Match Thread: Mayo v Donegal, Saturday 6pm *NO STREAMS*

Hammer Archer

Mayo: David Clarke; Ger Cafferkey, Donal Vaughan, Keith Higgins; Lee Keegan, Tom Cunniffe, Colm Boyle; Séamus O'Shea, Tom Parsons; Diarmuid O'Connor, Aidan O'Shea, Kevin McLoughlin; Andy Moran, Cillian O'Connor, Jason Doherty.

Donegal: Paul Durcan; Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Eamon McGee; Ryan McHugh, Karl Lacey, Frank McGlynn; Neil Gallagher, Martin McElhinney; Martin O’Reilly, Odhran MacNiallais, Mark McHugh; Paddy McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Colm McFadden.

Odds: Mayo 4/5, Donegal 7/5, Draw 15/2

Referee: David Gough

TV: Sky Sports 5

Thought I'd set two threads up to save the SFC thread from getting clogged up with discussion on two intriguing games.

Donegal face Mayo in the second of today's games. Mayo are coming off the back of a facile Connacht championship final victory over Sligo while Donegal left their shooting boots behind them in their second Ulster final defeat to Monaghan in three years. They picked themselves up with a convincing second half display against Galway in the qualifiers. Donegal will be hoping it won't be a repeat of the last time they met when Mayo ran riot in the quarter final, dispatching the reigning All Ireland champions by 16 points.
Donegal, of course, won the previous year's final against the same opposition thanks in part to two early goals in a game that was nip and tuck for the remainder.
Before this, you have to go back to 1992 for the previous meeting when Donegal beat Mayo by 4 points on their way to their first ever All Ireland.

While questions remain over the battle readiness of Mayo, I think they should be able to kick into gear when needed and I feel they'll prevail, but I'd be surprised if there's more than a score or two between them.

Putting my mod hat on for a moment: Just a reminder that Boards' rules unfortunately do not allow asking for or providing links to illegal streams or any software allowing you to access streams illegally. Any posts containing these will be removed and cards may be handed out if it persists.

Enjoy the game.

Dirty Dingus McGee

Going for Mayo here.I think they can dominate in midfield and I think with O'Shea hopefully playing in the full forward line it will make life an awful lot easier for Mayo's other forwards and may attract attention away from them and give them an easier time.

Hopefully Donegal play a 3 man full forward line and hit the ball long into McBrearty,Murphy and McFadden as that threat would cause huge trouble for Mayo however I have a feeling Donegal will over complicate things for themselves.

Peist2007

Horan has said he believes that Aidan O'Shea will be played out in the midfield area. I would view this as a move away from what might be the thing that pushes Mayo over the line in the hunt for the All Ireland. O'Shea dominating at full forward, as i think he inevitably would, will require a functioning midfield out the pitch and enough stability that he isnt needed to move out to provide assistance. I genuinely believe that O'Shea inside with Cillian O'Connor buzzing and feeding around him is a top quality combination and as good as what is out there. O'Shea is a physically better, technically much much better version of Donaghy as a full forward.

So Mayo's chances today, and for the rest of the year if they can get over today, is down to Seamus O'Shea, Tom Parsons, Barry Moran etc. If they can perform and do the business then Mayo can afford to have O'Shea inside and then i genuinely believe havoc would ensue

Dirty Dingus McGee

Peist2007 wrote: »

Horan has said he believes that Aidan O'Shea will be played out in the midfield area. I would view this as a move away from what might be the thing that pushes Mayo over the line in the hunt for the All Ireland. O'Shea dominating at full forward, as i think he inevitably would, will require a functioning midfield out the pitch and enough stability that he isnt needed to move out to provide assistance. I genuinely believe that O'Shea inside with Cillian O'Connor buzzing and feeding around him is a top quality combination and as good as what is out there. O'Shea is a physically better, technically much much better version of Donaghy as a full forward.

So Mayo's chances today, and for the rest of the year if they can get over today, is down to Seamus O'Shea, Tom Parsons, Barry Moran etc. If they can perform and do the business then Mayo can afford to have O'Shea inside and then i genuinely believe havoc would ensue

Parsons is playing well this year and frankly I think Seamus O'Shea overall is a slightly better midfielder than Aidan.

If Aidan O'Shea is played at midfield it's a serious backward step for Mayo.

Peist2007

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Parsons is playing well this year and frankly I think Seamus O'Shea overall is a slightly better midfielder than Aidan.

If Aidan O'Shea is played at midfield it's a serious backward step for Mayo.

Parsons needs to come through a major test before i am sold. He has flattered to deceive throughout his career in my eyes. I agree though re Seamus. He has more than proven his ability

keeponhurling

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

Parsons is playing well this year and frankly I think Seamus O'Shea overall is a slightly better midfielder than Aidan.

If Aidan O'Shea is played at midfield it's a serious backward step for Mayo.

plus I was already looking forward to the battle between AOS and Magee, so hope it does actually turn out like that

seligehgit

Going to go for our boys today to pull through narrowly,it would be most definitely be a retrograde step to move Aidan O Shea out the field.

corny

Hoping Donegal put in the performance they're well capable of but i have my doubts. Mayo comfortably enough for me.

TCDStudent1

If o'shea is moved out the field and it doesn't go well, the management would be absolutely slaughtered for it. It's just too risky for them to do it and why would they? O'shea has done so well at full forward that you should not move him.

