Lets hope all the rumors I'm hearing aren't correct. A few appearing online too

@PM I would not worry, we unfortunately have an abundance of players of the same caliber.
We need a few hard chaws and guys not afraid to shoot --- or is that a management problem.

Rumours not allowed unless you share the full story !! Yellow card lads

Its no longer a rumour but I haven't seen it on any Mayo media outlets but no doubt it will blow up over the weekend. Horan once said we need to take the bullshit out of Mayo football - its well and truly alive still I'm afraid. Willie Joe I have a feeling there are a busy few weeks ahead for you here...

Well now I really want to know .. Wish rumours wouldn't appear until at least confirmed!

We need a Mayo blogger WhatsApp group without the host moderating then we can hear all the stuff been rumoured, be savage craic if nothing else. .

The price of not addressing backrook issues looks like it will be costly

About 800 season tickets given up this year apparently. So plenty available to buy for those interested.
No real value in them now mind.

Looks like will be easy day out for Crossmolina. 4 weeks out in a row and 4 named starters down including their 2 midfielders proving to much for them so far.

Easy in the end for cross, they could go far in this competition, at michaels where screwed with only playing the County final 6 days ago and then getting a red in the 1st half they didn't have a chance.

Kilcommon well beat in the end . Had a feeling our junior championship was average at best , I also believe kilcommons style limits their ability to boss games , if the opposition have anything about them at all . “Could beat any junior team in Ireland on their day “ I think I heard someone say , first day out of mayo and that day has proven too much . They won the mayo championship but I wouldn’t be convinced they’re that much ahead of a few teams , bonni could have beat them too .

Crossmolina show their pedigree and a lovely footballing side to boot . Type of side you’d travel to watch , which I’ll do next week anyway . Where is the final , Tuam ?

Well done Crossmolina. The red card for Michael’s was massive and missing a few key players really hurt them too. HT came at the right time for Cross, they had lost their way completely. I’m sure some choice words were said, and Flynn in particular stood out when needed. A comprehensive 2nd half and they won pulling up. Hopefully Maheadys shooting boots are on next week. He worked hard today but his eye wasn’t in. Loftus had a good game.

Congrats to Cross they are a great club hope they can go far now!

@Sean. I’d agree. An Ceathru Rua were Senior a short while back. They were hot favourites today. They’ll probably get to Croke Park.

Might travel myself to see Cross next wk.

To be fair cill chomain fought really well because I definitely didn't give them a chance today. they can be very proud of their county title win a unreal year for them.

Mixed day for the Mayo sides.

Crossmolina took care of business very well albeit against a st michaels team that have been through the mill. You would make them favourites to close the deal now against Elphin too.

The all ireland IFC series is fascinating this year, some household club names in the mix Crossmolina, Austin Stacks, Ballinderry all who would have won all ireland senior titles in their recent past.

Kilcunmin disappointing but will reflect on a good year overall

That would also make my life considerably easier, Seán!

Final Whistle pod for the Crossmolina game is up now on Patreon.

Crossmolina closed out that 2nd half well with the man advantage and the sending off for the Galway champions happened to be their top scorer and they were fairly toothless without him. Final v Elphin will be in Hyde Park next weekend. Connacht GAA could have made it a double header with Tooreen playing there but apparently one final will be played Saturday and the other on Sunday.

An Ceathru Rua proved to be the strong outfit. Mayo clubs had won 3 or the last 4 Junior Connacht titles so would have expected Kilcommon to push the Galway men all the way.

Any idea which day crossmolina game will be next weekend sat or Sunday?

Delighted with the football Cross play, maybe it's a blueprint of a speedy wingforwards.
Flynn showed his absolute class as did Loftus, Maheady showed well but radar was little off but he will never stop shooting and trying genuine old school forward.

Cross have their faults but their old school back themselves direct running is a joy to watch, maybe return to fast tricky 10 and 12s, I'm not saying both the coggins , but the self belief and abandonment of lateral passing these lads posses is so refreshing , it's like Michael Donnellan, jack mc caffrey direct running , incisive runs that cause chaos and is a great watch, maybe something to note for kevin and Co

Well done CDR, Hard luck Kilcommin. Good luck to Ballina today. I wish Mayo GAA would sort it self out. 99% of the rumours always are true.

Very tight in the game low scores 2/2 after nearly 17min sligo champs gone ultra defensive sooner the new rules are brought in the better..

