I agree with Stephen Coen being man of the match. I fear for us in our next two matches. This might get me into moderation but I believe thats its time for a total clearout of our management.

What a day. Lost for words.

The game is up for this management team, it’s been obvious for some time now that the whole set up and players lack belief. The bond between the players and our supports is ebbing away, this feels like another watershed moment in Mayo footballs journey.

An appropriate headline. Two weeks to dig through the dust of that embarrassing result and performance. Mayo teams do tend to pull a positive result out of the bag when not expected so remains to be seen against Tyrone and Donegal next.

Not that it overly matters it was a 3 point defeat and not 4. 1-14 to 1-17

Listened to the game on Mid West Radio and it felt like Mayo were way too lethargic simply going through the motions . The commentary kept saying Cavan looked hungrier and fitter and that Mayo were well off it. This goes back to Management. The signs have been on the wall since the League Final. Management would have looked at Kerry’s display of kick passing Football quick , Precise , Intelligent use of the Ball. What do we do? The exact opposite. Where it takes 3 kick passes to score from one end of the pitch We use 14/15 hand passes slow lateral build up letting the opposition get back into position. This is what our players are being coached, being told what to do, Made into Robots. Don’t use your natural skills or football brain just do as you are coached. I’m not having a go at our players Willie Joe they sacrifice so much of their lives to wear the Green and Red but our Managers have coached the Football out of them.
This is not the way Mayo play football and until a New Management Team is brought in We are staying in the Football Widerness.

It's hard to look forward to the next 2 games, but i wonder where will be the venue for the Donegal game, I have it earmarked as the last hooray, even before today.
O Sheas goal may be the difference when counting up the score differences after the 3rd game v Donegal.

Thanks, MO2023, I’ll correct that now. It’s malfunctions all over the gaff today!

@Willie Joe You've got your work cut out for you tonight!

This may sound terrible but i hope mayo lose there next two games and don’t have a big performance. This management team is not right for us. The county board needs to be looking for a new young manager.

I was never so embarrassed and ashamed as a Mayo supporter. It,s something to lose but to lose without an effort is terrible. From the start you could see how flat Mayo were. It was like just turn up and we will win. Cavan we're by far the better and hungrier team. We have no chance in the next 2 games so today was a must win. We are gone for this year and many more to come. Mcstay and his team shouldn't see past this evening as a management team. Bringing subs on with a couple of minutes to go and us 6 points down is scandalous

Stephen Coen put all our forwards to shame. He has gotten a lot of unwarranted scapegoating over the years. He's the only positive out of today

Sad.

Easiest MOTM in a long while
Well played Stephen Coen

I had the displeasure of being in Longford in 2010 and also today. Today was worse than 2010. Mistakes all over the place and no structure to our play. The players looked devoid of confidence. Time for the management to go now.

All - I know it's a difficult day for us all but I'd ask everyone to keep their comments in check. The moderation bucket is filling up rapidly and, as most will know, I don't look kindly on it when people go OTT at a time like this, nor will I tonight either. This isn't the place for intemperate, abusive comments and I'll deal with all offenders who fail to take heed of this warning.

Agree Glorydays management have lost the dressing room as players are not allowed play to their strengths. McStay said before he took over that he would have O'Shea on the edge of the square and get the ball into him? 3 years and we are still waiting. We are in a much worse position than 2010 as we don't have a crop of All Ireland winning U 21s coming through. This management team will probably limp on for our last 2 games this year. Should go now and put in Durcan/O'Shea as player managers to cover last games. Couldn't be any worse.

Since the Galway loss you would nearly think half our panel have their eyes on Chicago to play in some Mickey Mouse summer league as they have been doing since 2022, they certainly played like their minds were anywhere but here today. There’s a serious shortage of leaders in this squad, apart from a few of the older lads who are closer to the end of their careers. As for management, there’s not much new to add; we’re basically in the same position as Donegal were when Rochford left there.

