Why exactly were Mayo so underrated by the masses?

Downlinz · 31-07-2011 4:33pm #1

I'd heard people say they had no chance against Cork, comparing their winning chances as comparable to Limericks against Kerry etc, this seemed to be the consensus among the public and the media and it was really confusing.

I can fully understand why Cork were the favourites in this but the expectation of a white-wash or an uncompetitive game is the bizarre thing. Looking at the facts.

-> Mayo have beaten fancied Tyrone and Dublin sides in recent years in Croke Park with hugely impressive performances.
-> Mayo are a division 1 side and have been for some time.
-> Mayo have beaten Cork in the past two meetings between the sides.
-> Mayo are unbeaten in the All-Ireland this year.
-> Mayo are ranked 6th in the country (http://www.gaainfo.com/rankings/index.php)

How could any sensible person considering those facts come to the conclusion that this game was a foregone conclusion? The logical prediction would have seemed to be a narrow Cork win in a close fought encounter between two of the top teams in the country. There seems to be a lot of disrespect for Mayo around and I'm not really sure why.

Johner · 31-07-2011 4:35pm

I'm guessing because they drew with London

flahavaj · 31-07-2011 4:36pm

Because Mayo traditionally brown the pants in such fixtures and have looked decidedly unimpressive in the Championship so far. London nearly beat them.

Cork are the champions and were justifiably the favourites. Well done to Mayo for beating them but they were underdogs beforehand quite correctly.

johnmcdnl · 31-07-2011 4:36pm

I reckon that game against London has something to do with it

CiaranMT · 31-07-2011 4:37pm

People didn't factor in just how toothless Cork are without the three lads who are out injured.

They were clueless in the 2nd half.

loldog · 31-07-2011 4:38pm

Mayo haven't won the All Ireland since 1951. There will always be doubts about Mayo until they break that spell.

.

gooch2k9 · 31-07-2011 4:39pm

Because they havent impressed anyone...until today.

BERBA · 31-07-2011 4:40pm

a thread for the sake of a thread:rolleyes:

CiaranMT · 31-07-2011 4:41pm

BERBA wrote: »

a thread for the sake of a thread:rolleyes:

I think it's warranted. The game's over and people certainly didn't rate Mayo today, by and large.

Downlinz · 31-07-2011 4:43pm

flahavaj wrote: »

Because Mayo traditionally brown the pants in such fixtures

Tired of this myth, they choke in finals. They excel in Croke Park in situations like this such as recent occasions as underdogs against Tyrone and Dublin. They've suffered 3 big defeats in the past 15 years in croke park, all of them were against Kerry and 2 in finals. sheesh.

Downlinz · 31-07-2011 4:44pm

CiaranMT wrote: »

People didn't factor in just how toothless Cork are without the three lads who are out injured.

They were clueless in the 2nd half.

In fairness Mayo did the same thing to them as they did Galway and Roscommon in the second half. Unfair to credit Corks inability for that when Mayo have now subdued teams entirely in the second half 3 games in a row.

Het-Field · 31-07-2011 4:45pm

Downlinz wrote: »

Tired of this myth, they choke in finals. They excel in Croke Park in situations like this such as recent occasions as underdogs against Tyrone and Dublin. They've suffered 3 big defeats in the past 15 years in croke park, all of them were against Kerry and 2 in finals. sheesh.

In fairness, Dublin collapsed. Dublin should have closed that game out when they had a 7 point lead with 15 to go. It was Dublin's own fault that they blew that one.

Diabhal Beag · 31-07-2011 4:45pm

Andy Moran was immense all year so far for Mayo. A major threat to any team.

Downlinz · 31-07-2011 4:45pm

gooch2k9 wrote: »

Because they havent impressed anyone...until today.

They had their Galway and Roscommon games in horrid conditions, while neither were impressive I would say in such conditions they didn't have an ample chance to impress. It would be fairer to say they were an unknown quantity up to now rather than unimpressive.

Browney7 · 31-07-2011 4:47pm

Downlinz wrote: »

flahavaj wrote: »

Because Mayo traditionally brown the pants in such fixtures

Tired of this myth, they choke in finals. They excel in Croke Park in situations like this such as recent occasions as underdogs against Tyrone and Dublin. They've suffered 3 big defeats in the past 15 years in croke park, all of them were against Kerry and 2 in finals. sheesh.

I agree. Croker aint the problem its teams in green and gold that are the problem in croker. Kerry and meath being the chief culprits.

Downlinz · 31-07-2011 4:47pm

Het-Field wrote: »

In fairness, Dublin collapsed. Dublin should have closed that game out when they had a 7 point lead with 15 to go. It was Dublin's own fault that they blew that one.

