It's Nestor or Nothing this year, I think!

It's utter lunacy to have the draw on before the 2 provincial finals. All because of this condensed season. They simply have to look at extending the season, even by just 1 or 2 weeks.
After last years final loss, I was thinking 'ah sure, not to worry, at least we avoided that group of death'.
Usually I'd be hiding under my bed for the whole next week, having nightmares about being slapped in the face by a herring and trying desperately to avoid anything resembling the colour maroon.
Completely (further) devalues the provincial competitions.

Even still, it feels different this year. This is a provincial title we'd dearly love and need to win.
We need to stop them winning the 4 in a row on our own patch, and put a halt to Joyce merrily skipping across the MacHale Park pitch like he'd won the Lotto.

I’m really not bothered about the draw or what waits in store for us. Nestor is all that matters.

Totally agreewitg above comments Nestor is all that matters for now and stopping Galway win 4 in a row on our home ground.

@Willie Joe, winning a game in the group doesn't guarantee you passage to the prelim QFs, you could have a scenario where the top team wins all their matches and the other three teams each win one and lose one. You'd have the 4th place team going out on points difference there despite having won a game. Kind of the inverse of what happened Mayo in the 2023 group, where we won 2 matches and still finished 3rd.

It’s almost as if the championship has become a nuisance for the gaa .just get it done and out of the way as quickly as possible.God knows what lunatic structure they will come up with next year.Connacht final day just doesn’t have the same feel to it anymore .The august bank holiday quarter finals were the best weekend of the year and I don’t think I will ever get used to this current timeline.i have nieces and nephews who live in England and from the eighties on I brought them to croker in august when they would be over .Their kids in turn continued going over the last few 15 years and continue to follow the counties fortunes .Rushing the championship through to finish in July will never sit well with me

The status quo shall remain in place until Jarlath hands over the reigns to his successor, so he says anyway.

The quicker the championship is over the quicker they can make food and beer sales at concerts in Croke Park. In Galway where I follow the football and the hurling, matches are coming so quickly , I have no time to think much about the last game as the next game is coming right up. The group of death produced last year's finalists and it's likely it will produce this year's too. Kerry will be caught flat in the QF unless they get a soft draw there too but will come unstuck in the semi if that happens. Last year's their legs went against Armagh as those handy games left them off the pace.

Connacht runner up
Round 1 Cavan (H) 17/18th May
Round 2 Tyrone (A) 31st May/June 1st
Round 3 Armagh or Donegal in a neutral venue 14th/15th June

Connacht winner
Round 1 Dublin (H) 17th/18th May
Round 2 Derry (A) 31st May/June 1st
Round 3 Armagh or Donegal in a neutral venue 14th/15th June

Winning Connacht serious momentum pay back for last year v Galway is the way to go IMO. Can you imagine the scenes for the round 1 tie as Connacht champions in MacHale against Dublin and then beating them also?

Connacht runner up and playing Cavan in MacHale Park would be drab as it gets.

A workmate was only saying the same thing as in comments above to me yesterday, no time to savour games , format in football is a complete farce . Never have I felt so bleh about a championship before in my , I literally don’t care anymore . Perhaps it will become enjoyable once the all Ireland series actually starts cause everything else is just training sessions we are attending and forking out good money for .

1985 & Ever the Optimist there is already a new structure coming in next season for the All Ireland series. It's too complicated to explain here, but if anyone follows basketball, it's like the "Play In" tournament the NBA use.

https://x.com/JohnFogartyIrl/status/1917593681860690103

The 'official' (to be amended) wording of next year's structure.
It's basically Sigerson.

Ever the optimist says:
May 1, 2025 at 4:11 pm
The status quo shall remain in place until Jarlath hands over the reigns to his successor, so he says anyway.

-----------------------

Will still be the same after he's gone. President is still only a figure head, he's put in front of the camera to talk up changes. Tom Ryan is the man in charge congress with a lot of old grey haired men in suits vote things in and out. . Concerts in Croke Park has been a real winner for GAA HQ since the "split season" was brought in and the inter county season rushed whereby only 4 teams (All Ireland semi finalists) who will get July football now.