Stephen Coen, clearly our Man of the match. Will done Stephen

Stunned, shell shocked and disappointed. We should have been beating Cavan, even if narrowly. I would expect our lads to find a way, at this level.
But no. Mayo were flat and disjointed. Our forwards struggled to score and we mishandled balls. We didn’t have a plan to win midfield ball.

Mayo were flat because Cavan were very good. Cavan haven’t played since exiting Ulster to Tyrone five weeks ago on Sunday, 13th April. This was probably an important factor in their dominance today.
Their defence was very strong and they marked Mayo’s main threats - Ryan O’Donoghue and Aidan O’Shea. They made it very difficult for Mayo to score when we got forward, either by densely-populated defending or harrying causing Mayo to spill the ball, not take shots or put balls wide.
I am too stunned really to find words for Mayo except we should be finding ways to win.
This is a group stage with group dynamics - Cavan’s last game on 13th April, ours on 4th May. All we can and should do is focus on Tyrone next and securing a win there. There’s a slim chance that things can even themselves out yet. We should wait and give the full group stage a chance to play out even if I’m not sure how good my stomach feels for that.
We need to be showing more vim and vigour, and for the first time ever, I’m saying management need to be properly facilitating that. It’s them I went to see massively leading from the front next time. Rain all onslaught down on teams from here on in.

Jeez. I was looking forward to voting for Stevie Coen three times

Me too
Feel completely vindicated and was looking forward to see him storm the poll!!!!

Actually, that’s the one little fascinating glint of light for me from today - that Stephen Coen was scoring like a man in total flow.
If he could do that something is still right with Mayo. Now to discover what that is.

Not here to rub any salt. But sometimes a neutral persoective helps?

The dressing room was lost after the galway game im my opinion. For a manager to come out and say we targeted that game for 8 months was ridiculous, but very Kevin McStay.

Anyone who’s played to a decent level knows that translates to “We (management) done everything we could for them for the last 8 months, and they still fcuked it up”. Say what you want behind closed doors, but dont throw a whole squad under the bus to save your own ego.

I called the result on here during the week, not gloating @Clare, as I enjoy her enthusiasm. But I felt Kevins goose was well cooked, and so it was.

We’ve been trying to warn ye for a long time. All the signs were there. Managment walk outs in the off season. Players suddenly becoming unavailable…overly fit for the league etc…it all happend here in Roscommon…a leopard doesnt change its spots. He was ousted by player power in the end here, and we were glad to get rid.

Mcstay not going anywhere anyway “ we can still salvage the summer “

Aragh ya know what’s the point in throwin digs at him at this stage , he’s a beaten docket . I’m sure he’s hurting bad .

@Western Gael

Well you must have seen my other comment on the other thread

Was so so depressing at the final whistle I was fuming and every other single mayo person around me was to don't blame them one bit .

As I said in Barry Moran in clubhouse looked like was going to burst into tears after match awful stuff.
On the train back to Dublin and two young mayo teenagers both look like they will burst into tears .

Seriously was so sad and annoyed at the final whistle. I couldn't believe it . But fair play to Cavan.

Dark day for mayo .

I think everyone should be bear this in mind, football management and particularly Refereeing are tough jobs and lonely jobs, easy to be critical and find faults.

It feels like another Longford 2010 moment. Its the end for McStay. The job is prob too big and too soon for Andy Moran. Tony McEntee is the standout, northern coaches seem to be out in front at the minute. Bring Kevin Mc with him and possibly Andy involved also. I fear for us in next 2 games..

BatetheBlanket, if fault can't be found today, it can never be found!
Its a horrible place for all involved having to go through the motions v Tyrone and Donegal.
let's be honest, the year is over and it's an end to McStay, Rochford and Buckley.
Not before time in some cases.

