It’s mad, isn’t it?
Easter isn’t yet here but on Sunday our Connacht Championship campaign opens when we play Sligo in the provincial quarter-final. This win-on-the-day match throws in at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park at 3.30pm with Cavan’s Noel Mooney as the ref. It’s being streamed live by GAA+ and Midwest will have live radio commentary on it as well.
What’s even crazier is that, as John Fallon pointed out on the pod we did the day of the rugby match at MacHale Park last Saturday, half of all the games in this year’s Connacht Championship are set to be played this coming weekend. As well as our game, the matches over in Ruislip and Gaelic Park are down for decision as well. Once they’re over then there’s just the two semi-finals and the Nestor Cup decider left to be played.
Which begs the question – why the big hurry?
Because this is the current fixture schedule is, I guess, the only answer we’re going to get to that one.
Our opponents on Sunday are a county we’ve played often in the Championship and, as you can imagine, our record against them is rather good. Between 1906 and 2021 (the first and last years we’ve met in the Championship), we’ve played each other a total of 57 times. We’ve won 44 of those meetings, lost eight of them and drew five.
If we narrow the focus in to matches we’ve played at home then the total count is twenty, of which we’ve won 17, drawn one and lost two.
One of those losses – back in 1965 – was a game played in Charlestown. This means that the sole time they’ve beaten us in the Championship in Castlebar was the Connacht final replay in 1975. It’s a game I was at and some years ago I wrote a piece about it here on the blog – that’s here.
But it’s not Mickey Kearins and co. we’ll be facing on Sunday so we’d better have a look at the 2025 version of the Magpies, who are, of course, managed by former Mayo selector, Armagh’s Tony McEntee.
Last summer Sligo, having beaten Leitrim by nine points in the provincial quarter-final, gave Galway a major fright in the semi-final, losing by two points when they conceded an injury-time goal.
That loss sent Sligo into last summer’s Tailteann Cup. They were unbeaten in topping Group 2, which also contained Antrim, Tipperary and Wexford, and they then beat Limerick in the quarter-final. They went on to lose by two points after extra-time to eventual winners Down in the semi-final.
Fast forward to this year’s Allianz Football League, where Sligo were operating in Division Three.
In Round 1, the Years County were away to Offaly. They lost that game at O’Connor Park by 1-17 to 0-13. The following Sunday they were beaten by Kildare at Markievicz Park by 0-13 to 1-16.
Those two opening round defeats, to the division’s best two teams, were no real surprise. But when they went under to Laois at O’Moore Park in Round 3 by 0-23 to 0-16, the relegation alarm bells would have begun to jangle.
They finally got off the mark in Round 4, claiming a hard-fought 0-19 each draw against Fermanagh up at Brewster Park. They then followed that up by edging out Clare back at Markievicz Park, winning that Round 5 fixture by 1-19 to 2-14.
Those two results, in effect, left divisional survival in their own hands as they faced into the final two rounds. Two more wins, a 1-18 to 1-15 success over Antrim at Corrigan Park and a thumping 0-32 to 0-10 win over Leitrim back at Markievicz Park, completed the job. Sligo ended up fifth in the Division Three table on seven points.
It’s little surprise that the Magpies, operating out of the game’s third tier this spring, are outsiders to beat us on Sunday. It would, in truth, rank as a major shock were Sligo to record just their second-ever Connacht SFC win over us at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.
That said, as Peadar Gardiner pointed out in the U20 Final Whistle pod the other evening, Sligo have beaten us in each of the last three years in the Connacht U20 Championship. This means their ranks will include lads who have no fears at all about facing us and will instead relish the challenge, regardless of what the match odds are.
Their manager, Tony McEntee, spent a number of years in our camp, when Stephen Rochford was manager. Two Mayo natives, Joe Keane and Kevin McLoughlin, are included in Sligo’s current management team.
All the available evidence points towards an untroubled win for us on Sunday. Or does it? Let’s end with a poll on how you think our Championship opener against the Yeats County will go.
Will we beat Sligo?
- Yes (80%, 327 Votes)
- No (20%, 82 Votes)
Total Voters: 409
Craggy boglands says:
April 4, 2025 at 5:44 am
Mad or no mad... the real deal starts here'. This is what everyone gets judged on. Should Kevin have opened his mouth about Clifford.... i think he should not have named him but could have said that there frees were soft which they definitely were but didn't influence the result. Our midfield performance and reluctancy to kick in to the inside line was definitely our achilles heal.
Ever the optimist says:
April 4, 2025 at 7:12 am
The shackles will be off this weekend. There won't be any managerial trepidation, as is often witnessed when Mayo encounter the "big" teams. Well, I certainly hope it's the case, as, if there's a whiff of self -doubt, Sligo might well exploit it.
