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One rule and one rule only you can't vote for your own county....

i think it boils down to may 20th, whoever wins this one will win it.

yeah 5times, we've had terrible trouble picking up Connachts over the years!!
Not much between Mayo and Galway, really tough to call, Ross are coming into some form now so they could be dark horses but if we have a few players back by the Galway game I'm gonna go for Mayo to carry on and win Connacht outright. If we start with yesterdays team on May 20th then Galway could prob take us and then go on and win the title after struggling past Ross.

After the Galway semi final I would have said Galway, as there was some alarming things wrong in the Mayo midfield and backline. midfield seems to have improved somewhat, and I thought Donegal were going to make hay there yesterday. Mayo half backline still seems to be a problem defensively.
Very hard to call, Pearse Stadium will be a big plus for Galway, Mayo seniors have a bad record there over the years. Alot will depend on the personnel and who is back for both teams.  I wouldnt be surprised if its a draw with Mayo to win the return leg in McHale park.
The rule about not being able to vote for your own county is a bit daft if your able to make an arguement as to why you think they'll win.

Mayo will need to have at least two of the missing big names back for the Pearse Stadium clash - with McGarrity and McDonald definite non-starters it is imperative that David Brady and Trevor Mortimer are back, and firing on all cylinders.
BJP has been impressive at CHB, but still not sure that he can cut it there in the white heat of Championship football, terrible shame as his ability to play anywhere could be his own downfall unfortunately. I'd see DB and Pat Harte in Midfield with Heaney slotting back to No. 6, Trevor Mort to play on the edge of the square.

Do I have to pick Leitrim, even if I think it will be Mayo? :-[

I'd have said Mayo easily a couple of months ago but they have not looked that impressive in the last two games. They could have won yesterday if  Moran put away that goal chance but behind the scoreline they got a few very handy frees that kept them in touch. Seems to be very little sparkle in the forward line save for Andy Moran who won every ball that came his way yesterday. Add to that a suspect midfield and fullback line and if not in Connacht, they'll be caught out at some stage. But if they beat Galway they still have enough for Sligo or Roscommon as I believe that game would be in Castlebar. But Galway I think will beat Mayo and be ran close by Sligo or Roscommon. Both Sligo and Leitrim will get it tight enough themselves oversees and I predict a shock in at least one of these games, with London the more likely to cause a surprise. Has the makings of a very interesting Connacht Championship. A hesitant vote for Galway - Johno will certainly have an article any of these days making them overwhelming favourites.

QuoteA hesitant vote for Galway - Johno will certainly have an article any of these days making them overwhelming favourites.

No doubt. ;D

QuoteA hesitant vote for Galway - Johno will certainly have an article any of these days making them overwhelming favourites

.

He will just have to pull out a few old articles - change Mayo to Galway on the word processor and the job is done. :D

Hard to know how Connacht will go, Galway/Mayo will be the likely decider but both sides aren't unbeatable, Mayo probably have room for improvement though and should advance. Ros v Sligo (provided we escape from New York's version of Duck Park) will be a tight onw too, the Rossies are on a roll at the moment but we might catch them out, haven't won in the Hyde since 1971 though. As it is a Mayo-Ros final is likely, and Mayo to get over the line.

Quotehaven't won in the Hyde since 1971 though.

That was the day the Hyde was opened. Ye have thrown away a couple since there - 98 and was it 2003 when it was a draw and we won replay

Quote from: Tatler Jack on April 23, 2007, 02:47:02 PM

Quotehaven't won in the Hyde since 1971 though.

That was the day the Hyde was opened. Ye have thrown away a couple since there - 98 and was it 2003 when it was a draw and we won replay

2004 actually, the replay in the Park was some evening's entertainment, but a tough defeat to take. Not as tough as that '98 semi though, the Rossies streaming out, seven points up and Mickey fucked it up. Took a trimming there too in the late 80's IIRC.

Yes it was 2004. Whatever about the replay it was there for Sligo to win the first day in the Hyde with 10 mins to go but they did not take it. It will  be close this year - predicted at start of the year a Mayo/Sligo CF and will stick with that. Ye owe them a few too!!

