I think the senior relegation could be on the following week..presume due to Hurling final

Thanks for that important correction, Mortified - I've now updated the piece with the right date for the Senior relegation final.

Willie Joe, you have made the correction but you still have it in for the 12th too.

Mayo Gaels having to wait two weeks now to play that game and its not ideal for ballyhaunis either, they should have played that game today as it was a stand alone game in terms of last game for both teams and today is lovely outside.

Thanks, Near Hand In! The copy/paste bit of my brain is functioning today but the delete bit clearly isn't. Sorted now.

Hi WJ, just wondering if there’s any more ‘We need to talk about Mayo’ podcasts in the pipeline. It’s been very interesting so far, but in particular the pod with Tom Reilly. Insightful and the matter discussed, I feel it’s hugely important and Id hope all of it could be implemented. In particular, a working group to look after Mayo GAA versus a separate body looking after the run of the mill club scene. It’ll be very difficult for us to be successful if the one body, the current CBE, are expected to manage everything. Far too great a task. The prudent action is to follow what Tom suggested.

It’s a while since I’ve heard Edwin. His style and questioning is top notch.

There’s more to come alright, Mayonaze - there should be another show in the series out before too long.

Intermediate and Senior finals still scheduled for the weekend of the 18/19 October meaning a 6 day turn around for the Intermediate teams! Talk about a balls up from the Co Board! Why not put the Intermediate aemi finals on this Saturday and senior on Sunday so all teams at least had a week before the biggest game of the season.

Alternatively they could have put finals back a week considering the Connaught championships dont start for 3 weeks after the county finals and the co board themselves had the first weekend of November in their master fixture list as "Emergency Weekend". What's the point in having that if not using it when it's actually needed.

Its really unfair on the clubs to wait 3 weeks and then be told to play a county final 6/8 days later. Once again Mayo Co Board showing their unfitness for purpose

@East Mayo crazy stuff. 6/7 days between a semi and a final and then 3 weeks to Connacht games. Instead of the ideal 2 weeks between each. You really would have to wonder to they put any thought into these fixtures at all.

Finals should be put back a week to the bank holiday weekend. It needs to be done soon to cater for people travelling from abroad to support their parish in the county finals. 6 or 8 days is way too short to make all the arrangements needed. I wonder about our county board at times.

I see the club U21 championship fixtures again now like the bad relation get the rough end of the stick and most of the fixtures postponed next weekend to facilitate the refixtures..... Why cant this competition be played earlier in the summer when the pitches are good, and be given premier status? It would also discourage lads from travelling etc. and given clubs the opportunity to get a better view of their younger talent in advance of the adult club championships... instead its being squeezed into the end of the year, when pitches are poor, lads gone back to third level and treated as a second rate competition in my view..

Baffling. The space was there to keep the two week gap. In the event of a draw after normal time in semi finals / finals, does game go to extra time and penalties, ie a result on the day.

What do people think of the Kerry county board running thier club championships in six weeks. So the teams in the final had 6 games in 6 weeks with no break. The winners now have to wait 7 weeks before the start of Munster club championship

I presume the senior semi finals are on Saturday as both Westport and Knockmore are in the senior ladies county final on Sunday and supporters from both teams would like to attend the men's and ladies game

Kerry are obviously doing something right.39 finals.

@Ontheditch: Finals seem to go to a replay (we had them in the Junior A and Intermediate last year).

I can't remember if/when the rule changed for semi-finals (I do have a really vague memory of a vote on this being mentioned at a convention/congress by Mike at some point on a pod, so I'm fairly sure it has been a topic of discussion just not one I'm managing to Google or remember), but given a Relegation Semi-Final last year (between Mayo Gaels and Kilmeena) went to penalties I'd imagine they're all winner on the day.

Can't find a rules & regs published since the one in '20 (& with a story from '22 from Ed confirming that all finals, including the Senior Relegation Final between The Neale & Davitts which ended in a penalty shootout, were winner on the day so we've certainly seen some changes since then), so very open to correction on all that.

Whatever about the senior and intermediate games
Did anyone see what time some u15 county finals are fixed for???
10 am in Bekan……
My god is all I can say
Who the hell makes these fixtures
So unfair on young lads

A lot of people pay lip service to the split season but you only have to look at activity hhon the blog to see that the real interest is in the County.
Championship at club level should start earlier with a definitive break for two weeks for family holidays.

I'm not 100% on that JR - since the club season has been getting more air time / games have been televised I would have thought there's a ton of more interest. This Blog, and Ah Ref I think do a great job of keeping the interest up as well.

