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Mayo GAA Thread

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Just an observation, A O'S looks to me to be in the best physical shape of his career at 34 years of age which is great. However "if correct"? it does beg the question why he was maybe a bit off 100% fitness wise in his earlier years?

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 871 - 07/04/2025 12:51:21    2600954

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Replying To sligo joe:  "Just an observation, A O'S looks to me to be in the best physical shape of his career at 34 years of age which is great. However "if correct"? it does beg the question why he was maybe a bit off 100% fitness wise in his earlier years?"
His workload is lighter than it was. He isn't out at midfield for extended periods of time. That's why he has more in the tank.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8353 - 07/04/2025 13:02:34    2600958

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Show some respect? We were winning comfortably at different stages and let them back into it. Sligo are in Division 3. Dress it up whatever way you want."
We just have to accept where we are. Sligo are a dangerous team. Should have beaten Galway last year who in turn could have won Sam. Remember in the 2012 Connacht final I think..? A much better Mayo team stumbled over Sligo by 2 points to win. A win is a win.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11539 - 07/04/2025 13:59:42    2600968

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "His workload is lighter than it was. He isn't out at midfield for extended periods of time. That's why he has more in the tank."
Fair point, but he looks leaner too, maybe just a different emphasis in training?

sligo joe (Dublin) - Posts: 871 - 07/04/2025 14:15:28    2600971

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Are Galway going to eat us alive in 2 weeks? I was quietly confident that we could turn Galway over this year but after the Saturdays performance.. I worry we can even keep it a respectable score.

Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 339 - 21/04/2025 09:06:05    2603288

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Replying To Cbar:  "Are Galway going to eat us alive in 2 weeks? I was quietly confident that we could turn Galway over this year but after the Saturdays performance.. I worry we can even keep it a respectable score."
Hard to know if we'll get hammered but Galway are favourites. Difficult to be optimistic after Kerry, Sligo, Leitrim games but we won't be starting a lot of those that played in them games. Management are either doing a great job of not showing their full hand or the full hand hasn't much threat to Galway. We're still too reliant on Ryan for scores and our defence has been very poor. Wouldn't base a huge amount on Leitrim result. Probably better that they can see what went wrong and try correcting it whereas we'd have lewrned nothing if we had a big win. We've a chance of beating Galway, but not a good one. Most of our lads were sleeping for the league match, let Galway bully us physically and on the scoreboard. If McStay can't get them up for stopping the enemy doing 4 in a row in our own backyard then he should consider his position. If we lose but give it all in commitment and physicality that should keep him there for the All Ireland series. We need to lift it big time.

Maigh Eo Abú!

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7911 - 21/04/2025 11:26:33    2603323

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I think as bad as we are we will see a much improved performance for the Connacht final. Will it be enough? Who's knows.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11539 - 21/04/2025 12:26:09    2603343

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Replying To yew_tree:  "I think as bad as we are we will see a much improved performance for the Connacht final. Will it be enough? Who's knows."
I can not remember a bigger spread on odds before, with Galway a shorter price to beat Mayo than they were to beat The Ross. Galway 1/5 Mayo 11/4. What do the bookies believe has changed so much since last year? The teams will be much the same. Hard to see McStay throwing Paddy or Tommy into a game like this even if they are ready to return.

giveitlong (Galway) - Posts: 1273 - 21/04/2025 14:17:35    2603381

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Does anyone know anything about Tommy Conroy? Chances of him making an appearance?

Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 339 - 21/04/2025 14:27:35    2603387

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Hard to know if we'll get hammered but Galway are favourites. Difficult to be optimistic after Kerry, Sligo, Leitrim games but we won't be starting a lot of those that played in them games. Management are either doing a great job of not showing their full hand or the full hand hasn't much threat to Galway. We're still too reliant on Ryan for scores and our defence has been very poor. Wouldn't base a huge amount on Leitrim result. Probably better that they can see what went wrong and try correcting it whereas we'd have lewrned nothing if we had a big win. We've a chance of beating Galway, but not a good one. Most of our lads were sleeping for the league match, let Galway bully us physically and on the scoreboard. If McStay can't get them up for stopping the enemy doing 4 in a row in our own backyard then he should consider his position. If we lose but give it all in commitment and physicality that should keep him there for the All Ireland series. We need to lift it big time.

Maigh Eo Abú!"
If you are not starting "a lot of those" that played against Kerry, Sligo and Leitrim then who will you be starting?

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2082 - 21/04/2025 16:04:23    2603411

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Replying To giveitlong:  "I can not remember a bigger spread on odds before, with Galway a shorter price to beat Mayo than they were to beat The Ross. Galway 1/5 Mayo 11/4. What do the bookies believe has changed so much since last year? The teams will be much the same. Hard to see McStay throwing Paddy or Tommy into a game like this even if they are ready to return."
As pessimistic as I am, i would have to admit those Galway odds are short. But the bookies really do not rate this Mayo team and well based on what we've seen, who can argue with them.

