Mayo GAA Discussion

SqueakyKneecap

I was wondering why the Connacht Final isn't in Castlebar? I'm assuming the preliminary qualifier last year doesn't count towards the home and away agreement. Not that your record in Salthill is bad anyways.

flasher0030

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049195#Comment_122049195

Absolutely correct on the mid-field. We have Ruane, Coen, Flynn, McHugh, Carney out around there. Plenty of presence, but can't win clean possession by catching it, and cannot seem to win breaking-ball either.

It is becoming more obvious as every game is developing that Mayo are completely relying on Ryan O'Donoghue, and maybe Aidan O'Shea to a lesser extent to at least create some height/strength advantage.

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049307#Comment_122049307

Yeah, 2022 Connacht game was in Castlebar but the prelim QF last year was home for ye because ye were a 2nd placed team and we were a 3rd placed team

Be-Jaysus

Good to see Tommy Conroy find some form, hopefully he can kick-on this summer.

We are so reliant on Ryan O Donoghue & he can only carry us so far.

Barlett

Hyde Park is class, they did some job, shows up how poorly the money on our own redevelopment in MacHale Park was spent,, blue seats like 🙄

Audioslaven

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122050724#Comment_122050724

Ya it is good to see Conroy play better especially kick a longer range point. Also I think Hession has to start the next day and I think our forgotten man at CB… loftus gets the nod in the half forwards as he got two nice points.

Be-Jaysus

..

Be-Jaysus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122054063#Comment_122054063

Yeah Loftus , had an immediate impact..

Hes a smart footballer who can slot into a variety of roles & knows where the posts are.

The only negative i can take away from yesterday was not putting the foot on Roscommon when 6 up, too much sideways lateral play and playing the clock down which lead to mistakes and Roscommon missing 2 big chances.

The big hitters wont need a 2nd invitation.

MacDanger

Anyone know if stand tickets will become available this week?

flasher0030

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122074968#Comment_122074968

Hopefully. They may be making out the stand tickets are sold out, and trying to flog off terrace tickets first.

I was trying on ticketmaster there for 2 juvenile tickets (€5 each) and one for myself. Says only available in the terreaces. What's the point of that. Can't bring a 5 and 7 year old on to the terrace. They won't be able to see anything. Is it always done like that in Pearce stadium. Never had problem in McHale Park, Croke Park and the hyde last week. Seating for the kids.

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122076913#Comment_122076913

Yeah, I'm in the same boat with a couple of small kids, it'd be pointless bringing them on the terrace. I see this note on ticketmaster: "Please note there is a limit of one adult to one child per booking in the stand" which would seem to indicate that you can book child tickets in the stand but you can only bring one child/adult so it leaves the likes of us in a bit of a bind

muddle84

Season ticket option is there for season tickets so maybe its only open to season ticket holders?

Cartman78

The worst draw possible?

Tough going if we win or lose on Sunday

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081669#Comment_122081669

Yea, winning the group and getting the bye which we learned from last year can be very helpful, or rather not winning the group can be very debilitating, is going to be difficult from either Grounp 1 or 2.

Id hope that it doesn't take anything from the Connacht final, play the games as they come.

MacDanger

While the loser of the Connacht final probably has an easier group overall, I think they have less chance of topping that group compared to the Connacht winner i.e. it should be easier to beat Derry at home than beat Dublin at a neutral venue

Westernview

I think it's a good draw. Nothing to be gained by going into weak groups. We are comfortably a top 8 team and probably higher so would expect to qualify out of either group 1 or 2. Playing the 2 ulster teams should bring us on a lot if we have any capacity for improvement.

The Irish Independent is trying to hype the draw with talk of a 'group of death' facing the winners of the connacht final. An cliched exhaggeration to say the least.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/the-race-for-sam-mayo-or-galway-face-group-of-death-as-championship-draw-revealed/a535992335.html

Maynis

Why have the Groups draws before the Provincial Finals. It introduces an unhelpful dynamic to the matches and takes a bit of the edge off the finals.

Seriously - What's the advantage to the GAA or others in having the draws early? It's like someone was going on holidays so just tried to get it done before they left!

Coillte_Bhoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081921#Comment_122081921

And having it at 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon. Great marketing there lads

TsuDhoNimh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122081921#Comment_122081921

The matches for Ulster/Leinster Provisional Finals are a week later than Connacht Munster Finals. If they didn't hold them in advance this week (which I agree is awful) it'd have to be a fortnight from now after the Leinster/Ulster games and throw Connacht/Munster Finalists into ~6 days of time to get logistics/setup/fans all sorted. No easy solution, bar an extra couple of weeks in the calandar, which just aren't there with the current structures.

