The main thing now is to start some of the younger players particularly up front. We need new blood. Galway have introduced some good young forwards and we need to be matching them on that front.

Willie Joe. Its live on the TG4 App. Our Galway amd Roscommon friends are hopping mad that there game isnt being shown anywhere.

A loss here and the prophets of doom will be out with their rosary beads. It's a game that we should be winning on paper but it's a tough ask IMO. Can't see Monaghan going down without a fight and, according to her indoors, they shot themselves in the foot against a Dublin team destined for the drop in Croker.
A draw will do nicely thanks.

This is definitely going to be a game worth watching, Monaghan still have to play Kerry and Donegal and Galway so running out of road. They will consider that we are the easiest of these 4 games and playing at home, gives them a great chance.
Similarly, this is a great game for us, win and it reduces risk, 6 points does not guarantee safety but certainly makes it more likely. The players and management get a chance to implement the "learnings" from yesterday, it really is a game for players to step up or get off the pot. I am hopeful but not confident that we will deliver.

Very silly of Andy saying McGuinness took our plan apart, Jim Gavin or Jack O Connor would never say things like that in public

I felt sorry for Carr on Sunday. The tactic of playing early ball into the ff line didn't work because we weren't able to execute the plan well enough. The quality of ball into Carr was dreadful.
The performance was flat, like they had a heavt training session mid week.
I'd love to know the stats but I think we did a little better in retaining possession from our kickouts.
There's no easy game in the league. Its a great competition. Nice introduction for Howard last Sunday, we'll be seeing more of him

I think we had done a lot of heavy training because players that have pace seemed slow on the day. I have a feeling Andy felt we would not win it anyway so a lot of heavy lifting was done the last 2 weeks.
So the result or the performance didn't bother me and I have no doubt our pace will be back next week.
What bothered me though was Aido out at midfield or in the backs when his only position now is FF because of his pace and stamina. And of course we never used the the wind in the first half because we had no one to win ball in there.

Can someone try and tell me what Paddy Tally is doing because we were standing yards off our opponents. Tackling seemed to be gone out the window.
Another part of management is picking the right players in the right position and we in Mayo have down through the years consistently failed. I would keep Hession but not at corner back. A few that have been mediocre over the years I would let go and bring it a few new players.

Our midfield also is not good enough. We need to try a few combos in there and a few new faces.
Any word on Eoghan McLoughlin as he would be a starter for me all day long.
I think the players tried hard in fairness but it was the heavy training that let them down and we will see a much better performance against Monaghan who are a decent team. It will be a close game.

Group 4 in the senior championship is some group.
Knockmore, Breaffy, Ballaghaderreen and Bellmullet.

Some of the other groups look much easier. Crossmolina and Westport will be particularly happy.

Sticks for the Reek, I was thinking the same things myself about the heavy training and taking a pass on this one. Monaghan wont be stroll for sure. A team that always gives it their all and a bit extra this weekend given Andy was coach last year. On the other hand he will know the Monaghan players as well as he knows Mayo which should be helpful. Both teams will feel they need the win this weekend.

@Giz,

I said it on another post earlier in the day. A joke of a draw really when you think of it. 4 teams in one group all of which could rightly justify themselves as semi-finalists

I’m not sure how this new structure has benefited those 4 teams, cleary it was never meant to. In theory it would have been impossible for knockmore to draw both Ballagh and Breffey based on last years format and vice versa.

For the two teams that don’t get out of the group, I think they have every justification to feel frustrated as three of them are definitely stronger they what the likely runners up in the other 3 groups will be.

Where does this talk of heavy training come out of? I’m so tired hearing it after we lose matches. Was it the league final in 2022 we lost after a heavy block of training. I’ve seen multiple posters peddle this since yesterday and I just think it’s nonsense. Are none of the other counties in heavy training?!

