Mayo GAA Discussion

Yes they did well on the kickouts. But a top class midfield allows them to vary it and keep the Dubs guessing.

Good mental resolve to win it after seeming to blow it in normal time.

The lateral passing thing really has me baffled. Regardless of the players available we have always been at our best when we attack and bring about a bit of chaos. Maybe it's some sort of admission that we haven't the players for that anymore or else it's a ultra-careful approach so as not to get overturned and vulnerable to counter attacks. Whatever the reason it's not an easy watch.

Yes and even go back further to 06 when we had quite an average team carried by McDonald. We threw caution to the wind and scraped by against Dublin. Unlikely we would have got through that by playing safe.

Its not about having it both ways. We were open at the back last year because we played a forward at 6 who didn't understand the position. That has been addressed with personnel and defensive formations not through ponderous attacks.

We did peak too early last year. I think most people agree with that. That's a separate issue to attacking issues.

Yeah throwing headbands on the ground is what makes all the difference. Nothing to do with coaching standards and player development.

Personally, I think our current position can be summed up in 3 sentences:

From 1-8, we are good enough to win an All-Ireland.

From 9-15, we are not.

If anything happens to O'Donoghue, we'll have a very short summer.

In the St faq it says:

"You must purchase tickets to 6 Championship games in Football to qualify to buy All Ireland Final tickets" should mayo qualify.

Couldn't get a coherent answer from hq, if New York automatically counted as one of those for those of us that can't make it there.

Before I reply, can I emphasise that the key words from my original post are "current position". At the moment, Carney is our number one midfielder because he is the only one fit and in form. Is he good enough to win an AI? Yes, I think so. We have other midfielders who are also capable of being one but are nowhere near it at the moment for one reason or other:

Ruane - POTY 21 in the bag only for the final. Form fell off a cliff since and rightly dropped, possibly later than he should have been. Showed a glimpse of a return to form v Derry (his best game in 3 years) and could be an AI winner. If he finds form, does he start at 9, 10 or 11 though?

Diarmuid - has barely played all year and currently injured/recovering from injury. An absolute definite AI winner when he is in form, but does he start at 9, 10 or 11? Personally, I think he should be at 9 as he needs to be in the middle, he always played his best games there.

IMO, they are 2nd and 3rd (but in what order at the moment?) for MF when fit and in form. Then, in no particular order, you have the likes of Coen (can play in a multitude of positions and could do a job at 9), Flynn (better at 12), Tuohy (one for the future, not ready for 9 yet), McBrien (needed at 3 or 6), Loftus (injured, but a half forward anyway), AOS (that ship has sailed) etc. Are they good enough for midfield in an AI final? Some yes, some no. But feel free to disagree! 😉

The NY game has never counted towards your attendance on your season ticket. This game was never a ticketed game until this year (due to the anticipated crowd), it was always first come, first served on the gate for a number of reasons e.g. unfair on those who couldn't travel over, number of Mayo ST holders bigger than capacity of the ground etc. Sure there wasn't even an option for ST holders to purchase (they went straight on general sale), so how could you buy one? In other words, don't worry about it. 😁

The NY game is not included.

After that it's 7 games (if no replays) to get to an All Ireland.If you include one opt out that leaves 6.

That may be where they are getting that figure from.

Wouldn't have expected Donnacha to be too high up the list of possible midfielders at the beginning of the year, but the job he did on Enda Smith would have him right in the conversation too depending on the type of matchup needed.

Very disappointing night for the 20s. Never looked to get near the pace of the game and never got a handle on the Leitrim tactics (the man v man looked great and exciting versus Galway but left us badly exposed against McNulty & Honeyman). Andy, knowing a lot of our lads well, went after their weak point in the air and made hay with it. Honeyman, McNulty, Guckian, Oberwan and Cox all having superb games for them.

Makes the group fierce exciting & wide open going into the final rounds (Galway finishing up next week and the rest of us the following week). Interestingly, Roscommon the only undefeated side. You could still make a genuine case for any of the 5 finishing in at least a semi-final spot, with everyone having it in their own control to manage if they win their remaining games, so all to play for.

He doesn't look to be quite at Aidan's 6'4" but looks clear of lads like Jack Coyne listed as 6'1"…. so probably 6'3"ish or just shy of it. Interestingly, he's one of the player profiles on the official site that doesn't list a height.

It's looks packed solid at the gealic grounds.