Mayo GAA Discussion Part 2

Barlett wrote: »

Powerhouse wrote: »

He kept Diarmuid Connolly quiet, we'll take that

Looking back at the game, I am not sure Connolly was all that quiet though. He got on more ball than most of the Dublin forwards, he tracked back constantly (getting in 2 very clean dispossessions), set up the 2nd goal with a beautiful ball. I also remember him delivering a great ball into Brogan - cant remember if anything came off that 1 but it was a serious pass. And he scored a good point too (although cant blame Keegan for that 1).

My take on the Keegan / Connolly duel was that Connolly came out slightly on top today. Keegan really didnt have much influence on Mayo's attacking game today.

Powerhouse wrote: »

Having watched him goading Sean Kavanagh and do likewise again today class in the last word I'd use about Keegan. Was a fine footballer when the recent Mayo team first emerged and he used to play a lot of ball in each game but it is some fall from grace to be reduced to targeting key opposition players to try to get them sent off.

Strange when it is someone else rather than a Dub dishing it out that they get a hammering. My point is that Keegan does a job for the team, Connolly was thinking of himself. Keegan could be going up the pitch getting points (which he does when given the freedom) but he was selfless for his team today. He does what his manager requires of him. If he was trying to get him sent off, as you suggest, he should have let go of his jersey and started rolling around on the ground holding his head after Connolly slapped his face, threw him to the ground and punched him on the head a few times ! Part of his class is that he did not do that.
But he was not letting go of the jersey because Connolly was not letting go either. It was actually funny that Connolly tried to rip Lee's jersey in two with both his hands, but either the material is better or he is just not strong enough ! If Lee Keegan was wearing Blue, you would be singing his praises. Dublin will probably go on and win, they have been the best team in Ireland for years, they still are, but Mayo are a great team and Lee Keegan is a brilliant footballer and a class act.

Bambi wrote: »

McGee's a dirty, dirty player in my book

Philly isn't doing what Keegans doing at all. Keegan isn't a thug at all but if there was a TMO in football he wouldn't have lasted a half with all the off the ball fouling he's at this year.

He'll keep at it until refs put and end to it I imagine.

This is key. He has gotten away with it so much that he keeps doing it! On the Sunday Game panel tonight, they suggested the ref should've given 2 yellows to Keegan & Connolly for the incident in the lead up to the first goal. Dont ask me why they thought Connolly should have gotten a yellow for that as he was just trying to run in towards goal away from Keegan and was dragged down twice. However, it would have put a stop to Keegan's 'tactic' immediately. I wouldnt be surprised if the ref books the 2 of them at the first opportunity the next day

corny wrote: »

Thats just sad. My player is stronger than your player.

Cannot believe people think Keegan had a good game. Connolly contributed a lot in general play. Keegan did nothing to slow him up, dispossess him or hinder him in any way. Plus, he did nothing on the ball himself. Sure the first possession Connolly had him on his arse as he ghosted passed him.

Agreed that they were both at it though in the game. A few minutes after their coming together Connolly pulled Keegan to the ground as he was running forward. Clear black on a yellow would have had him off. He's not learning Connolly.

If you're a betting man, the bet on Connolly was to score more than 3.5 points. To the best of my knowledge, he scored one, and that was from a misplaced kickout by Clarke. Connolly, in my opinion, is one of the top 3 players in the country at the minute! Yes, he got on a bit of ball, but on none of those occasions was he causing any real damage.

Keegan let him have the ball (I'm using let here as there's no way you can keep him off the ball for the entirety of the game) in areas where he would cause the least damage. Instead of pushing up on Connolly all of the time and stepping out of the defensive system, he kept his discipline and stuck to the game plan. That's the mark of a player who is working for the team! Sure, he would have loved to have welded Connolly at every possible juncture, but in doing so he would have left himself exposed and he would have exposed the rest of the rear guard or by leaving a gaping hole while trying to make the tackle ! If you mistime a tackle on Connolly you're in bother! Keegan stood and shadowed and insured, in my humble opinion, that he wasn't a main scoring threat or the main instigator in Dublin's offensive movements.

For that alone, he deserves huge credit!

Ordinary man wrote:

Keegan had connolly in his pocket all game and it was easy to see how frustrated connolly got. With 30 seconds or so to go connolly had a sideline ball, all he had to do was play it simple and keep the ball to ensure dublin won. But a mixture of frustration and ego saw him try for a point, his miss allowed mayo get the equaliser.

In all fairness there's a couple if posts now about how it's Keegan's fault that Connelly decided to go for the point.

That's a stretch imo. Unfortunately that's part of Connellys game he's been at it all season and it's been flagged numerous times in the Dublin thread.

Stoner wrote: »

Ordinary man wrote:

Keegan had connolly in his pocket all game and it was easy to see how frustrated connolly got. With 30 seconds or so to go connolly had a sideline ball, all he had to do was play it simple and keep the ball to ensure dublin won. But a mixture of frustration and ego saw him try for a point, his miss allowed mayo get the equaliser.

In all fairness there's a couple if posts now about how it's Keegan's fault that Connelly decided to go for the point.

That's a stretch imo. Unfortunately that's part of Connellys game he's been at it all season and it's been flagged numerous times in the Dublin thread.

To be fair he does go for some high percentage shot's. But from a neutrals perspective, Keegan definitely got to him mentally and physically. Most of it was completely illegal of course. Nasty to look at if I'm honest. But he was looking as tired as I've ever seen him by the end of it. Keegan played him like a fiddle the more I think about it. To reduce the most talented footballer in the country to 1 opportunist point from play and frustrated him into that silly attempt at the end.

Kauto wrote: »

How should Keegan have got red?

For daring to touch "The best player in Ireland"
He should have been more respectful like the Kerry defenders and given him all the space he needs to play effectively

MayoSalmon wrote: »

Dublin literally put in the worst possible performance they could come up with, they don't score for 30 odd minutes, Bernard Brogan goes scoreless for the entire game and Mayo still can't get it done...It's quite shocking really.

Brogan has been brutal all year so dont expect that to change in the replay.

Mayo were quite poor themselves for periods yesterday. People saying Dublin wont be as bad the next, probably not but they wont be much better either.
Most over rated team in GAA history. A good team with 4/5 top players, the rest are ordinary enough.

Paddy power refunding all bets on yday match btw
Just seen it there