Well done to Crosmolina. Young Mheady. (What ever way you pronounce it) fair play to ya.
Mayo gaa in the national headlines out of season. Well I never.

I'm sure the PRO would put up a piece on social media if requested to do so. The current PRO and his team do an outstanding job. Not their place to set policy. That comes from higher up the food chain. I believe Mayo Senior management have their own media people, but not altogether sure what they actually do. So having a shot at the current PRO is out of order in my humble opinion.

Kevin, that has nothing to do with the county PRO.
The Mayo news has its own issues to deal with it's online site is virtually unreadable with all the adds and spam.

Don't you think having a local media sports journalist also working as county board PRO would be a conflict of interest?

Can anyone clarify something for me, did the CB get feedback off players in relation to the management review? Because it just feels like something you s off here. As supporters we were crying out for changes to the backroom team and nothing done. Delegates at meetings mentioned potential discontent, but those claims were shot down by the CB. And now we have 2 players, who would be big leaders in the group stepping away. Sad and worrying.

Opting for a year out at 32 is another way of saying “fcuk you” to the management team. Mayo football is going backwards. In the spotlight for all the wrong reasons yet again on a day we should be congratulating Crossmolina.

I think everyone should calm down a bit because we've had no statement from anyone involved which means we're all guessing at the reasons and motives for lads stepping away. Every county has issues with players not being involved for one reason or another and we should leave it to the players to give their reasons in due course.

I see my comment is in Moderation. I haven't commented on here for a while.
Please remove my comment.
Sometimes you say it best when you say nothing at all.as the song goes.
Thank you.

Everyone's comments were in moderation there for the last few hours, Mike H, as it appeared like some form of group hysteria had briefly broken out! All calm again now, by the look of it. As requested, I've deleted that comment of yours.

Everyone is calling for change in the panel and at the same time people complain when guys drop out or are released.
We can't have it both ways.
It is a huge commitment and one has to admire the players.
Football is in for a big change with the new rules..
I now understand that no proposal is going to the Special Congress to pay managers.

Pebblesmeller - I've deleted that comment, as it's aimed in a negative way at a named individual.

Fair enough, WJ. Tick accepted.

With o hora confirmed out,big question is who’s next??
Ah ref the original source and also confirmed on the independent

Okay, Colm Keys in the Irish Independent has now confirmed Padraig O'Hora's departure from the panel (here), saying that, like Cillian, he's not retiring so may be available to play again in the future. It's also stated in that piece that Michael Plunkett, James Carr and Rory Byrne won't be involved next year either.

Worrying to read Tommy Conroy out with injury until late spring. That must be a fairly serious injury for a recovery period of 4-5 months presuming he’s been a few weeks out already

With Carr also gone now, to me there is a lack of firepower that have ability to break the line or offer direct running.

This is looking like a season to forget.if rod picks up and injury we are screwed upfront.mcstay/rochford has a lot to answer for with so many stepping away

The mood music going into the new year is going to be very bad.
If the early results match the mood, it will be very hard to see McStay and Co turning the tide.

I am usually one to be optimistic...but it is very worrying.

@Rocco88 ah no way. Well that's it I don't know how the tides will turn but it's not great.

@Tubberman agree. May still have a good year who knows so wide open and sure players do opt in and out look at Dubs & Galway over the years. I don't know very interssting times ahead either way.

I can understand fellows retiring but stepping out for a year leaves a bad smell.
Lots of new faces for the league but one has to wonder how things are in the camp.
Hopefully things will improve.
I have the height of respect for all that put themselves forward to play and manage Mayo.

This just looks bad. But if management at any stage next year come out with “we are rebuilding” it needs to be called out. That’s a pure deflection tactic if used. It was well muted at the beginning of McStays time that JH had done the rebuild. McStays job was to add the finishing touches with the “most experienced management team in the country” Unfortunately it looks like this management are taking the rebuild down, brick by brick instead of adding to it.

I think a lot of this has to do with the season structure. No way players not playing nearly match would want to commit to a fixture list that intense. Still doesn’t bode well for mcstay.

Willie Joe any chance you might get a sit down with Kevin? There will be no shortage of questions to pose!!

We could have Horan, part III, if the bleeding doesn't stop soon

The county convention postponed 2 a week day night seems very odd indeed.

The statement came from the secretary not PRO, or assistant PRO. Meaning only a few know what's up.

There is nothing coming from cb, so it must be serious.

