Messages

[Tipp are not actually a good team and Mayo should have hammered them]

"Laying down a marker" .... this seems to be the sexy new phrase to bandy about regarding Mayo. It feels however like something ultimately meaningless like "fiscal space" ....

Is it meant to mean a marker in the minds of the Kerry or Dublin lads that will ensure they will actually give Mayo respect and ensure that the the mindset will be fully focused for the final ?
Does anyone really think that is required and that Dublins most recent memory of the semi last year (with Dublin now a less imposing side in my view and Mayo - if nothing else - a tactically smarter side) will be the most immediate reference point while for Kerry they will surely be casting their minds back to the 2014 epic semi-final


Is it a marker in the minds of the Mayo players to convince themselves that can they put in an All-Ireland winning performance if they need to.
Does anyone really think that the Mayo players will be nothing other than supremely confident that they can go out and play to their max potential when the day comes ? That now, at the end of August, that they are where they wanted to be at the start of the season ? They are long enough at this game to know there is only 1 stat that counts and shooting the lights out against Tipperary would count for nothing (does anyone really belief that any Mayo player that left that dressing room v Tipp for the 2nd half was mentally tuned in enough to give every last fibre of their being to secure a massively comprehensive victory ... something that would have been completely unnecessary ?!).


And if Dublin put an unconvincing performance in against Kerry but still win by 3 or 4 points, will people be questioning the fact that they have been unable to put down a 'marker' against either Donegal or Kerry - the only 2 games they have had this year to date. Of course they won't.


Marker ? ? ? Wheres the bloody tiippex


I'm not talking up our team .... the reality is regardless of who we would play in the final that if we were to play them 4 times, it would end up something like 2 wins to them, a draw and 1 win to us (someone can calculate what odds that would equate to)..... but lets not be disingenuous in any discussions between now and the final. We can leave that to the Dublin or Kerry boys

Great post
Theres also a distinct contradiction in the reaction to the Mayo Tipp semi final. Everyone should be respectful of Tipps performance, they are a good team we were told. Mayo beat them by 5 points, as it was only 5 points and Mayo never got out of third gear Mayo are now bad. So which is it? Tipp are not actually a good team and Mayo should have hammered them therefore Mayo are a bad team because we didnt, or Tipp are actually a good team and Mayo beating them by 5 points was a reasonable result? I'm confused as to what way we are being told we are supposed to think by our overlord masters in RTE, the Irish Independent and twitter. Can they put out a statement clarifying soon please as I need to know if there is any point having the dinner early and cycling to Croke Park on the 18th or not.

This.

I don't care what you say, its our overlord masters I want to hear from.
Unless you are one of them......... <DUN DUN DUN>

"Laying down a marker" .... this seems to be the sexy new phrase to bandy about regarding Mayo. It feels however like something ultimately meaningless like "fiscal space" ....

Is it meant to mean a marker in the minds of the Kerry or Dublin lads that will ensure they will actually give Mayo respect and ensure that the the mindset will be fully focused for the final ?
Does anyone really think that is required and that Dublins most recent memory of the semi last year (with Dublin now a less imposing side in my view and Mayo - if nothing else - a tactically smarter side) will be the most immediate reference point while for Kerry they will surely be casting their minds back to the 2014 epic semi-final


Is it a marker in the minds of the Mayo players to convince themselves that can they put in an All-Ireland winning performance if they need to.
Does anyone really think that the Mayo players will be nothing other than supremely confident that they can go out and play to their max potential when the day comes ? That now, at the end of August, that they are where they wanted to be at the start of the season ? They are long enough at this game to know there is only 1 stat that counts and shooting the lights out against Tipperary would count for nothing (does anyone really belief that any Mayo player that left that dressing room v Tipp for the 2nd half was mentally tuned in enough to give every last fibre of their being to secure a massively comprehensive victory ... something that would have been completely unnecessary ?!).


And if Dublin put an unconvincing performance in against Kerry but still win by 3 or 4 points, will people be questioning the fact that they have been unable to put down a 'marker' against either Donegal or Kerry - the only 2 games they have had this year to date. Of course they won't.


