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If Sligo win any danger we'd be put on as curtain raiser for the Senior....possibly 12 noon...

Senior final isn't on until 4pm so could fit it in at 2pm. Final seems to be earmarked for Saturday night in probably MacHale Park.

United only lost by 2-1 in last years final. It's a one off game and maybe some of their players who have been jogging around the pitch for the last 9 months might decide to put in a shift. It is the chance to win a FA Cup winners medal after all. There is still some value to it.

The bad news for Utd is City are out of the Champions League. Those 3 games of distraction would have been a help.

There is value as winning the FA Cup will likely be needed to reach the Europa league instead of the conference league.

Last year was a United team that finished 3rd in the Premier League with a lot less injuries and had already won a cup final.

Going into this upcoming final with a back line like today with Maguire, Casemiro at centre back and no natural left back then City will score for fun.

As for today no other top eight team in the Premier League would be 3-0 up against Coventry with 70 minutes played and then need a shoot out to progress that's as much on that group of players than anything else.

Deserved win for Mayo less wasteful team and made the least amount of mistakes. Will likely beat Galway in the final but will have to improve a lot to top group in the All Ireland series, not finishing 1st will mean another exit before the semi final stage IMO. With Buckley, Rochford on the management team improvement is very possible.

For all the media talk about Davy Burke it looks like a lot of their good work last year was more to do with now departed coaches Mark McHugh and Gerry McGowan. Would they have been as wasteful if McKeon, Ciarian Murtagh was available and Ben O'Carroll more up to speed? Losing two important players Harney, Murray to injuries today won't help matters and another last 16 exit looks likely.

Sligo giving a good account of themselves and leading Galway at half time 0-9 to 0-6. 

I know it's easy to say the best team lost but the concentration levels from Madrid were amazing. And then when it was needed they had lads like Nacho and especially Rudiger jumping in.

City tried to pull them around but it's not like Palace and their low block, these boys were not for turning. Also in the extra time Real did fire a few warning shots to keep City honest.

Truth be told I don't like Pep as he just seems like a flase hoor.

Real Madrid somewhat reminded me last night of Inter Milan from 2010. Top level concentration when they didn't have the ball. The penalty shootout a case of Pep over thinking things again in Europe? Having players that never took penalties before and it's rare you see the goalkeeper picked as one of the first five takers or be it it was a good penalty. Of course he subbed off two possible penalty takers De Bruyne,Haaland.  City supporters holding on to the ball played their part in Silva missing his but had they no extra balls instead of waiting for the crowd to return it?

That was the 6th time Real Madrid have knocked out the holders, their 33rd time to reach the last 4, 12 more appearances than the next Bayern Munich. Tradition is still strong in the European cup.

Connacht Minor championship started tonight. Draw in Tuam and a six point win for Mayo in Castlebar with Kieran McDonald son Kobe MOTM with 1-5.

Mayo 2-13 Roscommon 2-7
Galway 0-11 Sligo 2-5

This years Mayo minors will take beating. Very very strong at u15 and u16 the last two years.

Yes U16s beat Kerry in their tournament cup final last year, high expectations on that group.

With the injuries for Galway and Roscommon it's hard to see either toppling Mayo in Connacht this year and Roscommon,Galway under current circumstances will likely see All Ireland quarter final appearance as a good championship.  Mayo on the other hand had Quarter final exits the last two years and heavy defeats at that. This summer should see an improvement with a possible semi final appearance and competitive in that game.

Sligo's development in the years ahead will be worth keeping an eye on. A lot of good young players coming through with a winning mentality. 

[We've seen AI finals replayed in 6 days.]

I imagine the mental side of that is tougher than the physical.

Wicklow got relegated 2 weeks ago but yeah God help Westmeath and their mental turmoil of winning the league a week ago.

Give teams a few days to get over knocks and fatigue without going straight into a championship game, especially with teams playing week after week on heavy pitches.

Not everyone has a squad like a Derry or Dublin. Leitrim in the same boat today. You just will not get the best version of a team with a weeks break. 

I don't agree with that. I think we've just been used to our season being dragged out all year and now it's not we're struggling to get used to it. Other physically demanding sports from tennis to rugby don't yap about a week turnaround. We've seen AI finals replayed in 6 days.

It's equal for both teams in that regard.  Today was Westmeath's 4th match in 4 weeks while Wicklow had two weeks to prepare and without taking away from their win they certainly had a scheduling advantage.

4 matches in 4 weeks! Mad Ted!