Again it shows cb don't give a toss bout clubs. How can delegates from South mayo make it 2 ballina in time if they working in Galway for example.

My guess is they found out confidential information was leaked and they are shiting it that there would be questions at convention bout it. There playing for time. What is this confidential information.

I dont blame O'Hora in any other County he be starting before Stephen Coen at centre half back yet he has been pushed into the corner when he has got chances.There club form is chalk and cheese for Ballina and Hollympunt yet Coen is a guaranteed starter on what form I do not know.
Cillian and O'Hora are also 2 of the toughest and most vocal in the dressing room, massive losses.

If we are having a good year next year I wouldn't expect any of the players who have opted out of panel to be in the first 15, gives new players a chance to prove themselves

Enda mcGearty tweeted last week about the “likely “ ins and outs. He named all those WJ plus one other. He must have a crystal ball.

Those names were circulating in GAA circles weeks ago Nephin. No crystal ball needed on this occasion.

Correct West is best. Modern world, social media, WhatsApp groups etc. generally have the lowdown ahead the the old school channels.

Once you get to know which sources to trust you generally be on right track :)

Exactly my point . The West is Best.

And the Mayo CB hinted at the problems and the dogs in the streets knew what the problems were. In fact the changes that were cakled for were openly discussed here.

https://extra.ie/2024/09/06/sport/gaa/mayo-gaa-kevin-mcstay

The hysteria has gone a small bit wild. I've sensed it a bit since our lads lost to strandhill in an afterthought. Lets look at the facts

O' Hora hasn't seen game time for the past 48 months while lesser players were seemingly undrop-able. He's the big loss in this scenario

Cillian wasn't a starter since Covid. He was held scoreless from play in every final I can remember bar the first 16 final and the weird Covid one which felt like a challenge game where he got a couple of marks. I enjoyed him as much as anyone but the hysteria is odd for what is now a substitute and whose free taking prowess has been long replaced

I'm much more worried that one of our best man markers is gone while more average prospects remain

Stephenite, the 2017 final. Cillian scored at least 3 from play that day. In fact, in the 2nd half he was superb.

O Hora. I think he was wrongly used imo. Had some very tough days against McCurry, Basquel & Clifford (league final). But it's another example of a player being wrongly utilised. He'd have been far better as a stopper in half back line.

I just hope the fresh blood we bring in after profiled better. Eg Corner back dogs who can survive 1 on 1....couldn't care less if they attack. First job has to be to stop their man.
Midfielders who can fetch, especially when the squeeze is on!
And more natural forwards in half forward line, who are capable & more importantly, encouraged to shoot

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/padraig-ohora-set-to-follow-cillian-oconnor-by-taking-year-out-of-mayo-squad/a1914461539.html

Cillian, O’Hora, Plunkett, Carr and Rory Byrne gone.

Aidan not available for January and Tommy out injured until late spring.

Sorry @ Mayo Focus you're right, he'd a couple in the 17 second half where he was good bar the missed free after a terrible first half. The point stands I think. A great player for us but I don't think any realistic person thought he was a starter currently and I'd have Moran 16/17 or the current version of ROD as more influential even at his best

14 out of the 26 players from our 2021 all ireland final panel not available for selection in 2025. We really are in transition now.

Now lads , O Hora was and is a true warrior and gentleman but there's currently 10 better defenders in the county than him . He probably knows that too .
An opportunity for a younger player to set up to the panel.
Same with Cillian, regardless if it's because of management or personal reasons, HE is deciding not to play for Mayo this year .
Going to be a long year of negativity again this year on the blog

I can think of 3 @myball and one of those is coming off a career changing injury. Anyway maybe that's where we're at, the talent levels at the moment are where they are, low D1 high D2 levels. A promising minor team this year aside, nothing at club or underage for the past 8 years has spelled any different. Two finals in those very odd straight knockout Covid years where motivation was questionable papered over a lot of cracks

Love POH but he has had a few bad big days so can see why he is gone. Cillian taking a break still feels strange but looking back on the last couple of years he wasn't a 100%- fit so no guarantee he'd be 100% for 2025. Carr a surprise albeit appeared injury prone, always thought when 100% fit he had the x factor element. Maybe the days of carrying the injury prone is over...

Strange times indeed. Looking at the positive I hope to see at least 2 or 3 new faces from the Club Scene make the County squad.
Can't blame lads for stepping away if they are not getting decent runs in the team but bizarre they are not retiring.
Reminds me of Boyler in his last year agonising over whether to battle on or not.

