Mayo GAA Discussion Thread

Syferus · 29-10-2013 03:17AM

seligehgit wrote: »

Yeah glad I seated myself at the back of the stand.:DDecent game of football considering the awful weather conditions.Watched it back on TG4.Barry Moran was immense,he was'nt far behind Tom King for MOTM.I suppose in a low scoring game King's frees and scores from play swung the vote in spite a few poor wides.Can't believe he played for Mervue Friday night.
The O Sheas put in a decent hour,Seamus was especially good in the first half.Mitchels were good value for the win,Breaffy simply did'nt have the forwards.It was a pity Breaffy did'nt play the long ball quicker and on a more frequent basis in the second half although their full forward was dropping very deep.
Mitchels are certainly capable of giving Corofin or St. Brigid's a competitive game.James Horan should definitely take a look at young Liam Irwin,serious potential and even at this stage he has a physical presence,ditto Danny Kirby.

Really can't see Mitchells beating Corofin in the semi, too laboured in attack and too new on this level to edge out a Corofin team so hot they're favoured to win Connacht over the three-in-row champions (and lest we forget, AI champions) at their home in the perspective final.

Mitchells have potential in the years ahead but the lack of composure up front wasn't only evident yesterday and isn't likely to magically fix itself in two weeks against one of the two best clubs in Connacht over the last decade.

GBXI · 29-10-2013 10:45AM

If I was Horan I'd have Liam Irwin straight into the senior squad for next year. Even at 18, the boy just has it and it's young, fresh players that the Mayo squad needs for next year.

Also, from what I hear James Durkan (Mitchel's number 7) doesn't even sit his Leaving Cert until next June. Another to add to the conveyor-belt of Mayo wing-backs coming through!

Massive performance from Barry Moran, really becoming a big game player and he can kick a score (off either foot!).

Mayo have a wealth of options for the 8/9 positions next year but it's a mobile/talented/strong wing-forward that Mayo seem to need. From what I've seen of the club games recently nobody stands out, but I'm sure Horan has his eye on someone.

yop · 29-10-2013 11:07AM

GBXI wrote: »

If I was Horan I'd have Liam Irwin straight into the senior squad for next year. Even at 18, the boy just has it and it's young, fresh players that the Mayo squad needs for next year.

Also, from what I hear James Durkan (Mitchel's number 7) doesn't even sit his Leaving Cert until next June. Another to add to the conveyor-belt of Mayo wing-backs coming through!

Massive performance from Barry Moran, really becoming a big game player and he can kick a score (off either foot!).

Mayo have a wealth of options for the 8/9 positions next year but it's a mobile/talented/strong wing-forward that Mayo seem to need. From what I've seen of the club games recently nobody stands out, but I'm sure Horan has his eye on someone.

That is the worry isn't it. Irwin looks v good, maybe a tad slow, but that can be worked out. Outside of that nothing major stood out in the semis or last Sunday

GBXI · 29-10-2013 11:18AM

yop wrote: »

That is the worry isn't it. Irwin looks v good, maybe a tad slow, but that can be worked out. Outside of that nothing major stood out in the semis or last Sunday

Yeah but I've only really been watching the best senior teams and to get one very good wing-forward, you don't have to play for one of the best teams. For example, Paul Flynn and Paul Galvin (your ideal number 10s) don't play for the best teams in their counties.

Personally, I think Cathal Freeman from Aghamore is the new Alan Dillon, at least in terms of having the talent. But he was very unlucky to get such a bad injury 2 years ago. If he has a good Winter and really wants it, he could be an excellent no. 10/12.

Overall, I think Mayo have huge amounts of talent coming through, it's more the ready-made player we're looking for. It's a good position to be in - looking for 1 or 2 players rather than a whole team!

Gerry91 · 29-10-2013 12:15PM

GBXI wrote: »

If I was Horan I'd have Liam Irwin straight into the senior squad for next year. Even at 18, the boy just has it and it's young, fresh players that the Mayo squad needs for next year.

Also, from what I hear James Durkan (Mitchel's number 7) doesn't even sit his Leaving Cert until next June. Another to add to the conveyor-belt of Mayo wing-backs coming through!

Massive performance from Barry Moran, really becoming a big game player and he can kick a score (off either foot!).

Mayo have a wealth of options for the 8/9 positions next year but it's a mobile/talented/strong wing-forward that Mayo seem to need. From what I've seen of the club games recently nobody stands out, but I'm sure Horan has his eye on someone.

Isn't the other Durcan that played in the forwards his twin? Or did I dream that

GBXI · 29-10-2013 12:47PM

Gerry91 wrote: »

Isn't the other Durcan that played in the forwards his twin? Or did I dream that

Yeah that's right, they're twins and then you have Fergal Durcan on the bench.

