Mayo GAA Discussion

A ref would rarely if ever be in a position to see if the ball was touched after it crossed the bar. Even for umpires getting it right would be hit and miss. In gaelic games, unlike soccer, the goal line is not between the posts, its outside and the same applies to the crossbar. The ball has to clear either before it`s a score. For me a ball that hits the inside of a post and comes back out should in all likelihood be flaged as a goal but how often have umpires ever done that. For them to flag a point based on whether the keeper touches the ball behind the crossbar or not is even more unlikely to happen. The rule could be changed so that the keeper touching the ball before it crosses the bar would still count as two points, but then if by tipping the ball over the bar to stop it falling into the net should that still count as a two point score ?

Not to be overly harsh on Aiden O Shea who had a fine game overall, but for that two point free attempt, especially with that wind, the first thing you teach a young lad is aim for the far post when kicking with the left foot from the right wing. Even without the wind that was there on Sunday it will curl inwards. As far as I recall he took a similar free in the league final I think it was, and that also went wide on the near side. I tight games it`s little thing like that that cost you.

You are going to need to explain what you mean by "goal line is not between the posts"?

As far as I can see every pitch has goal line running between posts

My understanding has always been that the crossbar determines where the goal line is drawn. If the crossbar is between the two uprights then so is the goal line. If the crossbar is outside the uprights then the goal line is as well. On my own club pitch the crossbar is outside the uprights and the goal line has always been outside with that never being a problem with refs or umpires on that.

It seem logical to me, but maybe the rule has changed and crossbars now must be between thhe uprights. If it has then it has done so since 1992. In the Connacht final that year in Caslebar between Mayo and Roscommon as far as I recall from being there, the crossbar that Gavin of Roscommon broke was fixed outside the uprights as was the replacement.

I think the ref did continue to award the point on that occasion. Anthony Finnerty the scorer if I remember. But the new crossbar was needed in place before the kickout could be taken.

That would be my understanding on it as well if the goal line is between the two uprights while the crossbar is on the outside of the uprights. It`s why, similar to my own club, it has always made locical sense to me that when the crossbar is outside of the uprights then the goal line must be as well.

I often wondered what would have happened that day in 92 in Castlebar if the broken crossbar could not have been repaired or replaced as Idoubt there are many grounds that have replacement crossbars lying around. Crazy to even imagine now if that Connacht final had continued without one that it would have been at the refs discretion as to what would have been judges as a point and what would have been judged a goal.

I still have a piece of the crossbar somewhere in my parents place. It was thrown behind the goal when we went out on the field afterwards. I broke off a piece of it and it was on proud display on the mantlepiece for about 2 years afterwards. Don't think I'd have had it there if Mayo lost though.

I was at that Connacht Final, and Gay Sheerin the Roscommon keeper saved a goal attempt from Anthony Finnerty where the ball then bounced off the top of the ctossbar and over. It was over the bar before Enon Gavin jumped up, grabbed the crossbar breaking it. There was never any question of the point not being a score.

The gamewas stopped until the crossbar was repaired. I had always wondered what would have happened if they could not have repaired the crossbar and @crusd told me that according to the rules the game would have continued without a crossbar, and it would have been the referees call as to what was a point from then on.

That's gas. Didn't know that story. It was really a thing back then to see goalies hanging off the crossbar briefly when a point went over. Surprising they didn't break more often. Wonder has that habit been outlawed now in the rulebook.

Seems crazy that a game in modern times could continue with no crossbar. Can't be the case.

Eugene Lavin fairly tested the crossbar at the other end in 1991. (1m 45s in video)

Imagine Mayo trying to mind the ball like that
Or reape trying to get a kickout away at any stage during ET

Any thoughs on where the Donegal game might be? Sligo is out anyway

Why is sligo out?

Most likely Roscommon I'd say…

prob croker, but unless we have won the previous two matches handy, can’t see much of a mayo crowd travelling

I got the 3 game pass as it’s basically worked out the same as getting for the Cavan and Donegal games on their own

Now I’m fecking convinced I’ve saved myself 50 euro so might go to Tyrone game if it’s on the Sunday and stay up

Is enniskillen the best bet? Would like to stay somewhere that there might be a few more mayos staying

Could complacency be a factor in game against Cavan,they are a division two team,they won four games in their division. Mayo were complacent last month against a division three team namely Sligo and had only three points to spare at full time. Mayo are always vulnerable after been beaten in Connacht. Serious criticism of Mayo in Pat Spillane article in Irish Independent,sadly which is hard to disagree with.