Mayo GAA Discussion

spakman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122608509#Comment_122608509

I thought so as well.

Maybe it's my cynicism but I would also bear in mind that McStay would have worked closely with Mike Finnerty in their Mayo News days.

Not saying I think the CB are without fault, or that McStay is deserving of taking all the flak, but there could be all sorts of games going on...

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122589084#Comment_122589084

Yes 'unhappy' is a dubious term to use. Unless that delegate had concrete evidence of player unrest he should not have raised that issue. It just fuels rumour upon rumour and is very unfair to the management team who were appointed under a rigorous process. Raising it when the Review was still ongoing was particularly unhelpful. If the players as a group are unhappy with anything they have the option to go through a liason officer. Management can't be blamed for player failure to lock down on every Dublin player for Clinton's last kickout in Roscommon. Players need to step up and show leadership.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122608509#Comment_122608509

I'd agree with that tone. The board have been very quite since the Derry game. I heard that the chairman stepped back for a while over the summer but the PRO has been very quiet too. That creates the vacuum.

Audioslaven

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122609698#Comment_122609698

This is damaging for all .. CB, management and the players. Mchale leaving last year was interesting considering he is family but looking at it now, he has integrity and called out his reasons why, departed and no messing with him.

So reading between the lines, the CB want McStay gone, players are not happy with one to one sessions going on. The review should be enough to either force McStay out or else he will leave because of it or make him change his backroom team to undermine him. I can't see McStay having the stomach for this. The players will say nothing about "been unhappy" otherwise people will go here we go again C&H version 2. The players not coming out to support McStay says it all on the other side.

A **** show and stinks of issues around politics, egos, lack of leadership, interference….Anyway, the long and short of it, is we don't have the quality required from CB, management and players to challenge for SAM.

spakman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122610413#Comment_122610413

I think you've jumped a few sharks there!

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122610413#Comment_122610413

A few disgruntled club delegates doesn't mean the board wants McStay gone. If they do they'd want to be confident of getting a high calibre replacement. James Horan talked recently about the job becoming almost impossible for someone that has a day job so it's not that simple getting managers nowadays. Regarding players not coming out to support McStay, well they can't say much while the review is taking place. It's more the PRO or chairman who should be keeping us up to date on things.

In any case we don't seem to have the required player quality as you say and there isn't much noise from supporters on the whole thing. I think that reflects a certain level of weariness from supporters based on past experiences and the knowledge that replacing managers doesn't necessarily increase chances of success.

boosabum

Its probably that the management and teams performance for the year is being viewed through the lens of the Armagh and Galway all Ireland final. Are mayo as good as those teams or have equally as good talent? Probably like to think so but yet we went out to a bang average Derry team who have subsequently changed manager. Context changes everything as there was a handy all Ireland to be won and mayo were never in the recogning

Audioslaven

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122611641#Comment_122611641

I know but being realistic, only the Dublin game did Mayo show some signs of improvement. Outside of that they were very average and ultimately got what they deserved. I don’t hear any supporter saying we were robbed or should have made the quarters irrespective of the context and the ultimate winners.

boosabum

Agreed and this is the conordrum, would another manager get a better time out of the players ? Maybe yes, maybe no. Kevin an his team have not been delivering results in the championship, simple as that. No heir apparent so do the CB stick or twist. Probably stick for the next 12 months

PressRun

I would agree that players being "unhappy" is a vague term. Lots of high performance environments would have disagreements and robust opinions being shared. I'm sure they are unhappy with how the year went - if they weren't, I'd be very concerned about the commitment levels and standards players have for themselves. Does it mean they want the management replaced though? Not sure. They did make the point on the podcast that the only happy dressing room in the country this year is Armagh's, which is fair. I'm sure things haven't been exactly rosy in the Galway, Dublin or Kerry dressing rooms. As for Derry, well we know what happened there.

Audioslaven

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122611995#Comment_122611995

I think Mcstay’s tactics are open to criticism and this to me is the reason why he is getting the review and he is in hot tub. I would even suggest that this is one of the reasons why the players are unhappy. Some players have regressed this year under his tactics.

spakman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122613557#Comment_122613557

name the players who have progressed

Audioslaven

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122614047#Comment_122614047

Defensively we have got better as a unit. Brickenden, McBrien, McHugh; Coyne, Callinan… even reape in goal. Now you can argue that will happen anyway as they mature and gain the experience but I would give mcstay that.

Westernview

Definitely the defence is better as evidenced by the reduction in goals conceded. That's been the trade off. Soft goals have killed us in big games in the past where we were in control of games and supporters have called for that to be sorted out.. Ideally there is a middle ground having a solid defence with more direct attacking than at present.

PressRun

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122614424#Comment_122614424

We are still very reliant on Ryan O'Donoghue for scores. I don't know if that will change next year. I thought Tommy Conroy looked very one dimensional and overly cautious at times this year. Maybe he needs more time for coming back from that injury and was maybe there was a bit of nervousness there from him as a result. If he was able to improve again next year, we might be in better shape, but not sure I feel very confident about that either. He has been hyped up a lot since the injury and before he got injured, people seem to forget he was just a player who had promise, he wasn't necessarily the next big thing that people have made out since then.