We lost yesterday because we met a team who are better than us. They are better than us right now and they would be better than us in June if we met again. Instead of accepting this and using this to fuel a solution, we try and park it by saying we were tired, that Donegal’s fitness won’t last come June

We lost yesterday because Donegal have more athleticism, more physicality and more efficient attacking. We can lament our defenders not being tight enough but they need to get tighter and tougher. We can sympathise with James Carr not getting better service but how many chances does he need to fulfil the potential we think he has. The bar needs to be raised

Sticks for the Reek.
I’m not going to say anything about heavy training, because I don’t have a clue what they did, but I did have the thought that maybe Andy decided that we were unlikely to win this one. If we had gone flat out and still lost by a point or two, we could well be flat again next week and lose to Monaghan following two weeks on the road. That would leave us in a bit of trouble. All managers target certain games I imagine. Whatever the reason we certainly looked like we lacked energy yesterday.

The "heavy block of training" argument makes zero sense to me tbh.

Primarily those training blocks have always been done in two windows. Pre season, which would include warm weather camps (of which we've already had one). And in the window between league and championship, which this year is 3 weeks (two if making a league final)

How many times a year can they go to that well? Why would they schedule one for a 13 day gap between two league games on heavy pitches? Why was there not more rotation if so?

Why would we be the outliers and no other team is talking about heavy training loads after this weekend? Have our S&C team decided to do something that every other D1 S&C team has decided against?

It all makes very little sense and is a strange fall back excuse for a game where the opposition played better

Roco you make some valid points. And I'd be the last one to be making excuses. But we have pacey players in our team. They were running in treacle yesterday. Our physical players were completely out muscled.

We could have beaten that Donegal team last year if we took the shackles off in the 1st half in the Hyde. So I'm of the opinion that on our day we can match them.

We have a lot of improving to do if we are to get there of course

For whatever reason, the performance was flat, lifeless, when compared to the energy we showed in previous games.
Sure we changed tack at half time and had a decent ten minute spell but it was a mountain to climb at that stage and the final score reflected Donegals dominance.
I expect Andy will persever with Carr and I hope he does.
We definitely need to up the tempo for next weekend.

Just sending Andy my team sheet for next week…

In our defence I think we lack physicality when McBrien is not in there. Coyne and Hession are good tidy players but they are too nice. Coyne had a really good year in 2025, I’m not criticising him. I just feel we need someone else in there with Coyne and if it’s Hession to be an enforcer. Still would lead with McBrien in there

In the half back line, are we or why are we not looking at Diarmuid OConnor at 6? The lad is very intelligent, it’s in his DNA. He may not have the pace of old but he could play that position well. On the wings we need Callinan and AN Other. Open to that player being Loftus. Seems better coming onto ball

Midfield for me is Tuohy and Jordan Flynn. We need to person alongside Tuohy to be the muscle, to do the unglamorous Seamus OShea type stuff. Tuohy has earned another 3-4 league games

In our half forward line, ROD stays at 11. Conal Dawson to 10 and 12 will continue to be Carney. I would actually like to see Finbar McLaughlin in the half forward line but I’m a realist! Having a kickout option across the half forward line seems to be a pre requisite over being able to score

In the full forward line, Darragh Beirne, Tommy Conroy (if fit) and Cian McHale would be my preference with McHale playing deeper linking to the half forward line. I still think the long game is last seasons u20 full forward line being our starting players up top but probably 1-2 years away from that

@roco88 surely coen is a better option at 6 than O’Connor

Id like to see O'connor been tried at 6 and just let him hold that position because yesterday it looked like his legs are gone to be running up and down the pitch. At 6 he can hold the position and hes a brilliant tackler and very physical.

