Mayo GAA Discussion - Part 3

Call me Al

Here we are tearing our performance to pieces and I agree it wasn't up to standard that I expect
with two red cards, and an inability to move from midfield and too much lateral ball.
What Gibbons is at I don't know. Has he been instructed to not show any innovation and to just go side to side, because he is not an attacking midfielder. I enjoyed watching Eoin O'Donoghue again. He isn't afraud to go forward and try to create momentum. I see great things ahead for him if he keeps his head down and plays like i think he can.

But Galway posters are practically high-fiving each other over on their thread without a mention of their red-card and targeting of O'Shea that led to the bad-tempered shamozzle. The hatred and aggression I heard from some around me in the stand for O'Shea for no reason other than he was on the pitch was pretty unpleasant.
And that's likely to be most of their first team.
He who wins the battle writes the history I suppose.

Fr Tod Umptious

RockyRory wrote: »

As a Meath man watching it on tg4 I thought mayo were a disgrace. Theyre like the greyhound that’s turned its head. Too much baggage too much mileage. Galway have now got a huge psychological hold over mayo. Mayo have no forwards and no new players coming through. The end is nigh for this mayo squad. Galway aren’t world beaters but will be a tough team for anybody to face in the championship bar the dubs. 3 top class forwards in comer , Brannigan and Walsh.

Mayo have not beaten Galway in three attempts, league and Championship.

Yet it's Mayo who have ended up progressing further when it counts.

I'll reserve judgement on who has the pyscological advantage until much later in the year.

Green Peter

Fr Tod Umptious wrote:

Yet it's Mayo who have ended up progressing further when it counts.

Galway and mayo have the same amount of all Ireland's won over the last 5 years.

rebel girl 15

I've had to go through the thread and delete/card/ban a load of posts

READ THE FORUM CHARTER BEFORE POSTING!

There is zero tolerance on player abuse - calling lads cowards/weasals/scum etc will get yourself banned

Oldtree

ArielAtom wrote: »

Last year was near perfection in terms of peaking. I am convinced that is the plan. In real terms Mayo are only a kick of a ball from an AI. Hopefully another good run, but there are serious miles in those legs. You can’t but admire how they pick themselves up each year an go again. Morans season last year will be hard to repeat. AA

yop wrote: »

Its a concerning as out league performances have been for the last 4 yrs. Its as concerning as our performances against Galway for 2 championship years in a row. As concerning as our qualifiers have been for 2 years.
Yet for some reason we still keep coming back.
Still no Sam, which is the concerning issue, but these lads keep coming back when wrote off.

Yesterday's match was a bit of a mess, but I said it last year and I'll say it again, it's all part of the cunning plan.

It's not a big leap to see a plan that training the lads into the ground and having them play on sheer mental will alone, in league matches, will stand to them in the championship.

Then in the championship the back door offers 3 more matches at championship level. Great from a coaching/manager point of view where the more traditional approach of drills and gym work is now being replaced with a much more serious emphasis on game time and a more rounded athleticism (even at underage), aimed at peaking at the end of August.

Worry not!

Audioslaven

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Mayo have not beaten Galway in three attempts, league and Championship.

Yet it's Mayo who have ended up progressing further when it counts.

I'll reserve judgement on who has the pyscological advantage until much later in the year.

Very true and the smaller pitches suit the northern style that Galway play. It is a totally different situation with the wide open spaces of Croke Park. While yesterday was a good win for Galway, I don't think this "all behind the ball and hit on the break" will work in Croker. They got a trimming last year with this style.

However, we will have a hard time to beat them in May which is a real problem for us and our season. We definitely need to hit long ball faster rather than this hand passing laterally across the pitch but this means AOS in FF. We need to adapt to these tight pitches with this style otherwise the same result will happen in May.

Green Peter

Audioslaven wrote:

However, we will have a hard time to beat them in May which is a real problem for us and our season. We definitely need to hit long ball faster rather than this hand passing laterally across the pitch but this means AOS in FF. We need to adapt to these tight pitches with this style otherwise the same result will happen in May.

Pearse stadium is no small pitch. Anyone know it's demensions v croke park?

rebel girl 15

Green Peter wrote: »

Pearse stadium is no small pitch. Anyone know it's demensions v croke park?

Its smaller -145m x 90m. Croke Park is 165m x 98m

Fr Tod Umptious

Green Peter wrote: »

Galway and mayo have the same amount of all Ireland's won over the last 5 years.

I was referring to the other posters assertion that Galway had a "psychological hold" over Mayo, not the number of All Ireland titles they each have won, but feel free to throw that in as it's an easy out for anyone who likes of take a dig at Mayo, and it also takes zero effort or imagination.

Galway have beaten Mayo in the last two Championship seasons but then have gone on to lose to Tipp, Roscommon and Kerry

All teams that Mayo subsequently defeated after Galway losing to them.

So I'm in no hurry to believe in a "psychological hold" while there is still snow on the ground.

