Mayo GAA Discussion

Westernview · 07-02-2025 04:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123144662#Comment_123144662

Doing nothing was certainly not an option unless you are happy with dwindling crowds and ultra conservative football rewarding sterile systems over individual skill. Galways Paul Conroy has already said there's no going back and that the new game is much more enjoyable to play.

07-02-2025 08:07PM

There was always going to be teething problems, it was never going to be perfect straight away, things always take time to settle and for adjustments to be made, but it's going in the right direction. Up to Mayo to adjust and maybe it'll be the kick in the hole underage structures need.

MattressRick · 08-02-2025 12:00AM

Galway man here who was in Castlebar. I think Mayo are a different team if Durcan, Tommy Conroy, O'Shea are in there.

I've a Connacht Final in Castlebar in the back of my mind for a long time. Galway will have to beat a very confident and dangerous Roscommon team, but if they do then I think a final in Castlebar will be very 50 50. The likes of last Sunday will be long forgotten.

Galway's win last Sunday could be a hindrance to Galway's mindset more than anything.

Looking forward to both teams having fully fit squads and hopefully a great day out!

GBXI · 10-02-2025 01:27PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123133418#Comment_123133418

McHugh is a very useful player to have in the squad, even with the new rules. Very athletic and likes to get on the end of moves and score. Agreed on the other two defenders. I don't think you have seen enough of Neary or Morahan or you wouldn't make that comment - both are pacy and tough. Barring injury, Morahan will play for Mayo for many years.

While I am nearly certain Mayo won't win the All Ireland and that McStay and his management team will be gone before July, I think people are way over-reacting to the Galway game. Come the Connacht final, it will be a 50/50 game assuming Mayo have their injured/rested players back.

Concerns I do have, Ryan O'D's regression is big and been going on since early 2023. Diarmuid and Tommy C are constantly injured. But then again, so is Damien Comer! Brickenden is absolutely not county standard and having himself and Coen in the same back line is crazy. Also, Mayo are very weak on midfielders who can field a kick-out. Bob Touhy has been a big disappointment in this regard.

Plusses are, Nearly looks like he as no fear and will be a big addition to the squad - we have lacked pace at wing-forward since Kevin Mc retired. Morahan is another big squad addition, can cover corner and wing back. Towey and Boland should flourish in these new rules. Jordan Flynn will also do really well in the new rules. Mayo have a much better goalie than Galway for these new rules.

One comment on the talent coming through. There is some great talent in Mayo at underage. Darragh Beirne, Niall Hurley, Rio Mortimer, Kobe McDonald (if the Aussie's don't get him), John McMonagle, Finbar McLaughlin, to name but a few.

MacDanger · 10-02-2025 02:56PM

Was at the ladies game in Swinford yesterday, very disappointing result to lose at home against a promoted team who'd only scored 7 points in their previous 2 games. We have a good few new faces but it's hard not to see us going down after that

naughto · 10-02-2025 11:26PM

is the manager an issue with so many leaving the squad I believe there was a lot of push back on his appointment

Island Voter · 12-02-2025 02:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123144717#Comment_123144717

"Had to do something" - yes, wait.

There is a way to deal with blanket defence tactics without changing the rules of the game. It was coming. Its pretty simple too. You kick the ball direct before the blanket can form. You'd require players that kick the ball however so would require a sea change. And what happens when you are a blanket defence team and you are playing against a good team that kicks before your blanket can form? You adapt, quickly, and suddenly both teams are fronting up in the middle third and we have a game again.

Changing the rules of a field sport to counter a tactical trend when there is a means of beating that tactical trend is a flawed concept from the outset.

Island Voter · 12-02-2025 02:45PM

You absolutely arent but you will see soon enough.

Armagh Tyrone and Mayo Galway showed that there will be far fewer close games than blowouts with the 2 point line. A wind change at half time could mean one team has had access to 2 pointers and the other has not. Mayo were 12 points down in the second half in a game that was not a 12 point game. Tyrone went from 4 points down early on v Armagh to being absolutely hammered by half time.

The better of two teams in a contest will have better kickers. They will pull away earlier.

I expect Galway to win the All Ireland this year based on 2 point kicking alone.

Island Voter · 12-02-2025 02:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123145034#Comment_123145034

When Inter Milan and Helenio Herrera introduced catenaccio in the 60s and won a bunch of European Cups, the solution wasnt to change the rules of the game to ban mass defence or to introduce a rule where long range shots counted for 2 goals. No, it was allowed evolve and develop and then total football under the Dutch appeared in the 1970s and obliterated it. And then teams evolved against total football and became more direct in the late 70s and 80s. The game evolved. Imagine if football authorities in the 1960s decided catenaccio was here to stay and butchered the game? It would have been a disaster.

