Replying To opa01:  "No doubt about it, big lads, especially forwards, don't get the same protection from refs. Mayo had a player in the 80's (he was a minor star from '78) called Tom Byrne. He was 6'6' with a proportionate build. I recall him playing in a Conn semi-final against the Rossies and every time he got the ball he was dragged and blatantly tackled with closed hands. After enduring this a number of times without even a free he shook off two Rossie defenders who were literally hanging off him (one of them had an arm around his neck from behind and was off the ground and the other was dragging his right arm with both hands... like watching two hyenas trying to bring a buffalo down!). He didn't strike either of them but he got a straight red from the ref. Same would likely happen today even with arguably better refs if Aidan or Michael Murphy dished out half the crap they put up with... you can only admire their self-control.

Replying To Pericles:  "No doubt about it, big lads, especially forwards, don't get the same protection from refs. Mayo had a player in the 80's (he was a minor star from '78) called Tom Byrne. He was 6'6' with a proportionate build. I recall him playing in a Conn semi-final against the Rossies and every time he got the ball he was dragged and blatantly tackled with closed hands. After enduring this a number of times without even a free he shook off two Rossie defenders who were literally hanging off him (one of them had an arm around his neck from behind and was off the ground and the other was dragging his right arm with both hands... like watching two hyenas trying to bring a buffalo down!). He didn't strike either of them but he got a straight red from the ref. Same would likely happen today even with arguably better refs if Aidan or Michael Murphy dished out half the crap they put up with... you can only admire their self-control."]Did Tom Byrne play in the AI Semi Final in 1985 against Dublin? Seem to remember Mayo sending on a giant of a man in the replay that caused havoc in the forward line. Wondering if it's the same man?

Replying To bubba83:  "No doubt about it, big lads, especially forwards, don't get the same protection from refs. Mayo had a player in the 80's (he was a minor star from '78) called Tom Byrne. He was 6'6' with a proportionate build. I recall him playing in a Conn semi-final against the Rossies and every time he got the ball he was dragged and blatantly tackled with closed hands. After enduring this a number of times without even a free he shook off two Rossie defenders who were literally hanging off him (one of them had an arm around his neck from behind and was off the ground and the other was dragging his right arm with both hands... like watching two hyenas trying to bring a buffalo down!). He didn't strike either of them but he got a straight red from the ref. Same would likely happen today even with arguably better refs if Aidan or Michael Murphy dished out half the crap they put up with... you can only admire their self-control."]Did Tom Byrne play in the AI Semi Final in 1985 against Dublin? Seem to remember Mayo sending on a giant of a man in the replay that caused havoc in the forward line. Wondering if it's the same man?"]I checked the Mayo GAA blog site which has great archives recorded. Tom Byrne came on as sub the first game and started the replay.

SEMI-FINAL: Mayo 1-13 Dublin 1-13 (Croke Park, 18/8/1985). MAYO: E Lavin; M Carney, P Forde, D Flanagan; F Noone, J Maughan, J Finn; TJ Kilgallon (0-3), WJ Padden (0-1); K McStay (0-6, four frees), J Burke, N Durcan (1-0); H Gavin, S Lowry, E McHale. Subs: P Brogan (0-1) for Gavin, T Byrne (0-1) for McHale, W Fitzpatrick (0-1) for Lowry.

SEMI-FINAL (REPLAY): Dublin 2-12 Mayo 1-7 (Croke Park, 8/9/1985). MAYO: E Lavin; M Carney, P Forde, J Monaghan; F Noone (0-1), J Maughan, D Flanagan; TJ Kilgallon, WJ Padden; P Brogan (1-1), J Burke, N Durcan (0-1); K McStay (0-4, one free and one '50'), T Byrne, E McHale. Subs: W Fitzpatrick for McHale, S Maher for Byrne, H Gavin for Carney.


And I found this classic, the 1978 Minor Final. Back in the days of crepe paper hats, hawkers selling tubs of ice cream in the stands, no sponsors on the jersies, the minor final as Gaeilge and you'd only see three live senior games in a year, not to mind in a weekend like now!

link

Replying To bubba83:  "No doubt about it, big lads, especially forwards, don't get the same protection from refs. Mayo had a player in the 80's (he was a minor star from '78) called Tom Byrne. He was 6'6' with a proportionate build. I recall him playing in a Conn semi-final against the Rossies and every time he got the ball he was dragged and blatantly tackled with closed hands. After enduring this a number of times without even a free he shook off two Rossie defenders who were literally hanging off him (one of them had an arm around his neck from behind and was off the ground and the other was dragging his right arm with both hands... like watching two hyenas trying to bring a buffalo down!). He didn't strike either of them but he got a straight red from the ref. Same would likely happen today even with arguably better refs if Aidan or Michael Murphy dished out half the crap they put up with... you can only admire their self-control."]Did Tom Byrne play in the AI Semi Final in 1985 against Dublin? Seem to remember Mayo sending on a giant of a man in the replay that caused havoc in the forward line. Wondering if it's the same man?"]That was his era bubba... he'd have been about 25 at the time, so very possible, though he didn't play too many times for the senior team. We also had Padraig Brogan at the time who was 6'4" but I think Padraig started and scored a spectacular goal. The main thing I recall from that game was all the possession Mayo wasted. That performance gave the Mayo forward dog a bad name which still lingers today (especially among older lazy journalists).... the "old failing" thing got trotted out for wide counts ignored when accumulated by other teams. Funny things, journalists...

Replying To Pericles:  "A reasonable point Dubh-linn, as is MayoDan's. It could just be down to a bad run for some teams and generally a good one for the Dubs players currently, since both of the cases you cite (CK and BB) were a few years back. I see Aidan has thankfully come through his scan with great news, so Mayo are just waiting on Boyler (assuming he's giving it another year) and Jason Doherty to recover from their cruciates before the panel hasn't anyone out (that I know of) due to that cause. Some tracking of pitches and injury cases wouldn't be any harm if it highlights any potential risk factors with "gone for the season" consequences."

Replying To Dubh_linn:  "Yes Pericles I'd say there are a few pitches that wouldn't help the possibility of picking up injuries alright.
Good news for Mayo too with it looking like a short term thing for A O Shea. If ye have all back fit and ready it'll be an interesting one this year in the west.
Still, I would have preferred if they had gone with the open draw under the circumstances."

Replying To Dubh_linn:  "Yes Pericles I'd say there are a few pitches that wouldn't help the possibility of picking up injuries alright.
Good news for Mayo too with it looking like a short term thing for A O Shea. If ye have all back fit and ready it'll be an interesting one this year in the west.
Still, I would have preferred if they had gone with the open draw under the circumstances."