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[They knew, deep down, that they should have beaten Mayo by at least seven points.]

To be honest MM, it had turned into a training spin by HT and Kevin ran the bench in the second half - was good to see Michael Daly get some game time under his belt.  John Divilly's considered  thoughts below -

When players have real belief that their team is good enough to win a Championship game, then we see good decision-making and football played with a real purpose, writes John Divilly.


Their style is aggressive and they are proactive. However, if players go into a game with fear or a lack of real belief, then their decision-making will be tentative, passive and reactive. Galway were the former yesterday while Sligo were the latter.

Championship football is meant to be the hardest, meanest, and toughest. No quarters asked or given. Galway brought this mantra to the table in the first quarter in Pearse Stadium, while Sligo were in bank-holiday mode. It was epic Galway at times and they had time and space to play the game on their terms. But how did Galway create these terms?

The Galway footballers threw off the shackles. They knew, deep down, that they should have beaten Mayo by at least seven points. They were determined to put up a big score. They ran hard, fast, and often at Sligo in the first ten minutes in pods of threes and fours. The give and go strategy was in full flow as Galway weaved through Sligo. The half-forward line of Heaney, Walsh, and Brannigan were lethal. No wastage. Points angled over from all positions around the arc. Great kicking techniques showing skills of the highest level. The most impressive thing was that all three players kicked scores off both left and right feet.

The inside line of Burke, Comer, and McHugh were bamboozling the Sligo defence. Sligo had an extra defender, and sometimes two, trying to stop Comer and Burke winning first-time ball. They failed. The extra defenders were marking space and were happy to protect the D. Galway countered this very simply by always passing to the outside of their forwards.

Sligo were better off trying to double-mark Comer or Burke. There are not many defenders in the country who will win clean ball in front of these two Galway attackers. Before the inside pair even won the ball, the supporting cast were already in full flight. Sligo were very, very naive in their defending techniques. Roscommon won't be so naive.

Roscommon will have duly noted that the Sligo defence were very 'nice'. They never got real hands on the Galway attackers. They were allowed to dictate the tempo at their leisure. This may seem harsh on the Sligo lads. But this game was over after 15 minutes.

In fact, Galway could have been 12 points ahead after the first quarter. They had a lot of hand- and kick-passes intercepted at the final juncture. Surprisingly, it was Ian Burke who was the main culprit. He was the only Galway forward not to score in the first half. He put that right in the second half with a neat 1-2. His second point came from a Damien Comer tap-down. He sold a deft sidestep with a bounce and tapped a point over. His goal came from a mazy Shane Walsh run.

Shane is often castigated by the Galway fans because with all his talents, he often misfires in front of goal. Not yesterday. Four points from play with four attempts. He left a few Sligo lads with dust in their eyes zooming by them. He was one of Galway's best performers along with Damien Comer and Tom Flynn.

I thought Sean Kelly was outstanding. He hoovered up huge amounts of breaks and from 1-2 registered from play, his first point was the best.

Sligo's Pat Hughes had moved to wing-forward for all their restarts. He was successful with the first two as Sean Andy O Ceallaigh wasn't sure if he should follow his man so far out. Kelly put that tactic to bed with one play. He out-fielded Pat Hughes in the Galway half-back line. He soldiered forward with purpose. He offloaded the ball, kept his run going, got the ball back, and drilled over a great score. Simple yet stylish. He's going to be hard to shift from the Galway rearguard after yesterday. His pace will be needed against Roscommon because for all Galway's dominance yesterday, there was a lot of space on show for a more potent attack. Sligo kicked 13 wides and created some very scoreable goal chances.

Kevin Walsh will want his defence to answer why Sligo were allowed into the scoring zone so often. This is not a negative on the Galway team or defence. This is a question the players will need to answer honestly because this is where Roscommon will try to hurt us.

Sligo got a lot of breaking ball in the second half. Was this because we were missing Paul Conroy and Ciaran Duggan? Was it a direct result of Tom Flynn going off? Was it that our positioning was wrong under the breaking ball in the second half? Or was it simply a case of the Tribesmen taking the foot slightly off the pedal as they knew Sligo were only playing for pride?

The majority of Ruairi Lavelle's kickouts went long. Galway went short with two at the very end and we scored 1-1 as a direct result. Sligo, yet again, couldn't get a hand on these two penetrating attacks. Gary O'Donnell kicked the point and Damien Comer produced a Joe Canning style 'catch and shot on the turn'. A marksman-style goal.

When Sligo did look threatening there was a lot of space in front of the Galway goal. Kyle Cawley and Adrian Marren won lots of possession off Declan Kyne and David Wynne. Galway will have to work harder on closing these channels for the Connacht final.

