Congratulations John. It looks great and you look very proud, as you should, because after all, the book covers the emotions that you have invested in Mayo Gaa over many years.
Wishing you every success with the upcoming book launches and sales of the book.

Andy moran to the rescue for ballagh today unbelievable.

Brillant looking forward to the postman coming with it tomorrow

War in Kiltane. What a f up from the officials.

Can anyone clarify what happened in Kiltane , 2 sent off during normal time and then started extra time with 15 .
Is that rule not changed?
Very harsh on Islandeady if ref got it wrong ???
If wrong , can Islandeady appeal ?

According to Michael Gallagher's match report on Mwr, a team is allowed their full complement back for extra time...but he also said officiating was extremely poor.

I'd imagine that rule would not apply if someone had gotten a straight red.

I’m sure Michael Gallagher would have done his research before coming out with the facts .
I personally thought that the couldn’t replace anyone sent off but stand corrected.

I vaguely remember some chatter about changes in this scenario but can't recall the details so I've no idea what the rule is.
Maybe Tsu will put us right when he's available.

To my knowledge the old rule of extra time being a new game was changed to extra time being a direct continuation of existing game so a red carded player cannot be replaced. Can't see how two yellows would make any difference

Under current GAA Playing Rules, extra time is treated as a direct continuation of normal time regarding disciplinary cards.
Red CardThe player is excluded for the rest of the game and extra time. They cannot be replaced, meaning the team plays short.

According to the Official Rule book:

Infractions
The following shall constitute Infractions to which the Disciplinary Jurisdiction of the Association
applies:
(a) Any breach of the Rules and Bye-Laws including Codes, Regulations, Guidelines and
Directives made under them.
Penalties:
As provided for in the relevant Rules and Bye Laws including Codes, Regulations,
Guidelines and Directives made under them.
(b) Misconduct at Games by Players, which consists of six Categories of Infractions which
occur on or in the vicinity of the Field of Play, and which occur immediately before,
during or after a Game:
57 GAA OFFICIAL GUIDE - PART 1
Category I
Being ordered off on foot of infractions that follow the issuing of two Yellow or Black Cards
of any sequence or combination.
Penalty:
(i) Fixed Penalty : Debarment from playing for the remainder of the Game, to include any
extra- time;
(ii) Fixed Penalty on a second Repeat Infraction (i.e. a third ordering-off) - A One Match
Suspension in the same Code and at the same Level, applicable to the next game in
the Competition in which the third ordering-off occurred, even if that game
occurs in the following year’s competition.
Exception to (ii):
This Penalty shall not apply to Infractions committed in the National Leagues or the
Inter-County Senior Championships for which alternative Provisions and Penalties
apply as follow:
In Football, as outlined in Category II, Penalty (3) below.
In Hurling, Fixed Penalty for the accumulation of three orderings off for Infractions
that follow the issuing of two Yellow or Black Cards of any sequence or combination
committed in the same year in the National Hurling League, the Inter-County Hurling
Championship or in a combination of both Competitions:
A One Match Suspension applicable to the next game in the combination of the
National Hurling League/ Inter-County Senior Hurling Championship, even if that
game occurs in the following year.
The Penalty of serving a ten-minute period in the Sin-Bin for a breach of
Playing Rule 5.45 shall not count as an ‘ordering off ’ under this provision of Rule.
(d) A player ordered off in any circumstance in
Normal Time, may not play in Extra Time but
may be replaced.
(e) Substitutions/Temporary Substitutions shall be
allowed during the playing of Extra Time as
outlined in Rule 2.4(ii) and (iii).
(f) A Caution (Yellow Card) issued in Normal Time
shall not carry over into Extra Time.

So not allowed play extra time if sent off. A shitshow, will there be a replay? Just extra time replayed? Match awarded to Islandeady?

Best of luck with the book John. I hope to get in to the event in Castlebar.

But does it not say there that a player ordered off may not play in extra time but can be replaced

A red card, however sanctioned by the referee in normal team must be carried into extra time.
The black card also carries into extra time.

