I was at the Westport Mayo Gaels game yesterday evening. Eoghan McLaughlin the standout player. When he turned the turbos on, there was no stopping him. Worth paying the entry alone to see him in full flight. And no trace of any niggly injury.
The turning point in the game for me was the introduction of Oisín McLaughlin. He has added physicality to his pace and much more alert to movement around him. Very cleverly used as an impact sub. Until his introduction, the Gallaghers had dragged Mayo Gaels back into game.
The two morans were outrageously good going forward. Slick, totally unpredictable, and capable of scoring. Brickenden played at midfield, I thought the MGs no 8 got a bit of a free run but Brickenden did execute a few incisive long passes. More needed imo.
The game was played at a refreshing pace, build ups and transition out of defence occured with urgency on both sides..I hope Rochford was tuned in..

Ontheditch yes that game was a great watch westports greater bench was the difference in the last 15, I heard on the pod they said westport hadn't played great but I thought they played really well yesterday and they literally have a fully fit squad now they will be hard to stop.

A few questions to be answered about conceding the goals. Credit to Mayo Gaels for making a game of it. I'd be keeping an eye on. John Gallagher. Westport finished out the last quarter in top gear. Always a good sign. Championship is heating up

Rory Byrne had a howler for mitchels in 2nd half...went out of his comfort zone up pitch got dispossessed and got a black card. These keepers coming up the pitch is nonsense. Garrymore pushed on and got the draw. Massive result for kiltane. The big shock of the Saturday games.

Breaffy a big win over Ballintubber, 8 point margin.

@PK I totally agree.
Is Byrne still von the Mayo panel?
Perhaps the Westport goalie should get a chance.
Panel needs a bit of a revamp, disappointing to see fringe players not putting up their hands in the county championships.
Next game a big one for Cillian, needs a big performance,is it in him or has the little pace he had gone.
Love to see him shoot the lights out.

JR Cillian wasn't playing

@ Gizmobbs I understand that and it is the reason the next game is so important for him.
He has been plagued with injury and his discipline caused his missing of the last 2 championship games.
A friend of mine here in Meath who trained wining minor and u21 All Ireland teams said as a trainer he would prefer to be taking boldness out of players rather than trying to put it into them.

Breaffy outstanding today. Sean Deane showing why he should be the Mayo u20 manager. 5 wins on the bounce since taking over midseason with 4 of their starting 6 backs from last year's county title off the panel.
Outstanding manager. Outfoxed and outfought Ballintubber all over the pitch today.
Ballintubber shocking, however, still can't rule them out of the championship when Cillian comes back.

Went to the Charlestown/Ballyhaunis game this afternoon fully expecting a win for the home side and at ht it looked routine. Charlestown led by 2-05 to 0-08 after playing into a reasonable wind but with the wind at their backs they could only score a solitary point from a free in the second half while Ballyhaunis facked up 8pts. Ballyhaunis were terrific in the 2nd half but were helped by a really lacklustre Charlestown performance. The home team's attempts at tackling invariably resulted in a free and their indiscipline in the tackle went a long way to losing the game. In the 1st half Paddy Goldrick in midfield was excellent but hardly seen in the 2nd. Towey did all he could but was restricted to a penalty goal and 5 frees.
For the visitors there were many good performers including Keith Higgins, Eamon Phillips and both Coynes.
Was puzzled to see John Prenty in the middle of the pitch when Ballyhaunis players was getting treatment and talking to the referee. I thought it was only team mentors, water carriers and medics allowed on the pitch or indeed inside the fence.

@JoeG John Prenty is one of the ballyhaunis selectors and their player looked like he was concussed.was the time on mayo tv wrong or did Corcoran blow the ft whistle 2 mins early?thought he was very good otherwise.Charlestown will be sickened.lazy tackling all round giving away cheap frees

Thanks Cp. Didn’t know he was involved.

