Cathal McShane stepped away from Tyrone panel. Interesting

So who do we get away?

We’re away to Tyrone in Round 2, Bb midlands.

Handy enough draw

We'll probably barely stumble over the line against Cavan at home, possibly go down to Tyrone above and more than likely shock all and sundry by turning over the current or future all Ireland champions in Croke park.
We are due a totally bonkers result in fairness.

How badly did McBriens going off injured impact us? To my eye Galway seemed to settle very quickly after his departure.

@Joet1480

I can actually see that happening to !

Paddy Lynch back in action for Cavan in recent challenges. Dara McVeety and Gearóid McKiernan are two of their best players and didn't play last year.

Lynch hasn't played in a year so would be surprised if he started.
McVeety kicked 3x two pointers against Tyrone
If both were on the field and shooting two pointers in the second half, in addition to usual last 15min from Mayo, you could easily see a close game.

Is McBrien ok after last Sunday?

JoeyT that’s exactly what I expect
A narrow never win or even draw against Cavan
Get beaten by Tyrone
And then beat donegal/Armagh !

Prob end up in prelim quarter
Make hard work of that but get through
Then face a well rested Kerry for our third game in 3 weeks and out we go !

Is there any truth to our neutral game being part of a double header in croker ?

The obvious neutral venue v Armagh /Donegal, Sligo is out of action.

The Hyde, no?

Croker x 2, would be my guess.
There'll be numbers traveling from the north.

Why are posters conceding 'defeat' to Tyrone. If we want to get into contention at pqf or if stage, we need to beat Cavan convincly, slug out an away win v Tyrone in a thriller and get a taste of dining at top table v Donegal/Armagh. That's the task facing us. It's not alright to lose v Tyrone.
Many of our young players like Coyne, McHugh, Callinan Neary are performing to a high level now. This gives us hope. A 'firing Flynn' would do a lot for us, and more from Carney and Ruane.

Any dates for the next rounds

Cavan will be hard bet, and Mayo will have to be at the level they were against Galway again to beat them. Cavan had a good league and then a bad first half against Tyrone but won the second half and scored 16 points in that second half.
The defence played well against Galway so they should have more confidence now, Neary and McHale should push on now as confidence should be up also. Then there is alot there that need to prove a point as they were disappointing against Galway. McBrien and D O Connor make a difference being back in there and hopefully Durcan and Conroy will see some game time.
There is a few talking about changing the keeper but id be against that, if Reape is dropped now then that is the end of him, give him another chance cause he has learned the hard way now. Also if you are a defender receiving a short kickout, if its not making the line then go in and catch and give away the free if you have too.

On the Tyrone game, they have to play Donegal or Armagh on the 24th/25th and then play Mayo the following weekend, so that is an advantage for Mayo, get of to a quick start and you wouldnt know what would happen.

The Hyde is a possibility, head of CCC a Roscommon man I think.

If we max to our potential we are a match for anyone of course we need to break the habit of losing tight games , it’s a bit shithousery to keep adding “we’re not good enough to win it “ I just don’t see the need , even if that’s what you think . My point is we are in the group stage of a competition and have played half decent against the second favs for the prize narrowly losing . Keep believing till we are down and out and then we can admit we are not good enough. Cavan is the next one , we need to win it , as mayo GAA people we have the possibility of going into that game with our under 20s after qualifying for the all Ireland final the Friday night before , honestly the doom and gloom is not warranted , we are way too nervous of failing and I include myself. We need some positive energy installed

@sean Burke well said!

If it's going to be a double header in croker for the neutral games there will be a good crowd travelling from the North for sure .

Tommy132 that's a very good point. Tyrone will have a back to back week to catch up, as will the Ulster finalists. We need to use that to our advantage. Tyrone will likely be coming off a bruising encounter agaisnt Donegal or Armagh. They won't be in 100% shape for our game

How about the Gaelic grounds in Limerick

Not really interested now my hopes for this year was winning the CF, above any year this was the year to win Connacht, and anything after that would have been a bonus however the very best of luck against Cavin ,Hon Mayo,

Season tickets holders
The 3 match pack for 50 euro adult and 15 euro Juvenile package link has gone up online, Seems fairly good value in fairness.
Presuming we will play Donegal if they win Sunday in Markievicz Park Sligo.
Just wondering do posters think Armagh game be in Roscommon, Carrick or Cavan?

If Armagh, chance of Hyde. Donegal, maybe Croke Park is as easy to get to as Hyde.
Important we have McBrein and DOC back for Cavan game.

Neutral game will be a double header in Croke Park I’m hearing. Mayo and Galway v Donegal / Armagh.

Pretty sure Sligo is not an option as they are doing up the pitch

It will have to be Carrick so for Donegal game, then can fuck off if they think we are going up to Croke park for a group game.

GAA have their heads in the sands again if they think that there will be a rush to Croke Park for a doubleheader. Galway v Armagh the last two years have failed to sell out Sligo and Carrick. Mayo support has dropped off a cliff. And the top teams will be saving their money for a potential 3 more trips rather than a mini-league game.