"RULE 2 - THE PLAYERS
2.5 PLAYERS IN EXTRA TIME (pg8)
(i) A player ordered off in any circumstance in Normal Time, may not play in Extra Time
and may not be replaced."

There's nothing complicated or debatable in this one. Just a really poor slip by officials (and potentially journalists, by the sounds of it) going back to old rules from 2 years ago (where it was treated as an entirely new game).

Oddly, a similar mistake by officials down in Kerry too.

Where there will be a lot of debate and potential for all sorts of shenanigans is on what happens next.

Wide open to the CC on how they proceed from here.
https://www.gaa.ie/api/images/image/upload/t_q-best/prd/mle2opbdrbjxvcleac4w.pdf

"(15.2) Rules of Specification and Control - Penalties
Penalties for breaches of the Rules of Specification and Control (Part 2) shall be as follows:
...
(b) (i) A team exceeding the number of players permitted under Rule 2.1 Rules of
Specification, Playing Rules:
(ii) A team exceeding the number of substitutions permitted under Rules 2.3 (i)
and (ii) or breaching Rule 2.3 (iv), Rules of Specification, Playing Rules:
Penalties:
On a proven Objection - Award of Game to the Opposing Team, or Replay, or Fine,
depending on the circumstances. On an Inquiry by the Committee-in-Charge -
Forfeiture of Game without Award of Game to the Opposing Team, or Replay, or Fine,
depending on the circumstances."

What's the betting we see 2 very different decisions made in the 2 different counties.

Think Islandeady should feel rightly aggrieved , especially when there was only 3 points in it in the end and Kiltane ( not their fault) were allowed have the 2 extra players for extra time .
Kiltane would not be happy if it was the other way around so maybe a replay would be the best outcome .
Hard to know how it will pan out as it was the officials fault, not either of the clubs .
Such a shame

How can a club be thrown out having won the game as the ref told them the wrong rule? We're basing it on a hypothetical that islandeady would have won the game when we've no idea whether they would or not. Especially when one of the yellow cards which led to red was for arguing the ref overruling a linesman's decision from 50 metres away. What exactly did Kiltane do wrong here?

Fantastic achievement, John, huge congratulations to you.

@MM: They breached a rule (2.1) where that's one of the possible outcomes, so it's listed there as an option open to the CC as part of the rules. Nobody is suggesting it's the one that will or should be chosen here given the circumstances of the breach.

To the best of my knowledge (very open to correction) it has never been applied in this kind of scenario (the ET rule changed in Congress '24 so less than 2 years old now & hasn't happened terribly often) and I wouldn't expect it to be applied here. Even for far more blatant breaches of 2.1 over the years it tends not to be applied.

The reality is it was a mistake by officials and whatever happens from here it's a mess given the options available.

- Replay: Islandeady lose the advantage of having a 2 man advantage for 20 minutes to win the game and either side heading in to a SF on the back of less rest & hassle.
- Award of the game: Kiltane followed the officials instructions, so incredibly harsh on them (or award of game without over.
- Fine: Islandeady go out when they should have had a massive advantage, so incredibly harsh on them.
- Appeal dismissed: A clear breach of the rules occurred, so again incredibly harsh on Islandeady (and raise all sorts of questions)

There's no good scenario there. It's just messy.

Best of luck with the book John- dunno where you get the time for everything!

Presume John you'll have copies to purchase on the night in Bowes?. Book launch a 1st for me. Need to wear a cravat or anything like that?

Richie duck - the Dublin launch won’t be in Bowe’s but wherever we’re having it there will indeed be copies of the book to buy there, which I’ll gladly sign. I also hope that there might be a post-launch event adjournment to Bowe’s afterwards that night but we need to get the launch details sorted first.

Agreed @Tsu. And I think the fairest thing personally is a replay at a neutral venue next weekend and push the intermediate final to same weekend as senior.
It should be noted that Kiltane agreed to defer the game due to the death in Islandeady last weekend. Due to this they were missing their corner forward who was unable to travel back from London

Two hops,
From listening to Michael Gallagher on met, I heard him say that the referee allowed kiltane to field 15 players for extra time, despite protestations from islandeafy who obviously knew the rules.
I am presuming that there were two linesmen there, who were referees also.
Did anyone consider making a phonecall to check it out.
Pleading ignorance of a rule is not a defence,

The fair replay is extra time 15 v 13. That's precisely the advantage Islandeady lost. They're an absolute odds on cert to win in that scenario and protested the call correctly.