Quote from: Tatler Jack on April 23, 2007, 02:58:44 PM
Yes it was 2004. Whatever about the replay it was there for Sligo to win the first day in the Hyde with 10 mins to go but they did not take it.

Thought it a very even affair myself from memory, was little enough between the teams. Davey of all people kicked the equaliser that day too.

Quote from: Tatler Jack on April 23, 2007, 02:58:44 PMpredicted at start of the year a Mayo/Sligo CF and will stick with that. Ye owe them a few too!!

You can say that again!

Like Turlough O Carolan said Mayo haven't looked impressive in their last 2 games and may be caught out by Galway who will be reeling after losing two games in a row to Mayo. We haven't had a good record in Galway either. I still fancy the winners of that game to win Connacht, but I think Roscommon could give them a very close run in the final. I can't see Sligo beating Ros but you never know on the day.

I wouldnt say they didnt perform well in the game v Donegal, against Galway, yeah. But Mayo have been playing games every week for the last 5 weeks!! Cork, Dublin, Tyrone, Galway, Donegal, cut them some slack. I'd favour Mayo to win on May 20th and from their to win Connaught, we'll have D Brady and T Mort back probably.

Galway

I would say anyone who predicts Ros to beat us is fair enough considering how the league went. In the back of mind Doohan and McGarty didnt figure in the league so expect a more physical and fitter sligo come june. So hard to predict the future but I have a feeling the rossies have there eye on the connaught final which plays into ourr hands. Could suprise them.

Sligonian, never mind trying to surprise Roscommon. Ye have to overcome New York first of all, and it might be ye who will get the surprise there.

So I guess yere preparing for the NY game yerselves then. Is it possible that NY could beat us? I think the connaght council might have something to say. Apparantenetly Letrim would of been beat out there only for the ref carried them through so Leitrim fans tell me. Wonder why loss of revenue and sure half there team wouldnt be able to travel.

QuoteSo I guess yere preparing for the NY game yerselves then. Is it possible that NY could beat us? I think the connaght council might have something to say. Apparantenetly Letrim would of been beat out there only for the ref carried them through so Leitrim fans tell me. Wonder why loss of revenue and sure half there team wouldnt be able to travel.

Explains why Sligo usually lose to Mayo and Galway....

Thought Mayo were bankers 2 months ago and would have tipped Sligo to provide opposition in final.
Not so sure now, especially on the Mayo side. They have looked poor recently and seemed shapeless in the forwards.
Only the Rossie  :P  Andy Moran was up to scratch Sunday. Badly need Dave Brady and Trev Mortimer back.
In a close game which Mayo/Galway will always be the tribesmen might have the edge as they will have the forwards to sneak it. They threw the league semi away and werent helped by a dodgy peno. Its a tough call but as game approaches its looking more like Galway can do it at home.

Sligo/Ross is another 50/50 call. We are improving but I cannot get that 2nd half league performance V Leitrim out of my head. Poor  management decision making and lacked leadership on the pitch when chips were down.
If Sligo get stuck in ala Leitrim (hard but fair I have to add) always do against us its a game they should be confident of winning. If Oneill is out then its Sligos to lose..

I think there's feck all between Roscommon and Sligo. Whilst it seems the victory in Croker last Saturday was well earned and deserved I can't help but conclude that Cavan took Roscommon a little bit for granted and had no contingency plan to deal with the roasting they got at midfield. As you say Rossie11 I expect Sligo to get stuck into Roscommon especially in the middle of the field. Sligo know what the Roscommon pairing are capable of when on-song and I just hope to god they have a strategy to deal with them. The first half of the game in the Hyde in 2004 was a disaster for us. We were killed in midfield early on and the supply into Mannion was limitless. Wasn't it Naughton that Mannion ran ragged? Anyway, the replay was a different game and McGuire seemed to deal with Mannion fairly well. I'm going to miss the game (assuming we beat New York - dear Jesus we better) due to a stag party but I'm holding out for a Sligo win so that we can get a pop at Mayo in the final.
Of course only a fool would back Sligo to win Connacht this year but that doesn't stop us dreaming and, for me, to beat Mayo in a Connacht final would be as good as it gets.