Was down at the Kilmovee v kilcommon game on m sat in the junior championship. Kilcommon won by 5pts , not really a true reflection, shamrocks were right in the game till the end . An unfortunate error for the first kilcommon goal gave them an advantage on the scoreboard that wasn’t really true to the game imo . Cathal horan bossed the middle , his younger brother Peter (17 ) kicked two outrageous points from frees ( scored 9 in the county minor b final last week for a malagamated team along with Charlestown) . I really can’t fathom why he wasn’t part of this years minor county team . Kilcommon are favs for the junior championship but I wouldn’t be backing them . But perhaps they are better than they showed on sat .

Outside bets would be Ardagh for junior and breaffy for senior . Bet breaffy aren’t 8/1 now though .

@Sean Burke, This is one of my bug bears. Not specific to the player you mentioned. In Mayo we close the book on guys if:
- didn't play underage
- didn't play Senior by 22/23
Player I know, injured just before Connaught minor championship. Well did it ever bloody put him out in the fringe wastelands the rest of his club playing career. Got one trial, did well in the trial, not retained.
Guarantee you him losing out at minor badly affected his u21 and senior selection afterwards.
Scouting and rating platers in Mayo has been traditionally poor. There's mgmt we've had think every starter and sun is brilliant. Yet they can't seem to develop players outside their year on year panel.
We give mgmt credit then for things like developing the most obvious two best minor /u20 each year.
I mean without a clue you'd figure who best two underage players are each year.
The value is how well you can do things like develop a busy young builder from a small club?
That's smart stuff then like SnC that accommodates the fact you are framing a house each week. Don't cone to me with "We developed Oisin Mullen". Well done, we've developed one of the most athletic persons in Ireland into a really good player.

Connacht Gold Mayo Senior Football Championship

Group 1

Breaffy 1-16 Ballintubber 0-11

Group 3

Ballaghaderreen 1-10 Belmullet 1-07

Group 4

Ballyhaunis 0-16 Charlestown Sarsfields 2-06

Egan Jewellers Intermediate Football Championship

Group 1

Louisburgh 2-12 Lahardane MacHales 0-13

Group 2

Hollymount-Carramore 1-16 Castlebar Mitchels B 1-14

Group 4

Islandeady 0-15 Ardnaree Sarsfields 1-11

Treanlaur Catering Junior Football Championship

Group 1

Bonniconlon 2-14 Moygownagh 0-03

Group 2

Tourmakeady 1-16 Ballycroy 1-10

Ardagh 1-13 Shrule/Glencorrib 0-09

Group 3

Achill 2-11 Ballycastle 0-03

Saturday’s Mayo Club Championship Results

Connacht Gold SFC:

Group 1: Kilmeena 0-11 Aghamore 0-12

Group 2: Ballina Stephenites 3-13 Balla 1-8

Group 2: Westport 3-18 Mayo Gaels 2-11

Group 3: Knockmore 0-13 Claremorris 0-8

Group 4: Garrymore 0-13 Castlebar Mitchels 2-7

Egan Jewellers IFC:

Group 1: Crossmolina Deel Rovers 2-16 Moy Davitts 5-13

Group 2:Davitts 3-15 Kiltimagh 1-10

Group 3: Kiltane 1-14 Parke Keelogues Crimlin 1-13

Group 4: The Neale 4-14 Burrishoole 4-9

Treanlaur Catering Exclusive JFC:

Group 1: Kilmovee Shamrocks 0-9 Cill Chomain 2-7

Group 3: Eastern Gaels 4-7 Killala 0-6

On the head to head rules - if you have 3 teams on the same points after final round does it go to points difference?

Looking at Group 3 in particular - i.e. if Belmullet can get a win against Knockmore, and Ballagh beat Claremorris then 3 teams should have the same points.

Brendan Harrison…. 31 going on 32. Still had a couple of seasons in him, in my opinion injuries dogged his late 20’s, but a fit BH is easily in the top 3 fullback line players in the county.

