Mayo GAA Discussion

TsuDhoNimh · 31-01-2024 12:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699095#Comment_121699095

Have to say I thought Konrad Coghill did an exceptional job last year. Well beyond any expectations I had for them.

Excited to see how James gets on. Some great talent coming through (Livingstone, Beirne, Tunney, Neary, Coghill and that super young O'Shea lad at the edge of the square) so if he can get them playing like he had Gaels' in '21 it could be great to watch.

PARlance · 31-01-2024 01:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121699181#Comment_121699181

They definitely exceeded expectations in getting to the final. There's still a sense of deflation over that game itself but I don't think many would have imagined getting there to begin with.

There's a bit of talent coming through but I would worry about the overall strength of the team and squad. When compared against the best club set ups, I think there are a few weak spots in the first 15 and not much of bench versus the best.

Can't say I know much about Fallon at all, great achievement in getting Gaels to senior but did he step down or get replaced before sampling senior management? That seemed harsh if he was replaced

glack · 01-02-2024 12:47AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121698693#Comment_121698693

To be fair, I think the issue isn’t as much to do with running on the pitch but more the general anti social behaviour. The pitch issue is a problem but one of many. Young people stealing footballs, damaging facilities, destroying jerseys (apparently writing on players jerseys with sharpies while the players are meeting fans) etc are all reported by stewards at the games to be regular occurrences last year. As well as other anti social behaviour in the toilets and other areas as the game is being played (drug use etc). The reality is a number of young people who have no interest in the football are heading to Machale park on match day to cause trouble. Stewards (these are volunteers doing this remember) are in a difficult situation as these are minors so the stewards are reluctant/unable to apprehend and put a stop to it. €5 entrance fee would really help as it would have turned away a nice few who were just using machale park as their venue for causing havoc. Not sure what other solutions are available.

Lots of other county grounds are far enough out of town to discourage this kind of behaviour. And Croke park charge €5 for juveniles - I know they do this as it’s designated seats but you can be sure it helps with behaviour also.

crusd · 01-02-2024 10:26AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121703445#Comment_121703445

Leave it free. But no entry unless accompanied by an adult.

Westernview · 01-02-2024 10:42AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121703445#Comment_121703445

I heard about the sharpie stuff as well. Kids writing their names on players jerseys. Stewards were verbally and physically assaulted at the Galway league game last year. A lot of people on here are saying the invasions are harmless and overblown but that won't hold much water when someone gets injured.

Even just the abuse and disrespect is unacceptable. It's increasingly difficult to get stewards to come every week and they should be able to enjoy their role but these incidents will turn people off doing it. Same in the case of referees where there are inevitable shortages.

Ideally accompanied kids let in free is the best solution in theory but I wonder if that's very difficult for stewards on the gates to police. Charging may be the only way to discourage those with no interest in the game to stay away.

PARlance · 01-02-2024 11:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121703445#Comment_121703445

Antisocial behaviour at that level is news to me. Maybe I was too flippant about it previously. I've never experienced it myself at McHale Park.

The only similar antisocial behaviour I've experienced at a match was in the Hill where there lads (not minors) absolutely coked out of their heads. They were "mayo fans" as well, but they were from another county altogether and had no interest in the game.

Have we really got a problem with u16s doing drugs in the toilets in McHale Park? I would hope that we don't. If so, it's not really a stewarding matter, it's a policing matter.

I've no real issue with young kids running on the field to get autographs but I've never seen one running on the field with a stolen size 5 up their jumper or while on drugs. The issue seems far greater and completely separate to younger kids running on to get an autograph.

U16s shouldn't be allowed in unaccompanied, I just presumed that was a rule already tbh.

km79 · 01-02-2024 12:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121704142#Comment_121704142

Exactly !

spakman · 01-02-2024 01:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121704779#Comment_121704779

A pity if it would have to come to that - why wouldn't a 16 year old lad and his friend be able to go to a Mayo match without having Mammy or Daddy going with them?

HBC08 · 01-02-2024 02:19PM

This is hilarious!

Drugged up teens marauding around MacHale Park stealing footballs........and malicious use of permanent markers!

It's like a heading the Connaught Telegraph would come up with.

glack · 01-02-2024 07:51PM

Maybe my post was not clear enough. On occasions last year footballs were stolen. On occasions last year damage was made to facilities. On occasions young people wrote on players jerseys leaving them unusable for future games. On occasions last year anti social behaviour was reported in the area behind the stand (including the toilet area) while the game was underway. Some of the incidents were connected. Some were not. Each issue was relatively minor and not newsworthy on its own. But the pattern of anti social behaviour is increasingly becoming a problem. The county board are rightly trying to find a solution before it gets out of hand. I don’t often defend them but I totally see where they are coming from on this one.

The Supporter · 02-02-2024 04:20PM

Paul B says:

February 1, 2024 at 9:35 am

@muckle – i dont think it was a lack of preparation against Cork. there was a mental fragility in the team last year. When things went against them they buckled on more then one occasion. The Cork game was more or less won, even if the performance wasn’t great and then a fragility opened. Same fragility was there against Louth and Roscommon. And against Dublin, after a great first half where we could have been 5 points up, as soon as the pressure came on they buckled. I dont believe it was game plan at all. That fragility could well be a function of uncertainty in their individual roles, over prescriptive coaching or an innate lack of confidence, but I hope developing the mental strength to cope with adversity and giving leaders on the field the space to play heads up football formed a key part of the winter programme. Above from Mayo Gaa Blog, a concise summary of Mayo 2023, if Mayo Management do not put alot of work into mental preparation of the TEAM, 2024 will be the same as 2023.

Sebastian Dangerfield · 02-02-2024 06:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121711712#Comment_121711712

Different manager but the year before was no different. Started well against Kerry; Clifford was on the periphery and hobbling and they looked well set. He got a goal, heads dropped, and everyone lost their heads. Some of the shooting was beyond belief

Coillte_Bhoy · 02-02-2024 06:41PM

Lads, wont know until the last minute if can make the match or not, i presume there is no time limit on buying tickets and i can buy one right up to throw in or even after?