Game was lost in the first half, way to many handling errors and didnt seem up for it or at the desired pitch of it. Better in the 2nd half but the damage was already done. Conor was a big positive looked sharp fit and focused. Welcome back !

That game was just like Cavan game last summer, no game plan A or B from. Manager , No interest or no pride from players.

Culmore, I don’t think you’re right there. I thought the players showed up with a huge effort but we are simply not at Donegal’s level yet.

That's a ridiculous statement, Culmore. It was nothing like the Cavan game. Not the time of year, the competition, the conditions, the venue, the type of football played, the manager, the players on the pitch. Nothing like it. There clearly was a plan B when the style of play was changed up in the second half to better effect. And while to accuse players of having no pride in the jersey might have rang true for the Cavan game, that certainly wasn't the case yesterday. Several players put in big efforts. They just weren't good enough and didn't play well enough on the day. It's that simple.

Jesus I’m sick of the negativity. We could have won that game if we took the goal chances. The idiots on here with the doom and gloom, go and support galway. This blog has become very toxic and the fact that people think it is fine to openly criticise amateur players is appalling. No wonder McDonald is going to Australia

I think the management and team will learn a lot from that game, in fact more than if they won. Donegal are good bit ahead of us right now and that was one of their best performances in a while. Also good to face a contrasting style as well, a team that runs the ball rather than the kick pass. That's the benefit of league, gives us a chance to test out the Division 1 Teams for later in the year when the weather conditions are better.

Also great to see Conor Loftus back!

Listen Donegal built up a lead against wind and then eased off, took off their best players ( had Gallen stayed stayed on for full game what would he have scored ) when Mayo got a few points then just went and scored a few more to keep the lead they wanted. Even Andy admitted Jim took his game plan apart. This was a very one sided game, things can and will get better but we have a long way to go.

Great weekends entertainment. As always the league needs to be taken for exactly what it is and where everyone is at.
I'm delighted with Galways result and comeback in Tralee, PJ gets abuse at times but the number of new lads he is blooding is unreal. He has giving nine league debutants in the first three games. That can only bode well going forward.
Roscommon are flying, they could be heading for a league final appearance.
Mayo were disappointing, just never got going , need to get back to winning ways v Monaghan this weekend.

Tuamstar - Galway are a fascinating watch at the minute. They only really cut loose when their backs are to the wall and need to throw the shackles off. Some of the younger lads out there are playing with the composure of seasoned veterans. It’s shaping up to be a cracking Connacht Championship.

As for Mayo, I wouldn’t be overly worried about yesterday. It was a tough day on the road against a seasoned Donegal side, and we never really got going. The one frustration was that we didn’t adapt better to the conditions. That said, I was encouraged to see Andy and Boyler make early changes when things weren’t working that’s the kind of decisiveness you want from the sideline. Last year we didn’t even use all five subs in the Connacht final, so it’s good to see a more proactive approach.

There were positives too. Callinan, Tuohy and Beirne showed well, and Loftus made an excellent impact when he came on. Games like that will be long forgotten by May and June. As long as those performances don’t become a habit, we’ll be fine.

It’s important that expectations stay realistic and that people enjoy the journey. We’re in a good place, and it’s still very early days in year one under the new management. Roll on Clones — hopefully we can pick up two points and really start rebuilding momentum within the squad.

Would rather have a dissapointing day like yesterday now in February rather then in championship . We will have learnt alot yesterday for sure. It will also stop any media hype around us and let Andy and Boyler get on with the work without outside noise. Be nice go back under the radar . Rather Rossies in league final then us tbh .

You win or you learn. Simple as that. And we will have much to learn from that performance.

For me, the old excuses of the conditions, "new" team etc. are all just that. Excuses, and bad ones at that too. Firstly, it was the same conditions for both sides and secondly, we do not have a new team. We have 1 or 2 newbies, but nothing like the freshness of Galway where Joyce has started NINE new lads in three games.

