Mayo GAA Discussion Part 2

MayoAreMagic

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

It's not that simple.

No one suggested that Hennelly "had a vastly superior kickout".

The reasoning was that part of the Dublin game plan was to traget the Clarke kickout.

If you take Clarke's kickout away (alter the kickout strategy) then you take part of Dublin's game plan away.
Making them come up with an alternative.


That's what we are dealing with in 21st century football, minute levels of analysis of where you can find an advantage.

Exactly.
Consider further that dublin's plan was to push up hard and in numbers. So what happens if you can then kick over the press? Exactly what donegal did in 2014 - You get over the top of the press with space to attack into with real goal chances. All you need is for that to work well maybe twice and you should have two goals.

Now im not saying id have gone with it. But i can see what they were thinking

charlie14

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

Exactly.
Consider further that dublin's plan was to push up hard and in numbers. So what happens if you can then kick over the press? Exactly what donegal did in 2014 - You get over the top of the press with space to attack into with real goal chances. All you need is for that to work well maybe twice and you should have two goals.

Now im not saying id have gone with it. But i can see what they were thinking

Not that simple to just kick over the press nowadays with Dublin.
It was a weakness that Jim McGuinness identified where Dublin committed all their half-back line to the press, with nobody home to mind the house with acres of open space between midfield and their full-back line by keeping two forwards deep to occupy that Dublin line.
Dublin learned from that and rarely leave themselves as open nowadays.

Panrich

We were beaten all ends up on Saturday so I'm not sure that focusing too much of this discussion on Clarkes kickouts is going to fix everything. We had enough possession to at least trouble the scoreboard from play in the first half and also not scoring for the last 20 plus minutes is not solely down to poor kickouts either.

MayoAreMagic

charlie14 wrote: »

Not that simple to just kick over the press nowadays with Dublin.
It was a weakness that Jim McGuinness identified where Dublin committed all their half-back line to the press, with nobody home to mind the house with acres of open space between midfield and their full-back line by keeping two forwards deep to occupy that Dublin line.
Dublin learned from that and rarely leave themselves as open nowadays.

Did you not see the graphic of the Dublin setup on our kickouts from the weekend? They had 12 men pressing up on the mayo half on our restarts at times. Which means only 2 at home and the goalkeeper. It was a copy of what Kerry did to them in the semi last year. A long kick flicked on to a runner would leave them very exposed in a 3 on 2 situation. But Clarke's floating kickout gives them time to get back, plus it doesn't have the distance, so they can commit to it.
In reality we just have to start doing what Dublin are doing themselves and drop right back basically onto the end line to collect the ball and then use the keeper as a spare man. It is boring football and taken straight from the soccer handbook, but that is the way the game is going.

The Talking Bread

Thread has now resorted back to Clarke and his kickouts again. Bigger problems. Much bigger.

Shurimgreat

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

It's not that simple.

No one suggested that Hennelly "had a vastly superior kickout".

The reasoning was that part of the Dublin game plan was to traget the Clarke kickout.

If you take Clarke's kickout away (alter the kickout strategy) then you take part of Dublin's game plan away.
Making them come up with an alternative.


That's what we are dealing with in 21st century football, minute levels of analysis of where you can find an advantage.

Minute levels of analysis give you minute advantages.

At the end of the day its always the team with the better footballers who win and at the moment Mayo does not have footballers who can match Dublin, particularly forwards.

We are brilliant in the first two/thirds and when we get to the final third more often than not we are poor.

We have the best goalie, backs and occasionally midfield in the country. When we get to the forwards, its always a mixed bag, and usually we rely on Andy Moran or O'Connor from frees to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

We need one or two forwards who can score 4 or 5 points from play week in week out. That's where the focus should be, rather than an obsession with kickouts.

charlie14

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

Did you not see the graphic of the Dublin setup on our kickouts from the weekend? They had 12 men pressing up on the mayo half on our restarts at times. Which means only 2 at home and the goalkeeper. It was a copy of what Kerry did to them in the semi last year. A long kick flicked on to a runner would leave them very exposed in a 3 on 2 situation. But Clarke's floating kickout gives them time to get back, plus it doesn't have the distance, so they can commit to it.
In reality we just have to start doing what Dublin are doing themselves and drop right back basically onto the end line to collect the ball and then use the keeper as a spare man. It is boring football and taken straight from the soccer handbook, but that is the way the game is going.

