Connacht SFC Q/Final London v Mayo 29.5.11 in Ruislip

[RedandGreenSniper]

Flights booked, flying into Stansted from Knock Friday morning, home Monday morning - but very early! Might have to behave Sunday night. Should be a great weekend, a nice few I know are going with the Champions League on as well.

In terms of the team, I reckon it is still fairly open. The team against London might change for the Galway game (assuming we win, of course) but we'll get a good idea of Horan's thinking all the same.

It is possibly a toss-up between Clarke and Hennelly in goal; Higgins will start at 4, Richie Feeney at 5 and Ger Caff at 6. I reckon Alan Feeney will get the nod at three with Cunniffe and Hallinan battling for 2. 7 is fairly wide open. I reckon it will be between Vaughan and Burke. I'd give Burke the nod, he potentially can offer us more there.

McGarrity will start at midfield, if fit. Aidan O'Shea or Kilcullen will partner him I think. Andy and Dillon in the half-forward line, Freeman and Doherty inside. McLoughlin to play at 10 or 13 with Campbell, A O'Shea (if not at midfield), Varley and C O'Connor in the running for the last spot.

I'd go with the following

Hennelly
Hallinan Feeney Higgins
Feeney Caff Burke
McGarrity Kilcullen
A O'Shea Dillon Moran
McLoughlin Freeman Doherty

[Bod Mor]

Flights booked, flying into Stansted from Knock Friday morning, home Monday morning - but very early! Might have to behave Sunday night. Should be a great weekend, a nice few I know are going with the Champions League on as well.

Are we in the Champions league as well? Whatever people might say, Horan has done some job with us, getting us into the Champions league  sorry, couldn't resist

I'd go with the following

Hennelly
Hallinan Feeney Higgins
Feeney Caff Burke
McGarrity Kilcullen
A O'Shea Dillon Moran
McLoughlin Freeman Doherty

I like the look of the forward six, would have a fit Harte in for O'Shea though.
Good man R&GS, you are the type of supporter that deserves a ticket anytime we're blessed to make Croke Park. Will be back home myself for the August bank holiday weekend, hopefully I'll be able to see the lads in the flesh at HQ.

[Farrandeelin]

Flights booked, flying into Stansted from Knock Friday morning, home Monday morning - but very early! Might have to behave Sunday night. Should be a great weekend, a nice few I know are going with the Champions League on as well.

Are we in the Champions league as well? Whatever people might say, Horan has done some job with us, getting us into the Champions league  sorry, couldn't resist

I'd go with the following

Hennelly
Hallinan Feeney Higgins
Feeney Caff Burke
McGarrity Kilcullen
A O'Shea Dillon Moran
McLoughlin Freeman Doherty

I like the look of the forward six, would have a fit Harte in for O'Shea though.
Good man R&GS, you are the type of supporter that deserves a ticket anytime we're blessed to make Croke Park. Will be back home myself for the August bank holiday weekend, hopefully I'll be able to see the lads in the flesh at HQ.

Knowing of RGS, he'll have his ticket anyway don't worry!

[AbbeySider]

Flights booked, flying into Stansted from Knock Friday morning, home Monday morning - but very early! Might have to behave Sunday night. Should be a great weekend, a nice few I know are going with the Champions League on as well.

In terms of the team, I reckon it is still fairly open. The team against London might change for the Galway game (assuming we win, of course) but we'll get a good idea of Horan's thinking all the same.

It is possibly a toss-up between Clarke and Hennelly in goal; Higgins will start at 4, Richie Feeney at 5 and Ger Caff at 6. I reckon Alan Feeney will get the nod at three with Cunniffe and Hallinan battling for 2. 7 is fairly wide open. I reckon it will be between Vaughan and Burke. I'd give Burke the nod, he potentially can offer us more there.

McGarrity will start at midfield, if fit. Aidan O'Shea or Kilcullen will partner him I think. Andy and Dillon in the half-forward line, Freeman and Doherty inside. McLoughlin to play at 10 or 13 with Campbell, A O'Shea (if not at midfield), Varley and C O'Connor in the running for the last spot.

I'd go with the following

Hennelly
Hallinan Feeney Higgins
Feeney Caff Burke
McGarrity Kilcullen
A O'Shea Dillon Moran
McLoughlin Freeman Doherty

Ya im all booked too. Flying with Cunni Aer Lingus so the times are grand. We arrive in London on Saturday afternoon and fly home on Monday afternoon.

Perhaps we should organise a Mayo Gaaboard meet up before or after the game!

Regarding the team, its very hard to tell but I think he will be looking at some of the fellas that have not had as much game time like Vaughan, Howley and Seamus O Shea if they all make the final cut.

For those who have not heard, Dillon pulled his hamstring on Tuesday night and is expected to be out for a month. Its possible he will be back for the London game but they may not needlessly risk him either. I wonder is McGarity supposed to make it back for it too?

Its funny, I still think the London game could be used to see how some of the newer lads do.

I would guess the team would be something like the following:
Clarke
Hallinan Feeney Higgins
Feeney Caff Vaughan
Gibbons A O Shea
Campbell Moran McLoughlin
Doherty Freeman O Connor

I think they will play Clarke as he needs games from being out injured. Its still very close between them but Hennelly might get the nod against Galway.
I think Vaughan willl start and we could see Howley get a game at some stage to see what he has to offer.
I would like to see how Gibbons and AOS do as a midfiield pair as they could have a future together.
Cillian O Connor to come out to CF and McLoughlin to float from defence to attack, wherever he is needed.

