Mayo GAA Discussion - Part 4

What's the story with Brendan Harrison? I feel like I haven't seen him in a while?

If there was ever a good time to drop a division it’s now, league will be starting in approx 3 months time so not a fear of any substantial crowds being let in, but it is crucial we get back up first attempt.

On the game itself, Clarke had a nightmare, Loftus quiet, O’Shea fairly annonymous. How we didn’t set up defensively against that breeze was just diabolical, should have been one, if not two sweepers deployed first half and O’Shea should have been moved to midfield, infuriating.

Playing against the breeze wasn’t an ideal situation for Mark Moran to impress today so wouldn’t read into his performance at all, O’Donoghue and McLaughlin did well, and wow, Tommy Conroy, what a player we have on our hands, the type we’ve been crying out for for years and only 21. I actually think Paul Towey can be every bit as good as him given the chance. For the first time in what seems like an age, we have serious depth in the forwards now. We badly badly need another midfielder, CHB and goalkeeper though and these are persistent problem areas.

Not overly bothered about championship truth be told, be an asterisk beside it regardless of if we win the All Ireland or not, but I would like to see us go with something along the lines of below:

Byrne,
O’Donoghue-O’Hora-Mullin
E McLaughlin-Keegan-Durkan
K McLoughlin (Sweeper)
Ruane-Aidan O’Shea
D O’Connor-Moran-McDonagh
Carr-Conroy

Subs-Clarke, Coen, Boyle, Loftus/McHale, S O’Shea, R O’Donoghue, Boland, C O’Connor, D Coen, Barrett, McBrien

mayo londoner wrote: »

If there was ever a good time to drop a division it’s now, league will be starting in approx 3 months time so not a fear of any substantial crowds being let in, but it is crucial we get back up first attempt.

On the game itself, Clarke had a nightmare, Loftus quiet, O’Shea fairly annonymous. How we didn’t set up defensively against that breeze was just diabolical, should have been one, if not two sweepers deployed first half and O’Shea should have been moved to midfield, infuriating.

Playing against the breeze wasn’t an ideal situation for Mark Moran to impress today so wouldn’t read into his performance at all, O’Donoghue and McLaughlin did well, and wow, Tommy Conroy, what a player we have on our hands, the type we’ve been crying out for for years and only 21. I actually think Paul Towey can be every bit as good as him given the chance. For the first time in what seems like an age, we have serious depth in the forwards now. We badly badly need another midfielder, CHB and goalkeeper though and these are persistent problem areas.

Not overly bothered about championship truth be told, be an asterisk beside it regardless of if we win the All Ireland or not, but I would like to see us go with something along the lines of below:

Byrne,
O’Donoghue-O’Hora-Mullin
E McLaughlin-Keegan-Durkan
K McLoughlin (Sweeper)
Ruane-Aidan O’Shea
D O’Connor-Moran-McDonagh
Carr-Conroy

Subs-Clarke, Coen, Boyle, Loftus/McHale, S O’Shea, R O’Donoghue, Boland, C O’Connor, D Coen, Barrett, McBrien

There isn’t a hope of Byrne starting
Eoin o Donoghue is also one of Horans inexplicable persons non gratis
Moran isn’t ready
Any particular reason you are dropping cillian ......

I had completely forgot about Carr ! He must be injured

km79 wrote: »

Has any team won the league , got relegated the season after and won Sam

Just seen the third goal
Yikes
Nice “accidental “ blocking /taking out of Mattie Ruane by a Tyrone player too ...


I can’t remember the last time we had such a pacy direct corner forward as Conroy
It’s not all doom and gloom
Really impressed by young Mcloughlin again too
I said it last week and it’s worth repeating today. Moran isn’t big/ strong enough yet and I don’t know will he ever be

With optimum strength and conditioning and a few additional years he has the potential to be.

km79 wrote: »

Has any team won the league , got relegated the season after and won Sam

Just seen the third goal
Yikes
Nice “accidental “ blocking /taking out of Mattie Ruane by a Tyrone player too ...


I can’t remember the last time we had such a pacy direct corner forward as Conroy
It’s not all doom and gloom
Really impressed by young Mcloughlin again too
I said it last week and it’s worth repeating today. Moran isn’t big/ strong enough yet and I don’t know will he ever be

I said last week that he needs a savage winter of S&C. He is just too light for the role he plays.

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

I said last week that he needs a savage winter of S&C. He is just too light for the role he plays.

He will get it theres no question there he just needs time.div 2 football could see him shine

RedDevil55 wrote: »

I've seen a lot of Byrne over the last few years. IMO he's similar to Clarke i.e. very good shot stopper but predictable kickouts. Next year we should try Reape from Knockmore or Jennings from Ballinrobe.

If Cillian is fit he's still a guarunteed starter. He showed his quality last weekend. Not just the scores, but what he sets up as well. IMO, he would have worked a goal in the 1st half where Coen shot wide. Don't know why you'd move him outfield when he's lacking pace either.

Conroy doesn't take frees for his club.

I'd argue CHF is the one position in the forward line where you can get away without pace, more of a playmaker role as his kickpassing is generally good. Conroy has taken plenty of frees, although I accept he's not regular freetaker for the Neale, again I wouldn't have Cillian as being as reliable as he was a few years ago on the frees either.

Agree with you on Jennings actually, thought he was excellent in club championship, would need to bulk up a bit though.

