Mayo GAA Discussion

It's certainly heartening to be in a position where we won and still have improvements to make. I definitely think the finishing in front of goal needs a lot of work. Some of the finishing was completely headless. We did well to work the chances, but they need to be buried. I think we had about 5 chances and only scored one of them. On another day, you'd only get one clear cut chance and you have to be putting that away because it could really be the difference between winning and losing. Even the last day, we should have had 2 goals in the first half but missed them. Then Clifford comes out in the second half and is trying really hard to work a goal - if one of those chances had gone in, the game might have had a different complexion and we'd be really regretting those missed shots in the first half, when we should have been out the gap. Winning in the end and finally getting the goal to seal it puts a gloss on it, but it's something that will stay in the back of my head, I reckon.

Think there's a middle ground between both of your views. I would agree that we were less than convincing in both games versus Galway and we can certainly struggle against a blanket defence... But that's what blanket defences are designed to do, to make it hard.

There were other games in the league where came up against packed defences and won.

We obviously prefer open games and tend to struggle a bit more when it's not... But given our forward options and progress / continued expected progress, I wouldn't be making a massive deal about us not be able to break down a blanket defence.

The whole point of the blanket is to frustrate and make it as difficult as possible to score. Teams wouldn't be doing it if it didn't work. Most teams struggle to break it down, that's nothing new. A lot of the discussion around the blanket lately makes it sound like nobody has ever struggled with it before.

They didn't beat Armagh either

I'm sure Mayo didn't throw the Roscommon game, but it seems that the 6 week break really has been a blessing for Mayo. They have had the break, got a chance to get some of the key players towards full fitness (O'Hora, Conroy, Durkan - and Jason Doherty looks like he can still mix it with the best). They have now beaten the supposedly best team in the Group, so have a decent chance of topping the group. Can't take anything for granted of course, but a team like Cork is exactly what Mayo want - not ultra defensive and appears to be mentally fragile and lack of confidence.

Topping the group is a huge bonus going into the quarter final, and they will get that little extra break again. If they get down to the last 8, it's the luck of the draw then - to play who ever comes through from the prelim quarter final play-offs.

do you think if we meet Monaghan, that they'd beat us? they were lucky to scrape a draw if I recall correctly.

Definitely "avoidance where possible" for the quarters.

Oddly, it's a slightly different avoidance than the semi-finals has. Semi's avoid any previous Championship meeting where the quarters only hope to avoid Provincial Final and Round One (the group phase) meetings.

https://www.gaa.ie/news/gaa-master-fixtures-for-2023-published/ < Page 22 of the first document there.

"Quarter-Finals

01-02.07.2023 (Sat/Sun)

(Four Games)

The four first-place teams from Round 1 shall be drawn to play against the four Preliminary Quarter-Finals winners, subject in the first instance to the avoidance of repeat Provincial Final pairings and where possible repeat pairings from Round 1.

Semi-Finals

15-16.07.2023 (Sat/Sun)

(Two Games)

The four quarter-final winners shall play against each other in the Semi-Final based on a draw, subject to the avoidance of repeat pairings from the championship, where possible."

We'd still be potentially looking at ~4-6% chance of drawing Kerry in a QFs (assuming both sides win all other games up until then, though those odds could drop depending on what other previous meetings might also be subject to avoidance) but much lower than the ~32% or more we'd have for any other side in the draw.

Hasn't caught fire yet, more wides than scores. 20 minutes played Galway 0-3 Mayo 0-4. Mayo's first score after 13 mins .

Last 10 minutes of the half has improved greatly in quality. Galway 0-8 Mayo 0-7 at half time.

Having watched the full game again., ive realized just how important Conor Loftus is to this current Mayo set-up.

Too be honest i wanted him off at HT.

He really needs to move the ball alot quicker as his kicking ability is top notch, but he was caught napping holding on to possession for far too long, and got turned over on more than 1 occasion resulting in needless scores for Kerry.

If he brushes up on certain elements in his game, we have a great play-maker on our hands, as he's got a great footballing brain, and knows when to carry the ball forward or when to stay put.

Forgot to say congrats to the Minors this evening.

We've got some great footballers coming through the ranks.

Some great foot passing by the team tonight, and its great seeing a citog in the team striking over frees and hitting points with ease on the right.

After watching the minor game there....things looked a bit dodgy for a few minutes in the first half but fairly impressive overall.

Cork win is a good result for us I think.

Louth a bit demoralised coming to MacHale Park with only a week's rest and kerry awaiting them in the last game.If we win v Louth the last game is likely a dead rubber v Cork (unless Cork beat Kerry)