The engine light was on early yesterday and while we "only" lost the second half by two points, in truth the match was over at half time. Garbage-time scores in the second half when the game is dead and done, cannot be allowed to mask what was a terrible opening 25 mins. The only bright light of that opening 10 mins was our defensive structure and the fact we kept them scoreless for as long as we did. But once the dam was breached, their efficiency was hugely impressive, everything they kicked (into the teeth of a gale) seemed to glide over the black spot. A marked contrast to our own efforts at the other end of the pitch.
Of course, we never raised the white flag, we rallied well in the opening period of the second half, created two goal scoring chances and had either of those gone in, things might have been different. Momentum is a serious tool, and in that opening 10 to 15 mins of the second half Donegal did not look as polished, they were harried into turnovers, their kickouts went astray, and that was the period where we should have punished their mistakes. However, as in the first half, our sub 49% efficiency killed us. We had almost as many 1st half chances as them, but terrible inaccuracy did for us.

For me, there are 2 or 3 lads who played yesterday and, I believe, they are not inter county standard and have many Mayo appearances under their belt. It will be interesting to see how the squad changes once the Sigerson lads are back in the fold and if there are any shocks on the cards..
Tuohy and Callinan continued their early season progress and yet again Beirne showed he can survive at this level. Could have bagged himself another goal but for a good reflex save by the keeper. However, I worry as to what the plan is for AOS. I know he's a big lad and getting on in years but he looks very far off the pace of the game. And it's only February yet!! Our performance level dipped significantly v Dublin when he came on, and yesterday didn't inspire much hope that he will be a force come the late Spring.
Onwards and upwards to Monaghan where it will be almost as big a challenge to come out of there with 2 points. Bar some wasteful decisions and execution in attack v Dublin, they would have won. They won't be pushovers!

If an elderly person with a fair degree of fitness kicked a ball on an open pitch, and a young fit and well trained player ran as fast as they could in the same direction as the ball, who should win the race every time ?
The ball should win.
If a good goal keeper can kick out a ball to near half way or beyond depending on the wind, why should they kick it out 20 yards, maybe receive it again, hand pass it to another player, and they to another and another and still not be at half way ?

Is that called tactics ?

Maybe they are hoping that the opposition players will get dizzy or confused ?

Unless a team are exceptional, their tippy tappy football will break down, resulting in lost posession, and more than often than not end up with a score back at their own end.

Mayo football is going in the exact direction that they keep resorting to playing.

Backwards, backwards and backwards.

When a goalie kicks a football out properly his team should be trained to win their own ball in the air & the break down of that ball.

Forwards should be trained to take on an beat their man , one on one with skill , strength and determination.

Mayo keep on going home to mammy when they feel that there is no way through on goals.

Going on home to mammy = playing back into their own half all the time.

It is absolutely awful to watch.

A player playing the opposite way to which he is supposed to be playing yet hoping for his team to get a score ??

Could the bollard / clipboard brigade please explain that ?

Mayo players who keep on getting ridiculous wides should be trained to give the ball to a team mate who is in a bit more space and also the habit of scoring.

I would love to see Mayo win an All Ireland but they are not being trained properly.

There is more publicity about Mayo footballers in the medaless winter than most county teams who actually go on and win an All Ireland.

The starting point for Mayo is 1951.

Surely a bit of honest soul searching re the same mistakes being made over and over again is absolutely vital in Mayo.

Measure the pitch from goals to goals and take the shortest route to the two uprights and cross bar that have to be reached to put scores on the board.

It has been said that the top part of any players head is all important.

The brain.

Where split second decisions are made, good
choices, timely offloading of the ball etc etc.

Break the cycle of losing.

Mayo are so similar to how Limerick hurling used to be.

Happy to knock Tipp or Cork out of the championship and nothing left for a tilt at an All Ireland title.

Mayo beat Galway again and again but fail in the search for an All Ireland.

Why is that ?

Limerick broke out of that awful cycle and won 5 All Irelands after a wait of 45 years.

