Great to have Eoghan back. Been missing punch from our halfback line. He's built for the tap and go.

Lot's of things I'd like to see. A decent second half period would be a positive. Keep it up for the guys getting a first run in the team. Lift it 10% from everyone else.

We could win this game

@James Fleming really hope your right! But a reaxtion more then anything is what I am hoping for a win a bonus tbh!

Maybe i am an eternal optimist but i also think we will beat Tyrone. Hopefully jordan and aidan are on the subs ready to be introduced if needed. Good vocal support will be needed on sunday .

Definitely a huge opportunity to pick up points given it seems Errigal Ciaran lads away still and Tyrone like ourselves aren't going to hot.

Jordan likely to feature at some point so we will have a bit more muscle in middle third.

Have held back the 26 again. What a pointless exercise. Tyrone know our bench. They're not fooling anyone.
If they put as much time into actual tactics, it would be an improvement

We can't say fellows aren't being given a chance.
Hopefully Monaghan can do a job in the full back line.
Would like to see either Jordan or Aiden in the forwards to see how the new lads blend in with them.
McStay can't win, he has to try new lads, which can have painful results.
Win the League and be beaten in the first round of the championship?
That is our history since 1970.

JR don't think Aidan is togging this week.

McStay right to give the new/fringe players time and should not receive flack for that.
But what most people seem to want to see is some semblance of a plan, structure and understanding of the rules. If get that and lose, so be it.

@Gizmobos 100 % agree.

Definetly league is for trying players giving them a chance & game time.

That's it have more structure and adapt to new rules better and also a bit more fight & not get be bullied around the pitch like v Galway ..!!

Morahan is our corner back jr

Spell check

As we are going to get relegated, would it not be a great opportunity to play our under 20s in the next few games . There championship starts in 4 weeks,would be great preparation

I'm not sure what the rules are tough for them to play for both teams

@Paddyjoejohntom: No rules technically restricting it (only playing official games within a set period is blocked, & 20s official games don't start until mid-March), but wouldn't expect to see anything like that.

Relegation or not (I wouldn't be nearly so resigned), we've senior lads to get match sharp, rule sharp, tactics ironed out (or redone from the drawing board in some aspects) and lads working towards fitness/injury prevention.

Bonus pod up on Patreon - Mike and Colm Boyle look ahead to the Tyrone game.

TsuShoNim, We can right off 2025. I fancy Sligo to dump us out of the championship

Have we anyone on the team that can kick a few 2pointers...definitely a must with the new rules!

Why all the negative reaction. I just don't get it. Give the lads a chance.

Good to give the newer lads a run of games which makes me wonder why Fenton Kelly seems to have been discarded. Played well against Dublin, shone for UL though they lost. Was named to start against Galway but didn't art and was introduced from the bench either. Before anyone suggests he may be injured I can tell you he's not. Though it's good to see some young players picked I look through the lineup and see several issues that aren't being addressed.

While I'd agree we're on the hind tit at this stage as regards staying up it don't think it's a given that we're going down. Things change as teams get to the 'ah shit' moment and realize they might end up in a league final that doesn't suit their agenda.. we could benefit from handbrakes being gradually drawn up.
The more optimistic scenario is we find a bit of form,we improve our problem areas and do it all by ourselves on merit and time our run to bring us in to champo in fine fettle.

@RosTowm think it's to do woth the manner of the way we lost to Galway.

There was no fight shown.. Even after Diarmuid got the late hit & taken out late. They let Galway bully us in every area of the pitch. Even Colm Boyle said if you don't bring physicality & confidence v Galway ypur going to get a hammering every time.

As I said even if we loose tommorow to a very good Tyrone team at least show some spirit & fight and stand up for yourself I get they are new to intercounty so more game time is good for them and they will learn to.

Any word on Paddy Durcans return? Heard McStay said towards end of league hopefully he is still on track even a half fit Durcan would be a starter tbh!

Tyrone scored 16 points in the 2nd half against Armagh which is what we scored against galway. Fire power is the issue for Mayo. We haven't progressed up front in the last 5 years. Keep Ryan quiet and you go a long way to beating mayo. Lots of busy lads running over and back. No one taking the game by the scruff of the neck, kicking 5 points from play.
Running half backs have bailed us out in the past but the newer crop don't have that in the locker....

So what's plan B Kevin?

The last two management teams didn't have one. Have you?

