No need for Tommy conroy to be playing Sunday with sigerson starting on Tuesday?surely he can’t play both

Great to see so many new faces get an opportunity to show what they have to offer .
Best of luck to them

As Cp has mentioned the Sigerson cup - can anyone provide a link to the Sigerson cup squads for 2024. I cannot find them anywhere and it would be interesting to see what teams Mayo players are involved with this year.

Has Aidan O Shea being named on the subs bench ? Aidan played very well in the charity game last week

@Southmayo Exile

https://www.gaa.ie/highereducation/administration

Bottom of the page under Downloads labelled;
Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup Declarations 2023 - 2024

Should redirect to a PDF spreadsheet, all the squads there, with clubs and counties.

Very interesting from a Mayo perspective. The big ones; Tommy, Ryan, Sam Callinan, Rory Brickenden, Fenton Kelly and Frank Irwin.

Loads more but none I really recognise.

By the looks of it McStay and co will be playing a stronger/more experienced team in a challenge elsewhere outdoors this weekend and going with that team again London indoors?

Who really knows what kind of side London will field.

They could mainly play lads who were able to extend their Xmas trip home until Sunday.

FrostTHammer, if you followed club football in Mayo, you’d recognise all those players named.

London's last match was a draw against Laois in the Tailteann cup in June. I think 7 of that london team are named to start on Sunday.

@Mayoman in Meath
I don't follow the club game and I'm open and not ashamed of that.
Should I be?

Great to see all the new faces being given an chance. If you can' t experiment and give an opportunity to some new lads in the FBD, when can you do it. Hopefully some of them will put their hands up and be given an opportunity in the League. Give them the jersey and see how they go_it's the only way to see if they are good enough.

Last year we didn't experiment much even at the charity game. You'd imagine this year first part of the season is about building depth and getting SnC into the core players.

@Frost the hammer no one should be made feel ashamed for not following club football makes you no less of a supporter I don't follow club football much either as I live in Dublin and that whole attitude of oh you don't Follow club football your not a true supporter really annoys me!

No we definetly didn't have half as many new faces in the charity match last year it's great to see I'd say the senior guys are either playing a challenge match or resting either way it's going the right way about things! Mcstay is a shrewd manager and he will have learnt a lot from last year..

More new players than last year but we played Galway in the first game last year

It might not make you less of a supporter, but it probably makes you a less informed supporter.

Well, it didn't take long in 2024 for the argument about what makes a proper supporter to bubble up here once again!

Hopefully that all dies down once there's a few match performances to review!

Think Aido is on holidays.

Think we have senior team playing today as well in challenge. Presumably most last year's panel be involved there.
Similar to last year set up with senior team playing challenge instead, but I think a good few of the lads on FBD panel tomorrow have had a few training sessions at least this year so that's improvement.

Tough day as expected for Lahardane, they'd a good year though and can build on it hopefully.