I did see how they were set up and to me that was because Jim Gavin had his homework done by going for a full press.
Had Mayo tried what Donegal did in 2014, Dublin would have reverted to having half-backs in that area in jig time.
They are not going to be caught like that again with that tactic.
Imo to beat Dublin nowadays needs accurate kicking from a keeper with players knowing where that kick is going and creating the space for who it is intended for. Try running the ball from your own end line you will find that these Dubs hit hard and with 15 mins to go and they bring on the cavalry up front your midfield and six backs will be out on their feet.

danganabu

Shurimgreat wrote: »

Minute levels of analysis give you minute advantages.

At the end of the day its always the team with the better footballers who win and at the moment Mayo does not have footballers who can match Dublin, particularly forwards.

We are brilliant in the first two/thirds and when we get to the final third more often than not we are poor.

We have the best goalie, backs and occasionally midfield in the country. When we get to the forwards, its always a mixed bag, and usually over dependent on B. Moran or O'Connor from frees to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

We need one or two forwards who can score 4 or 5 points from play week in week out.

The first part I have bolded is so far from the truth its not funny, talent is merely a starting point and the best footballers without the proper preparation, organisation and tactical know how are at nothing.

The second part I have bolded because this is not the first time you have stated this as a fact, when it's a point for debate at best. Best shot stopper perhaps, although even that is a stretch.

The game has evolved so much in the last 10-15 years but some people simply can't or won' accept it, it's like when I'm at a hurling match and a keeper takes a short puck out and everyone to a man over the age of 50 starts groaning and bitching about the stupidness of it all, always gives me a good laugh, they just don't get it!!

Donal55

Shurimgreat wrote: »

Minute levels of analysis give you minute advantages.

At the end of the day its always the team with the better footballers who win and at the moment Mayo does not have footballers who can match Dublin, particularly forwards.

We are brilliant in the first two/thirds and when we get to the final third more often than not we are poor.

We have the best goalie, backs and occasionally midfield in the country. When we get to the forwards, its always a mixed bag, and usually we rely on B. Moran or O'Connor from frees to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

We need one or two forwards who can score 4 or 5 points from play week in week out. That's where the focus should be, rather than an obsession with kickouts.

The 'best goalie', who is the subject of so much controversy within boards and the media in general, in regard to his inability to kick a ball out from the square to other players on his team.
I'd say Dublin are happy to stick with the 'second
best' goalie.
😀

Fr Tod Umptious

danganabu wrote: »

The first part I have bolded is so far from the truth its not funny, talent is merely a starting point and the best footballers without the proper preparation, organisation and tactical know how are at nothing.

The second part I have bolded because this is not the first time you have stated this as a fact, when it's a point for debate at best. Best shot stopper perhaps, although even that is a stretch.

The game has evolved so much in the last 10-15 years but some people simply can't or won' accept it, it's like when I'm at a hurling match and a keeper takes a short puck out and everyone to a man over the age of 50 starts groaning and bitching about the stupidness of it all, always gives me a good laugh, they just don't get it!!

I remember John Inverdale of the BBC mentioned once when he was first at a hurling game in CP about the mid 2000s that he found it very odd that a team was willing to just gamble with giving away possession from each and every restart by just pucking the ball long up the field.

tritium

danganabu wrote: »

The game has evolved so much in the last 10-15 years but some people simply can't or won' accept it, it's like when I'm at a hurling match and a keeper takes a short puck out and everyone to a man over the age of 50 starts groaning and bitching about the stupidness of it all, always gives me a good laugh, they just don't get it!!

If i could thank this more than once i would! Sports evolve, largely because teams find ways to use the broad ruleset to the best advantage of what they have. Fast kick outs are an example and ruling that teams should suddenly be allowed to re-set themselves against every play only goes against that evolution and supports blanket defence and a move to a play based gridiron style game.