Cbar (Mayo) - Posts: 339 - 21/04/2025 16:35:24    2603425

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We might as well be hoping for the return of the following:
Oisin Mullin
Cillian O Connor
James Carr
Padraig O Hora
Michael Plunkett
Rory Byrne
C Loftus
add in Tommy Conroy and Paddy Durcan and you can see why we are a long way back from where we were in 2021/22/23

Finally, we have only won two Connacht U20's since 2009 indicating that the production line is weak.
The great team that played in 11 Senior All Ireland semis and 6 finals between 2011 and 2021 were built off 7 provincial U21 championships between 2001 and 2009.

No wonder we are no longer All Ireland contenders.

Incidentally, Galway current team is built off 5no U20/21 prov titles between 2011 and 2020, so they have a few more years to get their all ireland.
Roscommon's resurgence over the last while was built off 4 provincial titles between 2010 and 2015, which is why their star is waning now.

The harsh reality for Mayo is that the lack of U20 success since 2018 indicates a lack of talent coming through, which is why McStay hasn't introduced any new players in this years league.
Of the Provincial winning teams in 2016 and 2018, S Coen, D O'Connor, M Ruane; Jordan Flynn, Ryan O'Donoghue are the key players with F Boland and E O'Donoghue being squad players and J Carr, M Plunkett, C Loftus and Tommy Conroy off the panel for various reasons.
Of the 2019 team that lost the provincial final -only Jack Coyne is a starter with Rory Brickenden, Eoghan McLaughlin and Paul Towey in the squad.

If you look back at 2000's success at U21 we got serious county players from almost every U21 provincial winning team
2009 - Robert Hennelly, Donal Vaughan, Lee Keegan, Kevin McLoughlin; Tom Parsons, Aidan O'Shea, Jason Doherty.
2008 - Ger Cafferkey, Chris Barrett, Tom Cunniffe, Seamus O'Shea,
2007 - Colm Boyle; Barry Moran, Mark Ronaldson.
2006 - Keith Higgins; Aidan Kilcoyne, Michael Conroy.
2003 - P Harte, A Moran; C Mortimer, A Dillon
2001 - David Clarke, Trevor Mortimer

We just dont have that kind of talent coming through

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1307 - 21/04/2025 17:10:55    2603438

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Replying To eoinog:  "If you are not starting "a lot of those" that played against Kerry, Sligo and Leitrim then who will you be starting?"
Good question!

Reape
Coyne, McBrien, E. O'Donoghue
Hession, Coen, McHugh
O'Connor, Ruane
Carney, Flynn, Neary
Boland, R. ODonoghue, O'Shea

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7911 - 21/04/2025 19:00:50    2603468

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Good question!

Reape
Coyne, McBrien, E. O'Donoghue
Hession, Coen, McHugh
O'Connor, Ruane
Carney, Flynn, Neary
Boland, R. ODonoghue, O'Shea"
It will be interesting to see what team MC Stay named. You have plucked a few from obscurity and thrown them in. I can't see your team starting

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2082 - 21/04/2025 23:38:22    2603523

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Replying To eoinog:  "It will be interesting to see what team MC Stay named. You have plucked a few from obscurity and thrown them in. I can't see your team starting"
Either can I. They've all played minutes this year. I don't think they'll pick Eoin O'Donoghue, a good tough defender. Or Fergal Boland. It's not like McHale, Towey or Irwin have been so much better than him this year. Davitt brings some divilment which I think management don't trust. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see Eoghan McLaughlin start whereas I wouldn't have him in the squad. And they could start unfit Paddy Durcan and Tommy Conroy out of desperation rather than a great plan. Hope they have a great plan to beat Galway and we do but I can't see it based on how we've played this year.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7911 - 22/04/2025 08:42:26    2603551

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Replying To GreenandRed:  "Either can I. They've all played minutes this year. I don't think they'll pick Eoin O'Donoghue, a good tough defender. Or Fergal Boland. It's not like McHale, Towey or Irwin have been so much better than him this year. Davitt brings some divilment which I think management don't trust. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see Eoghan McLaughlin start whereas I wouldn't have him in the squad. And they could start unfit Paddy Durcan and Tommy Conroy out of desperation rather than a great plan. Hope they have a great plan to beat Galway and we do but I can't see it based on how we've played this year."
Durcan and Conroy would not be anywhere close to the pace of the game especially a Connacht final against Galway. I actually think you will beat Galway. It's always a toss of a coin. They are a much better team than Mayo but for 70 mins in Castlebar with a title and a lot of pride at stake ye will not want to see them lifting the Nestor Cup for the four in a row in your garden patch.

