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They're out to get us on all sides FFS 
At least the Laythrums didn't get Cortober or the main part of Rooskey or we'd be effed altogether.

Don't all those west of the Shannon in Athlone play with Clann na Gael ?

Depends. St. Brigid's eats into some outlying areas of Athlone, Paraig Pearses are in the Monksland area. Clann is actually only two half parishes wedged between those two clubs.

Just to correct, Pearses is about 10km from Monskland. Monksland entirely falls within Clann na Gael, and St Brigids doesn't even touch any of the urban part of Athlone. You have to pass through Clann to get to Brigids if you leave Athlone.

It's really not that simple. Brigid's success means I know of a good few families who moved to the area that chose them, nevermind people from Kiltoom moving to houses closer to Athlone. Boundary lines are far from clear-cut in urban and semi-urban areas.

Indeed, isn't Ganleys stores at the roundabout at the start of the Roscommon road in the Brigids catchment area for example. As for the Garrycastle/Athlone divide on the other side of the river 
How did an All-Ireland final thread end up discussing this ?!

It has to be kept interesting somehow cause there is only so many ways you can say Mayo haven't a hope of wining this match!

Are Mayo the worst side to reach an All Ireland since Mayo?

Very hard question to answer when you think about it O'Neill. There's many thinks to consider like which worst Mayo are you talking about?
Is it the Mayo of 96 which had the ' you expect me to kick the ball between the posts and over the bar!!' full forward line?
Or the  ' full back line what full back line' vintage of 2006?
Then you have the ' sure Maurice Fitz couldn't kick snow of a rope' titans of 97 to contend with?
And not forgetting the ' where's Davy Brady gone I want my midfield back ' galaticos of 2004?
1989 doesn't apply since we had Galway's best ever modern era manager in charge of us then to keep the game competitive so as you can see there's a lot of variables to take into account when deciding are Mayo the worst side since Mayo to reach an All Ireland final!

I was at the semi at the weekend and three Donegal men were behind me. They laughed through the whole 2nd half at the prospect of Mayo winning and the fact that it was be an easy final for Donegal. I also know a bookie who has a shop in Donegal and reckons the arrogance and c**k sure attitudes in Donegal are unbearable.
That all said I think Donegal will win by 5 or 6. Hope I'm wrong. Hup Mayo.

There are idiots in every county. Only the clueless would class the final as a foregone concclusion after both sides played so well and beat the respective favourites in the semis. All that matters is the attitude of the team. I'm pretty sure Mickey Harte, Joe Kernan and Pat Gilroy all had to deal with huge hype and excitement and manage its effect on their squads. Nothing I've seen to date suggests McGuinness won't be equally adept and that Donegal will not pay Mayo their well deserved respect and go in with the right attitude. Besides, you're predicting a handy enough Donegal win yourself!

Sure don't worry about the predictions J70. I think with our last couple of final performances we probably can't expect too many neutrals giving Mayo the nod in the prediction stakes (and that's not even mentioning the league final flops). Why wouldn't Donegal people be confident , they've been magnificent all championship and if a bit of hype is too much for McGuinness & Co to handle I'd be mighty surpised.
There will be plenty of hype down here in Mayo too don't worry (despite the beal bocht) sure we are back in the big one. It's bad enough here out west with the recession without being banned from going mad in the lead up to an All Ireland or did the Troika demand a cut in Mayo apery as well

[Who will Martin Carney be supporting in the final?]

Just flicking through this thread and nobody has anything positive to say about Davis. He rambles and sometimes makes no sense, shouting across the other guests soo that he is heard. Marc O Se spoke well but Davis chirped in a few times before he had time to finish what he was saying. Its amazing how he is still employed by RTE. At least Brolly and Spillane make the programme interesting and have a humourous side to them as well.

McStay is one annoying man doing co-commentary but is actually quite good in the studio. Very strange how RTE put him on co-commentary for Sundays game with him being a Mayo man.

McHugh whilst nowhere near as annoying as Davis sometimes rambles as well even though he does actually make some good points. Loves to start sentences with 'Its interesting .....'

Who will Martin Carney be supporting in the final?

It'll be a tough one for him and while he had some great days with Mayo especially in 1985, I'd say he have to go for the county of his birth and he did play and win an (I think) an Ulster title with Donegal in 1974

Jesus - the Mayo lads will be laughing at this one.