Where will it be played? Who cares. The Galway players will want to right the wrongs for last year. They want to wrestle that Nestor Cup back. Kevin McStay says "his team will not be moved". Stay put Kevin, we're coming to you. We respect you as provincial champions, but we don't fear you.

Hilarious stuff from Divilly here! According to Dontfoul, Mayo had 27 shots out of 35 attacks compared to Galway's 23 out of 34. This despite Mayo playing with 14 men for 60 per cent of the match. Galway took their chances and deserved to win but 'should have won by at least 7' my hole. 

[Munster]

For Mayo, the counties we have yet to play in championship are:

Munster
Waterford

Ulster
Antrim
Monaghan

Leinster
Wicklow
Carlow
Kilkenny

There's a good chance one of these counties will be dropping off this list in a couple of weeks time.

i dont know if this has been mentioned already but the capacity of mc hale park for this game will be 28,000. well below what the ground can comfortably hold.
this will put a bit of pressure on tickets.

21,784 at the Mayo v Galway game in 2016 and 22,046 at the meeting last year. Its a hyped up game but i think the attendance this year will be less than 28,000

You would expect a lot more Galway interest this year than in 2016, plus it was a shitty day weather-wise in 2016.
I would say it will definitely be threatening the 28k mark - and I predict people complaining "how the fck is that a sellout!?" when they see all the space on the concrete slabs

I'd be sceptical about that 28,000 figure. It came from a Martin Breheny article where he gave no direct quote stating the capacity was 28,000. My guess is that he pulled it out of his hole, as usual.   

Anytime Mayo tried to break quickly they were fouled, it was definite tactic and barely a name taken, D O'Connor was targeted too; Thought he was fouled a lot.

And they have it down to a fine art, this disguising of the foul is near impossible for the ref to call it.

It's about time we started to learn that 'art' ourselves. Dublin players were given way too much freedom to counter attack and take quick frees. Same story in the Galway and Kerry games. We need to get smart and start tactically fouling around the middle.

[brawls]

Atrocious performance from Mayo. We were completely out of ideas when it came to breaking through the Galway blanket, while at the opposite end Galway seemed to find gaps in our defence with ease.

As we were missing 8 starters from the All Ireland final, I wouldn't be pushing any panic buttons but at the same time it's clear that our panel players beyond the first 15/16 are just not at the required level. The era after this great team fades away is looking pretty bleak at the moment.

A few points on today,

Cillian now has a few weeks without any games, he needs to use this time wisely and get his head right. That red card has been coming for a while now. I'm all for using cuteness to gain an advantage but he has become very obvious and has developed a reputation which will get into referee's heads.

Jason Gibbons is an honest player who always gives his all but he has been around for years now and come championship, he has never made an impact. It's difficult to see how last year, management didn't deem him good enough for a place on the panel yet this year, they started him for the first 3 matches of the league. I know that both Tom and Seamie have been unavailable but surely these games would have been ideal to try out younger players.

Conor Loftus needs to spend a bit of time in the gym. He was pushed off the ball a few times today and looked like a minor at times. He is a very talented player but today's performance would be a bit concerning.

Finally, how many Gaelic football matches descend into brawls in injury time nowadays? It's a complete farce at this stage. Any team carrying a lead into the last few minutes would be mad not to start one as the benefits far outweigh the negative consequences. I'm not complaining about Galway here as I hope we would have done the same had we been in the lead but something seriously needs to be done. Immediate red cards, a time-clock, and a harsher punishment for preventing a quick free all need to be looked at.

There are no 'brawls' in inter-county football anymore.
That was 'handbags' in danger of boiling over into a 'fracas'.

Ye royals must be longing for the day that the true 'brawl' returns. Seemed to suit ye!

Atrocious performance from Mayo. We were completely out of ideas when it came to breaking through the Galway blanket, while at the opposite end Galway seemed to find gaps in our defence with ease.

As we were missing 8 starters from the All Ireland final, I wouldn't be pushing any panic buttons but at the same time it's clear that our panel players beyond the first 15/16 are just not at the required level. The era after this great team fades away is looking pretty bleak at the moment.

A few points on today,

Cillian now has a few weeks without any games, he needs to use this time wisely and get his head right. That red card has been coming for a while now. I'm all for using cuteness to gain an advantage but he has become very obvious and has developed a reputation which will get into referee's heads.

Jason Gibbons is an honest player who always gives his all but he has been around for years now and come championship, he has never made an impact. It's difficult to see how last year, management didn't deem him good enough for a place on the panel yet this year, they started him for the first 3 matches of the league. I know that both Tom and Seamie have been unavailable but surely these games would have been ideal to try out younger players.

Conor Loftus needs to spend a bit of time in the gym. He was pushed off the ball a few times today and looked like a minor at times. He is a very talented player but today's performance would be a bit concerning.

