Messages

I don't see this game being as one sided as some predict. Dublin will not give up their quest for 6 easily and won't want the 5 in a row tarnished by a heavy defeat. Expect them to scrap for everything even when the game is beyond them. The problem for the Dubs is that they are way under cooked coming in to this game and their main source of possession, turnovers, will not yield much against a team that are even better at turnovers. Nor will their patient, probing game yield much against a team that will not tire as easily as the likes of Westmeath or Cavan.

I expect we will prevail by 5 or 6 points - such a pity I and thousands can't be there and I wonder will it feel like an AI.

It was Kerry that tried to come in under the radar with the usual oul young team guff, trying out a few lads, yerra we will see where we are at etc.  Expect more of the same as the summer goes on. On the other hand we set out our stall from early on fielding experienced players with a sprinkling of newcomers. 

So league is now so diminished that the final does not have it's own thread. Leaving that aside this is a big game for us and a must win. We can't lose another national final in CP and pretending that this game does not matter will fool nobody. We also need to put some doubt in Kerry and stall their arrival for another while.

We should win if we bring our intensity and physicality. I expect we will have more possession and we need to make this show on the scoreboard against a defence that is average enough. Biggest fear is that we concede 3 or 4 goals - Kerry forwards are handy.

It's been a good league for us in terms of team building and confidence in Horan. Let's win the bloody thing.

In fairness the gap left by the two Duffy's retirement is not easy to fill in a hurry.

Won't surprise me at all to see Galway back stronger in the semi final next year if they can learn from that. Mayo on the other hand look badly on the slide.

Would not agree that we are on slide and we will be back next year as a force. But Galway have potential to build towards at least reaching an AI final in next 2 or 3 years. They now know the physical and fitness levels they need to reach and they also know the players that are not up to it at this level.  A good year for Galway on the learning curve.

Most non-semifinal feeling semifinal ever...  Jesus Christ galway just go for it. Shake off tally defensive shackles. Snore fest

You need the ball to go for it. Galway visibly tiring and while trying hard just are not up to this level yet. Still a decent performance and something to build on. Comer again a disappointment-limited skills.

mayo.mick is the man to ask. Send him a pm.

Don't know a thing about cameras or photography.

Having said all that, if there's a shock to be had in this round of the Qualifiers tomorrow, look no further -

It won't be a shock. Everything now points to a Kildare win. Even the bookies have trimmed back the lillies to 5/2. Tomorrow will be the end of an era I'm afraid.

We can only do 15 minute or less bursts to get over the line these days and  that includes against Kildare in the league (a brief spell at the end and start of each half won the league game). It was the same last week against Tipp. I fear tomorrow this burst won't happen and Kildare will get enough to creep past us.

Kildare by 1 or 2 points. Fuckit anyhow, these lads gave us a good run over the years.

There will be no shock. Kildare had their big win earlier in the week but that's as good as it gets for them. We are talking here about a top 3 team meeting a team well down the pecking order with little form. Expect a good start for the Flour Bags and maybe an early goal and even possibly lead by a point or two at h/t. Then the pace and intensity will be upped and we will pull away - expect a 7+ win. The same will happen next week regardless of who we draw. Our championship starts with the quarterfinals group games. No neeed to pretend the end will come anytime before then.

Now I better go out and make the most of this great weather. 

I would prefer if he was more socialist in his outlook than capitalist.

Mr Ryan is off to a bad start.

This should be a resigning or firing matter - either McGill or Ryan.

Can we all stop saying Sky is to blame?
Now that we've had outbreaks of megaphone diplomacy can either side realistically row back?
As it stands well have Cavan/ Tyrone on a near empty Croke Park, then at 7 we'll have one team on the pitch and the game will be abandoned when there's no one to kick the ball out.
That'll look good live on Sky.
Meanwhile the Kildare team will turn up in Newbridge for their last time together in 2018.
A fine mess.....
Is there a wise oul lad out there somewhere who can sort it all out?

No wise ould head needed. Just a bit of humility from CP - something I know they don't have much experience of. No Mayo person wants to get into next round in this way.

Would be fantastic publicity for Mayo if they could come out and say they back Kildare with this. It's very obvious what way the public opinion is on the issue and I think it would be great for them to show some solidarity.

Not that they have to but turning up in Croker for a walk over would be bad form.

I agree and so do alot of other mayo fans I have been talking too this evening.

We really should show some moral courage on this. At least a statement that we are willing to play in Newbridge. We don't want a walkover and CP should have kept their mouths shut.  But that's what you get when you allow our Association to be run by bureaucrats and money men.

An AI won and getting a walkover along the way would be devalued. 

[to an untrained eye]

I said they set themselves up similarly when defending. It's like discussing football with a toddler talking football to you. In fact discussing any subject with you.

The only reason it looked similar to an untrained eye is because we were going man-to-man for a lot of the first half so if all the Cavan lads who were in defense pushed up when in possession the exact same number of Roscommon players would be back deep. Cavan's system marked space while ours marked the man. They were about as dissimilar as you could get while still playing the same sport. Kilroy eventually reverted to his sweeper role but it still wasn't in the same league as the dual sweeper system Cavan employed for most of the match. Our corner back spent most of the day at wing forward because the corner forward he was marking played as if he was a HB.

Trying to say both team's approaches were the same is the childlike thing in all this - anyone could tell you Cavan are a more defensive team than Roscommon. And good luck to them for it, but facts are facts.

A bit of humour is always welcome Syf. 

[little Jimmy]

Being hostage? It's the only f**king station that will show it.

I think it's absolutely no harm. If you want to watch it, and can't stand the Irish for some reason, then turn it down. If you need Ger Canning rabbiting on about a huge one in to enjoy it, then you have bigger issues.

If you do watch it in Irish, then what's the worst that can happen? You pick up a cúpla focail and how bad is that?

You think little Jimmy who's flicking between channels of a Sunday afternoon is more likely to stick on the station talking in some weird language or the one that's in English? TG4 plays to the converted and no one else. The GAA should not be content with the fact most of their games are on that station. It really is as simple as that - things could be better if there was enough of a will.

This is an area where more comericialism should be welcomed, to be honest.

Hello little Jimmy! You will learn this weird language when you go to school.

Folk Singer and song writer Thom Moore. Played with groups in Sligo  Pumpkinhead and Midnight Well. Wrote many songs for singers such as Mary Black e.g. Carolina Rua. Also wrote Cavan Girl. Important figure on the Irish folk scene in 70's and 80's. I think he went to Russia in the 90's - I remember he playing a going away gig in the Harcourt Hotel sometime in the early 90's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q41gpYo2zk

We should have rested players this year and given more fringe players a run. We are going to be relegated without any benefits in terms of resting experienced players or giving more young players a run. Don't know what Rochford was at - everything should have been about the Galway game this year and the league used accordingly.

BTW Donegal will win by 5+