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[Mayo are chokers]

History shows us that Mayo are chokers in Croke Park and only get to Finals the years that they win semi finals.

Are you saying if Mayo lose this semi final they won't reach the final?

Janey Mac! Either I or both you and Bunker need remedial help ASAP!
When did Mayo or any other county ever reach a final unless they won a semi to get there first?

My thoughts exactly Lar but presume Bunker was being sarcastic ?

I expect (and hope) that Mayo will win this semi final. Tyrone have a very tactically astute manager and (despite it not being their best ever panel) a competitive bunch of players who know what it takes to eek out narrow victories.

Mayo had every championship 2013 match won by half time. Tyrone will do everything in their power (negative, cynical etc) to ensure the westerners don't get a good start. Aidan O'Se will be targeted in the hope that he reacts and gets sent off. Vaughan the same. Cillian O'Connor will be hit on (but mostly off) the ball in the hope that he gets taken out of the game.

The plus for Mayo in all of this is that it's exactly what they need if they're to enter the AI final and win it. They need a dog of a match where they have to dig deep in the 2nd half in order to win ugly.

They have the overall skill, hunger, ambition and physical conditioning to beat this limited but determined Tyrone side. Mayo by 6pt.

[There just seems to be something different about this team from previous Mayo sides.]

It's hard to see anything other than a Mayo victory here.
There just seems to be something different about this team from previous Mayo sides.
I can see them going all the way this time

+1

Colm O`Rourke was one of the greatest forwards i seen, best player i seen play for Meath and one of the few players Dublin feared anytime they played them, still remember his performance back in 93 when he had a stormer even though on the losing team. That Meath team was full of hard men like Lyons, O`Malley, Harnan, Gerry Mc, O`Rourke, C Coyle etc rather went through you than round. They were over physical at the time many would say dirty, i wouldnt have called them cynical but there were very confrontational especially with Cork. As for him pullin and draggin, any time i say him play he literally had men hanging of him, Got a ferocious hit from K barr one time in 91,many man been stretched off with it, but got up and played on, and concentrated on winning the game not getting back at Barr!

O'Rourke's ability as a player or his physical toughness is not in doubt. That hit you refer to was a sandwich between Barr & Heary. He was knocked out, concussed but came back on and played on despite having no memory of doing so.

But by his own admission (after McEntee was sent off) he pulled down more Cork players than any other Meath player in the 2nd half of the replayed AI final. Intelligent, focussed but cynical. Totally hypocritical to have him on tv preaching about the merits of "free flowing football". He is well past his sell by date. RTE needs to do a clear out.

[I think he should go. But so also should O'Rourke. By his own admission he was a member of a high achieving but very cynical and often thuggish Mayo side. Very fond of the reverse elbow movement was our Colm as a defender approached him from behind after he won the ball. Always found it a bit rich to listen to O'Rourke lecturing about the evils of "pullin & draggin" when he was a past master of it himself ... particularly in the replayed AI final v Cork. Colm now is mostly an "I'll take the handy money" friendly old uncle type of analysist.]

I dunno..... Brolly has always been a shit stirring, disrespectful self publicist. To be fair to him his recent rant seemed genuine rather than orchestrated. But a bit late in the day for Joe to latch on to the high integrity platform.

I think he should go. But so also should O'Rourke. By his own admission he was a member of a high achieving but very cynical and often thuggish Mayo side. Very fond of the reverse elbow movement was our Colm as a defender approached him from behind after he won the ball. Always found it a bit rich to listen to O'Rourke lecturing about the evils of "pullin & draggin" when he was a past master of it himself ... particularly in the replayed AI final v Cork. Colm now is mostly an "I'll take the handy money" friendly old uncle type of analysist.

Spillane was (like O'Rourke) a brilliant footballer. But in his hey day he could track back in to his own defense and get on the ball like a Galvin or Dooher and he was a tremendous exponent in the olympic skills long before "puke football" Tyrone.  Leaving all that aside he is a very poor speaker and a faded sensationalist style analysist.

Point being... all  3 are past their sell by date and are a poor return for license payer's money. Get rid of Brolly. Get rid of all of them.

Somewhere...... a village is missing its idiot.

Edited the Meath instead of Mayo error. Stand by the rest of the post. Playing the man instead of the ball Jinxy. Colm would be proud of you.

Indiana we haven't won nearly as many underage titles as Galway but have competed very well at underage level in recent times. I agree with you that the knock on effect at senior level has yet to be seen but I still maintain underage success/competitiveness is key to altering this. Plus what we see as underage progress and you see as they same are very different.