Very disappointing performance though Clare. Not good. Individuals just not stepping up. A few mins to go, hopefully Ballina can get back into it. Might need a goal

@Mayonaze to true your right. Collera the better team maybe to many games for Ballina at once don't know the first half they got to frustrated.

Also Padraig O horas black card didn't help things thankfully calinan was Ok after the hit fingers crossed they can do it in extra time but I don't know if we would beat Pearses if got through to final.

Some dogsh1t being served up in the connacht semis today.

At halftime it was
pearses 0-03 v mobile 0-02
Ballina 0-03 v strandhill 0-03

Absolute sh1te regardless of the time of year. There are numerous county forwards on show across the 4 teams

No signs of hope in Sligo to replace our full forward line in 2025

None of these teams are beating pearses in the final. That's for sure.

Mayo teams are utterly clueless against defensive setups

Penalties is the worst way to decide a game.. Though even if Ballina get passed them there's no way we would beat Pearses that was some win for Pearses today.

So disappointing, the standard of mayo club teams in the senior club championships over last 8-10 years. Clueless. Many chances to put the game to bed but no composure and cuteness to close out a game they had all the possession with.

Not often I’d be in agreement Clareen but I am about penalties . Ballina so disappointing though .

Shocking result but all the Ballina WANs will say is we won the moclair cup

The media will mark this as a shock. Is it really? Mayo club football is currently very poor. Ballina like the county team lack firepower.

very very disappointing for ballina to end the year in this way. the forward play again comes back to haunt a mayo team.

@sean Burke fair..

Really dissapointing but I don't know what other mayo club would have done better today either against that kind of set up.

As others have said mayo teams just are clueless v defensive set ups. Looks like it'll be Pearses the connacht champions.

Ballina blew that that when two points ahead in extra. Penalty shootout not a right way to settle a gaa match IMO no matter what others say.

No sympathy on the penalties front. It's a cop-out when people say 'it's no way to lose a game' after the deed is done

Ballina couldn't get the job done in a game where they were strong favourites

Sick of seeing Mayo teams at County and club level utterly flummoxed by any type of a defensive setup. Takes a bit of guile and creativity to counter it which is badly lacking in Mayo football

Ah yeah just very underwhelming from a Mayo perspective. Ballina never got going but then I’m not sure they’re a very good side. Said it before they lack a real top intercounty forward and I don’t mean any disrespect by this analysis of Ballina. They are worthy county champions and the best club side in Mayo at the moment - that’s indisputable. Perhaps it’s a reflection of the standard of club football in Mayo. We seem surprised almost, ever year, when our representatives in the Connacht championship stumble but the stats are plain to see now…Mayo club football has been at a low ebb for the past decade.

Our best club side beaten by Sligo’s best. Our u20’s beaten three years in a row by Sligo … Sligo pipped at the post by the All Ireland runners up…if these aren’t sufficient warning signs ahead of the 1st round of next year’s Connacht Senior Championship then I don’t know what it’s take.

Mayo be warned.

Clare - I think Pearce’s would have taken care of Ballina. They’ve been red hot favs for Connacht since beating Corofin.

Totally agree Supermac re mayo teams and excuses . It’s enough to make ya sick at this stage . I know people will argue back , them players do it for themselves and owe you or anybody else nothing . I’m afraid it’s where we are lacking as a collective , some results should be given the lashing they deserve . It’s shameful at times , instead of fawning over these teams the whole time and saying hard luck how about telling them you were fookin shite and need a good look at yourselves .

@yew_tree oh totally agree they definetly would have been beaten out the gate by Pearses.

Agree that Ballina don't have exsuces today even with the set up collera had. We should have had some answers and didn't lost it in the first half and should have kept possession when we had the 2 point lead.

@sean burke exactly.

It was the same cop-out excuses being made after Mayo lost at home to a demoralised derry outfit on penalties, that 'penalties no way to decide a game' and that excuses the turgid performance that went before. Its neither here nor there. The game is there to be won in normal and extra time.

@Sean…totally agree but it’s also the hype that’s built up around the club championship in Mayo. I followed the club championship this year, closer than ever before. Watched a load of games, listen to all the podcasts. And I must say, I really enjoy them and look forward to them but I often think there’s too much talking up performances and individual displays - there are lads who are average, solid club players abd you’d swear sometimes they are superstars. I just don’t think there’s enough critical analysis almost for fear of upsetting people. Boyler is probably an exception but even he is very diplomatic in his criticism.

The club championships were very interesting this year and more enjoyable than last year for sure but we need to realise the sides in Mayo have been very average for quite some time now and that’s been proven as soon as they step into the Connacht championship.