Is it that condensed from here on ?
Connacht final Sunday 4th May,

3 group games, say a quarter final, semi and final, 6 games in 12 weeks or a game every 2 weeks.

A huge panel of 30 or more players is needed.

Well bate the Blanket I imagine we will start same team as v Leitrim with few additions to the bench.
But we know in reality the 20-22 or so players management have gone with all year so doubt we will see much deviation from it.

Actually, what I should have said was the final won't be moving from July.

@BatetheBlanket: Numbers look even worse if you include the Provincial Final in that game count too.

7 games (or 8 if you end up going the pQF route) across 12 weeks (or 11 weeks for Leinster/Ulster sides) from the Provincial Final to the All Ireland Final.

> Final on 4th May (or 11th for U/L)
> 2 weeks to R1 Group Stage on 17th/18th May (or 24th/25th for L/U)
> 2 weeks (or 1 for L/U) to R2 31st/1st June
> 2 weeks to R3 14th/15th June
> 1 week to pQF 21st/22nd June
> 1 week to QF 28th/29th June
> 2 weeks SF 12th/13th July
> 2 weeks to F 27th July

To help raise some blood pressure as it was always a fierce popular hypothetical last year... you could still in theory lose the Provincial Final, lose 2 group games, draw the 3rd group game (if Score Difference is good enough to stay ahead of that side) and win the competition with 3 defeats, a draw & just the 4 wins in 5 weeks across the pQF, QF, SF & F from here.

I'm very much in favour of a split season. However, there are very few counties starting their championships before late August.

I'd agree on all the statements above - the Intercounty championship is run off way too quickly with way too many games, lacking jeopardy in most instances.

When the pre season competitions were scrapped, the calendar should have had more space but that wasn't the case either.

I'm honestly so disinterested in the championship as a whole. I'm actually becoming more interested in the provincial again rather than the all-ireland series.

What I really miss is the thought of a Connacht final, deep into July, with a smell of fresh cut hay hanging in the air. My father, always a man for the work, downing tools to bring us to Castlebar, Roscommon or Tuam. It was magic, even in the days when we weren't winning. Christ, I loved that. When you did make the All-Ireland semi, it was in late August and then onto September - it was the talk of the school yard.

The game has, sadly, become sanitised and corporate. One only need look around the social media world in the last few days, with the GAA cracking down on anyone using the word GAA in their usernames or sharing clips that are already readily available.
Attendances are dropping but hey, we have TV deals and corporate sponsors, concerts and better attended rugby games. The draw on Wednesday was viewed on YouTube instead of on a TV after the last provincial final - like, share and comment.

The All-Ireland final takes place in July. Love them or loathe them, kids around Galway were robbed last July of that magical three week period in September where the excitement is palpable and kids artwork is festooned around the place.

I'm praying for (and definitely not expecting) a Mayo win on Sunday but the rest of the year looks Meh.

I'm getting older, crankier and maybe more traditionalist but maybe I'm also right.

Sorry for the rant!

Dont worry about groups or who is in them, just go out and win every Match.

We're all getting older and crankier Tommy+Joe... but you're dead on.
I'm surprised they didn't put the draw on PPV Box Office, only they knew no-one was that interested due to the arse they've made of the Championship season.
In an ideal (and logical) world, the draw would have been made after the last provincial final, live on TV for everyone to see. Or even on the Sunday Game that night.
They could have promoted it and built up a bit of excitement and then promoted the group games for the next 2 weeks until it began.
But instead, they make a balls of it and leave all us boys and girls getting older and crankier, bemoaning the good old days (even with it's many faults).

But anyway, time to concentrate on Galway. And time to wrestle back the Nestor cup. Regardless of what it means to what group we end up in.

@Tommy+Joe, you have certainly brought back many of those memories for me also, big Connacht final days in 80's and 90's.

