Mayo GAA Discussion Thread

Defiler Of The Coffin · 15-04-2013 01:11PM

Syferus wrote: »

AO'S was the losing of the match for Mayo. He couldn't mark his HB and both goals came as a result of plays that originated from AO'S being caught flat-footed by his man. Dublin's half-backs ran Mayo ragged in general today.

It's not even really his fault - the decision to play him at centre forward means his match-up is against someone far more nimble than him. Switching players from their best positions because of need is all well and good but this one moved AO'S farther away from the engine room and created a defensive mis-match the player that Dublin exploited to full effect.

AO'S came into it in the final twenty but the match was already over by then. One of, if not the, best midfielders in the country should be playing as a traditional midfielder. Trying to be too cute caught up to Horan today.

I know what you're saying here but I think the criticism should be aimed at the backs. Marking was terrible and Dublin managed to split them wide open numerous times, Kevin Keane had a tough time of it. With all the players missing it's hard to say what would have been the best team to put out, no matter where O'Shea was positioned Mayo were still going to have problems.

It was obvious earlier on in the game that midfield was problematic so Clarke should have been cute like Cluxton and sent the ball out towards the wings where we would have had a better chance of collecting it.

All in all though Horan doesn't seem too disappointed, seemed happy that certain problems were exposed and can be worked on for Galway: http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=190047

aidan24326 · 15-04-2013 01:14PM

What is it with Mayo and conceding early goals?!! They make it so hard for themselves.

In fairness Dublin looked good yesterday and will be hard to beat. They look extremely fit, well drilled, well organised, and they've found a couple of new forwards to add into the mix aswell. There will be serious competition for places on that team this Summer.

May 19 is creeping ever closer and as always with Galway v Mayo it should be a good crowd and a good atmosphere. I can understand how Mayo supporters would be wary. Galway are hiding in the long grass in a sense, coming in to this under no real pressure and with low expectations. It will be a test of Mayo to get through this one as it's probably the most awkward first round draw ye could have got.

aidan24326 · 15-04-2013 01:32PM

On a separate note I was surprised at how poor Mayo were defensively yesterday as that's always been one of the strengths of Horan teams.

Mayo backs were very loose. One time in the first half Diarmuid Connolly picked up possession in an acre of space and kicked a handy point with no more than token resistance. Maybe Mayo weren't fully fired up for this one. If the teams meet again in Summer (very possible) I'd expect Mayo to be much more tigerish than they were yesterday.

Fr Tod Umptious · 15-04-2013 05:38PM

Not too pushed about the result yesterday, would have been nice to win but the loss is not that important.
Horans introduction of Gallagher, Murphy and Rgean seems to indicate as much, it's just a pity they could have not seen a bit more playing time durinmg the year.

The important thing is that in the past few weeks they won the games they needed to win to stay up in Div 1.

Of course there are problems to address, the inability to get goals is a big one even though they created a few more chances yesterday than in previous days.
I had heard that Buckley’s key job was as a football trainer rather than a physical trainer, hopefully he can work with the forwards to improve them.

I still think they will have too much for Galway and others in Connaught, hiopefully three games in Connaugh will help them before a croke park appearence.

davegrohl48 · 15-04-2013 06:56PM

The lack of goals problem originates from the lack of either a physical or pace threat. A Michael Murphy/Donaghy type who can create mis matches for themselves or others.
Alternatively a very pacy forward with intelligence.
We don't have such a forward, our closest is Andy Moran at his peak and he will likely need a season to play back into it. Without a mismatch being created the defence remains too water tight at the back.

aidan24326 · 16-04-2013 10:02AM

I'd agree. Mayo have lots of skilful handy forwards but maybe are missing a target man. Someone like Michael Murphy would be an obvious example but even a player who can be a focal point of the attack. A 'go-to-guy' in a sense, the way Joyce was for Galway for so many years. Andy Moran is the nearest ye have to that and he isn't even fit at the moment. But there's a major lack of leadership when him and Dillon aren't there.