@Plunkett there are loads of options at 6. Coen, Michael Plunkett, McBrien, Loftus, Durcan have all played 6. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Diarmuid play 6 for Mayo. Something about his skill set leads me to think he could be super in that role. Whether you agree or not with me on Doc, I don’t think we’ve had anyone hold that position the past number of years

Im sure Andy and co. will have words to say to Jordan flynn re his indiscipline. Undid all his good work on Sunday by conceding frees in scorable positions. Gave away 3 on Sunday.
McBrien has an engine, playing massively well for us at midfield where he can have major influence.
More to come from Carney I expect. More aggressive running at players wouldn't go astray. Bit like Callinan or eoghan McLaughlin. His basic running into position and laying off the simple pass doesn't cut the mustard, but he has a lot more in his locker.
Dawson at 5 is worth exploring further. He's a good marker, tracks back well, covers a lot of ground.
Howard could turn out to be a real gem. Definitely there a place on the panel for him.

Hard to fathom the contrast in our energy levels yday with the first two league matches. And everything just felt "off", our movement, passing etc. I'm not too worried. Donegal are flying but are no great shakes. Andy should tone down the praise of McGuinness. That's an average enough Donegal side. Very fit and well trained, but no stars. We beat ourselves as much as anything yday. Donegal certainly didn't do anything too spectacular. They basically ran the legs off us.

I feel Andy is a manager who is going to call things as he sees it. And tbh, that is commendable. He identified the key reason for the manner of the defeat being the failure to get stuck into the match and be competitive for the first twenty five minutes. This can happen. But it's here where the onfield leaders must assert themselves.

Galway played Cork in a league match two weeks ago in Pearse stadium and were all over them for most of the first half. Cork, possibly realising their game attitude was what cost them the AI final v Tipp. last year decided enough was enough. They started a "free for all" - whatever it took to get them going. And it worked - they won the game in the end easily enough. Players must take on the responsibility once they cross the white chalk lines.

Positives from Sunday.
1. Conor Loftus at centre back. Power, pace and ability to break the line effortlessly after 20 months out of inter county football.
2. Darragh Beirne. A young fella without any fear. Great balance, composure under pressure and genuine talent shown in his last 3 games. Exactly what we need in our full forward line.
3. Rob Hennellys kick outs. Donegal pressed hard on our kick outs and Rob hit some great short and mid range outs to lads in tight spaces.
4. Good kick out press in 2nd half with numerous wins on long and short range outs but couldn't capitalise on scoreboard.
5. A lot of lads not available for various reasons. Injuries, Sigerson Cup, schools finals etc. Donegal close to full strength.
6. Roscommon playing fantasy football in February.

Negatives.
1. Poor return on kick out press in 2nd half. Lack of composure shown by lads that you would expect more from. Fixable at the same time.
2. Lack of pace in a couple of positions with father time probably one of the main reasons. We got knocked out in the Hyde last year because we couldn't live with Ciaran Moores pace. Hopefully we will see some of the younger lads tied up with sigerson, schools football in the next few games.
3. The amount of times we coughed up cheap turnovers particularly in the first half was unreal. Donegal could sense when a lad was uncomfortable in posession and went for the kill with usually just 2 tacklers.
4. The Dr McDaid Park PA announcer. My ears are still ringing from the feedback screeching.

I was not at the match on sunday but will be in clones. On tg4 i did not hear or see much mayo supporters there. Maybe lack of supporters cheering on the team was a factor in the loss.

@Nephin I agree with you. I cant imagine what its like to be a country manager but I do believe you would have to look at the league as a marathon not a sprint. In relation to each game I am sure you'd have to measure the probability of winning and the amount of energy expended. Not making any excuses but I doubt if too many of us felt our lads were going to win in Letterkenny at the weekend at this stage of the season. The positives and learnings that Maroon identified are key. For me the key one being when a teams plays "keep the ball" (a thing we all know is a tradition and skill in Donegal - mostly to cope with windy conditions) how do you break that down?

The one positive thing is that we have options in the forward line. Didn't have them last year. Not sure if neary is still in the panel from last year but we have gained quite a few. Cillian. Kobe. Lydon. Callaghan. Mchale. Ruane all still to be looked at. Not so much options in defence. Alot of attack minded defenders but I'd always prefer a good tough tight marker like Chris Barrett was.