Gerry91 · 29-10-2013 03:26PM

GBXI wrote: »

Yeah that's right, they're twins and then you have Fergal Durcan on the bench.

Fergal is a great goer but doesn't have the engine anymore unfortunately.

MaroonAndGreen · 29-10-2013 03:42PM

Lads im afraid Liam Irwin is a long way off county senior standard.

Hes not even going to start for the u21s this year!

The likes of James Shaugnessy and Adam Gallagher are alot better footballers than him.

Makes me seriously cringe when I see lads calling for Irwin to be brought into the Senior panel.....

GBXI · 29-10-2013 04:13PM

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Lads im afraid Liam Irwin is a long way off county senior standard.

Hes not even going to start for the u21s this year!

The likes of James Shaugnessy and Adam Gallagher are alot better footballers than him.

Makes me seriously cringe when I see lads calling for Irwin to be brought into the Senior panel.....

How do you know he won't start for the 21s? If he doesn't then Mayo have some very good u21 forwards.

Can't say I've seen much of Shaugnessy but Gallagher does seem to be talented, though isn't he a mid-fielder/half forward? He won't be competing with Irwin for a place.

One thing I am certain of, Irwin is definitely as good as Varley or Doherty.

Syferus · 29-10-2013 04:19PM

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Lads im afraid Liam Irwin is a long way off county senior standard.

Hes not even going to start for the u21s this year!

The likes of James Shaugnessy and Adam Gallagher are alot better footballers than him.

Makes me seriously cringe when I see lads calling for Irwin to be brought into the Senior panel.....

He may not start at U21 given his two FF teammates at minor this year are serious players too but Irwin is one of Mayo's best prospects at a position of critical need. Not as slow as some have made out either, you just need to be mobile and powerful rather than pacey to be a good 14.

Too soon to feature at senior, though. Don't know if the Mayo U21s train with the senior squad but it'd be smart for the senior management to start Irwin on a program to improve faults in his game now rather waiting for them to be highlighted at the top level.

MaroonAndGreen · 29-10-2013 04:53PM

GBXI wrote: »

How do you know he won't start for the 21s? If he doesn't then Mayo have some very good u21 forwards.

Can't say I've seen much of Shaugnessy but Gallagher does seem to be talented, though isn't he a mid-fielder/half forward? He won't be competing with Irwin for a place.

One thing I am certain of, Irwin is definitely as good as Varley or Doherty.

Mayo DO have some very good u21 forwards!!!

When Liam Irwin is scoring 1-4 or 1-5 nearly every club game he plays then maybe you can call him as good as Jason Doherty.

MaroonAndGreen · 29-10-2013 04:59PM

James Shaugnessy, Conor O'Shea, Adam Gallagher, Evan Regan are 4 guaranteed forward starters. Kevin Gibbons from Louisburgh is another.

Then you have the likes of Diarmuid O'Connor who will get a forward place ahead of Irwin.

From last years Mayo Minors there is James Quinn, Darren Duffy, Shane Hennelly etc who are all making a much bigger impact at club level than Irwin. As are Irwin's minor teammates from this year, Conroy, Doherty and Loftus.

Dont worry, Mayo's young forwards are very good and Irwin has very very little chance of starting for the u21's in 2 years time even.

Syferus · 29-10-2013 05:12PM

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

James Shaugnessy, Conor O'Shea, Adam Gallagher, Evan Regan are 4 guaranteed forward starters. Kevin Gibbons from Louisburgh is another.

Then you have the likes of Diarmuid O'Connor who will get a forward place ahead of Irwin.

From last years Mayo Minors there is James Quinn, Darren Duffy, Shane Hennelly etc who are all making a much bigger impact at club level than Irwin. As are Irwin's minor teammates from this year, Conroy, Doherty and Loftus.

Dont worry, Mayo's young forwards are very good and Irwin has very very little chance of starting for the u21's in 2 years time even.

You're off your head.

MaroonAndGreen · 29-10-2013 05:19PM

Syferus wrote: »

You're off your head.

You think he will start in the full forward line ahead of James Quinn, Doherty, Conroy, Hennelly, Sean Regan and Darren Duffy?

Are you off your head?

With the exception of Doherty, them lads have been playing Senior championship the past 2 seasons. With Quinn and Duffy scoring plenty of goals between them.

Duffy recently played full-forward in Senior championship for Aghamore scoring 2-5 from play.

James Quinn has scored a goal in all but one of his previous 6 Senior championship games.

Sean Regan has been very influential for Ballina and Hennelly likewise for Shrule/Glencorrib.

Im sorry but I cant see why Irwin gets in ahead of these lads who are older and more experienced than him, and are consistently playing better for their clubs!