Someone else will evolve another part of the rules soon enough and profit handsomely from it. Eventually other teans will try to copy them and be less successful as the game evolves past them. Pretty much true in every team sport.

seligehgit

Really good review of the contest with the lads on OTB.

http://cdn.radiocms.net/media/001/audio/000028/182286_media_player_audio_file.mp3

Audioslaven

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

It's not that simple.

No one suggested that Hennelly "had a vastly superior kickout".

The reasoning was that part of the Dublin game plan was to traget the Clarke kickout.

If you take Clarke's kickout away (alter the kickout strategy) then you take part of Dublin's game plan away.
Making them come up with an alternative.


That's what we are dealing with in 21st century football, minute levels of analysis of where you can find an advantage.

The only person that counted did think this. He removed him from the replay and made a complete arse of it.

Its a complete load of manure this criticism of the goalie when there are so many issues further out the field that have a bigger impact on the success or failure of the team, yet over the last few days everyone is on about Clarke.

If Dublin's plan was to target Clarke's kickouts, does this mean we just lie down and let them do this!!! Where are Clarke's team mates to make the runs for him to take the pressure off his kick outs... because this didn't happen everyone blames Clarke.

It was like a complete systems failure the last day across the complete team but there could be one valid reason for this as Mayo look tired.

Fr Tod Umptious

Audioslaven wrote: »

The only person that counted did think this. He removed him from the replay and made a complete arse of it.

Its a complete load of manure this criticism of the goalie when there are so many issues further out the field that have a bigger impact on the success or failure of the team, yet over the last few days everyone is on about Clarke.

If Dublin's plan was to target Clarke's kickouts, does this mean we just lie down and let them do this!!! Where are Clarke's team mates to make the runs for him to take the pressure off his kick outs... because this didn't happen everyone blames Clarke.

It was like a complete systems failure the last day across the complete team but there could be one valid reason for this as Mayo look tired.

Looked tired as in the proverbial "heavy weeks training" or looked tried as in worn down after years at this crack, Clarke, Higgins, Boyle, Vaughan, McLoughlin, Cillian, Andy, all guys on the road a long time.

The thing about it is that every league game gets analysed to death at this stage, and this game featured a goal from a kick out mistake so it's obvious that goalkeepers and kick-outs would be the talk of the week.

MayoAreMagic

charlie14 wrote: »

I did see how they were set up and to me that was because Jim Gavin had his homework done by going for a full press.
Had Mayo tried what Donegal did in 2014, Dublin would have reverted to having half-backs in that area in jig time.
They are not going to be caught like that again with that tactic.
Imo to beat Dublin nowadays needs accurate kicking from a keeper with players knowing where that kick is going and creating the space for who it is intended for. Try running the ball from your own end line you will find that these Dubs hit hard and with 15 mins to go and they bring on the cavalry up front your midfield and six backs will be out on their feet.

Im sure they would. But like ourselves reverting to cafferkey at fb in 2012, the damage was done. And rejigging means you have to change your gameplan.

You mention guys creating space but dublin werent tracking bodies for them to be able to create it, they were set up zonaly with big numbers squeezing up on one half of the field, so they blocked up all the space.

Short kickouts to the end line can be done, dublin do it themselves. It isnt about running it from there. You make them chase in to the end line then go back to the keeper and over to the other side if needed, with the idea being you make them chase in after the ball, the same way the ball is moved across the back 4 in soccer. The extra space also creates gaps in their press. If they commit more men forward to counter it, you kick over them into where they came from. This is what dublin are doing themselves.

charlie14

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

Im sure they would. But like ourselves reverting to cafferkey at fb in 2012, the damage was done. And rejigging means you have to change your gameplan.

You mention guys creating space but dublin werent tracking bodies for them to be able to create it, they were set up zonaly with big numbers squeezing up on one half of the field, so they blocked up all the space.

Short kickouts to the end line can be done, dublin do it themselves. It isnt about running it from there. You make them chase in to the end line then go back to the keeper and over to the other side if needed, with the idea being you make them chase in after the ball, the same way the ball is moved across the back 4 in soccer. The extra space also creates gaps in their press. If they commit more men forward to counter it, you kick over them into where they came from. This is what dublin are doing themselves.