I’m fairness Willie Joe I know moderation is a tough won but genuine fair criticism should stand. I for one beleive Rochford and McStay have nothing but the best interests of Mayo football I’m their minds but it cannot be denied that the game has left them long behind and they refuse to move with it. Last years zombie football was doubled down on this year. They have become fixated on the low risk slow football. It failed miserably last year and with the rules changes was only going to be worse again. From lockout strategy to moving the ball and making runs there appears to be no functioning plan. This is most visible at kick outs when everyone turns their backs on Reape and jogs away. No one giving the nod or taking a run into space. Just zombie runs out to their predefined position. Can only be coaching.
What has also been noticeable this year is that we only deviate from the prescribed model when something has gone wrong. 8 points down v Galway. Movement and direct running all over the pitch. Get back level. Back to the zombie stuff. Black card to Neary. 3 quick scores when down a man through direct running and movement. Get them back in at half time and keep them a couple of extra minutes to make sure they don’t do that again.

I honestly don’t believe the quality of coaches is there at club in the county either. Last year when the senior championship reached the business end teams all retreated to the same zombie football. I would be hoping a young attacking team like Crossmolina up end the status quo this year. Something needs to change fundamentally in the way we approach the game.
At senior inter county I don’t know what the answer is but feel we need to go outside the county next time. Maybe McEntee.

I didnt see your post @Clare. Im sure its shocking to stomach. But as I say, if that (result) is the worst thing to happen to you this summer, then your well off! Its only football folks, far more important things in life.

@Batetheblanket, i agree with you regarding refs. But managers are fair game. They're well compensated with ahem “expenses”. If they didnt receive a cent like under age club managers, then id agree. But im not having it. Well looked after, so deal with it im afraid.

I wouldn’t rule out Mayo getting to a prelim QF.
They can make changes now including Durcan, Mayo need to target the Tyrone game. It’s the big one

@Big Mike

Cheers but honestly I'm so sad right now . I can't see it either .

This isn’t just about today, I’ve been saying it all season (and last year too). I don’t see what the management team is contributing. We can’t defend, can’t attack, and have no kickout strategy.

We’re consistently scoring in the low to mid-teens—15 today—which just isn’t enough. Top teams are hitting 20+ regularly. We pass endlessly around the arc with no penetration, then give the ball away. The players look low on confidence, and it’s Kevin’s job to fix that, they are good players.

At this point, it’s almost laughable, normally this sort of result would ruin my day/weekend but on this occasion I was not in the least bit suprised.

Obvious from listening in the pod that everyone is on the same page regarding management. Time is up. They really should go now, as it might give us some kind of bounce.

They’ve had two terrible seasons now. So many errors in game, in selections, in man-management (players leaving and form; most players have regressed). Unfortunately for us all, the McStay era has been a real failure (including this year’s league).

Our playing style is exactly the same as year 1/2 under this management, even with the new rules that affords more space.

When we turn the ball over we should have 4 or 5 lads bursting a gut to attack and.transition the ball like most teams do. Cavan done it numerous times in the second half. Our first thought is to either hand pass it backwards or sideways.

The sideline as a lot of people have pointed out our out of their depth. Changes should of been made in the first half never mind the shockingly late subs as per usual. Same old same old by them including complete lack of tactics.

My final note is to congradulate Cavan on a fine performance. Fair play and best of luck going forward.

I have no confidence that we will see a change of style of play with this management. We are totally locked a possession game, typified by Carney and others who run 'around' rather than at defenders. McLaughlin and Paddy D might change things a little , but the radical change is not going to happen. Tyrone will be picking their lips, psychologically the've got a great boost. It's hard to be thinking forward to be honest.

I was disappointed with the result but it did cross my mind that as Galway were so flat last night would the same thing happen to Mayo but I thought ye would have enough for Cavan given they were down a fair few starters. It can still be salvaged but it's a difficult ask. I always thought McStay was very placid on the line as if once the game started there was nothing he could do. I didn't see the game but ye appear to have no excuses just a rested better team on the day caught ye cold. Both Galway and Mayo could win the next match and bring it to the wire, you live in hope.