PressRun wrote: »

What's the story with Brendan Harrison? I feel like I haven't seen him in a while?

Injured.Out for the year.

mayo londoner wrote: »

Would you rather persist with Clarke/Hennelly and see the same disasters over and over again?

Can't figure out O'Donoghue's omission myself, can't recall him ever having a poor game when called upon
Moran isn't far off, as I said above, conditions were never going to suit the likes of him today against the wind when footpassing is his best attribute. Read somewhere that he was taken off with a niggle.

TBH I don't think Cillian has been at his best the last 2years, injuries have definetly effected him. Intercounty is all about pace these days, which he doesn't exactly have, would rather see him come into the fray with 20mins to go, alternatively give him a run at CHF where he had a great season 3 or 4 years ago, that would mean dropping O Donoghue or Moran though. His brother is well able to kick 45s (actually think he's better at them than Cillian) and Conroy/Coen well able to kick frees too.

Byrne (or another keeper ) should definitely have got some game time over the last 3/4 years in FBD and league
I’ve been one of the ones shouting loudest for it
But they haven’t . So starting him next week in championship just will not happen

Agree on EOD. Same as above though

Moran is far off. He ain’t strong enough yet. Conditions won’t improve as we move into November and December

Dropping Cillian.To accommodate Moran and O Donoghue . Stop it
I just can’t get over the lack of appreciation some supporters have for him. We will miss him when he is gone .
We lost today right ? Without him ? And Moran was there centre forward for a half ? Apparently .....

They have three weeks now to fight with every fibre in their being to bring back the Nestor Cup.

Really think it's imperative that is achieved this year.

I can't see anyway Mayo don't come straight up next year and I'm a Galway man. They are a large step up from any team in Div 2.

PressRun wrote: »

I don't get the lack of appreciation for him either. I am concerned about the injuries he seems to be consistently picking up now, but we are a much poorer team without him. There's an incoherency to our forward play when he is not there. He is smart and un-selfish, and reads the game well. He has more composure and better judgement than most of our options up front.

Game management, game intelligence, call it what you want. For all his faults Cillian generally delivers and picks the correct option. That Coenchance Cillian would have known Aido was across from him and slipped it to him.

He also have that bit of thickness about him which when he controls it properly is vital to allow the newer lads to settle.

km79 wrote: »

Byrne (or another keeper ) should definitely have got some game time over the last 3/4 years in FBD and league
I’ve been one of the ones shouting loudest for it
But they haven’t . So starting him next week in championship just will not happen

Agree on EOD. Same as above though

Moran is far off. He ain’t strong enough yet. Conditions won’t improve as we move into November and December

Dropping Cillian.To accommodate Moran and O Donoghue . Stop it
I just can’t get over the lack of appreciation some supporters have for him. We will miss him when he is gone .
We lost today right ? Without him ? And Moran was there centre forward for a half ? Apparently .....

TBF km79 you have been very vociferous re David Clarke's primacy as our number 1 goalkeeper ( pun intended ) and have equally shared like many others for a number of years the long overdue necessity to groom a successor in this position.

The vast vast majority of Mayo supporters I firmly believe share your recognition of immeasurable worth of a fit Cillian O Connor to the team.:)

SqueakyKneecap wrote: »

Galway also won a senior hurling All-Ireland in the second tier so Kiely is just making excuses there.

Wouldn't be too worried about Mayo in Division 2. Ye'll be like a Donegal/Tyrone standard panel that win nearly every match and are right back up. As a Galway man there were enough new faces from last week I wouldn't be looking forward to playing again. Mullen and Moran could be special.

Cheers.

There's a heck of a lot of goodwill emanating from across the border.Seems bordering on unnatural.:)

To hell or to Connacht.

How on earth will we build up any kind of angst if we do lock horns with you guys in the Connacht final?:D

Lot of water will have to go under the bridge in the interim.

Leitrim and a Roscommon team sky high in confidence lie in our pathway.

I'm loath to underestimate the challenge from the primrose and blue.

mayo londoner wrote: »

Disagree with you about Moran, the lad is insanely talented, but you have a point about conditions not suiting him, however a good surface like Croker if we get to semi final stage and he'll be in his element.

And to everyone jumping down my throat about Cillian, not disrespecting the fella in the slightest, quality player, just feel that injuries have caught up with him a bit and doesn't contribute as much to play as he used to! Think refs have copped on to his antics too and give him feck all leeway now which is a big negative. He'd be an unreal option to bring on with 20mins to go say in a tight game but I know if I had the choice between him and the likes of O'Donoghue/Carr at this stage I know how I'd be starting and developing further. Don't think we would have won that game today regardless with our tactics in the first half. Not playing a sweeper against a breeze like that was unforgiveable

Welcome to Boards.:)

Great to see a new poster on the thread.

Robust debate is the name of the game and it gets a lot more heated than this.

Totally agree with you re Mark Moran but I'll have to respectfully disagree with your inclination to use Cillian as a 20 minute impact substitute.

Hope I'm not misrepresenting you.

Last week he showcased his talents with his free taking and game intelligence.

His loss today should not be underestimated.

As a previous poster mentioned he'd likely have buried Darren Coen's guilt edged goal opportunity or squared it to a frustrated Aidan O Shea.

I very much doubt he would have spurned that critical free missed in the second half.

That's not laying blame on a particular player but more so emphasising how critical a FIT Cillian O Connor is to Mayo.