Barlett

Our league results after 4 games (just to give a proper gauge) read from 2011 as follows
2011 1W 1D 2L
2012 2W 2L
2013 1W 3L
2014 2W 2L
2015 3W 1L
2016 1W 3L
2017 2W 2L

Best to wait till the end of the season before assessing 'where Mayo are at'

TCDStudent1

Barlett wrote: »

Our league results after 4 games (just to give a proper gauge) read from 2011 as follows
2011 1W 1D 2L
2012 2W 2L
2013 1W 3L
2014 2W 2L
2015 3W 1L
2016 1W 3L
2017 2W 2L

Best to wait till the end of the season before assessing 'where Mayo are at'

Yeah, exactly. The league results should not matter too much for Mayo. I think you should have enough to beat both Tyrone & Kildare anyway. However, I do think it should be somewhat worrying from a Mayo viewpoint that they seem to have no young players emerging from this year's league. Maybe Eoin O'Donoghue? But will he get a championship place if Harrison / Higgins are fit? Conor Loftus was very poor yesterday and its the likes of him that you want to see step up in the league this year.

Contrast that to Galway who have young players really properly staking a claim for a championship place. Players like Sean Andy O'Kelly, Peter Cooke & Sean Kelly have done well in the league so far. And this is before the Corofin lads return. While I think Galway's starting 15 wont be much different from what we saw yesterday, there seems to be much more competition for places in the Galway panel. Our experienced players will be struggling to get into the team - lads like Gary O'Donnell & Sean Armstrong look destined for the bench this year.

2 years ago, you could argue that Galway caught Mayo unaware. Nobody expected the Galway win that day. I did not know one person in Galway who expected us to win.
Last year, you could argue that Mayo were thinking they could still beat Galway at half tilt and were aiming to peak later in the summer.
This year, Mayo have to take the Galway threat seriously. They have to treat that Galway match like they would treat a Dublin match. If Mayo beat Galway, they will probably have a nice route to the super 8's. And the super 8's could very well suit Mayo. If they lose to Galway again, then I am not sure how much some of those lads would like going to the likes of Clare, Fermanagh, Cavan etc for a qualifying match any more.

In any case, I cannot wait for May 13th - it should be a real proper championship match. There will be some belts that day!

Audioslaven

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

However, I do think it should be somewhat worrying from a Mayo viewpoint that they seem to have no young players emerging from this year's league. Maybe Eoin O'Donoghue? But will he get a championship place if Harrison / Higgins are fit? Conor Loftus was very poor yesterday and its the likes of him that you want to see step up in the league this year.

It is an issue he is not trying more new guys but we are clearly at a good step below Galway fitness wise. I though Loftus made alot of runs but it was so tight in the full forward line that when he got the ball two Galway guys were around him and robbed the ball off him. He is a bit light as well.

This two weeks off might do them a world of good fitness wise and the pitches might dry up a bit. When you are off the pace, the heavy pitch is like a double whammy as it just feels like you can't get going.

PCeeeee

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

Its smaller -145m x 90m. Croke Park is 165m x 98m

It may well be but according to the rule book max pitch size is 145 x 90. So both the same

charlie14

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

Its smaller -145m x 90m. Croke Park is 165m x 98m

Maximum length of a GAA pitch is 145 meters. Minimum 130 meters.
Maximum width of a GAA pitch is 90 meters. Minimum 80 meters.

As Salthill is also used as a hurling venue, I doubt it is much shorter than Croke Park at 145 meters.

STB.

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Mayo have not beaten Galway in three attempts, league and Championship.

Yet it's Mayo who have ended up progressing further when it counts.

I'll reserve judgement on who has the pyscological advantage until much later in the year.

It all depends on what your definition of progression means. If it means no winning medals whatsoever then many wouldnt consider that progression.

The cold hard facts of it are that Mayo have not been in a provincial final in the past 2 years and have found themselves having to go through several qualifiers to get to an AI final.

Just an observation. No malice intended as Carney might say.:)

Fr Tod Umptious

STB. wrote: »

It all depends on what your definition of progression means. If it means no winning medals whatsoever then many wouldnt consider that progression.

The cold hard facts of it are that Mayo have not been in a provincial final in the past 2 years and have found themselves having to go through several qualifiers to get to an AI final.

Just an observation.

And each year they beat the teams that ended Galway's season.

Is that not a better outcome than Galway achieved ?

Is that not further progress than Galway ?

STB.

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

And each year they beat the teams that ended Galway's season.

Is that not a better outcome than Galway achieved ?

Is that not further progress than Galway ?

Tod. If you dont mind me saying thats very glass half full mindset.

Galway have at the very least won a provincial championship in the past 2 years.

Medals and trophies count. Nobody remembers also rans.

I certainly have long since forgotten what happened between 1995 and 2011......it was a matter of having to!

