There has to be some sort of reaction from the mayo

If we don't see any kind of a reaction from them on sunday then whatever faith I have left in McStay is nearly gone tbh.. But if the Canavan brothers are at their best Sunday and we are still off I can't see us winning.

Though then again it's times like these where mayo actually do show up and turn it around ( sometimes). I'd say Aido will play some part.

I've read all the comments on players going or not going to Australia and there are loads of pros and cons but at the end of the day the rest of your life is encapsulated by did you go or did you stay.
When conversations are had around the fire or at the bar during the dark evening, are we talking about Andy Moran, Higgins, Boyler, O'Shea, Clarke and the rest and how the All Ireland was contested or will you be looking back over the AFL season? ...........County is everything!

Mayo should be winning this but will they ? I seem to keep saying they'll learn from the previous game(s) mistakes but that will be twice this year already I've said that and I said it quite a few times last year to. Maybe the penny is beginning to drop. Anyway I hope the newbies still get game time and we have Aiden, Conor and Jordan back to help dig this one out

I think McStay was hung out to dry by the Sunday Game--an article in the Independent the week before the Galway game quoted Coldrick as stating that Refs would take a liberal attitude to the 3 back rule.
Instead they they interpreted it as gospel.

Was James Horan not in with the mayo squad going over the new rules.hard to believe that mcstay would be relying on newspaper articles to get a handle on the rules

A 100% performance needed from all players and management and if that ends in defeat so be it at least go down fighting till final whistle. If Canavans are playing , have some plan for marking them rather than the last few games where corner backs were roaster and nothing done about it.

Jr - I get where you’re coming from but for me, Kevin should know the rules and not use it as a deflection tactic in a post match interview after a hammering. Every manager out there will tell their player “never give the ref a chance to make a decision” and that’s what mayo exactly allowed to happen. But I agree I haven’t seen Mrs Cantwell go after a manager quite like that before. She has a bone to pick with everyone. Honestly a mute Michael Lester would be streets ahead of her.

Anyway looking ahead to Tyrone, I personally think Tyrone and Derry are our best bets for wins in the rest of the league. I agree if the Canavan brothers are playing then our backs are to the walls, especially if we match Sam up on Darragh. Darragh gave him two terrible roastings last year and if Kevin matches Sam on him again then I’m officially McStay out. Hopefully Aiden and the Crossmolina lads will be back and give us a bit of extra physicality. We badly need it. Probably a 55/45 game in favour of Tyrone atm but I can see us winning it.

The most we can hope for this season is giving newbies game time. Why should any young talented lad hang around when you have a controlling management not letting them express themselves on the field.. A management whose mantra is putting round pegs in square holes( the mullin and Loftus cases among others spring to mind -' it didn't work out for them' was management response)
The only positive is we have talent in the county, but with championship around the corner, it's a bad dream...
A management team that aren't fit to name a panel of players on a Thursday for a game on Sunday, heads stuck in the sand....

Here's hoping 3rd time's the charm and we can finally get a win in the league

Ontheditch - you can’t blame current management for where Oisín Mullin has been selected to play, he was gone before their team selections started.

@clare. Are you just following the popular opinion on the blog saying your faith in mcstay is gone if we lose to Tyrone. Personally if i see a couple of the new lads stand up again the result won't bother me. A win with all the big guns playing and the new lads warming the bench doesn't do us any good in the long run. Get game time into the youngsters now and it will stand to them later. This blog used to be filled with posts about the league meaning nothing and all about championship. Where are you now when the young players and to a lesser extent the management needs supporters on side. I could understand if this was championship but now is the time to build a team for the championship and remember we're not the 2010s team anymore.

Hate to hear people bad mouthing Management.
Player power got rid of 2 Mayo managers and we still didn't win Sam.

