Would I be correct in saying that to reach the league final, we only need to beat Donegal and have either Kerry or Tyrone win next weekend? If so, I think there's a strong chance of that happening, as both Kerry and Tyrone need the points, and Donegal are out in Ulster the weekend after the league final.

Happy St Patrick's day to you Willie Joe,and to all who post on here,well done to Mayo team and management

Happy Saint Patrick's day to all.
On yesterday, I actually felt disappointed by the end of it. The performance was good in parts with some excellent individual shows from Ruane, O'Shea, Flynn and O'Donohue. The whole team is not there yet.
However, Derry were very poor and we should have really been ten or 11 ahead at the end to aid the score difference.
Like plenty of others said, we are poor for allowing teams back into games.
Next week is intriguing. Donegal might not want to make a final but will be a far bigger test than what we saw yesterday. Derry aren't going to put up any fight against Armagh as they're out a week later - so you can write that one off.
Therefore, I'd see one of ourselves, Tyrone or Kerry going down. Interesting times ahead!

Ourselves and Dublin would most likely be the two teams who would want a final most as it gives both an extra decent game in lead up to the serious stuff as their paths to the tougher games of championship are easier than the others.
I don't mean any disrespect to Sligo or the Leinster teams, but have to be realistic on the aspirations and resources available to the different counties. Likely 7 teams in D1 that could win out this year, probably more open this year than last; with one or two teams that could upset the applecart and get to last 8.

Tommy+Joe, what we all need to remember is that with the new rules this year, a large majority of the games have seen teams making comebacks from being 8+ plus points down, some as many as 14 or 15 points down...so it's a theme with the new rules that all teams are letting big leads slip...I would not be critical at all about mayo in their games this year, bar the galway game of course. They have 'managed' the end of games well, finishing strong against Tyrone and kerry...even yesterday after the 3 2pointers Glass scored, we got down the pitch to score a crucial point or 2...

I can definitely see Mayo making the final. I think we'll beat Donegal next Sunday and I can't see both Galway and Dublin winning their games. Almost by accident I can see Mayo finishing top of the table and playing Dublin in the final.

I don't see why we wouldn't want that either. An extra game to get some of the injured/fringe players closer to full speed and an extra challenging game before the Connaught championship. Sligo may give us a game for 45/50 mins but I'd expect to win pulling up there and anything but an absolute canter against Leitrim would be surprising so we could do with more competitive games before meeting Roscommon/Galway in Connaught final.

Of course it all hinges on which if McStay or McGuinness takes next weekends game more seriously but I'd say that will be McStay

We won in Derry by five points. I'm very happy with that. We don't have a good record versus Derry and Celtic Park is a hard ground to go to.
I also think Derry are in competitive form in this league.

Agreed re League Final , go for it momentum is key, the habit of winning is good and no harm to have a proper match v Dublin or Galway .

We're in a good place let's keep rolling along , try few different lads next weekend and if we win and qualify, good and well.

Has it been released where the Connacht final will be held yet?

Connacht final will be in castlebar if it’s mayo v Galway . Sunday 4th of mayo .

Mayo v Roscommon It’s the same as above .
(I think I have that right )

Final is seven weeks time

If it’s not any of them pairings it won’t involve us . Sligo /leitrim our side of the draw .

Best of luck to St Colmans today. Massive day for those young lads..let them give it their best shot

Switching horses midstream is for fools, but I'd back Dublin now against Tyrone if they're as flaky in patches as they were against a Donegal selection. Not sure Farrell is interested in the final by what he's been saying, but, by default, they could well end up in it.
Common sense tells me Tyrone will go all out though so probably best to stick with them. An all Connacht league final or Galway v Dublin would be my thinking.

Sligo have made yer game the number one target all year. All S+C designed to explode for that game. Some very dismissive comments above. Cast your minds back to last year, when Sligo were a whisker from beating Galway, it will be no walk in the park against Sligo.

@Western Gael Sligo we know won't be easy but to be honest we should be beating Sligo no disrespect to them. Galway we're missing players when Sligo nearly beat them.

No walkover with Sligo but mayo will win it.

Nervy start from Colman's but if they can hang in there and play themselves in to this game anything is possible.

Schools final is a great advertisement for the new rules !

They are living a very charmed life now are Colmans. How many wides have St Pats had?
Colmans could well win this. Might be just written in the stars

KM79, very true. Colman's should be beat out gate but for wayward shooting. That could erode confidence in the opposition so they still in with great chance.

