Mayo GAA Discussion

Absolutely. There has been a bit of a narrative around that alright, that the opposition have been poor therefore our performances not being as note worthy. I think we are probably a bit ahead of the other teams but if we can stay ahead that’s where the games are won.

I really don't think Kerry would carry too many mental scars if that was to happen.

But flip it around, and if Kerry were to stumble into a final and beat us... That would be a hard one to take seeing that we're been flying and they've barely been trying.

The pressure would be on us not to mess up a very good league campaign. I would much prefer Galway in the final.

Just after watching it recorded there.

Very impressive overall... although I expected a bit more fight from Donegal tbh.

Is that O'Shea's most prolific match for Mayo?? Can't remember him ever looking so confident in from of the posts.

Re: Orme - my young fella was alibg about him alright... assumed he was injured, will be very hard for him to break back into the squad at this stage

Lads is final confirmed for 4pm? Just looking at train times here now

I wasn't aware of Hession and Cillian.

I thought they were just being rested.

Strange to see AOS taking that 2nd half free from the right hand side, shows what a bit of confidence can do for a player

A few weeks was what I heard

This Mayo team could be as good as Mayo 2017, but nowhere near the level of Dublin 2017 who beat Mayo by a point?

Does anyone know when the final will be? I'm guessing 1st of April but not sure.

If you want an easy ride, try MayoGAAbBlog. No negativity allowed there. Some decent chats. But generally a bit too much of the "we need to stand by our team and we can beat anyone around us". The actual game analysis is generally in short supply.

I agree - the Mayo team look very organised this year, calm on the ball, with what seems to be a bit of a game plan - mixing the patient passing with good sporadic bursts of pace, and the odd long ball in. Great to see Tommy Conroy burst past the defenders yesterday. I hope he has a big role in the next 4 months or so (hopefully!!!). Unlike other years, its actually difficult to pick out weak-link passengers in this years team, and if almost all are fit, the bench will be impressive. Paddy Durcan looking very strong as well.

One thing that has impressed me overall is the confidence that the lads have. The young lads look so inspired and look like they have been on the big stage for a decade e.g. the likes of Enda Hession, Jack Carney, Conor Loftus look transformed. They were grand before but at times seemed shy to get on ball. But now they are demanding it. Stephen Coen looks more comfortable now, making runs, and looking for a pass (although he should be forbidden to shoot, unless he is within 5 yards of the opposition goal). Diarmuid O'Connor and Aidan O'Shea look a lot more comfortable in games.

I'm delighted for them that they are going through such a good spell. No doubt, the level of superiority at the moment will end when teams catch up in terms of training and fitness etc. But the lads are getting great experience through this league campaign anyway.

Donegal were absolutely septic yesterday, as poor as I have seen them in a long time, I'd be very worried if I was a Donegal supporter, based on yesterday they could struggle in division 2. The Lacey stuff in the background seems to have really turned things toxic

Even with that in mind Mayo were excellent yesterday, tight at the back and really impressive going forward. I like how when there's a chance of a goal that they are going for it and not taking the fisted point as an option.

The league final will be massively important now, likely to be Galway or Kerry, who based on current form are the two best teams in the country.

Exactly, classic yerraism.

Even though I think this season is wide open I think it's way too early to actually say it's between three teams, none of which happens to be Dublin or Kerry.

Rough translated……Kerry are afraid of another hiding from mayo…..

Looking at the likely team for the league final / championship, it's probably going to be something like:

Reape

Coyne O'Brien ??

Coen Loftus Durcan

Ruane DOC

McDonagh Carney Flynn

AOS Carr ROD

I think that corner back position is all that's up for grabs at this stage between Callinan/Swanney, probably Callinan for now as he's had more minutes so far - if Hession is back fit, he'd be in there ahead of either I'd say.

McDonagh and maybe Carr are probably the only other ones that might be in slight danger although I'd say both have that jersey for now. That leaves a bench of:

COC (currently injured), Conroy, McLaughlin (injured?), McLoughlin, Doc, Swanney, Hession (injured), McHugh, Touhy, McHale (injured), Hennelley (is he injured? hasn't been on the 26 yet I think?)

If we could get those few injuries cleared up, we'd be in good shape for the championship

Doesn't suit Narratives. Teams have been played off the park = Mayo must have started collective training earlier, rather than simply being better on the day.

