Connacht 25

[mouview]

In the 1920s Sligo were shafted out of a Connacht title after beating Galway, and beating Tipp in the AI semi, we were in our first AI senior football final, but had to replay the Connacht final as Galway objected due to a players name not spelt right, 2 letters wrong or something as trivial as that. Galway won the replayed match. So yes we are the only county to get to AI final and not get to play it. Sad but true

Mayo actually played and won an All-Ireland Final back then only for Galway to object. Mayo then had to play Galway in a Connacht final which Galway won and they were duly crowned All-Ireland Champs.

As for the comments by Mouview about McHale, he was the best I've seen in a Mayo jersey bar none. I started watching Mayo in the late 1970s and I am also familiar with Kevin Walsh's career having first seen him playing U-15 basketball for Ouchtarard. McHale, Padden, TJ and Pat Fallon represented a golden era of midfielders for us and I would rate all of them ahead of Walsh as footballers. I know that will be seen as heresy in Galway but I felt Walsh only really shone later in his career when those guys were gone and when he had a huge amount of experience which he used as wisely as any footballer I've seen. That for me is what won him 3 All-Stars.

As for Cake I knew a few players on both minor teams and the reason the Galway county board granted a replay for a match they had won was the infamous Tony Keady affair was happening and they wanted all the friends they could get for that fight. In the end they lost the minor replay and the Tony Keady appeal. 

Never realised that about the Minor replay (and still haven't forgiven Connacht neighbours for their abjection in that vote!)

Surely you jest about McHale? I don't deny he could be effective but, to repeat, I always maintain that he was a made footballer. (Did he play underage with Mayo?) Would he have been as effective had he been under 6 foot tall?

[Farrandeelin]

In the 1920s Sligo were shafted out of a Connacht title after beating Galway, and beating Tipp in the AI semi, we were in our first AI senior football final, but had to replay the Connacht final as Galway objected due to a players name not spelt right, 2 letters wrong or something as trivial as that. Galway won the replayed match. So yes we are the only county to get to AI final and not get to play it. Sad but true

Mayo actually played and won an All-Ireland Final back then only for Galway to object. Mayo then had to play Galway in a Connacht final which Galway won and they were duly crowned All-Ireland Champs.

As for the comments by Mouview about McHale, he was the best I've seen in a Mayo jersey bar none. I started watching Mayo in the late 1970s and I am also familiar with Kevin Walsh's career having first seen him playing U-15 basketball for Ouchtarard. McHale, Padden, TJ and Pat Fallon represented a golden era of midfielders for us and I would rate all of them ahead of Walsh as footballers. I know that will be seen as heresy in Galway but I felt Walsh only really shone later in his career when those guys were gone and when he had a huge amount of experience which he used as wisely as any footballer I've seen. That for me is what won him 3 All-Stars.

As for Cake I knew a few players on both minor teams and the reason the Galway county board granted a replay for a match they had won was the infamous Tony Keady affair was happening and they wanted all the friends they could get for that fight. In the end they lost the minor replay and the Tony Keady appeal. 

Yeah, Sligo in 1922, Galway objected. And Mayo in 1925. Annoying really but what can ya do with the hoors!

[Lar Naparka]

Surely you jest about McHale? I don't deny he could be effective but, to repeat, I always maintain that he was a made footballer. (Did he play underage with Mayo?) Would he have been as effective had he been under 6 foot tall?

I don't disagree with that.
Liam was a 'made' footballer in that he did lack some of the conventional skills you'd expect county footballers to have. He was indeed as awkward as they come; when he attempted to solo or even to give a kick pass.
However, he was one good learner.
I remember him against Dublin in Croker ('85?) and he got a big razz from the gang on The Hill every time he tried to do either.
But the spectators began to realise that he was catching a great deal of ball and could spot an unmarked man for a fisted pass better than anyone around him.
He might have been awkward okay but he was still very effective.
By the time Mayo tangled with Meath in '96, McHale's awkwardness had gone and he had to be the best midfielder of his time then.
'Made' he may have been but he was a class act in his prime.

[stephenite]

Made footballer me hole, he could pick out a corner forward from 50 yards and put the ball in his pocket.

[moysider]

Surely you jest about McHale? I don't deny he could be effective but, to repeat, I always maintain that he was a made footballer. (Did he play underage with Mayo?) Would he have been as effective had he been under 6 foot tall?

I don't disagree with that.
Liam was a 'made' footballer in that he did lack some of the conventional skills you'd expect county footballers to have. He was indeed as awkward as they come; when he attempted to solo or even to give a kick pass.
However, he was one good learner.
I remember him against Dublin in Croker ('85?) and he got a big razz from the gang on The Hill every time he tried to do either.
But the spectators began to realise that he was catching a great deal of ball and could spot an unmarked man for a fisted pass better than anyone around him.
He might have been awkward okay but he was still very effective.
By the time Mayo tangled with Meath in '96, McHale's awkwardness had gone and he had to be the best midfielder of his time then.
'Made' he may have been but he was a class act in his prime.

Meath 88 perhaps?

[muppet]

Surely you jest about McHale? I don't deny he could be effective but, to repeat, I always maintain that he was a made footballer. (Did he play underage with Mayo?) Would he have been as effective had he been under 6 foot tall?

