All Ireland Quarter Final;Roscommon v Mayo Sunday July 30th

[From the Bunker]

the amount of fouling the Mayo backs get away with off the ball is crazy. Not one free given for that all game. Enda Smith was being dragged and pulled by Keegan all second half when trying to make runs and not one free.

And we need to talk about Cillian
took out a player with an elbow.
engineered a free when he fouled the Fintan Cregg himself, then fell to the ground when touched.

Welcome to the real world! That's what happens when you play Mayo (and to a greater extent when you play Kerry or Dublin, not to even mention Tyrone)!

You either get with it or you get Bullied! Don't expect the Referee to mind you.

that's ridiculous
whats the point of a referee then?
just let the archbishop throw the ball in and let the fun begin

The Referee is there to keep proceeding in order. But you cannot depend on him. There is only so much he can see and deal with. If you are depending on the Referee to mind you, you are in big, big trouble. You have to take care of yourself first. If you are not happy with that go watch Tennis, Golf or Snooker! 

[rosnarun]

the thing about mayo is we have seen all this before .
I would expect the bookies to intall mayo ass bigger favorites for Monday
pluck no hoper come up play out of their skins Ref gives them everything  take mayo to go 7 down to get interested. and never really looked motivated all day
To compete with mayo roscommon need that newbie energy they had yesterday .
in short they had there chance and Blew it

[Hound]

Taking of Boyle around 55 min seems to be standard move this year. I assume Rochford thinks he hasn't got the legs for a full 70 min anymore. Mayo should consider using a Mickey Harte/Peter Canavan tactic with Andy Moran. Start him but substitute him after 20/25 min. Then bring him back on for the last 20/25 min. That way their best forward is on the pitch when needed at the end

Taking off Moran all the time is another one of these Mayo mysteries. It's like there's a rule that because of his age he can't last 70. Yet, I've never seen him this season looking tired. He didn't have his best game yesterday, but just 90 seconds before he was taken off he was out in front of his marker and kicked a lovely score. The third time this championship that he's been taken off very shortly after getting a point.

Either Boyle isn't fully fit or Rochford doesnt like him. Coz there can be no other reason he doens't play 70 minutes every game.

Mayo have absolutely no problem (physically) playing a game every weekend. In the last quarter they created far more scoring opportunities than Roscommon to win that game. Cillian had 4 misses in the last few minutes, that won't happen again.

Assuming Mayo keep Keegan on a leash and make him man-mark, then the Rossies just need to think of "what would Aidan or Cillian do?" everytime Keegan crosses the line with one of their players. But if Mayo let Keegan play as an attacking wing back, then they'd be hard stopped.

If Mayo get through this, they will push Kerry to the pin of their collars. On the other hand, beating Mayo would be Ros's all Ireland.   

[manfromdelmonte]

the amount of fouling the Mayo backs get away with off the ball is crazy. Not one free given for that all game. Enda Smith was being dragged and pulled by Keegan all second half when trying to make runs and not one free.

And we need to talk about Cillian
took out a player with an elbow.
engineered a free when he fouled the Fintan Cregg himself, then fell to the ground when touched.

Welcome to the real world! That's what happens when you play Mayo (and to a greater extent when you play Kerry or Dublin, not to even mention Tyrone)!

You either get with it or you get Bullied! Don't expect the Referee to mind you.

that's ridiculous
whats the point of a referee then?
just let the archbishop throw the ball in and let the fun begin

The Referee is there to keep proceeding in order. But you cannot depend on him. There is only so much he can see and deal with. If you are depending on the Referee to mind you, you are in big, big trouble. You have to take care of yourself first. If you are not happy with that go watch Tennis, Golf or Snooker! 

delusional stuff
the referee in any field game is there to implement the rules and protect players - rugby, soccer, hurling, aussie rules

[Fuzzman]

manfromdelmonte, I presume you didn't read the thread I started back during the league about what Keegan gets away with in games. I said time and time again the Mayo manager wastes arguably their best player by doing a man "marking" job on the other teams best player. He had scored 1.03 inside the first 25 mins yesterday yet Rochford still puts him back to mark Roscommon's best forward. Crazy stuff.
I tried to calmly discuss with the Mayo posters on here that he continually fouls his man and pulls and drags him to prevent them from making runs like he often can be seen doing v Diarmuid Connolly but alas nobody from Mayo could admit this and as you saw above it's just accepted that it's part of the game and the ref lets it go.
The problem is sometimes the refs do let it go with the excuse they want to let the game flow but like yourself, to me it a foul all day long and could be the difference between your time winning and losing. I blame the umpires to be honest for not drawing it to the refs attention.