I dunno..... Brolly has always been a shit stirring, disrespectful self publicist. To be fair to him his recent rant seemed genuine rather than orchestrated. But a bit late in the day for Joe to latch on to the high integrity platform.

I think he should go. But so also should O'Rourke. By his own admission he was a member of a high achieving but very cynical and often thuggish Meath side. Very fond of the reverse elbow movement was our Colm as a defender approached him from behind after he won the ball. Always found it a bit rich to listen to O'Rourke lecturing about the evils of "pullin & draggin" when he was a past master of it himself ... particularly in the replayed AI final v Cork. Colm now is mostly an "I'll take the handy money" friendly old uncle type of analysist.

Spillane was (like O'Rourke) a brilliant footballer. But in his hey day he could track back in to his own defense and get on the ball like a Galvin or Dooher and he was a tremendous exponent in the olympic skills long before "puke football" Tyrone.  Leaving all that aside he is a very poor speaker and a faded sensationalist style analysist.

Point being... all  3 are past their sell by date and are a poor return for license payer's money. Get rid of Brolly. Get rid of all of them.

Anyhow well done to the Rossie minors and in particular to Fergie O'Donnell. Still flying the flag and punching above our weight. Dividends at senior level will eventually be delivered.

[let us know when you win an ould senior game]

Absolutely mighty. So many heroes today. Delighted, nothing like winning a big championship game. Now let's do it again.

let us know when you win an ould senior game

Bit below the belt for for you Indiana. I normally concur with most of your posts as they are intelligent but pragmatic. Love the current Dub template under Gavin but love Mayo (God forgive me more).

The Rossies have punched well above their (numerical) weight at underage level these last few seasons. Doing everything right. Senior success will eventually come through as a direct consequence.

Bit unfair of you to deride a heroic 14 man minor win v a fancied Kildare side today. You have population & resources that the rest of us only can dream off.

PS genuinely not picking a fight.... really do respect your posts.... but take umbrage to this one.

Congratulations Mayo. Devastating and ruthless performance. I expected them to win by a few points so obviously never expected anything like what happened yesterday.

Donegal were a shambles and to be fair to them are carrying injuries to their top men which they dont have the bench to cover. But as McGuinness himself said yesterday that still doesnt take from an awesome Mayo performance.

I'm biased towards Mayo as they're a Connacht side + I particularly admire their manager and this bunch of players. They've progressed further each season, they work hard, they keep focussed and they play a very attractive brand of football. Mayo have shown an incredibly high level of consistency since 1996 and deserve to win Sam.

I think alot of other neutrals were happy to see them win in order to shove it down McGuinness's throat. I really dont know how himself of Gallagher expected their pre match comments to have a positive effect on their own team's performance or a negative one on their opponent's. For an expert in matters of the mind Jim made himself look very insecure and after his team' s performance.... foolish. McGee didnt do himself, his team mates, his manager or the sport in general any favours with his stamp. To be fair to the Donegal manager he was sporting in his post match comments but again alluded to his side being targeted. Yesterday was not only a victory for Mayo but a vindication of James Horan's class and integrity.

Where to now for the westerners? Tyrone are lurking in the long grass of course. Mickey Harte is a legendary strategist and my guess is that his main focus will be on using any means possible to stop Mayo getting a good start. In all their matches this year they had the game won by half time? Harte will be hoping to stay in touch in the first half in order to sow doubt in to Horan's player's minds.

Roscommon were unlucky not to beat Tyrone. Donegal beat them. Both sides were hammered by Mayo. However it's not as simple as that as the longer Tyrone remain in the championship the better they adapt to what's required to eek out narrow victories as evidenced by their 2pt winning margins this season.  I think this match will be a dog fight. I think Tyrone will cynically slow it down as much as possible but in a way this might be exactly what Mayo need if they are to progress to an AI final and win it when they get there this time. They need to play a match where they still have to win the game in the 2nd half. They need to win ugly.  Tyrone will provide them with the opportunity to do just that.

Longterm it's fair to say the Connacht men lack genuine finishers up front. But they compensate for that with having a spread of players from Higgins when he plays corner back to Andy Moran at corner forward who all are comfortable on the ball and can chip in a few scores each. Aidan O'Se in terms of pure primary possession and drive + Cillian O'Connor in terms of vision and finishing are vital to their cause. But at centre back and full they also have game changers. Thats before you mention Dillon's work rate and Freeman's ball winning abilities. I dont think Andy has the pace back in his legs yet to win ball out in front of his man. It's a pity Conroy isn't back.

I think it will be a Dublin V Mayo final. That will be a fascinating match up. Mayo's overall collective work ethic v Dublin's panache up front. But before that Tyrone will relish their opportunity to upset the apple cart. However I think this Mayo manager and his current panel are too focussed and grounded to fall for that trap. Well done again Mayo. Delighted for all the Mayo lads on this forum. Ye did the province proud. Drive on!