Gaelic football's current defensive tactics would have evolved. Colm O'Rourke had the idea but not the players when he took over Meath a few years ago. The blanket does not form instantly. There is time to kick over it. An obvious means of destroying that tactic. However, teams are still locked in the "cant shoot unless in the 80% scoring zone" which slows attacks down and we see the stasis that results as the blanket is in place. Who introduced the 80% scoring zone?

Westernview · 12-02-2025 03:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123162934#Comment_123162934

I understand what you are saying about evolution but soccer is a purer game with better defined rules than gaelic football. Also full time professionals have more time to develop higher skill levels to overcome defensive systems. As far as I can see defensive systems were only getting stronger rather than attacking teams overcoming it. With high fitness levels nowadays and statisticians playing a big role it's difficult to see where space would develop. I don't think players have the distance in their kicking to beat the blanket. Even teams like kerry with plenty of kickpassers have not overcome it. There was no sign of an innovation to evolve from that.

howdo1992 · 13-02-2025 01:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123162934#Comment_123162934

soccer did change the rules though and banned the back pass. This completely changed the game and how it was played. If there was still the option for a back pass the high pressure gegenprese style of play or tiki taka would have likely never happened.

Cartman78 · 16-02-2025 03:03PM

15 mins gone...Mayo with around 80% possession and one point 🫤🫤

PARlance · 16-02-2025 03:13PM

David Neary and Paul Touhy playing for us according to TG4.

Harsh black for Reid.

16-02-2025 03:23PM

Enda Hession just standing in the middle of the pitch bouncing the ball up and down just about sums up the attitude and approach.

16-02-2025 03:23PM

It's awful muck

Sebastian Dangerfield · 16-02-2025 03:23PM

We're in for a short summer on the evidence of this. Standing soloing the ball on the halfway line, calling some play that never comes, horrible stuff

Blackjack · 16-02-2025 03:24PM

need to sub Towey out, he’s made several mistakes and loses possession too easily. ROD in his place for the second half I hope.

MacDanger · 16-02-2025 03:24PM

That's a hard watch

km79 · 16-02-2025 03:29PM

I have no idea what our attacking game plan is
We are working the ball sideways around the arc
But then don’t shoot

As for our “set piece” signals
It appears to be a signal to handpass even more and then lose the ball

I’ve never been more disillusioned than I am right now
Even in Longford

We need to get back to playing football
That was mctstays selling point

Every bit of football has been coached out of us
And in some cases it was never and never will be there

SeanJ09 · 16-02-2025 03:30PM

Tough watch against a disinterested Tyrone team. Not sure what the team have been working on in the 2 weeks since the Galway game. 35 mins here to save whatever chance we have of remaining in division 1 for 2026. My guess is both of these teams could go down.

PARlance · 16-02-2025 03:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123177077#Comment_123177077

Was going to say the exact same thing. Failed to win the ball when he was favourite to do so far too often.

Cartman78 · 16-02-2025 03:46PM

Bringing Reape up to pitch to stand around sending useless 3 yard hand passes is a colossal waste of time and energy...

At least have him in the pocket for a shot at a 2 pointer ffs

PARlance · 16-02-2025 03:49PM

Sideline looking on clueless at another 3 man back infraction. They might get the hang of it soon

Blackjack · 16-02-2025 03:51PM

I don’t rate him as highly as many others do, I have a feeling there’s a bit of the Richie Feeney syndrome with him, the more he doesn’t play the better he gets in the eyes of some. Boland has just been brought in for him now thank god.

PARlance · 16-02-2025 03:57PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123177216#Comment_123177216

Boland doesn't have the scoring boots on today. He didn't have them on vs Galway either

Westernview · 16-02-2025 04:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123177077#Comment_123177077

Plenty of people were crying out for Towey to start games but he hasn't the physicality or stamina for this level.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123177102#Comment_123177102

Coached out at underage level. Too late to address it at senior level. Same for long distance kicking and creative forward play.

km79 · 16-02-2025 04:24PM

brutal

HBC08 · 16-02-2025 04:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123177235#Comment_123177235

He came off the bench and took on shots.He scored two,we won by two.

ROD,Aido and Boland off the bench (along with Jordan and Irwin) won the game for us.

Audioslaven · 16-02-2025 04:33PM

Irwin is the shinning light and showing a bit of class from that sh1t show. No leaders and playing with absolute lack of confidence and fear.

16-02-2025 04:34PM

Was a case of two brutal teams and we managed to be slightly less brutal on the day. Ultimately we are going absolutely nowhere. Compare that game to the standard of scores in the games yesterday.

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