Work commenced on new training pitch this week. Dimensions 140x70. Minimum width of standard pitch is 80?

Good luck to all the participants in Brave the Drop Abseil Challenge in Croke Park today as a fundraiser for Mayo Cancer Support

Good weather county semis, local rivals knocking lumps out of each other, should be good weekend .

I'll still stick with Knockmore to beat Ballina, just too much history and whatever about 3 in a row, knockmore won't want to be beaten 5 times in a row.
With better weather, there's more consistent spread of scorers across knockmore forwards and subs.
If knockmore lock down Ballinas midfield from getting inside the shooting zone or at least Irwin from distance, then I think they will have enough physcial and too class defending attrition to ensure ballina score less than Ballina .

Crossmolina and Westport is getting harder to call , the team whom haven't been tested in a while and thats credit to them or the team who's got decent results without looking overly on form .
Westport will look to dominate physically and mentally but I think it be a disservice to Cross to say they only good in prime conditions .
They are serious footballers and won't be lacking physically with Jordan Flynn, Leddy, Loftus, Kevin Mulhern as main spine and then Intro of Darragh Syron for midfield , they will give as good as they get whilst still retaining game plan of fast support football.

Ballina still won't want to be beaten either they absolutely hate loosing to Knockmore . Ballina by 2 or 3 . They have the experience to come through this and be in their 3rd final in a row . With cross probably .

Ballina to hold out against Knockmore, and Westport to take down the high flying Crossmolina lads... and one if not both could go to extra time/penalties......

@ Mayo Man, both could go to the wire. Would be betting on a Knockmore / Crossmolina final myself.
Hopefully they are entertaining games at any rate.

I said before and again, not pessimistic outlook but is the level of interest there with semis this weekend? Just talking to a few fairly knowledgeable gaa heads they said interest levels not too great. I thought with new rules etc it would be more exciting or interesting but maybe just a few like myself or is it time of year. I saw someone here was talking about club v county and how its really all about county and counter arguments etc, hard to know I suppose.

Intermediate final now changed to Sunday 19th. Co Board can't keep up with themselves with all the chopping and changing!

East Mayo, Where did you see that ?

East Mayo ,Ya,I just seen them on Mayo Gaa X .

@ james Fleming. Great response from Mayo clubs
From Mayo gaa
Abseilers Names:

Ballyhaunis: Tommy Grogan.

Garrymore: Darren Hennelly

Breaffy: MJ Reddington, Sarah Reddington, Mark Dervan, Collette McTighe, Gerry Bourke, Conor O’Shea.

Castlebar Mitchells: Donal Vaughan, Martin Carney, Tom O’Reilly, Diarmuid Byrne, Darren Greaney, Danielle Caldwell, Kathryn O’Sullivan and Willie Joe Padden

The Neale: Cathal Kearney.

Kilmeena: Joan Fitzgerald.

Davitts GAA: Shane Mitchell and Fenton Kelly

Kilmaine: Geoffrey Sheridan, Ger Sheridan

Ballinrobe: Conor O’Brien, Michaela Tuffy and Conor Keane

Bonniconlon: Sean Tolan

Ballycastle: Fergal Tighe

Ballintubber: Alan Dillon, Padraig O’Connor.

Burrishoole: Colm McManamon.

Cill Chomáin: Michael D McAndrew

Claremorris: Gabrielle Clesham, Joe Costellow, Sarah Mahon, Lorraine Dolan, Ethan Jordan, Tommy Murphy and Damien McHugh

Balla: JP Reilly and Peter Tonra.

Mayo Gaels: Barry Commons

Killala: Cian Monaghan

Swinford: Michael Murtagh

Shrule/Glencorrib: Ger Sheridan and Geoffrey Sheridan

Knockmore: Emma Coleman.

Westport: Charlie Lambert

Lahardane: Colm McAndrew, Barry Leonard and Sinead Walsh.

Hollymount: Emily Connolly and Stephen Coen and JJ Costello

Moy Davitts: Brian Reape

Ballaghaderreen: Andy Moran, Pat Sharkey, Caitriona Sharkey

Charlestown: Enda Casey

Kiltimagh: Mark Jennings and Mike Ryan

Ballina Stephenites: David Clarke and Fran Downey .

Crossmolina Deel Rovers: Eileen Rowland, Anthony McHale and John Maughan

Belmullet: Ryan O’Donoghue and Padraic Conroy.

Aghamore: Pat Freyne

@Outside of the Boot: "... there’s more consistent spread of scorers across knockmore forwards and subs."

That one sparked my interest. Not something I'd ever looked at too closely.

Scored:
Ballina 81 (8-13-31), Knockmore 78 (7-3-51)
Scored from play:
Ballina 55 (7-5-24 - 79%), Knockmore 62 (7-3-35 - 68%)
Conceded:
Ballina 66 (5-9-33), Knockmore 50 (1-4-39)
Players used:
Ballina 25, Knockmore 25
Starters used:
Ballina 18, Knockmore 18
Scorers:
Ballina 13, Knockmore 15

Evan an obvious outlier, scoring 37% of Ballina's total scored and 22% of their total from play.
With Evan & Frank combining for 52% of Ballina's total (though only 31% of their total from play, so a significant portion of their scores from dead balls [32% of Ballina's total]).

Darren the obvious outlier for Knockmore, kicking 14 from play (20% of their total) when their next highest is only on 6... but as you mentioned no harm having that kind of spread of scorers so a potential upside there.
Darren & Peter combining for 40% of Knockmore's total, so again highlighting the spread going that bit deeper across the panel.
(Most interesting stat of the lot is probably that Knockmore haven't kicked a single 2 point free so far this year. With Naughton, Orme and Reape you'd have thought they'd have a few by now. You'd imagine illustrating a clear preference to go for the quick S&G and push for goals or scores from play)

Obviously huge caveats with Knockmore's numbers put up against Balla, Westport, Mayo Gaels & Ballintubber while Ballina's were against Ballyhaunis, Crossmolina, Garrymore & Ballagh (so very much an apples with oranges), but it does seem to confirm your thoughts that it'd be challenging to lock down Knockmore's varied scorers (that said, holding Darren's creativity up top along with Connell & Pearse [or Kev Mc's running when he comes in] around the middle goes a very long way to it - and Ballina look relatively well-placed to try and disrupt those).

Huge test for Knockmore's (so far exceptional) discipline at the back (only 0-1-13 conceded from deadballs), where only Aghamore (0-2-9) conceded less than them from frees this year. If they can keep up that level against Ballina's pace and running power to stop Frank & Evan pop over handy scores, this one will go right down to the wire.

So far this year, the stronger attacks have been coming out on top against the stronger defences in a majority of games. In this one, where the two attacks are so close in numbers, it's hard to see a clear favourite either way even with Knockmore's tighter defence numbers to date. Ballina still favourites for me (to win the semi and win it out - the strength, power, accurate shooters and running game they have seems to be just the right mix for the new rules), but with Shane McHale, Kieran King, Kevin Mc & David McHale all with the extra couple of weeks behind them to get back towards 100% it couldn't be much closer. You'd easily talk yourself into going either way with it, the type of game where a single injury could swing it one way or the other.

@winston , guaranteed there will be big crowds at both semi finals this weekend . All you have to do is look at the attendances of matches during the summer to see that there is a huge interest in Club football in Mayo.
A lot of people i have spoken to would have loved to attend both semi finals unfortunately that's not an option this weekend.