Bonni Boyler, while not verified, if you look at Enda McGeratys "Predictions" as to who is in you likely will be very close to the mark based on other pieces I have heard.
The convention issue is another pain we did not need.

Thanks Gizmo, will certainly have a look.

@Stephenite

You're more concerned with losing POH than Cillian?
I really don't know what to say to that...
One is arguably the best player ever to play for Mayo and the other never was a regular starter for Mayo and never kicked a ball in championship til he was 28.Both have been dogged by injury in recent years.

I love O Hora and he's a big loss but obviously the two are not comparable in any way,that's just off the charts.POH only has handful of championship starts for Mayo,he is only a year you ger than Cillian aswell.

For me the most worrying thing out of all those headlines is another long injury layoff for Tommy C.

McStay has bet the whole house on thst trio of AOS/Rod/Tommy come what may with nobody else getting a sniff

He hasn't hit a run of form since his injury and needed a full season to build up form so this latest setback is a bit worrying.

The optics of POH, Cillian and carr walking away is terrible but looking at it coldly from a footballing pov none were starters under McStay anyway so it doesn't hugely impact the starting team. Certainly nowhere near the impact of mccarthy/Fenton leaving dublin

Actially thinking about it more it's not all that bad.

Padraig o hora did not get much time last year and has had some bad days hopefully we can get a few new players in now well mcstay wil have to. James carr was unlucky injuries. Michael plunkett also not much game time.

Rory Byrne probably fed up of being reserve goalie Hennelly is probably gone to number 2. Aido is going travelling in Jan I hear but has commited to another year.

The main worry I would have is over Tommy c that guy can't catch a break sounds like a bad enough injury..

O’Hora seems like a decent lad but has been highly overrated by some fans. I never saw the hype and obviously different management teams didn’t either.

There is no positive spin on this at all . You’d have to be awfully naive to think there’s not been unrest .

@sean burke course there is some unrest but it is what it is I doubt anything will change I just hope no more opt out.

Sad to see the lads walk away, but it could be for any number of reasons. We're all inclined to forget the sacrifices required to get a jersey. While I'd love to see them all competing for a place, as stated above none were starters, so it's a good opportunity to refresh the panel and see who shines. Thanks to the lads for their service, the interview with POH after beating the Dubs in 21 is something I'll never forget. I wish them the best and can't wait for the league to kick off in 25

Hopefully Paddy D is back at some point, a huge loss to the Group last year. Are the fixtures for the league available yet.

Agreed Bonni, add Paddy D(although haven't heard anything about his recovery, at the time, i think they said he wouldn't be back until the 2025 championship, so it'll be tight) with a fully fit DOC and we're not in bad shape. Think the provisional league list has been released, but not yet published, Dubs up first for us in Dublin

Apart from Cillian I'm not sure there is much to get too concerned with regarding the "outs" list. it feels like a bit of a reset to me.
I always hoped that Cillian would do an Andy Moran and come back better than ever. Please God he still may do.

James Carr is another I was clinging onto a bit of hope that he would come good. Anything for a 1 month spell of Carr at his best in the heat of the championship. He just couldn't seem to get a run. A break might do the body good.

I have still have a bit of hope for us. McBrien, Callinan and Mchugh will have come on a lot for last year. Plenty more to come from those fellas. Hopefully we see Paddy back and a fit Enda Hession (big year for Enda)

Towey would be one i'd be 100% behind. He needs a run of games though. No point giving him a few minutes here and there. Even if he doesn't quite make the starting 15 he is a great option off the bench.

We've come too far to give up. I genuinely believe we have crop of young players that give us great hope. Maybe not this year but certainly in the next 2/3 years we could be in business.

Maigh eo Abu.

Not too worried about the lads leaving ,more worried about the cause.
Cillian has lost that bit of pace necessary at this level.
OHora too inclined to foul which will be a disaster with the new 2 points from outside the arc.
Carr never seemed to be fit and the same for Plunket.
We need an outfield type goalie to replace Byrne.
Hope this is the end of us being in the news for the wrong reason.

James Horan has a say on Cillian...
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41523905.html

I don't get the panic about Carr leaving. He was never consistently fit anyway. He played in fits and starts and while his highlight reel is impressive, a serious intercounty manager is not going to plan and structure an attack around the likes of Carr and COC (the 2024 version) because the one thing you know for sure is that their availability will be below 50%. How can anyone plan an attack when 2 out of the front 6 are never going to be reliably fit.
Plunkett is another who never nailed down a position under 2 managers so, along with Byrne, he has probably said it's not worth the time and committment to only end up sittting on the bench, or in the stand.
Being cold and ruthless about it, it's not like a starting 15 player has walked from the set up.