Marker ? ? ? Wheres the bloody tiippex


I'm not talking up our team .... the reality is regardless of who we would play in the final that if we were to play them 4 times, it would end up something like 2 wins to them, a draw and 1 win to us (someone can calculate what odds that would equate to)..... but lets not be disingenuous in any discussions between now and the final. We can leave that to the Dublin or Kerry boys

Great post
Theres also a distinct contradiction in the reaction to the Mayo Tipp semi final. Everyone should be respectful of Tipps performance, they are a good team we were told. Mayo beat them by 5 points, as it was only 5 points and Mayo never got out of third gear Mayo are now bad. So which is it? Tipp are not actually a good team and Mayo should have hammered them therefore Mayo are a bad team because we didnt, or Tipp are actually a good team and Mayo beating them by 5 points was a reasonable result? I'm confused as to what way we are being told we are supposed to think by our overlord masters in RTE, the Irish Independent and twitter. Can they put out a statement clarifying soon please as I need to know if there is any point having the dinner early and cycling to Croke Park on the 18th or not.

Anyone listen to Liam Kearins on off the ball last night? Thought he sounded a bit immature for an experienced manager and didn't have much praise for us at the weekend. I suppose that's the way they are down in Tralee.

It came up on my podcast feed but I didn't bother listening to it as I reckoned it would only be annoying, and it sounds like I was right. The narrative of Tipp lost it and aren't they great lads, is starting to get abit annoying now, as is the "we were robbed by the ref" craic. When Tipp win a Munster championship they can perhaps be called great lads but it wouldn't surprise me for this Tipp team to do nothing after similar to Wexford in 2008 and Fermanagh in 2004. They'll take the odd scalp along the way but Liameen wouldn't want to be getting too carried away with himself.
Anyways, back to looking for tickets to the final....

In other news, Wolly's podcast is quiet good surprisingly. I say surprisingly because on Off The Ball he came across to me like he was just trying to be controversial all the time. Hes much more measured on this and makes a lot of sense. in fairness to him he must have some respect from the players as he manages to get them all on there, Aidan O'Shea, Michael Murphy, Andy Moran and Eamonn MCgee over recent weeks. Asks them uncomfortable questions as well without being a complete p***k about it.
His sidekick Conal something or other who I think joe.ie have foisted upon him can be a bit annoying but he doesn't say a massive amount. Speaking of lads who don't say a massive amount Paul Galvin has been on their a couple of times, in this weeks one he says the Gooch is going to make a massive impact on Sunday. Get yer money on him now for top Kerry scorer or something like that

The age of the pundits or when they played is not relevant. Cyril Farrell no spring chicken is worth listening to on the hurling. It's the content that's at issue. RTE guys just guess what's going on often incorrectly. On Sky they looked at the black card and felt on balance it was a yellow but could see why the ref gave it. I am fed up with RTE co commentators and commentators not even getting the offence right in spite of several replays just pure lazy.

I didn't mention age, although its a fair conclusion to draw, I was referring to recent involvement with the game at a high level. I think Cyril is an exception to the case but that maybe more to do with the passion the man has for the game and perhaps he has the kind of guy that is just good at it. The others just seem to hate the game and don't have any recent relevance to Gaelic football as it is now. For whatever reason, the hurling package is infinitely more superior than the football and its been that way for quiet a long time.

Some who are closer to it than myself would say the county board would nearly prefer to lose another all Ireland then have their authority undermined once again. Maybe that is not being fair to them, but I think we've all been involved with or seen committees in action over the years where that wouldn't be a completely outlandish statement.

What do we make of the potential club action that was agreed to be played this weekend. Now it seems there is a bit of rethinking going on...
Ger Cafferky on Twitter saying it's not fair as it would mean the guys have their focus and prep effected.

Just bothers me how easy it is to use this focus excuse:
Don't talk to media - FOCUS!
Don't go out in public - FOCUS!

If they are that easily put off what hope have they winning an All Ireland?! Slightly off topic but it bothers me when I hear all this shite.
Now Mayo have a sideshow either way as there seems to be a lot of natter with Mayo folk online about it.

