Mayo v Billie Joe, 13th March 2011 McHale Park

[Shortso79]

Arrived home late last night

AFS has a great summary of the match

Dyas and Vernon were immense - Stevie was stevie - pure class

All in all a great result in awful conditions

I agree with AFS - a few cross lads will take up a few positions

I set a target of 6 points before the league started and we are 2/3's there

Sure we'll give Kerry a go this Sunday and see how it goes

McHale Park is a credit to Mayo - thats one big stand - even had a padded seat - close enough to mr kenny

On a social aspect - had a great weekends craic also

Watched the rugby in rockys then went to Mickey Byrnes for the Down Cork Match

Met Mickey himself - he looked after us well - he's some craic

Ended up back in Rockys and then Coxs to the bitter end - god that coxs place was packed - health and safety nightmare - but it was great craic

Had a great weekend in Castlebar - the warm welcome and hospitality was immense

9 / 10  (deducted one point for the crap weather on sunday lol)

I'll be back .....

[Shortso79]

Highlights tnag now

[mountainboii]

Seeing it again there, I was probably a bit harsh on McEvoy for the Mayo goal. It was taken very well,  he couldn't have done much more to keep it out.

[borderfox]

Just watched the highlights( I didn't travel up) there now and I have to say well played to the boys and management. It looks like weve relieved some of the pressure from the Down game and means we can give Kerry a good rattle with 4 points already in the bag.
That stand in Castlebar looked massive  whats the capacity of it?

[parkoncrokie]

If there is any good to be taken from yesterdays game its the experience the team
will have gained from playing a big physical team like Armagh and it may in some way prepare
the lads for the Dublin/ Cork Matches especially. I couldnt help thinking it was like watching a Senior team versus A Minor team in relation to physic and Experience/skill.,Having said that who knows what woul happen if we had the wind in the first half and didnt let in the first goal

[Orangemac]

Excellant result yesterday, sadly didnt get to match because of my own footie. Did there seem to be any sortve a forward system in place or did the boys just play it as they seen it again? just wondering who outve the cross team people would have on the squad? I for 1 would have hearty, morgan, mckeown, ak, mckenna, tk, sk and jamie clarke. I would prob get rid of all our subs atm apart from lavery and grug as por seems to have no faith in them.

I would say Hearty, A Kernan and J Clarke will come into the team.

J Clarke should provide more of a scoring threat. Although 2-10 is a great score 4 of our forwards failed to score yesterday. A Kernan coming into the team could see Dyas who has been a real plus so far moved into the HF line. I would like to see J Clarke in the HF line with either B Mallon who is good close to goal as he proved yesterday or T Kernan in the corner.

HF line with Padden and Mackin might not produce enough scores. We looked good this time last year ( hammering of Donegal away in particular) but when ground hardens speed will become more important than strength.

[southsider]

When you do experiment and when do you put out your strongest team?

There's a good argument for experimenting when you are against opposition who will not destroy you (Armagh) and not doing too much of it against the likes of Dublin and Cork who could end a couple of fledgling careers very quickly.
The counter argument is that games against Armagh are the games you can win IF you want to stay in Division 1 and experiment away against teams you expect to lose against, lads will have less pressure on them yadda, yadda yadda.

The way to look at yesterday is that if Horan was very concerned with staying in Division 1, he picked the wrong team by not playing Richie Feeney or Ronan McGarrity. And not a horse for the Armagh course in James Kilcullen and possibly Aidan O'Shea.

But clearly Horan isn't too concerned with Division 1 status. I would be of the opinion that Richie Feeney and Ger Cafferkey are nailed down in the half-back line with a spot remaining. James Burke was already auditioned there (whilst not doubting his ability, I don't share Moysider's estimation of his contribution thus far) and so yesterday was a chance for Horan to play two players - Peadar and Ruairi O'Connor - who are also fighting for that spot (I would argue about Kevin McLoughlin for here too but more anon). When Gardiner was in trouble, Feeney was thrown in, although arguably not early enough.

Same goes for midfield. McGarrity is going to start. Yesterday was a chance to give two players a crack at it - Gibbons and Parsons. When Parsons was struggling (I think he did pick up an ankle injury), McGarrity was dispatched. I don't think Horan erred too much in those calls. In the full-back line Tom Cunniffe looks nailed on (despite struggling against McDonnell, as would any defender in Connacht), Cathal Hallinan and Alan Feeney are battling for full-back and Keith Higgins will probably edge Chris Barrett for left-full back. But guys are being given plenty of chances to audition so that an informed decision can be taken.

