Mayo v Galway - Connacht Final 13/07/08 14:00 McHale Park, Castlebar

[Barney]

Yeah no suprises with the team - we have more scoring potential there with Dillon. I'm not a Gardiner fan so I don't think we will lose very much.

If the backs hold up we have a great chance. If they haven't improved from the league we will lose.

[mannix]

Thank God for the internet, lads in the usa,australia,uk,france and even galway are able to debate the game and decide where to watch it.
In Paris last sunday I decided to watch the munster final so trotted down to one "irish" bar, what were they showing? cricket and tennis and would not switch on the football even though the place was empty apart from a few eating outside.
Onto the next place and I was the only one in it, sorry, the tennis is on because our customers prefer that.
Final spot, car racing and cricket. I went back to the flat and had me dinner instead.
They say there are thousands of Irish in Paris, where do they watch or are they all artists and the like?

Delighted to see a scoring forward back in, however gardiner is great at picking up breaks and should feel aggrieved. Lets hope the other forwards, austie and moran i really mean, getting the scores they are put there to get.

[GaillimhIarthair]

Honours almost even in old rivalry that is still McHale and hearty

Mayo v Galway If the statistics are to be believed, Sunday's game is a foregone conclusion. It's Mayo's turn to take the honours. But derbies like this one rarely go according to the script, wriets Damian Cullen

AFTER LAST Sunday's enthralling clash between neighbours Kerry and Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, it's perhaps even more obvious that, in modern times, rather than the traditional GAA derbies being keenly anticipated, many demand more unique pairings. After all, this is the era of the qualifiers, a county's second championship tie can be against a team from the other end of the island.

However, some of Gaelic football's greatest rivalries, at club and intercounty level, are, naturally, between neighbours - such as Armagh v Down and Dublin v Meath. It's match-ups between bordering areas that have provided the history, tension, controversies, determination on the part of players and spectators, fear of losing and moments of celebrations that are most remembered and valued.

One of the greatest of these battles takes place this weekend. Since they first clashed in the Connacht championship - in 1901 - there has existed a pure rivalry between Mayo and Galway.

It was in the late 1960s that some of their most famed encounters occurred. On July 17th, 1966, a Mattie McDonagh-led Galway met a Mick Ruane-led Mayo at McHale Park, Castlebar in the provincial final. At half-time, Mayo were two to the good, but faced a strong wind in front of 28,000 spectators in the second half.

Despite the gap increasing to five points early in the second period, Galway chipped away and, eventually, a Liam Salmon-fisted point in injury-time tipped the scales to Galway - 0-12 to 1-8.

The Irish Times report the day after began: "Even if Galway go on to win their third All-Ireland title in a row . . . they will not encounter a stiffer or more demanding test of strength than Mayo provided in this vibrant final at Castlebar yesterday."

Two months later Galway would appear in their fourth All-Ireland senior football final in a row - and claim a famous three-in-a-row.

The following year the All-Ireland champions hosted Mayo in the first round, with journalist Seán Rice writing he'd walk back to Castlebar from Galway if Mayo lost. Luckily for him, Mayo stopped Galway's bid for four All-Ireland titles in a row in its tracks - winning 3-13 to 1-8.

Back to McHale Park and the 1968 final. Galway emerged back on top - 2-10 to 2-9.

They were cruising midway through the second half - leading by seven. Mayo's comeback began in bizarre fashion with the home side winning a free near the sideline, 50 yards out. After some disagreement over who would take the free - with apparently no Mayo player anxious to step up - a reluctant Joe Langan took the free, which sailed directly to the back of the Galway net.

Thirty thousand spectators suddenly woke from their slumber. So too did the Mayo players, but despite kicking several points in quick succession, they couldn't fully wipe out the deficit.

Mayo and Galway met again in the 1969 decider, this time at Pearse Stadium. In front of 25,000 spectators, a dramatic, exciting game ended in stalemate. Mayo were the happier: they had got out of jail with Joe Corcoran pointing in the last minute to snatch the draw; the replay would be in Castlebar; and Galway had never beaten Mayo in a senior football championship replay.

That trend would continue, with Mayo winning by three points. Just a week later, Mayo would come up against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final, agonisingly losing by just a point - 0-14 to 1-10.

Fastforward to the 1990s, best remembered in Connacht football for two things - Leitrim's provincial triumph in 1994, and Galway's victory in the 1998 All-Ireland final - the first time in 32 years the Sam Maguire rested in the province. Along with those major feats, however, a private, localised battle was still raging.