Its a 2-way thing, Ciaran McDonald was smashing that game. When your 8 down it doesn't matter how ****e the opposition play you still have to have your shooting boots on.

rossie1977 · 31-07-2011 4:49pm

flahavaj wrote: »

Because Mayo traditionally brown the pants in such fixtures and have looked decidedly unimpressive in the Championship so far. London nearly beat them.
.

actually mayos record in these fixtures over last 15 years is excellent, its only when they get to the final that they underperform, 16 finals at senior, minor and u-21 levels since 1989 and their record 15 defeats, 1 win, tyrone have also reached 16 finals since 1989 and their record 12 wins 4 defeats

in 1996 beat kerry in the semi despite being underdogs, in 1999 beat then all ireland champions galway easily in tuam, 2004 beat then all ireland champions tyrone easily in quarters at hq, 2006 beat roaring hot favourites dublin in the semi

to answer the op question, gaa fans, pundits and "so called experts" can't see any further than their nose to be honest, everything is based on the last game, poor performances are highlighted to the hilt, just a piece of trivia, last 2 times mayo played london first match in connacht they reached the all-ireland final...will history repeat itself again

Turtwig · 31-07-2011 4:50pm

Nobody thinks that much of Connacht football. Mayo almost lost to london and as with almost everything in GAA people judge teams based on my points they score not how they play. Cork trounced a dreadful Down team and that made em look class.

Het-Field · 31-07-2011 4:50pm

Downlinz wrote: »

Its a 2-way thing, Ciaran McDonald was smashing that game. When your 8 down it doesn't matter how ****e the opposition play you still have to have your shooting boots on.

Not exactly. When a team folds you will be given chances. On that day Dublin folded. The last two Mayo points were a revisionists dream, as they allowed people to claim that May took 8 amazing points to win the game.

ShamoBuc · 31-07-2011 4:55pm

Browney7 wrote: »

I agree. Croker aint the problem its teams in green and gold that are the problem in croker. Kerry and meath being the chief culprits.

I hope Mayo didn't just have their one good performance today and fold to Kerry. The beatings you speak about will surely be in the back of the Mayo peoples minds when Kerry come to town in the semi.

gooch2k9 · 31-07-2011 4:56pm

Downlinz wrote: »

They had their Galway and Roscommon games in horrid conditions, while neither were impressive I would say in such conditions they didn't have an ample chance to impress. It would be fairer to say they were an unknown quantity up to now rather than unimpressive.

I agree they didn't have the chance but until today nobody rated them, I agree fully with you, bad choice of words on my part.

rossie1977 · 31-07-2011 4:57pm

ShamoBuc wrote: »

I hope Mayo didn't just have their one good performance today and fold to Kerry. The beatings you speak about will surely be in the back of the Mayo peoples minds when Kerry come to town in the semi.

1996

JONJO THE MISER · 31-07-2011 6:14pm

I actually fancied Mayo today, did you hear one of the ignorant kerry players dismissing Mayo today.
Pure ignorant like most of the Kerry team, btw im from Kerry and hope Mayo dump us out of it.

gooch2k9 · 31-07-2011 6:32pm

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

I actually fancied Mayo today, did you hear one of the ignorant kerry players dismissing Mayo today.
Pure ignorant like most of the Kerry team, btw im from Kerry and hope Mayo dump us out of it.

Can't say I did, but still don't want them to dump us out.

wow sierra · 31-07-2011 6:45pm

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

I actually fancied Mayo today, did you hear one of the ignorant kerry players dismissing Mayo today.
Pure ignorant like most of the Kerry team, btw im from Kerry and hope Mayo dump us out of it.

Didn't hear the interview and I would be interested to hear it because I find it very surprising that they would say that publicly. Not being from Kerry I usually like ye to lose but find your players and fans to be lovely in general. To want your own county to be beaten is disgraceful.

ShamoBuc · 31-07-2011 6:47pm

wow sierra wrote: »

Didn't hear the interview and I would be interested to hear it because I find it very surprising that they would say that publicly. Not being from Kerry I usually like ye to lose but find your players and fans to be lovely in general. To want your own county to be beaten is disgraceful.

Think it was one of the Ó Sé's -the one just back from little break- he was talking about playing Cork in the semi - think he then tried to backtrack a little.

DoctaDee · 31-07-2011 6:49pm

Yeah I had to rewind to make sure I heard it properly. twas Tomas o Se saying that they could now focus on the Cork game.... went on later in the interview to backtrack

Flukey · 31-07-2011 7:29pm

Mayo have a problem putting back to back good performances in Croke Park. With Kerry as their next opponents and all the baggage that comes with that, they are going find it hard to do that. I hope they do, but they have to win that to be really taken seriously. Kerry will be very pleased with the result of the second quarter-final today.

kksaints · 31-07-2011 8:16pm

Because Mayo have a tendency to produce one good performance a year and then they will lose badly in the next match. Can see it happening again this year against Kerry.

Also they fact that Connacht is seen as the weakest championship was probably another reason as to why they were so underrated.

padraig_f · 31-07-2011 8:36pm

It was well warranted. Cork were all-ireland and league champions, Mayo snuck through a couple of terrible games against Roscommon & Galway (who both got promptly dumped out in their next games). Anyone who didn't think they were such underdogs, could have made a lot of money betting on the 9/2 the bookies were offering. Suggesting they were closer to Cork I think is being wise after the event, there was little in the form book to indicate this performance.

Why exactly were Mayo so underrated by the masses?

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