Mayo-2011

[moysider]

Trials being held this weekend.

[RedandGreenSniper]

I got the call-up. He's obviously spreading the net far and wide.

[Tubberman]

I got the call-up. He's obviously spreading the net far and wide.

Did you do yourself proud!? 
Any word on how the trials went, any new faces look good?

[RedandGreenSniper]

I got the call-up. He's obviously spreading the net far and wide.

Did you do yourself proud!? 
Any word on how the trials went, any new faces look good?

I did a Donncha O'Connor on it. Drove in. Saw too many well known players. Knew I was out of my depth and didn't leave the car. Was very cold anyway.

[ludermor]

Hopefuls go on trial with Mayo


Mike Finnerty

FOOTBALLERS from all across the county were given their first opportunity to impress the new Mayo senior management last weekend at a trial game in Castlebar.
A selection of club players (none of whom were involved in Mayo's senior panel last season) took on a Mayo U-21 outfit on Saturday morning with former Mayo players like Aidan Campbell, Austin O'Malley, Damien Munnelly and Michael Conroy all invited to take part.
A second trial game has been pencilled in for next weekend.
Speaking to The Mayo News last night, Mayo selector Martin Connolly said that the management team were given plenty of food for thought by the game of four twenty-minute quarters which was won convincingly by the senior XV.
"We were very happy with how it went," he admitted. "It was a nice morning for a game and everybody got at least forty minutes, everybody got a chance.
"All the lads took to the game quickly and competed well. We were surprised with how well they gelled together and played as a team. The decision-making was good too.
"We were looking for a bit of desire and mental toughness," he added. "We were looking for lads who were prepared to put their hands up and say, 'I have something to offer'. It's a clean sheet for everybody so they all got a chance to impress."
Among those to get on the scoresheet for the senior hopefuls were Tourmakeady's Kevin Dolan, Crossmolina's Ian Rowland and Austin O'Malley, the former Louisburgh forward who now plays his club football with St Vincent's in Dublin.
A number of players who were unavailable or injured for last weekend's trial game will get a second chance in the final trial game.
The majority of players who are expected to make up Mayo's squad for the National Football League next season have already been 'tested' and given individual training programmes by James Horan and his backroom team.
Martin Connolly explained that there are a number of factors to be taken into account for those club players who are hoping to make the step-up to inter-county football in 2011.
"On the technical side, you don't get much time on the ball. When you get the ball you're under more pressure and everything has to be done at speed.
That will be the biggest step-up for a lot of players to make. There is a lot more physicality too, it's hard and fast. But it's a new start and all the lads had their moments last weekend."
MAYO XV
Robert Hennelly (Breaffy); Ronan Rochford (Crossmolina), David Killeen (Ballinrobe), Lee Keegan (Westport); Donal Newcombe (Castlebar), Jason Healy (Kiltane), James Burke (Ballymun Kickhams); James McAndrew (Cill Chomáin), Donal Gallagher (Achill); Aidan Campbell (Swinford), Austin O'Malley (St Vincent's), Damien Munnelly (Knockmore); Kevin Dolan (Tourmakeady), Brian Benson (Crossmolina), Michael Conroy (Davitts)
Subs used: Ian Rowland (Crossmolina), Peter Cosgrave (The Neale), Colm English (Achill), Liam Lydon (Kiltimagh), Gary Loftus (Ballintubber), Jason Gibbons (Ballintubber).

[AbbeySider]

Hopefuls go on trial with Mayo
...
MAYO XV
Robert Hennelly (Breaffy); Ronan Rochford (Crossmolina), David Killeen (Ballinrobe), Lee Keegan (Westport); Donal Newcombe (Castlebar), Jason Healy (Kiltane), James Burke (Ballymun Kickhams); James McAndrew (Cill Chomáin), Donal Gallagher (Achill); Aidan Campbell (Swinford), Austin O'Malley (St Vincent's), Damien Munnelly (Knockmore); Kevin Dolan (Tourmakeady), Brian Benson (Crossmolina), Michael Conroy (Davitts)
Subs used: Ian Rowland (Crossmolina), Peter Cosgrave (The Neale), Colm English (Achill), Liam Lydon (Kiltimagh), Gary Loftus (Ballintubber), Jason Gibbons (Ballintubber).

All seems fairly positive.
Its nice to see some of the old names on that Mayo XV given a chance.
Conroy was away in Oz for a few years. Kevin Dolan had a great season with Tourmack (what age is he?). Aidan Campbell was playing good stuff with GMIT at sigerson. Dont know much about James Burke in Dublin but I heard Austy was doing Ok this year with St Vins.

