a two point lead in injury time.
Dublin 2011 – Physically bullied, gave up at half time.
Waterford 2011 – Simply gave up, no effort.I think you're right labane1917, these losses led to a situation where Galway players lost the confidence to such a point that last year was a humiliation. Some of these defeats wer narrow losses, but a lot of these losses came from winning positions, or tight games. Galway simply lacked the mental strength or ability to win these matches. These results are not including the humiliating defeats dished out by Tipp and Kilkenny in league matches in the last two league seasons, not to mention fading in the last two leagues as the games became more intense.Fair enough, they won a league final. But that was against a Cork that looked like they were training heavily and had almost complete focus on the Munster championship.The obvious point is Galway teams in the last few years have lacked the mental strength and ability to win a match against a top side. More worryingly, Galway have lacked the will to fight to win matches against good sides, they seemed all too willing individually and collectively to throw in the towel, even in tight matches that are there to be won.Cunningham needs time to be able to mould this team into a team even capable of challenging for top honours. But more importantly he needs to improve the attitude that has permeated through Galway these last few years, and rebuild belief in Galway hurling.Most importantly he has to end this charade that Galway are the 3rd best team in the country and 3rd favourites every year for Liam, it creates an unrealistic expectation based on (relatively easy) minor and U21 success. Minor and U21 titles don't guarantee senior titles, they don't even guarantee a good senior team.