While I agree that Cillian O'Connor and Padraic O'Hora were not regular starters recently they are both real leaders and that's a quality that this current Mayo outfit is sadly lacking.

We are producing choir boys that just seem to want to go to the states every July .I dont remember one dirty tackle or shoulder from a Mayo player this year had we a player even sent off?

Agree with almost all of that Pebbles; I do however get a strong impression of a hardening round a first 20 with the rest nowhere. For example, Aaron MacDonnell got one run against Derry and that was it. It must be frustrating being in the wings.

Summing up, we are now without two thirds of our alternative full back line (O’Hora & Plunkett), two thirds of our first choice half back line ( Durcan and Callinan injured), one third of our first choice FF line (Conroy injured), and two thirds of our alternative FF line (O’Connor, & Carr). Time for a Pauric Joyce-style whinge.

New pod up on Patreon - Mike and Rob chat with Colm Keys of the Irish Indo about the recent news on players leaving the panel.

As a few others have referenced. We havent lost much. Cillian going is disappointing but whether he is fit or not, there appears to be a clear policy of Aiden O'Shea OR Cillian O'Connor on the pitch, rarely ever both.

Rory Byrne - Decent 3rd choice keeper. Shame to see him leave but we needed to start preparing a new keeper anyway as Hennelly isnt far off retirement age.

Michael Plunkett & Padraig O'Hora - Neither ever nailed down a starting spot with consistent performances. Both were often moved about to fill in gaps and both lack that bit of pace to excel at intercounty level. Excellent players but not intercounty starting standard.

James Carr - Injured. That's all he is until he isnt. I dont care if you're David Clifford himself, if you're not available then you cant be relied upon long term. His injury record beggars belief and when he was fit, I couldnt ever recall a game where he played start to finish. Not a great scoring forward, but a forward who got a some great scores in his time.

So what have we lost? A Third choice keeper, two defenders that arent starting quality, one of the most injury prone players we've ever had, and Cillian, who the management have chosen Aiden O'Shea over (I dont mind this decision if they HAD to pick either COC or AOS, but did they have to pick?).

If Cillian had not stepped away, nobody would be getting the pitchforks out about the other four leaving.

Give Rory Byrne's spot to John Vahey.

Give Michael Plunkett's spot to Diarmuid Duffy,

Give Padraig O'Hora's spot to John McMonagle.

Give James Carr's spot to Cian McHale.

Give Cillian O'Connor's spot to Paul Towey.

People on this blog have been crying out for players like Towey to get a consistent run of games. This is what was going to have to happen to make room for him in a larger role. Now is his chance.

@Achill
That made me chuckle.

We could do with a few more dogs in the team. Dogs with battle scars and a few teeth missing. The sort you would look to generally avoid in the street.
That defender McHale at Knockmore ticks all the boxes!!

The idea that these lads leaving doesn't matter as they weren't starting anyway is laughable. It's benches that win big games and we don't have one. We barely even have a half decent starting 15. The disrespect shown to these lads (especially Cillian) has been outrageous and dangerously shortsighted. I can't imagine being a player of Cillian's calibre being left sitting on the bench (usually until the game is lost) and watching lads that couldn't score in a brothel starting or being put on ahead of you. He's obviously been told it'll be more of the same next year. Are we really going to allow these players to leave just to keep a manager who has been frankly terrible and who clearly has no people management skills to speak of? I might take a year out myself and wait it out with the boys hoping for better things in 2026 coz 2025 is already a write off.

@MayoForLiam, it was pretty clear from watching last year that the current management don't trust O'Hora after what happened vs Dublin in 2023 (Which was not entirely his fault, he shouldn't have been put in that position anyway). Same goes for Plunkett. Same goes for Carr. James Carr didnt even put together 70 minutes for Mayo in 2024! We're getting up in arms over a player that we havent seen perform at a high level in nearly 2 years.

If the management don't trust you then it's time to move on and give new players a chance. That's why they are no major loss.

On this topic, people need to stop comparing current players to Chris Barrett, Colm Boyle, Lee Keegan etc. Those guys are gone and not coming back. People love to say "we need another tight marking corner back like Chris Barrett" as though Barrett wasn't one of the best players in his position in the country. They don't grow on trees so we shouldn't act like these players are commonplace!