Just a few points on a few new faces many probably won't know much about....
McDonnell: Underage footballer for Ballintubber but moved to Ballinrobe while a student at Ballinrobe when they won the B All Ireland Title, and was a key member of that team. Former mayo u20 at wing back, played full back for Ballinrobe on their run to the Intermediate final, aged 24.
Tomas Fahy... extremely fast wing back, consistently excellent for Kilmaine, aged 26 and a bit raw in skills but probably good enough for this level, interesting proposition.
Conor Hunt...strong centre half back for Aghamore, very steady, average ball skills and average athleticism, bit short for this level, decent club player. Only 24 so a lot more football in him.
Conor Reid... development seems to be going very well. Huge man, 6'3 ish but very big. Former u20 only two years ago and the 21 year old is certainly an interesting one to watch. Very good skills and can kick scores from range with a very good right leg. Kind of a bulkier Bob Touhy. Always felt we were missing someone like him to play that wing forward role beside Flynn and Carney, and with them probably in midfield this year, Reid could certainly put his hand up.....
Tom o Flaherty, still u20. Clever player, average size speed and overall skillset. Good man to pull the strings. Wouldn't expect huge things from him. Struggle to see him making a real impact at senior inter county level, was below par for a poor mayo u20 side last year.
Darren Quinn, 27 year old trainee Garda. Left footed free taker, usually a right wing forward for Garrymore. Worth a look but hard to expect a late bloomer really doing the business for Mayo. Bit slow and limited in what he's going to give you from play, but usually a good free taker. Left footed Darren Coen ish.
Kevin Quinn, 26 year old Ballinrobe sharpshooter who certainly has a strong club CV. One of the most dangerous forwards from play on the club scene the last few years. Bit small, but can kick points from all angles and is certainly a confident player. Questions over how consistent he can be over 60+ minutes and debates is he big enough to win his own ball at this level? Definitely worth a look, arguably most natural forward mayo have starting on Sunday, including Tommy Conroy.
Subs-
David Dolan, 18 year old Balla keeper who was in goal on the u17s run to all Ireland final last year. Probably the most naturally gifted shot stopper we have produced. Left Aidan o se puzzled during the club championship with some of the reflex saves and one on one heroics he was pulling off. Best bet for goalkeeper of the future, by far in truth. Kickouts are a massive work in progress. Nice technique, but kicks a few over the sideline and isn't very convincing. You trust proper coaching to bring this out of him, but the talent is very very exciting.
Ciaran Boland - 21 year old who played on Ballinas winning county championship team. No one really knows where to play him, anyone in the defence basically. Big enough man but limited ball skills and over limited player. Struggled badly for the mayo u20 s mostly last year and hard to imagine him ever making the leap to this level.
Conal Dawson - an intriguing one. 6'2 ish, skinny but frame to fill into, left footed 20 year old who caught the eye in the charity game last week. Can kick some beautiful scores. Worth watching and seeing if he can develop. Early returns quite good.
Darragh Reilly - arguably the most exciting new face. Supremely talented forward, who lost a lot of time to attempt going professional in soccer. First year playing club championship for parke and the 19 year old took it like a duck to water, and looked a class apart in most games he played. Never played a minute of mayo minor or u20, and brought straight into the senior panel. Certainly a future Mayo player.
Conor Beirne - sticky and athletic corner back for Breaffy, 24 years old, former Mayo u20 but will need big coaching to really impact at inter county level, with limited ball skills.

@Retrocut - that's a really tidy and helpful post. Thank you.

Would you have the time to do something similar with Fenton Kelly (Davitts), Conor Beirne (Breaffy), Ethan Henry (Mayo Gaels), Niall Coggins (Crossmolina Deel Rovers), Kuba Callaghan and Ruairi Keane?

I didn't realise Ciaran Boland was that young. I thought he looked better than your description last weekend, but then it was the Dome in January.

Retrocut- I wouldn’t be so judgemental on individual players in this blog at this stage of their development , or quick to write off certain players based on one or two poor underage performances . Case in point is some of our best county players were late developers …no one would have given Colm Boyle a chance in his early career of playing county football but look at what hard work , determination and a dogged will to win can achieve combined with good skill sets from underage development . All these lads will work on all aspects of their game to better themselves and some will progress and others will continue to have excellent club careers . Let’s keep encouraging them .

Mayo for Sam - fair point but just saying if how I see it.
Frosthammer - no bother, thought most people would be familiar with them but no hassle-

Fenton Kelly - 21 year old who played centre forward / midfield all the way up for Davitts, but a fantastic natural athlete so as per in mayo he's been moved into the half back line. Great dead ball kicker off the ground. Arguably most outstanding player in this years u21 championship. Still developing his brain for the game. Davitts think the world of his talent. Still really yet to do it in a mayo jersey at any level.
Will be interesting to follow his development with UL in Sigerson.
Ruairi keane - 22 year old who plays primarily at cb for Mayo Gaels but played full back for Mayo sparingly in pre season last year. Very strong and broad but not the tallest. Sticky and honest player, think we're in trouble if he's playing big minutes in the full back line for us in proper games, this year at least.
Ethan Henry - 21 year old midfielder / half forward who was super for Mayo Gaels in club championship. Outstanding Mayo minor, brilliant dead ball kicker from the deck. Inspirational in leading St.Colmans college to a Connacht title before Covid, but lost his way a small bit after that and didn't play football for nearly a year. Coming back to his best, and definitely worth a look. Hard to know how he'll adapt to intensity / back tracking of intercounty but seems a Taylor made version of the half forward Kevin McStay usually plays, similar to Reid / Touhy / Flynn / Carney.
Kuba Callaghan - 23 year old big powerful full forward from Ballaghaderreen, who really broke out in this years club championship. Always been around, and wore green and red at underage. Has upped it in the last year after a small meander in development, has all the tools, big frame and good kicker. Might not quite be this level yet.
Niall coggins - don't know much about him, 21 year old tall basketball player who is also a standout soccer player for Crossmolina. Wing forward also, seems like a Rochford Mulligan same club pick but he might have something about him. 1-1 in the u21 B championship final this year. Begs the question though, Crossmolina now have Jordan Flynn (brilliant) Conor Loftus (?), Coggins (?) in the mix, and James Maheady and Fionan Duffy are hovering around the panel, should a club who had a shocker in intermediate championship really have so many players on the panel? I know Flynn is obviously brilliant, but it's funny how a management team that has two Crossmolina boys on it is bringing in another player from an underperforming club, considering he has never played underage intercounty level.