*woops... slipped when copy/pasting in the scored from play.

Knockmore with the 79% & Ballina with the 68%.

@ Tsu, Even AI couldn't keep up with ya for pure statistics. Fair play

Superb stuff Tsu and thats how I feel too , split decision and I did back Ballina to beat Garrymore , because of Frank and Jack's spread of scores aswell as impact from halfbacks , just didn't think it was to be Tighe but Ballina are well balanced .

I just keep thinking there's no defence your hate to face more than the Mchales, King , Adam Naughton, Orme , the match phsycial with definition of touch tight and then add vat of being knockmore.
Connell Dempsey, Staunton, Armstrong, Ruttledge, Kevin Mc in free role is some lineup of options to have around the middle and all will.play a part in the greater of all options rather than defined superstar role.

I don't rate Orme as highly as other but think there's big game in him and this must be it as Mchale will get all the Sam and O Hora treatment, it should leave space for Orme.
Peter Naughton too has been solid without hitting heights of old so , just cant envisage them not leaving everything out there and it's setup for Ray Dempsey and Joe Brolly type seige mentality.

I think you can lock down Mcstay, Jack Irwins not fit I hear, Thornton not 100% , Feeney etc not on form or helping Regan, I just see too many of Ballinas scores from midfield and halfbacks and if any team will lineup the Borussia Dortmund yellow wall then it's Knockmore.

I don't have a preference for either team just really looking forward to the battle and whoever wins will be well deserving but as ever great stats and technical info 👍

I'd be of same thinking Deel Rover that there's great attendance and highest interest in long time in club football.
Without upsetting people , the calibre of football.on display now rather than slog fests of Tubber and Mitchels from few years ago is far superior.
No sweepers no 15 men behind ball and adds to excitement of club football, as mistakes are more acceptable and anticipated so more excitement and I notice a good crossover of different fans from other clubs going to see Kuba or Kobe or Frank Irwin, ROD etc just seems to be more interest and excitement I'd suggest .

Outside of the Boot - It's a bit unfair to suggest that the Mitchels team played a lower calibre of football than the current sides they had some outstanding battles against top clubs like Corofin, St. Brigid’s, and Crossmaglen. No Mayo team has come close to matching that kind of form outside the county at Senior level since. And let’s not forget the Ballina vs Breaffy county final that ended 0-6 to 0-4 less than two years ago.

On the Ditch my grandson Mark Jennings from Kiltimagh is one of the abseilers

Not sure about all of the talk of fast free scoring football under the new rules.
Some matches have been very tight.
I read about a Cavan county final of some grade that was 1 point all at half time.

Fair play James. Great cause as Rock Rose House survives in the main by voluntary contributions and fundraising drives. Brilliant response from Mayo clubs including your grandson. Credit too to John Maughan, energetically driving the event.

Thanks one on the ditch

Looking at the results/ fixtures of any big county like Mayo and Meath that I am both familiar with it strikes me that it is a logistical nightmare for the organisers.
A,B,C,D etc competitions, easy to complain about an odd hiccup, but I have great admiration for people who give their time freely to put it all together.
Thanks

Definitely huge interest in the club scene. Gates and streams well up it seems chatting to lads in the CB. Some of the crowd attendances have been huge, even at league games there was good turnouts. Harks back to the good ol' days :)

Ballinas midfield with 3 lads in the county team in last 24 months should be able to starve Knockmore forwards of possession you'd imagine as it's not an area Knockmore would have huge size when they are having to use Ruttledge there, who while a class act doesn't have what you'd call a natural midfielders physique in the mould of Murray, Thornton, Irwin and Irwin.
A lot will depend on ref and how he manages proceedings. If he is whistle happy Evan should be able to punish them. But on flip side O'Hora could be lucky to last full game for same reasons, he was very lucky the last few games I felt to last the distance. One foul on young Flynn in Crossmolina went unpunished that could possibly have been straight for the line job I thought. Bookies have Ballina red hot favourites given the pick they have, their record, array of intercounty experience and physical size on what will be a yielding-soft pitch it's hard argue against it.

Crossmolina with all the momentum behind them also in the bookies favourites camp. The Charlestown pitch is an excellent surface and should suit them. But if Westport get flowing it will suit them down to the ground also. They have been improving as the rounds go on having players back who are getting more game time under the belt. So feel this could go down to the wire.

Kevin Keane if he gets a foothold at edge of square to lay off to the inrushing Moran, Kilkelly, Holmes, Moran etc. will pose a question to the Crossmolina defence the other teams they've faced to date wouldn't have. But again, the Westport defence will face similar the other direction. They do however have speed in their backs some other teams don't to deal with it.
So exciting times ahead for Mayo GAA fans.

Well said Jr, with more officials needed, and less available on top of more games with all this plate craic it must be a nightmare.

Someone should send Martin Breheny a link to this site, he got the senior club fixture dates incorrect, he / his paper only has club games to report on this time of year but yet they still manage to make a hames of it.

Ballina and Westport for my 5e Double

In fairness, highorlow, I get some of those details wrong here from time to time but thankfully there’s always a eagle-eyed person or two to set me right and keep the details correct!

Big day ahead today for the Kiltimagh GAA club with the blessing of the recently enhanced pitch and official opening of by the President of the GAA Jarlath Burns .
Well done to all involved

For anyone at the early game today it would be great if someone posted scores on occasion as game progresses, for the benefit of the building site plebs, for whom Saturday is a normal working day .... would be appreciated much.

Ballina 6 knockmore 2 at half time.Ballina should be more ahead.Darren Mchale off injured.

Ballina 4 up at the break, midfield dominance telling as expected. Darren McHale injured after 10 minutes a huge loss for Knockmore.
McLoughlin will likely have start the second half now.
Ballina second point from an extremely dubious breach call.

Knockmore kickouts shocking all day.1-08 plays 0-2 now after 35 minutes.

1-10 to 0-5. Ballina counter attacking as Knockmore chase the game

1-12 to 0-7. All Ballina with 10 to go.

1-12 ro 0-8. Ft
Easy for Ballina, Callinan and frank Irwin outstanding. Murray hugh work rate. Orme tried hard but needed support. It will take a good team to beat Ballina.

7 point win for Ballina.Much the better side all over the pitch.Golden,Irwin,Callinan,Ohora excellent.Orme tried hard all day.Will take a huge effort to take away their title.

Congrats to Ballina delighted for them .

Knockmore lacking power at midfield...was always going to be a problem.

0-8 a poor return in the new rules on a decent day weather wise, Knockmore coached by Joe Brolly not a great week for him.

Thanks for the updates lads. Much appreciated.

FT JFC Semi Final:
Bonniconlon 0-11 1-11 Eastern Gaels

Explosive finish with 5 scored from the 58th minute after a 15 min calm with no scores sees Eastern Gaels earn a spot in the Junior Final.

What happened the Ballina lads last year on the Mayo panel?
How could lads start a lot of league games and be replaced by a club mate that started no league game?
Listening to the game it appears Sam is back in form.
Perhaps he was expected to too much too young for Mayo.
Hope we have learnt a lesson.

Based on todays performance Callinan ,O'Hora, Thornton, Frank Irwin, and Aidan Orme looked like County players , Reape isnt good enough for Goalie on todays performance.Darren McHale was playing with injury.Ruttledge was dissappinting expected more from him

You won't score much if don't have the ball. Ballina be my favourites to win again, the platform the 3 county midfielders gives them is huge. The caveat is they are very conservative so not sure if they will fare much better v the Galway or Roscommon opposition.