In July 1995, Mayo and Galway met once again in the Connacht final. Expectations at Tuam were high, but Galway ran out 0-17 to 1-7 victors in a dour affair. However, those who watched the curtain-raiser, the minor final between the same teams, got their money's worth.

The Galway minors staged a late rally to snatch victory in a closely fought, exciting game. The comeback was led by Pádraic Joyce, who finished with five points, Michael Donnellan, who chipped in with three, and Derek Savage, who scored a late goal to add to his three earlier points and to seal the 2-14 to 2-11 win.

The home defence that day was marshalled by Tomás Meehan in the full-back line and John Divilly at centre back. Three years later, all five of those minor stars would star for their county in Croke Park in the All-Ireland senior football final against Kildare.

But that Sam Maguire journey by Galway almost never got going. The first round of the Connacht championship that year was against Mayo in Castlebar. In a wonderful game of free-flowing football - particularly in the opening half - John O'Mahony's Galway emerged with their first win over their rivals in Castlebar for 11 years. John Maughan's Mayo team - who had lined out in Croke Park five times in the previous two years - were shell-shocked.

What is perhaps most unique about the rivalry is just how balanced the results between the two have been. This Sunday will be the 80th championship clash between the western powers, with Galway claiming 37 victories, Mayo 36, and six meetings ending with no winner.

Mayo can right that imbalance on Sunday, as they can with the balance over the past 15 years, with the stats showing six wins for Galway and five for Mayo in 11 championship ties.

While there have been years of dominance by one or the other, in a kind of Munster rugby style, losing two games to their rivals is not tolerated - and certainly not in the same year.

In the NFL semi-final meeting at Castlebar in 2006, Galway won a bad-tempered affair by five points, a game which provided the back-drop to the teams' provincial decider date at the same venue. This time Mayo edged the game by one point on their run to All-Ireland final heartbreak against Kerry. Last year, the results were reversed, with Mayo beating Galway, again by a single point, in the league semi-final in Croke Park.

Back on home soil the following month, however, Galway exacted revenge in devastating fashion - winning the provincial first-round game, 2-10 to nine points.

Last April, Galway defeated Mayo in their league encounter at Castlebar, with once again just a single point between the sides at the final whistle. If the statistics are to be believed, therefore, Sunday's game is a foregone conclusion. It's Mayo's turn.

But, as was demonstrated in Páirc Uí Chaoimh last weekend, derbies often don't quite go according to plan.

[kevmy]

Thats the team I expected to line out and I'm happy enough with it.

Just a couple of things to note. Yeah Gardiner will win some ball around the middle but we have Harte and Trevor in the half forward line as well both who will win their share of ball around there. Harte and Trevor also offer more going forward and both played better than Peader the last day. I don't think Peader can have that many complaints really, naturally he is an attacking wing back end of.

Also Dillon is named on the wing. Can we presume from that he'll play there with Harte in the centre? I hope he does I think that would suit both players better and Harte is much more able to match Blake (if fit) in the physical stakes.

[rosnarun]

very disapponited to see Gardiner dropped . hes as good or better defender than cunniffe and has ahell of a lot more going forward and im very worried about Boyle he showed nothing in any game ibe seen him play so far that he is worthy of a county jersey . he must be one hell of  a trainer.
Great to see dillon back but he  half forward line looks a bit imbalanced Harte will play whever he want as a natural midfielder Trevor will spend as much time near the may as galway goal so will dillion on his own be enough to hold the like. think we need campbell or kilcoyne in there?.

[furboot]

interesting image on the ClubMayo website of the lineouts for Sundayhttp://www.clubmayo.ie/  - gives a neat snapshot of the possible one-on-one markings...

[venter]

very disapponited to see Gardiner dropped .

Me too. Half the year playing midfield and half forward. breaks his jaw. another couple of months in the forwards, and finally dropped, just before the big game that the previous 9 months of training was all about.  Hopefully he'll get another shot before the year is out, preferrably at half back.

The team is fairly solid. I'd be a small bit worried about Conroy's ditribution. He favours the long ball on most occasions and unless its going in the general direction of andy moran, then we are by no means guaranteed of winning it. Boyle could be there for the taking in the corner as well. He will need to be very agressive in playing along side his direct oppenent.

Dillon will be needed to take a few scores for us. No doubt D Burke will hit Conor a few thumps in the first five minutes, which might unsettle Conor. If thats the case we haven't many natural point takers to pick up the slack. A goal or two might be wanted

[AbbeySider]

very disapponited to see Gardiner dropped .

Me too. Half the year playing midfield and half forward. breaks his jaw. another couple of months in the forwards, and finally dropped, just before the big game that the previous 9 months of training was all about.  Hopefully he'll get another shot before the year is out, preferrably at half back.