Anyway, back to the game. I was amazed how much possession Ros just aimlessly kicked into the FF line as 50/50 balls rather than good kick passing into players chests or into space. Time and time again they gave away the ball and looked like this was their plan to beat the sweeper.
I thought against Cork, Coc, O'Shea and Diarmuid were very good but yesterday they all were poor.
You would expect them to win the replay but maybe Rossies will believe in themselves more now after a good performance in Croker.

Have to comment on some of the Rossie fans as well. We were in the premium where there was a good mix of fans from various counties. Two young Rossie fans came in at halftime and took two Kerry lads seats who had just left. They shouted and jeered every Mayo miss or bad pass and totally made themselves look like louts. Then the Mayo fans behind them reacted and the security lady had to some down and talk to them.
I can appreciate it was a big match for the Rossies against one of their biggest rivals in Croke park but I felt a lot of fans let themselves down yesterday and I've often felt the same about fans from my own county at times.

[Rudi]

Happy with another run put in Croke Park. The lads did is proud. No reason why we can't win the replay. Keegan is a fine player however his goal was poxy. So a pox goal saved Mayo compared to our well worked moves. Mullholly was superb.

[seafoid]

Don't mind them Syfīn, we came of age today and proved we can play in Croke Park and compete with a top 3 team.
Heroism all around, great start , totally lost our way, better players didn't perform, came back and in a nip and tuck contest with one of the top teams held our own.
Proud of our gallant lads today and hoping they can apply the coup de gras to an ailing Mayowestros outfit the next day.
By the way the whinging on the mayoblog is amusing.
Also seems inebriated Rhubarbs were fighting among themselves on trains tonight.
Ah well....

Marinated Rhubarb is an acquired taste

[Gael85]

the amount of fouling the Mayo backs get away with off the ball is crazy. Not one free given for that all game. Enda Smith was being dragged and pulled by Keegan all second half when trying to make runs and not one free.

And we need to talk about Cillian
took out a player with an elbow.
engineered a free when he fouled the Fintan Cregg himself, then fell to the ground when touched.

Have say Mayo are excellent are stopping the quick free. Never seem to be punished. Yet all their frees get brought forward when opposition doesn't retreat 14 yards

[manfromdelmonte]

the amount of fouling the Mayo backs get away with off the ball is crazy. Not one free given for that all game. Enda Smith was being dragged and pulled by Keegan all second half when trying to make runs and not one free.

And we need to talk about Cillian
took out a player with an elbow.
engineered a free when he fouled the Fintan Cregg himself, then fell to the ground when touched.

Have say Mayo are excellent are stopping the quick free. Never seem to be punished. Yet all their frees get brought forward when opposition doesn't retreat 14 yards

put your arms in the air and walk across a lad as he's about to take the free... they do it all day long

but sure look, the O'Connors and O'Sheas are lovely fellas

[Hound]

I tried to calmly discuss with the Mayo posters on here that he continually fouls his man and pulls and drags him to prevent them from making runs like he often can be seen doing v Diarmuid Connolly but alas nobody from Mayo could admit this and as you saw above it's just accepted that it's part of the game and the ref lets it go.

Not at all! That's just the Dublin media making stuff up!

He's a very aggressive man marker. If a ref or linesman looks at him at the right time, he'll be getting himself another black or red card. I believe Parkinson on twitter was having a right go at the off the ball stuff he was getting up to. Nothing wrong with playing on the edge, but he's a massive loss when he gets caught.


From the TV, it appeared the Roscommon fans brought get colour and noise (as Mayo always do too). Of course, there'll be gombeens there too.
Has there been a pitch invasion on Croker in the last few years? Was thinking the Rossies might be hard stopped had they sneaked it!

