Mayo GAA Discussion

Sorry about that guys :@

God yer a strange bunch. Brickenden literally threw the ball off the goalline in the second half for a clear penalty not given, if even the ball wasn't over the line prior (looked like it was). Yet months later there's still endless chatter about a 50/50 decision that ultimately mattered damn all in the all Ireland race

On a scale of one to a million, how much did HBC08 seeth with Galway dumping out the dubs yesterday? Blew his absolute top I'd say with supreme confidence

Controversial. I said the same couple of years ago when Galway were playing Kerry in the All-Ireland. Didn't go down too well here.

For anyone thinking of "supporting" Galway from here in on, ye might have been too young or may not remember the trip to Tuam in 1999 and the welcome they had for Mayo supporters from as soon as we crossed the border all the way into Tuam. If that was bad enough then, can you imagine what it would be like in 2025 given all the subsequent chances we've had since??? No thanks! It'd be like England winning the Euros or the World Cup - you'd never hear the end of it!!

So this "poor" Galway team didn't beat Mayo in the Connacht Final. Galway beat Mayo by a point, Mayo and Dublin Draw, Galway beat Dublin by a point. One of the few examples of a form line playing true.

Man for man, objectively this Galway team is slightly better than this Mayo team. We have the habit of believing we are always better than Galway, when at the moment that's not the case. They are closer to the end of a cycle though with Comer, Conway, Walsh near the end and even Kelly destroyed with injuries, so it will swing around again, like it always has.

Also, Cillian looked genuinely happy for Joyce when he congratulated him at the end. At the start he expressed the opinion that Galway could get at Dublin and at the end he was proven right. The Galway and Mayo lads hate each other on the pitch but there is genuine good will between them off the pitch. You could see also that Joyce respected Cillian's question at the end and even referenced Mayo giving them the template to go after Dublin.

Yes the proper way to have a rivalry is for Galway and Mayo to dislike each other on the field but have a mutual respect off it - similar to the way it was with Dublin v Meath. I would imagine Dublin v Kerry is similar. The rivalry we have with Roscommon is a bit silly - they can't stand us because we usually beat them and we like to beat them just to shut them up for another year. I don't think there's a lot of mutual respect off the field.

Galway are near the end of the cycle yes - so they probably need to win it this year if this team are going to do it. Also Joyce will hardly hang around much longer if they don't do it - if not now then when? should be their motto.

its generally the undesirables in both camps that lead that narrative. .

If Galway win it and they have a good chance, it is the kick up you know where to up our game. I think questions will be asked and more focus put on what is required going into 25.

I'd love to agree with you but I can't.

Simply because how many more kicks up the you know where do Mayo teams need?

They have lost 11 All Ireland finals in 35 years.

In that time they have seen Galway win two, Donegal win their first two, Tyrone go from zero to overtake them with 4, Armagh and Derry to win their first.

How much more do Mayo teams need to motivate them ?

For years I've been hearing when Mayo go deep in the championship and they look like they could win that "this team is different", but they never are, they are always the same.

Well in 99 we went into Tuam and turned them over when Tuam was always a difficult place to get a win. I think it would at least apply pressure on McStay and this would not be a bad thing. He can't go with the same crack again otherwise it will be worse next year. There has been a clear improvement defensively but we have issues in midfield and with scoring forwards. McStay attacking tactics are also an issue.

At the end of the day the stats you lay out is pretty damning and we have only ourselves to blame.

And a fat lot of good it did them when they went and lost to Cork a few weeks later.

McStay should already be under pressure, he himself should know that they have to address the forwards, the tactics etc.

And he himself should know that next year could be wide open and an opportunity exists.

I'd agree McStay seems to lack ruthlessness despite his army background. But we have seen twice previously in Mayo football how player power gets rid of managers who show an extra edge to their style. Whoever was appointed would have to be backed by the county board against that happening again - especially if it was an outside appointment. We had a detailed lengthy process to arrive at McStay so not sure how that can be improved on. I'd rather see McStay continue with some changes to the backroom for another year at least.

Speaking of the county board I find it noticeable how quiet they have been in recent times. Maybe that's a sign of things running smoothly but I would have thought there would be more communication from the PRO/Secretary/Chairman on matters off field. Apart from annual conventions it's very difficult to gauge how things are progressing regarding the centre of excellence, underage coaching, commercial fundraising etc.

Motivation isn't the problem. Mayo are probably the most motivated team out there. There's something seriously lacking in Mayo club football that produces very few genuinely good forwards. I struggle to think of a team where you had more than one very good forward and a decent enough one at the same time. The few games I saw of the club championship last year on TV were absolutely pathetic from an attacking standpoint and it has been borne out for many years with very few Mayo teams going on to win a Connaught title.

There needs to be a root and branch review of coaching as far as I can see looking in from the outside. Maybe its happened already as the minor team this year looked a fairly stylish bunch. Hopefully they aren't too reliant on young Kobe and there's others stepping up to the plate.