Maigh Eo -v- Doire, Ballina, 01.02.2009

[RedandGreenSniper]

I wouldn't say Andy Moran is a sure starter for championship at all Kevmy. Conor, Trevor and Dillon are. Barry Moran will be if he does reasonably well at the edge of the square. Then they're looking for a 10 and a 15. Pat Harte and Billy Padden for 10 I reckon. A real fight for 15

[Barney]

We need a more solid freetaker as well.

Mort misses too many at crucial junctures.

On Sunday I presume Dillon will have the task - he can be hit and miss.

We have nobody for a 45.

For this reason alone Kilcoyne needs to stand up big time this year.

[muppet]

Not a bad team out.

Might rather see Liam O'Malley in the half line but at least some one else gets the FB poisoned chalice. Cafferkey couldl take a few years to develop into an inter-county FB so people need to be patient. He has done all that has been asked of him at minor and u-21 so hopefully he will continue to improve.

Barry Moran must be running out of chances. Time to deliver.

I'm not sure Andy Moran is a certain starter but if hits his best form he should be in.

[AbbeySider]

We need a more solid freetaker as well.

Mort misses too many at crucial junctures.

On Sunday I presume Dillon will have the task - he can be hit and miss.

I dont recall Mort and Dillo missing too many frees. In fact id say their ratio is pretty good. What crucial ones are you referring to Mort missing?
It works well, Mort taking them on the right hand side and Dillon taking them on the left.

We have nobody for a 45.

For this reason alone Kilcoyne needs to stand up big time this year.

Agreed, this had been a problem we have not solved since Maurice Sheridan

[ildanach]

Just on Mid West now, Mayo team named, along expected lines, Mort obviously injured, could play yet though I'd reckon

1, David Clarke (Ballina)
2, Liam O'Malley (Burrishoole)
3, Ger Cafferkey (Ballina)
4, Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)
5, Peadar Gardiner (Crossmolina)
6, Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar)
7, Pat Kelly (Kilmaine)
8, Ronan McGarrity (Ballina)
9, Tom Parsons (Charlestown)
10, Billy Joe Padden (Belmullet)
11, Trevor Mortimer (Shrule/Glencorrib)
12, Alan Dillon (Ballintubber)
13, Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen)
14, Barry Moran (Castlebar)
15, Mikey Sweeney (Kiltane).

has he left vincents?

[RedandGreenSniper]

Just on Mid West now, Mayo team named, along expected lines, Mort obviously injured, could play yet though I'd reckon

1, David Clarke (Ballina)
2, Liam O'Malley (Burrishoole)
3, Ger Cafferkey (Ballina)
4, Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)
5, Peadar Gardiner (Crossmolina)
6, Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar)
7, Pat Kelly (Kilmaine)
8, Ronan McGarrity (Ballina)
9, Tom Parsons (Charlestown)
10, Billy Joe Padden (Belmullet)
11, Trevor Mortimer (Shrule/Glencorrib)
12, Alan Dillon (Ballintubber)
13, Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen)
14, Barry Moran (Castlebar)
15, Mikey Sweeney (Kiltane).

has he left vincents?

He's living in Galway now and the transfer back to Kilmaine went through last week as far as I know

[INDIANA]

Just on Mid West now, Mayo team named, along expected lines, Mort obviously injured, could play yet though I'd reckon

1, David Clarke (Ballina)
2, Liam O'Malley (Burrishoole)
3, Ger Cafferkey (Ballina)
4, Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)
5, Peadar Gardiner (Crossmolina)
6, Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar)
7, Pat Kelly (Kilmaine)
8, Ronan McGarrity (Ballina)
9, Tom Parsons (Charlestown)
10, Billy Joe Padden (Belmullet)
11, Trevor Mortimer (Shrule/Glencorrib)
12, Alan Dillon (Ballintubber)
13, Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen)
14, Barry Moran (Castlebar)
15, Mikey Sweeney (Kiltane).

has he left vincents?

yes 100%

[Farrandeelin]

Just on Mid West now, Mayo team named, along expected lines, Mort obviously injured, could play yet though I'd reckon