Same goes for Lee Keegan.... don't think he played underage for Mayo.
Noel Connelly struggled to make St.Colmans college team in his time there so ya as Mayo for Sam says with proper coaching lads can improve hugely.

Personally I always find these games as bits of dead rubbers. It’s great for lads to get a run in the mayo jersey but with such a rotated team it’s hard to know if they could make an impact later down the line. I’d like to hope that regardless of how some of these players play in the FBD they will still be given a good chance in the league. Some of them could flourish around stronger players but I doubt we will see that tomorrow. To be honest is it going to be much different to the charity match last week? Hard to tell

Thanks Retrocut.

I think it's nice for everyone to have something to use a reference point, so when someone does it well :)

Haven't gotten a real good read over them yet though.

That's a terrific post Retro; it has told me so much about these newbies, some of whom look tremendously interesting. Add to this management have obviously had them in and are prepared to give them a chance. I would think that the u20s, unless they are off the charts, are going to go back to Gardiner and co.

On the Crossmolina issue, note there are three Mayo Gaels players there too.

Fair play retro brilliant breakdown of all the newer players, no one will be questioning your knowledge of mayo club players haha.

Thanks Retrocut.
There really does look to be a decent crop of talent although some will make it and some will fall away.
I wouldn't have your knowledge but I would have high hopes for younger lads like McMonagle, Morahan, Darragh Beirne, Ronan Clarke the 2 Hurley lads, Darragh Reilly and even further down the line Mortimer Jnr and Mcdonald Jnr.

Good luck to all the new lads. Go out there and make yourself undroppable

@Retrocut fair play and thanks for all that great info on the new guys coming through as others said no one can doubt your knowledge of the younger players!

Feeling very optimistic as always ha but even more so now it's great as I said that mcstay and Co are opting for this kind of team as others said even in the charity match last year we didn't field half as many new faces neither did we did in the FBD. I still think FBD isn't a great competition to honest..

But anyway best of luck to all the young guys tommorow I'm sure they will do mayo proud seems to be a great competition for places and that's what you want only way you will build dept in your squad..!

Great to see Eoin O'D back in the setup after his stint in Oz. If he gets back into form he will add some needed steal into our backline when the season gets underway properly.

Best of luck to the team ,it is a fantastic opportunity for the players to get a Mayo jersey,something that will remain with them for the rest of their lives,hopefully a lot of them will have long careers with Mayo

Many thanks for all the information on the players . Excellent stuff

Right, let's go. 2024, let's get after it.

Very disappointing that there is no Louisburgh man on the panel for today as always remember Mayo never won an All Ireland without a Louisburgh man.
Too far West obviously. Over the years Louisburgh had some great players who went to A v B games and excelled but never got a look in. I remember one player scoring 9 points 5 from frees and 4 from play but wasn't called back. Then we persevere with certain players as we do every year.

In fairness there are lots of clubs not represented on the panel Sticks, including several senior clubs like Claremorris, Knockmore, Ballyhaunis, Balla and intermediate like Ardnaree, Bonniconlon, Hollymount Carramore and Kiltimagh.

Looks like a big enough crowd there in dome good to see.. Wonder are they resting Tommy conroy since sigserson starting? See cillian O Connor starting instead of him...