[Johnny Drama]

hopefully this will give some new lads a brake, whats the story with simon cloherty from park?

I actually heard the complete opposite from one of the st. Vincents lads he couldn't understand how austin o'malley ever got a run for the county team.

[AbbeySider]

hopefully this will give some new lads a brake, whats the story with simon cloherty from park?

I actually heard the complete opposite from one of the st. Vincents lads he couldn't understand how austin o'malley ever got a run for the county team.

Well he got a point in the Semi against Kilmacud Crokes, and two in the first game quarter final against Ballyboden and a point in the replay. He scored 1-01 against St Marys in the fourth round.

I did hear somewhere that he was struggling but I also heard that he was injured a lot.
But in any case im not sure how much he would have to offer at this stage.

[AbbeySider]

hopefully this will give some new lads a brake, whats the story with simon cloherty from park?

Would he be released to play by Frank McHale if Park are in the Junior All Ireland Championship?
I think they play a Manchester team fairly soon.

[seafoid]

It is very hard to read the initial posts knowing it will all end sometime in July in acrimony and self loathing.

[Tubberman]

It is very hard to read the initial posts knowing it will all end sometime in July in acrimony and self loathing.

Hard work talking to yourself over in the Galway thread is it? 
Pull up a stool and stay for a while sure....

[AbbeySider]

It is very hard to read the initial posts knowing it will all end sometime in July in acrimony and self loathing.

Then dont bother

Slán leat

[boosabum]

It is very hard to read the initial posts knowing it will all end sometime in July in acrimony and self loathing.

What county plays there matches in acrimony or self loathing. I've never been to those grounds
Are they in Cavan or monaghan ?
The forecast says a wet summer so Austy will be in top form for us come crunch time.

[AbbeySider]

A more in-depth report from Western People on the trial game at the weekend.

Horan runs the rule over Mayo hopefuls
By Anthony Hennigan

MAYO REDS 1-20 MAYO WHITES 0-11
THE LONG road to who knows where was first stepped on Saturday last, as two selections of club footballers – one picked by new Mayo manager James Horan (Mayo Reds) and another containing players most of whom in the short term may be of more interest to the county U21 management (Mayo Whites) – produced a competitive contest, at McHale Park.

Opportunities will be presented to many more club players in the near future – possibly as early as next weekend – as the new senior management seeks to formulate a panel ahead of January's FBD Insurance League campaign. And Horan and co are likely to be happy enough if provided the same commitment shown by the 43 players who togged on Saturday.

In a game played over four 20 minute periods, it was one of the Reds non-starters, Crossmolina's Ian Rowland, who was perhaps star of the show, coming off the bench to score five points, including four magnificent efforts from play.

Another of the Reds interchange players, The Neale's Peter Cosgrove, might also have caught the eye of management in the 12 points victory, after he raced through to clip over two third-quarter points in an all-round lively contribution from the half-forward.

There were solid contributions too from wingbacks Donal Newcombe of Castlebar and James Burke of Ballymun Kickhams (and Ardnaree), and at midfield by Achill man Donal Gallagher, especially when later aided by Ballintubber's Jason Gibbons whose match-fitness was obvious. Like Gibbons, Gallagher has also been busy of late, helping St Peter's (Manchester) reach the AllIreland JFC quarter-final where they will play Parke on December 5.

Tourmakeady captain Kevin Dolan, who ended the game with a goal and two to his name, spearheaded an attack that also included former Mayo seniors Austin O'Malley, Aidan Campbell, Michael Conroy and Damien Munnelly.

It was Campbell and O'Malley who did most to impress during a first quarter at the end of which three and two points from them respectively, including one each from play, helped Mayo Reds into a 0-7 to 0-3 lead. Kevin Dolan and James Burke added the other singles as the Whites stayed in touch via a point apiece from their full-forward triumvirate of Cathal Freeman, Lewis Cawley and Niall Walsh.

The leaders might have been out of sight by the end of the second quarter but both Austin O'Malley and Ian Rowland, shortly after his introduction, saw their goal attempts rebound off the crossbar, and instead the Reds could add only a solitary Rowland point during this period. At the other end, Michael Walsh fisted over after a superb pass by Niall Walsh, who then scored again himself before an excellent Andrew Farrell point left only two between the teams at the game's halfway mark (0-8 to 0-6), when five had separated them after just 14 minutes.