Your either misunderstanding or misinterpreting what hes saying, with focus he is referring to training cycles. This should be a recovery week for Mayo, if they are going out playing club ball this weekend and focusing on that,  then that is a change in focus and some recovery has to take place next week when it should be the start of a three week hard training cycle heading to an all Ireland. It cant be that if they are recovering from a match. Monday is then a recovery session.

this nonsense about the club games this week would want to get sorted out fairly quick though before the national media pick up on it and it becomes a side show.
Ger Caff on twitter adding his spake to say call them off

The Sunday Game is beyond pathetic at this stage as is the actual live commentary and punditry. How can fellas who played over 30 years ago be anyway relevant to what is happening. Its a microcosm of Irish life and is why we see all these issues with the boards of charities, sports governing bodies, committees and the like. Get a job, don't make any waves and you can do what the f**k you like for as long as you like and no-one will hold you accountable.
The irony of it when those clowns get paid on RTE GAA coverage get to be judge, jury and executioner on players, coaches and manager with no right of reply.
The difference between sky and rte is incredible, with sky you have guys who have actually competed and won at the highest level giving their professional opinions on what has just happened and what might be about to happen rather than the rte made up owl shite ranging from outrage to gushing depending on the mood and how well the sleeping tablets and laxatives worked the night before in the nursing home.

And its not like you can get away from it on radio either, the f**king Marty Squad? Seriously.

[without Peter Canavan who retired in 2005]

Its a funny one, Mayo seem to play at whatever level the opposition play at. As we're going the road of historical comparisons, this year reminds me of Tyrone 2008.
back door, beat that years curiosity shop wonders Wexford in the semi by 6 points (I think) without scoring a goal. They sailed ahead in the first half, Wexford got it back to 2 or 3 in the second half with a goal and Tyrone upped it again to close it out. All the plaudits were for Wexford afterwards although they never did a whole lot after that really.
Then in the final, without Peter Canavan who retired in 2005, they stifled 3 in a row seeking Kerry, it was an exciting game from a tension and tactics point of view, but was probably poor enough on quality. Tyrone didn't care, nor should they have.
Tyrone got some respect from the pundits and the bookies in the build up, as they had 2 Sams already, mayo wont get that, but that's understandable. But Kerry were fairly warm favourites.
having said that, Tyrone had a bit of a hex over Kerry in those times so I think that helped as well, which mayo don't have. Tyrone had no fear about Kerry and it wound the Kerry boys up no end that they couldn't get to grips with that Tyrone team. This Mayo team don't fear Kerry or Dublin, but Kerry would be walking an inch taller facing Mayo in a final rather than Tyrone. As many of the Kingdom dwellers said before the 2006 final, "Mayo, sure we can post that one in". They weren't wrong then, they would be now but they'll be busting to beat the Dubs on Sunday for many reasons, but one of the main ones will be they will believe that they have essentially won Sam if they beat Dublin.
Here ends the random stream of consciousness

Random indeed. Peter retired in 2005 after all.

Exactly, that's what I said
Who can blame a man for mixing up Canavans retirement in 2005 and Sean Cavanagh's injury against Wexford even if it didn't stop him playing in the final? All I remember is the tears with him coming off, and that both of their surnames began with C. Blame the years of hard drinking from all Ireland final defeats!

I think that was a black card. He dragged him (deliberately) back when he was running through, and he brought him to the ground. If the ref thought it was deliberate, then it's a clear black card.

The only mitigant would be if he thought it was accidental, and that is subject to the refs discretion.

It annoys me reading people saying Lee Keegan should have had a black card. For what? He didn't , that I could see, commit a black card offence. People say he deserved one for 'constant fouling' of Quinlivan, or for pulling his jersey. I despair.

I agree, there seems to be this running narrative of people who don't know what they are talking about wanting lee Keegan to get sanctioned or sent off. that's what annoyed me most about the Sean Cavanagh/Mickey Harte pity party after the quarter final re the targeting bullshit, they some of it would stick. And they knew that so I don't understand why they would do it.  Something in the locker for down the road maybe but at that stage, and even still, it could only have an advantage for Kerry or Dublin. So why do it?
When you listen to ex IC players talk about him, they are full of admiration for what he does. I'm sure hes a complete dose to be marked by, he does pull and drag off the ball at times, and sure maybe God help us, he might even trash talk, but there is zero evidence he has done anything bar be a damn good defender, and is not too bad going forward.
This year he has played 6 games, his man has scored 1 point from play. He has scored 6 himself!
Against Sean Cavanagh he had 33 possessions, Cavanagh had 9 before he was sent off with 10 minutes to go.
I really don't understand where the negativity is coming from, so far albeit with one game to go, it has to be one of the best defensive displays from a player in modern times. Look what he did to Diarmuid Connolly over two games last year. I don't get it.