Have to beat Donegal to be sure to stay in Division 1.

They will need to be braver second half
Have only had two shots !

Colmans were very poor in semi final as well. Will have to come in second half and have a go. No point sitting back trying to keep the score down. They need a lot more from their big players in second half

Ball not sticking inside at all. Have to get Beirne into this game. Doing pretty well around the middle and Noonan driving them on but occasion seems to be getting to many of the Colmans lads.
Still possible though.

Some decent ball in to the Colman’s full forward line but nothing’s sticking. St.Pats miles the better team so far.

Eight wides for Maghera in that first half. Colman’s looked a bit awed early on but those wides give them a bit of hope. Won’t be sorry to wave goodbye at last to this kind of Nordie defending!

But, only 4 points in it, St Colmans need to change their team around for 2nd half,
Noonan to midfield
Darragh Beirne to sit in closer to goal
Need stronger guy for forward line.
Bring Rio to centre half back
Tracey further out the pitch
Colmans goalkeeper should keep the ball on the floor for kickouts.

Probably short on power, but many of St Patrick's have minor All Ireland medals

Very disappointing , well beaten all over , strength again a factor with a mayo team , one play there the corner back for pats left 3 Coleman’s players wondering what day of the week it was , they didn’t even attempt to swarm him .

Has anyone else noticed this common trend with mayo teams over the years we never have the savvy for a last play , 30 mins on the clock , a min injury time , we have the ball in the middle and persist to play down the clock by passing it around the middle , do management not shout in , “get a shot off time is up “ surely surely to god that’s the instruction

Referee not great, slightly favouring St Patrick's

A league final would also give the players more experience playing with these new rules. Several times yesterday I saw players from both sides have to make very sharp stops with the 3 up rule. And was it 2 or 3 times the ref blew for it? Game time is only way to sharpen that side of things.

That's a cruel breeze up there. 33% shooting for Pat's vs 25% for Colman's.

It'll be a big help in the 2nd, though Pat's running game caused all sorts of headaches and they'll be using it well against the conditions. Big battle to come.

McKaigue off from Midfield a massive boost for Colman's.

Hopefully Colmans players are let have right cut at this second half. Will be a lot of regrets if they don’t go for it . Only the 4 points in it. A goal woods be huge

Big improvement needed for Colmans second half. Throw caution to the wind and go for it and it either works or it does'nt, but, at least give it a rattle. What is it with Mayo teams across all grades, that our defences always seem looser than the opposition?

St Pats look far too strong in that first half, will need a big turn around if Colmans are to have any chance. Big difference in physical power between the two sides. Mark Noonan has been very impressive he was great for mayo minors last year too and should have a very big future if he’s developed properly.

There is something wrong with Mayo teams in finals. At every grade down the years.

Is there anything to be said for no media coverage of underage players in Mayo? Let the lads play ball and develop in peace, enjoy their football and see where it gets them.

Pity they didn’t cut loose a bit sooner . That was a great save which denied us a grandstand finish !

Maghera miles better deserved to win by more. You have to bring your A game to finals in Croke Park or else stay in the house

I actually wasn’t happy to hear the two Coleman’s players on a podcast but didn’t want to say it last week. One might say, you wouldn’t say that if Coleman’s were winning but I’ve said this umpteen times on the blog…so I’m consistent if nothing else. Theres way way way too much feckn media hype around underage and more often than not it’s over the top praise. Would ye please stop it. It’s really detrimental to the young lads.

In fairness to the Ah Ref pod they specifically refrained from doing so and credit to them for that.

On the game itself…Losing is one thing but what’s most disappointing is Coleman’s didn’t turn up.

Ahh stop the lights lads , that’s a different league out there , claremorris just blessed it wasn’t a 20 point beating . I’m sure they tried their best but there are levels , and pats are just a couple of levels above . Pedigree in them Derry lads is very evident ,some of them will have great careers ahead of them .

Well done to Coleman’s , they made the final on merit I’m sure and deserved their place in final .

St pats just a much better team, colmans did really well to get to a final in the first place as they have had much stronger teams over the past 3 or 4 years. There defending was top top class. Beirne tried really hard and colmans where just way to reliant on him for scores.

Hard luck to Colmans-unfortunately they were completely outclassed in every aspect. To sum up the game, every time Pats came forward, I expected them to score and I expected Colmans not to score and usually to lose possession. More evidence, if anymore we're needed, that we are falling well behind in Mayo at underage level and it's a serious issue. And I'd like to know if the county board are doing anything, or intend to do anything about it. A complete root and branch examination is needed.