To echo above it's not about today. It's about the lack of any improvement over three seasons.
Basic attacking plays missing.
Leaving our defense wide open.
Totally and utterly chaotic selection this season.
Andy Moran for me with :
- a modern defense coach
- a modern data analyst on player performance
- modern data approach to player scouting and not settling the panel down at start of year and no one new comes in.
We could have prime Diarmuid Connolly in Mayo club football and we would not budge from our policy of never adding to the panel post start of season.

I was listening to the game on MidWest and the commentators claimed (and I’m paraphrasing here) “Mayo seem to be playing keep ball around the middle of the field while they wait for Davitt Neary to come back in (after his black card)”

They then got done for over carrying and Cavan went straight down the field and got a goal

I don’t know if that’s what they were actually doing but it sounds like there was an awful lot of fustering going on

Cavan derserved the win. Great tackling, great at keeping the ball. Not afraid to move forward quickly often straight through the center. Gave everything and annoyed mayo with their cheeky chances that normally resulted in gaining ball. What worried me today was that we have never embraced the new rules, on a different page. When McStay referenced focusing on the Galway game for eight months, It blew my mind. Surely they shoild have been focusing on improving and developing skills and playing to new rules. Be ready for any team not just one.And that was do obvious today. Cavan were very talented today. You could see they worked on it and played as a pack.

@Whitey

That's exactly what they were doing.

I normally try and stay optimistic about the team's prospects because even during the 2011-2021 era we suffered defeats and mishaps in both league and championship. Hammerings in the league, losses to Galway, Roscommon in Connacht but we were never beaten out the gate and always came good later in the championship, even if we ultimately couldn't land the big one. Even losing the Connacht final wasn't such a big deal in my eyes because the real championship started today. But this was without a doubt the worst championship defeat we have suffered at home in a very long time. Not so much the scoreline which was a three-point hammering but the manner of the defeat. 17 minutes in before a score. 27 minutes until our first score from play. Lack of energy in our play. Low skill levels, misplaced kicks, hand-passes in the forwards etc. Beaten in midfield. Defence getting cut-open time and time again. Cavan scoring for fun and keeping us at arms length. Combined with a small crowd and strange atmosphere it was depressing stuff all-round. Clearly the management didn't feel the personnel was there on the bench to bail us out as the subs were too-little too-late.

I hate criticising management. They are proud Mayo men who dedicate their time and effort into preparing the squad. But something has gone terribly wrong. Either the players are not buying into the style of play or the quality just isn't there. Call me arrogant but I was already looking past this game to Omagh in two weeks. I thought our campaign would take-off there and then. But now we look a beaten docket already. The new rules have only been in place for a few months but we look years behind already. We must demand better. The team are capable of far more

We could all see for the last two years that things weren't right and whatever sort of system we had wasn't working g and we needed to change. The fact that we still ploughed on with a ship that was holed below the waterline tells you everything. I honestly believe McStay was frozen like a rabbit in headlights and didn't have a plan. He obviously received precious little help from his backroom team.
Can anybody tell me what Steven Rochford has brought to the table?
Donie Buckley?
And as for the forwards coach the Galway lad from Corofin..........Mayo God Help Us!

@Big Mike Even a win against Tyrone doesn't guarantee a Prelim QF. Cavan now have the H2H on us. It's hard to find a realistic scenario that sees us escape the group now. We'd probably need another favour from Cavan, either for them to beat someone or get hammered giving us a chance to sneak through on points difference

Today was excruciating - the less said about it the better.

Next ball now. It's still in our hands: beat Tyrone and Donegal (tall orders I know) and we have four points; if we beat both of them, we will have four points and the most they can have is four. Still think Croker is a strong candidate to host a Galway/Mayo double header, our best bet against Donegal. The Hyde has been mentioned for Donegal - I would love it, but it seems unrealistic.