Ronin247

Is this only available on SKY?

James74

Right you are there so, I'd imagine you'll have a long and fruitful stay here.

DanielODonnell

Mayo will win it comfortably

Bret Hart

Come on Mayo.

corny

Barry Moran in for Andy Moran. Interesting to see how they set up.

keeponhurling

corny wrote: »

Barry Moran in for Andy Moran. Interesting to see how they set up.

Presumably it means AOS moves to the full forward line.

Surprising though, would have considered Andy Moran a certain starter, one of Mayo's best players

corny

Two cracking scores from Lee Keegan.

As usual Donegal defenders allowed get away with a lot in the tackle.

Nib

Keegan is a fantastic player when he sticks to playing football.

He has a screw loose though and can be a liability.

klairondavis

Any rulebook experts out there - should there have been a hop ball after the referee adjudged that the Mayo quick free didn't travel 13 metres?

corny

Doengal would never had conceded that last score in seasons past.

Nib

Seamie O'Shea owning midfield. Mayo seem intent on getting a goal where it's not needed, just keep popping them over.

corny

A thought thats often occurred to me....Being three up why don't Mayo just pass the ball around their own half now? Donegal retreat but after twenty minutes they'd eventually have to come out right?

STB.

Some shocking stuff being missed by the ref. AOS clearly pushed in the back there by McGee.

corny

****ing hell!!!!!

Al_Coholic

what a goal

Kristopherus

Great finish by O'Shea. Mayo well worth that 4-point lead

Dirty Dingus McGee

Great game so far and the battle between O'Shea and McGee is top class stuff.

Both teams are actually going out and playing football and it's been great to watch.Hopefully we get more of the same in the second half.

Tom Parsons is having a very good game for Mayo.

spiralism

Classic O'Shea goal. Tough take, shrugs the defenders off like they aren't even there and buries it. Player of the year so far for me.

Bret Hart

Great goal by AOS. He's been brilliant today and so far this year as well.

Kavrocks

klairondavis wrote: »

Any rulebook experts out there - should there have been a hop ball after the referee adjudged that the Mayo quick free didn't travel 13 metres?

I don't think that's why it was pulled back. You aren't allowed to take a free given on the 13m line until the referee gives you the OK. I would presume that's why it was pulled back.

On the referee though I thought Frank McGlynn deliberately tripped up Aidan O'Shea and was lucky not to get a black card.

DDC1990

Frank McGlynn lucky to be on the field?

Clear deliberate foot trip on O'Shea in the lead up to Doherty's chance for me.

Decent game. O'Shea is a beast. Great battle with McGee.

keeponhurling

Bret Hart wrote: »

Great goal by AOS. He's been brilliant today and so far this year as well.

I actually thought McGee was slightly getting the better of it, until the goal

Realbhoy

What were the Donegal lads getting on to the ref and O'Shea it seemed at the half time whistle. One of the Donegal players (couldnt see who) was really giving O'Shea a lot of grief as he walked off.

Bret Hart

McGuinness still thinking he's managing Donegal with all the us and we.

c montgomery

Good game so far, restored my joy on watching football after the 1st game.

Both teams doing well, mayo seem to have more up front but donegal can get a goal or 2 easily, route 1 to Michael Murphy or work off his breaks. Great second half in store.

MattB11

That's that just about done at HT, Mayo a good bit better and the gap will only get bigger in the 2nd half I think

corny

Lot a time for Jim Mc but he's seeing his own game. Its Donegal that were looking rattled. Mayo better team throughout.

threeball

MattB11 wrote: »

That's that just about done at HT, Mayo a good bit better and the gap will only get bigger in the 2nd half I think

Good job you're not managing Donegal

Peist2007

corny wrote: »

Lot a time for Jim Mc but he's seeing his own game. Its Donegal that were looking rattled. Mayo better team throughout.

Yeah i thought that comment was completely biased from McGuinness. There's only one team rattled out there, if any. And it definitely isnt Mayo.

Bret Hart

Brilliant goal by Keegan. Go on Mayo.

Nib

1-2 for Keegan today from wing back.

Bye bye Donegal.

Kristopherus

Fantastic move & finish by Mayo

MattB11

threeball wrote:

Good job you're not managing Donegal

Pretty much point proven

Al_Coholic

goal for mayo but looked like Keegan mis hit that

Dirty Dingus McGee

He meant it.

Ace2007

MattB11 wrote: »

Pretty much point proven

Your point is proving because a mayo man take about 10 steps before scoring a goal?

Say Your Number

Looked flukey, can see Mayo step it up a gear and give Donegal a hiding now.

Bret Hart

Donegal are rattled,looking forward to a Mayo and Dublin semi-final,be a cracking game.

curious incident

Ace2007 wrote: »

Your point is proving because a mayo man take about 10 steps before scoring a goal?

That does my head in, along with players lifting the ball straight off the ground. Referees need to start enforcing the basic rules of the game.

threeball

MattB11 wrote: »

Pretty much point proven

I wasn't disagreeing just saying its a good job you weren't doing the team talk. I'll add a next time

Al_Coholic

Donegal in dissarray

Ace2007

Al_Coholic wrote: »

Donegal in dissarray

When Donegal go behind they need to change to Plan B - the question is do they have a Plan B?