In fairness one shouldn’t be too critical Maghera have loads of Ulster titles which are very difficult to win and a good few All Ireland colleges as well. Football up there is the be all and end all i Look at their management team Two superb ex Derry footballers. They would have been massive favourites today Colmans battled hard but were really not good enough. It was an amazing achievement to get to all Ireland final. Look at how few Mayo schools who have been successful in Colleges competition Underage football is so strong in Ulster at the moment Never expected Colmans to win today. Was hoping they might hit a few goals like they did in semi but just not good enough

Commiserations to St Coleman's . As expected they came up against a .much. better team and just didn't turn up themselves on the day. But unfortunately it was more evidence of the wrong focus on coaching in Mayo for year's now.. we coach athletes not footballers. Under the new rules that will be forced to change.

Predicted Team for Donegal:
Vahey
E O'Donoghue Brickenden Morahan
Akram Ivers Dawson
Melvin Thornton
Coggins F McLaughlin O'Flaherty
Boland Prendergast Quinn

Day to play the B team in a sense; and what a game to give them. Win and you have a great shot of making the squad for a League Final in Croke Park. Would be disappointing to be relegated on 7 points, but let's be honest about it, stranger things have not happened.

We're in a good place. Lads don't really need minutes to build form. Even our newbies Kelly, Reid, Neary, Irwin and even though I named him above Morahan. These are also the guys I'd have no qualms about playing. Anyone who has even a hint of a knock, Coyne, McHugh, McBrien, Carney and D McHale, I don't want starting. Would like to get more minutes into Eoin O'Donoghue and Rory Brickenden, and would be no harm giving Towey and Boland starts imo. And of course would love to see any of Diarmuid, Tommy and Paddy, Bob Touhy or even Cian McHale.

We've been swapping around the sub keeper

We're in a very different place than two years ago, when we were blooding an entirely new defense. We've a bit more depth now. No harm at all fluking our way to a League Final, giving it a good, and maybe taking the trophy home. It's what the Dubs and Kerry do. Would be even better to best a Galway who have been eyeing the trophy.

Mayonaze - it’s a case of damned if you do and damned if you don’t! Before we did that pod someone else was on here giving out that we were ignoring them. The pod we did do wasn’t at all an exercise in hype so I really fail to see where you’re coming from in your criticism of it.

As well as that, both schools held media events in the lead-up to the final, including one at Croke Park where all four of today’s finalists were represented. There was also coverage (including interviews with players) in the local papers and on Midwest too so it wasn’t just on the pod that the game was being covered.

Mayonaze, seems we are of a similar mindset. But until GAA themselves do something about it it won't change. They do their own things for sponsors etc. as well. But in the social media age i just feel it puts to much pressure and focus on young people. U20 is soon enough to be at the media craic.
Minors should be kept to bare minimum. Media outlets like papers and blogs try to make a few pound off the back of it which is only natural to I suppose, so would really need Croke Park to lay foundations of does and don'ts.

I wouldn’t buy into the hype excuse at all , it’s how you deal with hype , (not being specific about colmans team ) . They were hyping the hell out of Clifford at 16 , he was a god , hasn’t harmed his game one bit , mcguiness has paraded Ulster winning teams through the street parties with supporters ,again didn’t harm their attitude. We have an attitude problem deeply rooted in the mayo psyche and I’d argue it’s nearly the opposite of hype or to be more precise genuine confidence and belief in what you’re doing . Look at all the posters worried about Sligo game , ffs how many times in our history have we lost a championship game to Sligo what’s the ratio like since championship began probably about 85% wins , if you can’t believe in the project there’s little chance your goal will ever be achieved, we have an awful fear of failure , even as supporters we are afraid to come out of our cautious comfort zone .

We have a job to do this year and that is to win the Nestor cup , instead of having nightmares about how Johnny McGrath will roast a returning Tommy conroy , dream of Tommy gettin 1-4 off him etc . Then believe we can the all Ireland , not shouting mayo 4 Sam , simply believe that we have as good a chance as any other county.

Hard luck Colmans but ye did so well. It's some achievement making it to the final. Ye have made some brilliant memories for yourselves, your families and the the extended communities and villages around Claremorris. Chins up!!