And this year he will also have Shaugnessy, Gibbons and Evan Regan to contend with for a starting place!!!

GBXI · 29-10-2013 05:22PM

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Mayo DO have some very good u21 forwards!!!

When Liam Irwin is scoring 1-4 or 1-5 nearly every club game he plays then maybe you can call him as good as Jason Doherty.

When Jason Doherty wins a ball played into him, gets away from his man, and scores from tight angles like I've seen Irwin do, I will call Doherty as good.

Irwin and Regan are two massively promising left-footed corner forwards from what I've seen of them.

MaroonAndGreen · 29-10-2013 05:23PM

GBXI wrote: »

When Jason Doherty wins a ball played into him, gets away from his man, and scores from tight angles like I've seen Irwin do, I will call Doherty as good.

Irwin and Regan are two massively promising left-footed corner forwards from what I've seen of them.

Irwin is seriously good lads, I just genuinely believe there are 7-8 better u21 forwards than him in Mayo.

GBXI · 29-10-2013 05:30PM

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Irwin is seriously good lads, I just genuinely believe there are 7-8 better u21 forwards than him in Mayo.

Fair enough.

Other than Evan Regan (who looks the business) I haven't seen them though!

The reason I keep going on about Irwin is, he does things that belie his years. His free off the ground into the wind yesterday, his two points from play, and his goal for Mayo minors in the Connacht semi this year, are things that I rarely see many other players do, and definitely not an 18 year old.

Anyway, delighted with the amount of good underage players coming through from Mayo.

MaroonAndGreen · 29-10-2013 05:32PM

GBXI wrote: »

Fair enough.

Other than Evan Regan (who looks the business) I haven't seen them though!

The reason I keep going on about Irwin is, he does things that belie his years. His free off the ground into the wind yesterday, his two points from play, and his goal for Mayo minors in the Connacht semi this year, are things that I rarely see many other players do, and definitely not an 18 year old.

Anyway, delighted with the amount of good underage players coming through from Mayo.

Ive seen an awful lot of club football and thats what led me to believe that! Ive outlined my reasons in previous posts on this page.

The good thing really is that there is actually debate about it, we do have good talent coming through

Always_Running · 29-10-2013 07:59PM

Lets be honest the Mayo 2011,2012 minors teams weren't blessed with scoring forwards and the likes of James Shaugnessy, Conor O'Shea, Adam Gallagher are more suited to midfield though O'Shea will probably play FF.

2012 Connacht final Mayo only managed 0-8 none of the starting 6 forwards scored and Darren Duffy came on at half time and failed to score also.

2011 Connact semi final Mayo only managed 1-8 and just 1-4 from play

I mention both of those games because Mayo U21s will play Roscommon next March.

Evan Regan with his senior experence will be expected to lead the line and i'll be very surprised if Liam Irwin a good scoring forward isn't a starter for the U21s next year.

MaroonAndGreen · 29-10-2013 08:29PM

Always_Running wrote: »

Lets be honest the Mayo 2011,2012 minors teams weren't blessed with scoring forwards and the likes of James Shaugnessy, Conor O'Shea, Adam Gallagher are more suited to midfield though O'Shea will probably play FF.

2012 Connacht final Mayo only managed 0-8 none of the starting 6 forwards scored and Darren Duffy came on at half time and failed to score also.

2011 Connact semi final Mayo only managed 1-8 and just 1-4 from play

I mention both of those games because Mayo U21s will play Roscommon next March.

Evan Regan with his senior experence will be expected to lead the line and i'll be very surprised if Liam Irwin a good scoring forward isn't a starter for the U21s next year.

How could James Shaugnessy be more suited to midfield the lad is about 5'4? :P

In 2012, in their next game they scored 21 points against the reigning All Ireland champions, its very easy to pick games to suit your prefered point isnt it?

Always_Running · 29-10-2013 08:41PM

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

How could James Shaugnessy be more suited to midfield the lad is about 5'4? :P

In 2012, in their next game they scored 21 points against the reigning All Ireland champions, its very easy to pick games to suit your prefered point isnt it?

Yes wrong player i was probably thinking of Ryan Quirke. Won't be playing Tipp though as those forwards will be up against the same defenders that held them to low scores.

Syferus · 29-10-2013 08:44PM

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

How could James Shaugnessy be more suited to midfield the lad is about 5'4? :P

In 2012, in their next game they scored 21 points against the reigning All Ireland champions, its very easy to pick games to suit your prefered point isnt it?

It was the only game last year where Mayo looked to have the forwards to go somewhere. Much of their scoring last year relied on Adam Gallagher, a player who mainly played midfield. This year's crop was a large step up.

