Mayo GAA Discussion

RedDevil55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119140219#Comment_119140219

I don't think we played particularly well in 2016. Lost to Galway and had an easy enough run to the final, apart from scraping over Tyrone. Dublin were dreadful in the drawn final but we still didn't win. Then there was the keeper switch in the replay...

Played well in the 2017 final but we had a brilliant team then, with no significant injuries. It all comes back to injuries at the end of the day!

PARlance

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119140337#Comment_119140337

I think we scraped over Fermanagh as well in 16... A fairly controversial penalty helped get us over the line.

And there was plenty of scraping in 17 as well come to think of it. Clare gave us a bit of a scare, as did Cork in the qualifiers... That's before the replays in quarter and semi final.

But all that said, I always got a sense that we were building towards peaking at the right time in those two years. I got a sense that there was a plan anyway, but maybe that's just rose tinted glasses as I really liked him as a manager.

RedDevil55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119140563#Comment_119140563

Those 2 years were definitely the most enjoyable to follow Mayo football, with all the close games, qualifier runs etc.

However looking back now it's hard not to question why Galway kept beating us and so many mediocre teams brought us to the wire. Considering we had such a strong team at the time.

PARlance

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119140623#Comment_119140623

Maybe the narrative was created through circumstance, but I definitely think there was an element of Rochford paying less attention to Connacht and aiming more towards the later stages of the All Ireland.

When he took over, we had won it 5 years in a row and maybe he changed the focus a bit.

Blackjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119140563#Comment_119140563

There was nothing controversial about that penalty against Fermanagh only what was made of it by RTE afterwards. James Crombie from INPHO photography tweeted photos after the game showing a tangle of legs. The way it was portrayed afterward by RTE was nothing short of a witch hunt. They brought one single camera to the game and that was all they had to show the action from.

They had form that year I recall they did a hatchet job on Kevin McLoughlin on the Sunday game after the Tipp semi Final, when Bill Maher was sent off, making it out as if Kevin dived. It was shown afterward, using their own footage, that he had been punched, and that it was a red card all day long.

Vish81

Money being lumped on Monaghan bigtime over past 48hrs.

They'll be into 2/1 maybe 15/8 before the balls thrown in.

A staggering drop from 10/3 in such a short space of time.

Mayo 4/9 'on' which is mindboggling given the injuries and the lack of fight and quality that we have previously witnessed v Kerry & Galway..

RedDevil55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119140763#Comment_119140763

I remember that alright. Marty Morrissey brought a tablet into his interview with the Fermanagh manager afterwards and showed him the penalty incident, trying to make him call out Aidan O'Shea for diving. Which he did. Have never seen RTE do something like that before or since.

Blackjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119140822#Comment_119140822

I remember that too - it was poor form. The social media pile on after that was pretty horrendous, but not that surprising.

PARlance

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119140763#Comment_119140763

It was a penalty for sure, I meant controversial in the sense of the uproar and upset it caused many.

TsuDhoNimh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119139491#Comment_119139491

Was never excited by Stephen during his first stint. The team at the time, hell yeah, just not sure how much of that credit was down to him versus the individuals. Seemed to be different tactics, waving between better and much worse at times, without ever making a big step forward. Was fine, wouldn't be upset with him given another shot especially given his tactics on big days tended to work out, but wouldn't be super excited either. Certainly think he could have the potential to win an All Ireland with the lads we have in the panel at the moment and the talent coming through behind that.

Personally I'd be very excited seeing what Cian O'Neill might do in the role.

He didn't have a great time with the back pain the last time he was commuting up here so it might never be a runner, though was quite a while ago and hopefully his injury is in much better shape now. Given the way his period in charge of Kildare went he might also prefer staying in the coaching side of a setup rather than the managers seat. Though hearing how lads from Mayo, Kerry, Kildare or Galway talk about him and knowing his knowledge of the game and seeing how Galway look reinvented defensively this year he'd be right near the top of any list I'd come up with.

Rory Gallagher obviously going to be high on any lists put together at the moment. He's a real character so always a little marmite about him but personally I adore the passion he brings to the line. Watching the positioning and patterns of his Derry side shows a level of creativity, inventiveness and understanding of the game I've never witnessed before. Even with Jim Gavin. I get the feeling he's working hard creating generational talents at the moment rather than just reaping the reward of managing them. Be hard to imagine him leaving that Derry side in the next few years given the connection he seems to have built with the lads but if it's Fantasy Manager time I'll be sticking him down for sure.