I went to the game St.Pats were just better all over the field and could have had another 1-8 or so.
Sometimes you just come up against a better side.
Ronan Kelly played well I thought.
Alot of Colmans lads will be regulats in Croke Park over the next 10 years.
I really don't think media coverage had any part to play in that at all.

Free the east bank, no doubt about it St. Patrick's were by far the better team across the board. St. Colman's done brilliant to get that far and will be disappointed to have registered only 8 points between semifinal and final.
The media coverage may have very well have had absolutely no baring whatsoever on it, the topic is a wider one though given the proven links between social media exposure and mental health I think it's something the GAA need to review.

@Sean Burke well said!

FrostThammer - if we lose very good chance we are relegated.

Mayo team and supporters need to start ‘Manifesting’!!!! Seems to be the new thing lately.
1. ‘We will win the Nestor Cup 2025.’
2. ‘We will win the All Ireland 2025.’
Sean Burke is correct though. Never felt it more than 2021 final. Felt the doubt come from the pitch and that realisation sweep across us all in the stands. We are damaged goods psychologically from all the final losses. Never felt more embarrassed too than that day. Sean can take charge of our ‘manifestations’.

No disrespect to Sligo, who are doing great work at underage, and are capable of the odd upset. There is a difference between complacency and confidence and if we are worried about losing to Sligo we are going nowhere fast and no psychologist will fix that. We are a Division 1 team(hopefully), Sligo are struggling to survive in Division 3.I don't buy any of this stuff, that Sligo are not bothered about the league and are waiting in the long grass to ambush Mayo in the Championship. Lose to Sligo and we are going backwards and McStay & Co. are gone immediately.

21 felt like a final we should have won, but were we actually better than that Tyrone team, especially when factoring in the injuries?
After that, I'd say 13 s the best candidate for one that should have been won.
After that - 96?

There's been finals that were right there for the winning that we didn't close out, but we were playing against better teams in those matches.

Obviously all the losses will take a toll, but the whole psyche thing can be a bit overblown. Would be interesting to hear how important it is to the squad. Pretty sure I remember Seamie O'Shea flagging that Mayo never really lost matches they weren't supposed to with a few exceptions.

Well Said Sean Hopefully see you in Fourways soon!

Hi WJ - I’m a big fan of the pod and a subscriber from the early days of it, but I definitely think on occasion there’s a tendency to overly talk up average performances and until more recently, a reluctance to be critical. That being said, I look forward to and eagerly await the pods post-match. However, I definitely wouldn’t have agreed to interviewing two guys in school and regardless of the tone/direction of discussion it just increases the spotlight on them. I don’t think it helped, at all. I’m as much a fan of underage teams as most and long to see them win, as I do all Mayo teams but there’s far too much media attention on young teams/players. The 2022 minor final is a perfect example. I live in Galway and the Galway Advertiser and Connacht Tribune had maybe half a page or so on the AIF. There was no talk of it. Meanwhile in Mayo the hype around that minor team was ridiculous. Multiple pages across all the local papers as well as online. Our lads simply couldn’t have been mentally right going into that final and the evidence was on the pitch. This is just one example. I just wish there was less eulogising over underage players who’ve won nothing. It’s counterproductive. It’s entirely different if a team win an All Ireland. Give them praise then. I’m tired of hearing about all this talent coming through. Where are the medals? What’s the barometer for judging talent? The Mayo club championship? Hopefully not.

@Sean, I agree with that bullish approach. You know I’m a big fan of colour and flags! I don’t shy from that and on a number of times I’ve mentioned my disappointment of a glaring lack of visible suppprt on Mainstreet in Castlebar a few days before the 21 final. It was embarrassing for the county town. I’m all on for supporters getting on board. I’m all on for a positive, assertive mindset but there’s a difference between that and unnecessary focus when it’s underage teams. There’s simply far too much talking up and/or attention placed on young bucks who’ve won nothing. Do we really count provincial medals now as a major achievement? I hope not. If I was managing a schools team going to an AIF I’d have kept them a million miles away from the media. Anyone looking to do a podcast or interview would have been told to wait until they final is over with the exception of any obligatory official GAA press requirements.

Mayonze your saying today that you weren't too happy about having the 2 lads on the podcast , yet a couple of weeks ago you were giving your opinion about a 17 year old going to Australia and how you'd be against it , is that not hyping him up and putting pressure on him .

You're missing the point, Mayonaze. All of the schools involved in today's final put forward team members to speak with the media beforehand so anything the Colman's lads did (and it wasn't just with our podcast) the other teams were doing as well.