But maybe the long term injured guys are being primed for a return on Sunday or the group matches.
A Bank Holiday weekend, I think we all should head to Castlebar.

The reason given for doing the draw is logistics apparently. This doesn't add up. If it was logistics, the CCCC surely should be able to confirm all group fixtures once the 4 provincial finals are played.
Times, dates and venues all in one document and let people plan accordingly for the month ahead. There is a big difference between Saturday at 6 and Sunday at 2 for many people.

Instead what we get is "games will be played on the weekend of 14tth/15th June". It's so annoying.

Well written piece Willie Joe. You are spot on in everything you said.

Right now, to fu ck with the group stages, beating the maroon shower on Sunday is all that matters.

Just keep winning matches. Oh and keep winning them by as much as possible. Remember last year; didn't lose but our points difference wasn't great.

Comer and Walsh not in the 26 for Galway. Could be in the standby 4 and added later.

No Comer. No Walsh, No party.....
Mayo favourites now... ?

When and where does one find the extended panel list?

@Moyside 100% agree!

Group stages are what they are both tough enough.

As a comment above said imagine having stopped Galway do 4 in a row against the odds in McHale park and get our confidence & momentum back..

Then welcome the Dubs to Castlebar that would be some game ..then you get going to Cavan if we loose not the same buzz obviously ...

It will be close Sunday but I expect our guys to give the best performance of the year . . ( hoping more so ..! )

No Walsh or comer in the 26 is massive. Both had a massive influence in salthill last year.

No excuses now, that makes mayo favourite's

No Walsh and Comer makes a Mayo ambush more possible now

No Heaney either, bookies shortened odds already the flippers :)
We still great odds given personnel available are same less Tommy from the team that should have won last year and Galway much more depleted.

Galway will still be favourites for Sunday, Comer has not had much game time anyway, but odds may soften. PJ would take great satisfaction in winning in Castlebar without these two marquee forwards.
Regarding group games, we have played 2 division 3 teams, what about Donegal who will have another few tough matches having already played 4 tough matches in Ulster.
There is always luck in sport but good teams will find a way. In terms of team preparation, the most important match is your next one. Want a performance versus Galway, let's see what results it brings.

Personally, I don't for a second think that we won't see one or both of comer n walsh on the bench...Joyce is playing games. I fully expect mayo to fight like dogs on Sunday. Our backs are to the wall and are underdogs. It's time to raise it on Sunday and see what we are made off.

No Comer or Walsh named in the Galway squad for Sunday.

Damien Comer, Shane Walsh, Finnian Ó Laoi, Johnny Heaney and Cillian Ó Curraoin all not named.
Is it Comer that took the knock in challenge or Walsh, so be surprised if either get named on standby.

Moyside.... They are both injured...
And I don't think PJ will be reading here !!..

Fair play to Galway, always name the team early..
When will we get the Mayo 26?

Still a strong looking Galway squad even without those two but that is some serious quality unavailable to them now. Comer nearly bet us by himself last year.

Gizmobobs..Comer last weekend v Cork..
Nothing major, but they are minding both lads for the group stages..
In fairness the 15 that did the job v the Rossies deserve the start again..

Galway playing games, comer and Walsh will be added and likely to come in as 2nd half subs… time for mayo to show our hand

Thanks Tuamstar, could I hell remember which it was. It's unfortunate for him, he's had a rotten run. Great for us though.

Joyce dead right to mind them as well. Sure could rest them for round or two of the groups if needed. 24 games to rid the competition of the 4 weakest teams. The mind boggles!

I, like others here, believe that the compressed inter-county calendar has diminished the joy derived by GAA supporters. No time to look forward, engage in banter, relish a win, even for the games to become engrained in our memories. Does the view of the vast majority of supporters count. The summer needs to be reclaimed by the GAA. It owes it to the supporters.

I didn't expect Walsh to play and it appears we won't risk Comer either given the big games ahead. I expect looking at the 26 that Cooke will come in. It will be interesting to see if we can beat Mayo minus our two top forwards. It's a strong Galway team though in case I'm accused of yerrahism.