@ JP Kiltane were an odds on cert to win before the game. It's football, anything could have happened in extra time

The scenario should have been 15 v 13. Kiltane being favourites before the game is not relevant.
15 v 13 Islandeady are a strong odds-on favourites to win.

I am really looking forward to reading the book.I am going to save it for a christmas binge.I want to read Andys book which i said i would only read when we crossed the line it and re-read House of Pain...then head to Castlebar for first game in early January maybe

A real mess.
People say it is hard to win in Kiltane.
Anyone old enough to remember when they played in the sandybanks of Geesala/Dugort?
If a team travelling there were competitive,they were contenders.
Two great clubs in difficult areas ,Kiltane and Islandeady.

What about the breach in the dying mins of game,Islandeady 2 men back only ,Not given by officials

We have precedent about missed incidents like breaches snd inside 2pt arc errors. I don't think there's been a ruling on what should happen if the ref has allowed too many players for one side.
There's no what about that should undermine the case Islandeady have.

Congrats on the new book John, let us know when the Dublin launch is on and I’ll drop in.

@JP I agree they were strong favourites to win in extra time but it's not Kiltane's fault they played with 15. A simple solution is to play the game at a neutral venue next weekend and push the semis and final back a week. We have the space available

kiltane v islandeady
seems to be an awful mess up , i assuming ref 4th offical 2 sideline officials , 2 umpires , county board officals doing the gate , county board officals from both clubs , simple as google the rule on some 1s phone, ring head of refs committee particulry when there was an objection .
my god the effort by each sets of manegement and players and clubs have done to get a team to a qtr final in a county that is after winning all ireland .
not good enough

Congrats John and the best of luck with your book. I'm sure it was a cathartic experience in the end, the happy ending we all had yearned for made it perfect.

I'm really suprised when protested by Islandeady that no one would pause to look it up on a phone.
It would take 10 mins max to look it up, talk it through with both teams and start extra time 15 v 13.

In a related note, a match today had the score changed at half time after the referee discussed with officials, 15 minutes after the incident. Never seen it before, and I can't find anything in the rule book for it. Anyone have any ideas?

@jimmy192 I seen that also extremely strange call.It relates I think the last 2 pointer kicked before half time which was definitely a 2, and the referee clearly identified that by raising his 2 hands as a signal. When you say discussed with his officials would this be the linesmen as the umpires definitely have no view of where a player is in relation to the arc...not an ideal situation as the scoreboard was changed as the 2nd half started and I'd say there was confusion amongst players what the actual score was, and when the last free was being taken in the game did they know it was for a win or a draw because the option was there to bring it out for a 2. Who'd be a referee but in the same game there was alot of very questionable calls in the 2nd half

Congrats on the book John.
Looking forward to reading it and will be at the Castlebar launch.
I dont know if youve been at the Wild Atlantic Words festival before but its a great set up in the Marquee in Bridge Street.

Just got my copy of Keeping the Faith........Absolutely brilliant and beautiful book. Well done John and enjoy the launches and craic alobg the way.

@Jimmy192/@Blondie11: Ohhh, that's an interesting one I hadn't heard of until now.

Was it definitely a "change in score" for the game and not just a "correction of a mistake on the score-board" that happened? (I thought it might be one particular local JFC QF that went to ET, but looking at the live tweets there doesn't appear to have been a change of score there)
Mind me asking was the 2 pointer before half-time the last kick of the half? (I know options change slightly once the game restarts, but can't think of either case off the top of my head so I'll make sure I look up the right scenario)

Delighted to get my copy of keep the faith in the post today signed and all. Looking forward to reading it Congratulations John

Well done on the book John, we have it ordered and looking forward to reading it.
I wonder is there any possibility that someone will put together a book with all the columns/articles from the local and national print media in the aftermath of the all Ireland, or would there be copyright restrictions on such a thing? Would be great to have them all in one book.

