Mayo GAA Discussion Thread

davegrohl48

Gavin Duffy mooting about returning to GAA. Apparently he has kept his toe in the water with Salthill Knocknacarra. Twas on thescore.ie
He was a top quality minor with great fielding ability. His skill level was good for a big minor. He'll have to prove himself at club level again but he'd be worth considering.

Blackjack

davegrohl48 wrote: »

Gavin Duffy mooting about returning to GAA. Apparently he has kept his toe in the water with Salthill Knocknacarra. Twas on thescore.ie
He was a top quality minor with great fielding ability. His skill level was good for a big minor. He'll have to prove himself at club level again but he'd be worth considering.

Not sure about that. He's 32. He'd want to be very skilful to return to the sport after that long out of it.

davegrohl48

He was super at picking kickouts out of the air and was decent in soloing/passing. He could lose a small bit of skill and his physique could make up for that. Not too many 15 stone Mayo men with pace. It would be next season at this stage.

yop

Dont know, he will be 33 this year, not too many lads still playing intercounty at that age never mind returning to it.

Fr Tod Umptious

davegrohl48 wrote: »

Gavin Duffy mooting about returning to GAA. Apparently he has kept his toe in the water with Salthill Knocknacarra. Twas on thescore.ie
He was a top quality minor with great fielding ability. His skill level was good for a big minor. He'll have to prove himself at club level again but he'd be worth considering.

Enough already.
We don't need retired rugby players coming back to help this team out, not now, not next year, not ever.

There is enough GAA talent in the county.

ColeTrain

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Enough already.
We don't need retired rugby players coming back to help this team out, not now, not next year, not ever.

There is enough GAA talent in the county.

But Duffy could be our keano...

davegrohl48

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Enough already.
We don't need retired rugby players coming back to help this team out, not now, not next year, not ever.

There is enough GAA talent in the county.

His Job, rugby prevented him from playing Gaelic Football. A fit Duffy would make a contribution in a major way next year. Seen plenty of him playing up to minor. His physical attributes require him to be only at a decent level of skill. Why reject him if was available, unlikely puts himself forward but wouldn't rule out possibility.

Audioslaven

davegrohl48 wrote: »

His Job, rugby prevented him from playing Gaelic Football. A fit Duffy would make a contribution in a major way next year. Seen plenty of him playing up to minor. His physical attributes require him to be only at a decent level of skill. Why reject him if was available, unlikely puts himself forward but wouldn't rule out possibility.

Waste of time, too old for the pace of a player required to lift SAM. The arse is ran out of him from the oval ball otherwise some rugby team will come in for him

ColeTrain

Audioslaven wrote: »

Waste of time, too old for the pace of a player required to lift SAM. The arse is ran out of him from the oval ball otherwise some rugby team will come in for him

He wouldn't have to start the games though. Although we are hardly starved for midfielders, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss him if he was committed and was showing well.

I heard him interviewed in a Off The Ball special before last years Final and he certainly loves Mayo GAA. All ifs and buts though for now, he might not even be playing football next year.

padd b1975

Lets give him the benefit of the doubt and see how he preforms on the club scene first.

He can't be expecting to be parachuted straight onto the panel.....can he???

Ascii

padd b1975 wrote: »

Lets give him the benefit of the doubt and see how he preforms on the club scene first.

He can't be expecting to be parachuted straight onto the panel.....can he???

Have to agree with this..... don't see him being an addition to the current set up. Sure let him battle away in the club scene and if he can prove me wrong then so be it. You would have to feel that the attributes to being a good rubgy player (physically strong, good ball carrying skills etc) are not what we are looking for with the current set-up (pace, ball passing etc). Only when he can out run Higgins and can thread a foot pass like Ciaran Mc do I want to see him on the panel :):). Until then he will have to be content with the Junior B club team.

You cant take away from the fact that he has been a fantastic rugby player down through the years and would make a great ambassador for the rugby game and kids going forward.