Where will Mayo's celebrations be taking place?
Weshtport or Castlebar

Win lose or draw Shamrock Shore the general internary of a Mayo fan after an All Ireland will be Gills , the Big Tree , Flannerys Coppers and a combination of a Chipper/Hostpital/Garda station/ some random apartment in Drumcondra or Rathmines!

 First of all I'd like to say hard luck to the Dubs. I thought they were great champions and threw everything they could in to the fight back.To score 8 points without reply from 10 points down in the second half of and All Ireland semi takes some effort. McCauley and Flynn were huge all through the game for you and in fairness to Bernard Brogan he kept showing for and getting on the ball even if it wasn't fully happening for him on the day. Martin Kilkenny looks a serious player in the making provided he isn't lost to Aussie rules! Also as had been said before fair play to the Dub fans for being a big part of a cracking atmosphere and being so gracious in defeat.
As for our own lads my main worry was our forwards getting enough scores! Well shows what I know about football. I don't think I have ever seen a better exhibition of long range point taking and team scores from us ever and when Cillian was stroking over those 45's the confidence in me just grew and grew in the first half. Aiden O ' Shea's composure on the ball and then the range of passes he showed was also a delight for every Mayoman. They wasn't too many negatives for me just that we seemed to suffer from the injuries and tire in the second half and also Cillian and Conroy failed to take those goal chances under pressure which would have killed Dublin at that stage. It was nice to see Seami O' Shea get that ball and rifle it over without any hesitation to seal the match though.
Overall while we can look forward to improving on our display we still scored 19 points , dethroned the All Ireland champions and got into the showpiece match on the one day! Let the painting of wrapped bales , sheep , cars , writing of dodgy songs and general apery begin
  Mhaigheo Abu.

The Mayo Senior Football Team to face Dublin in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Semi-Final this Sunday 2nd September at 3.30p.m. in Croke Park is as follows:

1.   David Clarke - Ballina Stephenites (Capt.)
2.   Kevin Keane - Westport
3.   Ger Cafferkey - Ballina Stephenites
4.   Keith Higgins - Ballyhaunis
5.   Lee Keegan - Westport
6.   Donal Vaughan - Ballinrobe
7.   Colm Boyle - Davitts
8.   Barry Moran - Castlebar Mitchels
9.   Aidan O'Shea - Breaffy
10. Kevin McLoughlin - Knockmore
11. Jason Doherty - Burrishoole
12. Alan Dillon - Ballintubber
13. Enda Varley - Garrymore
14. Cillian O'Connor - Ballintubber
15. Michael Conroy - Davitts

Selection as expected but we'll have to wait and see if there's any more changes before the throw in? If not then I think Barry and Aido we'll have to deliver big time in midfield and dominate, Doc , Enda and Conroy will have to step up a good few notches too with Cillian taking on the mantle as attacking linch-pin if we are to down the Dubs. A big ask in my opinion.
Delighted my own clubman gets the honour of leading out the Green and Red in front of a full house at Croker. Who was the last Stephenite man who got to do this? They only one I can think of is Jimmy Browne in 89? I know Ronan was captain in 2008 but we didn't get any where near an All Ireland semi that year.

[the Dubs]

I am loving the disrespect from the media, the neturals and the Dubs (I don't personally think the Dubs at full hilt are actually better than us).

How many times have we seen games build up just like this for us to rip the f**kers (no particular county) to pieces. I only start to worry when the feckers start talking us up.

Off the mark dude...................majority of dubs have the upmost respect for the mayo buckos................its your country brethren, media and pundits who are showing possible disrespect and baying for a dub vs donegal final

Actually think mayo will win this

Saying that though I think they're quietly confident that a return of the 2011 performances will be good enough to knock us out.

In the absence of an AI win for Mayo I would think that's a pretty fair assesment would you not?

It's definitely a fair assessment and if you'd quoted that sentence in my full post I thought it'd be fairly clear that I wasn't questioning that point? If not my apologies.
Don't think you'd get much of an argument from most Mayo posters that the Dub's 2011 All Ireland wining form would beat us . If they recapture that level of performance on Sunday and were capable of sustaining it you will be celebrating back to back titles in my opinion.

Apols CB misread your post

No worries Heffo.
I see Ger brennan is back in. He's a decent distributor of the ball which is a plus for the Dubs and Cian O'Sullivan like Higgins for us is quick to attack from cornerback. If I was a Dubs fan I'd be pretty happy Gilroy has got the balance right.