[ballinaman]

McGarrity was still using crutches as of yesterday so i doubt they'll risk him.

[Blowitupref]

If the match was on this weekend the heat (27c) would play a major factor in the game. Come the 29th of May the rain should be back for the Mayo lads 

[moysider]

McGarrity was still using crutches as of yesterday so i doubt they'll risk him.

Yeah. Only out of plaster so time is against him but he ll need game time as well. And looks like Dillon might not make it either. With more league rounds to go we can expect more casualties and some of those let go may yet get a recall sooner than later. We re actually lookin a bit thin for midfielders already. Accepting that Ronan, Dillon and SOS not going to figure I d be hoping for something like this. Clarke, Cuniffe, Hallihan, Higgins, Feeney, Caff, Burke, AOS, Kilcullen campbell, O Connor, McLoughlin, Freeman, Andy, Doc.

[Farrandeelin]

McGarrity was still using crutches as of yesterday so i doubt they'll risk him.

Yeah. Only out of plaster so time is against him but he ll need game time as well. And looks like Dillon might not make it either. With more league rounds to go we can expect more casualties and some of those let go may yet get a recall sooner than later. We re actually lookin a bit thin for midfielders already. Accepting that Ronan, Dillon and SOS not going to figure I d be hoping for something like this. Clarke, Cuniffe, Hallihan, Higgins, Feeney, Caff, Burke, AOS, Kilcullen campbell, O Connor, McLoughlin, Freeman, Andy, Doc.

I think it's strange that there will be league rounds right up until the London game.

[Cosmo Kramer]

Higgins injured playing for the hurlers...that's all we need. I hope we're getting all of the injuries out of the way early before the championship starts or something because we seem to be having an awful lot of them this year.

Better news is that Vaughan is starting for Ballinrobe today in the league, will be a cert to get a run against London if fit, will probably play in the challenge game against Antrim next weekend as well if he comes through today ok.

[Tubberman]

TG4 just showed a programme on the Mayo v Galway games from 95 - 99.
Talk about bittersweet memories...absolutely brilliant days out, the ones that really got me hooked on Mayo football - went from a passion to an obsession. That day in the rain in Tuam in 99 was about as happy as I have ever been - only Dublin in 06 could rival it.
That Galway team in 98 were great, I loved watching them, yet seeing Ray Silke lift the Sam Maguire was sickening after our experiences in 96 and 97.

[moysider]

TG4 just showed a programme on the Mayo v Galway games from 95 - 99.
Talk about bittersweet memories...absolutely brilliant days out, the ones that really got me hooked on Mayo football - went from a passion to an obsession. That day in the rain in Tuam in 99 was about as happy as I have ever been - only Dublin in 06 could rival it.
That Galway team in 98 were great, I loved watching them, yet seeing Ray Silke lift the Sam Maguire was sickening after our experiences in 96 and 97.

I recorded it but doubt if I will be able to watch it.

[maigheo]

great memories of all them games but the one game i would have loved to have been at was the first rd championship game in tuam in 1997 .A blazing hot summers day and we finally break the hoodo.It must have been some athmosphere in Tuam that evening.I was at the 99 final and even tho it was a great day I just had the feeling that if we did not win the all ireland that year it would be the end of that team and management and our big chance was gone.And of course a few weeks later cork put us to the sword and we had to endure the Pat Holmes era for a few years.

[Cosmo Kramer]

Was at all 5 of those games, so kind of disappointed I missed the program.

96 and 99 were the two that stood out for me, 96 because we were awful against Roscommon the game before that and although we had shown a bit of promise in the league that year, that was the first game where you really thought there might be something in that team. 99 was bizarre, the day, the crowd, the weather, everything, but we pretty much beat the All Ireland champions pulling up towards the end so it was a great day.

97 was good too but more expected as we were Connacht Champions and Galway hadn't shown much that year. The four games from 96 to 99 were as good a quality of games as I've ever seen in Connacht and none of the derby games since then have come close in terms of quality and excitement.

[RedandGreenSniper]

Flights booked, flying into Stansted from Knock Friday morning, home Monday morning - but very early! Might have to behave Sunday night. Should be a great weekend, a nice few I know are going with the Champions League on as well.

Are we in the Champions league as well? Whatever people might say, Horan has done some job with us, getting us into the Champions league  sorry, couldn't resist

I'd go with the following

Hennelly
Hallinan Feeney Higgins
Feeney Caff Burke
McGarrity Kilcullen
A O'Shea Dillon Moran
McLoughlin Freeman Doherty

I like the look of the forward six, would have a fit Harte in for O'Shea though.
Good man R&GS, you are the type of supporter that deserves a ticket anytime we're blessed to make Croke Park. Will be back home myself for the August bank holiday weekend, hopefully I'll be able to see the lads in the flesh at HQ.

Knowing of RGS, he'll have his ticket anyway don't worry!

@Bod Mor - Yeah the Champions League is a bit of a poisoned chalice really, two games in 24 hours is not ideal and London could make the most of the fatigue! Thanks for the praise but to be honest if you like doing something, you'll do it. I would never consider it a burder or an ordeal.
@Farrandeelin - Believe it or not it can sometimes be a struggle to get that elusive ticket yet my parents, who only go to All-Ireland finals, always manage to magic tickets from somewhere.

[RedandGreenSniper]

On the injury front, the names are fairly pilling up. No Dillon, Higgins and possibly no McGarrity for London. Others may follow with the club games coming up. We wouldn't want to travel with complacency.