Mayo GAA Discussion

the way things are going they can play Mayos home game in any club ground as there will be nobody allowed attend by then anyways

Thank you.

There is a field with a massive hill behind one of the goals in Ballina. Its outside of the ground but nothing to block the view. There were a few people there for the Belmullet Westport game. Can see a few more being there this Sunday if no tickets about.

3.5k was the figure I heard

If games have to be outside county why not do a deal with Donegal, Armagh, Kildare to swap home games next year or next opportunity.

Any dates yet?

Very poor scrappy game so far, neither team playing well.

Shocking game of ball. 2 scores from play, bellmullet with none. Knockmore fouling and spoiling the play all over the place.

They have been very poor. Poor passing , simple errors, fouling all the time. TG4 must be regretting showing such a poor quality game.

Does he have to be vaccinated

Reporting that he has not signed anything yet

Unless it's a deal to keep him home then I think rookie contracts would be fairly standard

From Mayo GAA Blog "Mayonaze says:

November 22, 2021 at 9:44 am

@ Dave, isn’t it a sad day for Mayo and for all of us who love Mayo, when the dream of an up and coming star, nurtured all the way in the green and red, is to travel to the other side of the world to play a game he never played before.

Did he say it was his ‘dream’ or is that just your words? I find it impossible to believe that it would be his or any top Mayo footballer’s ambition to leave. What I can understand is someone having a desire to be financially rewarded or secure from playing sport. As the GAA is officially amateur that ambition cannot be realised. However a middle ground can be reached, as what happened with McShane (common knowledge by the way that this happened) as well as with others like Clifford, Cavanagh, Kilkenny. That middle ground is one which allows the player focus on their game (which at top intercounty level is professional in all but name and money) but also gives them a clearly defined and agreed upon career path within a progressive organisation and several perks here and there. A top intercounty player like Mullin can have a very comfortable life. If he was in Kerry, Tyrone or Dub we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. It would have been dealt with and put to bed 12/18 months ago.

There is a problem when our best top Mayo footballers are trialing for AFL. Like I said before, it’s up to Mayo GAA and its principal sponsors to ensure the best players stay. It’s in both their interests.

Losing top talent significantly impacts on our chances of success. In fact, it effectively rules out ultimate success. Anyone who doesn’t see this is utterly naive." I totally agree with Mayonaze. Tomas O Se in 2017 on Tadhg Kennelly and the danger of loosing David Clifford to Australia “If I met him tomorrow I’d say straight up: ‘Tadhg, I’ve nothing against you personally. But I hate what you’re doing’,” wrote Ó Sé in The Irish Independent about the AFL’s international talent co-ordinator. “I think Clifford leaving would be the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Pat O Shea in 2017 "Pat O’Shea is not convinced by the lure of Aussie Rules.

“The Australian model has not proved overly successful when it comes to the retention of Irish players. We have obviously lost Mark O’Connor recently but it is a good guide to see how he develops before David makes a decision about following.

“I think sending him to the hotbed of Australia where physicality is higher again and the risk of injury is higher again and we have seen how hard it is to break in there, even if you have the skills you probably need to have a far more mature outlook in your life before you go.

“But, is he capable? Yeah, I’m sure he is being courted. I’m sure the rumours are true. I’m sure that option is on the table.”

There are three men Clifford can, and may already have, sought out:

O’Connor, Kennelly and the cautionary tale that is Tommy Walsh.

Walsh, 29 now, and once a colossal figure, should be entering his prime as a Kerry footballer. The 2008 Young player of the Year took the professional road but after moving from St Kilda’s to Sydney Swans, where he made five appearances over three injury-ravaged seasons, he’s been home since 2014 and is no where near the Kerry team." Mikey Harte came out very strong against Cathal Mc Shane going to Australia but not a word from Mayo Management or County Board?

Clifford was never going to the AFL.

Totally the wrong kind of athlete for the game. Too slow to be an AFL level small forward and not big enough to be a full forward.

His skill kicking a football wouldnt transfer easily to kicking the Sherrin.

Clifford wasn't going to leave Ireland as the games best player to sit and play reserve football in the VFL.

Agreed. A lot of the more reasonable regular posters have stepped back, and a bit like here, there’s an influx of new posters who suddenly seem to have an interest and all of the answers (singularly focussed in ousting the CB and management).