Justoutsideballagh says:
April 4, 2025 at 7:50 am
Wonder what the 19 people that think Sligo will beat us on Sunday are doing on this blog.
Bonni Boyler says:
April 4, 2025 at 8:25 am
@Justoutsideballagh few undercover Sligo lads in to infiltrate the Blog and work out our weaknesses. :-)
They could have just watched the league final
yew_tree says:
April 4, 2025 at 8:26 am
Could be from other counties…a few Sligo fans voting with the heart. Who cares? Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If Mayo are any way off and Sligo play to the absolute of their ability then anything is possible. I remember being in The Hyde in 2012 when we had a much better team than now and we scraped past sligo by two points.
Tommy+Joe says:
April 4, 2025 at 8:47 am
Are people not entitled to think sligo could beat us? Division 3 or not, they'll have been licking their lips at what they saw last week. They've been improving as the league progressed and had a week extra rest. They'll have a damn good shot.
InExile says:
April 4, 2025 at 9:30 am
When it comes to the provincials league divisions mean nothing. Counties are playing their neighbours (in my case the wife's people) so nothing can be taken for granted. We had a big game a week before, Sligo have had plenty time to prepare for this and when neighborhood pride is on the line its an added push. At the same time I'd expect Mayo to pull away in the final 10-15 minutes.
Jr says:
April 4, 2025 at 9:39 am
I listened to the Irish Independent blog last night,only Derry and Mayo are not considered contenders.
Hard to disagree with the logic, lack of scoring forwards and depending on running the ball instead of kicking.
Boyler had it spot on in a much earlier pod--Sam will go to the team with the best kick passes and lads able to fight for the breaking ball.
We got no breaking ball against Kerry but that was an indication to me that we were flat and just going through the motions.
Not like Kerry but I think they are loosing the run of themselves after the league win.
Gizmobobs says:
April 4, 2025 at 9:45 am
They should make things difficult, they a proud county with some good footballers, their fullback if still missing a big loss. Carrabine is as good a forward as has been about the last number of years. They have young players coming through that may take year or two to develop further.
With lack of breaks won around midfield I'd expect Darren McHale to start, Eoghan McLaughlins pace will also likely be used for it's threat.
Philips a likely starter, but with no breaks to bone Reape could be strapped up, but that wouldnt be ideal either.
Sligo deserve respect, shocks can happen. But in tiered sports the top tier teams like Liverpool, Man City, All blacks etc. will generally beat the lower tiered teams.
While GAA is amateur, reality is it's closer to semipro in many aspects, Mayo and other D1 teams are far better resourced and looked after than other counties.
No doubt says:
April 4, 2025 at 10:28 am
I'd expect a tough 1st half with mayo winning with a few to spare in the end. Just thinking about the next few years it's great to have hope with all the promising u20s coming through. Now before I'm slaughtered for dreaming and i know often a county is lucky to get 2 or 3 to step up to senior but it seems like only yesterday on this blog lots were complaining (probably with good reason) about the lack of underage talent coming thru. Well while they're coming through now I intend to do a lot of dreaming..if that's mad well sue me.
2 hops says:
April 4, 2025 at 10:40 am
@Jr I'd agree with that. The only way we were going to win the league final was if it fell onto our lap. We were never going to go at it like our lives depended on it. We dominated around the middle in the Castlebar game against Kerry,JO'C identified that,and said it wouldn't happen again,and it didn't. But now we have gotten the wake up call about being way too passive on breaking ball,so I'd expect that will be addressed this weekend (it better be).
That will be the platform for getting early ball to the lads up top, which will see us through.
Up Mayo.
Clare says:
April 4, 2025 at 10:49 am
The thing is we do tend to play at the same level as opposition and up our gane for the bigger teams.
No disrespect to Sligo but hope we put in a big performance.
Though any kind of win would also do if we loose that will be a shock and set us back alot for the All Ireland.
No doubt says:
April 4, 2025 at 11:11 am
Team and subs announced. Why are we giving away the panel secrets
Nephin says:
April 4, 2025 at 11:16 am
No Doubt. It’s championship. No choice.
Castle 51 says:
April 4, 2025 at 11:41 am
What people have to realise is the upset is so unlikely to happen because of the new rules .the days of teams parking the bus are well and truly gone .if mayo win by 10 points folks will say sure its only sligo .
I would have thought this was the perfect game to introduce paddy Durcan so remains to be seen if he or tommy conroy will se any game time.
dreamysleepynightysnoozysnooze says:
April 4, 2025 at 11:50 am
If Durcan and Conroy didn't see any game time in the league, it's highly unlikely they'll have any real impact on championship.
