Tir Eoghain -v- Maigh Eo - Sunday 13th April

[orangeman]

I wonder is his ankle problems as bad as has been made out on here, surely he himself and the Tyrone set up wouldnt be taking any major risks to get him back for a meaningless league game?

Although not doubting the Ardboe lads on here Im finding it difficult to tally what they suggest about Brian's fitness and him being named as a starter for this game . I really hope the ankle problem has been overstated and that he's fit to go, cant believe (and seriously hope not) that his fitness would be jeopardised if he and the management werent 100% satisfiied.
As for the team it looks on paper pretty strong. If (and its a huge if given Tyrone's problems in the last 2 years) you take that starting 15 and add to it a fit Mulligan, Dooher and Joe McMahon then you have a potentially formidable outfit.

Trust me on this ! I've already alluded to previous times where players were injured and played on - but I hope Brian has really turned the corner this time.

[Tyrone Dreamer]

Its important that we can get the full back line sorted so that we can afford to play Gormley at centre half. Tyrone are a much stronger team with him playing in that position. Justy McMahon has done ok so far but much bigger tests lie ahead for him if he is to get the full back slot. Not sure if Harte would ever trust him against someone like Paddy Bradley but he looks equipped to mark a big target man. Hopefully Mulgrew will put in a much better performance and will be interesting to see how he performs from the wing.

[stephenite]

MacDonald should play for Mayo this year, he is probably still the best player in the County but I'm also a bit bemused about this notion that players of his stature shouldn't have to play trial games, he was an All Star back in 2004 FFS, how is anyone supposed to know if he is ready for the challenge of Inter county football in 2008? It would be a huge mistake for any manager to play someone on reputation alone at this level - a player is only as good as his last game at this level, in that respect of course MacDonlad needs to prove himself again.

I'd be disgusted if John O'Mahony gave a jersey to any player on a Sunday that just rocked up to training that week. Why should the likes of Ciaran MacDonald be given preferential treatment over lads that have been slogging their guts out all winter - I know he has been training with Na Fianna (and apparently flying) but there is a world of difference between training with a Dublin club side and playing and training with inter county footballers.

If Mac wants to play he needs to let O'Mahony know that he wants to play, and if JOM wants him to play trial games then he plays trial games and gets selected on that basis.

Ok stepenite maybe its the way o'mahony phrased it, come on a trial game is where you are looking at finding new talent and if he doesn't know anything about Jimmy Or Ciaran Mc at this stage then he should stick to politics . Why doesn't he say we will bring them in training and have a look at their fitness and see whether he thinks Mc can still do a job for mayo, can you imagine if Darragh o' shea was asked to attend a trial game. Also Ciaran Mc hasn't asked for preferential treatment and has done plenty of slogging over past winters. i haven't at any stage said that Mc Donald should be back in fact i have said that i hope he doesn't as it will also help Cross's cause this year and he is in fact club captain and it would be great to have him and jimmy playing all the matches with the young lads.

Training match, A vs B, Trial games - all the same things, and we all know that. Is he going to attend training matches, A vs B etc. He doesn't need to tell you, me or anyone else but for the love of God can he tell either John O'Mahoney, Tommy Lyons or Kieran Gallagher.

I'm in no way trying to be glib or insulting about Ciaran or his situation but the sooner a decision is made the sooner this sort of will he/won't he chatter in every dressingroom, pub and kitchen the length and breadth of the county will stop and the lads that are involved can get on with concentrating on the challenges for the championship season ahead.

There is of course the conspiracy theory that O'Mahoney doesn't want Mac playing for Mayo for whatever reason and if this is the case equally JOM should let Ciaran and the rest of us know

[stephenite]

Mayo team - courtesy of Willie Joe

David Clarke; Keith Higgins, Kieran Conroy, Colm Boyle; David Heaney, Trevor Howley, Tom Cunniffe; Ronan McGarritty, Tom Parsons; James Gill, Alan Dillon, Aidan Campbell; Conor Mortimor, Austin O'Malley, Andy Moran.

Good to see Campbell getting rewarded for his stellar performances at U-21

[RedandGreenSniper]

Mayo team - courtesy of Willie Joe

David Clarke; Keith Higgins, Kieran Conroy, Colm Boyle; David Heaney, Trevor Howley, Tom Cunniffe; Ronan McGarritty, Tom Parsons; James Gill, Alan Dillon, Aidan Campbell; Conor Mortimor, Austin O'Malley, Andy Moran.

Good to see Campbell getting rewarded for his stellar performances at U-21

Despite his excellent performances on the wing it looks like a weak full-back line is dragging Keith Higgins back there. Pity really, thought he really was offering a lot at left-half back and he is certainly more of a wing-back than a corner back. Problem is he is more of a corner-back than Tom Cunniffe, if that makes sense.
Good to see Campbell get his chance, think we need more of a scoring presence from the half-forward line. Only concern I would have is if he is physically up to senior level. Hope I'm wrong. . .

[dodo]

Campbell has bulked up a bit and I'd imagine he should be well able for it.

