Mayo GAA Discussion

Poor Roscommon got robbed in the minor Connacht Semi Final this year against us with some ridiculous calls in our favour and plenty of cases where refs can also be poor in general and not having the decisions tending to favour one side or the other. It's not just Mayo-bias saying a ref had a poor match when they have in fact had a disaster.

The weekend was one of the worst performances I've seen in a while. When an intercounty ref pulls a team twice for punching the ball on the ground, perfectly executed under exception 1.2(ii) of rule 1.2 as they've fallen/been knocked in possession, they're literally not getting the first page of the rules right (page 70 of Part 2 really, but first page of the football section). The ref wasn't solely responsible for the loss, we managed that all by ourselves, but we have to demand higher standards from intercounty officials and do a much better job of protecting our players (the lack of retrospective action by HQ against both/either Cork and Armagh for incidents involving intentional head punches, or even more so the sucker punch from Brannigan in the club game in Down a couple of weeks ago that cost a few teeth, is bizarre).

This isn't ref bashing in general... we have great young refs being locked at junior/intermediate/underage for far too long while poor repeated performers remain at senior/intercounty level too long too. The system of grading/selection is horribly inefficient and damaging the performances on show (notable Fergal Horgan didn't quit over abuse from the sidelines so much as abuse from HQ). Burying our head in the sand and pretending things are fine won't work here. We have to aim for better if we hope to improve things.

I posted that up on another thread last week. The fact that no one questions it when it happens makes me think that referees are told to interpret this rule as in control means holding the ball when on the ground as that seems to be the way it is always officiated. Which is consistent at least. Would love to hear a refs opinion on this.

What stood out for me on Sunday was the ref let Cork away with obviously over-carrying on a minimum 5 occasions, up to 10 steps, in the first half. and then pulled Mayo back for what was no more than 6 steps. There is no consistency in how the steps rule is applied.

Memories of Colm O'Rourke and Darragh Maloney ranting about one Sean Hurson (correctly) allowed under 1.2(ii) for Damien Comer a few years back. So not the first time we've had commentary on the wrong side of it.

There was a big one back in '95 too (when I first heard of it) for Tyrone but I'd tend to give the ref the benefit of the doubt on that one. Peter Canavan didn't seem to be in possession as he fell, so 50/50 call.

This is 100% happening. I think both Comer and Kelly will line out.

Kelly looked well fu1cked coming off the last day they left him on far to long.

On the rumour mill this week I have hear coc fell out with Stephen Roch that's why he wasn't named and played for balintubber also that the players got food poison all a load of sh1te if you ask me.

Agreed.

Getting +50 minutes for Ballintubber would have been seen as potentially a lot more valuable to him, and Mayo, than 5 or 10 odd against Cork when looking forward to assumed QFs & SFs.

Notable that he hit a single score from play, a goal, in the club game. Doesn't sound like a fully fit and match sharp Cillian ready for intercounty despite how the headline playing a full game or scoring 2-6 makes it sound.

Who cares though? What does it matter if the fans are expecting Comer and Kelly to be injured it doesn't make a blind difference! If the actual team/backroom team are paying any notice or basing decisions on information coming from social media we are done for!

f you had to guess one Mayo lad and one Dub/Galway lad that would be in this... Most would guess correctly.

Team and subs

Loftus 😩

Interesting that Coen is named midfield though with Diarmuid half forward

There might be a plan in there somewhere

Surely Conroy starts ahead of carr

Great to see Cillian back. If we had him for last 10 minutes the last day we would have seen it out

That’s what I’m hoping …..and maybe Loftus not even at 10. But on the bench!

Coen is the man for 6

O hora to 6 and hession to o horas place

I hope he does this morning and sees some sense :D