[manfromdelmonte]

the Lee Keegan method of marking

[seafoid]

Syf and Rossfan, calm down. If that was a great performance, then it must be because he were shite for so long. The 'excitement level might be up there with the best of them, but there were mistakes aplenty from both I'm sure. Can I also tell you Rossfan that unfortunately Mayo are no longer a top 3 team. Syf and others ridiculed my pessimism the other day. But sure aren't we still in it. Surely we can't play that bad again. Hmmm let me see... it's exactly the same shitty performance that Mayo have been putting in all year. Only we now know that the other teams clearly weren't as good as Ros. I must also compliment McStay who won the sideline battle hands down. Ros seem to be at Mayo's level, not quite at Kerry's yet, but ye may put it up to them.

Mayo hanging in there by a thread. Only 5 players can say that they did reasonably well, namely Harrison, Higgins (who I had doubted for his pace early on in the year) Keegan, who I voted man of the match on mayoblog, Boyle and I thought McLoughlin did a lot right when the rest of the front 8 offered very little. I'll say no more about that department because there's nothing else to say.

I'm still trying to get my head around something. I think most of us will agree that Caff was taken to the cleaners once again. You'd think that management might you know, bring someone on. Instead they swap him with Keegan at half time. The same Keegan who scored 1-3 from play in the first half. Then Caff gets a hard time at wingback because his lack of pace, which was evident against Cork happened again. You'd think that management might take him off. No, off goes Boyle. I can't remember who came on for who, but did any sub make a positive contribution at all? I mean even the Galway subs added more energy. Taking off Doherty and putting Drake with a minute or 2 to go when we needed a score...

I don't know. Ros will win the replay.

Maybe it is not that bad Farr. If Mayo get over Ros they could beat Kerry. They have been playing together every week for over a month. The Japanese knotweed defence is very good at strangling forwards.
I wonder how good the Dubs are too.

[Gael85]

manfromdelmonte, I presume you didn't read the thread I started back during the league about what Keegan gets away with in games. I said time and time again the Mayo manager wastes arguably their best player by doing a man "marking" job on the other teams best player. He had scored 1.03 inside the first 25 mins yesterday yet Rochford still puts him back to mark Roscommon's best forward. Crazy stuff.
I tried to calmly discuss with the Mayo posters on here that he continually fouls his man and pulls and drags him to prevent them from making runs like he often can be seen doing v Diarmuid Connolly but alas nobody from Mayo could admit this and as you saw above it's just accepted that it's part of the game and the ref lets it go.
The problem is sometimes the refs do let it go with the excuse they want to let the game flow but like yourself, to me it a foul all day long and could be the difference between your time winning and losing. I blame the umpires to be honest for not drawing it to the refs attention.

Anyway, back to the game. I was amazed how much possession Ros just aimlessly kicked into the FF line as 50/50 balls rather than good kick passing into players chests or into space. Time and time again they gave away the ball and looked like this was their plan to beat the sweeper.
I thought against Cork, Coc, O'Shea and Diarmuid were very good but yesterday they all were poor.
You would expect them to win the replay but maybe Rossies will believe in themselves more now after a good performance in Croker.

Have to comment on some of the Rossie fans as well. We were in the premium where there was a good mix of fans from various counties. Two young Rossie fans came in at halftime and took two Kerry lads seats who had just left. They shouted and jeered every Mayo miss or bad pass and totally made themselves look like louts. Then the Mayo fans behind them reacted and the security lady had to some down and talk to them.
I can appreciate it was a big match for the Rossies against one of their biggest rivals in Croke park but I felt a lot of fans let themselves down yesterday and I've often felt the same about fans from my own county at times.

It cost Mayo a All Ireland last year putting Keegan FB in first game. No ball came into Connolly when he was Full Forward as Dublin were been cleaned out around the middle. If Keegan had been played further up the pitch that day Mayo would have won

[Tubberman]

the Lee Keegan method of marking

My GOD! The likes of that have never been seen on a football pitch before Keegan came along! Defender pulled forward's jersey - I never thought I'd see the day....

[JoG2]

the Lee Keegan method of marking

the poor Rossies should have had a little more protection from that big bad Mayo man surely !