Finally, how many Gaelic football matches descend into brawls in injury time nowadays? It's a complete farce at this stage. Any team carrying a lead into the last few minutes would be mad not to start one as the benefits far outweigh the negative consequences. I'm not complaining about Galway here as I hope we would have done the same had we been in the lead but something seriously needs to be done. Immediate red cards, a time-clock, and a harsher punishment for preventing a quick free all need to be looked at.

I'd settle for Carney, Canning and Carr in the studio if there was an absolute guarantee that they'd never ever enter a commentary box again.

While I'm no fan of the other two, Tommy Carr still getting to commentate on matches tells you all you need to know about the idiots running The Sunday Game.

3 changes that need to happen:

1: Time clock. I know there were plans to trial this a couple of years ago but the powers that be decided against it. Can anyone remember why? Let's be honest, timing as it currently stands is a complete farce. When's the last time a tight match hasn't descended into time-wasting, injury time handbags? Now that they're doing away with (most) replays, they might be more open to a clock.

2. Automatic yellow for the prevention of a quick free kick. This is still widespread, moving the ball forward is not enough of a deterrent.

3. Enforce the steps rule. Either enforce it or get rid of the rule.

Well I think yesterday's game showed up some of the bufoonery that passes for Gaelic Football punditry out there. We've heard everything from there being a top 3 only to the old classic of Mayo having no inside forwards. Then again, maybe we should be thankful as, to some extent, I think Fitzmaurice bought into the narrative about the Mayo forwards. He left his full back line totally isolated, similar to the way we used to in days gone by.

There has been a massive clamour within Mayo recently for a complete return to the running game. While, I agree there is times when it's needed, yesterday vindicated managements persistence in sticking with a kick passing game. I know a draw isn't enough for this group or indeded for the county, however, I feel we would have been facing the usual Kerry victory had Mayo not had the kicking game in their arsenal.

Looking ahead to the replay, I reckon Kerry have the bigger challenge facing them. Mayo's scope for improvement revolve massively around the kickout. We lost 8 of our own first half kickouts, that is astronomical and we probably would have won the game had not been for this. Although Clarke must take some of the blame, I think he was instructed by management to go long. Things changed for the better in the second half when he went short but he should have been instructed to change tack far earlier. We also need to press the Kerry kickout far more than we did.

Kerry on the other hand face the conundrum of what to do with their full back line. Do they employ a sweeper? or stick to their guns and hope the result falls on their side the next day. Knowing Kerry and replays, they will probably change things up but it is very hard to get a sweeper system right when you have not been using it all year. And even if they do change it up, that should give more space to the Mayo runners to attack from deep. This is the major benefit of Mayo having 2 different attacking game plans. Despite what many say, this is a very good Kerry team and they are capable of coming up with the answers but I am hopeful that Mayo will close it out the next day.

Despite their buffoonery they probably realised that Kerry pushed up on kickouts, which consequently forced Clarke to go long, which consequently meant mayo had limited opportunities to run from deep and also consequently meant that when they did win a kick out there was space in front of their full forwards which consequently would encourage any team to kick it in. Consequently.

Kerry tried to push up on Mayo kickouts in the 2nd half too. It was Mayo who changed it up at half time and CONSEQUENTLY only lost 1 one kickout in the 2nd half. You tell me which Mayo strategy was better, the 1st half or 2nd half one?

Well I think yesterday's game showed up some of the buffoonery that passes for Gaelic Football punditry out there. We've heard everything from there being a top 3 only to the old classic of Mayo having no inside forwards. Then again, maybe we should be thankful as, to some extent, I think Fitzmaurice bought into the narrative about the Mayo forwards. He left his full back line totally isolated, similar to the way we used to in days gone by.

There has been a massive clamour within Mayo recently for a complete return to the running game. While, I agree there is times when it's needed, yesterday vindicated managements persistence in sticking with a kick passing game. I know a draw isn't enough for this group or indeded for the county, however, I feel we would have been facing the usual Kerry victory had Mayo not had the kicking game in their arsenal.

Looking ahead to the replay, I reckon Kerry have the bigger challenge facing them. Mayo's scope for improvement revolves massively around the kickout. We lost 8 of our own first half kickouts, that is astronomical and we probably would have won the game had it not been for this. Although Clarke must take some of the blame, I think he was instructed by management to go long. Things changed for the better in the second half when he went short but he should have been instructed to change tack far earlier. We also need to press the Kerry kickout far more than we did.

Kerry on the other hand face the conundrum of what to do with their full back line. Do they employ a sweeper? or stick to their guns and hope the result falls on their side the next day. Knowing Kerry and replays, they will probably change things up but it is very hard to get a sweeper system right when you have not been using it all year. And even if they do change it up, that should give more space to the Mayo runners to attack from deep. This is the major benefit of Mayo having 2 different attacking game plans. Despite what many say, this is a very good Kerry team and they are capable of coming up with the answers but I am hopeful that Mayo will close it out the next day.

