Not bad, we wanted new players and you could say two of the top four are new. I felt Neary and Reid played really well. On to Galway.

Well done Davitt. Keep it going.

Great start for Davitt. I had reservations, as per an older thread, but I thought he did fantastically well. He was well able to mix it at senior level and showed no signs of being intimidated by either the occasion or his opponents. Fair play to him, and I hope this weekend in the less salubrious surroundings of McHale Park against the noisy neighbours will also see him excel. Great showing all round from our newer faces which is encouraging.

I believe it is kickboxing Davitt Neary was quite high level in. He's pretty agile, looks stronger than when he first came to attention about two years ago. A full league, Connaught and Round Robin game time can really help a player like him.

Yes indeed Neary stood out.
I also thought Hession had a fine game.
We need to decide quickly who to play in the FB line and stick with it.
Need a settled team for the championship.

How near is paddy Durcan ?

How old is Neary?

Mayonaze - He’s around 20 /21

- Many of the new rules are an improvement in particular the timekeeping, 1 v 1 for the throw_ins, 3 players back at all times and tap/go.
- As regards the newbies I thought Neary had a very good first half driving forward, Reid caught some ball but lost it a bit too easily at times. Irwin okay.
- Fergal Boland was man of the match for me, sure he fluffed some easy chances but he got some great points, handled a lot of ball and worked tirelessly.
- At times though it was unreal how Dublin could just drive up the field to our 21 without a Mayo player in sight never mind getting in a tackle.
- We just have to take those gilt edged chances... Coens missed tap in for a goal and some close in points fluffed
- A opposition player should not be given the freedom of the pitch to score 6 or 7 points from play...Buggler although around a number of years is no Clifford.
- Very small crowd on a okay night for a match.
- We left 2 points behind us though... at least our lads will not have to form a guard of honour for Galway. Every little helps...

Who was marking Bulger?

Nobody, JR.

In the old days it would have been the responsibility of our no.5.
You noted the jersey number of your direct opponent and you nullified him,or else you got called to the sideline.
It's the way it should still be done imo.

@2hops, fully agree the days of a defender making an opposite number and be accountable for that are gone apparently, and likewise for a midfielder being expected to do likewise and a forward expected to stop his defender coming up the pitch and scoring....
Game is gone like basketball, all zonal....which ends up like situations on Sat where one player can dominate the scoring coming from deep and being unmarked ....
Being fair about it, the 12 on 11 situations being created now with goalkeepers adding to the forward play is creating headaches for coaches now and adding to what we say at the weekend.... is is making the game more exciting or a better spectacle... i will hold on that until the NFL is over....

Definitely best of the newbies and one of our best performers on the night. In asking who did better, I’d say only Fergal Boland. Reape was well involved too but some kickouts were poor and players not giving enough options either. I tend to back management but in the absence of aerially dominant midfielders, we need to be more innovative and we’re not really. Cluxton doesn’t automatically find people, he still needs players to get free. Reid looks fairly comfortable but wasn’t on the ball quite enough and dropped a couple of high ones he’d won. Will need to step up a bit more to be considered later in the season but some promise nonetheless. Consider who we’ve had in Half Forwards, several make a mark in the first season league and drift back the pecking order in subsequent years, Tuohy, McDonagh, Brian Walsh and a good few more. Even Boland who on again looks good failed to get much game time. The new rules suit smaller players so he should start this summer. Has the skills, we all see that.

Reape did fluff a few kickouts and they directly led to Dublin scores; I will say the movement for him was poor. Reape was very influential on the other side of the pitch, which shows you how Gaelic games is gone.
Most of our established players were poor, and new players were prominent.
Killian Mcginnis seemed to be getting stuck into Mattie, similar to Conn Killpatrick in the 21 final.
Stephen Coen's miss was atrocious, two yards out and an empty goal. Diarmuid came on and looked way off the pace, made a stupid dive in the corner trying to buy a free, and we got turned over, resulting in another score.
Brickendon again caught out on the ball at a key time in the game. He was also very slow to block Dublin sub Luke Breathnach for two scores. Question marks remain over him.
Sam Callinan? is he a corner back? had a very tough day on Saturday again. Turned over twice resulting in scores and kicked a really bad wide in the first half. Love Sam but feel like he's missing something to be a top intecounty corner back. Should he get a run in the half back line?

Thats enough negatives, (its only January) on a positive note Neary was very good. Good on breaking the ball, and I love the way he threw a Dublin man out of his way in the lead-up to Reid's goal. Irwin is a talented player, if he can get up to intercounty physicality we might have a player on our hands. Also. an option around the middle.
Enda Hession was good, a lot of good scramble defence. Fenton Kelly solid on the ball and Conor Reid showed his glimpses of talent. At times you want him to attack the line a bit harder.
Paul Towey wasn't on much ball but anything he did, he done well. Two nice scores and a lovely diagonal for Nearys first point. He also made a great turnover in the first half. Always thought he was an inside shooter but I definitely saw a different side to his game on Saturday. He needs a run of games at 11 now, its now or never for Paul. Hes been here long enough: I think he has the talent to flourish this season.

For Galway I would like to see Cian Mchale start, its a joke at this stage how we have no left footed free taker. I would like to see Sean Morahan get a run, in a battle against Galway he's the type of player we need. Showed enough in a cameo the last night to suggest he's cut from a different cloth.
Finally we are forgetting about the loss of Eoghan Mcloughlin, the new rules should suit him attacking space. He always has a good game against Galway so hoping he is back to start.
Keep the faith, Up Mayo.

For reference team I would like to see against Galway:
1. Reape
2. Hession
3. Mcbrien
4. Morahan
5. Mchugh
6. Callinan
7. Mcloughlin (Fenton Kelly if not)
8. Ruane
9. Reid (Jordan Flynn for last 20)
10. Boland
11. Towey
12. Neary
13. Mchale
14. Irwin
15. ROD

@clubman 51 i think midfield has passed ruane by. It’s been a long time since he’s dominated against a good team. I’d have tuohy, irwin 10 and rod 11.

Would agree he's more of a 12 but we aren't blessed with other options. Not sure what Carney's story is. Also don't think Diarmuid is a midfielder.

Surprised Jack Fallon hasn't got a look in, seems to be playing good stuff for UL at midfield.

Clubman, will be interesting to see if Eoghan McLaughlin is back this week. Hopefully that all gets sorted out, as like you think new rules should aid him.

Frank Irwin plays midfield for his club, and pretty well at that. I find it strange that given our dearth of ability in that area of the field that he was named at 14 at the weekend, but what would I know?

I'd agree @Anne-Marie, I'd like to see Frank at mf or chf and driving at the defense. He always reminds me of a Sean Cavanagh type and I'd hope to see him get a run of games and not necessarily at 14.

2 hops I can tell you one thing he wouldn't be doing - breaking records for passing the ball backwards!!

I think that Bob Tuothy was to play at FF but injured.
Hard enough to play county without playing in your own position.