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Game day lads.
A few final thoughts with a few clichès thrown in:
- Fitness will be key and both benches will be emptied. Some players will be doing almost 15kms for 70 mins. Most of that will be sprinting.
- Make no mistake, the pressure will be on Dublin after last years defeat to Donegal. Expect some early nerves from both teams though.
- Goals win games. The first Mayo ball should be let in on top of AOS. Test them early.
- Mcloughlin needs to step up and take the frees from the left. That one in the first half that Cillian missed was the one that upset his confidence.
- McAuley will start in place of Bastick.

Safe traveling to all attending. We're not turning up to make up the numbers. The crowd really need to be vocal.
May(o) the best team win

Come on Mayo!!!!

Right, the dust has settled on our quarter final win over Donegal and it's time for a reality check. There seems to be quite a few up and down the country jumping on the Mayo bandwagon after beating the 'evil', impure Donegal team. Mayo can apparently do no wrong. Aidan O'Shea and Lee Keegan ride majestic, translucent steeds, shooting flaming arrows across the bridge of Hemdale.

Nobody, and I mean nobody knows more not to get carried away with the sort of talk we have heard over the last few days than Mayo folk. Those same journalists and experts who are so quick to heap praise on us wouldn't be long twisting the knife into us if we aren't able to overcome Dublin and the ultimate prize on the third Sunday of September. I have never heard so many kind, almost condescending drivel in all my life. Here and over on the HoganStand forum. There's a famous quote from Keith Duggan after us losing the '06 final: 'Don't pity Mayo, because they will be turning up and beating you before too long'. I think we have come a long way since then. We no longer seek out pity. We have become ruthless and yes, contrary to popular belief, dabble in the same dark arts that have seen Tyrone come under so much scrutiny in the past few months (Maybe not on the same scale). Just ask Galway and maybe Roscommon if they think we are a 'nice' team to play against.

That extra layer of skin is down to the good work that James Horan put in for four years. There is only one thing that will satisfy the hunger of this Mayo team. They will not be getting carried away with the talk of 'Mayo for Sam 15'. They won't be looking beyond the Dublin game, don't you worry. I read something yesterday that one of the Dublin backs hadn't seen Mayo play this year. Dublin are raging hot favorites going into this game and with very good reason. As Moysider points out, they have the important home advantage. They are reigning national league champions. They hammered us in Castlebar earlier this year. Our free taker had a howler the last day (by his standards). We don't have a left footed free taker. We beat a tired Donegal team in the quarters and should be looking to shift up at least two gears if we are to beat Dublin.
There are an awful lot of Dublin fans trying to claim that we're actually the favourites going into this. Dublin will have regained their appetite for Sam after the loss to Donegal last year. They'll be hopping off the dressing room walls before the match ready to get at us and right those wrongs.

We always play better when we are against the odds. We should be using the loss in '13 as motivation to knock seven shades of sh1te out of Dublin. It's going to be one heck of a game and the feckin thing is still a week and a half away!

It's a bit early for Kung-fu!

If we get within eight points of them, I'll be celebrating.

Mayo team named. Hope there is a good crowd of green and red in for this but it's a big ask having people in from 2 o'clock til almost 8 in the evening. Fans travelling from Erris would want to be hitting the road before 8 in the morning.
We'll be up against three counties from Ulster on Saturday so hope there is a decent crowd travelling.

  1.   Blake Forkan - Kiltimagh
  2.   Pat Barrett - Belmullet
  3.   Brendan Moran - Cill Chomain
  4.   Barry Leonard - Lahardane
  5.   Eoghan Collins - Ballyhaunis
  6.   Darren McHugh - Hollymount/Carramore
  7.   Eoin O'Donoghue - Belmullet
  8.   Peter Collins - Islandeady
  9.   Padraic Feerick - Hollymount/Carramore
  10.Gavin Conway - Ballaghaderreen
  11.Cathal Freeman - Aghamore (Capt.)
  12.Darren Durcan - Parke
  13.Damien McGing - Ballintubber
  14.John Hutton - Claremorris
  15.Ronan Malee - Kiltimagh

  16.Matthew Flanagan - Balla
  17.Rowland McIntyre - Belmullet
  18.Sean Gaughan - Belmullet
  19.Declan Healy - Davitts
  20.Mickey Barrett - Knockmore
  21.Andrew Farrell - Killala
  22.Michael Togher - Belmullet
  23.Darragh Joyce - Islandeady
  24.Mícheál Forde - Ballycastle

Manager: Sean McLoughlin
Selectors: Daire McManamon, John Gilmore & Paraic Costello
Physios: David Walsh and Fergal Carrol

[pick which side of the pitch they warm up on]

They get to use the same dressing room for every game and pick which side of the pitch they warm up on

Ahem cough cough

Can't believe nobody has mentioned this yet.

http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=240706

Jamie Clarke says there is no place on a football field for sledging or sectarian abuse.

Speaking as an ambassador at the launch of the GPA's Fair Play Campaign, the Armagh ace points out that he has been targetted both inside and outside Ulster:

"It's certainly become a strategy of certain teams, absolutely," the Crossmaglen attacker is quoted in The Irish Times. "I would say more so in Ulster, yes, although from an Armagh perspective, there are times when you are playing southern teams, and you stupidly have got sectarian abuse. Even though it doesn't make sense when you are playing Gaelic football.

"Ultimately, teams will do whatever it takes to win. The fair play campaign is something we need to promote more. There has been a lot of focus on cynicism and verbal abuse over this summer. There is not a game that goes by that you don't hear about it.