How did O'Malley get his red card rescinded?
Will go Westport by 3 this evening.

Big aggression and physicality by Westport so far.

Delighted for the Knockmore coach.

Nephin you'll be even happier if Westport win today so

Brilliant game, westport will be disappointed to be down by 1 at half time as they have been really good, could be a extra game here if the 1st half is to go by.

Great game so far, but thinking Crossmolina have more left in them

Ballina knockmore turned out to be surprisingly comprehensive, as others have said it ultimately came down to ballinas midfield dominance and size, just gives them a huge platform in every game to play on their terms. I would make them reasonably strong favourites now in the final regardless of who wins 2nd semi.

Exciting game, referree seems to have been very harsh on Westport in last 10

Great drama late on, Kobe is some talent.

The senior game a real classic. Some showing from both sides.

FT JFC Semi-Final:
Ardagh 2-13 1-18 Kiltimagh

Kiltimagh join Eastern Gaels in the Junior Final (that many of us probably predicted as Ardagh versus Bonni).

The last point cross got came from a clear foul on the far sideline on westport, westport will be kicking themselves they have been brilliant and outside of kobe they have kept all of the cross main players quiet.

John Glavey has been excellent

Who wants it most? Dawson really stood up for me. Finbar and Lorcan lacking a bit of sharpness from lack of games. Joey Holmes doing a lot of good work. Outside of Kobe, Cross players are patchy enough, maybe benches will have a role, time to throw in Keane

Kobe seems to have the leadership to match the talent.

Not getting to see it but enjoying brilliant commentary on midwest by martin Carney.

Sounds like Westport the better team for the most of it and will be disappointed its gone to ET? That fair?

Crossmolina 1 point in front at half time in extra, 0-9 for Kobe now?

Well done Kiltimagh

The value of a Kevin Keane to bring on...
This probably takes too much out of Westport for next weekend though.
It's Ballina for me now.

Westport deserved winners. Crossmolina scores dried up in the 2nd half of extra time.

Westport deserving winners. Experience and toughness won the day. Subs Keane and Lambert brothers brilliant in second half of extra time. They'll be outsiders for the final and that's fine

What an absolutely fantastic game of football, the style of football by both teams was a joy to watch, westport fully deserved the win, when u look back jordan and conor where very quiet, westport have just got better and better as the championship has gone on, they had so many brilliant performers today , ill tell you two players that I loved today finbarr mclaughlin beautiful stylish player his kick passing is class and how good is Brian mcdermott so powerful

Also the crowd made the game better. Kobe is absolutely brilliant, its incredible what hes able to do at 17.

Well done Westport . Hard luck to Cross . I still think Ballina will do the 3 in a row .

Hard to see past Ballina now. Brilliant game between Cross and Westport. Outstanding from Kobe - if that point attempt at the end of normal time goes over it would have gone down in folklore. His highlight reel from today is the envy of many inter county forwards for their whole career.

Flynn disappointing seemed to be more involved with the crowd and referee than the game itself

Gbx that’s it in a nutshell and nobody wants to offend , if you’ve a football brain they’ll know themselves , idc what stats or what science is put to me to counter the argument, you just cannot beat natural football , a kicking style that’s just so easy on the eye . The young boy has everything in his locker to be a future star for Mayo albeit that doesn’t look likely , it’s still been a joy to watch last couple of years .

Surely some company or group in Mayo can offer something to Kobe to keep him in Mayo, he would be a great asset to any group and especially to sport in Mayo.

Are the PnT still hiring I wonder...they and the Board a works used to keep our best and brightest from taking the boat back in the day I believe .
But seriously, I hope he sees his future in this country,if only for selfish reasons.

Kobe is a generational talent . One we so badly need. We need to take a leaf out of the Kerry playbook here . Clifford was on his way to Oz too……..

A huge congratulations to Westport and Ballina on reaching the county final — two great teams who’ve shown real skill and determination throughout the campaign.
For Crossmolina, it’s the end of a long and eventful journey this season. The lads gave everything and can hold their heads high after some fantastic performances along the way.
It’s always tough to see a campaign end, but the spirit and community around the club remain strong. The downtime over the winter is needed to regroup, support each other, and come back even stronger next year.
Well done to all involved — players, management, and supporters alike. Fáinnithe na Dáile abú!

Here hear. Deelrover!

Westport were the better team all day. It was Kobe who kept Crossmolina in it.
The hard ground is gone and the more physical team s are taking over again.
It's a pity how club v county spilt season doesn't allow the best club matches played after summer.
Crossmolina will come good yet (kobe or no Kobe), it will just take a few more years longer without him.

Ballina inability to push on and score in the last 10 is an ongoing trend. Westport have played their best football in the last 10 of the semi and final.

Should mean a big finish to the county final.

I stand corrected especially after the 2nd semi between westport and cross, hugely entertaining going all the way..great scores, passes, hits etc..exactly why you'd want to go and watch a game, far cry from the shite played under old rules. Well done to both. Delighted pr**k brolly got beat today.

Really enjoyed the Westport Cross game, some great football and ebbed and flowed. I have not seen Ballina this year but hope that westport up their performance again, I like their approach, have previously found Ballina to have a boring (albeit effective) style.

Westport Crossmolina was a fantastic game where neither team deserved to lose. Such small margins. When the Conor Loftus penalty hit the bar it proved the defining play. Had it gone in or even over the bar it would more than likely have proved crucial.
Ballina and Westport will both fancy their chances now but will the extra time bring Westport on another bit or prove fatal?
I honestly think the final should bethe following weekend but of course there's always a chance of a replay. I don't believe Westport should be hampered after that effort they put in today.

Listening on the radio and I thought Coby was very good, imagine him when hits mid twenties is scary! If a soccer player he be a 100 million player already in value

Anyone know if the ladies final tomorrow is being streamed anywhere?

Congrats to Westport so physical and I mena that in the more respectful and positive manner , they were so strong around middle sectors .
Eoghan Mac on this performance is worth a rethink for Andy, Finbar was superb too.
Kilkenny and Moran also both worth a look but generational doesn't do this kid justice, Kobe was yet again sensational but alos brought a level of leadership, drive and passion that far far exceeds that of anyone else.
We all knew about him, we need to keep him, integrate him into u20s and senior team and whatever it takes to get him playing senior next spring, there are no guidelines on this, but this guy has no handbook as he's that good , cautious but have to respect the talent and only way to improve county team is to integrate him .

Someone set up a "Keep Kobe in Mayo" GoFundMe page!

Deel Rovers were second best around the middle. Kobe was at midfield and yet rated the best Rovers player. He is definitely gifted but imo was out of the game for long periods. Missed penalty sealed Rovers fate. The end of a fairytale.

I'd agree Outside of the Boot. Eoghan is definitely good enough and needs to be involved. If the current Mayo CB can do only one thing, it must be to keep Kobe at home. He's a joy to watch, is bringinh in huge revenue for the CB and there are plenty of expats that would be only too happy to help out.

Ah come on Vaaldamm , scored 10 points and was out of the game for a long time ? You need to watch the match back again as it was as good a performance from a 17 year old as you will see . Best of luck to westport in the final .

Its comments like that from Vaaldamm that make me think the expectations on Kobe going forward are ridiculous.

Glad Westport won. They were the better team and as neutral thought referee was harder on them.
They are also better suited to give Ballina a game in final, albeit I feel Ballina still be to strong in middle.
Break may do CDR good and let them see there's more important things than football.