All very well talking about a reaction next week but first question is are they good enough to beat Tyrone. I am not entirely convinced. If the Errigal Ciaran fellas are back the task becomes a lot more difficult. We don’t have a good record at all v Tyrone in league especially at home (with the exception of 2 years ago ). As regards McStay and the new rules I was at an information evening last week about the rules and a a few speakers including a referee spoke about non intentional crossing of the half way line and where it did interfere in general with the play that refs could actually ignore it and not give bring the ball up 50 metres . In contrast to this is deliberately infringing by crossing the half way line to attack the ball or tackle an opponent. So maybe those criticising McStay for not knowing the rules should think again. There is a lot of ambiguity about this rule. Some refs are strictly enforcing it, others are a bit more easy in their interpretation. It was stated that this will probably be tidied up by championship time as will the “handing “ the ball back to an opponent when penalised Again the 50 metre penalty or the ball being brought forward for a tap over free is seen as being a bit too excessive for a small infringement

@No Doubt what? I am saying my opinion just the same as everyone else on here? Weird remark.

I was in favour of McStay when he got first appointed to the job amd happy he got it.

When Cilllian opted out at 34 for a year but not retired maybe he is glad he did now watching it unfold now.

I still think we will come good come championship with players back. But just feel management has not been great so far. Also McStays interview post Galway was a weird one.. And made me even as optimistic as I am question management. I hope we can turn it around Sunday but I think those rumours of trouble in the camp are true now.

@wj, point taken. Quality players being played out of position....

The league is still important but teams use it differently every year to suit their owns needs.We need to develop players and the only way we can do that is playing them in the league this year.I don't subscribe though that it doesn't matter is we get relegated...Colm Boyles point about going down this year with a younger experienced team is a good one and would worry that we could go down and get stuck there and that's not positive in terms of developing players into 2026/27/28.
Also I hate to hear our league wins devalued...I was in CP for 2 of the 4 in my lifetime and they were great days...and I felt when we beat Kerry in a semi I think in 2010 or maybe 11 it was a turning point after the big beating we got in 04/06....

"Referees could actually ignore it", they could, they could ignore every rule in the book if they take a notion.
The thing about rules is that at any given time the referee, Garda, judge etc. can use the rule exactly as it is written. And they are perfectly in their right to do so.

Mayo GAA had the rule and penalty it can bring up on their own page a few weeks back: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BNqjmRq4x/

@Joe G. I agree with you.

I also agree priority in the league is blooding players and trying new strategies. We’ve seen the former. We’ve seen nothing of the latter. It’s same oul same oul.

I’d like to see management select players in their best positions and leave McBrien in one position please. While I’m all in for different systems etc, we also need to have a solid spine to the team and lads need to build on field relationships. 3 and 6 in particular are anchor positions.

Im a little worried about Callinan’s form. I don’t know where his best position is but he looks very uncomfortable in the corner. When we have everyone fit does he make the first 15?

Need to see Ivers and EOD both on the field this weekend and not just token game time toward the end. Put them in from the start and let’s see what they can do. Otherwise why have them in the squad. Makes no sense.

Would expect Tyrone to win by 10+

I don't think we'll see that scenario this weekend Paddyjoe but with the new rules I think we will see an era of drubbings , especially in early mismatches in championship games.
It's easy to envisage a team getting 5 or 6 2pointers during a purple patch against weaker opposition. So where's a 5 or 6 deficit might not seem unsurmountable,10 or 12 would cause heads to drop all over the shop.
This weekend a win would boost morale among our newer players and give us all a bit of confidence.

This is a defining game for our season I feel.

A reaction to Galway and a win, and we can begin to build confidence.

However it is the reaction that is critical, even if we were to lose.

The management had their review at season end and have set on the course that they saw as correct. It seems an open secret that some things were not addressed. A lack of reaction and defeat and 2025 will see very troubled times for our senior team.

Sam Callinan, long season with his club, then Sigerson training, then Mayo training. When is he supposed to get a break and recharge the batteries.no wonder he has lost a bit of form. The player needs a break big time. Still one of the best defenders we have by a mile.