Was just looking back at what our HF/MFs have scored so far in the league:

v Donegal: 0-3/0-3

v Rossies: 1-2/0-1

v Tyrone:  0-2/1-1

v Kerry: 0-5/0-1

v Armagh: 0-1/0-3

v Galway: 0-2/0-1

That's an average of >5 points/game from HF and MF - I don't have figures from previous years but it definitely feels like more than we had been getting in recent years.

After seeing them listed for the Leo Murphy final (shame it was cancelled for the bad pitch) I wouldn't be shocked to see Sam and Bob released to the u20s, for the Championship at the very least. Both absolutely capable of doing a job at Senior already but it'd be doing a job others can do comparably, albeit differently (someone like Irwin doing cover for Bob slightly more offensively/less direct running and someone like Donnacha filling for Sam but slightly more of a man marker than an attacking breaker), whereas in the u20 setup they're providing something very special (particularly Sam who's helping patch up some of the bigger weaknesses of the squad) on a team with so much young potential you'd have a big vested interest as management in seeing them putting a run together this year knowing what it could help produce in next 2/3/5/7 years (Jack Fallon one of the more well known prospects we've had since DOC came through [lads chatting about him at games since he was 12 or 13] and looks another who'll fit right into the current system in that midfield/half forward rotation in the coming years).

Be interesting to see if Brendan Harrison can force his way back into a panel this year. Chatting to him recently he was still a bit off in fitness but certainly hasn't given up all hope.... though smart enough lad to not give too much away besides the fact he's delighted seeing the lads going so well and knowing there's ferocious competition for places there already.

COC seems to be out with a hammy for 4/5 weeks so most likely out of contention for the NFL final and early championship just yet. A shame as he was looking to regain his sharpness... that said, a hungry Cillian fighting to force his way back into the team come the latter stages of the round robin or knock-out section wouldn't be a nice prospect for any team to have to face.

McHale and Brickenden both sounded initially like it'd be a relatively significant time they'd be out. Haven't heard anything since to alter that so a few more weeks minimum I'd fear. Probably best to expect both to be out and a happy surprise if either gets back relatively early.

Haven't heard much bouncing around about Orme's knock so hopefully that suggests it's nothing too serious and more of a niggle. Fingers crossed at least.

E McLoughlin has had a nasty run of injuries the last few years. Most of them big hits (v Dublin, v Monaghan, v NUIG) but the ankle one did seem to get a bit niggly last year so no harm seeing them looking after him a bit after the concussion in the Sigerson. Not aware of anything he picked up since so I'd expect to see him potentially involved in these early games (though concussions can be messy so who knows). Hession similarly sounded like he'd be in a position to challenge again soon, with him expected to miss the Donegal and potentially Monaghan games but expected he'd potentially be back for the Championship. Possibly the final too.

Robbie has played in a couple of the friendly/challenge games. Haven't heard any whispers of injuries or anything to change things recently so wouldn't be surprised with him being involved in the panel or starting at any stage in the near future. That said, no more than elsewhere on the pitch healthy competition for that No. 1 jersey and while I'd expect to see Robbie regain it during the year I'd not be the least bit worried or surprised seeing Colm hold it for now (or Rory to come in at any stage for that matter). Colm was fantastic in that Donegal game. A very noticeable improvement under some nasty high balls suggests they could be working hard on things on the training ground.

Add to the bench options lads like Frank Irwin, Mikey Murray, Michael Plunkett, Conor McStay, Bryan Walsh and Paul Towey all likely coming close to making the 26 any given Sunday and plenty of lads like Conor Dunleavy, Ruairi Keane, Connal Dempsey, Fenton Kelly, Joe Tuohy, Ronan Carolan, Gavin Durcan and Ethan Gibbons all snapping at anyone who dips in form or intensity I'd imagine competition for the extended panel is fairly aggressive (no idea if/when they're thinking of cutting the panel or if they've already made some) nevermind just a specific 26 or 15 of a weekend.

Not the most reliable I know but RTE.ie have it at 4pm on Sunday

There's certainly great competition. If you said Cillian, Hession, McLaughlin and Hennelly are fairly sure of making the 26... It's hard to know who loses out from the Donegal panel.

I think it's looking like Callinan might be kept in the squad with Tuohy probably let play for the U20s.

At full strength, there's probably only a couple of spots in the 26 up for grabs between Irwin, McStay, Plunkett, Towey and Tuohy. The Monaghan game might give us a better idea. I would love to see what Towey could do from the start.