I think Fenton Kelly will be rightly confused and upset not to be starting.

Crazy that O'Shea is starting! Nice to see some debuts.

Is Jack Coyne injured or because of Sigerson cup.
I think Aido is better as an impact sub Cian McHale I would have liked to have seen starting .

Jack has an injury apparently. Nothing serious but no reason to risk him for Sunday.

Interesting team. Few surprises, it will be competitive. Plunkett/ Brickenden our spine at the back. Hope it works out. McBrein experiment continues, thums up on that, Big games needed from Carney and Flynn. We need to see much more of Tuohy. The gloves are on, let's see what we can do.

Still playing , what are potentially 2 midfielders as wing forwards.

4 changes from Connaught final in the backs.
I thought they were good last year.
Building up a panel I hope

There could be a change or two before throw in yet who knows.
I’m surprised Lydon isn’t on the bench. Great man to bring in off the bench as he’s an out and out shooter.
Re Galway I hadn’t heard much about recent challenge matches so didn’t really know what to expect. The team that’s named just solidifies my belief that we’re in trouble up front. Only one of the six named forwards would be what I would describe as a scoring forward at club level even (Rob).The two wing forwards are defenders. The two inside corner men are not marquee club forwards. Decent players yes but county senior standard inside forwards? Not a chance.
Mulhern at 11 is a good player alright - still under 20.
Clearly Walsh, Comer, Thompson. Conroy, D’arcy. McDaid will make a difference down the line if they are all fit (doubtful) as all of them can score. But the reserves up front are bare if one or two of those don’t make it.

Similar line up to what started against Roscommon in the FBD semi final and challenge v Clare last weekend. Both games Mayo scored 20 plus points but no goal, be interesting to see what is scored in the Salthill wind tunnel.

The half forward line will see a lot of rotation to try and find the best fits (2 point shooters) during the league and in fairness to Carney he has stepped up in that area in the last few games. JF is another man who can take a score I wonder if he is no longer an option for midfield.

Mattie Ruane and DOC are another 2 lads who can play both positions and it will be interesting to see where Andy plays Rusne in particular.

Otherwise Paul Towey might be feeling a little hard done by aswell unless he's injured

There will be changes. Could see Kelly, cian mchale and paddy starting...out would be tuohy, Plunkett and brick...

Two potential midfielder at wing forwards an advantage imo. I don't see any outstanding fielders, compare to brigids lads last weekend. Be interesting to see if we can come up with a strategy that works. Back to Billy Joe's point, in tight games you need to be maintaining possession from kickouts.

Ya , worried about no 3 and no 6 against Ciaran Mulhern and Rob Finnerty .
Be worried about them on any of the Galway forwards as all are fast .

Anyways always positive but worried about spine, as said above over to you Bob and co .
Would be lovely to see Carney either midfiled or nowhere as hes going to have his tounge out chasing Molloy .
Likewise having see Flynn put it up to the best in the county at midfield , hes not going to be hare up and down the line and whilst hes a great line runner with ball in hand , just feel were killing him out at 12 .
Nearly prefer to see Paddy Durcan at 10 or 12 if you want someone a little more defensive and good breaking ball winner

Are Gortnor Abbey playing this week or what? Why are they still holding Kobe, he needs the exposure now if hes to make an impact in the Summer.Hoping he starts against the Dubs in Castlebar.

Gortnor abbey are not playing this weekend don't think so anyways . Probably not overloading Kobe as they are into semi finals and with his Leaving cert and that .

Gortnor Abbeys Connacht semi final is down for middle of next week unless that changes. Also I don’t think Flynn would have any trouble getting up and down the field, probably our fittest player.

Good team there will be changes I’m going for a 3 point win for Mayo Connacht title is important along with staying in Division 1

Not doubting his fitness CDR , but its not fair on him expected to be allover the field when he them goes to kick for a point , hes feeked out . I'm saying if he was in Central channels be best use of his skillset

Has it been confirmed that Kobe is available to play in league or championship?

There will be changes during the game for sure but hopefully that team starts and let's see what we have.
Go and get it done lads and get the new era up and running.

Not the team I would have picked but the league is the time to experiment and we need to build a panel for the championship.
Hope Tuohy comes good at midfield but I'd have some reservation about him yet.
Agree with GBXI about Aido.
It's crazy to be starting him.
Should be an impact sub.
Great player/servant but no scoring threat against the top teams.
It's the same bloody argument every year.
Can Hennelly be the keeper and what do we do with Aido?

We have a strong panel. All the indications are that our style of play will be high tempo. Bench will have a part to play. Let's see how it goes but worrying about players not on the panel is no more than a distraction. I expect a win for Mayo, 2 or 3 points.

Love your positivity Ontheditch but we cant play high tempo, when in all honesty Galway can run faster backwards than our central spine can run forwards.