I'm not sure what outlets you're referencing about overly talking up average performances or being unwilling to criticise but I'd certainly defend the pod and the blog robustly on both of those charges. Where it comes to underage players we'd always be careful not to say too much (either positive or negative) and I think our record speaks for itself. I can't obviously speak for the approach taken by others.

Your one hundred percent correct there Willie joe , in fact you have had to remind posters in the past that the lads that they are posting about are still in school and only 16 and 17 years of age

@Willie Joe fully agree there was no hype around Colemans each school did media interviews beforehand.

Sadly Colemans were just outclassed by a much better Derry team.

Hard luck to Colemans did great to get to the final they are young with lots of better days ahead of them chin up young ones!

This is an interesting conversation.my opinion is that the pictures in croke park were ok but I think Colman's were wrong putting the lads forward for interview and to a lesser extend the the media were wrong to interview them. The players in question are all 18 but they are still young and a lot of their teammates are younger

It has come up for discussion on the ah ref podcast a few times and ref once said something along the line of just let them play football. I agree- we (supporters) have a habit of talking up players/ teams in lead up to games or when we win but we are great talking down when they lose. We put to much pressure on them and not all cash handle it

Always lots of talk about hype and Mayo. Maybe we do hype our teams too much but that is probably because we are so desperate for success. But the fact of the matter is the vast majority of times we have been beaten is because we have simply not been good enough on the day. That was the case with Colman’s today, with our minors v Galway a few years ago, with our u 20s v Kildare and our seniors v Tyrone in 21. We are desperate for success, build up our teams and our own hopes before big games and then look for someone to blame when we lose. 2021 was a case in point. J H was God when we beat Dublin in the semi but 4 weeks later he was responsible for all our ills. Usually ( though not always) you need to be better than your opponents to win. Unfortunately we have not been better than our opponents in most of the big games we lost

Alot of posters on here making smart comments about Colmans while all the other Mayo schools have no history or tradition to even compare with Colmans.

@Achill 75, great to see Colman's get to the final.
All the talk about hype is a load of bull.
The Omerta with senior teams will be the downfall of the GAA.
We have lost the PR battle to Rugby and Soccer.

St Colman’s met a better team today and lost, they know it and don’t have to be told that. Great achievement for a school of that size to get to the final and could be a while before it happens again.
On the media interviews the lads interviewed are both young adults and well savvy with the plus and minuses of putting oneself out into the jungle of public adoration , debate and criticism. I think once lads are over 18 and young adults they are free to decide if they wish to participate , they also learn through the process . Some of the commentry on the Mayo GAA Facebook page on the Colmans game is appalling with posters only showing total ignorance .

I wouldn’t worry about comments online. Many from towns whose schools compete in b and c championships. Colmans do very well to be always competitive in A despite a fall in student numbers.

St Pats are very strong and always have been. Derry are hardly a powerhouse in senior inter county football though.

On a brighter note for Colman's and Mayo in general, there look to be some talented lads coming through.
That defeat will sting for awhile but they did themselves and the county proud to get there.

Tommy 132 - I'm not allowing that comment up as I don't believe it's wholly fair to the individual referenced in the podcast in question.

Honestly the conversation on interviewing guys is off the mark.Having teenagers myself their lives are online and that's where they live.
I bet not one of them even know about this blog or podcast which to be honest is made up of followers well out of teenage years.
You can't hide guys away it's not the 70's anymore...kids now are just different and overall better than I think I was when I was that age....they live online
Success on the field will bring attention online and there is always some bollocks that " slips into your story"" and makes a smart comment at a bad time but really that's just life and I reckon all of these lads know it.
Alot of those fellas have great years ahead and to be honest I don't think being in the media makes any difference one way or the other.
I think the right decision was made to interview the lads and I don't think we hype players up in Mayo more than other countries ties either

Freetheeastbank the medical studies would say different. It's an individual thing, the lads interviewed appeared to be sound and well able, might well not knock a stir out of them. The vast majority of a given panel may not be impacted. But it only takes one kid to be affected. The interviews likely not an issue for them lads, it's the comments and stuff they generate after from trolls that usually cause the problems.
As Mayo Man for life highlighted some of the comments on line last night were shocking, one lad taking it bad could be life changing. Which is why feel media black out for underage kids is way to go.