From what I recall of 2012 there were early warning signs of just what Donegal intended to do with a few balls that were played in to Murphy that didn`t work out. When it did, it was more or less one on one with the keeper.
Nowadays with kicking over the press with Dublin, they usually have someone in that space sweeping and even if he is gone, you are still 70 meters from their goal and you have one chance to make something off it.
After that Galvin will not need to rejig. They will do it themselves. 2014 was a severe lesson for them and you can see even yet when playing Donegal how cagey they are on getting caught with that again.
Playing the ball around near your end-line like that is a risky business imo.
The degree of accuracy has to be 100%. One slip or a man caught in possession and you really are looking at one of their forwards either in on goal or running on goal with options all around him.
A heart stopping tactic for supporters as well.

Shurimgreat

At the end of the day despite all the talk of strategy and systems, Gaelic football is a simple game.

Whoever has the ability to put the ball over the bar or under the bar more times than the opponent wins the game. This simple concept is something the amateur and professional strategists fail to grasp.

Donegal were successful in recent years partly because of their system but mostly because they had outstanding forwards like Murphy, McFadden and McBrearty. Mayo do not have this calibre of forward. Dublin have Brogan, Andrews, Flynn, McManamon to name a few. When the chips are down Dublin forwards can pull off the scores that count. Mayo forwards on the otherhand look like headless chickens.

Can anyone name a Mayo forward who would get into the Dublin team as a point scorer (not the workhorse forwards we seem to produce). Maybe O'Connor as a free-taker, but that's it. We don't need workhorses, we need forwards who can put the ball over the bar. Its simple really. But some people don't do simple and ignore the obvious.

MayoAreMagic

charlie14 wrote: »

From what I recall of 2012 there were early warning signs of just what Donegal intended to do with a few balls that were played in to Murphy that didn`t work out. When it did, it was more or less one on one with the keeper.
Nowadays with kicking over the press with Dublin, they usually have someone in that space sweeping and even if he is gone, you are still 70 meters from their goal and you have one chance to make something off it.
After that Galvin will not need to rejig. They will do it themselves. 2014 was a severe lesson for them and you can see even yet when playing Donegal how cagey they are on getting caught with that again.
Playing the ball around near your end-line like that is a risky business imo.
The degree of accuracy has to be 100%. One slip or a man caught in possession and you really are looking at one of their forwards either in on goal or running on goal with options all around him.
A heart stopping tactic for supporters as well.

I don't agree with this idea that Dublin cannot be caught out like any other team. They can, as can Gavin. You seem to be arguing that they are basically infallible. Why werent they able to rejig automatically against donegal in 2014? It is much the same personnel. We played into their system at the weekend, when that happens a team can look brilliant. But Dublin didn't look brilliant against tyrone, they didn't look brilliant against donegal either.

Yes playing it short is a risk, but then so is pushing 12 men into one half of the field. It the ball moves past them they are out of the game. You cant have it both ways. If you play the short kickout effectively, like Dublin do, the chances of turning the ball over are far lower than on a risky kickout with 12 men lying in wait, pre-empting that very act, which is the other option here.

NabyLadistheman

Anybody advocating pressing Cluxton's kick-outs all the time need to see Cluxton's kick to the Cusack Stand side from the Davin end. It was one of the few times Mayo were putting the squeeze on & he completely by-passed them. Kerry had the correct approach last year I reckon, specific targeting of Cluxton's kick-outs, after free-kicks etc. a time when the kicker can slow it down so he is not as sharp on the restart

charlie14

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

I don't agree with this idea that Dublin cannot be caught out like any other team. They can, as can Gavin. You seem to be arguing that they are basically infallible. Why werent they able to rejig automatically against donegal in 2014? It is much the same personnel. We played into their system at the weekend, when that happens a team can look brilliant. But Dublin didn't look brilliant against tyrone, they didn't look brilliant against donegal either.

Yes playing it short is a risk, but then so is pushing 12 men into one half of the field. It the ball moves past them they are out of the game. You cant have it both ways. If you play the short kickout effectively, like Dublin do, the chances of turning the ball over are far lower than on a risky kickout with 12 men lying in wait, pre-empting that very act, which is the other option here.