The first comment about Fenton Kelly being “confused” is ridiculous. Firstly, the competition for places back there is fierce. Look at our bench with Paddy and Stephen. We also have players like Conor Loftus, McHugh, and Eoghan McLoughlin to come back into the mix god willing later in the year.

Secondly, Fenton had a fine game against Galway but he still has work to do on putting this head up. When a kick was on at some stages in Tuam he ran the ball. A fine player but confused I don’t think so.

Had heard Towey went well against Clare so assume he’s injured.
Looking at the two teams you would have to fancy us, our need is greater and we have a more experienced team our with the likes of Durcan, Boland, and McHale off the bench. I would let Galway have the wind in the first half and reel them back in for the second.

I really hope this eagerness to see Kobe play dies down soon. The lad is just 18. What do people expect to see when he plays? Do we think he’ll score 0-10 points every day? If he does play he might. Or he might be physically overpowered and snuffed out of it

I remember when Joe Canning was coming through in Galway there was a similar rush to see him play and for many many years Canning could never live up to the ridiculous expectation people had of him

As for the team on Sunday, positives are getting to see McGreal and Beirne start but again 2 lads very young. Still u20 this year . Not sure why we are reverting to Brickenden at full back or persisting with 2 midfielders in half forward line. All may be clearer Sunday

On paper the Galway team looks a lot stronger but it will come down to how much work both Camps have done. Will we see a change or two before throw in? We did in FBD so why not?

In particular the very best of luck to Eoin McGreal, Sean Morahan and Darragh Beirne. Good team and squad selection from management, they have popped in 3 of the most deserving young men into the starting team in an important game, they are in their preferred position and they are surrounded by chaps with loads of experience. Good defensive options on bench in Stephen and Paddy.
Unless any injuries I hope that team starts, that old ploy of moving out a player or two to make room for others before throw in does absolutely nothing for a lads confidence be he years in the squad or just arrived. Looking forward to it now.

It doesn’t feel like a very ‘new’ team. Darragh Beirne and Eoin McGreal, the real newbies.

If the forecast is accurate, it’s going to be a slog, so big and tough will be useful. Interesting that Bob Tuohy is named to start; I thought he had a good FBD, which brought him right back into contention.

On paper we have some impact subs to bring on: Paddy D and James Carr of the experienced sector, while Conal Dawson and Cian McHale know where the posts are.

The jury is out on Tuohy for me he was really poor in that 1st half v Donegal last season.Same as Brickenden not just aggressive enough maybe Jack Carney to in the big championship games and thats a trait you really cant learn.Hope Finnerty doesnt pat Brickeden on the head tomorrow.

Tuohy hasn't shown the aggression or physicality so far. he needs a big step up, he's getting plenty of chances, he needs to take this one.

Michael Langan outstanding in donegal win v Dubs. Midfield dominance won it for them. Our performance at midfield tomorrow will come under al lot of scrutiny

Agree @ontheditch

Surely our need is greater tomorrow? Surely we will have that added bit of hurt and eagerness to win those dirty balls.
I usually wouldn’t be one for getting overly animated about the league but I do think this game is important to lay down a marker -
Colm Keyes made the point with Mike that Galway particularly enjoy beating us and the way they celebrate the wins.
A marker needs to be set from tomorrow that this is the new Mayo and we aren’t for moving

I would prefer we have a left footer at 10 in Dawson or McHale and move Carney into midfield for Tuohy or put Aido on Cian D'arcy, as he will have the legs for him.Both the same build.Centre field in Pearce Stadium in January will suit Aido.

@samog would disagree on Aidan midfield. Hes not going to be playing there in Croke Park in July so no point having him there now putting out fires.
I’m sure he can drift out to help if required but for now we need to road test McBrien/Tuohy for future escapades

I'd agree with that Clubman. Posters have to accept that we are at experimental stage. Doesn't mean we can't win matches. I remember colm keys making the point and hopefully we'll be able to smile a bit tomorrow evening. Also Billy Joe's point that tight games that go down the stretch are won by the team that can retain possession from kickouts.
I would have given the nod to Thornton over Tuohy but Andy an co are the guys watching these lads at training sessions. Boyle is no shrinking violet and Tullys CV is very impressive also highlighted by Keyes.

Good luck for tomorrow,please support the team and management,they don't want criticism at this time

Sam og - agree with you on a natural left foot at 10. Dawson, C McHale or FMcLaughin for me

On Cein Darcy don’t underestimate his mobility. He’s in the mould of Seamus OShea. Big powerful frame but very mobile. Aido wouldn’t have legs for him

What about Flynn to 9,Plunkett to 12 and McBrien to 6.Andy did name Plunkett as a 2 point kicker.

@Pacar judging by the pre season games McBrien has settled into midfield very well.
He has exceptional hands and can break a line