Messages

The hype Colm O'Rourke predicted definitely hasn't materialised yet. The consensus seems to be that people are pleased that the team came out and finished fighting but there's a nervousness around if this team can go again with the same intensity for the full game. And even at that they will need improve to overcome this Dublin side. If it's a dry evening the Dubs will be more confident on the ball, this could tip the scales in their favour especially in the final 15 mins.
If its wet;  Mayo by 3
If it's dry, Dubs by 4

I'd keep the tune but time to change the lyrics.

And no more talk of  'Irelands Call', pure rubbish. When it's being sung it sounds like it was written by someone who was half cut at the time.

I can't agree with Jimmy McGuinness' idea that Mayo need to bring something new. Why? They got their tactical set up correct on Sunday and held Dublin to 9 points and yet he is advoscating trying something completely different by playing 2 or 3 big men inside and bombarding the Dublin full back line with long balls. The irony of Jimmy above all people actually advocating this approach is lost on him. They need to come with the exact same game plan only execute it better. I watched the match again and was surprised at just how many unforced errors were made by both sides and Seamus O'Shea give away the ball stupidly 3 times in a row which had negative consequences for Mayo each time. It's not like Mayo played to their full capabilities, both sides can get better given a dry sod on the day. In my opinion Jim Gavin has more questions to answer than Rochford particularly in the forward line with Brogan and Flynn. Will he stay loyal to the old foot soldiers like Brogan and Flynn who look battle weary or will he throw in Mannion/O'Gara or Andrews from the start who are fresher with something to prove.

The more I think about it the more I agree, take out the 2 freak og's and we won that game by 6 point's, so our defensive system largely worked. If our defender's go in with the same level of intensity and keep the heads there's no reason to doubt they'll have the same success Saturday week. I'm still worried about Boyler though. ......
SOS had a good first half but nearly cost us the game in the second, he was out on his feet. My question is whether he's fit for 70 mins at this level?
JMcG's Donegal tactic is ok as a backup plan.  Move AOS to full, add Moran to the mix and have a couple of forwards in close to battle for the breaks. If anything it could create confusion, Dub defenders double marking could open up a lot of space around the 30. These are big ifs though and this approach might allow Dublin to get their running game going if they were to break out. If Aidan can distribute the ball quicker the next day, then we might get a better return.
I expect no big changes from Rochford really, maybe tighten up midfield a bit. Fenton and Andrews will need minding.

Don't agree... that was Mayo's best against probably Dublin's worst performance in 5 years!

If Mayo want to win the next day they have to try something different. Yes to a degree Mayo stopped Dublin but they played very poorly as well. You can't presume they will play like that the next day again!!

There's plenty of scope for improvement for Mayo as well as Dublin.

Exactly !

[The more I think about it the more I agree, take out the 2 freak og's and we won that game by 6 point's]

I can't agree with Jimmy McGuinness' idea that Mayo need to bring something new. Why? They got their tactical set up correct on Sunday and held Dublin to 9 points and yet he is advoscating trying something completely different by playing 2 or 3 big men inside and bombarding the Dublin full back line with long balls. The irony of Jimmy above all people actually advocating this approach is lost on him. They need to come with the exact same game plan only execute it better. I watched the match again and was surprised at just how many unforced errors were made by both sides and Seamus O'Shea give away the ball stupidly 3 times in a row which had negative consequences for Mayo each time. It's not like Mayo played to their full capabilities, both sides can get better given a dry sod on the day. In my opinion Jim Gavin has more questions to answer than Rochford particularly in the forward line with Brogan and Flynn. Will he stay loyal to the old foot soldiers like Brogan and Flynn who look battle weary or will he throw in Mannion/O'Gara or Andrews from the start who are fresher with something to prove.

The more I think about it the more I agree, take out the 2 freak og's and we won that game by 6 point's,

That's not how it works, if those don't go in the game is totally different and you might win by six or lose by six for that matter or anything in between, the whole game is different if one of those go in or neither of them do!

I think Dublin should be changing what they do far more than Mayo, another sub par performance and Mayo have them, I hope so anyway, for me, Mayo by a point or two.