I`m not saying they are infallible. That myth was put to bed against Donegal 2014, but what I am saying is they learned from that and no team has been able to use that tactic against them since with any success.
They weren`t able to rejig against Donegal because it had never been tried on them before Donegal didn`t show their hand until the second half and Dublin looked headless as they had no play to deal with it.
Now you can be sure they have.
The reason Dublin have problems with Donegal and Tyrone is the defensive system that both have developed over years. Some people think that is just packing men behind the ball, or just using a sweeper or two. It is way more sophisticated than that. While it may look as it`s primary aim is just stopping teams scoring it is done with the realisation that you still have to outscore the other team. It`s as much to do with that than it is with defending and what you do with the ball once you have won it.
If you watch Dublin against teams they are pressing up on that try playing it from the back, they go man for man very quickly putting pressure on the the player with the ball forcing him to play it lateral. One slip-up, a ball slightly under hit or even slightly behind the player it`s intended for two Dubs are on him straight away.
At that stage you are in deep s**t yards from your own goal.
Why do other teams not do that to Dublin ?
They have tried, but Dublin`s dummy runs and Cluxton`s ability to hit his man anywhere on the pitch within 50 yards often leaves players chasing shadows and the dummy runs have opened a path for whoever he hits.

Paulzx

Shurimgreat wrote: »

At the end of the day despite all the talk of strategy and systems, Gaelic football is a simple game.

Whoever has the ability to put the ball over the bar or under the bar more times than the opponent wins the game. This simple concept is something the amateur and professional strategists fail to grasp.

Donegal were successful in recent years partly because of their system but mostly because they had outstanding forwards like Murphy, McFadden and McBrearty. Mayo do not have this calibre of forward. Dublin have Brogan, Andrews, Flynn, McManamon to name a few. When the chips are down Dublin forwards can pull off the scores that count. Mayo forwards on the otherhand look like headless chickens.

Can anyone name a Mayo forward who would get into the Dublin team as a point scorer (not the workhorse forwards we seem to produce). Maybe O'Connor as a free-taker, but that's it. We don't need workhorses, we need forwards who can put the ball over the bar. Its simple really. But some people don't do simple and ignore the obvious.

Thats exactly what it boils down to. When Tyrone and Donegal won All Irelands using a strong defensive strategy they both still had savage forwards. You can come up with any strategy you want but if you don't have at least 3 or 4 high class scoring forwards you'll be very lucky to win an All Ireland.

blanch152

charlie14 wrote: »

Rule 2.7 (a).

"The ball shall travel 13 meters before being played by another player of the defending team"

There is nothing in the rules to prevent a goalkeeper taking a kick-out kicking the ball backwards.

Yeah, I know the rule, but I still haven't seen any goalkeeper take a kick-out and kick the ball backwards.

blanch152

Donal55 wrote: »

The 'best goalie', who is the subject of so much controversy within boards and the media in general, in regard to his inability to kick a ball out from the square to other players on his team.
I'd say Dublin are happy to stick with the 'second
best' goalie.
😀

Actually Dublin are more than happy to stick with the greatest goalkeeper of all time even if he is only second best to Clarke.

charlie14

blanch152 wrote: »

Yeah, I know the rule, but I still haven't seen any goalkeeper take a kick-out and kick the ball backwards.

Nothing to stop him if he so wishes.
A diagonal toward the flag on the end line/side line still leaves plenty of distance by the rule. I saw it being used in an inter-county game once. The opposition didn`t know the rule. The ref did.

charlie14

blanch152 wrote: »

Actually Dublin are more than happy to stick with the greatest goalkeeper of all time even if he is only second best to Clarke.

All players have a weakness. be that physical or mental

Get inside Cluxton`s head, a lad I admire greatly, and you can cause meltdown all over that Dublin back-line.

dunnerc

charlie14 wrote: »

All players have a weakness. be that physical or mental

Get inside Cluxton`s head, a lad I admire greatly, and you can cause meltdown all over that Dublin back-line.

Well it doesn't happen to often if you look at Dublins record
33 games unbeaten, 4 sams in 6 years and 4 leagues in a row

Oldtree

dunnerc wrote: »

Well it doesn't happen to often if you look at Dublins record
33 games unbeaten, 4 sams in 6 years and 4 leagues in a row

It is an impressive record, no doubt, but all good things come to an end, it's just a question of when.

