Photo: MichaelMaye.com
Our League opener this coming weekend is already the central focus but I’ve one final FBD-related job to do before dispensing with the 2018 pre-season. This is my usual annual review of who lined out for us over the last few weeks, who scored what, who the new faces were and how the team performed overall.
Analysis done in previous years available here: 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014.
Let’s start with the table of players who lined out for us in this year’s FBD campaign. It’s rather a long table, as rather a large number of lads saw action for us over the last few weeks. 47, to be exact. This total compares with 40 last year, 26 in 2016, 35 in 2015 and 32 in 2014.
As in previous years, a tick shows a starting slot, while S denotes an appearance off the bench. Total scores recorded by each of the players are also included in the table.
It’s worth noting, in passing, that comparisons with the last few years aren’t all that valid, given that this year the third level colleges weren’t included in the FBD and the format of the competition (such as it was) comprised one group. As a result, we played four matches rather than three in previous years.
Maybe because of that – though, perhaps, the fact that we had to play three games in just five days was relevant too – no one player lined out for us in all four matches. Indeed, not one of them made three starts either. Last year, by contrast, six players started all three matches for us.
Three players were, though, ever present for us over the four matches played. Jason Gibbons, Fionn McDonagh and Kevin McLoughlin each made two starts and two appearances off the bench.
A further six players appeared in three of the four games. Diarmuid O’Connor, Shane Nally and James Stretton each started twice and came off the bench once, while Shairoze Akram, Ger McDonagh and Peter Naughton lined out once and came on as a sub twice.
We blooded another slew of debutants this January, the bulk of them in the Leitrim game, which was played when the 2017 squad were still away on their holliers. In that match, Paddy O’Malley, Marcus Park, Ger McDonagh, Aidan Butler, James Stretton, Jordan Flynn, Nathan Moran, Ross Egan and Ciaran Treacy all lined out for the county at senior level for the first time ever. In addition, Oisin McLoughlin, Matthew Ruane and Peter Naughton all debuted from the bench that night.
Mattie and Peter then lined out from the start for the first time at senior level two nights later in the Galway game, on a night when Shairoze Akram, Ryan O’Donoghue and Jamie Oates also made their first senior starts. In total, we gave debuts to fifteen players – a whole team! – over the course of this pre-season campaign.
Top of the pops scoring-wise was Jason Doherty. Although he only lined out in the final two games his 1-5 (four from frees) was enough for him to collect the Mayo GAA Blog Golden Boot Award for January. Noteworthy too in the scoring stakes were young guns Fionn McDonagh and Ciaran Treacy (with five points each), Brian Reape (with four points in his sole appearance) and Peter Naughton, with 1-1.
Overall, we ran up at total of 2-43 over the four games, conceding a total of 2-45. In that regard, the excitement levels were well down on twelve months ago when, in three matches, we bagged a total of 7-48 but also shipped 4-52 at the back. But, hey, who’s counting? It was, after all, only the FBD.
Great factual summary, love it.
Great post wj
Thank you for all the information/ reports
Can’t wait for Sunday .
Thanks WJ that makes great reading. I have no doubt it is not the last we will see of some of these guys
Brilliant summarisation WJ well done it shows how much talent there is in Mayo Roll on the Summer of 2018 and other Summers after ,With all those younger men coming through.
Now time for lads to read all sorts of conclusions into it.
Good thing about this year is we only wait a week for “real” football. I think its going to be one tough slog of a league campaign with scoring permutations to the fore on the last day.
Off topic I know, but I see the hurlers game v Donegal has been moved to Ballina. If this bad weather continues into next week, will MacHale Park be fit for the Kerry game you’d wonder.
I’d say that decision was made in order for the pitch to be ok Martin. Hard to see it being in great condition. It will be playable but, unless we have a remarkable week, it’s going to be similar to when we played Dublin in 2016!
Team I would like to see start Sunday
1.David Clarke
2.Eoin O’Donoghue
3.Ger McDonagh
4.Brendan Harrison to mark Conor McManus
5.Paddy Durcan
6.Colm Boyle
7.Shane Nally
8.Diarmuid O’Connor
9.Aidan O’Shea
10.Kevin McLoughlin
11.Neil Douglas deserves to get fair chance
12.Jason Doherty
13.Evan Regan
14.Andy Moran
15.Cillian O’Connor or Conor Loftus
Big competition for places in forwards now with Conor Loftus, Brian Reape ,Alan Freeman, Adam Gallagher, Conor O’Shea, and Ciaran Treacy all pushing for game time.
I like it TH, think u have it pretty much spot on there
The challenge for Rochford is getting the balance right, mixing experience with the new. But there’s one thing for sure we need to continue giving players, who showed promise in fbd, more game time whether starting or of the bench. The league,imo, should not be used to give experienced players an opportunity to get match fit.
Well I think Rochy will play as much experienced players for the 1st few games till we get 8 points on the board to guarantee top flight football then give the younger lads a chance in the later rounds there is also 6 regulars out as of this moment so young players are going to get game time. 2 points in Clones Sunday are vital and will take pressure off us for the Kerry game Saturday week.
I don’t think Rochford will have the luxury of keeping a 40+ player panel, so a lot of those lads will be gone before we get to 8 league points (if we get that many at all!)
Don’t think well start with a full 15 from last years panel. With the bulk of the squad still with very little work done we could see one or two of the new additions start as they will be that little bit fitter at this early stage. I’m gonna go with:
Clarke, Harrison, G.McDonagh, O’Donoghue, Durcan, Boyle, Stretton, Gibbons, Nally, F.McDonagh, McLoughlin, D.O’Connor, Doherty, Regan, Loftus.
AOS, Andy, COC, Kirby, Coen, Crowe to get a run out in second half ?