Coillte_Bhoy

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Enough already.
We don't need retired rugby players coming back to help this team out, not now, not next year, not ever.

There is enough GAA talent in the county.

What a ridiculous thing to say. if he's good enough then he should get a chance, what his rugby career has to do wit it i dont know. if he was abroad working for the past ten years and came home would you have a different attitude?

Kalyke

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

What a ridiculous thing to say. if he's good enough then he should get a chance, what his rugby career has to do wit it i dont know. if he was abroad working for the past ten years and came home would you have a different attitude?

Would we take Pearce Hanley at 32…?

ColeTrain

Kalyke wrote: »

Would we take Pearce Hanley at 32…?

If he was good enough then yes!

Syferus

Kalyke wrote: »

Would we take Pearce Hanley at 32…?

Leave Roscommon men out of it.

wirelessdude01

I doubt Duffy will amount to anything at club level in Galway. Too long out of the game for inter-county if people are being realistic.

royster999

Did the weekend club league games feature the county players ?

yop

I does seem this CT journalist does have it in for Horan. If it is a pot of lies then its pretty shameful stuff.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/mayo-boss-james-horan-furious-over-mayo-rift-lies-30267932.html

Defiler Of The Coffin

yop wrote: »

I does seem this CT journalist does have it in for Horan. If it is a pot of lies then its pretty shameful stuff.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/mayo-boss-james-horan-furious-over-mayo-rift-lies-30267932.html

Really daft stuff, looks like certain elements in the local media won't be happy until Horan is hounded out. Interesting though what he has to say about Higgins, looks like he still intends to play him in HF when the time comes

threebeards

yop wrote: »

I does seem this CT journalist does have it in for Horan. If it is a pot of lies then its pretty shameful stuff.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/mayo-boss-james-horan-furious-over-mayo-rift-lies-30267932.html

Thing is, he's not even a proper bloody journalist. In any case, the standard of journalism being presented by the CT for publication is very, very poor. The Western People and Mayo News are far more substantive. I wouldn't buy the CT if I was never to read a word again.

Speaking of the WP interview that the Indo picked up on - it's a really interesting and honest interview. Well worth a read for anyone who hasn't seen it

threebeards

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Really daft stuff, looks like certain elements in the local media won't be happy until Horan is hounded out.

I don't even think it comes down to that. It appears that he's (CT "journalist") just trying to be controversial; just trying to be seen and heard making noise. As JH said in the interview in the WP yesterday, he's never even bothered to come to a training session. He writes based on rumour, or possibly, rumour is based on what he writes, I'm not quite sure which.

yop

I have a feeling said Journo frequents this forum

Defiler Of The Coffin

threebeards wrote: »

I don't even think it comes down to that. It appears that he's (CT "journalist") just trying to be controversial; just trying to be seen and heard making noise. As JH said in the interview in the WP yesterday, he's never even bothered to come to a training session. He writes based on rumour, or possibly, rumour is based on what he writes, I'm not quite sure which.

All being said I haven't read the article but from the sound of things the journalist is probably relying too much on what he hears in the pub.

On a side note it's annoying that the WP and CT have such poor web sites, it's a pain for those outside of the county, they haven't moved on from the 'posting out the papers to the relatives' era at all!

yop

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

All being said I haven't read the article but from the sound of things the journalist is probably relying too much on what he hears in the pub.

On a side note it's annoying that the WP and CT have such poor web sites, it's a pain for those outside of the county, they haven't moved on from the 'posting out the papers to the relatives' era at all!

His review of Mayo and his blatant cheap shots at JH on the edition directly after the AI final last year, while yes some of it held a thread of truth, was kicking a man while he was down. He got hammered on Facebook for it and rightly so.

Mayo News have a great online site.

ProudDUB

Is this the same journo who was banging on about people being right "to demand answers" or some such rubbish, immediately after the AI final last year?

yop

ProudDUB wrote: »

Is this the same journo who was banging on about people being right "to demand answers" or some such rubbish, immediately after the AI final last year?