Dyr

Paul Durcan was a better all round keeper than Cluxton IMO

But if you gave any GAA manager a choice of any keeper now he'd take Cluxton.

dunnerc

Oldtree wrote: »

It is an impressive record, no doubt, but all good things come to an end, it's just a question of when.

That's for sure , nothing lasts forever, but the medals are in the back pockets
and the memories will last a lifetime .

ProudDUB

Oldtree wrote: »

It is an impressive record, no doubt, but all good things come to an end, it's just a question of when.

Just as it is with Mayo, with Mr Clarke. Question is, do Mayo have the fire power up front, to make up for a keeper who is just bedding in, or is just not as good, when Clake retires?

I am reasonably (I said reasonably, which doesn't technically count as arrogance :P ) that Dublin do and, will continue to. Do Mayo?

charlie14

dunnerc wrote: »

Well it doesn't happen to often if you look at Dublins record
33 games unbeaten, 4 sams in 6 years and 4 leagues in a row

True, it doesn`t happen often, and I for one have great admiration for the lad for his skill on the pitch and how he handles himself away from the sport. Especially in a fishbowl like Dublin city.
I was only observing that the only weakness I can see in his game, and it`s a minor one at that, is that at times he can become rattled and his standards can drop.On the few occasions it has, it spreads through the Dublin team, especially their back-line fairly rapidly.
A few teams have targeted that imo with some degree of success and it`s something I can see others attempting.
Whenever this Dublin run comes to an end, I really do sincerely hope that it isn`t due to an error or errors by Cluxton.
That lad deserves to be remembered for a hell of a lot more than a mistake ending this run.
But then we all know how those things work in sport.

padd b1975

Minor League result.

Mayo 2-13
Roscommon 0-10.

Good start to the campaign, hoping for a good year at this level.

seligehgit

Great win for Allergan in the All Ireland junior inter firms final.They beat Kerry Foods of Wicklow.Very enjoyable contest.

Oldtree

dunnerc wrote: »

That's for sure , nothing lasts forever, but the medals are in the back pockets
and the memories will last a lifetime .

And that's just what they will be, memories

Oldtree

ProudDUB wrote: »

Just as it is with Mayo, with Mr Clarke. Question is, do Mayo have the fire power up front, to make up for a keeper who is just bedding in, or is just not as good, when Clake retires?

I am reasonably (I said reasonably, which doesn't technically count as arrogance :P ) that Dublin do and, will continue to. Do Mayo?

Are you trying to be poetic?

How long will you hold onto a rising balloon before you let go?
Time soon come.

ProudDUB

Oldtree wrote: »

Are you trying to be poetic?

How long will you hold onto a rising balloon before you let go?
Time soon come.

I don't have to try to be all poeticical like. I'm a Dub. It just comes naturally. A bit like winning All Irelands.

km79

ProudDUB wrote: »

I don't have to try to be all poeticical like. I'm a Dub. It just comes naturally. A bit like winning All Irelands.

Are you sure you are not from Kerry

ProudDUB

km79 wrote: »

Are you sure you are not from Kerry

Ah here, there's no need to be so insulting. :eek:

What did I ever do to you? :mad:

Paulzx

ProudDUB wrote: »

Ah here, there's no need to be so insulting. :eek:

What did I ever do to you? :mad:

I think that counts as personal abuse:pac:

Oldtree

ProudDUB wrote: »

I don't have to try to be all poeticical like. I'm a Dub. It just comes naturally. A bit like winning All Irelands.

Pride comes before a fall Prouddub

seligehgit

Aidan Henry Connaught Telegraph


O Shea brothers to remain sidelined for Mayo's clash against Cavan



MAYO GAA supporters will be delighted to hear that both Seamus and Aidan O Shea have returned to full training with the county senior squad.

The Breaffy stars haven't played with the Mayo senior team since the All-Ireland final replay against Dublin last October due to injury.

Injuries meant they missed all of Mayo's Connaught FBD League games and the four opening rounds of the national league.

However,while they have returned to full training it is unlikely they will be fit enough to start against Cavan in round five of the Allianz National League next Sunday in Elverys McHale Park.

If Mayo beat Cavan it is almost certain they will have guaranteed their Division 1 status for next year.