[Tubberman]

Good to see that Campbell's great performance for the U-21s mid-week has been noted and he has been given his chance. I wouldn't have any concerns about him being able for the physicality of seniors, he always seemed a strong guy to me, well able to give and take.
As Sniper said, it seems Keith Higgins has been moved from his best position because of our lack of coner backs. It's a pity, because Keith has been our best player throughout the league from the half back line. But if you're going to play Higgins and Cunniffe, with one in the corner and one in the half backs, then this is the right way to have them lined out. 
You'd have to wonder though, do we seriously not have any other options for the corner? What about Aidan Higgins? Or is it the case that JOM is focussing almost entirely on the future and doesn't want to rely on older players who will have to be replaced in another year or two anyway. If that's the decision he's made, fair enough, but it's not really fair on the likes of Aidan Higgins who are training their arses off.

[OirthearMhaigheo]

Good to see Campbell getting a run the next day, he will offer something different as Gill and Harte are too similar. Having to stick K Higgins in the corner is the only downside to that team selection, the problem is he is one of the few/only options left at this stage. I notice  A Higgins name mentioned alot and that he should be given 'a chance'. He has been tried several times and is a great club man but has often been found wanting at inter-county level, even though he had a decent 2006 in fairness, I don't think he has any more to offer at this stage.

[loughshore lad]

I wonder is his ankle problems as bad as has been made out on here, surely he himself and the Tyrone set up wouldnt be taking any major risks to get him back for a meaningless league game?

Although not doubting the Ardboe lads on here Im finding it difficult to tally what they suggest about Brian's fitness and him being named as a starter for this game . I really hope the ankle problem has been overstated and that he's fit to go, cant believe (and seriously hope not) that his fitness would be jeopardised if he and the management werent 100% satisfiied.
As for the team it looks on paper pretty strong. If (and its a huge if given Tyrone's problems in the last 2 years) you take that starting 15 and add to it a fit Mulligan, Dooher and Joe McMahon then you have a potentially formidable outfit.

Trust me on this ! I've already alluded to previous times where players were injured and played on - but I hope Brian has really turned the corner this time.

I really hope for his sake he has turned the corner this time. To be honest as much as I would love to see him get back to form in a Tyrone shirt as he deserves it I just hope it doesnt come to the detriment of his future health. As for the injury and if myself or orangeman are exaggerating things - people can make up there own mind on that one.

[ildanach]

needs must with regad to keith higgins and although he seems to have a lot to offer at wing back. We need a good corner back and he fits the build. Until we find another he must stay there.

[moysider]

I was reading about some Mayo boyo who played for Tuam in the '46 Hogan final against Iggy Jones' Armagh side. What was his name - apparently one of Mayo's greatest ?

Was it Peter Solan ? A scoring machine. Got one of our goals in 1950 AI final. Scored 3 - 1 in the Connacht final 1951 v Galway in Tuam.
St. Jar won in 47 V Armagh, minus jones, with Solan a young sean Purcell and another Mayo legend Mick Flanagan who also goaled on 1950 final i think.

[moysider]

Dunno. Mayo defencive selections a bit deck chairs and titanic at this stage. Putting Higgins in the corner a step backwards if this the way they line out imo. Is he selected there to do a specialist job on some dangerman next Sunday or is it a permanent move? Heaneys distribution so poor recently that he should be put back and play likes of Cuniffe, Pat Kelly,Chris Barrett, Higgins and James Bourke on the wings. Putting Keith back means we have two lads 5' 7'' in the corner back positions. They re quick but when the long high balls start flying in again..........

[Farrandeelin]

It's good that Campbell starts, however, how bad does Gill have to play to be dropped? Cunniffe will probably make a better halfback as he plays at chb generally. It's interesting to see Higgins moved back to cornerback again though, I thought we had him sorted out at halfback. As moysider says though, the defence will probably be a problem area this year, hopefully the workrate of the rest of the team will compensate if the defence gets caught out on Sunday.

[moysider]

It's good that Campbell starts, however, how bad does Gill have to play to be dropped? Cunniffe will probably make a better halfback as he plays at chb generally. It's interesting to see Higgins moved back to cornerback again though, I thought we had him sorted out at halfback. As moysider says though, the defence will probably be a problem area this year, hopefully the workrate of the rest of the team will compensate if the defence gets caught out on Sunday.

Agree about Campbell. Campbell on returning to form was always going to press hard for a Championship place in the half forward line imo. With Trevor and Dillon in pole position for the other two places, if they re fit, it leaves Harte and especially Gill with an uphill battle to start in the Championship. Both look like being down the pecking order for midfield as well at this stage with Parsons, O Shea and maybe Barry Moran ahead of them. I too thought Higgins was nailed down at 7. Now we re changing something that was working really well Cunniffe will also play an aggressive attacking game but still I m not sure it s the right thing to do. Cunniffe has played mostly at chb and it remains to be seen whether he s as good a wing man as others that have a good record there like Barrett, Kelly, Boyle  and now James Bourke. On paper at least we look spoiled for wing backs while corner men are rare as hens' teeth.

[ONeill]

Was it Peter Solan ? A scoring machine. Got one of our goals in 1950 AI final. Scored 3 - 1 in the Connacht final 1951 v Galway in Tuam.
St. Jar won in 47 V Armagh, minus jones, with Solan a young sean Purcell and another Mayo legend Mick Flanagan who also goaled on 1950 final i think.

That's the man. You never hear of him yet he should be up there in the pantheon of household greats.