@Chesneychet your not risking Comer and think you will still win? ( probably will mind you)

But that's a bit of cockiness there but sure I don't blame you..

We've been so poor the last 3 games and I was seriously worried coming into this game .

But as I said seriously hoping for a performance from our guys .

Fair play cheshneychet - no point talking shite re your chances as it's a great panel.

I think missing Comer robs the forwards of raw physicality and hopefully means McBrien has an easier day out.

should be a cracker of a match

I do not like the disrespect shown to Padraig Joyce on here. He was a lovely footballer in his time, good and fair. And he is doing what he needs to do as a manager...trying to get his team across the line.......and fair play to him for that. If we can''t do it, then good luck to him. Credit where it is due. Up Mayo.

@up Mayo

I do wonder is it a different Joyce I see being referred to when people say he's "playing games"

If anything all he's ever done is be blatantly obvious and transparent about absolutely everything. Team is always named early and rarely changes, can't hide his dislike for certain teams (i.e us), gives out about his players in interviews (Walsh and Finnerty during the league) etc etc

While it lacks naunace and maybe some player management skills, it's a breath of fresh air compared with years of the likes of Jim Gavin picking dummy teams all sides and saying absolutely zero in interviews. The opposite of "playing games" if we're being honest

Am I getting this right.... Alot of posts happy with a connaught title. Is the bar really set that low because when horan was manager... nothing other than winning the all Ireland would suffice.

Spot on Stephenite.Joyce's honesty is always refreshing and frequently entertaining. But I wish to God he'd stop spitting on his hands every 37 seconds.

Tuamstar is right, Galway have named their squad already, but meanwhile we'll get the Mayo 26 on the day of the game and even then, the programme won't be worth the paper it's printed on, let alone the fiver. Absolute slobbering every time, and for what? Just name the team and get on with it.

Certainly not @ craggy boglands.. I'm a firm believer that every year the aim for mayo should be the AI..without a doubt. Do I think we will win it this year, probably not...but I tell u one thing, now we are in a final on Sunday, our focus as fans is to win it, especially as its our big rivals we are playing. Doesn't matter in what contest we play Galway, I hate the thought of losing to them. Stopping them do their 4 in an added incentive..

A good year for mayo this year, win provincial final be as competitive as possibly n go as far as possible in AI series and to see the u20's win the AI...some great prospects there who will come through to push us on further in next year or 2...

I notice Boylesports have Rory brickeden in their markets , interesting.

KMS has to be salivating over a Galway side without the dynamic duo. There's a serious opportunity here to strike a blow if heads-up football is played. Let's hope it's taken.

I’m glad you’ve raised that Anne-Marie - this constant spitting on his hands is bananas.

He must have been a nightmare during the pandemic!!?

Naming your team and panel early shows confidence. Constantly delaying and making changes shows me a team (management more so) that is unsure, uneasy and nervous. McStay and co heads in the line this Sunday.

Interesting that both Mayo and galway minor team managements are not releasing teams as per normal this weekend.

@Sean Burke I would think they could be on to something there, and expect Brickenden be in the 26 along with likes of Durcan and Reid. Reid could even be a bolter back into the team for midfield.

Can that 26 be taken as gospel for Galway....can they not show on the day.I don't know the rules around that??

I'd expect Comer and walsh to be on the standby list .
Galway have assembled a serious squad of players.
Cooke a huge addition.
Have to say I'm raring for this one .
Galway 4/1 for All Ireland
Mayo 25/1 for All Ireland.
Mayo v Galway in Castlebar and despite our recent performances, anything could happen.
If we are to be beaten, let's go down swinging!!

The more I think about it, a win on Sunday followed by a crack at the Dubs in Castlebar two weeks later—if that doesn’t get supporters in the stands and inject some momentum and belief into our season, then we might as well pack it in now.

