Mayo GAA Discussion

Audioslaven

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120209770#Comment_120209770

Yes I know the kick was brutal but COC was slow when he got the ball and should have drove on faster or released it earlier to EML. I think when EML got it, he was under more pressure. I know that you can be critical of his kick but come to CP, you need guys bombing down the wing... there is no better man imo.

Yesterday, AOS was really brilliant and us falling down was when he was empty. This is grand on a heavy pitch in February but come CP in a semi or final, we need guys with power and speed. AOS does not have speed, Coen does not have it. We potentially have a really good full forward line if ROD, COC and TC are back to full strength, so we need guys who play at speed and deliver ball fast and early. EML is one of these guys. It is high risk but there is huge reward as well. If EML frustrates you, Coen does it for me with his lack of speed, playing the ball back when he meets an opposition player and lack of attacking threat.

happyoutscan

I've no idea why COC slowed that down instead of driving on. At the least, he would have won a free as someone would have dragged him down.

Audioslaven

That is it and when he received it, he had an Armagh lad coming so the kick was rushed. Orme played a similiar kick last year and everyone praised him for taking it on and blow up with the same for EML. The difference was Orme was to draw level while EML was to extend the lead. EML had a bit of latitude as it was not the final kick.

We will not beat the big guns for the big prize with this slow play. AOS while great on Sunday will not get that time and space in the heat of summer. He is very slow mentally as well releasing the ball. I just can't see it working in CP. I hope it does but this works for slower heavy pitches. Coen needs to start to cop on as well for such an experienced guy. If I remember correctly he went to take a guy on and lost the ball which lead to panic in defence and a point given. We will have a full forward line that can potentially do damage but we need fast ball and fast play to beat the bigger teams.

We all see things differently but that is great about this Mayo GAA board

RedDevil55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120210350#Comment_120210350

Not sure what you mean about Aidan O'Shea? His hand passing is always a huge strength. He draws defenders in and then releases the ball to someone running off the shoulder.

Obviously you'd have concerns about his pace in summer but that's a separate issue.

PARlance

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120210350#Comment_120210350

Unless I'm going mad, I think there was a fair bit of criticism for Orme's late attempt against Galway last year. I thought the general concenus was that he rushed it and he should have worked it to a better position. But there was an element of giving him leeway as he's a forward, was new to the team, and was willing to take it on. Orme's decision making/shot selection was also questioned versus Galway in the league game last week, so I don't think it's a case of EML being singled out.

There's a big difference between chasing a point and protecting a lead as well. Someone had to take that pop at an equalizer vs Galway last year. I think there's a good argument that we could have just held onto possession and played the game out on Sunday rather than kicking when EML did. I think CO'C was playing for that as well.

For me anyway, I think we've seen enough from EML to suggest that kicking isn't his strong point. I would be looking for him to focus on his strong running and simple handovers.

We're probably not going to change each others mind at this stage though.

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120210141#Comment_120210141

Cillian was dead right to slow it down IMO - keep the ball, run down the clock and get the win. The team had collectively spent the previous 15 mins panicking, slowing it down and taking the life out it was the right play. It was a rush of blood to the head from McLaughlin but he's still young so I wouldn't be too harsh on him. He's only been playing football at a high level for what, 3-4 years? He needs to learn some composure (burst through last week and blazed wide from 20m) but I think with the right coaching, that's possible. Paddy Durcan was prone to the occassional wild shot when he first came on the scene. Because of the position McLaughlin plays and the speed he has, it's inevitably that he'll get compared to Keegan/Boyle/Higgins/Durcan which is probably unfair.

Similarly, Reape still has a lot to learn, he's only been playing in goal for 3 years so I wouldn't be too worried about him yet. If he's still lacking that presence after a year or two playing with the county team, then it's time for bigger questions. You'd expect Byrne or Hennelly to come in for the next couple of games though.

flasher0030

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120210350#Comment_120210350

Circumstances were completely different between EMl kick and Orme kick. For Orme, it was essentially shlt or bust. A score down, and Mayo may not get a better chance in that last minute. For EML, all Mayo had to do was hold on to the ball for a minute and they would have won. Instead he made the complete wrong choice and ballooned it wide and gave possession back to Armagh. To see out a tight game needs composure. It is something that has let Mayo down a few times in the past. Complete panic set in on Sunday. And unnecessarily. Awful pass by Reape as well. Gave the defender no chance. Better off kicking a 50:50 ball down the line - get it out of danger anyway.