What I'm trying to say is that Mayo had set-up to snuff out the Dublin attack and barring the goals it largely worked. With some improvement from 2 or 3 individuals, I think we have the beating of them,  fingers crossed

I can't agree with Jimmy McGuinness' idea that Mayo need to bring something new. Why? They got their tactical set up correct on Sunday and held Dublin to 9 points and yet he is advoscating trying something completely different by playing 2 or 3 big men inside and bombarding the Dublin full back line with long balls. The irony of Jimmy above all people actually advocating this approach is lost on him. They need to come with the exact same game plan only execute it better. I watched the match again and was surprised at just how many unforced errors were made by both sides and Seamus O'Shea give away the ball stupidly 3 times in a row which had negative consequences for Mayo each time. It's not like Mayo played to their full capabilities, both sides can get better given a dry sod on the day. In my opinion Jim Gavin has more questions to answer than Rochford particularly in the forward line with Brogan and Flynn. Will he stay loyal to the old foot soldiers like Brogan and Flynn who look battle weary or will he throw in Mannion/O'Gara or Andrews from the start who are fresher with something to prove.

The more I think about it the more I agree, take out the 2 freak og's and we won that game by 6 point's, so our defensive system largely worked. If our defender's go in with the same level of intensity and keep the heads there's no reason to doubt they'll have the same success Saturday week. I'm still worried about Boyler though. ......
SOS had a good first half but nearly cost us the game in the second, he was out on his feet. My question is whether he's fit for 70 mins at this level?
JMcG's Donegal tactic is ok as a backup plan.  Move AOS to full, add Moran to the mix and have a couple of forwards in close to battle for the breaks. If anything it could create confusion, Dub defenders double marking could open up a lot of space around the 30. These are big ifs though and this approach might allow Dublin to get their running game going if they were to break out. If Aidan can distribute the ball quicker the next day, then we might get a better return.
I expect no big changes from Rochford really, maybe tighten up midfield a bit. Fenton and Andrews will need minding.

Well, got home earlier this evening after a great weekend in the capital. The craic was mighty Saturday night and the place was giddy with excitement, even the normally cool headed Dubs were a bit nervous and so that's how it played out on the pitch the following day.
It's a game I'm still thinking about, in all my year's following Mayo I've never seen such a half of football as that first half. Mayo were bullying Dublin who couldn't settle yet we were lacking in front of goal again. AOS persistently carrying the ball into the tackle and then losing it was frustrating, yes he was on the receiving end of some pulling and dragging but that's no excuse for not distributing the ball sooner instead of looking for a free all the time. I'd put him into ff the next day with Coen beside him.
I don't believe in curses but after the second og went in I began to doubt myself, I see the curse even made the BBC news home page   
A fresh chance to banish the curse of Mayo - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-37378935
Second half performance was again only middling, poor distribution again into the forwards along with some crazy unforced errors.
Defensively we were excellent especially Harrison and Durkan. Boyler not having a good year, I think time is catching up with him. Higgins will hopefully improve the next day.
Fenton had too much freedom, he needs to be marked. Also, I'd drop SOS for the next day.
It's a pity Dillon got injured when he did because I think we might have pinched it if his wise old head was on the field until the end, and last word to the other old head, Andy Moran. We'd have been well beaten but for him

Heading East now, the more I think about this game the more I'm thinking we're just not there yet, especially in terms of the quality of our forwards. Listening to Jack O'connor on TG4 last night didn't help, he had the most miserable puss on him, like he was bitter Kerry weren't there. He alluded a couple of times to the hammerings they dished out to us in the 00's and wrote us off completely based on our form to date which is fair enough but ffs cheer up a bit

Slane 2003

Queens of the Stone Age
Foo Fighters
Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Nearly 100,000 people,  25 deg weather, will live long in the memory

Ultimate nightmare for the groundsmen though because there'll be chunks of the sod torn up and brought west as souvenirs.

This time of year ?

Can RTÈ not find anyone other than the Tanman to interview in Mayo or WestRos??

We roll him out this time of year to do the usual spiel, who do ye use ? Oh wait.....

RIP Greg Maher,  tough no nonsense footballer.
My memory of him playing was his impact on the game against Tyrone in 89 in the second half.

However there is a point here.  How many TDs in Dublin get tickets? Why should Dublin politicians get more tickets than Mayo ones.

Simple maths, they have more TD's - population.  Mulhern is not a TD, she got a cushy Senate number because of her loyalty to Kenny and to stop her whinging

Agree with above. The supporters need to behind the team from the throw in. I'll be roaring them on again, more so in hope this time. I've been to every final since 89, this year feels like a tougher challenge, that we are really up against a team of excellent footballers at their peak. The heart says us by 3 but the head says Dubs by 2. With a bit of luck and our forwards hitting form on the day, just maybe......

http://m.independent.ie/irish-news/what-about-my-allireland-ticket-complains-senator-35050679.html

This made me laugh, the arrogance of this one know no bounds. She has the neck to call it discrimination by the GAA. She should be grateful she got the golden Senate ticket after being rejected by the electorate.