1, David Clarke (Ballina)
2, Liam O'Malley (Burrishoole)
3, Ger Cafferkey (Ballina)
4, Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)
5, Peadar Gardiner (Crossmolina)
6, Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar)
7, Pat Kelly (Kilmaine)
8, Ronan McGarrity (Ballina)
9, Tom Parsons (Charlestown)
10, Billy Joe Padden (Belmullet)
11, Trevor Mortimer (Shrule/Glencorrib)
12, Alan Dillon (Ballintubber)
13, Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen)
14, Barry Moran (Castlebar)
15, Mikey Sweeney (Kiltane).

has he left vincents?

yes 100%

Happy with that, though would have liked as a Knockmore man to see McLoughlin in there. Hopefully the 2 newboys in the full-back line will do the job and settle in, though it may take a few games. I don't rate Kilcoyne as IC standard though, people have been mentioning hi for the half-forward line etc. Getting more optimistic myself as I haven't seen any live football action since the minor replay, and having only seen the team now I am looking forward to this league campaign afterall!

[moysider]

Surprising really that more Ballaghadereen lads have nt made more of an impact but likes of Regan and Kelly will get game time in the league and make an impression yet. Hanley would be an automatic of course but is seems a sparse representation for a team that looked set to take over a few years ago.

[RedandGreenSniper]

Strange when you look at it, Ballina would be seen as a club who will struggle this year but they've three starting players here and Pat Harte would be damn close as well and then just the one from the county champions and one from the runners-up Charlestown. I suppose it shows you can have a load of players of above normal club standard in your club and do well but it doesn't mean that they're good enough for county. There's no certainty that Ballagh will have a player on the starting team in championship . . .

[moysider]

Not a bad team out.

Might rather see Liam O'Malley in the half line but at least some one else gets the FB poisoned chalice. Cafferkey couldl take a few years to develop into an inter-county FB so people need to be patient. He has done all that has been asked of him at minor and u-21 so hopefully he will continue to improve.

Barry Moran must be running out of chances. Time to deliver.
I'm not sure Andy Moran is a certain starter but if hits his best form he should be in.

Correct me if I m wrong Muppet as I could be missing something but is this not a bit severe on Barry Moran?  Now I admit that I m biased here as I ve always had time for Barry Moran and always felt if he came through at senior he would be a major boost. In Summer 07 he was one of our few bright lights playing at ff and I thought most people thought he did well and it was a welcome development. He did nt feature last year and I assumed it was because he was hurt. So what chances has he passed up on?
If anything Andy has disappointed more and has been around probably longer. Now I also would have an on-form Andy on my team but his best form has been early in the year and he needs to produce in Summer this year or forget about it. Austin and Killer are another 2 who ve had more chances than Barry Moran.

Something I would like to see Johnno do this year is introduce a hard cull of players who have been coasting in the panel last few years. Not necessarily older players but there seems to be a few - not many - players who just appear to be there for the spin and are not progressing. You d wonder sometimes about the hunger of a few players or their ability to step up.

[moysider]

Strange when you look at it, Ballina would be seen as a club who will struggle this year but they've three starting players here and Pat Harte would be damn close as well and then just the one from the county champions and one from the runners-up Charlestown. I suppose it shows you can have a load of players of above normal club standard in your club and do well but it doesn't mean that they're good enough for county. There's no certainty that Ballagh will have a player on the starting team in championship . . .

They were my thoughts as well. I think Ballina could well have 4 starters come Summer. If Harte is around I would always have him in my team. He has the best scoring return of our midfielders/ halfforwards last few years. Always a goal threat. I d always find a place for him. In fact only for he was ill and had to be subbed at halftime v Tyrone we could well have won it. He needs to do some work on placed balls but is one option for long range frees and 45s for which he easily has the range. It needs some attention but it is something that could pay dividends. I dont understand how some people bracket him with Killer competing for a place. There s no comparison.

Cross having only one representative is also small but I would nt rule out Nallen yet. I expect him to be better than ever this year and he s had a good rest for the first time ever. He should nt be judged by normal criteria because he not a normal footballer, he s an athlete. When he does eventually give up football he ll probably break triathlon records or win the New York marathon.

Knockmore having nobody at all. I m a big Kevin McLoughlin fan and I m confident the young lad will feature but I think Johnno was right not to start too many rookies in the same back line. I
ts early days yet.