SeanJ09

Really looking forward to the meeting in championship between these 2 teams. I'd almost go as far to suggest that its the only tie worth looking forward too in the Provincial championship- given the new format of the super 8 and the difficult repercussions to the loser and the renewed rivalry between the two since Galway have decided not to roll over and have their bellies tickled anymore. These guys just don't like each other.

Green Peter

Fr Tod Umptious wrote:

Is that not further progress than Galway ?

Fr Tod Umptious wrote:

Is that not a better outcome than Galway achieved ?

Fr Tod Umptious wrote:

And each year they beat the teams that ended Galway's season.

0 + 0 = 0

Fr Tod Umptious

STB. wrote: »

Tod. If you dont mind me saying thats very glass half full mindset.

Galway have at the very least won a provincial championship in the past 2 years.

Medals and trophies count. Nobody remembers also rans.

I certainly have long since forgotten what happened between 1995 and 2011......it was a matter of having to!

Do you seriously think that Galway would prefer to beat Mayo and once again s**t the bed in CP against the likes of Tipp than lose to Mayo and subsequently make it to back to back AI finals ?

I'm not like a person here who thinks that losing multiple All Ireland finals is better than winning one but I certainly think that getting to multiple finals is a better outcome than winning a provincial and then making a fool of oneself againt Tipp on the national stage.

Barlett

STB. wrote: »

Tod. If you dont mind me saying thats very glass half full mindset.

Galway have at the very least won a provincial championship in the past 2 years.

Medals and trophies count. Nobody remembers also rans.

I certainly have long since forgotten what happened between 1995 and 2011......it was a matter of having to!

In fairness STB, you've just proven in your last sentence that Provincial titles mean feck all to certain teams and supporters

Fr Tod Umptious

Green Peter wrote: »

0 + 0 = 0

Great post

STB.

Barlett wrote: »

In fairness STB, you've just proven in your last sentence that Provincial titles mean feck all to certain teams and supporters

What do you mean ?

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

I'm not like a person here who thinks that losing multiple All Ireland finals is better than winning one but I certainly think that getting to multiple finals is a better outcome than winning a provincial and then making a fool of oneself againt Tipp on the national stage.

Tod Galway have winning medals to show for it. What have Mayo got to show for all this perceived progression. Nothing.

Its a flawed mindset.

Martina1991

STB. wrote:

Galway have at the very least won a provincial championship in the past 2 years.

STB. wrote:

Medals and trophies count. Nobody remembers also rans.

And Mayo have won 5 connacht titles in the last 7 years.

You're just picking info to suit your view. Yesterday's game tells us very little for what'll happen in May.

7 of the team that started the all Ireland aren't even back yet.

Barlett

Well I presume STB you're talking about Dublin when you're talking about 1995 - 2011, did they not win something like five Leinster titles in that time? You're saying you've erased that period from your mind, but at the same time saying people remember medals...

STB.

Barlett wrote: »

Well I presume STB you're talking about Dublin when you're talking about 1995 - 2011, did they not win something like five Leinster titles in that time? You're saying you've erased that period from your mind, but at the same time saying people remember medals...

Yes I was talking about Dublin and the reason I mentioned it was to highlight that I am not here to rub anything in.

Having won the last 7 provincial titles in a row, it would be a very easy thing to say that ah sure its just another Leinster title. I'm supporting the Dubs a long time. I remember the wilderness.

In the intervening period of 95 and 2011 not alone could Dublin not get themselves to the big stage, but we couldnt get into a Leinster Final (97/98/03/04/10), nevermind win one(96/99/00/01 we lost). Thats 9 years of not getting to a provincial final or winning one! I wont event talk about AI's or "progression".

Barren years. Trust me they all count!

To re-iterate the point medals and trophies count. Its whats in the history books!

DDC1990

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater wrote:

No they haven't.

Connacht in 2016
Division 2 in 2017

Im pretty sure that is what they are referring to.

Barlett

STB. wrote: »

Yes I was talking about Dublin and the reason I mentioned it was to highlight that I am not here to rub anything in.

Having won the last 7 provincial titles in a row, it would be a very easy thing to say that ah sure its just another Leinster title. I'm supporting the Dubs a long time. I remember the wilderness.

In the 90s not alone could Dublin not get themselves to the big stage, but we couldnt get into a Leinster Final (97/98/03/04/10), nevermind win one(96/99/00/01 we lost). Thats 9 years of not getting to a provincial final or losing one! I wont event talk about AI's or "progression"

Barren years. Trust me they all count!

To re-iterate the point medals and trophies count.

That's true enough but on that basis you would say that Dublin went backwards in 2010 compared to 2009,whereas the opposite was true. I know what you mean but when a team wins lots of provincial titles as this Mayo team have done it doesn't really apply.

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

DDC1990 wrote: »

Connacht in 2016
Division 2 in 2017

Im pretty sure that is what they are referring to.

Ah, mea culpa, I misread his post. Sorry lads!

Barlett

Galway won the Connaught Championship in 2016.