It takes a massive focus on the part of any team to knuckle down and win the big games, as in All Ireland titles.

Theres far too much noise yet again in Mayo after yet another new manager and a few wins in the winter league.

The All Ireland requires a much bigger tank for the long journey, and far less autographing / media nonsense until after the final is eventually won.

The very best

Totally agree GN, but just wait now for the Measenger to be shot from all sides shortly, I predict about 30 hits on you, we were destroyed all over the field and on the line yesterday, even our keeper who was good let in one goal , theirs had a clean sheet. I am tired of excuses since 1951.

@gn, so what you’re saying is that because mayo lost a league match in February and played badly, that is why we have never won the all ireland and will never win one again?

- The general.consensus before the match was that it would be a tough test and likely a step too far.
- We did actually win plenty of our kickouts and possession in general.
- We fought to the end and we had the likes of Bob, Sam and Robbie doing well with Loftus mom.
- Carr won ball but did very little with it, he should have had at least 2 frees for a high tackle and arm being held but Hurson was letting the game flow.
- Our biggest weakness was how poor our marking and tackling was across the board, they were trying but they really had so little energy.
- Shane O Donnell and Peader Moogan were allowed raid up the field with no plan to curtail them...poor from the sideline.
- I seen Cora on the highlights program last night saying it would dampen the hype...what is she on about ?. What hype, 99% of actual genuine Mayo supporters know we have a long and a tough road ahead to win anything.
- I believe that David Gough is the ref next Sunday which is good otherwise it could be a very niggly affair.

What GN is saying is dispite all the "learnings" we take from these defeats in the league - we still come out and make the same mistakes again and again.
For example we all know playing 5 similar type midfielders in the modern game is not going to work. You need forwards with power and pace.
But what did we do yesterday - played 5 midfielders and left a natural forward n Boland sitting on the bench until game was over.

It's the playing fellas out of position and going back to the old guard that annoyed me and a few I've been talking to since yesterday.
Brickenden and Hession struggle in the FB line but are played there regardless.There two good players but there half back line players.
Aido and Diarmuid are great servants but time waits for no one.There impact subs now.

Ya i can't understand where this dampen expectations is coming from., if were not entitled to get happy about a team playing progressive football rather than what we suffered the last 3 years then please call the celebration police ...

For the weekend id like a more determined more robust lineup and few tweaks to lineup
.....................Hennelly
Mcmonagle..Mchugh...Morahan
Sam..........Loftus.......Durcan
..........Tuohy........McBrien
Dawson.......ROD.....Flynn
Beirne......Irwin......Mchale

Speed accuracy , play off the cuff .
Forward progression no slow down ball, not silly 3 yard hand passes for a guy to do a big stupid hop and solo and then handpass it sideways again , drive forward two plays per person simple basic stuff , leave ball carrying to halfbacks

I tend not to read the Monday match reports after a defeat, especially when it’s a bad one like it was yesterday. Not many Mayo supporters were expecting a win against Donegal but the manner of the defeat is a concern. We just couldn’t cope with the physicality and running power of the Donegal players and they cut through us at will. I’m not sure who was trying to pick up Gallen but I’m sure he couldn’t believe the amount of time and space he was getting. Thankfully he was given a rest for the second half!
Nobody wants to be too hard on our players after a defeat but they looked well off the pace for most of the game. Yes, it’s February and yes it’s the league, but April won’t be long coming around and yesterday highlighted the amount of work the management team and players have to do to be ready for the championship.