I'm not cocky, I just want to see how we will go without the two players classed by many as our "stars". Walsh didn't play against Ros and Comer made a cameo and we won well, so now step up to a Div1 team without them and see where we are. Can't rely on either given their previous injuries. Cooke if ready is a huge addition.

@sean burke

That's just a lazy trader who doesn't know anything. Betting markets really do matter and are very informative in other sports like Soccer and obviously racing. A lot of time they mean absolutely zero in gaa and are just a throwaway offering to have something up on site

Everyone got excited last week when it was 1/5 Galway and 11/4 Mayo for Connacht. That was a mistake that was in for tiny limits (I checked) and has since been corrected. PPs parent company is worth about 40bn worldwide and gaa is about the last thing on their minds. The 9/4 odds on Mayo now will shorten again once these companies realize comer and Walsh are out. It'll take time tho because again, they don't give a fiddlers about gaa and don't keep up to date. I really hope mcstay isn't using the odds that's been thought up and originated in the head of one random young lad as motivation this week

Joyce's interviews are a tonic. Hate watching the cliched interviews where managers / players spend a whole lot of effort saying absolutely nothing.

So are the two Galway bucks really unavailable or is it all shlobberin by PJ?
And, more importantly, what about our own two boys, PD and TC?

I’ll be absolutely amazed if we don’t see at least one of Walsh or Coner togged.
If we do I assume all the bitching on here about McStay making changes to the named 15 and 26 will go away then ?
Every manager does it
And I hate it .
But if mcstay didn’t do it he would be called soft and naive ……

I think a comment here about 3 intriguing Provincial Finals might be a little unfair to Clare. Anything can happen in a final. Although obviously Kerry playing at home in Killarney are raging hot favourites and rightly so, people should remember 1992. People should also consider there are two southkerrymen managing these teams. I believe that Peter Keane blew his opportunity as Kerry manager but still he was not happy the with the way he had to leave the job. Peter knows all of the Kerry players well. He is a proud Kerryman & nothing would please him more than getting one over on his home county & Jack Connor. Kerry will be without Paudie Clifford, who is a big loss to the team. The Kerry Midfield and Defence are far from great. Anything can happen in a final, a red card or two, a bad refereeing decision. Hopefully Mayo will win the Connaught Title on Sunday and go on to win the SAM. I would love to see Aidan win an All Ireland.

If it was knockout game the 2 lads would be available, guaranteed. There is very little jeopardy here even more so when you see the groups. God be with the days of 98 and 99.

@FreeTheEastBank: The 26 are submitted to HQ before 9am on the Thursday, along with 4 additional standby players that can be swapped in in the event of a medical need or a bereavement. So potential for a late swap to happen.

That said, Galway have been THE most honest & transparent side when it comes to naming teams all year. They've often gone above & beyond sharing the full standby list (the fact that they didn't for this one fueling some of the speculation) or detailing the full Extended Panel.

It would be incredibly out of character for them to play silly buggers like this. Along with the fact a number of folks had it that Comer was out after the challenge game long before the team was named. Always a chance... But it'd be equally as shocking as our named 15 starting. I wouldn't expect it to happen.

I don't understand this fear that is out there of what group Mayo could end up in.

There is not much between the top 6-8 sides in the country and on any given day they could all beat each other.

There was a time not too long ago we would have wanted the Connaughy winners group this year just to try show our superiority.

The draw is what it is and I'm hoping we're in that tougher group because it means we've won back the Connaught title and have the opportunity to bring Dublin to our home for once (that alone should be incentive enough to want the game to happen). Donegal or Armagh we will play anyway and right now Derry are no better than Cavan but we want to be playing against the best to see just where we really stand.

We all know ita highly unlikely Mayo go on a sudden burst and win the all ireland but a connaught title and see how we get on against other top teams and see where we end up by seasons end isn't a bad 2025.

We are amongst the best on our day and will only get better by playing the best. None of Dublin, Derry, Donegal/Armagh are looking forward to having the either ourselves or Galway so why should we be scared?