Getting back to Ballina though. 4 possible/probable starters but in an iffy situation as regards the clubs prospects. A lot of lads going overseas this year. Then there seems to be a bit of a gap with players coming through. There may be no one at all at county U21 level. We should have maybe 2 minors. On the other hand if the older lads give it another big push you d never know. likes of Sweets and Golden and Brian Ruane if they re interested. Likes of Clarkey, Ronan, Patrick and Gerard puts a serious backbone in a club team. Young O Hara if deployed in a role that suits him( corner forward does nt). Some of the lads going abroad may have lost a bit of appetite anyway and there are plenty lads who might step up now they ve the oportunity.

[RedandGreenSniper]

Strange when you look at it, Ballina would be seen as a club who will struggle this year but they've three starting players here and Pat Harte would be damn close as well and then just the one from the county champions and one from the runners-up Charlestown. I suppose it shows you can have a load of players of above normal club standard in your club and do well but it doesn't mean that they're good enough for county. There's no certainty that Ballagh will have a player on the starting team in championship . . .

They were my thoughts as well. I think Ballina could well have 4 starters come Summer. If Harte is around I would always have him in my team. He has the best scoring return of our midfielders/ halfforwards last few years. Always a goal threat. I d always find a place for him. In fact only for he was ill and had to be subbed at halftime v Tyrone we could well have won it. He needs to do some work on placed balls but is one option for long range frees and 45s for which he easily has the range. It needs some attention but it is something that could pay dividends. I dont understand how some people bracket him with Killer competing for a place. There s no comparison.

Cross having only one representative is also small but I would nt rule out Nallen yet. I expect him to be better than ever this year and he s had a good rest for the first time ever. He should nt be judged by normal criteria because he not a normal footballer, he s an athlete. When he does eventually give up football he ll probably break triathlon records or win the New York marathon.

Knockmore having nobody at all. I m a big Kevin McLoughlin fan and I m confident the young lad will feature but I think Johnno was right not to start too many rookies in the same back line. I
ts early days yet.

Getting back to Ballina though. 4 possible/probable starters but in an iffy situation as regards the clubs prospects. A lot of lads going overseas this year. Then there seems to be a bit of a gap with players coming through. There may be no one at all at county U21 level. We should have maybe 2 minors. On the other hand if the older lads give it another big push you d never know. likes of Sweets and Golden and Brian Ruane if they re interested. Likes of Clarkey, Ronan, Patrick and Gerard puts a serious backbone in a club team. Young O Hara if deployed in a role that suits him( corner forward does nt). Some of the lads going abroad may have lost a bit of appetite anyway and there are plenty lads who might step up now they ve the oportunity.

Harte is someone for me who has been too inconsistent at inter-county level. However, when he is playing poorly, you'll still get effort and toil out of him which is more than can be said for some other hit and miss options.
Regarding Ballina, I can only go on what I hear here and around, but they do seem like a club that will be short a good few in the coming year. I think a major problem for the Stephenites, and one that will come home to roost in the coming years, has been their lack of players coming up in recent years. If we exclude Ger Cafferkey, the last decent county minor they had was Stephen Hughes in 2002, and then you'd have to go back to 2000 for Clarke (also 2001) and Devenney and Harte (who somehow didn't make the minor team). For a club with Ballina's pick and their underage success, there's a lot of barren years since 2002 without any gems coming through. Sure, players have come on stream that will do a job and offer something, but not lads that will fill the boots of Shane Sweeney, Brian Ruane, Eanna Casey or Ger Brady. I could be tempting fate, but I reckon it could be a right few years before they win another county senior title

[Oakleafer1993]

lads why don't you take this whole discussion over to the mayo forum and stop talking like a bunch of ole woman?

[Bod Mor]

lads why don't you take this whole discussion over to the mayo forum and stop talking like a bunch of ole woman?

1, David Clarke (Ballina)
2, Liam O'Malley (Burrishoole)
3, Ger Cafferkey (Ballina)
4, Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)
5, Peadar Gardiner (Crossmolina)
6, Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar)
7, Pat Kelly (Kilmaine)
8, Ronan McGarrity (Ballina)
9, Tom Parsons (Charlestown)
10, Billy Joe Padden (Belmullet)
11, Trevor Mortimer (Shrule/Glencorrib)
12, Alan Dillon (Ballintubber)
13, Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen)
14, Barry Moran (Castlebar)
15, Mikey Sweeney (Kiltane)

Is there anyone ciotóg to take a free at all on the team?
As someone said earlier, nobody to take a 45 either...