[QUOTE=âJimmy Mc Nulty, post: 1058767, member: 1168â]SeĂĄn Armstrong announced his retirement from the County team this morning. He burst on to the scene in 2005 as part of the new Terrible Twins, along with Michael Meehan. I think they both scored a hat-trick apiece in that All Ireland U-21 Final victory over Down. He was brought into the Senior team later that year and showed great promise in the All Ireland quarter final v Cork. He won an All Ireland club title with Salthill the following year against St. Galls of Antrim.
He had a devastating burst of speed, but this speed, and his career in general, were seriously curtailed by injury. He just couldnât seem to shake off hamstring injuries and even when he was injury free, he flattered to deceive a lot of the time. He was used sparingly by his fellow Salthill man, Alan Mulholland, in last years championship, something that he cites as one of the main reasons for his retirement. He felt he was treated harshly because he was playing well and that he had much more to offer the team. I tend to agree with him on this regard.
He also stated that he had a long chat with new manager Kevin Walsh and has decided that he wonât be returning to the team in January as he doesnât think he can give 100% commitment.
Armstrong is the second Galway forward to have retired in a week after James Kavanagh also announced he was stepping away last week. Kevin Walsh has either told these fellas theyâre not part of his plans, or is making some serious demands off them if they want to hang around next year.
Itâs sad to see Armstrong go in one sense, I still think he has something to offerâŚItâs even more saddening that weâve probably seen the last of both him and Meehan in a Galway Jersey, less than ten years after that under-21 win against Down. You have to wonder how much different things could have been for them and Galway Football if they had injury free careers.
hardly going to be a long term thing even if he is being tried there
Then again why not. I was at the replay v Kilkenny last year. Canning was in full forward 2nd half and showed for the ball time and time again. He may as well not have bothered. Galway hit ball wide, ran into corners, short passed around the middle of the field. Basically anything other than send a decent ball into Canning. The only ball he got were shots for points dropping short. Not the first time I noticed this when attending Galway matches. Probably not as obvious when watching on TV
[QUOTE=âkerry1891, post: 1066249, member: 1379â]hardly going to be a long term thing even if he is being tried there
Then again why not. I was at the replay v Kilkenny last year. Canning was in full forward 2nd half and showed for the ball time and time again. He may as well not have bothered. Galway hit ball wide, ran into corners, short passed around the middle of the field. Basically anything other than send a decent ball into Canning. The only ball he got were shots for points dropping short. Not the first time I noticed this when attending Galway matches. Probably not as obvious when watching on TV[/QUOTE]
I honestly think they should try jcanning at centre back. The best season they ever had with him around was when he was injured for most of it and they had to play without him up front. I also think AC is on the right track generally, at least as much as a galway hurling manager can be, though his apparent dismissal of junior and intermediate players who may be able to step up if given a chance, or at least his failure to regularly attend these games is vexing.