I don't disagree with that.
Liam was a 'made' footballer in that he did lack some of the conventional skills you'd expect county footballers to have. He was indeed as awkward as they come; when he attempted to solo or even to give a kick pass.
However, he was one good learner.
I remember him against Dublin in Croker ('85?) and he got a big razz from the gang on The Hill every time he tried to do either.
But the spectators began to realise that he was catching a great deal of ball and could spot an unmarked man for a fisted pass better than anyone around him.
He might have been awkward okay but he was still very effective.
By the time Mayo tangled with Meath in '96, McHale's awkwardness had gone and he had to be the best midfielder of his time then.
'Made' he may have been but he was a class act in his prime.

Meath 88 perhaps?

He didn't play against Dublin in 1985. First time I saw him in Croker was against Monaghan possibly in the 1986 league quarter final?

[Lar Naparka]

Surely you jest about McHale? I don't deny he could be effective but, to repeat, I always maintain that he was a made footballer. (Did he play underage with Mayo?) Would he have been as effective had he been under 6 foot tall?

I don't disagree with that.
Liam was a 'made' footballer in that he did lack some of the conventional skills you'd expect county footballers to have. He was indeed as awkward as they come; when he attempted to solo or even to give a kick pass.
However, he was one good learner.
I remember him against Dublin in Croker ('85?) and he got a big razz from the gang on The Hill every time he tried to do either.
But the spectators began to realise that he was catching a great deal of ball and could spot an unmarked man for a fisted pass better than anyone around him.
He might have been awkward okay but he was still very effective.
By the time Mayo tangled with Meath in '96, McHale's awkwardness had gone and he had to be the best midfielder of his time then.
'Made' he may have been but he was a class act in his prime.

Meath 88 perhaps?

You're right, Moysider.  It was indeed.

What stuck out in my mind was the sight of him trying to solo and making a mess of it. One time he started off and let the ball spill out off his hands twice before he gave a toe poke of a pass to someone inside. The crowd was slagging him about it and he did look awkward without doubt.

If any of you can remember his early days with Mayo, he got a lot of criticism from Mayo fans about him being selfish and being a glory hunter. He was always willing to give it a lash from any angle or distance and more often than not he'd balloon it wide.
However, I recall him against Sligo in '94 in McvHale Park, when he got the ball about 30-35 yards out and turned  for goal. He steadied himself and picked his spot and the goalie never saw it.
It was the best bit of ball control I had seen from a Mayo player in a long time. I though McHale was a far better all-rounder by then than he was in the late '80s.

[spectator]

He was always willing to give it a lash from any angle or distance and more often than not he'd balloon it wide.

I have a memory of being horror struck when, with the scores level and the clock ticking on the '86 Connacht Semi-final  against Ros, LM received the ball dead straight in front of the goals, no more than 25 yards out. "Even he can't miss that" I sez worriedly to meself, him still being known in the days as "The Basketballer". Anyway, he nearly hit the corner flag! Jaysus, the relief

But I agree with you that while he was a poor man to kick the ball in his early days, he was a fast learner & adapted well to the kicking skills, the longer he played. He put himself about a fair bit against the Rossies in the few years after that & he's on record himself, as saying that that was what lead to him being accepted as a "footballer" by the Mayo supporters. He's well decorated as regards medals - am I right in thinking he has around 6 CSF medals?

Edited: was the '86 Conn SF, Ros went on to win with two last gasp skyscraper points from the McManus Brothers Tony & Eamonn.

[IolarCoisCuain]

I'm amused to here "made footballer" being used as an insult. Both Kevin Walsh and Liam McHale got better every year they played. How is that not a good thing? 

[SLIGONIAN]

He was always willing to give it a lash from any angle or distance and more often than not he'd balloon it wide.

I have a memory of being horror struck when, with the scores level and the clock ticking on I think the '89 Connacht Final drawn game against Ros (?), LM received the ball dead straight in front of the goals, no more than 25 yards out. "Even he can't miss that" I sez worriedly to meself, him still being known in the days as "The Basketballer". Anyway, he nearly hit the corner flag! Jaysus, the relief

But I agree with you that while he was a poor man to kick the ball in his early days, he was a fast learner & adapted well to the kicking skills, the longer he played. He put himself about a fair bit against the Rossies in the few years after that & he's on record himself, as saying that that was what lead to him being accepted as a "footballer" by the Mayo supporters. He's well decorated as regards medals - am I right in thinking he has around 6 CSF medals?

According to Conor Mortimer a few yrs ago, did he not say they are worthless in mayo... 

[mouview]

I'm amused to here "made footballer" being used as an insult. Both Kevin Walsh and Liam McHale got better every year they played. How is that not a good thing? 

No slight at all intended about being 'made', just that I would pick the 25 most talented, naturally gifted players, not the 25 most effective. Walsh was definitely not made, he was always a talented footballer, but his career was injury-interrupted.

[brianboru00]

Ok my attempt. I think longevity is the key element here..
I ve put my absolute certainties in bold...

                               Gay Sheerin                                           
Kenneth Mortimer   Seamus Quinn  Enon Gavin                                  G Fahy /   
Declan Meehan         James Nallen     Sean Og De Paor                     D Darcy / T Mannion /
             Willie Joe Padden        Kevin Walsh                                                  Newton / McHale / O'Hara / Kilgallon / M Quinn
Jarlath Fallon   Val Daly  Michael Donnellan                                        M Sheridan /  E McManus Jun /
Ciaran McDonald  Padraig Joyce Tony McManus                                M Meehan / T Mortimer / Horan

Midfield is very hard to pick and could have gone for any combination of those, Walsh for his authority over the years though and Willie Joe cos hes a legend - 5' 10" and able to compete and win ball against 6' 4" Newton 6' 6" Walsh etc.