After that display from our Senior Champions, it's back to Mayo God Help Us, next year. How can teams that are coached and trained to that standard, play such rubbish.

It’s the acceptance that bothers me more than anything, I’m one of those that believe if you demand standards you’re better off in the long run . Losing to Sligo teams is not a standard we should accept , idc whose feelings I hurt or offend

Agree is well that we should not be loosing to sligo teams though sligo are up and coming but Ballina should have won today and we're favourites threw it away today for sure.

Howler of a result for Ballina. I’ve a feeling they may have took their Sligo opponents for granted, mind you they probably made harder work of their London opponents too. It begs the question where mayo club football is at. Knockmore the last team to reach a Connaught final losing to a strong Pearses team, who look set to win it again this year. Has it been a decade since a mayo club last won Connaught? I feel that Mayo clubs tend to be content with winning the club championship and don’t show the same level of drive to win Connaught. Mayo is very competitive and tribal, something you lose when you compete for Connaught. Does it play a part, more-so then in other counties?

There should be no surprise with Ballina losing today. The writing in relation to the drop off in standards in Mayo football has been on the wall for a few years now. Are people involved in Mayo football asleep - is there anyone within the county board prepared to put there hand up and say we are in a crisis. Look at the poor quality in the senior club championship over the last few years - especially lack of forward play. Look at the performance and lack of development of our u20 and senior teams over the last few years. Look at the style of football we are playing - diabolical. There will be people within Mayo football who will be surprised if we lose to Sligo in the championship next year - I won't be one bit surprised. Sligo football is improving and we are going backwards fast. Time for the people running Mayo football to wake up.

Fair play to Coolera, they had a tough time off the referee today too which makes this the more impressive. Big fall for Mayo. When did a Mayo side last crash out to a non Rossie or Galway side? It seemed the golden path to a Connacht title. But when you look into the depth of that Ballina side you'd wonder what Pearses could have done to them. Full tilt today and beaten. It's a bit worrying going forward. Even Cross seemed to be beneficiaries of a red card to help them?

I think this result shows how off it Knockmore were in the final. Injuries piled up for the backs men and it was coming that they couldn't sustain the heroics. Breaffy could easily have won that final if they'd played Knockmore under similar circumstances in the Semi.

Open season next year. But the last two seasons have been the poorest in Mayo club football in my lifetime.

Sputhmayo Exile, our CB couldn’t even put together a fundraiser in New York last year. Look at the balls of a managerial review they had this year. Look at how they fucked up McHale park pitch last year. The stadium debt. The manager selection process which is becoming more questionable as years go on. I say this will full confidence, we are by far the worst run county in the country. The hope of our CB fixing our underage structures is a pipe dream. Even our minor team, who were heavily praised this year. The semi final against Armagh was embarrassing from a S&C perspective. And that’s not the fault of a first year management team. It’s the fault of a CB who have not put together an S&C underage program to coincide with player development up through the ranks.

Senior county wise last years game v Derry was a thundering disgrace and I still haven’t heard any justification for our lacklustre first half performance when the most casual of Gaelic football enthusiast could of told ya , you absolutely tear into the fragile state that Derry team are in at this point but no what do good old Mayo do , the fooking opposite , it was unforgivable, who the hell do we think we are dismissing the obvious time and time again .

I think many clubs need to look inward at their own coaching structures and how to improve them.

There is a cartel of paid managers doing the rounds. It’s total bullsh1t what’s going on. They have only their interest at heart and I don’t know who is worse, them or the club employing them. It’s all about the quick fix which in the long run never works. In fairness Ballina have a Ballina native in charge, so do Crossmolina. Maybe a lesson there for some other clubs.

Let today's result and Galway lucky escape last year be a timely warning to Mayo.
Concentrate on Sligo first.

Might put a bit of dampener on those club stars awards!!! :0/

Yew tree Ballina also appear to have paid coaches on board.

Certainly a wake up call for many, hopefully..

Crossmolina win yesterday has been tempered by fact St. Michael's were down 4 men including their 2 midfielders from county final week before. They had also scored 1-5 or so without response before the sending off, wheels came off after that as he was their top scorer and free taker. But have great chance of at least winning Connacht now.

2025 another year though, onwards and upwards.

Sean Burke I can't agree more about standards or more concerning, the lack of standards. You need to aim high, because if you settle for mediocrity, that's what you'll get.