Thats the one. I can't find the article as their site is closed, but it was on Facebook, I can't link to it here in work

Rockfish

Who is the journalist? i'm presuming it's AH?

ProudDUB

yop wrote: »

Thats the one. I can't find the article as their site is closed, but it was on Facebook, I can't link to it here in work

Right you are. Rigththinking folk will just dismiss his kind of rubbish for what it is. But unfortunately when you are one of the most prominent teams in the country, you'll always attract the type of muckraker who is just out to make a name for himself & nothing more.

It is a terrible pity, as gives the rest of the decent, hardworking journalists a bad name & stops the players and managers from having anything to do with any of them. Which in turn, has a knock on effect on us lot.

Coillte_Bhoy

Rockfish wrote: »

Who is the journalist? i'm presuming it's AH?

The minute i heard this and not hearing which paper, thats who i guessed as well, might be wrong of course :cool:

SeanJ09

Was it John Melvin no? And they wonder why the CT is gone insolvent.

yop

SeanJ09 wrote: »

Was it John Melvin no? And they wonder why the CT is gone insolvent.

Not John Melvin. Nothing to do with insolvency, that was down to poor decision making

Defiler Of The Coffin

Gavin Duffy is back training with Mayo! There'll be some smug lads on this thread later, never thought it would happen.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/former-connacht-and-ireland-fullback-gavin-duffy-in-training-with-mayo-30275640.html

ColeTrain

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Gavin Duffy is back training with Mayo! There'll be some smug lads on this thread later, never thought it would happen.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/former-connacht-and-ireland-fullback-gavin-duffy-in-training-with-mayo-30275640.html

Hon the Duffy boy, big morale boost to have him in there. Some midfield we have at the minute.

Defiler Of The Coffin

ColeTrain wrote: »

Hon the Duffy boy, big morale boost to have him in there. Some midfield we have at the minute.

It'll be Tadhg Kennelly all over again, wait and see :-)

Fair play to Horan for giving him the opportunity, even if he doesn't get a game it has certainly generated a buzz, badly needed after the petty squabbling of the last few days.

ColeTrain

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

It'll be Tadhg Kennelly all over again, wait and see :-)

Fair play to Horan for giving him the opportunity, even if he doesn't get a game it has certainly generated a buzz, badly needed after the petty squabbling of the last few days.

Yes, Definitely a welcome distraction.

Let's try and get pearse Hanley home - sons of mayo, your county is calling

Defiler Of The Coffin

ColeTrain wrote: »

Yes, Definitely a welcome distraction.

Let's try and get pearse Hanley home - sons of mayo, your county is calling

That boom you just heard was Syferus blowing his top...

Spring Onion

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Gavin Duffy is back training with Mayo! There'll be some smug lads on this thread later, never thought it would happen.

Great move by Mayo management. Duffy is a good athlete, solid professional and can play a bit of football.
I would stick him up full forward.

yop

Well while I thought it was daft then maybe why not, different mentality, bit of a challenge for others. Stood out last night at training.

Blackjack

Defiler Of The Coffin wrote: »

Gavin Duffy is back training with Mayo! There'll be some smug lads on this thread later, never thought it would happen.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/former-connacht-and-ireland-fullback-gavin-duffy-in-training-with-mayo-30275640.html

Good Lord. I didnt see that coming.
Fair Play, I hope if he does get a place he can make a difference.

manofwisdom

When is the last time Gavin Duffy played club football in Mayo,is he a payed up member of any club in Mayo? i'd wonder about the Mayo players that have been busting a gut to get on Mayo panel to get playing and not getting alot game time sacrificing everything for it and now those same players will watch on as this man that left GAA 13 years ago can suddenly at 32 walk onto the Mayo senior panel without kicking a ball?

