Mayo v Dublin

[Redgreenery]

Just heard on the news that because of the fans going on to the pitch after the contreversial 45 decision, the GAA are going to ask the Mayo County Board to up the steward standard to make sure the pitch is not invaded during the game again!

[Turlough O Carolan]

Just heard on the news that because of the fans going on to the pitch after the contreversial 45 decision, the GAA are going to ask the Mayo County Board to up the steward standard to make sure the pitch is not invaded during the game again!

Standards must be falling in Castlebar. Where's the buck who rugby tackled the 70 year old man who ran onto the pitch after the Connacht minor final?

[blast05]

Great to know we have another player who can play midfield really well!!

In fairness to Heaney, i don' think too many doubted that he could play midfield at the required level - he played midfield in the the '97 All-Ireland remember. Its just that for years he has been moved to plug gaps as we were deemed to be strong enough at midfield

[Redgreenery]

Great to know we have another player who can play midfield really well!!

In fairness to Heaney, i don' think too many doubted that he could play midfield at the required level - he played midfield in the the '97 All-Ireland remember. Its just that for years he has been moved to plug gaps as we were deemed to be strong enough at midfield

More recently than 1997 he hasnt played his best football and apart from the last 2 league games he lost his place on the starting team, but in the last 2 games he has proved himself again and he proved himself in midfield! For the last 2 or 3 years Mayo's midfield hasnt been at an all time high but our players have improved in that position now and its just reassuring to know that Heaney can play there very well as well as D Brady and McGarrity.

[Redgreenery]

Another coup against sky-blues
Keith Duggan at McHale Park

NFL Division One/Mayo 0-10 Dublin 0-9: Mayo can never be accused of lacking a flair for the dramatic. There were scenes of minor bedlam in the passion bowl of McHale Park as the home faithful celebrated another coup against Dublin.

The combination of the sunshine and the attraction of the sky-blue city shirts encouraged 15,000 people along, and afterwards they celebrated as though it were high summer.

"A pitch invasion in April," murmured one local pressman in a tone that suggested he had now seen it all.

But this was a significant win for Mayo and it means they advance to the league semi-finals with precious little fanfare and an injury-list of glittering names. Almost inevitably, that inventory had increased by yesterday evening. David Brady damaged another part of his anatomy at a weekend training session, and, late in the first half, goalkeeper Kenneth O'Malley fractured his thumb in the act of plucking a ball from above the crossbar.

Despite these setbacks, Mayo repeated the trick of recovering from an unpromising half-time position to secure a win that was almost as beneficial to character-building as it was to their league ambitions.

"We still have an awful lot of work to do, but we are glad to get across the line by a point," said John O'Mahony. "And what has been good about the last two weeks is that, when we got to the tight finish, we could close the deal no matter how many chinks are in the armour."

There was a period in the first half, when Dublin chalked up five impressive points in succession, that made that Mayo coat of chains look inadequate. The home team were in trouble right through the lines as Dublin moved with something of their summer swiftness. Darren Magee directed proceedings at midfield, Conal Keaney gradually shaded a fascinating tussle with Keith Higgins and the Dublin defence snuffed out the Mayo attack - whose front pair of Conor Mortimer and Austin O'Malley had been ill-served with high balls.

Through this spell Mayo simply could not get the ball as Dublin advertised the best of their game. They might have had a goal on 22 minutes when Jason Sherlock took possession at speed and supplied Kevin Bonner, who clipped a point.

Corner back David Henry ventured up field with increasing boldness and forced an important, last-gasp intervention from full back James Kilcullen, before later lashing a great chance wide when Dublin were flying. Their simplest point was probably their best - a long, inch-perfect free floated by goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton to Bernard Brogan, who sold a neat shimmy and took a fine point with his left foot.

That score put Dublin 0-8 to 0-3 to the good, and there was still five points between the teams at half-time. The one nagging thought from Dublin's perspective was that they had played a lot of football for that lead.

Still, it was surprising that they failed to score in the second half. Dublin were pinned back by the strong wind and a much more intense Mayo effort. The cause was not helped by the 39th-minute dismissal of Keaney, slightly unfortunate to pick up a second yellow.

With that thorn removed, the Mayo defence dealt comfortably with the other attackers. They turned the screw from deep.