I wouldn’t be hopeful given the number of rookies but maybe Tyrone are doing the same. The league is the place to experiment. We’ve had bad days before in the league and bounced back. I agree with some of the sentiment regarding lack of firepower and not having as many bail out scores from half back either but let’s get the top-20 playing by the end of the league. Tommy C will add something, Aido and Jordan also add the heft when they return. I still prefer McBrien FB not CHB. Paddy D won’t be 100% as Cruciate returnees never are. Plenty of improvements possible. Scrape a win and I’d be happy. 2025 more of a long shot but last year teams were bunched and we were in the mix so maximise what we have.

Good news for Mayo is that Canavan brothers and Peter Harte remain out for Tyrone.

@Shuffly Deck: So far they've been missing 7 (Hampsey, (R & D) Canavan, (C & T) Quinn, Oguz & Harte) from their top 20 league players for minutes last year, so similar numbers to us at that end.

They've relatively new faces in O'Hare, McElholm & Gray, or lads around longer but still young with the likes of R Canavan, O'Donnell, Cullen & Devlin.

At a guess, I'd say they're 4-5 away from their top side (there might be more changes, but they'd be swaps of equal quality rather than direct improvements) where we'd be a few more (5-6) away from ours. Comparable enough on those terms, so all to fight for.

Would like to see the following being developed
1. Long kick out strategy - badly found wanting in midfield the last day
2. Attacking plan to create long range chances (50% conversion rate would do)
3. Target man ff staying in for (a) and occasionally long kick pass or a long range shot dropping short
4. Long kick passing from half back line - 3v3 gives forwards a lot of space on the turnover but no defender is even trying to kick long passes on the counter attack.
5. High pressing on kickouts and long range shots - Mayo still dropping deep in defence - inviting long range kicking or goalkeeper coming forward. Neither Dublin nor Galway have a goalie renowned for attacking - Tyrone/Armagh & Kerry have outfield club players playing in goal so sitting back will be a disaster.

Just looking at the team that won the league 2 years ago

Com Reape; - starting and playing well
Jack Coyne, - absent ?
David McBrien, - changed position
Sam Callinan; - sub due to sigerson
Stephen Coen, out of form
Conor Loftus, - absent
Paddy Durcan; - injured
Matthew Ruane, - out of form
Diarmuid O'Connor; - out of form
Fionn McDonagh, - no longer involved
Jack Carney, - injured
Jordan Flynn; - resting
Aidan O'Shea, - resting
James Carr, - no longer involved
Pádraig O’Hora, no longer involved
Jason Doherty, retired
Michael Plunkett; no longer involved
Bob Tuohy, hasn't developed physically
Kevin McLoughlin, retired
Frank Irwin, starting at FF but no ball being kicked in
Conor McStay, not involved currently
Paul Towey - getting a run of games now

More than half are not involved these days
Of the 12 absent (which is a high turner over rate for a team that is serious about winning) 5 are the most physical players
AOS, Flynn, O Hora, Carr, Durcan,

Of the 7 new guys
Seán Morahan, Rory Brickenden, Enda Hession, Eoghan McLaughlin, Conor Reid, Fergal Boland, Davitt Neary
Only 2 of them would be known for their physicality.

In the new rules you need FB, FF and 6 of the middle 8 to be able to win ball in the air. The other 2 in the middle 8 need to be good at winning breaking ball.

We have 12 runners and 2-3 physical men. They got badly shown up against Galway and may do so again v Tyrone. It's by pure luck that Tyrone are still resting the Ereigal Ciaran lads.

Are the Errigal men on the 26 do we know?
If so we'll surely see some of them getting to stretch their legs at some stage .

@2 hops: No. Or at least not without a late medical switch.

https://x.com/TyroneGAALive/status/1890717287398658150

Would be surprised if we won tomorrow but dead right to persist with the new lads. No point flogging AOS in February and Jordan Flynn etc are as much entitled to a break as the Errigal Ciaran lads. As regards K McStay not releasing the 26 once again he has every right not to do so. It has nothing to do with trying to fool Tyrone or keep our support guessing. He is not obliged to suit us or do what we want Early stages in Galway v Derry and Galway looking good but it is early in match and more importantly early in league Can’t remember too many medals being handed out in mid February

Derry are playing a weird type of anti-football.

Expect Brian Kennedy to have a field day, fine midfielder, and area of pitch we struggling in. Mattie not recovered since losing to Tyrone in that final. But in fairness to lad, don't see too many in county better in Mayo. Lucky if Canavans not playing, gives us a chance. But need more off our forwards.

@to win just once I have to disagree completely about naming the panel. Every other team, bar Dublin, name their panel. It's disrespectful to the fans. There is nothing positive to be gained by not naming it. And it's all the more ridiculous when you consider the panels are submitted days in advance in order to get programmes printed.
What's the big secret? McStay used to name his Roscommon squad a week before championship games