Fowler87 · 26-04-2013 12:45AM

Bad news regarding Mickey Conroy. Having shoulder surgery tomorrow. Anyone reckon he has a chance to return for the rest of the season or will it likely be the first couple games in Connacht he'll be out for?

Caiseoipe19 · 26-04-2013 09:13AM

3 months anyways, I was told

80s Child · 26-04-2013 09:26AM

Horan dogged the boys Friday night and then had a weights test on Saturday, the day before club league games. I realise that inter-county football is his only concern, but surely to god, from being a club manager previously, he should have more respect for the club scene. Disappointing.

davegrohl48 · 28-04-2013 12:19AM

80s Child wrote: »

Horan dogged the boys Friday night and then had a weights test on Saturday, the day before club league games. I realise that inter-county football is his only concern, but surely to god, from being a club manager previously, he should have more respect for the club scene. Disappointing.

Weights test might have been quite an easy session just testing power levels. Might not have been all that much in it. Horan is pretty scientific and is well aware of recovery and rest etc.

mayo.mick · 29-04-2013 07:10PM

Anyone heading up for the challenge match between Fermanagh and Mayo this Saturday?

http://www.hoganstand.com/Mayo/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=190366

keane2097 · 03-05-2013 02:09PM

Forgot to post this yesterday, we did a pretty good interview with Liam McHale if anyone wants to take a look:

http://www.livegaelic.com/features/livegaelic-legends/livegaelic-legends-liam-mchale/

It's a two-parter so there's a lot in it. He talks about his own career obviously but also has some great insights into the modern game. I thought it was pretty great anyway, let me know if ye like it!

jkmanc1974 · 03-05-2013 09:52PM

Excellent - listening to this at the minute - tremendous insight

Brgds
Johnny

MaroonAndGreen · 03-05-2013 10:39PM

Yeah very good interview with Liam McHale up there, only 16 days til Championship!

CANT WAIT

Always_Running · 05-05-2013 12:44AM

mayo.mick wrote: »

Anyone heading up for the challenge match between Fermanagh and Mayo this Saturday?

http://www.hoganstand.com/Mayo/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=190366

Finished Mayo 3-14 Fermanagh 1-12

Goals from Donal Vaughan,Alan Murphy,Alan Freeman.

yop · 07-05-2013 08:58AM

Looking good to have Moran and Dillon both back. Alan Murph played well against Fermanagh.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/mayo-hopes-rise-of-moran-return-for-bench-role-29246554.html

naughto · 07-05-2013 12:04PM

any one know why dillion dident play?

MaroonAndGreen · 08-05-2013 03:33AM

Mayo arent going into the Galway game as they would have liked...

Theyve been hampered with injuries for the last few weeks so you'd have to imagine that preparations wont have been going exactly to plan!

I have a bad feeling about this game for Mayo, think itl be alot closer than many think, and im praying to God we dont get turned over.

If we beat Galway, we win Connaught.

Huge Game.

CANT WAIT

Syferus · 08-05-2013 12:48PM

If you beat Galway you win nothing. The last two Connacht finals should remind you not to be arrogant.

ColeTrain · 08-05-2013 02:55PM

Syferus wrote: »

If you beat Galway you win nothing. The last two Connacht finals should remind you not to be arrogant.

Agreed. While beating Galway would put us in a very strong position for 3inarow, you never know. Connacht always the potential for surprises.

Fowler87 · 08-05-2013 08:08PM

Syferus wrote: »

If you beat Galway you win nothing. The last two Connacht finals should remind you not to be arrogant.

Agreed about last year being bit overconfident but not in 2011 in the Hyde. If anything the Rossies were the arrogant team going into that and Mayo grinded out a great win in terrible conditions.

Always_Running · 09-05-2013 01:47AM

Fowler87 wrote: »

Agreed about last year being bit overconfident but not in 2011 in the Hyde. If anything the Rossies were the arrogant team going into that and Mayo grinded out a great win in terrible conditions.

Played in terrible conditions alright however it wasn't seen as great win just thankful for O'Connor accuracy on frees and after that performance Mayo weren't given much of chance against Cork in the following game.