In the forward line I'd worry a bit more. Our half-forward line really struggled in the physical stakes. Kevin McLoughlin had the greatest difficulty, then Dillon and then Campbell. I'd repeat my concerns about Kevin being so one sided for a number 12 but do think he deserves another go, because Armagh's game certainly doesn't suit him. Alan Dillon was off colour yesterday and while Campbell did compete, he didn't excel.
Andy was good without being great, Doherty showed flashes when he got the chance (his goal was an absolute gem) but poor Killer is really struggling. Just not on his game. We need to see him hit the form of 2009 if he is to nail down a place.

I'd concur with the poster who said Aidan O'Shea is an option at midfield. He was immense there on Saturday for the Under 21s. But don't forget his brother Seamie either, coming back from injury. A suitable foil to McGarrity? Perhaps. And then there's the injured trio of Donal Vaughan, Trevor Howley and Alan Freeman.

Sunday was disappointing but far from terminal. Getting relegated won't be terminal either. But, on the point that losing is not a good habit, what I would most want to avoid now is shipping heavy defeats to Dublin and/or Cork. That would really hurt this team's development. There we need to see a strong Mayo team in my opinion.

Quick question for you sniper - is d killeen still in james horan's plans for full back. saw his name on the program the last day but hadn't seen his name on panels for awhile up till that. From being down south i'd go to see  neale / ballinrobe games when i'm back so like to keep informed as to how them lads are going. i know k o malley is strugglin from posts on here to date.

[RedandGreenSniper]

David Killeen is still involved Southsider and I neglected to mention him on the basis he doesn't appear to be too high in picking order. I rate him and think he deserves at least one start before a final verdict is made. But right now Alan Feeney and Cathal Hallinan appear to be at the top of the queue.

[southsider]

David Killeen is still involved Southsider and I neglected to mention him on the basis he doesn't appear to be too high in picking order. I rate him and think he deserves at least one start before a final verdict is made. But right now Alan Feeney and Cathal Hallinan appear to be at the top of the queue.

cheers for the update

[AbbeySider]

David Killeen is still involved Southsider and I neglected to mention him on the basis he doesn't appear to be too high in picking order. I rate him and think he deserves at least one start before a final verdict is made. But right now Alan Feeney and Cathal Hallinan appear to be at the top of the queue.

cheers for the update

SouthSider,
A lot of people I talk to agree its a shame the likes of Killeen and the McAndrew guy from Kilcommen were not picked up earlier in their careers, say in their early 20's or even before that when they could have developed themselves with county training and all that comes with it.

If im not mistaken they are both in their late 20's now (McAndrew maybe older) and unless they are exceptional late bloomers I guess it might be a bit late for them and it could be harder to make any major impressions on the senior inter county team... but you never know.

If the nets were cast wide enough in the past, maybe these guys and more would have been discovered on time. Its a shame really. 

[RedandGreenSniper]

David Killeen is still involved Southsider and I neglected to mention him on the basis he doesn't appear to be too high in picking order. I rate him and think he deserves at least one start before a final verdict is made. But right now Alan Feeney and Cathal Hallinan appear to be at the top of the queue.

cheers for the update

SouthSider,
A lot of people I talk to agree its a shame the likes of Killeen and the McAndrew guy from Kilcommen were not picked up earlier in their careers, say in their early 20's or even before that when they could have developed themselves with county training and all that comes with it.

If im not mistaken they are both in their late 20's now (McAndrew maybe older) and unless they are exceptional late bloomers I guess it might be a bit late for them and it could be harder to make any major impressions on the senior inter county team... but you never know.

If the nets were cast wide enough in the past, maybe these guys and more would have been discovered on time. Its a shame really. 

Killeen is older I think. He's 28 this year if I'm not mistaken. And I would say he's a late developer who would have been hard to catch earlier. McAndrew is another matter. He played centre-half back on the Mayo Under 21 team in 2005 (which would make him 26 this year) and played on the Mayo Juniors most years since. But the lack of him playing with a 'high profile' club hindered him, which is the fault of senior management and the structures, rather than him, of course. I get the feeling that has changed.
I wouldn't give up on Killeen at all yet. McAndrew maybe, because he struggles for pace.

[ross matt]

BJ Padden was intervied on Newstalk last night. Came across very well. Intelligent and level headed but at the same time ambitious and determined. I imagine he'll be playing  intercounty football for a good few years yet.