I suppose he could be counted as unlucky. I get the impression that he is not a natural defender and many will agree that defending is his weak point. Its also a change in the style of play that is seeing him dropped for this game. We will be using long balls into the forwards instead of the hand passing/running game we have tried in the past.

He favours the long ball on most occasions and unless its going in the general direction of andy moran, then we are by no means guaranteed of winning it.

The same andy moran that (got cleaned) was playing against Sligo? I wouldnt say that winning primary possession in the forwards rests totally on his shoulders.

Boyle could be there for the taking in the corner as well. He will need to be very agressive in playing along side his direct oppenent.
...
No doubt D Burke will hit Conor a few thumps in the first five minutes, which might unsettle Conor. If thats the case we haven't many natural point takers to pick up the slack. A goal or two might be wanted

A lot of people are mentioning the aggression Galway are expected to play with. I dont get it.
Are we making out that Mayo are soft and need to be prepared for this Galway aggression?
Is it not Mayo that should bring the pain? If anything its Mayo that should be the aggressors.

We are at home
We owe them one for last year (big time)
Its Galway (that should be motivation enough for JOM and the team)

As Brady says here: http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4445&Itemid=39
he will need to be caged in!
Thats the attitude we should be taking.

[GalwayBayBoy]

As Brady says here: http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4445&Itemid=39
he will need to be caged in!

He looks like he came out of a zoo alright.

[venter]

The same andy moran that (got cleaned) was playing against Sligo? I wouldnt say that winning primary possession in the forwards rests totally on his shoulders.

Against Sligo, Ronan McGarrity and Tom Parsons had a huge monopoly on possession, so our forwards had plenty of ball coming in. If the supply is not so plentiful then we need to be winning as much of it as possible. Whatever you say about Andy, he is definitley our best man to win 50/50 ball.

[GalwayBayBoy]

Word is that this is the Galway team that will be announced tonight. Don't shoot the messenger if this turns out to be completely untrue.

Paul Doherty
Gareth Bradshaw
Finian Hanley
Damien Burke
Gary Sice
Diarmuid Blake
Niall Coyne
Barry Cullinane
Niall Coleman
Nicky Joyce
Padraig Joyce
Cormac Bane
Matthew Clancy
Michael Meehan
Fiachra Breathnach

[IolarCoisCuain]

Thank God for the internet, lads in the usa,australia,uk,france and even galway are able to debate the game and decide where to watch it.
In Paris last sunday I decided to watch the munster final so trotted down to one "irish" bar, what were they showing? cricket and tennis and would not switch on the football even though the place was empty apart from a few eating outside.
Onto the next place and I was the only one in it, sorry, the tennis is on because our customers prefer that.
Final spot, car racing and cricket. I went back to the flat and had me dinner instead.
They say there are thousands of Irish in Paris, where do they watch or are they all artists and the like?

Same thing happened me in Paris a few years ago. Those continental Irish bars are only there to snag English tourists who prefer Newcastle Brown Ale to a few pints of the local Chateau de Chablis. 

[An Fhairche Abu]

Won't be posting here until after the final. Hopefully the match will be a great game between the two big rivals, it's been a good while since we have seen one of those.

Prediction: Mayo by 3 points.

[rosnarun]

Won't be posting here until after the final. Hopefully the match will be a great game between the two big rivals, it's been a good while since we have seen one of those.

Prediction: Mayo by 3 points.

just promise you'll keep the ball kicked out so our lads can get a bit of excercize  in before the quarter finals

[myball22]

If that is the Galway team then I would say the plan would be to flood the midfield area with Breathnach and Matthew Clancy and to leave Bane and Michael Meehan inside. I would say Bane would start on the basis that he played well when introduced the last day and he did score 2-1 against Mayo last year. He would worry the Mayo backline, does very little in general play but scores when he gets the ball.

I think a lot would depend on the quality of ball going through to the inside forwards. If Galway struggle at midfield then the ball in may not be great and Bane and Meehan need to be given the ball rather than capable of winning a 50-50 ball. It may be no harm to
introduce Conroy and Armstrong from the bench later on when the game becomes more open.

I would like to see Blake back as he would have the physical presence to take on Harte and stop the runs through the middle, I would be concerned about Sice and Coyne at half-backs and also about the ability of our corner backs if we are under pressure. We'll know if Bradshaw is a corner back or not on Sunday and Damien Burke could be in trouble with Mortimer too.

I would say the game depends on how well Galway compete at midfield and how wins the majority of the breaks in the middle. I would say if Galway can break even 40/60 in midfield then it will be close, otherwise Mayo should have enough.