@Craggy fair points all. We'll need all those attackers and they will need to up the scoring rate as well. Look at the scores being racked up by all the Division 1 teams e.g. Ros vs Arm at the weekend and Kerry wont hit their groove until the summer!

In football, as in life, you have to choose your battles. Going gung-ho in letterkenny would have been foolhardy and futile. Andy has cleverly tempered the expectations of an excitable Mayo following. I think he deserves kudos for being a realist.

We will win against Monaghan and I know some lads are working their way back to fitness but we won’t play bad like that again Darren MCHale Eoghan McLaughlin Cillian O’Connor and a couple of lads yet to get minutes into them yet but we will play better Andy and the management team know that we will play better against those Ulster teams

I think Monaghan, are fighting for their life, expect everyone back, their pencilled in this game at beginning of year as a game they can take 2 pts from. Think our display especially in shooting was very average, and we had alot of the ball, so didnt think was midfield fault. So need a improvement the next day. 14 pt wont win too many match come the summer, need to be hitting 22pt to have a chance, and that the worry with this team, capable of hitting this score, but not consistence at hitting this score

Every team can have flag performances to be fair I think Andy and the lads deserve the benefit of the doubt for this one.

More worrying is how our had forward line got ran into the ground in February and it appeared our defensive structure got torn apart. It’s early days, long term I would trust our defence to tighten up.

I think we will see Morahan, McHale from the off the next day. Cillian is back training so could play a cameo in the next couple of weeks. We also have Kobe to throw into the mix at some point. Would preferably leave him until Roscommon.

Would like to see Livingstone get at least 3 league games between the sticks. Howard is a long term plan and a few cameos for this season will put him in good stead for the future.

A lot of posters wanting to see Diarmuid at 6. I can see it from a calmness and composure point of view but at the minute I cant see him man marking an 11 like Enda Smith or Michael Bannigan the next day.

Agreed Clubman51, cant be putting Diarmuid @ 6. Mayo cant be putting round pegs into square holes

Again I'm mayo supporter through and through and want best for team and respect dedication of players but if we base team selection on the last few years of both our club championship and intercounty fitness and output then we need to give priority to form players .
We are loaded with excellent halfbacks , we can be making a position for one of the lads , he hasnt lit up club or had a run of fitness , so let him prove his fitness first . Sam, paddy, Conor, Dawson, Keaveney, Mcbrien, Hession, morahan , Mcmonagle , tons of top quality halfbacks .

Last weekend was a learner but look forward move forward with not only youth but form players.

Be nothing worse than if the younger lads and lads bursting a gut think, there are roles tailor made for old mates .
Everyone has to earn their role and if we have that culture then its for betterment of squad .

As well as being a reality check for Mayo it was also one for Donegal.
The ease with which Conor Loftus waltzed through the center of their defense has to ring alarm bells for them.

The Monaghan game is a must win for Mayo if they want to be sure of staying up in D1 next year. Tryone went down to D2 last year on 7 pts. A win will put us on 6 pts and with some tough games to follow; Kerry, Armagh, Roscommon we will likely still need another point or even 2 to avoid relegation.

You would think a win against Monaghan would virtually guarantee our status in Division 1 so we should be going all out for it this weekend.

Get the win in the bag and then try things for the last few games.

Im fully behind this management team. It's February in the league not mayo or June in a home championship against cavan.. it will take a few more games before they settle on a look like championship team. Not a bad call for doc at 6. Definitely worth a try. They are trying to do the right thing just maybe last Sunday was a day for keeping ball in hand a bit more and it pains me to say that

No 6 is now a hot topic in mayo. For alot of the donegal game we were chasing shadows. They were the second best team in Ireland last year. They have scoring forward s and on the day we couldn't have played worse so I'm not overly concerned

On the topic of who plays number 6 that player will be in for a hell of a test this weekend against michael bannigan who is one of the most underrated forwards in the country.