Like Mayo4Sam, I'm too nervous to believe about this game yet. I'm trying to think positive and granted after the Down game I was, but not now. I just can't see us getting enough scores to win this game. Maybe I might be wrong, I hope to Christ that I am. I wouldn't be a fan of having Varley at no 14, but if he's 'going well in training', I suppose he's done his bit for the management to start. It'll be interesting to see if Dublin can raise their game, I know I said already it will be tight and I still believe it will, but I can't see us scoring enough. Dublin will know that form can't be turned on like a tap either however. I think that AOS will be better than the last day to be honest. I think he will have benefitted from the extra 4 weeks and he (hopefully) will get on the ball more often. It's just the inside forward line that worry me.

I'm thinking along the same lines about our inside line and I'm also a little worried about midfield because I think Dublin will attack there especially to gain a foothold for the game.

[the Dubs]

I am loving the disrespect from the media, the neturals and the Dubs (I don't personally think the Dubs at full hilt are actually better than us).

How many times have we seen games build up just like this for us to rip the f**kers (no particular county) to pieces. I only start to worry when the feckers start talking us up.

Off the mark dude...................majority of dubs have the upmost respect for the mayo buckos................its your country brethren, media and pundits who are showing possible disrespect and baying for a dub vs donegal final

Actually think mayo will win this

You no more think that Squire than Spillane thinks it, or Mickey Whelan apparently and why would you, yer All-Ireland champs, FFS stop actly like the little innocents there to make up the numbers.

Personnally I'm nervous to believe, not until I can put my hand in his side as Thomas would have said.
For too long I've been sucked in by Mayo teams, '92 v Donegal, '96 finals, '99 god help us, '09 Meath were all days I looked at and couldn't see us losing. Maybe it's old age but more likely experience that makes me look at this team and ask where are our 16 points going to come from, I'd think this should win this match but for that you're relying on Dillon and our half backs putting in quality ball to the FF line and scoring probably 5-6 points, COC kicking 6 from frees/play and our other two FFs scoring 5/6 between them, I can't see that happening.
If AOS can play to his potential then we have a chance, for me he's the great white hope and can become the finest footballer to ever pull on the red and green. He'll have his toughest day yet on Sunday against some huge men that will make him look when normal size in comparison. If he steps up to the plate then we have some hope

Better than Anthony Finnerty?
Big call.

While Fat Larry was undisputely the best Drinker/Irish dancer you'd be pushing it to say he was the best player ever.
( He could duck and cover with the best of the as well just reference the 96 melee )

[the Dubs]

I am loving the disrespect from the media, the neturals and the Dubs (I don't personally think the Dubs at full hilt are actually better than us).

How many times have we seen games build up just like this for us to rip the f**kers (no particular county) to pieces. I only start to worry when the feckers start talking us up.

Off the mark dude...................majority of dubs have the upmost respect for the mayo buckos................its your country brethren, media and pundits who are showing possible disrespect and baying for a dub vs donegal final

Actually think mayo will win this

Saying that though I think they're quietly confident that a return of the 2011 performances will be good enough to knock us out.

In the absence of an AI win for Mayo I would think that's a pretty fair assesment would you not?

It's definitely a fair assessment and if you'd quoted that sentence in my full post I thought it'd be fairly clear that I wasn't questioning that point? If not my apologies.
Don't think you'd get much of an argument from most Mayo posters that the Dub's 2011 All Ireland wining form would beat us . If they recapture that level of performance on Sunday and were capable of sustaining it you will be celebrating back to back titles in my opinion.

[the Dubs]

I am loving the disrespect from the media, the neturals and the Dubs (I don't personally think the Dubs at full hilt are actually better than us).

How many times have we seen games build up just like this for us to rip the f**kers (no particular county) to pieces. I only start to worry when the feckers start talking us up.

Off the mark dude...................majority of dubs have the upmost respect for the mayo buckos................its your country brethren, media and pundits who are showing possible disrespect and baying for a dub vs donegal final

Actually think mayo will win this

As I said before in a previous post most of the Gaa Dubs I've been speaking too are worried that there's little evidence to show they'll hit top form which they expect will be needed to beat us. Saying that though I think they're quietly confident that a return of the 2011 performances will be good enough to knock us out. Maybe their fairweather fans are cocky or dismissive but sure every county has them it just seems like the Dubs have more due to their large population.