If I’m on the Mayo management, I’d be calling by Kilkelly and having a chat about giving it another crack. I still think he can do 2025 and possibly ‘26 (he’d be 33 that season). He is a super tackler and comfortable on the ball. While those injuries were a set back, no doubt, he didn’t have huge mileage on the clock with Mayo.

Just sayin….

@Exile if 2 teams are on the same number of points, it's the head to head result in their game that determines the team who comes out on top.

If it's 3 teams on equal points, I believe it's points difference. But believe it's only the games between those teams that is counted - i.e the points difference in the games against the other team in the group is not counted.

If the 2 teams drew how does head to head work. Ballintubber and Aghamore drew against one another.

If two teams drew with each other then Head To Head is irrelevant as no team has an edge on the other, straight to scoring difference.

It would go on pts difference then

In senior
Group 1 Ballintubber need to beat Kilmeena and hope breaffy beat aghamore.and need to overturn a 9point score difference
Group 2 straight shootout between Westport and ballina for the home qf
Group 3 if ballaghdareen win they top the group with 3wins.if belmullet beat knockmore by 4 they go into second.if knockmore lose by less than 4 in this scenario they go through.if Claremorris and knockmore win 3 teams are tied on 4pts.the score line of claremorris ballaghdareen would decid top 2
Group 4 is the tightest.if Garrymore win they top group.the winner of castlebar ballyhaunis will go into qf.if Charlestown win and and ballyhaunis and castlebar draw.all 4 teams would be level on 3?
Intermediate is just as good if not better.going to be a very exciting last round

JR and PK. I was at the match in Garrymore Saturday evening. In fairness to Byrne he had kicked two great frees from long distance one with the wind and one against the breeze. He came up the field to take another long range free on the correct side of the pitch for a left footed kicker. Some other Mitchell’s player decided to kick a quick free to him , and he was then caught up the field and lost the ball. Mitchell’s did not concede any goal Saturday night either. Having said that
The way Mitchell’s are playing is far too defensive and will not win anything. They don’t realise that to win games you have to score, and to score you need to attack.

@Mayonaze, I'd love to see Harry give Mayo another crack too,still has plenty to offer,but being self employed in the building game...you get injured and not able to work, you earn nowt. So you could understand if he decided just to stick to club duties and hope for the best.

Mayonaze. U are correct, Harry is worth another look at. Strong mobile player. I don’t think he has featured since picking up an injury in Carrick on Shannon, against Kildare a few seasons ago. He has been unfortunately been injury pron.

Mayo news team of the week out again, with a few more decisions clearly made to stir the pot :)

Another cracking weekend of club championship and great to see so many groups going to the final day too. The home advantage for topping a group is great as it makes the final games for teams already qualified just as important.

After week one Evan Ivers and Darragh Byrne were talked up as “bring them in” by many in media. Just curious to know how both got on this weekend. Judging by results I’d think not to good. And btw I’m not trying to have a go at these two lads at all, I’m more annoyed with the build up of hype around them. In particular Byrne. He’s 17/18 years of age. We need to let these lads develop. No doubt poor Kobe McDonald will be dealt the same hand.

Green&red Darragh beirne was more sloppy on Saturday evening with a few wides and miscommunications.still going to be a great player but only doing his leaving cert now.
Ivers made a few bursting runs like against Claremorris but wasn’t getting the rub of the green off the ref.an early yellow kind of put a stop to the aggression in his game.id like to see him be a bit more dominant in midfield.

Another most enjoyable weekend with loads to play for on the final day. Managed to see 2 and a half games over the weekend and hope to catch up on a few others.

I must say Castlebar have been deeply unimpressive so far, a lot of people would have had them as favourites before a ball was kicked this year and with good cause, but I can't figure out what they are trying to achieve with that incredibly dull style of play. Paddy D is obviously a loss but they should have a lot more to offer even without him.