Few teams move the ball as sweetly out of defence as Mayo, and fliers like Peader Gardiner, Liam O'Malley and Keith Higgins kept Dublin back-pedalling.

David Heaney worked his socks off and contributed two massive points in either half. The introduction of Alan Dillon greatly enhanced the structure of the Mayo front lines, and, in addition to landing a beauty of a point on 54 minutes, the Ballintubber All Star bravely won the free which led to the winning score, diving to claim a loose ball before the flailing Barry Cahill could grab it.

It was no surprise Conor Mortimer clipped the winner. The Shrule man mixed the brilliant with the baffling here, leading Mayo's wanton, second-half wide count, but also finding his range with a pair of outrageous distance strikes. There are no half-measures, and at least he cannot be accused of hiding.

Dublin kept on plugging away, and while Sherlock was for the most part obscured by Billy Joe Padden, he showed the old smarts to sneak in behind Mayo's last line with 10 minutes remaining. Bryan Cullen spotted him and delivered the perfect ball. As Sherlock bolted for goal, Keith Higgins had no option, but to foul.

With Thomas Quinn substituted, the responsibility fell to Diarmuid Connolly. The St Vincent's man had to wait while the players engaged in a kind of minor nightclub scuffle and, when order was restored, his convincing shot smashed low against David Clarke's right-hand post and across the face of the goal.

A minute later Connolly tried to atone with a fine shot on the turn, stopped by both Clarke and the crossbar.

Referee Michael Hughes added three extra minutes, but neither team could be persuaded to score again. Mayo fans greeted the final whistle with relief and happiness.

MAYO: K O'Malley; L O'Malley, J Kilcullen, K Higgins: E Devenney, BJ Padden, P Gardiner; P Harte, D Heaney (0-2); G Brady, K O'Neill, A Kilcoyne (0-1 free); C Mortimer (0-4, 3 frees), A O'Malley (0-1), A Moran (0-1). Subs: A Campbell for G Brady (33 mins), D Clarke for K O'Malley (35 mins inj), A Higgins for E Devenney (45 mins), A Dillon (0-1) for A O'Malley (46 mins), J Nallen for P Harte (59 mins).

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Henry, R McConnell, P Griffin; B Cahill (0-1), B Cullen, G Brennan; D Magee, C Whelan; C Moran (0-1), J Sherlock, C Keaney (0-3, 1 free); B Brogan (0-1), K Bonner (0-2), T Quinn (0-1, 50). Subs: D Connolly for T Quinn, S Ryan for C Whelan (both 59 mins), P Casey for K Bonner (60 mins), R Cosgrove for B Brogan (67 mins), C Goggins for G Brennan (70 mins).

Referee: M Hughes (Tyrone).

[Mayo4Sam]

Anthony Hennigan must have been watching a different match than the one i saw from his ravings on the western

[Redgreenery]

From Hoganstand.com

Dubs' league exit proves costly
03 April 2007


The GAA have been left counting the cost of Dublin's NFL Division 1A defeat to Mayo in Castlebar last Sunday.

The result means that the play-off issues in the division have been decided with a round still remaining, rendering Dublin's final round clash with All-Ireland champions Kerry almost meaningless.

The GAA could have expected to reap EUR250,000 if the Dublin-Kerry game had taken place at Croke Park, but with the semi-final spots already booked by Donegal and Mayo, the game will now go ahead at the much smaller Parnell Park. If the game had been played at Croke Park, it could have attracted a crowd of up to 50,000.

"Obviously we're disappointed but there isn't anything we can do about it now. It would have been great for the game to go ahead at Croke Park," a GAA spokesman said.

[dubnut]

The funny thing is that it seemed they were almost expecting Dublin to make the semis.
Like we do every year 

[Redgreenery]

... and the AIF last year!

[dubnut]

I dont think they would have stuggled for numbers in the AIF 
Lets see ye fill Croke park in the league semis though.

[Redgreenery]

Doubt it, not in the semi's anyway, last year we played Galway in the semis in McHale park, it didnt fill McHale park that day!

[An Gaeilgoir]

I dont think they would have stuggled for numbers in the AIF 
Lets see ye fill Croke park in the league semis though.

The league is a secondary comp. We are used to been in the Semi-finals now. Its no big deal.....well maybe it would be for some teams.

[dubnut]