Some amazing criticism there from a number of quarters. From guys saying that a number of lads are passed it because we lost to possibly the best team in the country at this moment in time ( probably won’t be in July ) to some questioning the pride of the players their interest etc . Does anyone really believe that lads who devote at least 9 months of the year training and bursting their backsides to make the Mayo panel have no pride or interest .One wonders do some of these critics make the journey to away games - a few hours on a Sunday- or do they sit at home watching the tv and start the criticism once things get a bit dodgy. Some pride and interest shown there. And as for the chap against short kick outs to retain possession Well I think that has been the way for the last 20 years and even with the new rules the goalies are trying to develop new kick out strategies . There is simply no point hitting long kicks out the middle constantly if the other team is dominating midfield. All you do is you give the opposition more and more momentum. I have a theory why we lost yesterday. It was because we were playing a better team, a team who are Ulster champions and were in AI final last year. A team with an absolutely top class manager and some fantastic players. We haven’t won a Connacht for years didn’t even make preliminary quarter final last year and whether we like it or not we are not in the top 4 or 5. Sure we can rattle any team in a one of match but it takes a while for a group of new players to become consistent enough to challenge at the very top. Am I down hearted about yesterday? Not really because we need to be realistic.Can we win Connacht this year? Yes but it will be tough because our neighbours are looking lively at the moment with Galway showing amazing resilience in all 3 of their league games. We have a new management with quite a few good young lads coming through so give them a bit of breathing space and encouragement. Maigh Eo Abu

@to win just once I'm not saying Aido and Diarmuid are passed it based on yesterday.Ive stated multiple times that both could be impact subs this year.My view that they are no longer starters is based off the last few years.The reality is Aido is a non scoring forward and Diarmuid hasn't been able to stay fit for the last few years.I would have a fully fit Diarmuid as an option at midfield but not in the forwards.
My view is it's time to move on and give youth a chance.

@To win just once very well said. Even Ryan O ' D said before I don't put my life on hold for nothing I do it for the love of the green & red.
Donegal are the best team atm . Might be peaking to soon remember Derry ...

It's February people.

@Willie Joe ya need to monitor the negativity of some of the clems commenting.
@clare please keep your posts to once a week for gods sake.
Roll on monaghan lets stand together and shout up mayo

Yes, Mayomad, the negativity has been off the charts alright since Sunday. James Horan said years ago that our highs are always too high and our lows too low and it kinda feels like that over the past few days. A bit of perspective wouldn’t go amiss with the doom mongers at this stage, starting with the realisation that this was just one game in the middle of February.

I wouldn’t be lumping Clare into this particular critique either, to be honest. Positivity has been in short supply here of late!

It always raises a smile before league starts you get the comments...'' not worried about how we do in the league,all about champo... maybe better to play div.2 and get ready for champo'',etc.etc. until we lose a game to a better team on the day,or just have a bad day out.
Then it becomes doomsday, they're all good for nothings.New management is trying things.
Let the league play out,then we can critique it as a whole, would be my advice.

Thanks @ WJ !

The doom mongers are over the top as usual after a bad loss. I would be critical though of a few things. I got frustrated at one stage at the amount of long kickouts we were losing. It was also worrying that Donegal had this tactic of running in behind us and a good punch pass would be sent into the runner in a great position sometimes goal threatening even though the ended up with few goal attempts. We let them do that several times and players were not alert enough to it or management didn’t come up with a plan for it.
Also Donegal breaking out of defense in a way that made us look a bit heavy legged. I’ve seen poor performances in the leave before especially against Tyrone and we’d hear afterwards about heavy training sessions but not sure that was it on Sunday.
I would be inclined to start a few new lads especially Cian McHale and find a way to play the 2 Citógs close to goal. Beirne shouldn’t be dropped to make way. Also Morohan although Hessian could be a good option in the half backs along with Paddy and Sam with Plunkett as backup. Eoghan Mac is injured too often. McBrien midfield on return. I’d stick with McHugh as full back once his fitness gets close to 100%. Bric utility sub. Loftus a better bet for half forward replacing Jack or Jordan who are very similar. I’d also be hopeful Darren McHale when he returns will lift things as became one of our best forwards last year.
To go far we need more pace, higher intensity and better tactics. Andy was outdone but February experimenting time is the best time for it to happen. One more win in last 4 and we’re nearly safe. Would be hoping we mange 2/4 minimum. But nothing easy left, the best bet is vs Ros and Monaghan as opposed to Kerry who will improve and Armagh.