Horan, for all his flaws, had a standard that we rarely dipped below. That's completely gone now

Yew tree, good club coaching matters for little when the county management's continually run the legs off players during the closed season. November , mayo senior players running around the country with sat navs on their backs. And the under 17 team for 2025 also getting the cross country training. Remember 2013 minor team and the injuries that resulted from that obsessive running programme. Will we ever learn.

Well have new rules next time our county team takes to the field. Hopefully we will see a change in 'style' or 'tactics' or label it whatever way you liked. Our play in 2024 was dogged by obsession with possession and playing to coaching instructions.
The danger is there are a plethora of progressive counties, Westmeath, Sligo, Laois etc... And while we have the players, they have to be given scope to express themselves.... otherwise it's what's another year

Rober would u20 players not be involved with their clubs todays? Or are they not allowed play?

Scrap all the bullshit competitions and run a proper league.
Get an outside perspective on SnC as we are getting overpowered at u20 by Sligo. I don't want to see skinny players at county level it's not 1987 for God sake.
The Mayo divisional leagues have been reduced to nothing more than challenge games.
Monaghan have a really well run club league and look at how they are just as good as us on 30% of our pick.

Rober , bad example, we won the all Ireland minor in 2013 . Lol

Attended the claremorris Moy Davitts u21 game today. First day out for Claremorris as they had Ballina originally who conceded their game.
Scored 4-12 but were very sloppy. Won handy but they won't be happy with the performance. Starting forward line was
Darragh beirne Niall Hurley Adam Beirne
Dara Hurley Mark Maloney Johnny Cummins
Probably had 10 genuinely excellent goal chances and were very slack.
Great to see Dara Hurley back after his horrific injury, and he looks sharp.
Ronan Clarke was kept quiet by Rio Mortimer and Moy Davitts were quite poor overall.
Mark noonan the mayo u17 vice captain was absolutely outstanding, playing in the full backline instead of the usual centre back position, and he looks like another excellent player that Claremorris have produced in recent years.
Davitts beat knockmore.

Although Mayo through and through, I am delighted that Coolera Strandhill won today as it is my adopted team in Sligo. I missed the game due to a prior engagement but this caps a great year for the club with the ladies playing in an All Ireland quarter final in two weeks, the same weekend of the connacht final.

Pearses will be strong favourites but at least the game is due to be played in Sligo. Coolera have an experienced team with some good young players and a shrewd management team, it is a boring style but effective so long as they do not need to chase a lead. Sligo football is definitely on an upward trend so Mayo senior team should be suitably forewarned for next year.

Referenced 2013 cos that was the year that there was an outcry over subsequent injuries. The all Ireland success came at a cost. Conor loftus s being one of them. One should never forget the mistakes made, cos if you do you repeat them

Green and red, don't mention the under 20 club championship. Not going to say anything about that debacle.

Surely the u21 club needs to be earlier in the year?

I’ve had a few pinteens now and never put much thought into what i post here , I just do it as a passionate Mayo man . We have players who are capable and I just don’t believe we ever really maximise this . Tommy Conroy , James Carr and ryaneen are as good as there is out there , I honestly don’t believe we max that potential.

Tough day for Ballina... tougher watching that second half in Wembley..
To me club football is all about winning your county title, it's a massive achievement, regardless of what people think of standards..
All I want is the Stars to win Galway, couldn't care less after that..
From now on we will be watching , waiting, and wondering what's happening with our inter County sides. With no pre season games , the rumour mill be on high alert.
Mayos county panel will be based on who displayed well in the club championship..
Galway met officially on Friday night for the first time since All Ireland day.
There are a number of new lads called up , which is good to see. PJ and his new management were seen at quiet a few games in the last few weeks..

As bad a game as I can remember watching. Absolute muck.

@JoeG totally agree. So dissapointing. No exsuces from Ballina though. I think they took the sligo champs for granted and thought they would beat them and let their guard down. They will be kicking themselves but only have themselves to blame.

Fair play to Collera derserved win but think Pearses will beat them easily enough.

Mayo will definetly not be dimmisive of Sligo in connacht anyway.

2015 Castlebar the last Mayo team to win the Senior club Connacht title and lets be honest had Ballina won the shootout they wouldn't have won the final against Pearses. Can't see that stat improving in 2025.

At least Crossmolina reach the Intermediate final and should they win it would be the first Mayo Connacht intermediate winner since Westport in 2016.

Tuamstar, I heard that Cooke is back with Galway. Not sure if official? I know ye got to 2 All-Ireland finals without him but still a great option to have. Especially with the new rules as he's another long range scorer.