Clare - Two weeks in a row Tommy named to start and pulled last minutes, looks like the trend of naming dummy teams will continue for 2024.

Kuba Callaghan also in for Brickeden

Not great by mayo so far know a lot of new faces and it's to be expected but the only stand out player by a mile is Jordan flynn.

We should be 5 up at least against London

Hennelly is still not number 1 reape all the way.

@Tony freeman hmm I don't know what's going on with Tommy conroy.

And to whoever says Rochford isn't running the show why was he giving the team talk at the start and not mcstay..

None of the new players really standing out. London with 15 behind the ball, mayo should kick on in the second half.

That was an awful display from mayo tbh none of the new players would cut it in league let alone championship.

Can't see we've not been warned on how teams will set up against us, the more matches where teams go defensive ahead of championship the better.

My firm belief is that FBD should be purely viewed as entertainment of which there was little in the first half. Should not be seen as an audition for league or championship because it's a totally different proposition. Surely the pace and tempo will pick up in the second half. I wish the referee would allow some semblance of contact in challenges because it's becoming very sterile and hard to watch.

I completely disagree with Boyler.
We've been completely in control of this game.

The starting changes have unbalanced us; but we may have done that deliberately.

Similarly I think the lack of aggression is part of the plan; but I would feel the plan was to up the intensity in the final few minutes of the half - and make it show on the score board.

Not a lot we didn't know already; Retrocuts player profiles appear to be fairly spot.

A lot of the guys today won't be making the championship squad, but we do look to be in a much better than previous generations wrt the level of player we have available just outside the championship squad.

@JoeG agree with you it's a useless competition tbh.

@Exilr my fear is every team gonna do this against us all year?

Jaysus we truly let this one happen by showing we can't play v defensive teams.

But fair play to London they are giving it some fight.

But poor from us only 1 up against a division 4 team?

I'd we put this team out against the dubs we would get slaughtered.

Goes to show why our main guys are so important still.

It's a good exercise to show lads what the step up required is. Despite us being in control I think London are moving the ball faster than us in attack, we look more laboured advancing.
The championship panel as I said previously will likely be same as last year plus a few of the stronger showers in FBD and rounds 1-4 of league to fill void by retirees and lads that opted out.
Who played in the challenge game next week will likely be an indicator of our first team for weeks ahead.

Expect London to fatigue here and Mayo to run out comfortably enough in end.

Well done retrocut. Excellent analysis. Conal Dawson definitely a future star. Tremendously focused young player as indeed is Finbar McLoughlin.

Clare - that's exactly my point. It's going to be the blueprint that a rake of teams will use and the best way to have an answer for that when it matters is coming across it often.

This is a seriously poor poor display I know only Fbd and really experimental team but jeez we should be doing better then this.

@Exile yeah we need an answer and a plan but I don't know what that answer is ha

We play with a blanket ourselves

It's not even just about blanket defences today we are just playing so badly maybe I'm being harsh as they are only very young guys but..

Cillian is still the man

All the talk before the FBD was that people didn't care if we were relegated from Div 1, it's all about champ.
Now people are getting anxious over an unrecognisable Mayo team in an FBD match in a tent.

@Gizmo he definetly is

Its FBD people…F…B…D. I’m getting nothing but positives so far. Seem’s McFord have learnt a few lessons from last year. We were flying around the dome last January blitzing all before us. Way too fit for that time of year, then we were burned out come the real stuff. Looks like a more measured fitness approach this year.

Sack management , sack the board , egg the players .

On a serious note , well done to London , no matter the circumstances or competition they are to be commended

Can't beat a good dose of reality.

Honestly couldn't give a toss about rhe FBD league or indeed even losing to London but my real gripe is that London looked to be better coached.

Last we'll see of a lot of this team for 2023.
They had their opportunity to earn more football today, and they didn't take it. Good lesson for a lot of young lads to learn - one slip up and you're done.

No harm; we'll be going to Salthill completely under the radar.

No point saying much more about this now; we'll have a whole month to discuss it.

You have one of your the best scoring players on the bench and decide not to bring him on in place of one of the 4 forwards who literally haven't scored that says a lot for the management.

