Mayo GAA Discussion Thread

Oldtree wrote: »

It was a tense match with a lot riding on it, so I was not keen to see him try to take any more punts on the day after 4 misses. The jeering was unfortunate and unnecessary but there was a palpable sense of relief in the crowd when he was not given the opportunity to take the kick. It is imo unfair for management not to have been able to adapt and try someone else on the team at that stage. Yet again we see the team/team members having to make management decisions out on the pitch.

I hope it does not jaundice him in any way as he made an exceptional save and he is a really fantastic goalie. He is also really good at the long kicks but his eye was out on the day and he should not have been put in that position.

Yes the management really should have taken the decision out of his hand,it should not be up the players to take what are essentially management decisions.

In my opinion I don't think that any of the frees in the 2nd half that Hennelly took were outside Freeman's range, particularly with the wind at his back. He should have been taking them.

It was clear after the first 2/3 that Hennelly wasn't on form with the frees, so that's why the crowd were getting annoyed at him going up for the 4th and then the one which Freeman took over. I don't think it was directed at him as an individual; I think the source of annoyance was because management / Moran should have seen he wasn't on it and taken him off them. That was certainly the feeling around where I was anyway.

If you had a free taker who missed 4 kickable frees, there's no way he should be taking any more. I'd say the same if it was O'Connor, Freeman or McLoughlin. Some days they just don't go over, and management / the captain / the player himself needs to take their beating and leave it to someone else when that happens and just focus on the rest of their game.

For what it's worth I like Hennelly (except under a high ball) and I'm happy for him to take on the long ones. Just have the sense to stop if they're not going well.

On a slightly related point, great to see Freeman take responsibility like that; showed great leadership at a time when the game was in the balance.

Long time reader on this thread, so may as well throw in my opinion. Be relatively happy with the league so far, always felt the first 2 ties were going to be tricky, away fixtures against 2 decent teams who were always going to have more work done that us at that stage. We could have got something out of either tie had a few things gone our way. Felt last Sunday was a must win, and was relatively happy how it went. Only time i was a bit worried was directly after half time, leading at half time was a huge plus after playing against a strong enough breeze. seemed to take 10 minutes for them to get going again, played a few dodgy passes, the goal chance Hennelly saved seemed to spur us into life again. On the point of the long range frees, he's well capable of landing them on a day he's striking the ball well, but i felt once he missed the 3rd one, the first with the wind behind him, that was the time to change free taker. wasnt our best day in the middle, but i think that was O'Shea and Gibbons 5th game weekend on the trot, so maybe a bit of tiredness there. Freeman had a great game, he's our stand out option at 14. I think a win is nearly a must again this weekend, bring a bit of momentum into the Cork tie, which with the way they're going, is going to be the best guage yet of where we're at, the rustiness of the first 2 tie's should be gone, should be getting closer to others fitness wise, big home crowd on a bank holiday weekend, great chance to set down a marker.......just need to get out of Mullingar with the points first!!

padd b1975 wrote: »

Realistically, Mullingar should be one to strengthen the old points difference.


Probably jinxed it now, but Westmeath's confidence must be nearly shot at this stage.

Confidence levels can't be too high alright however they gave a decent showing against Dublin in Mullingar so maybe this game will be closer than some expect.

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Great to see Freeman put in a top class performance, just as he did v Tyrone in August.

Hopefully he can keep that level of consistency up all year.

Having him and O' Connor on top form for the Championship would be a huge benefit.

It would make picking the full forward line a much easier task than it has been to date.

Even after one game think Gallagher should only be half forward Will do his best work there But things looking bit better upfront

Will the U21s be available next sunday if playing on Wednesday.

ColeTrain wrote: »

Anyone know when the team is due to be announced?

Later tonight by the MayoGAA twitter account.

They didn't give a time but it's usually any time between 7-9pm.

Team for Sunday

Robbie Hennelly (Breaffy); Brendan Harrison (Aghamore), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Kevin Keane (Westport); Lee Keegan (Westport, captain), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Colm Boyle (Davitts); Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), Jason Gibbons (Ballintubber); Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Enda Varley (Garrymore), Alan Freeman (Aghamore), Mikie Sweeney (Kiltane).

Few changes but still a strong lineup. Higgins back in the forwards again and a start for Mikie Sweeney. We should have at least 6-10 points over Westmeath with that side.

Higgins for sure should be back locking down one corner Its a specialist role that you only see the value of when other players less equipped try n take on that role. Two of our best players have been disasters there. Vaughan few seasons ago n Boyle this year just to show how few players can really excel at it. Now with the black card rules, having a good full backline will be something seen as giving All Ireland winning potential. Forward lines are scoring heavy, three full rounds of Div1/Div2 nfl show this. Counter attacking football which relies on quality of your half backs, we have the best in the country n they've another season of refinement done. We've a good freetaker to come back in and if looked at closely in last twelves games an in-form full forward in Freeman. Locking down the full backline, midfield mobility and more kick out options at half forward are our three big issues right now

seligehgit wrote: »

Can't fathom out the switching of Keith Higgins! Mind boggles.

Plus he's not really a kickpasser or scorer and his runs are best when he receives the ball looking towards goal