MacDanger

Group winners:

Ballina

Garrymore

Breaffy

Ballagh

Runners up:

Westport

Castlebar

Ballintubber

Knockmore

Not sure when the draw is though. Wasn't at our game today but it sounded like we did okay although we picked up another couple of injuries. Sounded like Ballina robbed Westport with 2 late goals, 2nd one in particular

Green&Red

Ah Ref & co were critical of the process around McStay also. It seems very drawn out, the player reviews could have been done at any stage, the excuse that some players were on holidays seems like BS. It's not a great move to have a county manager going to the club championship without knowing he's going to be there. Or worse we have a manager next year who has missed all of the county championship. It's a ludrocious situation

MacDanger

Details of the draw taken from the blog:

SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Quarter-finals

• Ballina Stephenites v Castlebar Mitchels
• Breaffy v Westport
• Garrymore v Knockmore
• Ballaghaderreen v Ballintubber

Relegation play-offs

• Béal an Mhuirthead v Charlestown Sarsfields
• Mayo Gaels v Kilmeena

INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Quarter-finals

• Moy Davitts v Hollymount/Carramore
• Ballinrobe v Ardnaree Sarsfields
• The Neale v Crossmolina Deel Rovers
• Davitts v Kiltane

Relegation play-offs

• Kilmaine v Kiltimagh
• Islandeady v Lahardane MacHales

JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Junior A Quarter-finals

• Cill Chomáin v Tuar Mhic Éadaigh
• Eastern Gaels v Northern Gaels
• Ardagh v Bonniconlon
• Swinford v Killala

Junior B quarter-finals

• Kilmovee Shamrocks v Ballycroy
• Shrule/Glencorrob v Ballycastle
• Moygownagh – bye
• Achill – bye

Green&Red

Knockmore were very unimpressive in the first and very impressive in the second. First time I think we've really looked fluid since we won the county. Forwards were excellent but we were cleaned out at midfield. Injuries are really mounting up, Shane McHale out for the year, Conall Dempsey, Sean Holmes and Peter Naughton all injured and then Kieran King and Kevin McLoughlin go off yesterday. Deep and all as our squad is it's hard to see how we cope with all those out, six starters.
Pretty good draw for us. Breaffy were excellent against Ballintubber, nice to have one of them and Westport out. Ballina look to be favourites. Castlebar seem a mess, they seem to have really turned against Barry Moran, he is not liked inside the club.
Ballintubber players aren't happy with Mulderrig and them having Moy Davitts down at their training isn't helping, although that seems to be helping Moy Davitts.

MacDanger

https://x.com/MayoGAA/status/1835802714670080204

PARlance

Some reward for Breaffy for a comprehensive group win! Not many would admit it, but I think it may be a case of home disadvantage as well.

To put the optimistic hat on, it's best to be playing Westport at this stage rather than a semi or final.

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122624387#Comment_122624387

Yeah, toughest draw possible for both teams really I'd say - Westport might end up rueing that f*ck up for the 2nd goal, hard to understand why Leeroy wasn't all over that situation

Green&Red

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122624387#Comment_122624387

I think you'll be favourites FWIW

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122624409#Comment_122624409

I guess he is human after all.

Blackjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122623807#Comment_122623807

I haven't had time to listen to any podcasts lately - what was the upshot of the criticisms?.

My own view - I think there needs to be a balanced view here overall with the county management setup. The appointment process last time around was drawn out but I think the best options were selected from the 4 that were put forward.

As for changing now, who would replace the current setup?. I'm not sure I see anyone in the Club management game around the county being an improvement on current, and who from outside the county would be available that could improve results with the available players?.

Westernview

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122625019#Comment_122625019

As drawn out as the last recruitment process was I think it was needed to bring stability and credibility in how the board appoint managers. It will send a message out that things are being done in a professional manner and that should lead to better candidates who will know that their application is being taken seriously.

Fr Tod Umptious

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122625575#Comment_122625575

I agree

The CB are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

PARlance

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122624743#Comment_122624743

I don't follow the betting but Westport still 2nd favourites to win it outright, behind Ballina... so I'm not sure how we're favourites to beat Westport :/

We were good in the group but things worked out handy enough. I'm not sure we'll be able to stop Wesrport but I'm looking forward to seeing if they can.

Blackjack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122625575#Comment_122625575

Absolutely - the process was needed. I feel it could have perhaps have been expedited a little but we've seen before how the CB expedited appointments in the past giving co-manager roles to their brothers and calling the other candidates to tell them not to bother - that ending very very badly for all concerned.

All these folks have lives outside of their CB roles most of which are voluntary so it's unfair to expect highly paid level efficiencies.

Green&Red

Apparently McStay told them a few weeks ago he had been ratified. Player meeting called by him for this weekend.
Why is always some circus with us?

flasher0030

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122631860#Comment_122631860

I thought he had another year left anyway. Why would he need to be ratified?

I had presumed it was a given. I am really looking forward to seeing is something new can be added to the team this year.