Monaghan definitely a long way back from where they were with retirements etc but our hb in particular in for a very tricky day against rockets like bannigan and stephen o hanlon

They do look very ropey defensively though

I’m not sold on using Hession and Sean Morahan in the full-back line — it feels like they’re just plugging a gap rather than playing to their strengths. They’re far better suited to operating further up the pitch instead of man-marking corner forwards. After his performances in the club championship, I was expecting John McMonagle to develop into a genuine option at corner-back or full-back this season, but I’m not even sure if he’s still involved with the panel and his minutes were limited for NUIG (possibly due to carrying an injury)

Jimbo is your surname Horan by any chance? Just the way your saying a lack of noise by the supporters was a factor in the loss to Donegal. My own opinion on Kobe is he should be let concenrate on his leaving cert and maybe the Under 20's It was men against boys the last day against Donegal and i dont think Kobe would have made a difference

Glorydays – Conor McCahill who played for Donegal on Sunday, is a Leaving Cert student, and kicked 0-3. McGuinness got a ban in 2024 for playing Finbar Roarty, who was only 17 and in his Leaving Cert at the time.

The likes of Cillian, Aidan, Diarmuid, and Sam Callinan were all playing for Mayo at Kobe’s age. Not sure why we now feel the need to hold lads back if they’re good enough and there is a chance they will be involved after their Leaving Cert, let them play. It’s not like he’ll be studying during the match he’ll probably be travelling with the team anyway

The no6 options IMHO are Sean Morahan or David McBrien. Both ood defenders, athletic and have an edge to them. If natural wing forwards can't get into the team in that position don't try and shoehorn them into a totally different spot at the expense of a good player at ease there.
I feel the same way about wing forwards being natural wing forwards but most managers seem to believe that midfielders who can't hold down a midfield spot should be accommodated over genuine wing forwards.
While there's always a time when a particular line needs a different type of player in a horses for courses situation, continually lining out lads because of their size over ability will lead to far less fluidity and threat going forward.

Glorydays/Moy2 - I'm not sure what is the right approach on young fellas playing. In my day if you were out of nappies and were capable that was OK. However the conditioning and physicality of players is all different now. I'll leave that one to the experts in the backroom.

Both Monaghan and Mayo will look on this game as 'must win'. I expect Andy will be naming what he sees as his strongest panel for this one.
Both Monaghan and Mayo play high octane football, so we can expect a cracker.

Like to see this team v Monaghan
1.Hennelly
2.Coyne
3.McBrien
4.McHugh
5.Callinan
6.Loftus
7.Durcan
8.Tuohy
9.Carney
10.ROD
11.Kobe
12.Flynn
13.McHale
14.Beirne
15.Conroy

Sam Og - Tommy is being held back until the end of the championship. Andy mentioned it’s nothing serious, but given his injury history, he needs to manage his body carefully to be ready for the championship.

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2026/02/15/mayo-ace-likely-to-be-held-back-until-championship-moran/

InExile- Sure, didn’t Cora make her first senior inter-county appearance at 13.! I agree that physically it’s a different game now, but I’d have no doubts about someone like Kobe—he was more than capable of holding his own with inter-county players and the top players at club level

Andy has to pick scoring forwards, high fielders at midfield and natural defenders in full backline and attacking half backs who can also defend. For years we have played forwards who don't score, corner backs and full back who can't defend, midfielders as half forwards who are not forwards. Team selection is vital with players only in their best positions
Sad to say but Aiden, Cillian and Diarmuid are only impact subs , last 10 minutes this year.

The reality is we are awash with half backs and not as many options for full back line. Though the game is so fluid nowadays. Man for man markers are equally important. Donnacha McHugh the man for Michael Bannigan imo and he'll have his hands full.
I dont see Andy going backwards with McBrien. By the end of the league I expect David will be the driving force behind the team.