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2082 - 22/04/2025 22:43:41    2603776

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1. Colm Reape v Connor Gleeson; - Even
2. Jack Coyne v Cillian McDaid - Even
3. David McBrien v Damien Comer - Mayo
4. Sam Callinan v Robert Finnerty - Even
5. Enda Hession v Shane Walsh - Galway
6. Donnacha McHugh v Matthew Tierney - Even
7. Fenton Kelly v Céin D'Arcy - Galway
8. Stephen Coen v Paul Conroy - Even
9. Matthew Ruane v John Maher - Galway
10. Davitt Neary v Liam Silke - Mayo
11. Darren McHale v Seán Kelly - Galway
12. Jordan Flynn v Dylan McHugh - Mayo
13. Aidan O'Shea v Jack Glynn - Mayo
14. Jack Carney v Seán Fitzgerald - Galway
15. Ryan O'Donoghue v Johnny McGrath - Galway

SUBS:

16. Adrian Phillips v Conor Flaherty
17. Conor Reid v Kieran Molloy
18. Diarmuid O'Connor v Johnny Heaney
19. Eoghan McLaughlin v Cathal Sweeney
20. Eoin O'Donoghue v Tomo Culhane
21. Fergal Boland v Liam O Conghaile
22. Frank Irwin v Finnian O Laoi
23. Dylan Thornton v Sam O Neill
24. Niall Coggins v Matthey Thompson
25. Paul Towey v Daniel O Flaherty
26. Shairoze Akram v Sean Mulkeerin

Galway have the edge on paper - but if ( a big IF), Ruane, Carney and Hession have big games (which they have shown before), then there wont be a kick of a ball between them.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1307 - 23/04/2025 10:27:00    2603809

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "1. Colm Reape v Connor Gleeson; - Even
2. Jack Coyne v Cillian McDaid - Even
3. David McBrien v Damien Comer - Mayo
4. Sam Callinan v Robert Finnerty - Even
5. Enda Hession v Shane Walsh - Galway
6. Donnacha McHugh v Matthew Tierney - Even
7. Fenton Kelly v Céin D'Arcy - Galway
8. Stephen Coen v Paul Conroy - Even
9. Matthew Ruane v John Maher - Galway
10. Davitt Neary v Liam Silke - Mayo
11. Darren McHale v Seán Kelly - Galway
12. Jordan Flynn v Dylan McHugh - Mayo
13. Aidan O'Shea v Jack Glynn - Mayo
14. Jack Carney v Seán Fitzgerald - Galway
15. Ryan O'Donoghue v Johnny McGrath - Galway

SUBS:

16. Adrian Phillips v Conor Flaherty
17. Conor Reid v Kieran Molloy
18. Diarmuid O'Connor v Johnny Heaney
19. Eoghan McLaughlin v Cathal Sweeney
20. Eoin O'Donoghue v Tomo Culhane
21. Fergal Boland v Liam O Conghaile
22. Frank Irwin v Finnian O Laoi
23. Dylan Thornton v Sam O Neill
24. Niall Coggins v Matthey Thompson
25. Paul Towey v Daniel O Flaherty
26. Shairoze Akram v Sean Mulkeerin

Galway have the edge on paper - but if ( a big IF), Ruane, Carney and Hession have big games (which they have shown before), then there wont be a kick of a ball between them."
Some absolute nonsense in that, even the ones you give Galway the edge or even are questionable.

Reape is clearly a better keeper currently

Seems a great lad but never seen it with Coen, much rather see him start then likes of hession callinan who are much more dangerous. How he is even with conroy is beyond me.

Not to say it won't be close there was a massive gap in 16-18 in mayo favour and Galway managed to pull off a few shocks.

jm25 (Galway) - Posts: 1457 - 23/04/2025 10:58:57    2603816

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You'd wonder about the future of the provincial championships. 15k approx was the attendance across both Connacht semi finals. I've been at league games with as many and more. It will be interesting to see how many we get for the Connacht final.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11539 - 23/04/2025 11:35:52    2603833

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Replying To jm25:  "Some absolute nonsense in that, even the ones you give Galway the edge or even are questionable.

Reape is clearly a better keeper currently

Seems a great lad but never seen it with Coen, much rather see him start then likes of hession callinan who are much more dangerous. How he is even with conroy is beyond me.

Not to say it won't be close there was a massive gap in 16-18 in mayo favour and Galway managed to pull off a few shocks."
Coen is all heart and no pace.
A much better match for Conroy , who has no pace either.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1307 - 23/04/2025 12:06:52    2603838

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