@outside, the decision to drop Eoghan before the season has even started is utterly embarrassing from Andy. You'd swear we're laden down with talent at the back. Hopefully that's the last of his daft decisions.

Great game, Westport probably deserved it but Kobe was immense, no other way to call it! BTW he played full forward for most of the time, but went to midfield occasionally, usually to pluck the ball from the sky. Keegan too was very clever and worked his socks off. Mayotv had the score wrong down the straight and good as Eioin was, Kobe was as clear a MOM as I ever saw.

What are people referring to when they say EML has been dropped from the Mayo panel?

Exactly matty, that was a lazy troll narrative that Kobe was playing midfield all year, he rotates inside line halfforwards and mid.

Agred GB re Eoghan but maybe just maybe, like some of last years, other panel members that Eoghan couldn't or decided he needed a year to get body right but hard to leave him at home when he's such a physical and forward driving option and slowly maturing into understanding his limitations

Kobe McDonald was that good today its only himself that can stop him from starting for the Mayo Seniors next season if he just diesnt want to make himself available.Andy and Colm just have to pick him now, hes just that good, hes the most talented footballer at 17 in Mayo since Padraig Brogan was playing with St Jarlaths and Knockmore in 1983 and 84

EMCL is a massive tackler too, one of the best.

Kobe got hurt on the throw on at the beginning of the second half and it took him a while to run it off. That's why he was out of the game for a while. Westport won the midfield battle. But what a game. It was absolutely outstanding from two teams playing really well.

Only second to Aidan in the tackling stakes, Matt.

From the horse mouth that it was Andy's decision, Outside.

Good summer for finding forwards and some potential forwards playing well in different positions but Kobe, Kuba, Kilkelly, Moran, Irwin, Barrett, Mchales, Carey, Maheady all showing well so please Andy go power and pace and forget slow and cumbersome or shoe horning midfielders into forwards (bar Irwin)

Really GB , that's surprising and interesting and shocking to be honest all rolled into one .
We have some talent in halfbacks but Paddy's returning from injury, we don't know if Conor will play , McBriens a sure thing , Callinan could play other roles as could Morahan and Mcmonagle, Diamruid O with all respect hasn't been fit in years , so tough decision to leave Eoghan Mac out

I’d be the first to contribute Tubberman. And I’m not talking about a fiver, he’s that good.

@Mikey

Well Ballina may have a boring (albeit effective) style as you say .

That still has not stopped them winning the most county titles and back in their 3rd final in 3 years they must be doing something right despite being boring as you say sure !

Happy for Keegan and westport though . It will be a close final .

- Fair play to you 'the deal rover' for your good wishes.
- It was a great game as most people had expected it would be and it attracted a large crowd with a lot of neutrals in attendance.
- Plenty of standout players with super showing from a 17 year old. Maheady, Loftus and Jordan were well marshalled.
- I thought Brian O Malley was very influential, he won a power of ball in the middle, Finbarr is a pure footballer while Eoghan is like a man possessed.
- Super sub Kevin Keane won it with two superb points in 2nd half of extra time.
- Westport are indeed very physical and they tend to put on a very aggressive press at times.
- Will be a way different game in the final but Westport can mix it physically so the battle around the middle will be just that, a battle.

Why did Cross put Ko e in for throw in and Flynn at 11.
Surely it should have been the other way around.
Maheady and Mötley are County level for me

Congratulations to both winnings Teams today.
Westport will put it up to Ballina.
I have not been on the blog for a few weeks but have been to matches in Mayo and Galway so forgive me for not knowing of The Eoghan dropped comments on here.
Maybe someone can explain because as far as I know Andy hasn't dropped any Player .?
Thank you for the update whoever seems to Know these things.

I'd have Kobe, Oisin, Dylan and the Coggins lads ahead of Maheady to be honest with you @FreeTheEastBank. They are all better team players and make less rash choices when on the ball. Kobe and Oisìn are some duo. I'm not sure Crossmolina scored after Oisin Deane went off. A huge proportion of Crossmolina scores comes from his link play and if you watch it back, he's on the assist for the bulk of Kobe's scores. They just work so well off each other.

As the Star said .. What do ya think of that Joe Brolly ..
Ballina far the better team . Fair play to Westport, guts , determination and old school will to win ..
Should be a cracking final

Where is the evidence that Eoghan Mac has been dropped? Why is the rumour mill being accepted as fact?

Maheady did a rare thing for a mayo forward , won a ton of ball on front and kick scores and frees all year with both feet . There's a player there but yes Deanes a smart player, let them all play u20s and bring Kobe to seniors, that said how good was Josh Moyles .
Frank Irwin has to be nailed on starter, probably not midfiled but at 12 in the role flynn used to play.
Kuba 11 or even 14 , ROD also a starter then Dawson or Neary, or even if on form Conroy for a speedy 10 role and 13 to a Kobe, Maheady, Regan, Cian Mchale , Cilian Kilkelly, Colm Moran, Adam Barrett whoever puts their hands up.
Speed power , real forwards , line breakers, non static, no history of previous losses , go for it

Interesting, Westport lads I was chatting to didn't mention that being reason, if it is good luck to him.
He certainly be in the older category for making such a switch. But he's physically strong, quite good aerially and very quick which seem be main attributes needed as other skills aren't as prominent for that sport.

Very proud of our lads today but it wasn't to be. They went out swinging and left everything on the pitch, playing go forward front foot football. Hopefully there are more great days ahead for these lads. Congrats to Westport, hope they can finish the job next week. Watched the other semi final aswell. How poor were Knockmore. No physicality, no guile and no clue.

MayoMayo - you should know better than to be posting unconfirmed tittle-tattle like that here.

Maroon Rover there should be the young lads are good. Hopefully the club can use the time off to rethink what's really important in life and that there's more important things than football.

@Catcol: Eoghan being dropped was mentioned on the pod, along with mention of Colm (Reape) intending on travelling for the year.

I'd imagine a majority of the county had heard the stories about either/both, but once they're on the pod they're relatively fair game for discussion. 4 or 5 other names commonly mentioned in similar stories but that haven't gotten confirmation on the pod so won't be in these conversations.

Doesn't seem to have done Eoghan any harm. Never seen the lad hitting the level of consistency he has this year (even in games where the team were poor, like the majority of the Breaffy QF, he was one of the lads trying to spark them into life - Dawson the other standing out for that, with McDermott a rock of consistency throughout) and his work rate is absolutely through the roof. The perfect reaction to where he found himself and the type of performances that could warrant & generate a different discussion down the line.

But it's laughable Tsu. He's one of the squad's best defenders. He has physicality and pace that very few others have. Honestly, hard to have faith in Andy if that's one of his first decisions.

Eoghan Mc has been hit and miss sometimes . Maybe a year off county will do him good. Maybe Andy is looking at bringimg up some of the under 20s now .
I would not be harsh on Andy over it if it was his decision .

Clare, would you say the same if it was Sam Callinan being dropped, who also has been "hit and miss" for Mayo?

Kilmeena looking good at half time, u need luck sometimes and kiltane have lost there centre back and midfielder with injuries and they are missing there best forward in josh Carey.

Eoghan Mc has been in Mayo panel for 6 seasons. Athletically and physically he’s an elite inter county player. If you were marking out of 10 for those attributes he’d be 8-9 out of 10.