ColeTrain · 09-05-2013 01:51AM

Always_Running wrote: »

Played in terrible conditions alright however it wasn't seen as great win just thankful for O'Connor accuracy on frees and after that performance Mayo weren't given much of chance against Cork in the following game.

I saw it as a solid win tbh. We were playing Roscommon - who were the Connacht Champions - on their own patch, in poor conditions. Then you had the London debacle a couple of games before that. There were plenty of people writing Mayo off before that game.

yop · 09-05-2013 09:34AM

Syferus wrote: »

If you beat Galway you win nothing. The last two Connacht finals should remind you not to be arrogant.

LOL, remember the Rossies before last years game? Think the attitude of Roscommon going into the final last year was beyond arrogant.

We don't do arrogant, we have lost too many finals to be anywhere near that.

Salthill is a banana skin waiting to happen, Galway will be buoyed by their win last weekend also.

WesternZulu · 09-05-2013 09:59AM

I'm very worried about Salthill.

With both teams record in the qualifiers you'd have to say it's a make or break game.

Galway will be buoyant after the u21 win while Mayo have a lot of injuries to a lot of key players.

Hoping for a win but fearing a Galway revival of sorts.

Cosmo Kramer · 09-05-2013 12:49PM

I wouldn't be overly concerned about Mayo's previous results in the qualifiers. The years we've been good since they came in, we've generally won Connacht so haven't played in them. The years we've been bad - 2007 and 2010 being recent examples - we've been rightfully beaten in the qualifiers because that is where we were at at that point.

This year, off the back of two successive Connacht titles, we're there to be shot at in Salthill - particularly with our injury woes in the forwards. But if we get beaten, we'll be entering at Round 1 and maybe with a few of the injured players back. On that basis I think we'd give them a good run and unless we get sent somewhere particularly difficult away from home, I'd fancy us to be still standing in late July/early August.

A record breaking 45th Connacht title is obviously the preference though.

Defiler Of The Coffin · 09-05-2013 01:17PM

ColeTrain wrote: »

I saw it as a solid win tbh. We were playing Roscommon - who were the Connacht Champions - on their own patch, in poor conditions. Then you had the London debacle a couple of games before that. There were plenty of people writing Mayo off before that game.

You can see that by going back to the start of this thread!

I'd be more afraid of Longford than Galway lads :P

Fowler87 · 09-05-2013 02:08PM

Am I right in thinking that 2005 was our best record in the qualifiers off the back of the 2004 AI beating? Austin O'Malley having a blinder in the quarters against Kerry then. Hopefully wont be following that route this year but if it happens, this team should be strong enough to do the same. Would give Moran and co extra games too would probably be minor positive

Fr Tod Umptious · 09-05-2013 04:38PM

Syferus wrote: »

If you beat Galway you win nothing. The last two Connacht finals should remind you not to be arrogant.

It's not arrogance, it's realistic expectation.
Mayo are a gunien All Ireland contender, no one else in Connaught is.
The last time we saw arrogance at the Connaught championship was Roscommon in 2011, they won the previous one without having to face Mayo or Galway, got hammered by Cork and then thought they would stroll at home past a team tar struggled v London, how wrong they were.

Roscommon will be no match for mayo in Castlebar comme June

manofwisdom · 10-05-2013 12:02AM

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

It's not arrogance, it's realistic expectation.
Mayo are a gunien All Ireland contender, no one else in Connaught is.
The last time we saw arrogance at the Connaught championship was Roscommon in 2011, they won the previous one without having to face Mayo or Galway, got hammered by Cork and then thought they would stroll at home past a team tar struggled v London, how wrong they were.

Roscommon will be no match for mayo in Castlebar comme June

Syferus or someone else here talking up his own team would quality as arrogance for a whole county and lets be honest Roscommon's 20 point defeat to Mayo in 2009 hardly had them arrogant going into that Connacht final.

If they U-21 championship is anything to go by Galway have habit of improving once leaving Connacht and their recent record of 7 All Ireland final wins in the last 8 finals is a fine record. For me All Ireland contender is a side that are good enough to win the All Ireland and that rules out this current Mayo team.

Mayo GAA Discussion Thread

Comments