Its a funny one, Mayo seem to play at whatever level the opposition play at. As we're going the road of historical comparisons, this year reminds me of Tyrone 2008.
back door, beat that years curiosity shop wonders Wexford in the semi by 6 points (I think) without scoring a goal. They sailed ahead in the first half, Wexford got it back to 2 or 3 in the second half with a goal and Tyrone upped it again to close it out. All the plaudits were for Wexford afterwards although they never did a whole lot after that really.
Then in the final, without Peter Canavan who retired in 2005, they stifled 3 in a row seeking Kerry, it was an exciting game from a tension and tactics point of view, but was probably poor enough on quality. Tyrone didn't care, nor should they have.
Tyrone got some respect from the pundits and the bookies in the build up, as they had 2 Sams already, mayo wont get that, but that's understandable. But Kerry were fairly warm favourites.
having said that, Tyrone had a bit of a hex over Kerry in those times so I think that helped as well, which mayo don't have. Tyrone had no fear about Kerry and it wound the Kerry boys up no end that they couldn't get to grips with that Tyrone team. This Mayo team don't fear Kerry or Dublin, but Kerry would be walking an inch taller facing Mayo in a final rather than Tyrone. As many of the Kingdom dwellers said before the 2006 final, "Mayo, sure we can post that one in". They weren't wrong then, they would be now but they'll be busting to beat the Dubs on Sunday for many reasons, but one of the main ones will be they will believe that they have essentially won Sam if they beat Dublin.
Here ends the random stream of consciousness

Not alone will it be the greatest embarrassment of all time it will be one on the modern shocks if Dublin don't do the 2 in a row.

Good luck to them. I'm dreding the final. Our only hope is that Kerry do some serious injuries to ye.

+1, sadly.

It won't stop ye getting a sugar rush the next three or four weeks. Mid West, the Western and the News with massive souvenir supplements, interviews with ex-players assuring the masses there's no curse and that these lads are from different stock, touring the schools in the county with the local players visiting, Irish TV will probably have a live show from Mitchels clubhouse.

Full turkey time.

but wouldn't ye love to have that problem??

8 pages, now we're motoring

I've a bit of a soft spot for Mayo and as much as I would love to see them win an All-Ireland, I cant help but root for Tipp.
They beat us fair and square and they are the where they are on merit, but are still massive underdogs.
Its the stuff of dreams at the minute and wouldnt it be some story (would make a great movie) to see them in an AI final and exacting revenge on Kerry!

it would also be the death of football in the county, as everyone would be drunk for about 6 months.

True, I said before the 2013 final that we should withdraw from the 2014 championship whatever happens. Lose it and we might as well pack it in for a while and concentrate on hurling. Win and we'll all be on the beer for a year a la Donegal circa 1992. In fairness to the lads they are still there making a fist of it. I don't know how they do it. If they ever do manage to win it, it'd make some book/film/tshirt/play/documentary on One

I've a bit of a soft spot for Mayo and as much as I would love to see them win an All-Ireland, I cant help but root for Tipp.
They beat us fair and square and they are the where they are on merit, but are still massive underdogs.
Its the stuff of dreams at the minute and wouldnt it be some story (would make a great movie) to see them in an AI final and exacting revenge on Kerry!

It would be stuff of fantasy and fairytales, whatever about the year of the underdog, they have a chance of beating mayo in the semi but they have absolutely zero chance of laying a glove on either Dublin or Kerry in the final.
And that's not necessarily that they are a bad team, an all Ireland final is a completely different kettle of fish and while I'd give them a chance if they were playing Kerry in the semi (but less of a chance than they have against Mayo), they'd have no chance against Dublin. Shocks of that magnitude in a final don't happen anymore in "GAA circumstances" (as Effin Eddie would say). Its too professional for that. But they can happen in a semi.
Tipp have a good chance, Mayo will be trying to do just enough I think and don't have as much work done on Tipp as they did on Tyrone. I think when they looked at the championship fixtures this year the management would have felt there was a strong chance of playing Tyrone in a semi and might have prepared for that. I also expect them to naturally drop their performance by a few percent from the Tyrone performance, no matter what anyone says.

I don't subscribe to this "theres no pressure on Tipp" nonsense either though. "They have nothing to lose", they have a lot to lose, theres a massive prize on offer, win, lose or draw it is still a phenomenal achievement for an inter county footballer to play in an all Ireland senior final. That creates pressure. As does expectation of course, and the expectation will be on Mayo to win it so both teams are under there own types of pressure. We'll see who handles it best on the day. Tipp don't need this distraction of club fixtures with the county board, but that will either distract them or drive them on "nobody likes us" etc. Can work both ways