Good eye opener for young lads on what's needed. Fair play to London who deserved the win. Biggest disappointment is we still don't seem to have plan to suss out defensive systems.

Has any county ever lost to New York and London in the space of 24hrs?

It is only Fbd and we are better off no going out winning a useless competition.. very experimental team to but I don't think many of the guys tried today would make the squad.

I didn’t see the game but just looking at scorers, Cillian still the stand out player. From the comments above sounds like no one put their hand up from the new faces. Disappointing but not surprised.

Anyone watching the All Ireland Club semi final now will speak to the current standard of mayo club football. I don’t think we have nearly the depth required compared to other counties. In particular in the forward line.

Interesting to see Kerry Dublin and Donegal gong relatively strong over the last few days in their games.

The season starts in April...

We were bullied, we lost man-to-man contests, our shooting was diabolical, our shot selection was terrible, and at the end our confidence was shot. What wasn't there to dislike? Dawson's effort was a point all day long I have to say.

An absolute disaster. Same old story. Hennelly was outstanding. Reid put his hand up. Kick passed the ball less than 10 times the entire game. It should all be doom and gloom, rightly so.

Bad to lose and get such low score against a Div 4 London. Probably better off getting prep for the outdoor NFL games with outdoor challenge now.

Catcol - sounds like we have learned from our last competitive game haha

Very disappointing weekend all in all. Lahardane not at the races yesterday and losing to London even though its only FBD. Expected a few of the current squad to come in with 10 mins to go to ensure we would get a crack at the Rossies. Very low scoring match considering Dome conditions and very little ingenuity aside from Cillian's goal. Fair play to London, well deserved victory

Think some of the scouting has been poor from Management.Really should have been trials then picking out players from club games.Horan definitley ahead of McStay in this area.Jordan Flynn by far the best player for Mayo.Thought Eoin O'Donoghue played well when he came on , made a couple of turnovers and one of the few players that showed aggression with Flynn and Cillian, still has the potential to claim a starting 15 jersey.Eoghan McLaughlin still mixing the good with the bad, skill execution letting him down with high solos and giving away possesion too easily.
Dissapointed with Mayo forwards but London did play a very heavy blanket and countered really well.But wouldnt panic, very early days and would much rather avoid playing Galway twice in 14 days.

Eoghan McLaughlin arguably gone backwards since his first appearance from Mayo which was before Covid existed! Coaching is all wrong. Such a shame.

Agreed on Eoghan Achill75 - the drilled attempt for the goal was nice to see as there's a bit of a pattern forming there and the more practice he gets the better. The running into a cul-de-sac was fairly frustrating, much more scope for that to impact the season than new lads getting a run out. Would have been nice to play Roscommon, but hard to get too excited.

No senior Mayo football team should be losing to London. Experimental or not it’s unacceptable.

Fair play to the Rossies. Their intermediate club champions very unlucky not to win yesterday and their senior team beating the Munster champions today.
Its hard to believe after watching the diabolical standard of the Mayo club championship this year that there are people involved in Mayo football who don't think there is a crisis. As I said before the first step in trying to solve a problem is to accept you have a problem in the first place. Looks like we haven't accepted yet there is a problem there.

That's a worrying point retrocut. How many other players have regressed in the last season. Ruane, Carney? come to mind. They don't become bad players. So much is down to coaching, getting the best out of players, building confidence and giving leadership. Flynn one of the few players to progress under current management. No doubt McStay will put his spin on it and all is well.
Imo, it was just a lazy management performance. Pick a team, out and play, no pattern or structure..
Easy to dismiss the FBD, but look at the bigger picture. Why should any Mayo team be fielded with so little effort on the management side

Honestly couldn't care about a Fbd at all

And It is better not blitzing every team out of the water this time of year like we did last year and run out of gas come championship like others said..

Look at kerry last year no one thought they would make the final after their year.

It's not all doom and gloom maybe I got carried away earlier and forgot it's only FBD

The stand outs were Jordan flynn cillian O Connor as usual.. No one else stood out at all.

Wouldn't say hennelly was outstanding as someone said above..

I'd rather loose to London now and go in under the radar against Galway in salthill not knowing what to expect with our full strength main guys and we will be under digs I'd say which will suit us just grand...