We're not the poor little Mayo side who are going up against the big guns. We are a big gun and supporters need to get behind the team as such. This expecting to lose on Sunday and being afraid of a certain group is small minded and defeatist.

Seeing the Galway squad named, although I don't believe Comer and/or Walsh won't be late call ups, I think Mayo come out on top by 2. Hopefully we see a 2nd half vs Armagh type performance and we can cheer on the good stuff happening on the field and try forget about the usual ongoing Mayo shitshow off the field for a day at least

JoeT1480 I not sure what Management were on about when they were on about Tommy Conroy seeing game time in league or whatever they were on about. Do not expect to be seeing him this weekend either.
Brickenden on the other hand Boyle Sports could be clued in on.

@Gizmo
Any idea of the position regarding Durcan and Conroy?
Last words I heard from the manager after the Sligo game were that they were both back in training. Paddy being a bit further on than Tommy. The question wasn't posed after the Leitrim game. Did either of them play in challenge games?

Belated congrats to the U20's delighted for them and great considering the last few yrs at this level. You have to feel though that they'll need to up their defensive game plan big time to progress further.

Surprised to here Comer and Heaney maybe out (all indications were Walsh was out up to now). For me this is not who is or isn't available for Galway its about our own performance, setup and desire to win. One side of me expects a big showing with all recent perceived issues corrected and the other side thinking we'll see more lateral and recycling play and local media later reporting semi crop circles found in McHale Park

Mind the House, Paddy should be fine and would expect him be in panel at a minimum. Tommy from chatting lads in the Neale was a long way off a month or so ago so cannot imagine hes available this week.

Paddy durcan on the bench some really positive news.

Interesting comments from John P Keane today.Not sure its as clear as he makes out and not sure it is totally evidenced based but interesting reading nonetheless.

Galway on paper should win this comfortably. We played well in patches over the league but realistically our lack of forwards capable of scoring from distance which was always an issue is even more so now.
Last year Galway did two things very well. They let our players who can't score have the ball and even though we had more possession, they stayed in touch. Then, crucially, they finished with a stronger team.
Our management seemed to like that approach and adopted it this year.... control the ball then go for it in the 2nd half. The problem is....the rules changed and once again we have been left behind tactically.
Not winning on Sunday won't cross Galways mind. They are on the charge. They will want to control this game and close it out without much stress and more on.
We can hope for chaos, and springing a performance and all that stuff but when it comes down to it, we have pretty much the same team. I can't understand how players like Irwin were benched for games when it looked like the ideal time to build confidence. Now. We expect them to perform against a defensive unit who are drilled and full of confidence.....
Not meaning to be negative but that's where I thing we are at. Nice to see some direct running forwards who can score from distance coming through on the u20s so it's not all doom and gloom.

Great to see Durcan back !

Great to see Durcan back. Strange to see Reid, Quinn and Brickenden back out of nowhere really.

Thanks Gizmo.

Fingers crossed we can get Tommy on the pitch at some point. Even a 20 minute cameo like the Galway league final when he put Galway on the back foot and drew the frees that got us over the line.

No Eoghan Mc in the 26.
Big loss for us in a game like this.

Offers that bit of unpredictability and chaos that we thrive on.

Can Tommy be named on bench come Sunday even though he’s not named on the match panel

@Robe green and red: You can make changes to the 26 from among the 4 listed Standby Players (who were also submitted on Thursday morning) up until 40 minutes before throw in, once there's a medical need or bereavement. So possible.

That said, I've not heard any informed speculation or suggestions that Tommy will be involved beyond folks wishful thinking. I wouldn't be expecting him to pop up.

TSU I don’t doubt ya but the informed info came from the horses mouth throughout the league , if things took a negative turn in tommys progress , I really don’t see the big issue with mcstay just telling us (the supporters ) instead he has dragged us along the whole time “he’s not far away , will get some league time etc etc . Football people know what tommys worth is hence why everyone is eager to know , anyway no use getting worked up about it but admittedly it does drive me insane , he’s the one boy we’ve got ya want to see run at defenders under the new rules