A little like the county, would be great to see clubs do better once in Connaught, but the change of rules have given some great club matches this season.

@Willie Joe: Ballina Knockmore now moved to 1p.m. throw-in.

https://x.com/MayoGAA/status/1975538829470904479

@Exile I agree both blogs and the Irish Independent blogs are excellent.
8 saw at the special Congress that the GAA are having problems getting games for TnG.
Will sponsors continue with the limited time frame of county games?

Thanks TSU. Looks like winner on day for semi finals and replay in finals. Hope the referees are on the ball..

TomThumb definately no out the night b4 so ;-)

Are they on Saturday or Sunday Tomthumb....
If it's Sunday I can foresee a letter from the bishop....yikes! 😯

All on a Sunday
No respect for underage footballers
They are the future after all

JR - the club championships are great and I’ve never seen interest as high. There are a lot of people who only follow the county team and couldn’t fine the gates to their local club which is unfortunate. I don’t know how you can be a Mayo fan without being a club fan but maybe I’m in the minority in that view.

100% agreed Yewtree.

I follow Mayo every match and I follow the Mayo club scene watching various different games.
We are lucky to have a great club championship in Mayo hopefully each grade winners will go far in the province and All-Ireland series.

I do think the blog and podcasts and coverage have been a massive part of raising interest. I find myself traveling from Dublin now for Club games. Thats a great experience by the way

New pod up on Patreon! Rob, Mike and me chatting about the weekend's postponements and what it means for the upcoming weekend and fixtures more generally.

I listened to the Pod.
The problem with the lights is not just a Mayo problem.
Lights here in Navan have been out for a few years.
It is probably a problem with insurance, health and safety and of course cost.
I am sure the County Board are moving as fast as they can.

Same JR, it's the way of the world unfortunately, it's sales 101, there is zero value in selling something once off that will last forever, so either you put a recurring subscription on maintenance or you're not putting too much weight on its long term viability

Given the statements above I'd love to know the specific criteria for being regarded as a true Mayo supporter/fan. How many county and club games do I need to attend in a year? Do I need to go to a number of underage games as well? Do I need to buy the jersey? Does commenting on this blog count? What if my third cousin twice removed once played for Mayo and I myself "starred" in a county U16B Final back in the misty past?

I'm now on tenterhooks as I may have been making fraudulent supporter claims for years. Help put me right oh true supporters!

@ Ex-pat saying "Mayo for Sam" 51 times a year gets you in.

Thanks Bonni. Unfortunately, due to my lack of confidence in the previous regime I only said it about 5 time last year and, to be honest, I was being sarcastic so I was. I'll need to seriously outperform on the other criteria. Bit worried now.

@ Ex-pat, if you shout it from the top of the Reek, once will suffice. Until then stay undercover by wearing a Galway Jersey :-)

Ex-pat. In a world where many of our politicians cannot tell you what a woman is I think there's far more leeway in being a supporter. I've always been a club and county follower but I'm no more a supporter than someone who just does club or county. Even if a man or woman never attends a match who are we to say whether they can call themselves supporters or not. We're all different with differing pressures and responsibilities. Easy enough for the likes of me who lives in Mayo and now the family's grown and gone I can indulge my passion as my time is my own. It wasn't always the case when I was working away and had a brood of kids that required a lot of time and money. Let's just be happy that we're all fans and not indulge in one-upmanship.

For me, a long standing and ofter frustrated supporter the only criteria is your passion for Mayo and Mayo football. How much do you enjoy big wins and how big your disappointment with big losses. How appreciative of the efforts of our players in good performances and how upset with poor performances. How desperate and obsessed are you with winning Sam in your lifetime, to enjoy it just once. IMO, I fulfill all the criteria, in spades and I enjoy the highs and hate the lows. But I won't judge others either who have varying levels of support. It goes without saying, that we all want Mayo to do well and bloody well win Sam.

Thanks Bonni - the Reek here I come although I won't be wearing a Galway jersey. That thing will give me hives.

@JoeG & G&D - agree with everything you both said. This obsession with being the bestest supporters in the land is pathetic. Show me a fanatical supporter and you'll usually see someone who has little else going on in their life. It is nice to be a supporter but true fulfilment in anything only comes from active participation.

Many of our politicians will say whatever they think the majority of people want to hear not what they need to hear. It has always been the same. However, I have to say there is a delicious irony in current political events that someone who benefited so much from financial doping should be undone by being such a financial dope.