Mayo GAA Discussion

Hard to describe how I feel about the matchup. It's not confidence, I feel like the game is going to be very close (like the game in Tralee rather than the League final).

I think Kerry will win based on the football they have played all year, but I'm not overly-confident. I think that Mayo's attacking backs running at Kerry's defensive setup could cause us bother. We are getting lots of bodies back this year but we have some lazy tacklers who will give frees away to Cillian.

I reckon a lot will hinge on whether Mayo can afford not to play Aidan O'Shea. I think in Croke Park his lack of pace in the transition could be exposed by Kerry's kickpassing (if he continues in the sweeper role). I think he could play a big role as an impact sub when the pace of the game dies down but if he starts Kerry will look to exploit him. Kerry are able to use David Moran in that role this year and while he hasn't been needed to change a game yet given the ease of Kerry's championship games so far I think he will be vital in the Quarter Final.

So I expect Kerry to come through but I wouldn't be massively confident and if we are beaten it wouldn't be a massive shock (like Tyrone last year or Cork the year before where I was very confident).

Edit: I also realise how rediculous it is that I'm taking Kerry's current form (which is good) into account and ignoring Mayo's current form (which isn't great). If I was analyzing the game purely on form I'd have to be confident.

But with this Mayo side you'd be mad to go on the form book alone.

That's unconscious bias for you I guess and I'd always err on the slightly more pessimistic side.

That would be a cracking Sunday

Armagh and Derry/Clare stand in front of them and An Ireland Final... and they're still crying over the "horrible draw".

Mayo could beat Kerry as most years they deliver a big performance unlikely but possible. Going on to beat Dublin absolutely no way. Dublin got better of this side of draw as Kerry mayo does not suit Kerry. For the neutral the other side of draw welcome as it guarantees a non regular a place in final. My heart would like to see Clare do it, my head says Armagh but my fear is Galway will rock up and win it against the odds and make us even more miserable. They still have most AI,s after Kerry and Dublin. The good news is that Horan era will soon be over and we will be rid of the last of the players from the Holmes’s Connolly era who looking like proving that Mgr was not the issue 7 years ago they were as record under Rockford / Horan shows

A number of the Mayo Players are lacking confidence this year, a Top Sports Psychologist brought in to work with the Team even at this stage of the Championship could work wonders. Lack of composure in last year’s All Ireland cost us big time (we had 4 or 5 goal scoring chances and scored none of them). The composure Limerick Hurlers have shown over the last four years (Caroline Currid Sports Psychologist works with them). The composure Dublin footballers have shown down through the years is the result of working with top Sports Psychologists. Kerry is a very tough draw but if Mayo are properly mentally

prepared we have a chance. Kerry are 1/3 with the bookies, pressure on them.

Whatever about the way Coen is playing this year, which has been poor, for the last couple of years he has been very good for Mayo. He's also proven to be an excellent captain, won Sigerson, U-18 & U-21 All-Irelands, that doesn't happen by accident

I wouldn't be dropping Coen just yet I suppose, even though his form isn't great.

Both lines of our defence is (more or less) made up of natural half backs who like to bomb forward. Coen offers a bit of protection to that. I'm not sure we have another back who will sit there and cover. It's not the strongest argument for inclusion but it is one.

And then there's the point that I definitely don't see Coen as a finisher of a game, so I would much prefer to see him start and let someone come on for him to add a bit of chaos in the final 15-20 mins if needed.

I think Flynn in for O'Shea should be an easy decision to make.

Neither can mark Clifford imo. Clifford will be told not to follow his runner and it's too risky putting either on him unless we tell them not to bomb forward.

O'Hora in for Hession, to mark Clifford, would be my guess. And O'Hora needs to be told to forget about crossing his own 45. He did a good job on Clifford in the first half of the league final and a lot of the joy Clifford had was directly after O'Hora made a burst. Second half was a different story obviously.

Our full back line against Kildare was for all intents and purposes a half back line in terms of personnel there.

We seem to have loads of lads whose ideal position is the half back line as opposed to fellas who are naturals in the full back line.

Keegan, Mullin, and Hession are all better suited to the half back line. We are not blessed with defenders who are better closer to their own goal.

Flynn in for AOS, Mullen is not a full back (he got caught for ball in over his head at the weekend and against Tyrone) and goes to CB. O'Hara in the full back line. We need Mullen attacking in the half back line.

There was a free and Flynn grabbed the ball and took it within 2 seconds. If it was AOS, this quick mind is not there.

In regards Coen, again different level at IC and Coen is not making it for me. Did he touch the ball in the first half against Kildare and if he did, he fouled. While he is fit, he looks heavy in the legs and lacks pace. He will never lose the ball because he will either revert back or to the side with the ball. This is his default behavior and it is not normal for him to attack. He is limited in my opinion.

While PD missed alot at the weekend, he attacks. EOL is just so attacking minded as well. We need a man in the middle like this as well. Mullen is the man.

100% on Mullen. I think we need to leave Keegan in the FB line as we have nobody else and I would wonder if he has the legs to be up and down. He looks like he does at the moment but he is not 24. Keegan is without doubt the most impressive man ever to wear the jersey. He has this sense that we are in trouble and need a score... he creeps up, breaks the line and bang.... it is over the bar.

Think Keegan has to stay corner back to start with anyway.

Maybe O'Hora full back, Mullin to 6, Coen to 7 (try drop off and sweep) then put McLaughlin half forward to track White.

Having said that, I think Mullin is the best man to mark David Clifford.

The obvious question though is who do you replace them with? O'Hora and ??

With the way Mayo play, the FB line is probably the toughest line on the pitch so we end up putting some of our best players there

FWIW, I'd probably put O'Hora on Clifford and Mullin on SOS - he's the man who'll be pulling the strings for Kerry and we need to do what we can to put him under a bit of pressure. If he has free reign to pop balls into Clifford & Brosnan/Geaney, our FB line will get destroyed again

Double header with Armagh & Galway

Anyone with any orange neckties? Asking for a friend