Mayo GAA Discussion

What do they do in every other ground in the country?

Salthill the last day for example?

Anyway,it doesn't matter as it was a dumb idea and they've been slapped down so common sense prevails.

I doubt it, Mayo County Board seem to be unique in their ability to do stupid s**t.

I don't agree that it's common sense to let unaccompanied kids free into games when they can swarm the field afterwards and cause difficulty for stewards. Our fans seem to be the main culprits for doing this. There are many cases of parents dropping off kids at the venue and picking them up afterwards and there are so many reasons to try and prevent this.

1 - Pitch damage - Last year the PA announcer repeatedly requested people not to enter the pitch afterward in order to protect the surface. That fell on deaf ears. There is huge pressure on pitches as it is with so many games played at all levels.

2 - Injury - Unaccompanied kids running around the pitch can get injured leading to litigation and increased insurance premiums.

3 - Unfairness to players - After playing up to 80 minutes on a winters night I think players should be allowed to acknowledge the fans in the stands and leave the field to recover. Ive seen players still on the field togged out up to an hour after the final whistle. In any case a lot of those kids are getting the same autographs for the upteenth time. Special meet the player nights are more appropriate for all this IMO.

4 - Stolen footballs - up to 20 footballs were stolen in one game alone last year. Stewards have been instructed to ask for the footballs back but not to run after kids in case they fall and sue the county board. Thats €1000 worth of footballs taken from a cash strapped board and the same again every time it happens. Its as much a respect thing as the cost. Do we want to encourage kids to keep doing this?

I actually did think that the first 1 or 2 invasions were amusing and harmless but as the crowds got bigger and bigger I just think its not on anymore.

Was half expecting them to be blamed for global warming as well.

We’re talking about unaccompanied youths arriving and getting in, and once they’re in the ground, going on the pitch

Surely it'd be a better solution to say that no unaccompanied U16s are allowed entry to the ground, should be easy enough to enforce?

I think players are under a lot of pressure in terms of interacting with fans. I don't believe that many of them would prefer to stay out there rather than get off the field.

The county board clearly cannot eject a accompanied juvenile from the ground. The problem has to be addressed on terms of having adults with them preventing them going out on the field in the first place.

The same applies to them taking the balls. Stewards cannot be chasing after them.

That's a ridiculous comment about the board spending 300k to damage a pitch. They clearly developed a good surface and any issue were afterwards with from not restricting the amount of games. This has since being addressed. The board have said that post match invasions undermines their attempts to protect it. But never mind you know best.

James Fallon (Mayo Gaels) announced as the Breaffy senior manager last night.

They definitely exceeded expectations in getting to the final. There's still a sense of deflation over that game itself but I don't think many would have imagined getting there to begin with.

There's a bit of talent coming through but I would worry about the overall strength of the team and squad. When compared against the best club set ups, I think there are a few weak spots in the first 15 and not much of bench versus the best.

Can't say I know much about Fallon at all, great achievement in getting Gaels to senior but did he step down or get replaced before sampling senior management? That seemed harsh if he was replaced

Leave it free. But no entry unless accompanied by an adult.

Antisocial behaviour at that level is news to me. Maybe I was too flippant about it previously. I've never experienced it myself at McHale Park.

The only similar antisocial behaviour I've experienced at a match was in the Hill where there lads (not minors) absolutely coked out of their heads. They were "mayo fans" as well, but they were from another county altogether and had no interest in the game.

Have we really got a problem with u16s doing drugs in the toilets in McHale Park? I would hope that we don't. If so, it's not really a stewarding matter, it's a policing matter.

I've no real issue with young kids running on the field to get autographs but I've never seen one running on the field with a stolen size 5 up their jumper or while on drugs. The issue seems far greater and completely separate to younger kids running on to get an autograph.

U16s shouldn't be allowed in unaccompanied, I just presumed that was a rule already tbh.

A pity if it would have to come to that - why wouldn't a 16 year old lad and his friend be able to go to a Mayo match without having Mammy or Daddy going with them?

You can definitely buy up til throw in and I'd guess a while after aswell.

I've seen lots of lads rock up and scrambling on their phones because they didn't know you can buy at a ticket van anymore.

You'll be grand!

Ladies team named also, I'd say they'll be up against it on Sunday

Sorry TDN,

No concrete info on these.

I hear Rumours DOC not far away.

Hmm more open than it looked like it was going to be…

Whelean saying Mayo have a fear of Dublin. Ffs

Some ridiculous turnovers.

On a knife edge…

I know it's only February but beating Dublin any time is focking brilliant.

Savage ball by ROD to Boland for the winner

Ropey at times but they kept at it.

Best thing about it all is to win at home against the Dubs.

We gave up zero goal chances . This pleases me

I feared for my life,.

I saw one fella up the back of the stand with a permanent marker.