Larry David says:
April 4, 2025 at 12:00 pm
WJ and members, would I be right in saying we had 3 all star forwards playing at the one time in the forwards circa 2004-2007...k Mc, Dillon and mortimer? Just off the top of my head
Supermac says:
April 4, 2025 at 12:14 pm
The way I see it for Mayo is we can absolutely beat any of the top 8 teams on our day, so there is every chance we take out one of the big guns, if we were to get a tough draw though I don't think we are good enough to take out 3 or 4 division 1 teams if thats what is required.
It's a very hard championship to call, genuinely think its wide open and with a lucky draw you could find yourself in an AI final but all things considered I would rank my favourites as follows...
1. Donegal
2. Galway
3. Kerry
4. Tyrone
5. Armagh
6. Mayo
7. Dublin
8. Monaghan
9. Derry
10. Sheepstealers
Mayomessi says:
April 4, 2025 at 12:16 pm
Mayo Senior Football Team is as Follows:
Colm Reape Knockmore
Jack Coyne Ballyhaunis
Donnacha McHugh Castlebar Mitchels
Enda Hession Garrymore
Sam Callinan Ballina Stephenites
David McBrien Ballaghaderreen
Stephen Coen Hollymount Carramore
Jack Carney Kilmeena
Matthew Ruane Breaffy
Davitt Neary Breaffy
Darren McHale Knockmore
Jordan Flynn Crossmolina Deel Rovers
Aidan O’Shea Breaffy
Frank Irwin Ballina Stephenites
Ryan O’Donoghue Béal an Mhuirthead
SUBS:
16. Adrian Phillips Ballyhaunis
17. Conor Reid Moy Davitts
18. Diarmuid O’Connor Ballintubber
19. Dylan Thornton Ballina Stephenites
20. Eoghan McLaughlin Westport
21. Fergal Boland Aghamore
22. Fenton Kelly Davitts
23. Niall Coggins Crossmolina Deel Rovers
24. Paul Towey Charlestown Sarsfields
25. Sean Morahan Castlebar Mitchels
26. Shairorze Akram Ballaghaderreen
Willie Joe says:
April 4, 2025 at 12:20 pm
Larry David - no need to be wondering in relation to those kinds of facts and figures! The results archive here on the blog has full team details for all matches as far back as they're available (which is well over a century). All you need to do is look up those years yourself. The archive is here: https://www.mft.ie/results-archive/.
Willie Joe says:
April 4, 2025 at 12:27 pm
Gizmobobs - I may be wrong but as far as I know Carrabine isn't with them this year. He certainly didn't appear at all for them during the League this year.
JoeG says:
April 4, 2025 at 12:37 pm
I'm not sure that we don't have forwards. These are the top six scorers from last year's Mayo senior championship. Goals and points combined.
Kuba Callaghan 35
Aidan O'Shea 31
Paul Towey 27
Callan Hopkins 25
Gary McHale 23
Aidan Orme 19
Ryan O'Donoghue 19
Roman Murray 19
Evan Regan 18
Darragh Keavney 18
Yet we played a half forward line against Kerry consisting of
Eoghan McLaughlin 4
Jordan Flynn 4 intermediate
Conor Reid 7 intermediate
Top scorers in intermediate championship
Cian McHale 39
Fionnan Duffy 35
Tom Lydon 28
Evan Duffy 28
Adam Barrett 27
James Maheady 27
I'm well aware that the selected players have great attributes but scoring and winning breaking ball aren't among them.
Aido is pretty prolific for Breaffy and shoots on sight so why doesn't he do so for Mayo. Lack of confidence or following instructions?
JoeG says:
April 4, 2025 at 12:41 pm
Mayomessi. Can't see that team starting as there's only 5 midfielders named.
TsuDhoNim says:
April 4, 2025 at 1:10 pm
@Larry David: Surprisingly (or crazily), Kevin Mc never won an All-Star (4 time nominee).
We'd never more than the 2 forwards receiving All-Stars in the one season (https://mayogaa.com/roll-of-honour-all-stars/) if being specific to a single year.
If you just mean in general, we'd have had games last year with 3 between RO'D, Cillian & Aido & back in '17 (possibly as early as '12 for that to start but not sure exactly when they started to overlap each other while all playing in the forward line) we'd have had a few with 4 (Aidan, Cillian, Andy & Alan).
Larry David says:
April 4, 2025 at 1:12 pm
Excellent stuff WJ, was just wondering. We've had great forwards over the years but they only thing is we've just lacked that killer inside forward to bang a goal or two on the big stage..these new rules are begging for someone like that
TsuDhoNim says:
April 4, 2025 at 1:18 pm
(Just realised glancing at the '06 side that was probably Ciaran Mc rather than Kev you meant. Woops.
Potentially could say 4 around then too given Andy was popping up, though it was '11 before he went on to claim his so depends how you'd consider that kinda thing)