"We all give it everything, we all want to win and we all want that winning mentality. But ultimately the GAA itself and everything around it is based on respect, on and off the field. Although we are amateur, it has grown professionally and it is heading in that direction. And it us up to the players to lead by example."

4 man forward line? Collins and O'Driscoll to drop back as sweepers I suppose. Not bad on paper but a few fellas whose name is probably more impressive than their ability at this stage. In truth would many of the top teams desperately want any of the Cork players other than O'Neill and Hurley?

I doubt the Mayo management would say no to  Kerrigan, D O'Connor or even Goulding.

And Shields, and Cadagan.

your annoyance will soon be over for this year

There seems to be an awful lot of stuff like this going on. What if Sligo were to beat us and suddenly we're out and are drawn against Roscommon in the qualifiers?

Do people think of these scenarios at all? I'm not having a go at you at all sp but there seems to be this sense of entitlement and badness crept into Mayo fans psyche lately. Evident here and over on willie how's blog. Giving out about the feckin venue and who the ref might be. It would make the dog sick. Some people were expecting it to be played in Croke park ffs!
I'm 22000kms from home and I'd give anything to be going to the Connacht final and witness the five in a row IF we are to get over Sligo.

Treat your opposition with the respect they deserve. This will be no easy game and we'll know more about this Mayo team after this than we did coming out of Salthill.

The team I think will start
                              Hen
              Turbo     Caff     Zippy
              Leroy     Keano  Boyler
                      Bird     Seamie
              Mac       DOC     Doc
              Cil         Aido     Andy     
.....now,lets get at them bucks!

Who are we, Dublin 

Was attacked by several Mayo players in the replay and didn't let it faze him.

Jinxy, you are an absolute pleasure to come on this board and read your comments. Legend.

I expect Mayo's season next year will be decided again  by the Gods in Aug/Sept.

Meath Gods?

Here we go, the day of the big one. Safe journey to all those travelling.
Should be some game. We all haven't a clue what will happen, could be a Donegal/Kerry final, could be Donegal/Mayo, could be Dublin/Kerry, could be Dublin/Mayo, could be another draw (which would be some craic), anything can happen.
We'll have to come out of the traps roaring, no doubt about it, let us set the tone of the game. Test them with the high ball and don't be worrying about Donaghy.
Was dreaming last night that Varley started and played mighty. Ha!

Have to say this thread has turned into unintentional comedy gold. Guys you are playing in Limerick not the Gobi desert.

Btw Limerick is an absolute gem of a place . Great pubs etc.

I for one hope they survive this 'nightmare' and are in good spirits for the final

What's the view like from the top of that Ivory tower?

In all seriousness, I, for one am looking forward to a semi final in Limerick. Easy for me to say from 20000kms away but this will be one heck of a spectacle and there will be some amount of Mayo support by the sounds of things. I actually also think it was good that Donaghy came on the last day and exposed our 'weakness'.
We have time to react to that now but not only that but like the buc in room 101, our biggest fear is the Kerry high ball into Donaghy and the net being rattled. I do lay awake peaking out from under the duvet in fear at this very prospect. Now that those demons are exorcised, we must first contain that big fatach which is easier said than done but I expect a change at our number 3.
Christ ai'd give my left magarlaì to be there on Saturday but what can you do.

Predictions anybody?

Yeah I predict that I ll spend 8/9 hours 'driving' on Saturday. Maybe more. I d love to have Sidney along to show him how handy a venue it is . Operation Barbarossa was a Sunday drive compared this campaign!
latest advice I have from a Limerick man is through Portumna, Nenagh ( bringing Tipperary into the invasion/equation - bit like going through the Ardennes to get around the Maginot Line!) and Killaloe  This guy was on the level.
Of course Killaloe reminded me of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygr0V71O61E  but hoping it will be Kerry Martyrs on Saturday
As regards the match, the only prediction I want is yours Farr. - and as negative as possible please. Anything positive and Sidney the Shit Stirrer  will spend the day locked in the back of the jeep in driveway, with the engine running,and the wife searching for the hose to water the hanging baskets.

Is there anybody on here leaving from the Ballina area.What time would you want to be on the road at? I was thinking round 11?

I am.

11 would be fine but what day

There s people talking leaving about 10 around Ballina. Belmullet: 9 would do. Of course if you calculate it on distance you can leave at 1 o clock ( it s only 3 hours to Limerick  after all - right Sid ye p***k ) and listen to the game on the radio sitting in traffic. There s nice people on here will be able to tell who s covering it on radio. Could be good craic that.

Cheers Moy i was given the same advice as yourself from a Galway man that works in Limerick every day to head to Portunma and on to Nenagh and go in that way but your on the wrong side of the city for the Gaelic Grounds then.This really is unbelievable slobbering to get to a game.

You head  for Parteen from Killaloe and that will take you up to Thomond, which is as close to Gaelic Grounds as you could hope for. Of course if we all do that we ll create another jam! But if you stay on the N7 into the city from Nenagh .....

The people that thought this was a good idea are gobshites of the highest order. But we ll get through it.

There's a great little shortcut you take when you know traffic will be backed up on the Ennis road (which it will be on Saturday). After Gort, head out the R458 towards Tulla, head out then through Kilkeshin and sixmilebridge and follow that road til it takes you to the old cratloe road and then onto the LIT. Used to knock nearly half an hour off our trips years back when I was in the old LIT!
I heard the Davin Arms is closed I heard so mot sure where the best watering hole for a pre\post match pint would be.