Hard to say many players have improved under McStay. Ruane a shadow of himself last year. The problem with McLaughlin is that he’s an exceptional athlete but average footballer. He’s not trustworthy enough. Mixes the good with the shocking bad and I don’t think that’s going to be enough at the back end of championship. It’s very early days but let’s be honest how many of these new faces that played today will be part of the panel? If they aren’t going to be part of the panel then why play them? Just using them as cannon fodder? And if they are going to be part of the panel then it’s nervy times ahead

Hennelly done well on his kicks, but doesn't look as comfortable on the sweeper keeper side of things, got skinned few times out the field.
Of the newbies Hunt and Maybe Reid to be kept with view to S&C development over year.
Not excited by the result but as on the ditch alludes to the set up and style of play was very much like last year, that be the main caveat for me.

Just goes to show how important the likes of Ryan o D and all our other main guys are.

I wouldn't be getting worried even though I was earlier haha but at the end of the day we all know no one cares one bit about Fbd.

Wonder where the seniors in a challenge game over the weekend?

And to someone above saying kerry / Dublin donegal have been doing well in their matches they played most of their main guys and donegal played an under 20s team so can't compare to our game today..

We will have forgotten this by the time we beat Galway down in salt hill :p haha

It's be clear lads, that was a far more experienced London side.

Those lads were preparing for League Football; Most of our lads were auditioning.

Jordan was the only nailed on championship starter.
Robbie is making a good case for himself.
Cillian and Eoghan MacLaughlin aren't; but are still doing enough to earn league time.
Donnacha McHugh and Frank Irwin look ready for league football; and potentially on course to be able to play a role come Connacht or AI Group Stage.

The rest are really just bonuses for 2023. A few will get League time; Reid was probably the standout. The reality was it numbers 30-50 on the Mayo squad on show today, and that was particularly evident in the full back and full forward lines.

Just take the case of Eoghan McLaughlin. If he was part of a Dublin or Kerry setup he would be a super player by now. Our coaching haven't even thought him how to tackle properly yet and he continues to give away frees in scorable positions. Imo he still has the potential to deliver something special but he does need to be upskilled.
Saying it's only FBD is once more making excuses for a poor performance. It's only the league no doubt will be used if we put in a shocking performance in salthill
I don't think Rochford will lose any sleep tonight. It's upwards and onwards.

Newbies got a reality check today. Far too flat and passive in the first half. Quinn tried hard. The setup for Mayo's goal is more of what's needed against the blanket teams. Might be more value in a few challenge matches instead of tipping our hand to the Rossies and Galway. We looked a bit clueless in the fourth quarter. Don't think we've unearthed anyone for the league yet

A shame TG4 didn't pack the infrared cameras

Don't think that London could be called far more experienced. They have a host of new players in this year as well.
They were well coached though so kudos to them. Hopefully it stands to them in their league fixtures.

No challenge game this week, think there was to be but moved to next Saturday I think.

crikey the speed and intensity of the game now on tg4 is scary compared to the stuff we see in mayo club .

Jaysus lads, herself is from London (albeit of Mayo stock), I’m being trolled hard here!

This should dampen the annual Mayo for Sam stuff, if nothing else.

@ Sean Burke. All coaches in Mayo seem to sing of the one hymnsheet: possession at all costs. Flair, individuality, calculated risk taking, is out the window.

Green&Red if you don't play the new/fringe players, how do you give them a chance to prove themselves!?

What a game , full commitment , skilful , speed and dynamic . Thats how gaelic football should be played , its a beautiful game when played right .

Well it is am exsuce to say aw fielded a very new experimental team abd that's why we lost exsuce or not but it's just facts if we had fielded the likes of Ryan O D Tommy conroy paddy durcan and all our other main starters we would have won by a country mile..

It is only Fbd sure no one cares about it even when we won it last year we were hardly jumping for joy haha..

It's not the end of the world!

Is that the first time London beat Mayo ?

Club football at the top level as we saw in both games today is the most enjoyable football to watch.
Intensity and skill level very enjoyable.

In 2026 Mayo vs London in the Connacht championship should be a Mayo win going to England of course for the fixture this time next year will be confirmed. All 4 London Airports will have flights to and from Knock.

Horan had to go to extra time to beat London in his first championship game in 2011