A great Pod with Colm Keyes, he really knows his football.
Lots of players missing from start of the league, hopefully it can be a blessing in disguise like for Galway last year.

My thoughts exactly Jr. Spot on both accounts.

@JR agree enioyed the pod he definetly does know his stuff.
Yeah seems we will be missing alot for start of league yeah could be dufficult league.

Calinan got some awful hit with the broken ribs jesz.

“Not a great scoring forward “ not sure about that one at all . I’ll concede re a lot of the time injured but I’d hazard a guess his ratio for games started to scores is excellent .

My Ball says:
November 26, 2024 at 7:12 am
Now lads , O Hora was and is a true warrior and gentleman but there’s currently 10 better defenders in the county than him . He probably knows that too .
-------------------
O'Hora has been part of the back to back Ballina county champion winning teams where the strength of that team was in defence and he was the most important player in that defence so I'll highly doubt he think there is 10 better defenders in the county than him.

@Sean Burke, Well look at his championship stats in the past 3 years. He scored 0-04 in 160 minutes (5 games, 3 starts and 2 off the bench) in 2023. Scored 0-03 in 198 minutes across 4 games (3 starts 1 off the bench) in 2022. Didnt feature in championship in 2024. Thats 7 points in 358 minutes, which is the equivalent of 5 full matches. No goals.

7 points in 3 years of championship football. Once upon a time he was a lethal goalscorer on the big day but we havent seen that version of Carr in half a decade sadly.

He did have a good league campaign in 2023 I'll acknowledge that. 3-07 in 7 starts (391 minutes played) is a great return. Shame we didnt see the elague form translate into championship.

@Clare what was the reference at the end about broken ice?

Conor Diskin, Aidan Orme, Cian McHale and Oisin McLaughlin should be in that panel now especially with the crisis in the Forwards for the early League games with Aidan and Tommy injured .Diskin mentioned on a pod here that he had met with McStay after his ACL injury last year . Really dont understand why Oisin McLaughlin hasn't been called up as hes a better footballer than his brother Eoghan and Westports best player the last 2 seasons. Cian McHale for me along with Darragh Beirne and Kobe McDonald is the most exciting forward prospect we have at present and has to be called in.

@JR I meant about sam calinan injury did not realise it was that bad it was an awful hit he got though in the semi.

Colm Keyes made a reference about broken ice.
Does he know something we don't?
He also didn't rule out Cillian playing this year.

@JR not sure what he meant by the broken ice.. And was surprised he thought cillian could come back playing late in the year maybe he does know something we don't who knows..!

Just hope this all blows over soon bring on the league we always seem to be in the news in the off season!

Can people stop referencing Orme?
He stepped away over a year ago having played one half of football the previous season.

@Achill75 while Kobe McDonald is the most exciting forward prospect Mayo have at present he's only 17 and should be allowed to develop and work on his S&C before getting called in to the senior panel.

FW he’s still one of the better all round forward players that would be stronger than some current panel players.

Also an example of the lack of variation in selections that may have contributed to others stepping away. In fairness to management they did say it was not a rebuilding job, that Horan had the hard work done. And they’ve seemed to stick with their guns with the team largely unchanged unless their was injuries.

People can point to lads given chance in fbd etc. but that was window dressing if lads weren’t part of training panel and just asked in to fulfill fixture while real team played elsewhere.

Perhaps by accident rather than design lads will have to get a chance this league to step up to the plate.

On the fence

Great post and pefectly summed up about the lads ( stepping away for the year). Also the common denominator is the lads walking away were not getting game time.

Prams and toys spring to mind.....sure what's new.

Why would you stop referencing Orme hes one of the most skilfull forwards in the County.

I agree maybe next year Kobe and Beirne stay with Under 20s and see how they go but the year after I think they fall in the category of Aidan and Cillian by making there debuts in Mayo Senior team age 18/19 there that good.

JR . Mentioned about a new out field Keeper in place of Byrne. I think we need to revert to a goalkeeper that is specifically a goal keeper. A shot stopper. Something like both Hennelly and Byrne, as I do believe the new rules when introduced will some what do away with the out field keeper like Reape. In all fairness to Colm he has played that out field keeper well.

Let's face facts boys, most /nearly all of our forwards for the last few years failed to perform on match days i.e they failed to score from play , and even in the good days most of the scores came from the backs, so it's time to try and get forwards that can just kick points /goals from play .