(On that note, I'd happily let Jim Gavin have a pop if he wanted to take a few summer's on the West Coast for a change of scenery)

Ray Dempsey the obvious local to have earned the shot. Has done a wonderful job with Knockmore in recent years and up until this year I felt he was a shoe in for the role, especially given he seems a DAMN nice fella. Got a little worried seeing how the tactics shifted without Darren McHale fit, the long ball they went to never looked to be working and they always looked better when they moved away from it, but he has certainly done enough to be given a fair shot at it. Not entirely sure how much of the pattern work and drills is Ray and how much is Terry Kennedy who seems to attract a lot of the praise down there. If the latter has a heavy hand on the blueprint it'd be pretty vital to ensure he'd be part of a Dempsey ticket. Or possibly having him involved with the panel even without Ray.

Have heard others talking about Damien Mulligan or Maurice Sheridan. Personally wouldn't be a huge fan of the footie I've seen either produce, though in Mulligan's case how much of that was necessary given the constraints of the team I've no idea. A few others have mentioned John Reilly's fairly amazing work with Kilmeena this year but have to fear the step between Junior Club and Senior inter-county might be a jump too far without a few steps in between. Not the strongest position we've ever been in for managerial prospects and yet still a few local names to be thrown around with some confidence in a conversation which has to be a good sign.

Avon8

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119140337#Comment_119140337

Even that Tyrone game was the easiest draw possible. The other options at QF level were Dublin and Kerry that year. Mayo got the handiest draw every step of the way that year once they hit the qualifiers. Similar but to a lesser extent in 17.

2013 was the best iteration of Mayo we've seen. That dismantling of Donegal will do well to be topped. Went into the final against a Dublin who were themselves in rip roaring form and it was priced as near 50/50

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119141999#Comment_119141999

Cian O'Neill?? Wouldn't want him anywhere near the place, granted he had a good record as a trainer but he has a brutal record as manager.

I wouldn't rate Rory Gallagher too highly either despite his recent success with Derry

I think that no matter what happens this year, Horan will call it a day and we'll be looking for a new manager at the end of the season. While Horan has his failing though, it will be hard enough to find a better manager to replace him IMO

Vish81

Lose to Monaghan then it's time for Horan to do the honorary thing and step aside..

If we "Kick" on during the summer, and show something different besides the standard running game, and offer some

tactical nous , then he will deserve another bite at the cherry moving forward.

If it goes belly up , Éamonn Fitzmaurice would be my preference..

RedDevil55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119149385#Comment_119149385

How would that work? Intercounty management is basically a full time job and Fitzmaurice is a school principal in Dingle. The criticism of O'Mahony in his 2nd term was that he hadn't enough time along with being a TD. Even though he lived locally.

spakman

Outside of Rochford and Horan, the only managers to get their teams to AIFs in recent years are:

Gavin - would prob be my choice even though I can't warm to him at all, and not sure he'd have any interest in managing against his former players, he values loyalty too highly I'd say.

McGuinness - For all the talk, he won 1 all ireland (against us of course!) and that was a decade ago. Mighy still work some magic but it's not without a fair amount of risk imo.

Fitzmaurice - school principal in Kerry, won one all ireland after we were shafted and shafted ourselves. Kerry were glad to see back of him, not sure why we'd have him above Horan.

Harte - A great manager in the 00s, not at top level now.

Peter Keane - another man Kerry were glad to see back of, thought he was much cuter than he is.

Dooher and the other fella - still with Tyrone and not looking too rosy at the moment.

All well and good saying Horan should go, but hes one of the top managers in the country no matter whether people are fed up or not.

God knows who we would end up with!

Coillte_Bhoy

Will An Sportlann bar show the Ireland soccer match at 2pm i wonder? No other GAA clashing at that time.

SqueakyKneecap

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119150653#Comment_119150653

I saw them showing rugby in there before so should be no issue imo. God bless the barstaff in there. Patience of saints.