For those in the know and on the subject of solid no 6's, was Padraig O'Hora invited back into panel this time round?

He's climbing mountains this year?

Ah O'Hora has no pace anyways , we cant afford to be playing defenders with no pace after what the Donegal forwards done to us Sunday ,particularly the 2 O'Donnells.

I wouldn't see Donnacha McHugh as the player to mark Michael Brannigan - like last Sunday I didn't think he was the right man for Gallen. McHugh hasn't the pace and turn to match these kind of fast skilful forwards.
He is more suited - as he has shown already- to mark physically bigger but not as fast players. Lads like Murphy, Clifford and Enda Smyth.

Jesus Culmore we must have been seriously afflicted with desperate managers who didn’t pick forwards who could score backs who couldn’t defend and midfielders who couldn’t catch a ball Amazing that we got to so many All Irelands with that sort of carry on

O,Hora was a great warrior but fouled too much for inter county football.
Our back line was excellent last year and I think it will come good in the end with lots of more options.

Are we robbing Peter to pay Paul by not playing mcbrien at 3.

On kobe. I think he mixed with the best of our county men in the senior championship and wasn't found wanting. Also remember Kevin o Neill getting an all star at 18. Also Mark o reilly 96.

To win just one how many were won?????.

Could a spokesperson for the Kobe fan club explain to me what the expectation from him in a Mayo senior shirt is? Do we expect him to score 0-10 points a game as he did at club level -v- Westport or 0-1 he scored -v- Armagh in AI minor semi in 2024? He clearly is an enormous talent but I think there is far too much expectation this lad is going to come in and bring Mayo up a level.

Of all the u19s we have seen over the years, and we don’t see as many in the past 10 years when compared to 2000-2015, I find their first year as an U-19 at senior level is finding their feet.

Cillian in 2011 was often operating in middle third role picking up breaks, linking play, chipping in with a score. Diarmuid in 2014 wasn’t ready. Aido in 2009 was a target man inside (he has played in there more than we think). Pearse Hanley looked promising in 2007 in the two games he played but it was not him dominating the match. These 4 lads are the best we’ve produced in 20 years and it took them a while to find their feet

@ southmayoexile. Clifford is fairly fast. You didn't say who you would like to see marking Bannigan.
I never knew Donnacha McHugh lacked a turn of foot.
McBrein could play anywhere but we need his leadership and influence out the field imo. We had a similar leader in Oisín Mullen and we stuck him in the full back line. He walked away. Andy knows best with McBrien and you won't see him wearing a 3 shirt.

https://www.instagram.com/rgcoaching3918/

Very sobering analysis of Mayo and Donegal from Rory Gallagher.

Rocco 88. If kobe chipped in with a point it would be a point more than alot of our forward s scored on Sunday.

Does anybody score 10 points in a mayo shirt?. We dont expect the world from the lad but for christ sake let him in there and see how he goes. We are not exactly blessed in that department unless you were looking at a different match to me last Sunday

On the ditch - Donnacha was not able to live with Gallen last Sunday. Each of the scores he kicked he was under little or no pressure.
I'd put either Hession or Sam Callinan on Brannigan.
We are in general lacking tight marking defenders at the moment.

Donnachas first game back, its a bit harsh to judge him on that performance.,definitely struggled to get up to the pace of the game, but he was probably our best man for man marker last year. Oisín Gallon one of the best two footed footballers in the country.
I agree we need to get it right for Bannigan, Sam might be best option, it will be interesting to see who gets the task, Bannigan is a handful as Andy knows full well. The game could henge on how well we manage Bannigan

For sure we are definitely missing tight markers. On the forwards front.... do we think cillian will come back after a year out and alot of injuries and shoot the lights out. Time and opertunity will only answer those questions. Of course there are also others we need to see

Monaghan aren't the force they once were but they're hard to beat in Clones. I think they're pointless thus far so they'll be throwing everything at this. I'm expecting it to be the toughest game Mayo will play so far where indiscipline could cost either side dearly. Gough will earn his corn for sure.