At top level inter county though what has let him down is his skill level and decision making under pressure. I don’t know if I’ve seen a huge improvement in those areas over the past 6 years and at 26 now will that come up to the level required?

I can only imagine if Andy has dropped him it’s down to those aspects

I would be surprised if Andy Moran has finalised his squad already, I think he would keep it open ended until about March anyway. Its over 3 months till a ball is kicked in anger yet.
But if he has and let EMcL go I can understand why , he is a great athlete but not technically good enough for the highest level of Intercounty football as others have said. He gives away to many fouls and scores.
But we wish all the best and that he will have a fulfilled life regardless if he never kicks a ball again for Mayo...

@GBXI

Yes I would say the same for Sam Calinan . Though Sam is younger then Eoghan mc and has lots to learn still. Sam is also back in form now .

Tooreen win another county title win with a late late goal. Ballyhaunis weren't happy it was allowed square ball they thought and few red cards.

Mayomagic confusion over a decisive squareball goal in the women's final as well for Westport.
Ardnaree doing really well so far fair play to them. Bohola Moy Davitts will surely improve in second half complete misfire for them so far up front.

Moy Davitts a very poor showing in first half. On this showing Reid would be very lucky to make the panel next year. Ronan Clarke needs to get on the ball more. Very lethargic built up play.

I'd have to agree on Eoghan Mc...
He mixes the brilliance with the naieve.
A perfect cameo of this in the Breaffy game when he won a great turnover in front of his fullback line...made about 70 meters at speed with a one-two thrown in. Got turned over eventually and hand tripped his opponent,and got sin binned.
Can these flaws be ironed out at this stage? Maybe!

Let's be real now. For the season ahead Andy Moran will have detailed data driven and tactical reasons why he drops players. He's got all the data and playerr developments profiles.

JP so had McStay....

All players have weaknesses or areas for improvement. Sam Callinan, Donncha McHugh, Stephen Coen, and Jack Coyne, are all equally as weak technically. Anyway Eoghan is technically plenty good enough, his area for improvement is his decision making. The likes of Mattie Ruane, Aidan, Ryan, Paddy all make poor decisions in games too. We're not so stacked with talent in Mayo that you drop a player in his absolute prime. His team's best player who are in a county final much because of his performances.

Did anyone not consider that Andy is just trying to give the lad a bit of motivation to find the improvement required? It could be that simple.

He is an absolutely incredible athlete. Perhaps the best athlete that has played for Mayo in many a year. But the basic skills have let him down in the biggest games. I'd still have him as an impact player. If he could get the basics right, he'd be a serious player

@Rusty Bridges

Agree . That's what I meant by maybe the year off will do him good . He will have time to concentrate on improving the basics. He could be a serious player if he got those areas improved . This I'm sure as you say to will motivate him to get back on the panel and come back stronger .

If Moy Davitts can score 1-16 in both halves they will be a serious outfit... should be a good final.

2 hops i was thinking the same haha, if they can play well for both halves they will be hard to beat, the intermediate final is going to be a brilliant game though, if the weather is good it will be really high scoring, could be a replay.

The new rules suiting Moy Davitts who were always a club with an affinity for traditional kicking football in how they played football.

Thought standard was pretty poor in both today's games. Best two teams won all same. The ref was very severe on Ardnaree for a 5 or 10 minute period that cost them 4 or 5 points, would not have made a difference to the final result mind.

The new rules have improved the enjoyment in most games but the standard is still a bit off I fear. Be Interesting to see the 40 on plane to Portugal.

The two best teams won, Kiltane with first half injury John McGinty and Cathal Carey were always facing an uphill battle already without Josh Carey. It should be a good final. Moy Davitts will have to get the matchup right in defense.

Andy will have to trial and bring in several younger players. Some players will lose out. I don’t think last year panel was the best Mayo have to offer especially with the new rules. I actually excited in what Andy might bring to the table. I say let him have at least have one game before giving out. I think Mayo have a bunch of younger players that can might a different right now they just need a chance to prove it.

Thanks TSU for that update on Eoghan - hadn't got to that podcast. But agree really with GBXI, Eoghan would be down my list of people to be dropped and I have at least six.

But after yesterday, there are another few headaches for Andy: what to do with all the forward talent that's emerging? Now add Colm Moran to the chasing pack of newbies (not on panel in 25) that would include: Kobe, Kuba, Daraghs Beirne, and Hurley, in addition to Tommy Conroy and James Carr. That's a complete forward line, and Cillian should be in the mix also, not to mention one of the Coggins, and Oisín Deane, and I also liked the look of Adam Barrett.

Decisions, decisions. If these come in, others have to go.

I believe he has already brought in some new lads Mayomessi without any trials. Amazed with some of his selections. Eoghan McLaughlin is streets ahead of other lads still involved imo.

Liam Moore, Kiltane a bright prospect at wing forward.

@The west is best

Is it not a good thing that Andy is shaking things up a bit loads on here said we need new blood . We need to be patient and let him rebuild .

Our Sunday round-up pod is now up on Patreon.

Eoghan brings a rarely found explosiveness and excitement when he takes to the pitch. One great thing about his play this year is that he his getting through games without picking up injury.
For now he is an inspirational player for Westport, who turns up in every game.
A managers job is to identify shortcomings and develop weaker aspects of his play.
We'd be the envy of every county in the country if we could afford to leave him out of our panel, imo.
Finbar started is first championship game at the weekend and grew into the game.
It's shocking that county finals aren't played and it appears that one player who is not on the panel going forward is being discussed.

It is of course Clare. I agree with you there. I'm just surprised by some of those that have got the nod. I don't believe we have 20 better than Eoghan McLaughlin nevermind 40. Andy and Colm are best placed to judge and only they know the style of play they want to implement.

@Catcol

You can add Tom Lydon to that list as well

@The west is best

Totally fair enough. I've no idea on who Andy has called up .

Do we know for sure though if Andy actually dropped Eoghan Mc or did Eoghan mc opt out . I do feel bad for Eoghan Mc but guess Andy and Colm want fresh faces if they did drop him .

When will Mayo football ever learn.
Why would anyone drop a player from a panel before training has started - there is no panel to be dropped from as of yet.
If Moran has told a 26 year old player, (one of the best club players in the county) that he doesn't want him on next year's panel, its because Moran has decided he and his large backroom team are unable to coach skills. It would be a bit of an odd decision from a man who improved his own skill set year on year and played his best football in his 30's.

There are a few triats a successful county footballer needs:
1. Dedication to his craft - any serous county player these days is all in to succeed.
2. Possess 3 if the 4 talents needed to achieve success (physical prowess, mental fortitude, football skills, football intelligence)
3. Willingness to improve
4. Apply himself selflessly for the team

There are very few who meet the above criteria throughout their careers, but if you can get 25 in the above place for 3-4 years all things are possible.

A lot of players (particularly Mayo forwards) get praised after a decent club match/season. There is a huge difference between potential and having the traits above. Stop bigging up average club players who haven't shown the required traits over a period of time. Stop running down those that have shown 95% of these traits. Eoghan McLoughlin has 95% of the kit needed to be a quality county player and at 26 has plenty of time to fix the other parts if he has a coaching team with a defined plan and skills coach.

Very well said tirawleybaron.The mental fortitude to dedicate 10 years to intercounty football is the main attribute for any player.Eithout it nothing else matters

It's not a coaches job to coach the very basics around soloing and a straightforward shot on goal. There's an expectation you're beyond that point at even u16.
Eoghan McLoughlin is a decent player, but in my view he has skill deficiencies age 26 that are going to be hard to improve at this point.
The reason you need to develop these things at a young age is you can do the thousands of hours required at that age without fear of injury.
Trting to do many extra hours of kicking and soloing as an adult on top of regular training is very difficult.