[it'll be quick, accurate direct ball into the inside line]

I think Horan & co believe this is a great opportunity not just to beat Dublin but go all the way. He probably feels he's got his backroom team and tactics in place and he seems to have great faith in his panel at the moment despite Andy's injury. For me I'm only thinking of Sunday and how we can win?
  Firstly I would guess Horan will go for Freeman at fullforward to replace Andy. Assuming we stick to our gameplan used so far or at least a close variation of it ,it'll be quick, accurate direct ball into the inside line with runners peeling around the corner with goals in mind first and points second mixed with a running game with McLoughlin ,Vaughan and Boyle expected to punch holes in the Dublin rearguard. This will mean the burden of scoring from distance will probably rest with Dillion and hopefully our midfield and wing backs can chip in with a few as well.
Midfield will be where we will try to gain an edge and even a slight edge here will relieve pressure off our backs allowing Keane , Higgins and Caff to get tight and frustrate whoever they mark. Keegan will probably have the unenviable task of marking Alan Brogan and hopefully he'll relish it. Breaking ball as always will be key to the midfield battle so Doc , Dillion and Kevin Mac will have to work hard to back up the two big men and our half backs in this.
So allowing that things go well and our backs can keep a lid on what can be potentially an explosive Dublin forward line (with plenty of goals in them) , midfield and our inside line is where we could potentially come a cropper.
Can Conroy get his radar consistent for the game? Can Jason Doc add a few more scores to his high workrate? Can we neutralize the influence of Flynn and McCauley in the middle third and cut off Dublin primary possession?
Will we be able to create scoring chances if Dillion is curtailed ever so slightly at periods during the game/ Can O'Shea and Moran dominate at all in the middle?
Lots of questions to be answered I know so I'll try and keep it short! I think we could possibly get the possesion we need in the middle and just about manage the Dublin attack but will be caught short up front probably due to relying too heavily on Dillion and O'Connor for scores. This I think will lead to a narrow loss of a couple of points and the lack of unspectacular but consistent score getter who can win say 50% of his own ball in the full forward position is the reason while we will come up short this year , if not in this game then the final.
Just to add I fully expect the Dubs to be on top form and the above assessment is based on us playing to top form also. If we slip back to say our league final performance I expect a convincing Dublin win.

Good stuff as usual Crete Boom.

I d disagree with the bit in bold a bit. The quick accurate ball inside was used to keep defenses honest but was entirely dependent on the presence of Andy Moran being inside. I know a lot of people want to be optimistic and want to move on from the Andy injury but we dont have the resources to replicate Andy s qualities inside. End of.

I detected a change in emphasis after the Ballyshannon fiasco. Maybe I was imaging things but the penny seemed to drop with the Mayo management that kicking ball into the corner men was just gettin us beat on turnovers - especially against likes of Donegal who snaffle spilled ball and turn it into a score at the other end in a shot.

And Moran meant we could keep defenses guessing by using him as a targey men to mix it up with our preferred running game.

The Dubs should be able to comfortably leave their markers to look after our inside men with some degree of confidence and concentrate and stopping our runners, who will be the main threat.

Horan has to find a way to give us another edge. Cant see a direct replacement at 14 getting any joy. Maybe a 2 man ff line but what exactly does he get the extra man to do. Another big man to counteract Dublins big trio in the middle? Another runner like Feeney or Gardiner?

You're right Moysider it's just my sentence was back to front. The whole point of Andy's role was to maneuver the blanket  defence(for our running game) so we could overload the channels either side of the centre back area and breach the fundamental of a packed defense Ala the defensive line in rugby league , once breached four or five running lines are opened to attack and the ball can be transferred into these open lanes with ease.
From what I've seen of Mayo this year was that we actually use the direct footpass to get the ball to the oppositions 45 as quickly as possible and then we either run the ball at the blanket defense or drop it into the space in front of the fullfoward and if the ball is played wide it's generally short of the corners just behind and either side of the centre back. this draws in the back marking the man and draws back the centre back/wing back to crowd out the man in possession. The ball is then offloaded to the closest support player coming from deep who in turn has at least two if not three support players with in range of vision , one coming at speed on his shoulder , the second arching back from the  the corner in the space created behind  , and the third a little deeper in space ( effectively an out ball for a long range point or to recycle possession). This keeps the defence constantly moving from pillar to post , do they push up and block the runners and leave the inside men one on one with their markers , do they drop off and guess which runner is going to receive the ball or overload on the ball winner where one pass out of three will probably be to two or three men left in space. As you pointed out the key to this is Andy's ball wining and distribution.So how to we do without him if we have no like for like replacement?
   Personally I would keep the ball moving from our backs to the opposition 45 as quick as possible by using Dillon to drop deep and pick up the ball off our full backs like a soccer playmaker. I'd have Freeman in the Andy role but I'd also drop O' Connor back slightly as another out ball for the direct pass ( a bit narrower and deeper than the traditional corner forward). Utilise the speed of McLoughlin and Doc to run direct lines from out to in to give at least two options and put pressure on the retreating half backs and use O'Shea and Vaughan to act as the muscle to power through in support. This leaves Moran and Boyle as the defacto out balls if the moves are halted or prevented and Conroy as the roving poacher if the initial runners suck in the defence causing the corner backs to push up and leave him free inside . The key to this attack is the speed in execution if it's slightly laboured the defence sets and the moves are crowded out. It also depends heavily on a young inexperienced O'Connor and a capable but out of sorts Freeman with the high risk of turnovers.
  I do think this is our best chance and provided the speed of the ball and the runners make themselves available often enough I think it is well within the team's abilities. I just feel we might struggle to put the package together often enough and if any ground is conceded at midfield then our deep runners will be defending to much to get forward and our attacks will break down more often than not!