Vish81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119149752#Comment_119149752

You request a transfer and it's easily pushed through if all parties are on board with the idea. (like any profession)

Young progressive manager who demands a intricate kicking game , and is an All Ireland winner as a player, and repeated the trick with a Ok-ish Kerry team as a manager (- injured gooch)

Bottom line..

He knows how to get over the line..

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119151170#Comment_119151170

A bit like Obama was seen as a good president because he was followed by Trump, Fitzmaurice was seen as a good Kerry manager because he was followed by Peter Keane.

This will be Horan's last year I reckon, unless they win it which is highly unlikely.

And I think Horan's name will live long in the history of Mayo GAA for what he has done.

As for replacements a bit like other sports old names keep coming up rather than new ones.

We went from O'Mahony to Maughan to Holmes to Maughan to O'Mahony to Horan to Holmes to Rochford to Horan in the last 30+ years, with feck all in-between.

That's a lot of going back to the same tank.

And of those it was O'Mahony, Maughan and Horan that had the most impact, taking stragglers also rans and getting them to finals.

I know we are in good shape now relatively speaking so getting Rochford in for another crack might not be a bad idea, but is there anyone else in the county that might be a good fit?

Horan was an intermediate club manager when he got the job.

Who on the Mayo county scene would potentially make a great manager?

Green&Red

Mulligan & Dempsey

From what I’ve heard about the U-20 set up and what I saw with the U-20 set up I wouldn’t have Sheridan near the place.

Solan could be an option although he didn’t have a great time with Ballagh but that might have been the quality available. Andy another man that’ll be mentioned.

They were rode sideways in that quarter final under lights against Breaffy, they had a real chance at that county championship but for that

muddle84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119151170#Comment_119151170

Do you really think Fitzmaurice would move his whole Family to Mayo? That's not going to happen!

Cartman78

Any injury updates at all?

From the Mayo News podcast it sounded like Hennelly is close....would be a welcome boost if only for his long range frees

HBC08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119152886#Comment_119152886

Hennelly and Durcan will start .I dont know the full story with Mullen but I think he's going to start.Flynn will not take part. RoD is out as I understand it.

I was at the OTB live pod last night and James O Donoghue talked about a possible injury to O Hora,first I'd heard of it and I wouldn't put too much stock in it.

The Connaught Telegraph were the only ones talking about an injury to Carr so I'd completely disregard that given the source.

All in all we're in a better place that we were before Galway.I think we're going to see a big performance tomorrow.

Vish81

To land the All. Ireland I don't think we have anybody with the ability, or the mind-set to cope with the pressures of handling Mayo GAA both on and off the pitch as a whole.

Rochford would be thee standout option if we were to go local again, but I think an outsider with a proven track record with no baggage may give us the best shout with this current batch of players.

Mayo are a media phenomenon now, biggest pull outside of Dublin ,and it will attract plenty of interest from outside the walls of Mayo.

Even paidi o shea wanted a crack at the job before his ill-health unfortunately took his life away .

Vish81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119152300#Comment_119152300

To land the All. Ireland I don't think we have anybody with the ability, or the mind-set to cope with the pressures of handling Mayo GAA both on and off the pitch as a whole.

Rochford would be thee standout option if we were to go local again, but I think an outsider with a proven track record with no baggage may give us the best shout with this current batch of players.

Mayo are a media phenomenon now, biggest pull outside of Dublin ,and it will attract plenty of interest from outside the walls of Mayo.

Even paidi o shea wanted a crack at the job before his ill-health unfortunately took his life away .

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119154275#Comment_119154275

So who is this outsider with a proven record and no baggage?

RedDevil55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119154301#Comment_119154301

Is John O'Mahony the last outside manager to win Sam? Personally I think you need to be living fairly local to do a proper job. Jack O'Connor was very underwhelming with Kildare.

Eire885

Team is announced:

https://twitter.com/MayoGAA/status/1532749515224145920

No O'Hora

muddle84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119154484#Comment_119154484

He is named in the subs, along with Byrne, Brickenden, McHugh, COS, Jordan Flynn, McLoughlin, McHale, Loftus, Doc & Boland

PARlance

A big game needed from them all, but I think it's time for Orme to step up and show what he's made of... if he starts.

Not expecting him to carry the team or anything, but it would be a good time to really announce himself.