I was in Charlestown on Saturday and post match figured out what is wrong with the Mayo mentality.

All the barstool "pundits" were saying what a great game it was. It was fast and exciting alright but the game was littered with errors and turnovers. The new rules make games like this "look good", but the reality is the standard was pretty brutal. No just turnovers but bad decisions, shocking missed frees and 50's and lack of control and composure by both teams.

The prblem is all the bloggers and podders will praise the hilt out of the game and we are left in a place where we think we are great.

The Cross v WP game was no comparison to what was played in Parnell park the week before. The Parnell games are the standards we need to live up to.

Anyhow, I won't be judging the CF post game in any pub back home as I was nearly ran out of the pub on Saturday evening for expressing my opinion on the standard.

Some good facets were the 2 players from Westport, Moran and O'Malley (number 12), none of the Cross players bar Kobe are inter county standard and that includes the present panelists.

I'll leave it there now.

Highorlow
If Jordan Flynn is not intercounty standard and that's the bar County wide ..........we dont have a team.

Hes not County standard but got an All Star nomination in 2023, stupid comment.

JF is a "forward", check his stats at intercounty and club and come back on it.

Lots of silly comments breaking out about “not county standard”. That type of lazy-minded dissing of players isn’t encouraged here, please keep that sort of chat for the bar stool.

I find the eoghan situation a bit puzzling also but maybe it's management way of getting him to improve and if he's determined enough he'll be back better than ever..Regarding the posts above about people praising a game or players that others might not agree with well guess what that is exactly what happens when watching sport. People have different opinions on games and see things differently and that's fine too.

Turnovers can be down to really good defending at times. In the old days it would be known as dispossessing you're opponent and was lauded as good defending... nowadays it comes across as handing the ball over to the opposition which isn't usually the case .
Really good defenders are a huge plus for any team, especially with new rules.

Colm Boyle was dropped from the Mayo panel in 2009 and only recalled at 25, so he knows better than most that the door is always open for players who perform. If Eoghan maintains his current level, there's every chance he'll be back. He possesses qualities that place him among the best in the country in certain areas, but he has also struggled with some of the basic elements needed to thrive at the highest inter-county level. This break could be exactly what he needs to work on those areas and earn his way back—if he has the appetite for it.

The new rules means it's a game for forwards, hence the high scoring club championship games we see throughout the country. Forwards get into a scoring position and take on the shot with a high proportion of getting a score. What we need to eliminate from our play is taking the wrong option, ie having a pot from a high risk position which yields a low return.
A positive from this year's club championship is the almost elimination of recycling the ball when you were the player in the shooting position.
It may lead to a few extra wides but it's a move away from the keep possession at all costs game that stifled us last year.

So we can't express an opinion on the standard of player that played in front of us on Saturday?

There are some players that should be called up, Brian O'Malley and Moran are 2 lads worth a call, Kobe should be brought straight into the starting 15.

I didn’t say that, highorlow, and you’re contributing here long enough not to be making soft-headed allegations like that. There’s a world of a difference between expressing a reasonable opinion about a player and slagging someone off and claiming someone “isn’t county standard” clearly falls into the latter category.

Id say he's more low than high...

@JP David Beggy never really played Gaelic until he played for Meath, he had poor skills but lightening speed.
The difference is Meath played him as a wing forward not as a wing back.
This simple switch could suit EmcL.

Highorlow a number of the Cross players are under 18. Have they not room for improvement? this is also their FIRST year playing senior football. You can't just make a throw away statement like that they aren't county standard. Are you basing it off just this game or a number of games?

Fair enough, they are young guns for sure.

I'm more critical really of the supporters reaction to the game that was chaotic and entertaining but to my eye was riddled with errors, similar errors to what we are seeing in the County team the last while. It's mainly due to a lack of composure on the ball, something we as a county need to improve on, imo.

Did Brian O'Malley figure for Mayo at under age ?or is he still under age...I must admit I wasn't familiar with him up to this.
Is he a brother of Paddy? Although I know O'Malley is a popular name around Westport.

To paraphrase Jack O Connor
"What's to be gained by slating people? It's the easiest thing in the world. I'm in the business of building people up. I'm not in the business of knocking people."

"I'd ask people who are knocking that group and knocking people involved with the group to look in the mirror and say, 'What have you contributed?

"What have you contributed to Mayo football off the field? Off the field?

"Go away and coach a team. Go away and coach a development squad. Go away and coach a minor team. That's how you help Mayo football, not knocking people."

A good rant for any naysayer to read. If you coach football at any level, you know there is nothing to be gained by slating lads and telling them they are not good enough. Its a lazy coach who stops skills coaching for lads over 25 also. Statistically, a players development (be it a late or early developer) evens out at 25 years old.
As a result, the player who stops adding to this skills (and developing new ones) starts to decline and fall away from the county team (there is a long list of such players). The players who reinvent themselves by bringing new skills and developing into a different type of player push on and become serious intercounty players. If your a coach and aren't giving your players new drills and skills to work on (both in season and off season) then your not really coaching them - your just picking a team and hoping the players are good enough.

If Andy Moran is binning players and not giving them a set of skills/drills to work on to get back onto the panel - then he is doomed to fail just like all the others before him.
You only have to see what Kerry do with senior players (Donaghy - ineffective midfielder turned top class FF, Joe O Connor - ineffective midfielder - turned all star wing forward, Colm Cooper - slowing corner forward turned all star Centre forward, Bryan Sheehan - Gk at minor &U21, - 5 all irelands at midfield)

Michael Darragh McAuley won two all stars and footballer of the year despite not being able to kick a football correctly -

Brian, brother of Connor, pro goalkeeper with Peterborough Utd, but not Paddy.
Brian very unlucky with injuries but will always give 100 percent. Enjoying a good spell this year and excellent club footballer with the right attitude.
When lee Keegan first came on the scene he was not 'county standard'. Making a county panel is as much about potential as it is about current standard.
There are several players on both Westport and Cross with the potential to get that call up. Finbarr, Lorcan Silke, both natural gaelic footballers, I'd be very impressed with Oisín Deane and the young Flynn lad..

There are also more players on the Ballina team that should get the call up .

Reading this blog there is so much recency bias after each weekend's games as to who is and is not at county standard and who should and should not be called up...... I hope Andy and Boyler stay a mile away from reading some of the commentary and concentrate on selecting the best squad they can based on their game philosophy .... lets give them all the support we can going forward. Also great to see them attending so many games over the weekend to make their own minds up!!

@Mayo man for life

True . I just mentioned Ballina as their midfield is ons of the best and we struggle in midfield . I think Mikey Murray should be given a chance .

I think highorlow is making the point that while the westport- Cross game was an exciting open game the standard of football was average enough with people confusing excitement with quality.
Indeed the overall quality of the Mayo senior club championship this year again has been very average. We'll probably see this again when either Ballina or Westport go into the Connaught club championship.

Thanks,@Onthedirch.

He was man of the match in the senior county quarter final. He was the stand out player on the pitch in the senior county semi final. Is there any reason why Andy shouldn’t be calling Kobe into a senior county panel when he has proven in recent weeks that he’s better than plenty of lads already involved?? I get the ‘don’t rush them’ approach. But this fella is unique.