Not one bit shocked. Beg Horan to come back

Desperately disappointing result today similar to the Longford one 15 years ago. I was genuinely worried about today. Said over 2 weeks ago that a loss to Galway could be fatal as we would be coming in so flat on the back of a disappointing result while Cavan had 5/6 weeks to target this game. Having said that I still thought we would be good enough to win today. Had really hoped that McStay might turn it around but unfortunately he failed to do so. His big job today was to get the team up for this but we were unable to rise up today. Can’t really see us getting anything from the other 2 games and now we’re behind Cavan in the head to head so would need 3 teams on equal points to negate that. Unlike another poster who said he hopes we lose the other 2 games I don’t agree. I never want to see Mayo lose a game and this managements race is run now regardless. No point in attacking everyone now either. I am sure nobody went out to do well. As I have said here on numerous occasions the only players from this team that would get on our 2012 2017 team are Ryan, Aido and possibly Coen and two of them were already on the team. One final point, fair play to Stephen Coen, often lambasted unfairly in my opinion yet always puts in a shift and kicked 4 today. After our u 20 defeat Friday, our U 17s blowing it v Ross and now today it has been a dreadful couple of weeks for the county. No doubt we will rise again but it just does not feel like that at the moment.

This is a low point like Longford in 2010.....if I knew the next 10 years was going to be like 2011 to 2021 with the 1 obvious difference I could live with it...who knows.....

I wouldn't be begging Horan, he never got us the holy grail, we need to be more ambitious

Writing was on the wall, fell over the line against Sligo & Leitrim. Galway were asleep for first 15 minutes against us and then when they realised we were giving them a game they pulled their sleeves up and beat us when we had a strong breeze advantage going down the stretch. Time to start selecting guys who can shoot and don't fear shooting on sight. Cavan gave us a lesson today in how not to over complicate the art of taking a punt at scoring and if they missed they just kept at it. Our lads over complicate the build up before they decide to take a shot. So sad but this team have no chance in remaining 2 games

Horan had 2 runs at Mayo.
He took the bullsh*t out & left Mayo football in a better state than when he took over.
But time waits for no one!
Time to pass the torch to a new generation!
Don't know who but someone brand new I think needed.
Why did he take A. Freeman off in the 13 final? He was going fine, could have been the man we needed up front in those last minutes when Dublin were creaking and we needed a scorer. Freeman was off, why? Freeman steadied us in the semi before halftime when Tyrone had us under the kosh.

There is a harsher reality to this loss and the mounting losses of the Mayo Senior football team.

We don't know how to win a tight match and now, cant even put away a team we should be beating, at home.

We all knew there was a problem with the set up when the biggest competitor (and biggest driver of standards) in th squad pulled out this year, despite only have a year or two left in him anyway.

None the less, we carried on with a weakened squad and an out of date style of football.

The bad play all year brought us here to this inevitable conclusion.

A different management team wont win SAM, but we would at least have our best team out, giving their best. We didn't have that today.

We still dont have a forward who can win his own ball and take his man on.with a realistic chance of scoring 1-3/4 from play. every match.

We are running the daylights out of young lads all summer at school of Excellence and development panels, teaching them to run, solo and handpass.

We coach them not to kick and to take their points, and not to kick away ball, or take 50/50 shots.

We are not playing a game that requires a 35man panel, with 4 free takers, 5 left footed forwards, 2 goal scores, 4 catch and kick fielders and we have 1 free taker, no goal scorer, no fielder and 1 left footed forward.

What thr county needs is a skills development officer with a proper plan to develop these players in every club

There are lads coming on here talking McGuiness in Donegal - he has all of those kinds of players in all those positions and has spent 2 years turning club players with those skills into county players

We just stick to lads who played underage for Mayo. If your not born in the right club in the first 6 months of the year, you are never getting picked for Mayo underage and you have less than 10% chance of getting a go at senior.