Great to hear about all the pre-orders arriving! I hope you all enjoy it.

I haven’t heard of a book like that being planned, Borderline, but, as well as my one, I do know that there are four other All-Ireland-related books coming out before Christmas. Three of these are coffee table, picture-heavy books but will have plenty of text relating the story of Mayo’s March to Sam so I’d say may be close enough to the idea you have in mind.

@TsuDhoNim the score board from what i was aware was correct all the way through, the two pointer before HT wasn't the last kick it was a few plays before. Before the score the scoreboard read 3-7 and immediately went to 3-9 after the 2 pointer. Was like that then at the HT whistle and for all the half time break and just before the 2nd half started was changed back to 3-8

Second year in a row there’s controversy in a Mayo club football game over an incorrect decision.

Hollymount/Carramore appealed and were told by many on here that is was a bad idea and they should just move on. Same here I guess ?

The Hollymount case was different. We can't be appealing matches based on video etc. of on field calls. We'd never get championships finished and the amount of appeals would be huge.
In this case, 15 players instead of 13 are allowed play an entire extra time.

@Blondie11: If the 2 pointer was a few plays before, that shouldn't be playing a part here. The decision can be changed right up until the whistle is blown to resume the next play, but not after that.

The only thing that makes sense (according to the rulebook) by the description here is the scoreboard keeper had made a slip and it was corrected at HT to match the officials score.

That said, a quick look at what happened down in Fermoy v Ballinora (ref had the score wrong by HT, confirmed the scores to the players on both sides being the wrong one, game continued with players playing to those scores and after one side achieving what they needed with a draw.... the score after the final whistle was then 'corrected' and completely changed the outcome) shows plenty of things get done and decided outside of what the rules 'suggest' in the rulebook.

@Blondie, we're talking about different cases! In the Kilmovee match, there was a Kilmovee shot score about 15 minutes in that looked over the post, it was waved wide by umpires and the referee. No flag waved. But at half time, officials informed both managers that the score would be given, and was updated. Never seen it before.

Seems wild that it occurred in two games on the same day. I was of the belief that the referees decision at the time is what matters - seems very unfair, when if it had occurred in the middle of the second half, the referee would never change a decision at the end of a match.

Did Kiltane ask the ref can they start 15 in extra time. If they didn't then the onus was on them to start 13 as that is the rule.
As someone above said - unbelievable that some official at the game didn't know the rule - or check out the rule.
A replay next weekend the likely outcome

From what I heard kiltane did ask the ref about the rule so the game will be replayed no doubt.

Either way it is harsh on Islandeady,a replay will be 15 v 15.

John, congratulations on the publication of your book, I hope it becomes a bestseller. Reading and contributing to your blog over the years has become a roller coaster of emotions, a few poor desperate souls even ending up on the naughty chair! It all ended in July in an explosion of joy and emotion, probably unseen at any other Irish sporting occasion. Your blog added immeasurably to our enjoyment of Mayo football and I'm sure we're all looking forward to the new era which begins in January- not that far away now.

Islandeady should given a walkover.
If it had been the other way around you can be sure Kiltane would have suddenly remembered the correct rule.
If the worst case scenario for breaking the rules is a replay then what kind of message does that send?
Disqualify them and you might encourage a bit of self policing.

@Frost Hammer, Kiltane ask ref how many players for extra time, ref says 15. What should kiltane do play with 13? At least you're open with your trolling

While I have sympathy for both Kiltane and Islandeady I think the ones most upset should be Davitts if a replay is ordered as their preps will be affected through no fault of their own and a situation they weren't involved in.

Ah lads, particularly MM, I can't agree with you here. Its also up to Kiltane and their management to know the rules.

To me, this is no different to making too many subs. Its up to a management team to know how many subs they can make, if they make too many, they know they're open to appeals and possible replays.

In this scenario, Kiltane should have known they have too many players on the field. Likewise, Islandeady should have pulled their players off the minute the extra time started. A minor mess at the time is far better than the major mess we have now.