Deel Rover, I have issue with underage players being hyped up. That’s quite clear from what I said. I do not have an issue with Mayo minor or u20 players being referenced in a fair manner and one that takes into account their age. As FreeTheEastBank said, teens live a social media world. Nevertheless, that shouldn’t cause us to take anything for granted or lower standards. I’m not going to comment on the AFL situation, but it certainly wasn’t hype and to misinterpret it as such is ridiculous.

WJ I think your articles on the blog are on point and when you have appeared on the blog, I’ve found myself agreeing fully with your comments (certainly this year…I can’t remember further back!). However, and this is just my opinion, but I think there has been a tendency on the Pod to laud players and up until this year, a general reluctance to really criticise. This has changed to a degree this year which I’ve been glad to hear.

Again…just opinions.

*when you’ve appeared on the Pod

Game went along the expected lines, one poster here responded to me claiming I was harsh on Derry pre-match in reality I was calling things as I seen them and it's how it played out with Mayo winning by a few points to spare.

@mayomagic: I said the review of their Donegal performance was harsh.

They've had poor games this year (the showing against Dublin was pretty atrocious) but the first 55 minutes against Donegal was their best of the year. Those last 15 were every bit as poor as the opening was good, but that did happen within the context of some key injuries. I'd completely stand by saying it was harsh to say they were bad that whole game. As would their own fans who (correctly) thought there were huge positives to take from it.

That said, it did play out like that last 15 for much of our game again. Not sure if I've ever seen quality players like McGuigan, Cassidy & Doherty look that poor over a whole game in recent years. Other than Glass' heroics keeping them in the contest, they looked rudderless & deflated. Much worse than you'd expect from a team simply missing a couple of key lads like Rodgers & McFaul. A huge task to try and pick up morale from there. Worryingly for them, I'm not sure if we've seen anything from Tally (you'd have expected them to hit the ground at 100mp/h against us as a pushback to that late collapse against Donega) to suggest it's coming for Championship. Interesting to see if he can get the reaction.

Gizmo...I don't know if there have been studies done on any of this.There is no question that coverage raises pressure but there is no way to avoid it in today's world.The risk is online not in old media like interviews or papers.
If the nasty stuff starts it's in Snapchat or instagram or tiktok and there is just no way to stop it.If one of those lads makes a bad mistake then it's gone all over and the comments go with it....just no way to stop it.I seen it myself in the last few months my own Son had a big success in an individual sport and that night the naysayers were on line having a go...and that's after a success....what I learned from that was from him...he just shrugged and said its part of life and at their age and their reality it is.I don't think fellas my age understand that.
There is risk of this in today's world and while I appreciate your point I just don't think it can be prevented other than just encourage them in dealing with it

No there's no preventing it sadly, but there is the potential to limit it. GAA can say no press releases or social media posts for minors and below, including on their official channels and that would greatly reduce it, and at the higher risk age groups.

Most of those players won't make adult county, let them enjoy the football without being set up for abuse of things go awry.
Glad to see numerous comments online were deleted last night. Many from older individuals who should know better and were identifiable.

I would hope that the tenor of the online commentary that takes place here, which in general is restrained and reasonable, shows that protection of underage players is possible, if the will is there.

Facebook (is that even still a thing?) is a lost cause: the way people comment there more resembles verbal burping rather than anything involving the use of any brain function, more often than not by people who are definitely old enough to know better.

Derry looked broken after Irwin's goal. I was surprised that there wasn't more fight in them. Losing your keeper is a big blow though.

We deserve credit for keeping them quiet though. First time they ran at us they nabbed the goal, but after that they didn't get much change out of our defense.

A very satisfying performance. If we play like that, and avoid a load of wides, we will beat the teams we are better than. If felt like we were in control of the game at all times on Sunday. We kept tagging on scores through the first half. Have to acknowledge the finishing from Mattie and Jordan on the goal. They were as much things of willpower as anything else.

Thought the goal flattered us a little bit at half time. Derry kicked some bad wides but felt it was fairly even. Second half we went looking for a goal, got it, put our foot on their throat and stretched it out to ten. Saw it out relatively comfortable from there.

Possibly our most complete 70 minutes. I would love to see what this team has in a League Final. 2019 League Final is one of my favorite Mayo performances, and putting in a performance like that against a Dublin, Kerry or Galway in Croke Park would imo do a huge amount of good for our self belief.

Could still be relegated, but honestly can't see Donegal making much of an effort this weekend. Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, we've plenty of talent to come through.