 I think Horan & co believe this is a great opportunity not just to beat Dublin but go all the way. He probably feels he's got his backroom team and tactics in place and he seems to have great faith in his panel at the moment despite Andy's injury. For me I'm only thinking of Sunday and how we can win?
  Firstly I would guess Horan will go for Freeman at fullforward to replace Andy. Assuming we stick to our gameplan used so far or at least a close variation of it ,it'll be quick, accurate direct ball into the inside line with runners peeling around the corner with goals in mind first and points second mixed with a running game with McLoughlin ,Vaughan and Boyle expected to punch holes in the Dublin rearguard. This will mean the burden of scoring from distance will probably rest with Dillion and hopefully our midfield and wing backs can chip in with a few as well.
Midfield will be where we will try to gain an edge and even a slight edge here will relieve pressure off our backs allowing Keane , Higgins and Caff to get tight and frustrate whoever they mark. Keegan will probably have the unenviable task of marking Alan Brogan and hopefully he'll relish it. Breaking ball as always will be key to the midfield battle so Doc , Dillion and Kevin Mac will have to work hard to back up the two big men and our half backs in this.
So allowing that things go well and our backs can keep a lid on what can be potentially an explosive Dublin forward line (with plenty of goals in them) , midfield and our inside line is where we could potentially come a cropper.
Can Conroy get his radar consistent for the game? Can Jason Doc add a few more scores to his high workrate? Can we neutralize the influence of Flynn and McCauley in the middle third and cut off Dublin primary possession?
Will we be able to create scoring chances if Dillion is curtailed ever so slightly at periods during the game/ Can O'Shea and Moran dominate at all in the middle?
Lots of questions to be answered I know so I'll try and keep it short! I think we could possibly get the possesion we need in the middle and just about manage the Dublin attack but will be caught short up front probably due to relying too heavily on Dillion and O'Connor for scores. This I think will lead to a narrow loss of a couple of points and the lack of unspectacular but consistent score getter who can win say 50% of his own ball in the full forward position is the reason while we will come up short this year , if not in this game then the final.
Just to add I fully expect the Dubs to be on top form and the above assessment is based on us playing to top form also. If we slip back to say our league final performance I expect a convincing Dublin win.

[Hopefully the ref is hardly noticed and isnt handing out soft frees to either side.]

This is a match where I'd expect every single supporter to be reasonably confident that if their lads play well, they'll progress to the All Ireland Final.

From a Dublin perspective, I'm hoping for the minimum of changes.

Bernard and Connolly in the full forward line.

Cullen-Alan-Flynn as the half forwards.

3 man midfield of Macauley, Fennell, Bastick. Macauley having the most freedom to attack and the least to do defensively (he's an awkward looking tackler anyway, arms and legs flailing, which doesnt usually go down well with refs.) Some say Fennell should be dropped, but he fielded very well against Laois, so I think we need him competing in there against the big Mayo lads.

Defence to be left as is, I hope. No place for Ger, although there is a lot who'd want him back. Not that I've anything against him, but the other 6 are doing well.

Expecting a good exciting clean game, which should be relatively easy to ref. Hopefully the ref is hardly noticed and isnt handing out soft frees to either side.

That's the key Hound. It seems to be feast or famine in the last couple of years with refs. You either get a game where everything is let go i.e cynical fouling on and off the ball, or a free given everytime a player breathes near the opposition which only ends up ruining the game for both sets of players and supporters.