At minimum (in terms of forwards) Cian Hanley, Tommy Conroy and Liam Irwin will be championship starters at U21 in two of their three eligible years. Doherty has the talent to do likewise but needs to work on his link play.

Seriously looking froward to Ros-Mayo in March, our lads had the edge at minor but if anything that only makes the other team more determined to change the record at U21. Whoever wins Connacht will give the AI a real rattle. I'd go as far as saying they could be the likely winners.

Gerry91 · 29-10-2013 09:08PM

Syferus wrote: »

It was the only game last year where Mayo looked to have the forwards to go somewhere. Much of their scoring last year relied on Adam Gallagher, a player who mainly played midfield. This year's crop was a large step up.

At minimum (in terms of forwards) Cian Hanley, Tommy Conroy and Liam Irwin will be championship starters at U21 in two of their three eligible years. Doherty has the talent to do likewise but needs to work on his link play.

Seriously looking froward to Ros-Mayo in March, our lads had the edge at minor but if anything that only makes the other team more determined to change the record at U21. Whoever wins Connacht will give the AI a real rattle. I'd go as far as saying they could be the likely winners.

The Dubs are very strong on paper and won minor 11- then again they would have been serious contenders this year and lost to Longford

McCaffrey, Mannion, KK all underage along with players like Gavin Ivory, Fulham and Cormac Costello.

Between Galway, Dublin and Ros for me. I'd prob rate them in that order too, but nothing really between all 3

Gerry91 · 29-10-2013 09:11PM

Adam Gallagher is main man for me next year in forwards but Shocks and Regan are also serious players.

have watched plenty of Conor O'Shea and don't think I've ever seen him play that well, don't see much in him if I'm honest

I'm basing that on county underage matches I've watched, haven't seen him much for Breaffy admittedly

MaroonAndGreen · 29-10-2013 11:09PM

Conor Loftus is the outstanding forward from this years minor team IMO.

Not only played well in every game for Mayo, but was Crossmolina's best forward all year

Syferus · 30-10-2013 12:20AM

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Conor Loftus is the outstanding forward from this years minor team IMO.

Not only played well in every game for Mayo, but was Crossmolina's best forward all year

He'd be at best the fourth most impressive this year by my count. He'll have the opportunities to show otherwise if he's good enough.

MaroonAndGreen · 30-10-2013 12:36AM

Syferus wrote: »

He'd be at best the fourth most impressive this year by my count. He'll have the opportunities to show otherwise if he's good enough.

Are you basing all your opinions on the Mayo matches or do you get to see club games too?

manofwisdom · 30-10-2013 03:37AM

In fairness some players can stand out at club level yet find county level a step too far. The six most impressive county minors of the last three years will more than likely be chosen for U21s next year and Mayo had four free scoring forwards in Darragh Doherty,Conor Lofus,Tommy Conroy,Liam Irwin this year however at least two of them will be held back for a year to develop them physically.

yop · 30-10-2013 10:12AM

MaroonAndGreen wrote: »

Are you basing all your opinions on the Mayo matches or do you get to see club games too?

In fairness how many players have we seen stand out at club and die a death at senior trials or games? One comes to mind is Jimmy Kileen, season after season he has been one of the top scorers in the senior club, been on the Mayo News all stars and comes away with 5 or 6 points a game, yet when brought into the senior setup on 2 different occasions didn't make the mark.
Alan Murphy was scoring for fun last year, but didn't get a run out in the seniors in competitive games.

Last Sunday if you were neutral would you have picked out that Cunniffe was a senior player.

Its too early for Irwin for senior and if he gets onto the U21 panel for experience only then that will be good, but his ability, calmness and point taking is way beyond his years. He got 2 great points last Sunday in dreadful conditions.

Gerry91 · 30-10-2013 01:38PM

yop wrote: »

In fairness how many players have we seen stand out at club and die a death at senior trials or games? One comes to mind is Jimmy Kileen, season after season he has been one of the top scorers in the senior club, been on the Mayo News all stars and comes away with 5 or 6 points a game, yet when brought into the senior setup on 2 different occasions didn't make the mark.
Alan Murphy was scoring for fun last year, but didn't get a run out in the seniors in competitive games.

Last Sunday if you were neutral would you have picked out that Cunniffe was a senior player.

Its too early for Irwin for senior and if he gets onto the U21 panel for experience only then that will be good, but his ability, calmness and point taking is way beyond his years. He got 2 great points last Sunday in dreadful conditions.

Barry Regan too!

I'd have laughed at you if you told me Aidan O'Shea was a county senior never mind probable All Star, just by watching last sunday

There are some great club players out there but don't do it for county. And other way around!

Watch Gary SIce in a few weeks for Corofin, he's a beast at club level, good goer but nothing major at county

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