The Whites, with half-backs Ger McDonagh and David Dolan in the thick of the action, reduced their arrears to the minimum within two minutes of the third-quarter's start as Fergal Durkan, one of a raft of replacements, kicked over a fine point from the right wing. However, this was as close as the chasers would get to their more senior opponents, who just a minute later struck for the game's only goal after which they never looked back.

Although Kevin Dolan's soccer-style finish past Whites goalkeeper Conor Campbell was immediately responded to by way of a Lewis Cawley point, Mayo Reds hit the next seven points before Niall Walsh and Jack McDonnell, from a free, stopped the rot. But even this brace was negated by points by Ian Rowland, a free, and Jason Gibbons as the Reds carried a 117 to 0-10 lead into the fourth and final quarter.

Peter Cosgrove, two, Kevin Dolan, Donal Newcombe and Damien Munnelly had all raised white flags during that third quarter but only one Reds player – Ian Rowland – was on target in the final period. The left-footed attacker, a firm and stylish striker of the ball, looked more than comfortable in his surroundings when first shooting over from a narrow angle on the left and then twice from around 45 metres.

The Mayo Whites might have narrowed their arrears to seven points when still 10 minutes remained, however, Jack McDonnell, after clever build-up between fellow sub Aidan Walsh and Lewis Cawley, curled his goal attempt left of the target.

The Swinford man did, however, contribute the game's final score when pointing from the very last kick.

Untried as county minors, Bonniconlon's Conor Cawley, Ballina's Peter Rouse, Sean Boyle of Mayo Gaels, Niall Walsh of The Neale and Tourmakeady's Tom Staunton were among the Whites players whose standards of performance suggest they could yet feature for Mayo U-21s next season. Others who shone for the beaten included David Dolan, Ger McDonagh, Andrew Farrell and Lewis Cawley.

SCORERS – Mayo Reds: Kevin Dolan 1-2, Ian Rowland 0-5 (1f), Austin O'Malley and Aidan Campbell 0-3 (2f) each, Peter Cosgrove 0-2, Lee Keegan, Donal Newcombe, James Burke, Damien Munnelly and Jason Gibbons 0-1 each.

Mayo Whites: Niall Walsh 03 (1f), Lewis Cawley and Jack McDonnell 0-2 each, Michael Walsh, Andrew Farrell, Cathal Freeman and Fergal Durkan 0-1 each.

MAYO REDS: Robert Hennelly (Breaffy); Ronan Rochford (Crossmolina), David Killeen (Ballinrobe), Lee Keegan (Westport); Donal Newcombe (Castlebar), Jason Healy (Kiltane), James Burke (Ballymun Kickhams/Ardnaree); James McAndrew (Cill Chomain), Donal Gallagher (St Peter's Manchester/Achill); Aidan Campbell (Swinford), Austin O'Malley (St Vincent's Dublin/Louisburgh), Damien Munnelly (Knockmore); Kevin Dolan (Tourmakeady), Brian Benson (Crossmolina), Michael Conroy (Davitts). Subs used: Peter Cosgrove (The Neale), Liam Lydon (Kiltimagh), Ian Rowland (Crossmolina), Colm English (Achill), Jason Gibbons (Ballintubber), Gary Loftus (Ballintubber).

MAYO WHITES: Conor Campbell (Swinford); Tom Staunton (Tourmakeady), Peter Rouse (Ballina), Conor Cawley (Bonniconlon); David Dolan (Garrymore), Ger McDonagh (Castlebar), Mark Towey (Castlebar); Caolan Crowe (Garrymore), Sean Boyle (Mayo Gaels); Michael Walsh (Ardnaree), Darragh Walsh (The Neale), Andrew Farrell (Killala); Niall Walsh (The Neale), Cathal Freeman (Aghamore), Lewis Cawley (Westport). Subs used: Fergal Durkan (Castlebar), Jack McDonnell (Swinford), David Egan (Claremorris), Danny Geraghty (Ballintubber), Aidan Walsh (Castlebar), Eoghan O'Reilly (Castlebar), James Cafferty (Crossmolina).

Referee: Denis Harrington (Tourmakeady).

I know its early and all that but it looks like the Mayo Whites defence was torn to shreds.
Ian Rowland, Kevin Dolan, Austy and Campbell making significant contributions for the reds.

Its great to see so many new names making an impression.

[moysider]

Bonniconlon s Conor Cawley. I don't think so.