For a county with huge emigration of young me, we make no effort o maximise the return we can get from those we have

Time to start a new, at all levels.

We are all heart and no forwards for 75 years. It has to change. Hopefully the clippings we will take in the next two games will set off alarm bells everywhere

Not at all surprised, which I think sums it all up.

If your not going to kick the ball into aidan when's he's inside one on one before defense swarms back isn't he nmbetter off out around middle winning dirty ball drawing lads in and run off his shoulder when draws men in.same against dubs semi few years ago 3 chances infront me eyes one on one davy byrne pop pass into him take half turn and Bury it before defenders swarm back but he didn't make a run or man on ball even look up spot the gaps.no forward coaching since Mcdonald left 20 21 when played heads up football and bit creativity.no imagination at all

And why did he not plan for Donaghy in 14 and why were the team so flat in 21.

Horan did an awful lot right but his biggest flaw was in-game management. That being said, I’d take him back in the morning if it meant the current boys going. One thing Horan a excellent at was getting the most of individuals and creating a strong mentality.

The current mgnt must go ASAP and for sure, we need an innovative proven winner or at least a proven winner in the backroom set up but the Mayo gig ain’t so appealing anymore. I don’t think there’d be a queue lining up to take it.

It’s been a terrible week.

I think our u20 defeat has been accepted far too easily by many supporters and todays results puts them in the shade. We had a really great chance of reaching an All Ireland final and winning it. However, IMO it was a huge opportunity missed and management failed to address our defensive frailties, game after game. What on earth were they doing!??

Mayo absolutely need managerial changes at senior and u20 for 2026.

Well we moved on. So where are we now. Definitely not booking a weekend in Dublin for July. This is the most protected management in history of mayo football. At least James brought us from 2010 Longford embarrasment to very close. Today was Longford revisited. Subs miles too late and nothing in to aos. 6000 to 7000 thousand in mchale park tells its own story.

We very clearly need defensive coaches in the academy. We are so open compared to other counties. Radical shake up required. This notion that we are trucking along just fine….it’s head in the sand stuff. I will give credit to the current minor management m. I do think they’ve done a good job as did Deane before them.

The new rules have certainly given every team a chance on any given day and I didn’t expect that. Mayo haven’t really adapted as they still play too many players the wrong side of the 45m line. Not really playing as a unit and no fire in the belly - exemplified when Paddy Durcan came on and he was immediately intimidated by a number of Cavan players and still support from his colleagues was non-existent. I expect Mayo to lift it a bit in Omagh but a tough assignment in the lions den. Where Mayo go from here is anyone’s guess but to get the best out of, play the style best suited to the players that we do have is all we can ask. Who can achieve this I don’t know - maybe we’re expecting too much given the standard at club level at minute.

Full disclosure, I wasn't in attending today due to club commitments so I cant put forth any analysis of my own, but my usual trusty football mem were in attendance and insisted cavan were 7 or 8 points the better team, with a goal in trash time after the full time whistle only serving to take the bad look off it.

Not only were cavan missing 6 or 7 key starters including all their midfielders they then lost 2 more players with bad injuries in the first 20 mins.

A rookie manager in galligan outwitting mayos celebrated brains trust, while mcstay frozen on the sideline seemingly forgot to make any changes with a cast of underperformers continuing to underwhelm

It's harder to get off this team then it, he has played by and large the same team now for 3 years, guys getting chance after chance after chance when they've been so poor.

Apparently Steven coen was the only player who wasn't wretched today and yet most of the subs were only rolled in with minutes to go

Make it make sense

Look on the bright side, Rocky took Donegal to the bottom, a year later with new manager same team are best team in country

Well said @Supermac - Cavan were by far the better team even with those missed chances in the first half and missing a lot of first choice players but the substitutes were excellent and no fear

All - there is no management vacancy yet so please park the discussion about who our next manager might be until we're looking for one. There'll be loads of time to discuss that issue when the time is right for it and that's not now.

