Tomorrow, a hundred and twelve days since they contested last September’s All-Ireland final, the county’s footballers are back in action once more when they line out against Leitrim in the FBD League at Ballinamore (throw-in 2pm). It’s only a pre-season match, of course, with the lads just back from Miami and some of the squad posted missing as they line out with third level institutes for their January football so whatever happens tomorrow it can’t be taken at all seriously. It’s still good to have the football back, nonetheless.
I won’t make it to Ballinamore tomorrow, I’m afraid – we’ve a birthday party here in the house in the afternoon so that rules me out. It was the only FBD match that I thought I might make so it looks as if this will be a campaign I’ll be following from afar.
Pre-season football always affords a chance for fringe players to get some game time and, if they make enough of an impression, to break into the squad for the more serious challenges that lie ahead. 2013 is no different in this respect and Over The Black Spot has a good piece today on the players who may be best placed to make a mark in the FBD this year.
There’s no word of a team for tomorrow as yet and no announcement on that score is expected until shortly before throw-in. I’d say it’s safe to assume, though, that we’ll see a fair few changes from the team that lined out last September in Croke Park.
Best of luck to the lads tomorrow as they set out on another year’s campaign. I’ll be back later on tomorrow evening with some second-hand thoughts on the match.
I will make it to ballinamore tomorrow all going well. No word here yet of any team named. Must make sure i’ve the camera batteries fully charged!!
The Mayo team is available tonight in Carrick- on- Shannon -the programme typed here. A guess – about 4 of the team that Mayo have selected will be there on the day of the first round of the championship. Last year was it ? a Mayo forward scored four goals in the FBD and he was not heard of since ??? Was Willie McGee the last player for Mayo to score four goals way back in the late sixties.
Lets hope we see goals tomorrow. There were no goals in the FBD games last week-end
Yes shot saver. Danny Kirby scored 4 goals in last year’s home final.
Also, Joe Brolly’s criticism of all things Mayo begins again. He’s his page full giving out about Horan’s interview. He’s an irritating little hoor isn’t he.
Excellent article by Tommy Conlon in the Indo (useless with links). It sums up exactly how I felt listening to the Brolly interview the week of the AI. Anyone with a semplance of sense can see who has lost the plot.
Here is the team – courtesy of Mid West Radio:
The Mayo Senior Football Team to face Leitrim in their opening round of the FBD Connacht Senior Football League this Sunday 13th January in Ballinamore at 2.00p.m. shows two new senior debutants with Keith Rogers and Cathal Carolan getting their first taste of senior action. The team to face Leitrim is as follows:
1) Kenneth O’Malley – Ballinrobe
2) Michael Walsh – Ardnaree
3) Shane McHale – Knockmore
4) Lee Keegan – Westport
5) Tom Cunniffe – Castlebar Mitchels
6) Keith Rogers – Ballaghaderreen
7) Richie Feeney – Castlebar Mitchels
8) Jason Gibbons – Ballintubber
9) Seamus O’Shea – Breaffy
10) Conor O’Shea – Breaffy
11) Enda Varley – Garrymore
12) Cathal Carolan – Crossmolina
13) Evan Regan – Ballina Stephenites
14) Alan Freeman – Aghamore
15) Michael Conroy – Davitts
It’s just been announced that Darren Coen will start at corner-forward instead of Evan Regan.
I am sick to the back teeth saying this. Having a go at Joe Brolly now is just fueling the*****s profile. he is show business, Conlons article makes that clear. I was disgusted at the inaction taken by Mayo after the league final, I was disgusted that RTE weren’t forced to apologize for his one sided interview with Cahill. It was biased and disgraceful. Now is not the time to be doing it, back then was the time. Whilst Tommy Conlon wrote a good article I would have preferred to have seen it the week after the All Ireland not on a no news week in early January.
I wrote to the head of sport RTE after the league final. Specifically I wanted to know the fees awarded to Brolly, Spillane and O Rourke for their work on the show . I got a polite reply basically telling me to mind my own business, that RTE keeps material such as this privileged due to competition etc. I believe its information that I am entitled to as a licence subscriber. Now I have no voice but perhaps[s those of you put there with access to those in power might write to them and ask that RTE release the salary those people are on.
Additionally but I am wasting my breath here. The Mayo county board should order its mamanger and players to boycott RTE until Joe Brolly is removed. Have we any pride or balls. of course it wont happen.
Leitrim 8 – 6 up after 3/4,s of game
9 – 8 win for Leitrim
Bad start to the new football year. Losing to Leitrim is a bad day’s work no matter what day of the year it happens. Missed goal chances again. When will players learn you don”t have to burst the net but you must get it in the net. A prime example of finishing is provided by the Gooch. Put it along the ground. Don’t want to hear excuses about first game, jet lag or anything else. We were playing Leitrim! Will be very interesting in Ballyhaunis next week.
John C – Why do you bother paying the t.v. license? I don’t because I couldn’t contribute to rte (the joke that they are) and the really limited unprofessional personnel which they hire. It’s not just limited to brolly there are a whole Lot more. But that clown from north of the border is where I draw the line. I suggest you do too.
What did Brolly say now about Horans interview?