Why are people so dramatic, giving up on the management team and players after two games, and now the Tyrone game is season defining. Its not a healthy mentality and I think its a lot of people in the county and it does transfer unfortunately to players, two losses now and its end of the world stuff and if it was the other way around and they won the two games then people be talking about All Irelands. Tyrone were losing by 17 points at one stage in there last game, ended up losing by 8 but they wont panic. This Mayo management team WON the league in there first year and didn't mean much in the end, so don't be getting so worked up over the league.
There is alot of factors to consider in the league, not only are teams at different fitness levels, players arent all on the same plans, some will be doing heavier gym over running and others would be running over gym. There be alot of injuries or small niggles this time of year which can hold back players, players having to split time with there college teams doesn't help either. its a very disjointed time of year, the teams that are playing well so far have near full teams out.

@Rober while Sam is a fine ball player we are really in trouble if he is our best defender..
Can not be left one to one in the full back line.In the new game you have to be able to contest with the forward, the safety valve of a swarm defense is diminished.
It will be a very difficult year for defenders.
At midfield I feel there will be a lot of breaking ball which will suit young Neary who seems to be fearless.
I think there is definitely an agenda to stop all criticism of new rules

Lets see what Sunday brings, hopefully some of the big guns back on the pitch and we can see what the mix looks like. I think we have to take the pain now rather than later in the season.

Tommy it’s the manner of defeat to Galway the tame nature of the way we seemed to accept defeat , the backing off of shane Walsh , it’s understandable to be wary of gaps appearing if ya push up on the likes of Walsh but you need a system where ya still don’t give him an easy run in to edge of the arc without a glove played on him , so many negatives in one game , why didn’t they let that pup cuairin get a bit of afters when he took diarmuid out late , that’s unforgivable stuff . I don’t like this trend where Galway are starting to set the tone when it comes to the dark arts , we really need to up our game here , don’t wait for them to act , act first

Tyrone have had a lot of transition the last couple of yrs to so they may not be ahead of us, the result will depend on the Mayo setup, style and attitude.

Any news on Diarmuid haven't seen anything in local media to date unless I missed it..

In terms of Tyrone the elephant in the room is Brian Kennedy and con kilpatrick in midfield.who have we to compete in the air with them besides any other problem areas

I think our lads need our support this year more than ever. Whatever our thoughts about this management are, and how we have got into this situation, we need to get behind these young lads.

While I don't see us making a big impression in this year's championship, I still believe that there's too much quality in our squad to not see one big performance and I am really hoping that comes against Galway, in a Connacht Final.

I'm hopefull of a better performance this weekend. We had a weekend off so you would expect time was dedicated to tactics and either a challenge match or A Vs B. We have 2 league games to rewatch to see what we could do better as well as challenge matches and other games so really expect a smarter performance this weekend.

I'm going for a narrow win for us. I would be ok with a loss of we have a better performance

So we go into round 3 of the league with no wins. Nothing new, we've been here before. Been here before with a much better squad of players actually.
For me this weekends game is a much bigger test for our management, than it is for our players. If we see nothing new from our sideline, and nothing new on the pitch, then we know our season is cooked. Because if we see nothing new then we know either a) the management have nothing new to bring to the game, or b) they have but the players are not listening. Either of those scenarios will prove, to me anyway, that we're in effect wasting our time and going nowhere fast.
A defeat would not be the end of the World, but at least make it a defeat in the right spirit. Die with your boots on. Don't make it easy for them, don't roll over for them, make the fuckers work for it. Make sure they go back up the road, black and blue, knowing they've been in a fucking battle. Basically, do all the things they didn't do last Sunday v Galway. Looking back at that game, Galway have had harder and tougher in-house training games than what we served up to them last Sunday.
I would hope (but sadly don't expect it to be true) that the Tuesday night training session after the Galway game would have had sparks flying at it. Lads taking lumps out of each other, lads flaking each other. Hard, late and dirty belts going in all over the field. Because if there wasn't, then we know the fight isn't in the dog anymore. Once the fight leaves the dog it's game over.
All that might seem primative. But it's a basic principle of any team sport that you firstly must out-work your opponent. Out run them, out harry them, out fight them. Then, and only then, once the rules of engagement have been set and your opponent "knows the story", then your skills and gameplan come to the fore. Last Sunday week was a complete shitshow because we never got to the pitch of the game, never got to the tempo and pace of th game. We were never in it. the only reason we somehow ended up a point at half time was because Galway stopped playing for 10 minutes.
For me, I want to see a reaction from our management via our players. If that's not there, then our season is done.