But it is also very unlikely they will qualify for the league final even if they win their three remaining group games.

In such an scenario it would mean Mayo will be left with two competive games (round 6 and 7 of the league against Tyrone, away, and Donegal at home) in which Stephen Rochford and his management team will have an opportunity to try out some new players and give the players,including the O Shea brothers,who are coming back into the fold from injury, some game time.

Among the other players who have been out with long terms injuries and are making good progress are Ger Cafferkey and Chris Barrett, while Alan Dillon is back doing gym work.

Meanwhile,Galway Under 21 footballers set up a mouth-watering Connaught championship semi-final with Mayo following their four-point victory over Leitrim on Saturday evening.

However,Galway, who led by 4-8 to 0-2 at the interval,were a little fortunate to hold on for the victory over a Leitrim side which staged a remarkable second-half fight back.In the end Galway won by 4-10 to 2-12,but not before they were given one hell of a scare.

Now they will have home advantage when they face the current Connaught and All-Ireland champions Mayo,on Saturday evening week.

The venue is Tuam Stadium with a 5 p.m.

MayoAreMagic

charlie14 wrote: »

All players have a weakness. be that physical or mental

Get inside Cluxton`s head, a lad I admire greatly, and you can cause meltdown all over that Dublin back-line.

Spot on, and as the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility. Cluxton is a great weapon for Dublin, and their entire game is built on him. But what happens when he malfunctions? Mayo used to be good at making this happen, we need to be again. Hammer the hammer as they say.

Squatman

seligehgit wrote: »

Aidan Henry Connaught Telegraph



If Mayo beat Cavan it is almost certain they will have guaranteed their Division 1 status for next year.

But it is also very unlikely they will qualify for the league final even if they win their three remaining group games.

What does mayo need to do to make it into the final?

Jaden

Squatman wrote: »

What does mayo need to do to make it into the final?

Win all remaining games comfortably (to fix up the current negative points difference), and then hope for a total collapse of either Tyrone and/or Dublin.

It's very, very unlikely to happen. Sixth out of Eight at past the halfway stage, and with the semis scrapped, a top two is realistically - if not mathematically, impossible.

Fr Tod Umptious

Squatman wrote: »

What does mayo need to do to make it into the final?

This is how it could happen

1. Mayo win all their games (home v Cavan, away v Tyrone, home v Donegal) putting them on 10pts
2. Dublin win out which will eliminate Kerry and Monaghan from contention.
3. Tyrone go win (v Donegal), loss (v Mayo) and lose/draw (v Kerry) in next three games. That will leave them on a max of 10 with Mayo holding the head to head tie breaker over them.
4. A loss to Mayo would eliminate Donegal

Oldtree

Hope this rain dosn't keep up. Team news tonight afaik.

Anyone get a season ticket email yet, with instrucyions

seligehgit

Mayo v Cavan game is live on TG4 according to Dara Ó Cinnéide on Seó Spóirt.

Oldtree

90th game for Donal Vaughan coming up, that's a serious achievement.

The Mayo football team to face Cavan County Board in round 5 of the Allianz Football League in Elverys Sports MacHale Park on Sunday at 2pm shows four changes to the team that was defeated by Dublin two weeks ago.

All-star defender Brendan Harrison along Danny Kirby, Conor O'Shea & Conor Loftus all come into the starting team with Stephen Coen, Jason Gibbons, Diarmuid O'Connor & Evan Regan all dropping out.

This weekend will be Donal Vaughan’s 90th appearance in competitive action for Mayo having made his debut against Derry in 2009.

1. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)
2. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)
3. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)
4. Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels)
5. Colm Boyle (Davitts)
6. Lee Keegan (Westport)
7. Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)
8. Tom Parsons (Charlestown)
9. Danny Kirby (Castlebar Mitchels)
10. Fergal Boland (Aghamore)
11. Cillian O'Connor (Ballintubber, Capt)
12. Conor O'Shea (Breaffy)
13. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
14. Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen)
15. Conor Loftus (Crossmolina)
Team Manager: Stephen Rochford
Selectors: Donie Buckley, Peter Burke & Tony McEntee.

seligehgit

Delighted to see Conor Loftus get a run out.

naughto

Is doc injured?