Mayo GAA Discussion

Aidan O'Shea's best game in 5 years (??)

Don't remember playing that well recently tbh... although he coughed up possession a couple of times near the end.

Annoying not to see it out but there was plenty to be positive about after half time imho.

Reape not good under the high ball at all 😬

Aidan had a very good showing and was effective. He was gassed at the end.

I'll be glad to see Hennelly back (not sure I've ever said that).

Still great to see another keeper getting valuable experience. Reape, although a bit dodgy under the high ball was very good with his kickouts and nailed a lovely free. It's important to have a plan B if Robbie gets injured.

looking at the positives:

- Great experience for the newer players like mcbrien, coyne, brickenden, touhy

- AOS looked v good, maybe he finally been given specific direction

- First 20 mins of second half was vintage mayo from the naughties

There is still a lot to work on which is no bad thing, and still the likes of conroy, durcan and ohora to return.

I think there's a freshness there and if they keep improving, we could have a decent championship

McLaughlin is an athlete, v little football in him. That was fine in 2020 but he'd want to be improving his skills now, or else he's not going to have the impact I thought he might

Ah will ya stop,

You dont know if Maclaughlin is worth persisting with?

He definitely needs to work on decision making and shooting but he's a starter for us come championship.

Yeah it’s probably harsh I accept that . If we are assuming it’s a team in transition with no hope of winning the AI and connacht is the height of our ambitions he is fine. He brings lots of pace and energy which is great in a lot of games. When the chips are down in the white hot pressure points of games he is absolutely clueless . We don’t need anymore evidence . It’s been shown time and time again . Not only in the last two league games which are hardly a barometer for the real crunch in late summer when the real pressure is on. He isn’t a natural footballer so needs to play to his strengths . Using his feet is not of them . Get it , give it is what I’d be saying to him ! Should get a good few fisted points

Donie Vaughan was kind of similar without the blistering pace . He played to his strengths (crazy red card aside ) .

Good point re: playing to McLaughlin's strengths....he's a fantastic athlete so just need to harness that and use it effectively (while working on the weaker parts of his game as well).

His decision to shoot (if it even was a shot?) at the end was very poor...he could have literally done anything else and we'd have probably held on for the win.

Edit: and Brickenden taking a quick free and giving it straight back to Armagh (after winning great ball and getting fouled) was sloppy as well

Yes, Cillian was inside him and shouting for a pass and the alternative was the 'soccer, take it into the corner' and run down the clock. Look, if he sailed it over the black spot, we'd be lauding his bravery in taking the shot on so it's hard to be too critical.

I know what you're saying.

He's headless at times but if he can get back to his ball carrying/ general running game of his previous seasons I'd be happy. We may have to accept he's never going to be a shooter.

Harsh comments on McLaughlin. Look back at our championship games last year against Galway, Monaghan and Kildare. He was one of our top 2 or 3 players in them all. We wouldn't have reached the quarter finals without him.

He wasn't around for the disastrous league final last year or the Tyrone AI final either.

He'll always be slightly awkward in the Donie Vaughan / Michael Darragh Macaulay mould, but can still be very effective.

Our starting half back line should still be Paddy, Coen and Eoghan. Don't see why Loftus would keep his place there long term.

I think it’s him that needs to accept it :D

Was at the game yesterday. Very impressed by the Athletic grounds, lovely compact stadium.

Overall not too disappointed with the draw. Would have taken it at half time. Disappointed that we let a 5 point lead slip which I'd put down to inexperience at the backs, a few soft frees (they looked fairly soft from where I was) and poor game management. I'd rather be learning that is something to work on now than during the Championship.

It was poor decision making by EOM to take that shot but had it gone over we would be lauding his bravery. I'm fairly sure he played a full Sigerson plus added time during the week so I'd give him a pass on that call. He could have passed it to either of the 2 free men the other side of the pitch all the same.

Plus Points - Aido was excellent, as was Jordan Flynn. ROD very good and Cillian looked good. Matty played well too. I didn't realise that a fair shoulder is now a yellow card, but it seems only the ref on the day was aware of that new rule (some Armagh fans around me were quite surprised at the yellows dished out to Fionn and another player for the same infringement), so every day is a learning day.

Only 2 games into the league. We have a few of the more experienced players still to return (Paddy, Do'C, O'Hora, Robbie) and a lot of younger players getting very valuable experience.

Have been frustrated by McLaughlin for many a year now.

But it shouldn't be down to the player at this stage. He should be under instructions to play to his strengths and forget about kicking the ball. Fast running and a simple hand pass.

Something similar to the Stephen O'Brien role for Kerry. I might well be doing O'Brien a disservice there, it's not intended, he's a key element in Kerry's game.

Maybe I didn't focus enough on the positives. I think he could be a huge player for us, I just think he needs to stick to his strengths... He's phenomenal when running through / serious athlete etc. I absolute hate seeing us up against O'Brien and McLaughlin could easily cause similar problems for our opposition..

It might be harsh but I would just limit his kicking as much as possible, except when he's found himself in front of goal.

Yesterday's kick at the end was an incredibly poor call. Imo, good management would give him simple instructions and take that decision making out of his hands.