and no one died as a result

It will probably come down to taking scores. At the moment we are probably the weakest division 1 team in that area. The lack of a 'turn and shoot' player from around the 40 has been a issue for us for years. I'm hoping Kevin now realises that the recycling, over and back stuff is not cutting it and ways to isolate accurate kickers are being practiced.
That post about Enda Hesion being a corner forward under age was interesting.
Unfortunately I think we will be seen as a good chance for 2 points for most teams at the moment.
If tyrone are up for it, it could be another bad defeat. I'm hoping Jf and co return and bring a bit of steel...

@The bruiser: Some word around of a challenge match against the Rossies last Friday (no doubt challenge more than friendly). Would seem a smart choice in terms of level & intensity you'd expect, with both sides still looking to get some players match sharp.

@TsuDhoNim the challenge was played in Kiltoom and apparently Jordan Flynn, Aidan O'Shea played. The rossies field a team of players that didn't start in their league games so far.

From what I've seen so far, I'm not very confident about Sunday, especially with the Canavans probably back-unless our defending improves dramatically, they will have a field day. Another defeat and we can probably kiss goodbye to Division 1.Not the end of the world in itself, but I'd rather it did'nt happen, as we could get stuck in Division 2 for a number of years, which would not be good. A win could kick-start our season, but regardless of the result, I want to see progress, application, effort and bloody fight. Our defence continues to worry me as it has done for a number of years and we always look much easier to score against. We are playing too many non defenders and we lack intensity in the tackle. Too much shadow tackling, pass the parcel, pawing, until the opposition get usually a shot at goal, under no real pressure-nobody should be allowed shoot without pressure. No real attempt to win the ball back. I watched a bit of Kerry v. Waterford Ladies Football, and I am not exaggerating, the tackling on display showed far more intensity than our pathetic efforts.

New pod up on Patreon - Rob with Nigel Reape and Cahair O'Kane previewing the Tyrone game.

The mindset of this Team is nowhere near good enough Willie Joe. I’m not sure if this is coming from Management or from a general apathy in the Players. If we look at the contrasts against Galway , Padraig Joyce was immense on the side line running up and down the line, getting involved, barking out orders. Our Managers looked lethargic almost non interest. No ideas to contain Galway , Nothing New up their sleeves definitely No New Tactics on show. I don’t see any cohesion between Players and Managers. Joyce was straight over to his subbed lads coming off thanking them. The worst part of the game in my opinion happened with the cheap dirty hit on Diarmuid. o Connor …. Not one of our lads , Not one went to the Galway player to engage but basically ran off. Mayo will never win Sam Maguire with this mentality.

As a team we are as soft as F@#£ and a dream to play against. If you look at the number of times Galway players walked through our defence and kicked points under no pressure. We have no "dogs' on the team. Do you think Finnerty would be patting Barrett, Keegan, Vaughan or the Boyler on the head?
Would he f#£%.
It's one thing players been mabye not good enough - but to play with no bit of steel - no excuse for that.
Again how management cannot see this.

@Southmayo exile & @ The Heather is Rising 100% agree. we are known as to nice. The patting on the head honestly was expecting some kind of a reaction by one of the guys...