Barlett

manofwisdom wrote: »

When is the last time Gavin Duffy played club football in Mayo,is he a payed up member of any club in Mayo? i'd wonder about the Mayo players that have been busting a gut to get on Mayo panel to get playing and not getting alot game time sacrificing everything for it and now those same players will watch on as this man that left GAA 13 years ago can suddenly at 32 walk onto the Mayo senior panel without kicking a ball?

They're only assessing him...he hasn't been called up to the panel.

GBXI

manofwisdom wrote: »

When is the last time Gavin Duffy played club football in Mayo,is he a payed up member of any club in Mayo? i'd wonder about the Mayo players that have been busting a gut to get on Mayo panel to get playing and not getting alot game time sacrificing everything for it and now those same players will watch on as this man that left GAA 13 years ago can suddenly at 32 walk onto the Mayo senior panel without kicking a ball?

If they were good enough they'd be on the panel. If Duffy is good enough he'll be on the panel. It's as simple as that really.

km79

He is not walking onto the panel . he is being given the opportunity to prove he is good enough to be brought into panel .like every club player in a match being watched Horan etc
Fbd game, league games. There are still players on panel who have showed they are not good enough at the highest level BUT there was no one better so they keep their place year after year.
If Duffy is better he will replace them and improve squads chance of AI glory. Simple.
If Pearce Hanley returned in the morning I would hope he would also be given chance to earn his place........

Fr Tod Umptious

So where do you play him ?

km79

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

So where do you play him ?

Depending on his footballing skills centre or full forward I'd imagine.
He may well end up as an impact sub first few games.
Assuming he makes the cut of course ....

padd b1975

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

So where do you play him ?

I would hope coming from rugby he would have a keen eye for creating overlaps and being available off the shoulder of guys going into traffic (Kevin Mc.).

Impact sub in around the half forward line would be my guess if he's up to it that is.

Fr Tod Umptious

padd b1975 wrote: »

I would hope coming from rugby he would have a keen eye for creating overlaps and being available off the shoulder of guys going into traffic (Kevin Mc.).

Impact sub in around the half forward line would be my guess if he's up to it that is.

Well it's a good thing Richie Feeney is out of favor

It would be a shame if they used an actual footballer as an impact half forward sub ahead of a 32 year old rugby retiree

GBXI

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Well it's a good thing Richie Feeney is out of favor

It would be a shame if they used an actual footballer as an impact half forward sub ahead of a 32 year old rugby retiree

Maybe if Richie made more of an impact when he plays he'd be less out of favour.

Defiler Of The Coffin

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Well it's a good thing Richie Feeney is out of favor

It would be a shame if they used an actual footballer as an impact half forward sub ahead of a 32 year old rugby retiree

We're not just talking about any old 'rugby retiree', we're talking about this man here:



If the man can play and make a positive contribution then does that not make him an 'actual footballer'?

He's a big strong conditioned athlete and just might be the spark that Mayo need to fire the engine, let's face it we've been flat enough this year so far. There was certainly something missing in our forward line last year, not to get ahead of ourselves but this has given myself and a lot of fans a big buzz, who knows where it could end up?

davegrohl48

Well it certainly creates a big buzz around the whole scene. Mayo people were getting this news by text from all over the globe.
Only reason I thought he might get looked at was that as a minor he was at a decent level of skill for a big player. I followed them all that year in '99 and he had the ability to catch kickouts in a crowd. I played against him few times underage and thought he was well able to move with the ball/pass. As I remember his shooting was okay, Robert Moran/Eoin Gallagher were the accurate forwards from that age group.
I'd pick him in a roving forward role. Use him for direct running to create overlaps/goal chances/frees/black cards.
Could shape up something like:
Diarmuid OConnor AOS Kevin Mc
Duffy Freeman Cillian OConnor

Suddenly we might have a forward line with 4 big men!! Cillian is also pretty physical people forget. Makes opposing defences jobs more difficult.

I will be surprised if he can't show enough to get on the panel. My prediction is he can claim a starting spot this season being trialled from the bench in next game. If we can get him to a higher playing level that is the kinda major addition we need to win Sam.