Perhaps because hes doing his leaving cert ? Isn't that one of the reasons that the minor championship was changed from under 18 to under 17 so that it didn't affect lads doing their exams .

An interesting thought is if Michael Darragh Mccsuley would be near as impactful nowadays with the elevated strength and conditioning of inter county players.
The new rules really have changed the game more towards having at least a decent level of skill.
For what it's worth I always preferred Eoghan McLoughlin as a sub when his main weapon his pace counts higher as the opposition are not as fresh.

The U17 change is largely nonsense I would have thought, and has had reverse effects of inflating pressure on lads who are even younger than they used to be with streamed games.
The average age of completing leaving cert is now 18.43 or 18.7 or something like that as well now with people starting school later and TY.

If he is to be involved in the senior setup, couldn't he play some part in the league then play with the U20's till they are knocked out, like Tyrone did with their young star last year?

Sam Callinan was just 18 and preparing for his Leaving Cert when he made his league debut for Mayo in 2022.

Finbarr Rotary was only 17 when he lined out for Donegal in the McKenna Cup in 2024.

If young players are showing they're capable at that level and are willing to train with the panel, there’s no reason not to give them a chance.

Totally agree Kevin. Especially when the player in question seems more at home in senior football than underage. I mean he’s playing at a different level than most of the other underage lads. My own nephew trained him as a young lad and said he’s loving senior football.

Southmayoexile, that's exactly my point....I couldn't understand the reaction to the game afterwards, from my vantage the number of mistakes throughout the game was notable, fair enough towards the end of games where fatigue plays a part, but in benign conditions and a dry ball the standard (imo) was poor enough.

For what it's worth I think Ballina will have the measure of Westport in the final, hope I'm wrong though as some of those Westport lads stood up on Saturday when it mattered.

p.s. Hard luck on Cross, there is a Senior County in those lads if they stick together.

@Highorlow

Ballina lads have also stood up when it mattered is well. Totally written off by alot or alot wanted them to loose not sure which !

Ballina will have to much for westport .

high or low, it may not have been a perfect game but it was still a brilliant game. I haven't seen a club game played at that pace for a long time. Tackling was great too. Plenty of good fielding, kick passing, scoring, drama, and uncertain who would win right to the last whistle. And people got to see a generational talent - how can you not understand why people think it was a cracker?

Agree GBXI. Plenty of good young talent on display from both sides. Players progressing with each game.

Team I would like to see for NFL
1.John Vahey/ David Dolan/Paddy O'Malley
2.Jack Coyne
3.David McBrien
4.Donnacha McHugh
5.Paddy Durcan
6.Conor Loftus
7.Sam Callinan/Enda Hession
8.Jack Carney
9Jordan Flynn
10.Kobe McDonald
11.Diarmuid O'Connor
12.Tommy Conroy
13.Darragh Beirne/Kuba Callaghan
14.Cillian O'Connor
15.Ryan O'Donoghue

The crossmollina v Westport game was a fantastic watch .played at an extraordinary pace with big hits and fantastic individual performances .you just couldn’t take your eyes off it for a second.i am fairly sure ballina have been favourites to retain county title all year so not sure exactly who wrote them off but i would like to see lee keegan win another county title as his calmness under pressure and use of the ball should be an example to all young players.what more can be said about kobe McDonald.a simply extraordinary talent

@Achill 75, if that team starts we are going backwards.
What did Cillian and Paddy do in the championship.
Have the enough speed now after injury.
Diarmuid does not bother the score board enough to be a forward, perhaps half back line .
I hope Andy is more adventurous like Horan was in 2011.

Agreed JR,
Need to be a bit more ruthless and give things a good shakeup at this stage, not parachute in lads who were brilliant for us 4-5+ years ago, Cillian brilliant player that he has been has got nowhere near his best since that bad achilles injury and showed nothing at club this year to warrant being a county starter.

Being brutal about it, Tommy Conroy has it all to prove again too in my opinion, has been plagued with injuries too but really the glimpses we have seen of him he has fallen well below the level, was only middling for the neale in championship too.

Lets shake it up a bit

...having said that on form Conor Loftus is absolutely full value for a recall if he is up for it. One of the best players of the club championship

Ballina were not favourites to win all year..nearly everyone had Cross as favourites .
When Ballina played Ballagh nearly everyone went for Ballagh.. same Knockmore nearly .

Westport will put it up to Ballina though but still think Ballina will have to much for them .

I agree though we need a shake up in county . Totally agree if Conor Loftus is up for it he should be called up he has bulked up to . I feel bad for Tommy C he doesn't get a break with injuries . Though Paddy Durcan came back flying after his ACL. Though Durcan is very resilient .

I said it already but I am glad Andy is obviously shaking up the panel and setting standards loads were worried he would be to nice but I think he will be ruthless but fair . Interesting times ahead .

A hill Without saying who shouldn’t be in, I think you need to be more adventurous. Murray and Irwin have had great campaigns, at least one of the u20 midfielders should be looked at, and Colm Moran is coming good. One of the Hurleys.

And what about Leroy? He was the elephant in the room on Saturday. He’s our Michael Murphy, and could have a massive impact. Andy - get on the case!

Bookies odds usually are more accurate than what “loads say

@1985

Ah give over stop nit picking . You know well what I mean . Bookies actually had cross as favourites to win it outright at one stage .

Sorry now clare but you are constantly jumping on every comment that in your mind isn’t praising ballina even though you aren’t even from ballina..someone made a comment yesterday that Westport players stood up at the end on Saturday and you immediately shoot in with well ballina players did as well.very different situation in both games and nobody was criticising your beloved ballina.in any case I have no interest in engaging with you any longer.it’s just a load of nonsense

Our Senior and Intermediate final preview pods are both up now on Patreon.

Great morning of fun here .
Ballina have been favourites and I do think alot of people would have liked to seen them gone.
The methodical boring game they play is a kin to the old rules . Bar Frank Irwin and Sam, Thornton I have no gra for that team, I sure they or anyone else couldn't care less but I hope westport win and that they play a dynamic fast game.

Good shout on the Mayo team , Achill but on the goalie is Livingstone of Breaffy not ahead of Vahey in the picking order ?, he usually good at long distance shots too.
In modern game for me McBrien has to be no 6.
His line breaking runs, aerial assets , he's a force at 6 .
Just now off what I have seen all summer and players on form , id go with
1. Livingstone
2.Coyne
3. McHugh
4.Morahan/McMonagle
5.Sam
6.McBrien
7. Loftus
8. Murray
9. Thornton
10. Irwin
11. Kuba
12. Carr
13. Kobe
14. D McHale
15. ROD

Let Kobe Roam , give space to McHale and ROD inside

In Irwin, Kuba and Carr you probably have the most accurate bunch of 2 pointer scores we can line out .
People will say AOS , O Conors , Durkan, Matty etc but try something different and see how it goes, we know what they are capable of.
As much talk as was about Eoghan Mac, it's still hard to see him as a starter .
Cian McHale, Maheady, Towey, Barrett , Regan, let them all vie for a forward place on merit but hard cant drop ROD and D McHale is a form and good player .
Plenty options and all lining up well for a good winter.

That no.8 role , say the big mobile fielder, that probably the hardest role to fill and it boils down to a Mikey Murray, Jack Carney or a Nathan Moran set of options , Ivers didn't show well enough, Westports options potentially but Breaffy dominated so outside them 3 or playing an older guy I don't know who else.