The late hit on Diarmuid certainly should have caused some kind of reaction it was a dirty hit to.

With Tyrone they can be quite physical to so on that part I would worry. Who knows though we badly need some kind of a reaction if Aido & Jordan Flynn are back in adds a bit more muscle and they certanily don't let opposition bully them on the pitch.

Just had a look at the team sheets from the 2019 Connacht schools A final between Colmans and Gerard’s .
Only one player has gone on to play senior championship for Mayo Enda Hession

@Aidan: Interesting spot.

You'd not be too surprised to see Treacy join that list this year. And not entirely shocking if any of Henry, Tuohy or Óg Horkan joined it in the future. All lads that could see their stock rise in the new rules & all would have been in or around dev panels (and the odd FBD game) in the past, so within touching distance if they could put an impressive club run together.

Would it have been Tunney @TsuDhoNim?

@2 hops: I was working from https://connachtgaa.ie/news/colmans-win-cracking-connacht-senior-a-colleges-final/.

Not sure if Oisín was part of that side (could well have been an unused sub - from a quick Google he was a key player at 6 the following year in the Connacht win. Huge fan of Oisín, love watching him play, not sure he'd quite have the physicals for county. That said, his club form has made me wonder at times) but (a young) Joe Tuohy did come on and the one I'd picked as a chance. The big powerful full-back for Mitchel's that played FBD in '23.

We just don't get many options that size/power, that could be even more important in the years ahead. The type of project player worth investing in (I'd easily throw the likes of Armstrong or Carter in there too).

Oh you're right @Tsu. I'd forgotten that would have been Joe's team.
Possibly the following year for Oisin. If memory serves Gerald's won Connaught,and COVID meant it went no further.

@tsudhonim.what strikes me most about the piece on the colmans game is how ethan Henry never stepped up to the mayo senior setup whether that's down to him not committing or others thinking he doesn't have what it takes but I remember him knocking over 45s at ease when he was 17 and thinking he would be a minimum 3pts a game man from frees for the seniors in a couple of years. He still has time on his side but nobody knows what the future holds i suppose.

Any word on the Colmans Semi Final against Mullingar , I am presuming it will be in Roscommon on Sunday 23rd with Mayo playing Armagh on Saturday 22nd at 5pm in Athletic grounds.

There has been a long list of non achievers from brilliant young Claremorris lads since the early Seventies.
Hopefully history doesn't repeat itself.

Not too concerned with the result on Sunday if we keep building a panel for the championship.
Would hope Eoin O donoghue gets a start.
Also like to get a look at Akram and think Morahan has done enough for another outing.
Mc Brien needs to be 3 and nowhere else.
Sam at 6 and nowhere near man marking any of the canavans.
Mc stay is rapidly losing the room.
Il wait till after championship to judge him as I'm hoping we're playing the long game.
Another clipping from Tyrone won't do him any good.Need to stop putting square pegs in round holes.
There's no reason why we can't give a good account of ourselves while still blooding a few new faces.
Take the handbrake off and let the lads play

We have been on a downward spiral over the last two seasons and it is continuing so far this season. We have lost most of the team that brought so much success for nearly 10 years. Those players are not easily replaced and our expectations have not adjusted to our new reality. The loss to Tyrone was a huge body blow that we have not recovered from and it's hard to see a revival in the next couple of years. McStay is unlucky in the timing of his tenure at the end of a golden era and is not the man for a rebuilding job like JH was. We have seen nothing new in his tactics and the new rules don't seem to factor in his approach. We have struggled with finding natural forwards for many years and are dependent on Ryan to carry the load. If he has an off day we are in serious trouble like against Galway. Will we win on Sunday? I cannot see a major turnaround in form or tactics to grab the two points but will be there in hopes of seeing something to restore the faith.

Glad to see All Star David Clarke has joined the Midwest Radio commentary team. Michael D. McAndrew doesn't keep up with the play so well. A badly needed win.