New pod up on Patreon - Mike with Billy Joe (chatting about Donegal and Monaghan) and Paddy Finnegan (on the club draws). We've made a taster segment of this pod available for free on all platforms as well.

As said already, it was McHugh's first start of the year, he's been out injured for months. I'd cut him a lot of slack - similarly for Diarmuid, only back and didn't look fully up to speed. I'd be waiting a bit longer putting him out to pasture!

I would not underestimate Monaghan, they gave Dublin with 15 and O Callaghan a close run and created an awful lot of goal chances. The plus for us is that a lot of their play revolves around Bannigan.
I think we will see Andy field his strongest panel to get us over the line

My team v Monaghan

1.Hennelly
2.Coyne
3.McHugh - just get the game time into him - hell come good
4.O Loughlin - time to get a good luck at last years U20 player of the year
5.Callinan
6.Durcan - im convinced he is the long term solution for taking out Paudie Clifford
7.Morahan - has impressed as a traditional attacking mayo wing back
8.Tuohy
9.McBrien - i was against this position for him - but after the Donegal game - he is the man for this role
10.Loftus - need his kicking skills to let ball into the FF line
11.ROB
12.Flynn - need his all action style but let him put it all out there and be replaced its all or nothing here
13.Cian McHale - was good in sigerson - he needs to be given a run in the team
14. Irwin - was good in the league last year and sigerson - a bigger threat than O shea
15.Beirne

Bench
Enda Hession - plays his best stuff coming on a sub as others tire
Jack Carney - replacing Flynn
James Carr - at a FF as the game opens up - he needs more time to get to up to intercounty speed
Aidan O’Shea - out in midfield to win kickouts for the last 10/15 - adds nothing now in FF
Fergal Boland - at HF for last 20 as ROD tires and has to go in to corner forward

@Tubberman I totally agree with you,cut both of them some slack, moving from back in training to intercounty football is a huge step up

The people losing their minds over the defeat in February and complaining that lads just back from injury aren’t hitting top form straight away are probably the very same ones who were demanding management name a full panel back in November before the team had even one proper collective session together.

Honestly, some of the comments being thrown around are absolutely hilarious you’d nearly hope they’re satire and just trying to wind others up.

A penny for the the thoughts of Paul Towey...

Due to his scoring exploits at club level there has been clamour for years to give him a run as a starter, now im not sure he is necessarily the answer to our scoring shortcomings the last few years as ive never seen him for a sustained run of games under any if the last 3 managers. Basically if he isn't seeing gametime now in thd league then he never will

The fact he is still seeing minimal minutes in the league with bodies to come back suggests this management don't fancy him either. You wonder at some point will he say, to hell with it, and go back to his club

@ @tirawleybaron. Its a game we can't take risks with. O Loughlin has had a quiet sigerson for UL, making the bench and coming on at midfield. I'd hold Loftus on bench for the moment, Hession is your only sub defender. Flynn needs to stop his silly fouling, negates all the good work. I'd persevere with Carr at ff, he needs quality ball into him, but I think he will come good. Carney needs a big game, he's going around the arc when he needs to aggressively take on his opponent.
The actual starting 15 will be very interesting.

Good points Tirawley, only thing id say from having seen alot of club games over last few years , Conor Loftus is far better coming onto the ball in a halfback or midfield position. Now I know there's feck all difference a number makes but to attack the ball from deep and use his line breaking and again an area where id like to back Jordan flynn is , he was in halfbacks and fullback line defending while Coen and Kelly were in halfforwards in previous games .
Again not his strong point but not to kill him out defending cause hes a good ball carrier and viable shooting options so keep him up field if possible .
Dawson a great option at 10, can win dirty ball, pace good distribution, but if he does want to persist with 2 big men at halfforwards , then Howard,Thornton or Irwin should get a game to show what they can do and if Mcbriens put , let Carney play midfield .
Howard's probably most dynamic , Irwin the best player but can go missing at times so either way blood a new 10 to give us different option s
.
I'm a bit old fashioned but think this teams crying out for a Chris Barrett, Brendan Harrison, Gary Ruane, Sean Mcdermott or McMenamon from Tyrone , a tough, no one wants to meet cornerback , to get proper stuck in and for me Morahan, Mcmonagle can do that, Mcgreal, id be excited about as a footballer and think he's is modern, Tom O Sullivan type corner back, but time to try something different in the corners and wouldn't discount Paddy Durcan as a break glass option as he did super job locking down Shane Walsh and Dublin top forwards over the years