No skin in either camp, But Islandeady have to feel hard done by. Fairest way would be play the extra time with 15 vs 13. Wont happen, as don't think it ever happened. Kiltane also did nothing wrong, just human error, which feel sorry for both teams and ref. It end up a replay, and have a feeling Kiltane will win it, and Islandeady will still feel hard done by. Mess, and make a mess of Intermediate competition. Hope it sorted soon, but dont think it will

Finished the book last night and while still very annoyed with the way we were treated by different referees over the last 15 years, it’s amazing how one win eases all the pain of losing so many finals. Not completely gone but at least was able to read about.

I wonder when will the book arrive for me by post, haven't got it yet, maybe this week.

That was fast, Nephin! I hope you enjoyed it.

Was yours one of the pre-orders, Pepsi? If so it should certainly be winging its way to you by now.

When officials got it wrong in the past eg the Conor Loftus wrongly adjudged foul against Galway which should have been a free to Mayo instead of a Galway winning point, I didn't see any call from the Gaa for that game to be replayed. There are plenty of examples of wrong calls which altered the games outcome with no replay taking place or any other action taken.

The officials got it wrong in this club game, so why is it any different from other games where no action was taken due to game changing wrong calls.

@Revellino: Because of the rule book.

An in game decision like a foul, a penalty, a score awarded (or not awarded) wrongly are explicitly not grounds for an appeal.

A breach of a rule like (2.1) playing 17 players (the rule book doesn't care how or why it happened, though the CCC likely do look at those nuances and the context of the game at the time it happened when reaching the penalty) is completely different and very valid grounds.

Yes John. I really enjoyed it. Just sorry it wasn’t twice as long. A bit lost today. Back to Buried Secrets. 😂

John, just got it in the post yesterday. It looks great and very much looking forward to a great read. Congrats to you on the book and for helping keep our faith alive over often recurring tough times.

@Nephin, you said "it’s amazing how one win eases all the pain of losing so many finals." And honestly it is something else.

Usually this time of year, I'd be in a panic watching the club championship, wondering where are we going to find some players to get us over the line and crying at the lack of quality or lack of scores...This year I'm so relaxed and I'm just enjoying it and I couldn't give a F**k about the other stuff.

My overriding feeling from the All Ireland was a kind of release and its amazing how often that release is manifesting itself in my life and the lives of other Mayo people.

That's good to hear, Nephin. I should cobble together a Director's Cut version for you because I had to jettison a fair bit of what I'd written when putting together the final version! The published version runs to about 80,000 words and I'd say I binned another 60,000 but, of course, that's all part of the process.

Ah I was joking of course, but always a bit sad when I finish a good book. It was obvious reading it that you had to edit it here and there, when you mentioned our fantastic win in a few chapters early in the book. I was saying to myself, it wasn’t just a matter of writing the final one. Anyway, congrats and well done.

I see that the kiltane v islandeady replay has been decided, it's on mayo gaa fixtures , Sunday next at 3pm in Parke.

Feck ya, John.

First paragraph in and I felt that now all-too familiar welling at the eyes. I thought that would have passed by now but first page has me imagining being back in Hill 16.

Above anything else, the thing that has stuck with me is that cacophony of sound and electricity in the air in the stadium as we edged closer. The ferocious comeback in the first half, the goal, the turnovers, the two-pointers and Jack Carney's pass to secure our place in footballing heaven. Those seemed to be the moments where we weren't just in the game, we were taking it by force.

I'm not sure why but the radio commentary (both Midwest and RTE https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/sunday-sport/episodes/11808919/) have become my go-to to relive those moments. It feels like the sound of the crowd comes through so much clearer.

I had commented most of the above on an older post about the book and then realised I was trying to pass my compliments in the wrong post.

A few chapters in now and a great read. Congrats again to you!

Thank you TsuDhoNim for that explanation. I was not aware of the why's in relation to how these matters are treated.

The very best of luck John with your book and look forward to getting and reading it and I'm sure it will be in manys the Mayo home and beyond.

Martin Breheny with another hatchet article in the indo today. Takes a dig at Ryan in relation to POTY. His salty tone since Mayo won the All Ireland is great to see. One of the most biased journalists out there.

Yew tree don't be wasting your time or money reading that mans articles. You only giving him oxygen.
We have the SAM and that's all the matters.