Stephen Coen hasn't progressed at all. He always gives the impression that he lacks any confidence, but I could be wrong as I don't know what kinda mindframe he has. He will never take a shot unless he is absolutely forced into it i.e. standing on his own with ball in hand in front of opposition goal. In my opinion, he doesn't offer enough to the team if the team wants to make sufficient progress to mix it with the big boys. I was watching Jack Carney closely at the Galway match last week. I just wanted to see what type of off the ball runs he made and his workrate. I noticed several times that he'd go to make a run for the ball, give the shout but then stop and fade back into the crowd. It was like a half attempt to look for a pass, but didn't really want it. But wanted to be seen to be looking for it.

Anyway, I just noticed that everything I've said there is negative. So I'll stop now. Not a good way to start off the week!!!!!!

MacDanger

Obviously AOS had a good game but I thought that our forwards could have played off him a bit better - when he wins the ball coming away from goal, others need to be making the runs so he can pop the ball to them bursting into the space he leaves behind him. That said, the quality of ball into him was much better than it has been previously, some nice diagonal balls played in. It might not work as well against better organised teams later in the summer but at least it's another option for us.

Jordan Flynn was very good again, for a player that some might have been writing off a couple of years ago, he's in our top 3-4 players now IMO. I thought Hession was v good also, I think he's a starter for us come the summer.

GBXI

Some crazy comments on EMCL. Yes, he needs to improve decision making but he is a nailed on starter come summer. You can't coach that level of pace and power. Not one comment here on the turnover he made early in the 2nd half where he hunted down the Armagh forward, stole the ball and Mayo went up and got a crucial score from it. Two point swing. That was pure pace and and then disciplined tackling - which he is improving at, by the way. He hasn't improved as fast as many would have liked for one reason only, injuries. His most recent one was very serious. I could see him winning an All Star before he finishes playing. Mayo have back problem with who to play 6, Loftus has continued to show that he's just not that great. Coen, beyond me what he brings to the party. Maybe it will be Hession, Paddy, Eoghan.

On AOS being too slow to make decisions. Did you not see the speed of his hands against Armagh? Maybe they were too quick! AOS can be weapon in Croke Park too. Just need someone to track the full-backs' runs forward. Also, I don't get the Jack Carney thing and I think we need a ball-playing wing forward to compliment Flynn and Touhy - someone like Fergal Boland would be ideal! :)

Bass Reeves

It was not necessarily EML was the issue. Mayo coughed up a 5 point lead in less than 10 minutes. They should have been well capable of closing out the game with that lead at that stage u less they conceeded a goal. It was just a matter of when you had the ball keep working it around until you score a point or draw a free.

Look at what other teams do when In that situation. The other team must try to get the ball back. You draw them out of there defensive set up, do not run into congested area's hold onto the ball, force them to try to recover the ball.

I do not think any other team in D1 would have failed to close out that match

Martina1991

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120210930#Comment_120210930

Kerry were 6 points up on Donegal last week and ended up losing the game.

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211014#Comment_120211014

Before half time not with ten minutes playing time left.

RedDevil55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120210930#Comment_120210930

What do you mean draw them out of their defensive setup? Armagh pushed up completely in the last 10 minutes, goalkeeper included. I watched it back and I think we only crossed their 45 twice in that time. The first time was when the score was 17-16, Jordan Flynn tried to give a hand pass to our corner forward but it got intercepted. Armagh then went upfield but Brickenden won a turnover and that led to Eoghan Mc having the ball inside their 45.

I'm sure Armagh will have their own grievances, but we got nothing off the ref during that time. They won frees for the slightest contact, while we got nothing from some very strong Armagh tackling.

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211058#Comment_120211058

I only saw the highlights and I consider the last free to Armagh very soft. Rian O'Neal virtually dived , admittedly the ref have the free for a handover the shoulder.

The whole point is you get the ball up field. Mayo have a tendancy to go I to a shell, move too many players back on there own kickout Armagh defendeds can only move up on a kickout if the player they are marking do not go forward for the kickout.

On a kickout in that situation you should have at least two inside the opposition 21 and three more inside the forty five. It usually attackers coming back that allow defenders inside your '45.

It's a huge flaw at club level. It one thing a player tracking back but the constant temptation to allow yourself to get drawn back to defend a lead is what defeats teams. It completely limits your kickouts and your out ball.

On the Kerry/ Donegal match I be critical of Kerry as well and the ref did us no favours and they gave Donegal a point which was 5 feet wide. We also had no free taker which costs us 4 points in the match. However even at that we had the winning in our own hands and I be critical of Kerry for that. We rushed a few chances in the last five minutes. However we were playing away with only five starters from the AI final. That is still not an excuse we had our chances to win the game and did not take them.

If you do not accept criticism or want to ignore what is needed to win at a highest level that is ok.

PARlance

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211026#Comment_120211026

It was a very bad collapse but maybe we need to accept that there's going to be a few mistakes made / lessons learned under any new management team as the players get used to them. A few more of the experienced heads that either aren't around or weren't playing would probably have helped see the game out as well.