I like that team Tirawley, but I would try O'Loughlin at midfield - that's where he played in SIgerson. I'd let Bob come off the bench.

And talking of bench, why hasn't Dylan Thornton got game time? Am I right in thinking he's been on the 26 for all three games so far, so why no minutes?

Anyone know how far Cillian is away from making a match day panel?

Disagree re Hession Tirawley. Hes improving game on game. Finds the pocket very well, always moves into the correct space. Good tackler, though can still develop further. Plays with head up. Hes a starter for sure.

Are players like Nathan Moran, Kuba Callaghan, Darragh Joyce etc still on the panel.
Are they going to get any game time at this stage

Looking at the fixtures ahead we definitely need the points on Sunday and I'm not so sure about us getting them. This will not be easy. Wonder if tom lydon is still in the panel

Its a must win game for both. I can't see Andy experimenting. Our strongest panel will go to Monaghan. Pull of a win and the door is open to experiment with guys putting up their hands in training.

Oh I've watched the 3 league games now@ been at one. Midfield or lack of one is a huge problem..getting badly done there as you couldn't say we have 2 nailed on starters it changes game to game..Tuohy Mcbrien Doc etc...is m.ruane going to feature? And alot of similar players around that area. Not much fielding options either but I admire Andy blooding new players as what else can he do..I just see a 2 or 3 year rebuild until the younger guys are ready

It's a pity Andy can't play 27 at a time.

Whats Monaghan town like for a night out?

There's no reason Andy cannot put out a strong team while still giving a few fringe/new players a chance.Monaghan is a tough place to go and that's where you find out what fellas are made of.
I'd be going with something like
Hennelly
Coyne McHugh McMonagle
Callinan Durcan Loftus
Tuohy McBrien
Dawson Irwin Flynn
Beirne Carr Rod

I see Div 1 going right to the last game. We could win on Sunday and Monaghan could still stay up. Teams that face Donegal in the latter stages could have an advantage, as Jimmy may ease off; we benefitted last year..

Thats a good blast at the team for sunday. Andy trying to make an 11 out of ROD. I'd stick to that. Swap with Irwin. I would also persevere with Carr at 14, agree on that. Toss of a coin between Dawson and Carney. We need to see more aggressive play from Carney, he's still locked into around the arc football. More disciplined performance needed from Flynn but has great work rate. Forget Coyne as captain for a minute, id rest him for Brickenden. I'd have Morahan ahead of McMonagle at this point,
All speculation. Trust the management, important to get it tactically right whatever team lines out.

I dont see McGuinness easing off as there are 4 weeks between League final and their first championship game. A national title is always good for the record books

Ya think Carney needs to be dropped ,if you dont score in the forwards with the current rules you should be dropped for the next game, Aido has been a great servant but I dont see him making the starting 15 this year, I still think Cillian can offer something at 14 if hes fully fit, That game against Cavan 2 years ago he shot 4 points from play, and was moving so much off the ball, but the ball wasnt been kicked in enough, I think Andys kicking game will suit him and playing of 2 intelligent players like Beirne and McHale , I would persist with ROD at 11 with Kobe and Flynn at 10 and 12.

Two tickets for sale for Monaghan game €30
Unable now to travel.
ballyhowleylodge@yahoo.co.uk