@unstoppable I would agree with you except that Kiltane asked the referee what the rules were for starting extra time. He explained (incorrectly) that it was back to 15v15 as the not replacing the sent off player was for inter county only. What were they meant to do at that stage?
Think the replay and neutral venue was fairest solution at this stage

Hi John, yes it was pre order, maybe in mid or late August.

Not surprised at replay and can understand why Kiltane may be aggrieved at playing at a neutral venue, are they being seen as being more to blame. Are the two players sent off available for the replay?

Eamon Fitzmaurice coming West

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41917516.html

I saw that elsewhere online tonight , but didn't post it until there is more certainty about it.

@Mikey: Both double yellows, so no suspensions there.

I'm not sure I'd say "blame" so much as them trying to find a workable solution to the problem where the penalty fit the circumstances. Islandeady had a two man advantage that had them in a very strong position. It was taken from them by a mistake by the officials (& their opponents).

I'd imagine Islandeady would be only delighted to agree to a replay in the same Kiltane venue again if they were going back to the same 15v13 too. A 15v15 in Parke seems very in one sides favour there.

John, delighted to see your book hit the shelves..What a fantastic achievement..Looking forward to reading it now we"ve finally got our fairytale ending!!You so deserve all the plaudits ..
In other news, what an unexpected possible bainisteoir next door..

Yep, big excitement in Galway circles tonight at the apparently imminent arrival of Eamonn Fitz.

As for Breheny... forget about him lads. Another attention-seeker desperately trying to justify his wage packet.

When u see Breheny writing that shite you really know that shower are hurting South of the Border and its feels so bloody good.

Maybe Kiltane are laying down a marker by objecting to the pitch. Out of curiosity, what was the scoring when Kiltane were down players?
John, looking forward to reading the book, has been delivered but away for a few days so will get into it on my return at the weekend.
On paper this looks like a good appointment south of the border, will be interesting to see who he brings in. It will make Connacht another challenging proposition in 2027, not that winning it is that important in the grand scheme of things.

I think Breheny is doing a Jordan Flynn and trying out a bit of manifestation to see can he get Clifford as POTY. I repeat. No hope. Ryan was by far POTY. Up Mayo.

@Mikey: Maybe, but not sure what kind of "marker" that is. Not sure challenging the County CCC on a decision for a penalty (that they're within the rules to make with "The County Competitions Control Committee reserves the right to move any game to an alternative venue" which would supersede the default of a top placed team holding home advantage) quite achieves much for that. I'd expect it might just cause frustration and a sense of "will ya get on with it" among neutrals. But maybe.

Good question on the scoring. Sadly, I'm not exactly sure. There were a few scores in rapid fire around that time.

It was 0-17 to 1-6 at half-time (1st red came at ~32 minutes, so just after half-time) & 0-17 to 1-9 5 minutes after the red card, while finishing 0-19 to 1-16, so somewhere between 0-7 to 0-2 and 0-10 to 0-2 to Islandeady in that period where they had the man advantage. The second red coming right near the end of the game so didn't impact much.

Caveat there being a strong wind (e.g. Kiltane scoring 5 2s in the 1st and the sides hitting 13 2s between them on the day in the ~80 minutes) so you'd have expected Islandeady pulling in some of those scores still at 15v15, so hard to extrapolate too much from it.

Eamon Fitz will bring an edge to Galway that had been missing.
They almost put a saddle on Murphy in 2014.

Hi all, I'm hoping to make the Castlebar v Breaffy game at the weekend. What's best for parking for the pitch in Charlestown? Thanks

Ah Fitzmaurice would have no All Ireland only for Cormac Reilly in Limerick 2014.

Fair play, and cannot wait to get my hands on a copy.

Looking forward to the second book on our back to back titles!

This may have been posted on a previous thread but here is a great piece by Eamonn Sweeney on the all ireland win: https://saturdaynightwaltz.substack.com/p/2026-a-mayo-odyssey

Best of luck John. I hope to be at the launch of your book in Castlebar tomorrow evening.

Good man Achill...lest we forget!

See a few of ye tomorrow.evening hopefully!