For our sake I hope we don't end up in Croker. Nothing to be gained.

On the season tickets the package is very good in fairness if you are going to all 3 games. Do you get a stand ticket or is it general admission. A stand ticket for the Cavan game is e25.

Won't be in Limerick James.. our neutral game is against either Donegal or Armagh, so it'll be somewhere convenient to both teams/convenient to the GAA

@ Sean Burke, Well said. There's 7 or 8 months to bask in misery if and when we are knocked out and plenty of time to mull over new management at the seasons end.
Cavan will have no fear of us, so why should we fear any other team.
For Kerry they will come out of the group on top and be relatively untested. Not ideal from a Kerry point of view.
Whoever comes out on top of group 4 will have had a decent test and would be favourites to reach the Final.
Galway / Dublin / Armagh / Derry. With the assumption Donegal will have too much for Armagh in Clones.

The 2nd /3rd place playoff has to be the biggest scam in Gaelic football.2nd place should go straight through.How has it not been dealt with.more greed from Gaa.

@ Sam og. Should have been scrapped after last year. No need for it apart from revenue generation. If you end up winning a pQF you are out against a rested opponent a week later. Considering FBD was scrapped why wasn't the league ran earlier to give teams at least 2 weeks rest. I would be much happier with straight knockout with one chance at backdoor. ( think that's the format next year ?)
Put the Final back to 3rd week in September. Compressed season lives little time to savour anything.

Is there any sporting competition in the world that has a group of 4 format plays 3 games yet needs an extra game between the 2nd and 3rd standings to see who goes through , only the Gaa.

The only realistic way that the All Ireland finals can go back to September (with q finals at bank holiday weekend) is to reintroduce club windows in the season

If you don't put in a practical structure and windows where club football has to be played - there will be no returning September finals.

The league should be modified to accommodate club activity in April - current structure has created an elite and no league or Sam winner outside of Dublin/Kerry/Cork/Donegal/Derry/Mayo since the old 1A/B structure was abolished.

Your right Sean Burke. I've always believed that we have the players. That's never been a doubt even though we are a bit light upfront at the moment. But if your forward s are playing well . Ie mchale and Neary the last day... why take them off. We desperately need Tommy conroy back and can anybody tell me if he's even close. The championship starts here. We are in a better place than galway as in a better group

@Sean Burke well said. There’s time for post-mortems later.

Yes, we’ve lost too many tight ones.Yes, that habit needs breaking.
But this defeatist line — “we’re not good enough to win it” — what does it actually do? We’re in the thick of a championship, not writing a eulogy.

The Galway game showed what’s still alive in this team: we moved it quicker, we created lots of chances, we competed like hell. The players still standing aren’t here by accident.

Focusing on bringing the same energy to beating Cavan is next goal.

@Craggy boglands: Quoting Mike on the pod "Paddy Durcan & Tommy Conroy. I think.... I heard in the last 24 hours both lads will probably be togged for the Cavan game".

A little odd for the media not to be provided a touch more detail around that, given it would have been seen as positive news knowing there were no major setbacks. I'm all for under-promise & over-deliver when it comes to return to play, but the odd factual update when there's potentially morale boosting news at a time it's needed & would help reframe the narrative would seem to be an opportunity missed.

Can I request that if Martin Carney is on Mid West that he resists making those asinine comments about Cavan.Old hat not amusing.

Always said they should build a pitch in Athlone, central and a good train service.

Blond64 - To be fair, Roscommon is just one stop beyond Athlone on the train line, and the Hyde is a great venue.

Too much forward thinking with vision and ambition for our leaders that blond64 , infrastructure in this country as a whole is so behind for such an increase in population over the last 30 yrs and they scratch their heads with damning statistics of late in the decline in tourism . Wrong forum for that rant lol

Should have built a gaelic village somewhere between athlone and tullamore to host all things Gaelic including camps, fleadhs, it's a national game, didn't have to be developed in Dublin..
Convincing win over Cavan, dig deep to beat Tyrone, and dine at the top table v Donegal/Armagh.
That has to be our thinking imo, continue the progression, another defeat and we're mentally on the floor for another year

Did Galway not end up in a PQF last year?

If we have the players why do we continue to start at least three players who haven't shown up all year. How long do they get.

Strength in depth a problem, hopefully McBrein and DOC back for Cavan game

I’m tempted by the 3 game package
Doubt I’ll go to Tyrone game but will make the other 2
The line about not being guaranteed a stand ticket is the bit that worries me for round 3

Km79, that may indicate that round 3 will be at a provincial ground rather CP.

@Mikey: Nahh. It's standard boilerplate text with the caveat for every county for each game. No guarantees of stand tickets for home, away or neutral venues. Nothing specific to Mayo or the location of our neutral venue in it.

The Hyde is a good venue

I totally agree blond how many times have I said that about a stadium in Athlone

Blond64

TsuzDhoNim. Thanks for that update. That's great news. We're not dead yet

See Cathal Mc Shane has stepped away from the Tyrone Panel.