Sean Deane is proving again to be a cracking manager,seems to be getting a tune out of breaffy

Ballina look to be upping it at the right time and westport taking care of business

@Jp and Sean Burke, not disputing the point you are making about scouting of players and I think there’s a lot more we can do better in that area. However in regard to Peter Horan, if he was playing for Kilmovee adult team the other day there is no way he could have played mayo minor this year as he is not u17.
He might be 17 still but must be turning 18 before 31st December. Therefore he would have been eligible for the 2023 mayo minors if selected. Same as Darragh Beirne from Claremorris and young Lydon from The Neale.
Remember no u17 player is allowed to play adult football anymore. A rule I don’t really like actually as it hurts smaller clubs disproportionately. For example I’m sure Eastern Gaels would love to slot in the best 17 year old full back in the country, Tom Hession, in to their defence this year to help their push for a county junior title. A player of that level in a small club makes a massive difference whereas in the likes of Castlebar or Ballina they are just another young kid.

Are the junior and intermediate the same as senior as regards home venue for team that tops the group ?

Sean Deane doing grand, but before he's annointed heir apparent it's worth remembering they just about beat Kilmeena and while impressive v Ballintubber they are a team regressing and were missing Cillian.

They should probably also be reigning county champions if was not for some wayward shooting and decision making in last year's final. If he gets Breaffy over line this year then perhaps he could be a potential senior manager in time.

Of course he'll have to go to some other county first to cut his teeth as per the CBs decision making process last time out.

The difference so far in entertainment value in the club championship compared to last year is incredible. Without any rule changes it just shows that where there's a will there's a way. Hope it continues through to the ko stage because it's been great so far.
On the Brendan Harrison point I'm pretty sure that boat has sailed and he has no intention of returning.

@JoeG thats an interesting point. There's no question that overall the Senior Club Championship was a poor spectacle last year. So far the SFC looks to be much improved in 2024. Is it possible that last year was just a once off in terms of how dull it was?

A lot of teams are still playing a similar style of football compared to last year, so its not like everyone has changed things up. I do get the feeling that the overall standard of senior is now more closely bunched from #16 to #4 etc. The top teams are still out in front like Ballina but a few others appear to have came back into the chasing pack.

There is higher scoring than last year but that wouldn’t be too hard based on last year. The game is still very negative by some teams.

What do posters think about the senior team review being pushed back for a month. Not a ringing endorsement of McStay

Not good Pod Fan, not good at all. As long as doesn't turn into another media circus.

Pod Fan

Sad times tbh. Why we can’t make a fucking decision is beyond me. Either the CB are happy or not. Everything dragged out. If they were considering moving on from McStay, if they did it with speed they could have approached Malachy O’Rourke who would have been an excellent appointment and put a right spark into the team. But now he’s set to take up Tyrone. If I remember correctly the CB weren’t half interested in listening to the players the time they gave McStay the job. Maybe if they did they could have preempted some of the concerns players may have had about the same old backroom team.

It was interesting on the Ah Ref podcast to hear the two Conway lads namechecked as very capable forwards who would ‘get onto any senior team in the county’. Or young Horan in Kilmovee. The problem for lads like this, and we’re beating this drum for years, is that if you’re from a smaller club and unless you star at underage county level then you’re gonna struggle hugely to get an opportunity to play for Mayo versus lads who aren’t as talented but due to being with a senior club (or larger intermediate club)
get far more exposure and credit…when they shouldn’t.

In short, the structures in Mayo fail to allow us to maximise our talent pool. I just can’t understand why we don’t replicate the same structures of the most successful county. Kerry. Darren OSullivan and Declan O’Sullivan both lifted Sam as captains in the noughties. Both from junior clubs. They’d have been lost in Mayo and we go round scratching our heads wondering what we’re doing wrong…

@Pod fan oh didn't hear this..

@Green & red agree with you everything is so dragged out by the CB it's riducllous stuff at times by them tbh.