Fine if it was 4 in 4 weeks for both teams Ted!

Get to bed Dougal! 

Knock yourself out Jack if you wan't to ignore any fixture scheduling advantage.

[We've seen AI finals replayed in 6 days.]

I imagine the mental side of that is tougher than the physical.

Wicklow got relegated 2 weeks ago but yeah God help Westmeath and their mental turmoil of winning the league a week ago.

Give teams a few days to get over knocks and fatigue without going straight into a championship game, especially with teams playing week after week on heavy pitches.

Not everyone has a squad like a Derry or Dublin. Leitrim in the same boat today. You just will not get the best version of a team with a weeks break. 

I don't agree with that. I think we've just been used to our season being dragged out all year and now it's not we're struggling to get used to it. Other physically demanding sports from tennis to rugby don't yap about a week turnaround. We've seen AI finals replayed in 6 days.

It's equal for both teams in that regard.  Today was Westmeath's 4th match in 4 weeks while Wicklow had two weeks to prepare and without taking away from their win they certainly had a scheduling advantage.

4 matches in 4 weeks! Mad Ted!

Fine if it was 4 in 4 weeks for both teams Ted!

[We've seen AI finals replayed in 6 days.]

I imagine the mental side of that is tougher than the physical.

Wicklow got relegated 2 weeks ago but yeah God help Westmeath and their mental turmoil of winning the league a week ago.

Give teams a few days to get over knocks and fatigue without going straight into a championship game, especially with teams playing week after week on heavy pitches.

Not everyone has a squad like a Derry or Dublin. Leitrim in the same boat today. You just will not get the best version of a team with a weeks break. 

I don't agree with that. I think we've just been used to our season being dragged out all year and now it's not we're struggling to get used to it. Other physically demanding sports from tennis to rugby don't yap about a week turnaround. We've seen AI finals replayed in 6 days.

It's equal for both teams in that regard.  Today was Westmeath's 4th match in 4 weeks while Wicklow had two weeks to prepare and without taking away from their win they certainly had a scheduling advantage.

Mayo leading in the Bronx 1-11 to 0-2 at half time. 1-9 for Ryan O'Donoghue. Are they to do the same as Galway yesterday and go for goals 2nd half?

The end result today a lot better than expected but the poor display 1st half probably not as surprise with such a make shift defence and off the back of such demoralising defeat just three days ago. The one goal conceded in that half the usual nodding off on a set piece.

2nd half much improved or be it got back into with a gift. Mainoo goal was good enough to win any game and may well have won that match but for that lack of discipline by Wan Bissaka to give away a penalty.  Only 2 points for United in their last three games. 6th place spot is in danger now meaning a possible drop to the conference league or no European football at next season.

One bit of positive news about the club at the moment is the U18s going so well including a 9-1 away win against Liverpool yesterday.

https://westernpeople.ie/sport/gaa/letter-from-america-anyone-buying-or-selling-tickets_arid-13614.html

Bit of a farcical situation. Imagine travelling the New York to be turned away at the gate.

Connacht Gaa saying tickets will be available to purchase at the gate.  I thought those days was over? sure for every other game they organise be it senior or underage you must have a ticket already purhased.

Whats the feeling on Shane Walsh in Galway.

Played first game or two of league and then got injured.

Has been on holiday since that and I see hes in Portugal this week too.

Definitely deserves a holiday considering all the football hes played.

But it seems as if he gets special treatment and that he seems more committed to Kilmacud than Galway.

But I may be totally wrong on that.

Odd post. Got injured in round 1 of the NFL and will be back playing for Galway once he overcomes it.

My gut feeling there's more to it than that but could be wrong

Yeah doesn't seem to be the most dedicated sort of boy. Don't know whether to describe him as flaky or if thats a bit harsh.

After over a decade of service I think it's clear there is nothing wrong with Shane Walsh commitment to Galway senior footballers. Best not to engage with that wum.

Chaos game ended in a pure chaos. Unlike the match against Brentford United deserve at least a draw out of that game and did well to come back from 2 goals behind or be Chelsea were every bit as poor defensively throughout.

Chelsea got the luck deep into injury time with the slip by Dalot on the penalty and then United totally switching off on the corner. That group of United players should have a strong look at themselves to lose in that manner yet it sums United up this season.

Liverpool up next with a patched up defence with Martinez, Lindelof ruled out for a month and Evans, Varane going off injured tonight anything less than 2/3 goal margin win for Klopp's side on Sunday will be a surprise.