Mayo GAA Discussion Thread

Charlestown or Breaffy will be in a county final!

Looking like Castlebar will win it out handy enough though and from a Mayo perspective I think they've the best chance of competing well in the Connacht Club championship

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Massive blow for Ballintubber wow, after Kilcoyne being out injured in the warm up, its some win for Knockmore

In fairness they were missing one of the top forwards in the country themselves

Knockmore have been seriously consistent over the years tbf!

Doesnt look like anyone will stop the Mitchels at this stage but ya never know

However it happened I ended up watching a recording of our semi v Dub last year (first half), last night

Gee the likes of Conroy, Varley, Dillon, McL, and Doherty were kicking points for fun we absolutely battered them in that half. All these guys got at least one from play in the first half and Barry Moran also kicked a beauty. I hate saying it but it really seems like a lottery as to whether our forwards "turn up". The exact same lads (bar McL and Conroy) were anonymous a few weeks later, and don't mention this year

I've never seen as good a collective performance by a group of forwards in a Mayo shirt as in the first 50 minutes of that match

To win the big one it's probably as simple a case as our forwards having the games of their lives like that day. If we had kicked scores like that two weeks ago we would not only have won we could have started the celebrations after the hour mark cushy

Was actually hard to watch that match back, as bizarre as it sounds

I'll be very disappointed if Keegan leaves the squad, he was massive for us this year. Best of luck to him if that's the path he wants to take.

Who's going to fill the hole in the half-backs if Keegan goes? Perhaps the whole Higgins in half-forward experiment will have to end?

Keegan going to Australia as in to play Aussie Rules, or for work? What's his occupation here anyone know?

Heard about Caff alright in the Indo, look I'll wait to see what happens could well be rumours, he's working away up in Dublin

If both of these left I wouldn't panic too much. James Burke from Ballymun and KK/McHale are well able to replace them. Feeney can go wing back, as can Barrett or someone like Forde/Harrison could be given a go in the league and could make it their own Lee himself came from nowhere really

Sure Higgins too I almost forgot. K McLoughlin to wing back too is an option

Fowler87 wrote: »

IMO would be a bigger loss if Caff leaves. Alright he hadn't his best year but he's been our most reliable full back since Cahill. It's just unfortunate that its tough to find consistent work in Ireland in his line of work. Don't think McHale is capable enough and Keane isn't a full back. Will be a big void if its true. On the other hand, our corner backs and half backs are plentiful and amongst the best in the country

Yeah, plenty of options in the backs (and midfield) thankfully!

Part in bold I agree with fully

Wrt Keane, he played all underage at fullback (assume he plays club there?) and was there in the minor finals in 08. Played full back for the 21's too in 2011, with McHale corner back. He essentially played there in the AI final last year. I don't think it's all that different to the role he had last year

Rewatched the Dub game from last August and he was super, why he didn't get more game time (aka second half of final I guess!) this year I don't know. In all fairness bar the howler for the second goal he had a steady final too last year

At 24 next year he should be coming towards his prime. Give him a go I say- if Caff does go, which is clearly uncertain by the way- unless we hear anything from the horses mouth or james or whatever

PS that's great news if Horan stays and would compensate for the loss in a key player or two IMO.

Think the selectors are stepping down- maybe an opportunity bring in someone who could step into James' shoes next Sept if he goes?

Fowler87 wrote: »

No doubting Keane is a solid defender but the way Mayo deploy the half backs in attack, the full back needa bit of pace if drawn out of position to recover in time. That's where Keane main fault is, lack of pace on the turn compared to Cafferky (who ironically was turned too much in games this year too but he always had a knack of getting back in time). I suppose they'll be working on everything come January..

That's it!

And sure it mightn't be true at all.

Cafferkey has the odd shaky moment. He went awol (completely uncharacteristically) for the first 15 v Tyrone but settled into it then and gifted a score to the Dubs (Connolly). But he'd be a serious loss, there's no doubting it. Great player

Keegan wouldn't be a big deal to me, of course if it happens you'll have everyone panicking and whatnot, but I'd hope such rubbish would be ignored by the players. We were missing Boyle v the Dubs last year (lost just before the game too to make it worse) and we coped brilliantly. We've superb options at half back, not a huge problem at all. Of course Id rather have him than not but we'll see what happens

I think the two main players we really cannot afford to lose are O'Connor and Higgins. Next in line then would come Cafferkey and Boyle for me. But we've a big squad so no-one is irreplacable at all

The main man we really cannot afford to lose is the man in charge though

seligehgit wrote: »

Ger Cafferkey and Lee Keegan would be huge losses to the team IMO.

Huge losses alright if true. Our backs are strong at the minute, would be a pity if we have to rebuild again.

Maybe the county board can dish out a few brown envelopes to help change their mind!