Galway 50/9, Mayo 47/3 and Ros. 24/2. That's the share of Connaught/AI titles won by the respective counties. I'm not sure about league titles, but I'd say Mayo must have a stack of them won.
It's good to see the mood has lifted in the county and the focus is now on Cavan. Management need to be very careful here as Cavan, like Galway, have big men in the middle of the park so possession won't come easy. Mayo tend to sleep walk into these encounters. It's not that they take it as a gimme, but sometimes you get the impression some players would prefer to be out fly fishing on the Moy.

I don't think mayo will be underestimating anyone certainly not Cavan . But we should be beating them.

Doubt they would rather be out fly fishing in the Moy either .

Realistically, are we looking at Clones for the 3rd round, regardless of it being Armagh or Donegal. ?

I don't believe for one minute that Croker would be opened for it

It’s players that need to be wary of Cavan Charlie. I am sure management are very much aware of the challenges Cavan pose. It was the players who had very good first and third quarters last Sunday and not the management. It was the players who were outplayed in the second quarter and who missed the chances to win it in the last quarter. I am not having a go at the players for whom I have nothing but admiration but blaming management for missed chances unfortunate kick out choices etc is just lazy and an easy target. If we had won I would be giving the players huge credit. Last Sunday the team was really well prepared and primed for action.They put in a strong performance and could easily have won. When Dublin were winning All Irelands for fun Jim Gavin did his bit no doubt but it was the quality of his players and the strength of his subs bench that always got them over the line. I have no doubt but that Cavan have targeted the game v Mayo as they will get nothing out of the Ulster champions or Tyrone. I think it will be a difficult task. Management will play a role in getting the team up and ready and advising them to ignore the criticism that has been showered on them by some but it’s the players that will win or lose the game

A few thoughts on Cavan and also on yesterday’s classic Ulster final.
1) Cavan are in the same league as Ros or close. We were shaping for a beating similar to what Ros got from Galway for a while but managed a lot closer to break even in the middle than Ros who got wiped out. So Cavan won’t be easy. The big lad with the mullet around the middle is a fine player, they’ve a good goalie and McKiernan. They don’t have the level of forwards Ros have but if we lose the middle we’re in trouble.
2) Armagh should be AI favourites despite losing. The best team lost. Neither team yesterday have better players than Mayo and certainly not than Galway but their performances were a level above. Low wide count and almost no scorable frees conceded. Donegal had any luck going, a scuttery goal, Armagh hit the upright twice, the post once and ballooned another great chance past the post. Extra time was shaping up well for Armagh until the 2nd goal (a good team goal). Galen (Donegal) and especially Conaty (Armagh are superb. McBrearty is near the end and not fit for 70, maybe 45 effective. Wasn’t in it much yesterday. I would say both teams owe re slightly below the Mayo Galway intensity level and hits etc. and Armagh needed more urgency at the death but in most other facets they performed closer to peak than their Connacht rivals. Rafferty is a super outfielder goalie. An absolute classic of a game.

@Shuffly Deck: Who's the lad with the mullet? Only one I can think of there is maybe a mix-up with Gary Mohan for Monaghan? That said, I could easily be blanking someone. Wouldn't be too sharp on following the haircuts.

Huge fears up in Cavan that the injury that saw Gearoid McKiernan off at half-time against Tyrone will see him miss the game in Castlebar too. A huge threat from 2 pointers, so one we should be planning around just in-case (potentially one for Kelly or McHugh to sit on for the day).

James Smith another they're expecting to be out (with both the lads feared they might not see the Group Stage at all on a fairly recent update on their big 'WAC' podcast - normally well-informed), so potentially down two key figures around the middle.

In Lynch (made the 26 against Tyrone, but unused - has played challenge minutes), McKiernan, McVeety, Kiernan (Oisín a bit like his almost-namesake Gearoid in a serious threat from 2 pointers - another needing someone living on his boot), McEvoy, Faulkner & Smith they'd have more than enough to ask questions of any top side. They've just struggled to do it consistently... or even consistently get enough of those lads on the grass together to try.

One that needs to be taken very seriously and their various threats addressed, but once the lads keep the eye on the ball and go in with a solid attacking plan (a caveat for sure) it's one where we should have too much firepower & running strength for them to stick with. Anything less than going in confident (big challenge for management getting that one right) and firing and it becomes a high potential banana skin for sure.

Don't forget that Cavan and Tyrone need to play their neutral game at the same time as ours, and the obvious options for that imo are Clones and Enniskillen.

Galway - Armagh, Dublin - Derry and Monaghan - Down will all need venues in that part of the world, and iirc there was a round of Tailteann with home venues that same weekend.

Kildare put 32 points on Leitrim.
It’s very hard to raise any sort of a gallop for these qualifiers, no jeopardy in a lot of these games and it’s hard not to feel like we are just winding down to the next regime after the Connacht final loss. That could easily have been 2 in a row, hard to fathom even now