Just when it seemed like it had been sorted, our inability to defend leads comes back to haunt us. Since this team first came on the scene, it has arguably been our biggest downfall. Both Lee and Chris not being on the field for the last 20 minutes was crucial but it doesn't excuse it. It needs to get sorted quick or we face a similar end this year.

Still, i'd prefer to focus on the positives. Cillian O Connor, 11 points, 6 from play, 3 off the left, 3 off the right. Anyone who says that he isn't among the top forwards in the country is talking shite. With himself, Aidan and Lee firing on all cylinders, we should be able to give any team a run for their money.

[Durcan should never have taken that shot off his weaker foot.]

It had an impact but it was of your own doing. I don't think Mayo players will be saying today if it wasn't for that sending off. They'll know they didn't do enough to win that game when it was there for either team.

You were gobsmacked by jh analysis about Mayo not being of required pace or intensity. Well I don't think they were.
If Comer had hit O'Connor like that in 2013, Mayo lads would have buried him. There was no reaction. The Mayo I've seen regularly at the business end didn't seem to be there. Durcan had a bad wide when he came off the shoulder a la Lee Keegan. They just didn't click when they looked like they might and needed to!
The challenge of going down to 14 is something Mayo lads would normally relish.

Comer wasn't there in 2013 and it was a fair hit anyway. The only concern at that stage was a score anyway.
Durcan should never have taken that shot off his weaker foot.
Yeah, this team played their best half of football in drawn semi v Kerry a few years ago with 14 men and were ultimately let down at the death by a sideline that must have had a brain freeze.
Now I know you will probably take this as a criticism but I don't think there is any Div. 1 team that would have fancied going into Salthill yesterday against Galway, in pretty good shape, in probably the worst conditions I've seen for a Championship game. Even before the throw-in Padraig Joyce acknowledged that Galway were used to playing in windy conditions there.
I see some Galway posters are hurting about lack of credit for the win. Not so. They got the Prodigal Son stuff in the few bits I read anyway. On the other hand Mayo are carved up again for losing. Will the loser of Tyrone/Donegal be dismissed as readily?
In other provinces, Dublin and Kerry are fattening up on Carlows and Clares. Hardly lion's den stuff - which Salthill yesterday was.
Saying that we have issues. Keegan should be at 5, Boyle should always be in the team and discipline isn't great. That's just for starters.

Ya, shot selection, knowing when to lay it off and who to lay it off to is something that is killing us. Paddy is a very accurate kicker when he has time to line up a shot but can be wasteful when shooting on the run. He has serious pace but needs to lay it off a bit more imo. A great goal opportunity was also butchered against Sligo when he didn't offload it.

Similar story with Kirby's goal chance the last day. While it was a great stop by Johnny Heaney, both Cillian and Diarmuid were free in an acre of space had he looked up.

In the last few minutes, we needed to get Cillian on the ball. He was screaming for it at the very end but Doc gave the ball to the inexperienced Regan instead. Don't want to be harsh on lads who are putting in a serious effort but it's our inability to take these kind of opportunities that has ultimately prevented the team from getting over the line. We need our runners to get the ball to Cillian and Andy more often.


     

Any thoughts on teams??

I'd go with something like:

Clarke
Harrison Barrett Newcombe
Keegan Boyle Durcan
Parsons Kirby
Boland AOS Mcloughlin
Moran COC Higgins

Higgins playing sweeper

Can't see Boland starting ahead of Diarmuid.

Scroll down on this page and it shows you which matches are A and which are B.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/1013/823897-live-gaa-championship-2017-draw/

Well done Cavan. Had a plan! Kept their discipline and deserved their victory. Mayo started well and looked like they could pull away in the first half. The lack of tactical awareness in dealing with the situation was worrying. This game was a carbon copy of the Monaghan game and only a fool would have not expected such a game. We chased the game game when we were leading by 5 points! Very naive! We should have sat back and played them at their own game. Mayo player looked very tired near the end.

Good post. When are we going to learn? The exact same thing also happened in the championship against Galway last year. We need to get a lot a smarter and realise when to sit back and when to push forward. Today, we were consistently hit with morale sapping counter attacks as we pushed forward at the wrong times. We went a point up with 15 minutes to go, had a home crowd behind us and still didn't have sufficient game management to see the game out. Worrying.

Our lack of goals is also a major concern. In the first half, the Cavan keeper botched a short kick out. The type of thing that has killed us over the last few years, yet we go straight for the point when presented with the opportunity. Well done Cavan, they took their chances when they came.