The fact that the current setup leads to Leinster/Ulster Finalists (and the teams they face) being forced into a 6/7 day turnaround between round 1 and round 2 games is a slight bonus for us. We'd be facing a Westmeath side just days after facing Donegal/Armagh away or a Roscommon side just after Dublin away. So a small silver lining there.

Be-Jaysus

Not ar$ed about the groups.

Win the game, get a trophy,

All Ireland aspirations can be shelved for a couple yrs until more forwards & midfielders from underage are added to this current group which is still relatively young.

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122086978#Comment_122086978

Agree totally. The top teams don't even discuss the idea of deliberately losing a provincial final. It's a sign of weakness. Win and face the next challenge.

MacDanger

Assuming everyone is fit, I'd say we'll put McBrien on Comer, Paddy or Callinan on Walsh, Coyne or Brick on Finnerty and Coen on Conroy.

We'll need a big improvement at MF - Conroy, Maher and McDaid/Kelly (if fit) are better than our MF at the moment.

BandMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122087268#Comment_122087268

I'd agree that McBrien should definitely take Comer, think it will be Callinan on Walsh as he seems to be our designated man marker, would put Coyne on Finnerty as he would be like glue which Finnerty doesn't like and also agree with Coen taking Conroy.

If we played (or could play) our best midfielders in their correct position, then it would be a different story.

Westernview

I get the feeling that Brickenden will be marking Comer even though I'd prefer McBrien. McStay seems to have a lot of faith in Brick.

Forecast for Sunday is for dry day with gentle easterly breeze. Will take that over what we had last year up there.

On a separate topic this podcast on McGuinness is worth a listen.

https://shows.acast.com/free-state-with-joe-brolly-and-dion-fanning/episodes/jimmys-winning-matches-again

spakman

If Joe Brolly sat down in the same pub as me, I'd have to get up and find another place to have a pint - a narcissistic gosbhite, no way would I listen to any podcast of his.

Blackjack

I’m the same, the man loves nothing more than the sound of his own voice. He’s the absolute definition of a charlatan.

TsuDhoNimh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122088854#Comment_122088854

I've a funny feeling you're spot on with Brick/Comer.

The bigger question for me is if they'd then use David to sweep around 6 similar to the Roscommon 1st half or, less likely, if they'd stick him on Kelly similar to his role on Smith in the Roscommon 2nd half. Hoping it'll be the 6 role, he'd be a huge help on keeping Finnerty & Comer in check, but it's toss of a coin stuff in my head.

With that in mind, it'll be interesting to see what they do with Kelly. Fair chance he'll be dropping deep sweeping so a small chance they'll just let him but equally still a big threat breaking from there. Ruane/Flynn/Carney/McBrien/McHugh tagging him all with big pros and big cons. I'd probably go with Donnacha McHugh myself but no idea what management might be thinking there.

freddie_

Quick question, are the seats number adhered to in Pearce Stadium in the stand? Or, is it just sit anywhere?

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122089213#Comment_122089213

I'd say the availability of Durcan will decide what role McBrien has. If both Durcan and McLaughlin aren't available McStay may feel he needs McBrien in half back line as an attacking threat. Don't think Hession on his own will keep Galway pushed back enough. No nicer sight than seeing Mayo half backs surging forward and Galway forwards trying to track them.

HBC08

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122089223#Comment_122089223

Seat numbers are adhered to everywhere now.It just took a while for people to get used to it outside of Croker.

MacDanger

Stand tickets available now

bauney

as above poster. Seated Stand tickets available. I managed to book 4 stand tickets

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122089093#Comment_122089093

I'd say Brolly would quickly get over that disappointment of you leaving. There's no obligation on you to listen to it at all.

I posted that for anyone who is interested in an insight into McGuinness and his methods. We could do with his cold logical thinking in Mayo football at all levels.

spakman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122090198#Comment_122090198

Logical!? He's a mess of contradictions and changes his views to suit his agenda or whichever team is in vogue.

Don't worry, I have no intention of listening 😀

I don't read the Sunday Indo for several reasons, him being one of them.

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122090209#Comment_122090209

I was referring to McGuinness. Seems I unintentionally hit a few nerves there posting that link.

Anyway I enjoyed the listen so others may too.

TsuDhoNimh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122090244#Comment_122090244

A little disappointed with his 'analysis' of the Derry/Donegal game. I'd disagree with anyone suggesting it would have been fine if Lynch had been at home in nets. In reality, at least 2 and more likely all 3 of the 3 restart goals would have been scored even with a 2nd Lynch back there.