[Not the sort of stuff anyone is going to pin to a dressing room door is it?]

Excert from today's Irish Examiner
When asked what kind of relationship he had with the Donegal manager and his backroom team and would there be any banter between them Horan responded: "I wouldn't think so, no. Although maybe we've more banter with other teams, that might be a better way to say it. Look it, Jim McGuinness and Rory Gallagher on the sideline, they do their thing. When I'm on the sideline, I just focus on. What can I do to help the team that's on the field. That's all I do. I try and stay as composed as I can."

It was suggested the body language between the managers was cold and Horan said: "Maybe show me a team that has good body language towards Mr McGuinness on the sideline! Maybe that's a better question!"

Not the sort of stuff anyone is going to pin to a dressing room door is it? Dull as ditchwater

No. It's not. Intelligent, focussed & low key. Well done Horan.

He's trying to manage expectations but it's not low key nor could it ever be. Plenty of swagger in Jamesy's demeanour the last two years.

How do you mean "nor could it ever be?" What's that about? Where's the evidence of his "plenty of swagger" ?

Horan doesn't patronise the sides he beats with patronising praise (listen to his post Galway/Ross match interviews) but he doesn't gloat after victories either. His players don't showboat. He was the same as a player. Back your statements with evidence/examples...

Woudn't we be the happy campers if the worst thing that could be said about our managers over the years was that he always wears a hat...
Some people need to get out more 

+1000

[im far from alone.]

You're not fully understanding what i'm saying maybe. I personally take great pride in the points you allude to about no need for segregation etc and the general good banter is great.

My small point is, take me for example , i personally have no problem in shouting for Galway if they happen to end up last team in the west in the championship 98 and 01 celebrated for them but i could never shout for the Ross, thats honesty and most crowd from round where i'm from are the same, there is no malice in it , grew up with mates who were rossies but thats the way it is. Gloss over it if ya like but its the truth and im far from alone.

Pity you feel that way. I'm a Rossie but I hope Mayo beat Donegal and go on to win the AI final. As a Rossie.... a Connaught person or a neutral in general "I'm far from alone". Wallow in your bitterness Larry.

[You my friend are full of bull.]

Surely 4 concussions in 3 games is too many for any team to face? Should he not mention this at all? As has been said he didn't know they were playing Mayo at the time so why are the bottlers so up in arms about it?

maybe he didn't need the tactic against Laois as their poor performance against monaghan was enough to get the players past lowly Laois ( no offence intended)
Before the draw Donegal were in line to get Dublin Kerry or as it turned out Mayo , bigger better teams and psychological gloves come off.
Why didn't he come out with it before the Laois game?

Very simple, he wasn't asked.

As a matter of interest, what question was he asked when he came out with that ball of shite of an answer

When he was going on about what happened Mark McHugh in the Monaghan game they don't actually show the question he was asked on the Sunday Game.
Then he was asked about the incident on the sideline with McNulty and he started on a rant about third man tackles and his players being targeted.

The question he was asked was "Do you feel that your key players are being targetted?".
As for the incident with McNulty, The Sunday Game clearly showed Murphy being third man tackled miles from the action & McGuinness went off on one. Brian Cody did exactly the same thing over the weekend when a decision went against him but no one dares bring that up.

You my friend are full of bull. Your telling lies about the questions he was asked and the Sunday game clearly shows Murphy falling over in a heap looking for a handy free. Then Jimmy describing this as similar to the tackle on McHugh.

+1. Over flowing with bull.

Looking at him in interviews and listening to him lately, the guy seems such a bore. Does he always wear a hat? I have a good mate in his thirties and never seen him without his baseball hat apart from his wedding day.

Since there is a jimmy thread with a lot of jimmy bashing going on, i thought jamsie deserves his own this week in the build up to the big game. Now jimmy has many faults no doubt, and done things i don't agree with, but at least he in an interesting character from his long lasting student life to maturity as all ireland winning manager. Jimmy sounds like the players would go through a brick wall for him, maybe horan has great motivational skills as well? Horan's idea of psychology including referring to the all ireland final last year in the build up as 'GAME 5', the semi was GAME 4, what a farce!

Even though I was convinced donegal would beat mayo well last year in the final, I would give Mayo a strong chance on sunday as I think their preparations have been better lately. They should be fresher, though maybe the tough recent battles will stand to donegal better, we wont know til sunday.

Jaysus you dug deep to try and find some shite to throw at Horan in this thread. Pretty much back fired and he's came out looking even better as a result. Nice one. Well done.