It's never a bad thing when you're not losing games but still have a lot to work on.

Am talking to myself there as much as anyone else.

RedDevil55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211155#Comment_120211155

No issue accepting criticism but with all due respect how can you know Mayo went into their shell simply by looking at highlights?

After making the score 17-12, Mayo pressed the Armagh kickout in the same way they had been doing for the whole 2nd half. It just so happened that Armagh won it and eventually got a (incredibly soft) scoreable free, which started the comeback.

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211300#Comment_120211300

It was you stated that

''Armagh pushed up completely in the last 10 minutes, goalkeeper included. I watched it back and I think we only crossed their 45 twice in that time. ''

That indicator me that Mayo did not push forward enough and got sucked back defending a lead. They obviously had no players forward as an out ball.

It was even commented on in the highlights that AOS was ery farm back for the last quarter insteast of staying inside as FF

Man Vs ManUre

Looks like Roscommon are best in the west. And north, south and east.

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211636#Comment_120211636

Ya great start by Roscommon. There start has put the cat among the pigeons. I had them and Monaghan as the most likely relegation candidates. However another two points will probably see them safe. They have Armagh, Mayo and Donegal at home I think and are away to Monaghan and Tyrone. I would have said they were safe if the Monaghan match was at home.

Any team could get relegated now if the have a few bad results. Six points might not even be the safety net.

I am still thinking Monaghan will go down, they should have been relegated last year and Kildare should have survived.

Lukekul

https://youtu.be/AIIjgJcXcyY?t=4605

Serious goal from the much maligned Eoghan McLaughlin for UL tonight. (@01:16:45)

km79

I just came on to post the same :D

Audioslaven

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120217151#Comment_120217151

Delighted for him and he attacks every time he gets the ball. He took a nasty hit in 2021 so I would love for him to win an medal.

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120211750#Comment_120211750

Fast starts by unfancied teams should not be a surprise.

They obviously want to secure Div 1 status as quick as possible and thus are usually playing with a team closer to their championship team than some others are.

They are doing less experimenting, they have less players to "come back"

Roscommon reached a league semi finals back around 2016, I think they came second after the 7 regular season games.

But they were relegated the next year.

Same with Galway in 2020, pre COVID they were top of the pile, in 2021 they were relegated.

MacDanger

Cracking goal for McLaughlin

flasher0030

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120218671#Comment_120218671

Some pace tearing up the pitch. I had a moan a few days ago about the wild shot he took against Armagh. But I have no doubts as to his worth in the team. For me, he doesn't need to be a scoring threat to warrent a place in the team. I'd take his forward drive any day as opposed to Stephen Coens conservativeness. At least Eoghan is putting the opposition on the back foot.

muddle84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120219340#Comment_120219340

I do think Eoghan has a place on the team, but this isn't his first year involved now, so i think he needs to learn his place. Somebody made the comparison to Michael Darragh MacAuley a few posts back, MacAuley knew he couldn't score those long range points, the only scores i can think of him scoring was fisted over the bar actually, but he was a huge asset to Dublin and Ballyboden too. He was an out and out pest on the field too which I don't see MacLaughlin bringing but that's neither here nor there. So I think for Eoghan to have maximum impact he needs to figure out is he going to nail the kicking, or just accept that's not going to be part of his game. He is a starter either way IMO, but making the wrong decision like he did in Armagh just won't be good enough come championship!

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120219340#Comment_120219340

I think we can have a moan about him taking the wrong option against Armagh and still think he brings massive value to the team; I think he just needs to take a split second to steady himself in these situations and he'll be grand.

FWIW, I also think Coen is worth his place on the team even if he is more of a "minding the house" type of player than McLaughlin.

Audioslaven

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120219340#Comment_120219340

100%. You need this driving force in order to beat the big teams. You will not win big games with the stuff Coen does. I think he knows his limits and as such plays it save. EML firing down the wing would worry teams as will Durcan the other side. We just need someone to fill the CB position and maybe Loftus is it for us.

PARlance

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120219545#Comment_120219545

Completely agree, not sure how it became a McLaughlin Vs Coen thing. Both very different players and as you say, probably a place for both types on the one team.

flasher0030

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120222842#Comment_120222842

Apologies, I brought Stephen Coens name into it. There were couple of comments questioning Eoghan McLaghlans inclusion in the team. I was just comparing the overall impact between the 2 of these players. And that I think Eoghan's worth to the team is far more. I didn't really mean that it's one or the other. But I guess if I was to be pressed on it, I don't see what Stephen Coen brings to the team. If we uncovered another attacking half-back type player (even half the calibre of Keegan, Boyle, Higgins), it would be more valuable than Stephen Coens contribution against the likes of Kerry, Dublin, Galway etc.