I’m all on for seeing new faces. Absolutely.

Of the lads who have been involved in recent years several need to do a whole lot better to be in the starting line.

Carney is definitely one; to date he’s been average at best for Mayo - on past and present form I don’t know why he merits a start. He definitely has the attributes but he needs to be much more aggressive and assertive and forget the crab football.

Conroy (albeit has been riddled with injuries) is another. In the past he was excellent but that’s distant memory stuff now.

Is there there still a role for O’Shea? Maybe as an impact sub at 14 or 8/9? He tends to do better in league on slower pitches and in provincial grounds than in a fast Croke Park where he hasn’t the pace.

Sam has had a decent championship for Ballina. He looks refreshed and re-energised but his form for Mayo over the past year has been really underwhelming. His intercounty form plateaued in 2025. In fact it dipped. Hopefully Andy can inspire him.

McHugh had a great ‘breakthrough’ year in 24 but 25 didn’t go as well for him (injury didn’t help)

Morahan has been around the panel a while now; it’s time for him to step up and move away from the periphery.

Coyne had a very good 25 but can he retain that or build on it? Hopefully! Up until this season there were a lot of question marks over him.

Cillian; ok he wasn’t on board last year; he’s arguably the best forward we’ve ever had but his club championship in 2025 was mediocre; again he didn’t look fully fit. It’s a big winter for him if he’s gonna get involved again. I’d like to see him give it another shot.

Irwin; had a solid league in 25 and was mysteriously dropped to the bench. We still need more from Frank. He tends to drift in and out of games. When he’s on song, he has loads of potential and ability but he needs to be switched on more. He’s not a kid anymore. Like Morahan, it’s time now to step up to the plate and demand more from themselves.

Diarmuid O’Connor. What can you say about him. He has buckets of talent and like many, bad luck with recurrent niggles, but when is the last time he had a championship season where he played to his potential. He is someone Andy and Boyler need to focus on over the next 6 months. If he can get his fitness to another level and stay injury free (touch wood!!!) then he’s a player who could be huge for Mayo over the next couple of seasons. He is a brilliant ‘box to box’ player and excels in a central role, not out on the wings where he is wasted. He’s the kinda lad who is good enough to play in any position along the spine. But where? 6, 8/9, 11 or 14??? He used to be great for a goal many moons ago.

@outside the boot

They were not always favourites though Cross were when they were flying .
Well this boring style that Ballina apparently have got clearly has worked for them with 38th moclair cups and their 3rd final in 3 years. Don't think they mind their so called boring style of play !

@1985
Just because you don't like what someone else says it's nonsence are you ever not nit picking . I told you before if I annoy you so much not to engage . It's go by the post not throw a dig at a certain poster all the time .

Clare would you ever give it a rest .you have just demonstrated exactly what my point is and it’s actually scary that you don’t appear to recognise it

I meant to add in the Westport duo of Kilkelly and Moran in the battle for 13 also .. all adding a fresh new dimension and unknown test for opposition

Brickenden moved well ahead of Callinan in last years championship,Sam has it all to prove at county level, defend first and attack second.
Hopefully some of the u20 may step up as fielders at midfield.
Carr has it all to prove again,hope he does.Murray,Irwin and Thornton? Can they step up to county championship level.
League is shadow boxing

@1985

As I said better off not to engage with me at all your rhe one that needs to give it a rest and stop hopping on me all the time enough like .

You may not have noticed but I didn’t engage with you in the first place but you clearly didn’t understand my last comment as you clearly always want to have the last word.in any case I couldn’t be bothered listening to your childish comments anymore.west Kerry obviously was correct

@1985

How are my comments childish?!
Your actually breaking the house rules here clearly . I never was rude to you on here . As for bringing west kerry into this I'm not even engaging in that ridiculous altogether grow up .

With the players available to Ballina - they could start 15 players who are currently or have been recently involved in the Mayo senior team set up - they should be targeting a Connaught title at a minimum.
However, I think their conservative style of possession first football means they will be found out again in the connaught championship. With the poor standard of the senior club championship - winning another county title should be the starting point for Ballina.

Clare and 1985 - please stop this tiresome over-and-back sniping. One of you is worse than the other and I can't be the only one here who is sick to the teeth of the nonsense being posted by the pair of you. Enough is enough.

@Willie Joe

Apolagies for my part I wont engage anymore with that.

Willie joe in all honesty I couldn’t be bothered coming on this generally excellent blog again but generally dominated by one person who posts umpteen times every day with basically the same stuff over and over.and just ignores requests to stop posting so often

Kiss and make up guys and give us all a break. We have a county championship final coming up on Sunday.
Both teams know how to win, have experienced players to carry the younger guys with them. They also know how much it means to their communities.
A lot is falling into place for westport, players back from injury, players peaking at right time etc. I'm impressed with the way Conal Dawson is taking on the responsibility of digging deep and giving the team leadership. Joey Holmes gave Conor Loftus plenty to think about especially in the latter stages of the semi final...strength in depth could win it for westport...

On the subject of two pointers, imagine having Kobe and Barret on the same team...personally, I see the need for a big, ball-winning midfielder(or two to strengthen the panel) as our big necessity but I cant help in naming him...the Jason Gibbons train had left, I fear. He doesn't have to be from a senior club, we have a load of fine ballers to bed him in.

On Sam Callanan, does he score at all?

@Matt, yep Gibbons was most definitely underutilised by Mayo.

Is there anyone in the Mayo team who’s primary attribute is winning primary possession? I can’t think of anyone bar O’Shea, and he struggles in Croke Park as he has no pace. None of our others who regularly occupy the middle of the field are noted for the high fielding capabilities. This has been a problem for Mayo for years. It cost us dearly in 21 and continues to be a weak point for us.

I think it was Liam McHale who said one time,''you can't coach height '' which is true but you can certainly coach a lad to read the flight of the ball and time his leap...(think Willie Joe mark1).
So if you have a 6'2'' lad around the middle who has a leap on him , surely he'll out jump a 6'4'' lad who's stationary. So timing of the run is everything,and an understanding with your keeper about what's to happen.
Jordan is well fit to take down high ball and the likes of Howard and O'Loughlin have it in them.
Bringing in a big lad just because he's a big lad is not really going to solve any problems.
So coach good footballers in the art of fielding would be more the way to go imo.

I would agree with that @ 2 hops. WjPadden wasn't the tallest in the world but was a master of the art including 'hang time' in the air. Reape took a lot of stick for our failure to keep position from kickouts. But good teams will force you to go long and you have to be able to get a decent return.
Ballina probably have a slight edge on westport in this respect but hopefully Brian O Malley can continue to build on his good form in that respect.
Any weather update for Sunday?

I think Sam can score but it was coached out of him at county level. He was like a player with a dog collar that jolted him in full flight around the opposition 40 meters and he tamely recycled-he is much better than that. Overplayed as a young fella too, Ballina, Mayo senior in the league (under 20's too) Sigerson...I still think he has loads to contribute.

Interesting take. Thanks mattdonnellon.

@Mattdonnellan ,yes indeed Sam and Rory were overplayed early on,some on here seem to want to repeat this mistake.

Players have to be given their head to a extent, they are the ones that have to sort our what needs to happen on the pitch. I expect Moran/Boyle will be much more open to allowing players to do the decision making. I can't understand for the life of e why Sam wasn't brought in for the last fifteen minutes against Donegal. Putting players into a straight jacket doesn't work