IT was the worst Mayo performance Ive seen, I was hoping McStay would do well and he deserved his shot but it done now, we have no midfield, Reape doesn't know were to kick it, O Shea had a mismatch when ball went in high,, they only did it 3 times when cavan had panic when it went in, can't understand why it wasn't used more, I know it players that win games but management got it wrong today.

Absolutely no more talking about new management. Totally agree. Biggest test ever for mayo right now. Answer it. Back against the wall. Come out fighting

Right, I've had a chance to go through the comments. A number of you are heading for moderation in light of what you've tried to post. I'm not going to bother naming you individually but you'll find out soon enough yourselves the next time you try to post a comment here.

Let's start with McBrien back to FB and McHugh as our man marker.
Need a lot of changes,some unfortunately picked on reputation.
Need a reset to make use of Aiden
Goalkeepers role has changed to be most importantly an accurate kicker, goals not as important as before.
Keep the faith.

After going to the match, instead of going to the beach and after watching the Sunday Game including the McStay interview instead of 'Week on Politics" or at least until after the Mayo Cavan was shown and analysed . I can see a how career in "Irish Politics ' could ease the pain for an ex Mayo manager . A life in politics for you now, You have all the crediantaials any celebratory needs, the one that counts the most...
Easy Easy RTE interviews.

We are all die hard mayo football men. No glory in opinion s. But if u don't register a score in 26 minutes and u make your first sub with 10 minutes to go...... and yes James made a few mistakes but they were in an all Ireland final. How far away is that now. Honestly one would think that this management team had just arrived 3 months ago. Team selection and subs... oh my god nobody knows what s going on. Mayo by 12 mayo for sam. For god sake people need to get real

2 more chances / games to try and improve things, but why are the basics not being implemented?
I expect to see a good response from the players in the next game.

I didn’t make it to the match but saw the SG last night and read the reports.

We all had great hopes after our second half display in the league v Armagh when the lads showed they could play direct. Not sure now if we can find that type of form again though as this is probably one of the most demoralising defeats ever.

No point in complaining about the management and same should apply across the board, it’s not fair on WJ having to go through all the abusive posts here.

Hoping for major changes in omagh and some scoring forwards to start, Towey, Irwin, Boland, and to be honest, if the lads that start kick a rake of wides but at least try I wont complain.

Our backs are to the wall but I still believe we have the players that can get a win and a draw in the next 2 matches, add in that the shackles will now be off these lads could surprise us yet.

If we and Cavan somehow end on 2 points each will it be decided on points difference or head to head? If head to head then we obviously need 3 points out of next 4....

Score difference I think? Remember the Cork debacle

Major confidence issues with mayo at the moment

In the event of teams finishing on equal points in the groups, the tie shall be decided by

the following means and in the order specified below:

- Where two teams only are involved – the outcome of the meeting

of the two teams in the group

- Score difference – subtracting the total scores against from the total scores for

- highest total score for

- highest total goals for

- A play-off

Leantimes
I was at the match and saw the Sunday game. I can only say RTE were very kind to us with the clips shown. Or maybe it was to their old colleague McStay. I didn’t dare call them highlights.

@MikeOmatic: As @Sam og pointed out, H2H if it's just us and Cavan and to Score Difference if it ended with 3 teams tied.

You'd give a decent chance to Donegal or Tyrone winning all 3 games, the loser of Donegal/Tyrone beating Cavan meaning that a win for us against whoever loses next week would put us in a 3 way tie for 2nd/3rd/4th all on 2pts and going to SD ignoring all H2Hs.

Also a (very) small chance for Cavan to upset one of the two and two teams to finish on 4pts with us potentially tieing with a team on 2pts we'd have the H2H over.

So 2pts can be enough to go through. Potentially even in 2nd place if the SD is decent from the two defeats.

Thanks @Sam Og and @TsuDhoNim