Derry were pushing 8v4 inside the Donegal 45 meaning Donegal were always likely to dominate 50/50 breaking balls in the middle (a brave enough call for Donegal given if Derry had won many of those balls they'd have had a serious overload inside the Donegal 45 - but Derry only managed 1 point off the 12 or so Donegal kicks they won long showing Donegal worked back hard and fast on each loss). Add in Patton's driven low trajectory kicks minimising the chance for lads to shuffle back or get under the ball and Donegal usually kicked to advantage with midfielders like McGee dominating more than his fair share of the few 50/50 balls. With nearly every phase having the Donegal lads completely outwork and outpace their Derry taggers, leading to the all too common 6v2 or 4v2 breaks they had. It was a total restart breakdown (mostly positional but a very rare lack of energy/work-rate contributed) rather than just a keeper positional problem for me.

I really enjoyed Dean Rock & Aaron Kernan's look at the game on Rock's new "GAAGO: The Analysis Show" YouTube channel (especially Rock's contributions). They dug well beyond the surface (e.g. smaller details like Lynch always looking to be the man scrambling back to the line +70m rather than a few defenders scrambling back a line each at 10-15m), something lacking in a lot of the other coverage around the game. You'd love to see the likes of a Canavan or a Horan joining in with them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoYm9eBlRn0

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122090607#Comment_122090607

Good points. Well we will never know how the game would have panned out with the goalkeeper staying between the posts but it seems unlikely that Donegal would win relying more on points. Man for man Derry have better players.

Thanks I'll listen to that link. Haven't heard any of those pods. Another excellent Free State one is an interview with Pat Gilroy and how he changed Dublin football. Some great anecdotes from his time in charge.

BandMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122090198#Comment_122090198

If you are looking for an "insight" (to use your term) on any topic or subject, you won't get it from Joe Brolly.

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122091599#Comment_122091599

I completely disagree but each to their own.

BandMember

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122091862#Comment_122091862

Hi, Ms. Blewitt. 😂

MacDanger

Have one spare stand ticket available (had to buy an extra to get 2 child tickets) if anyone's interested, section B

Selling for 30 (5 less than face value)

spakman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122092505#Comment_122092505

They really make it very difficult to bring kids to the games which you would think they'd be trying to encourage

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122092509#Comment_122092509

Yeah, this is the first time I've encountered this particular restriction but it's a right PITA

flasher0030

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122092681#Comment_122092681

I wonder why did they do it for this match. I was looking on ticketmaster there, and there are loads of tickets available for the stand now. Did organisers think there would be bigger demand and that it would be a sell out. I don't think there is huge appetite for this match. It's not knockout, and whichever team wins/loses - the repercussions are not a whole lot different. They will probably be in a tough group anyway. And then there will be another (hopefully) at least 4 more matches in quick succession in the coming weeks, which makes it an expensive exercise to attend them.

MacDanger

Mayo team named:

Mayo: 1 Colm Reape, 2 Jack Coyne, 3 Rory Brickenden, 4 Sam Callinan, 5 Paddy Durcan, 6 David McBrien, 7 Donnacha McHugh, 8 Stephen Coen, 9 Matthew Ruane, 10 Jordan Flynn, 11 Fergal Boland, 12 Jack Carney, 13 Aidan O’Shea, 14 Tommy Conroy, 15 Ryan O’Donoghue

Subs: 16 Rob Hennelly, 17 Enda Hession, 18 Conor Loftus, 19 Darren McHale, 20 Eoghan McLaughlin, 21 Cillian O’Connor, 22 Diarmuid O’Connor, 23 Padraig O’Hora, 24 Kevin Quinn, 25 Paul Towey, 26 Bob Tuohy

Galway name Comer & Maher to start, if that's the case then it's just McDaid missing for them I think?

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122092706#Comment_122092706

Yeah, I presume they thought there'd be a bigger crowd than it looks like there will be

TsuDhoNimh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122093673#Comment_122093673

Yeah. McDaid the only one of the obvious starters.

They'd have been hoping for the likes of Patrick Kelly or Tomo Culhane to push towards regular first 15 this year, but both (Kelly's back is a long time issue for him and Culhane picking up the knock after coming on against London) out injured.

Hernan just back into the squad after his Erasmus travels and heard James McLaughlin was back playing with his club at the weekend after his too, so two more you'd expect to be pushing for the 26 when they get a few more sessions into their legs (depending on how dedicated they were on staying at the usual fitness level). That said, the likes of young O'Neill well capable of holding his spot against some of the more well known names if they're anything less than 100%.

Mountjoy Mugger

I've one stand ticket available. In Spain so won't be able to make it.

€30.

km79

both squads almost at full strength (albeit not full fitness)

Weather promised good

I think it could be a cracker.

Won’t be a kick of the ball in it

HBC08

I have 2 stand tickets, face value is €70 for both but will sell for €50