I’ve been out of the loop for the last few days and so missed out on last night’s announcement of the Junior team that’s due to take on Kilkenny in the All-Ireland JFC semi-final at O’Connor park in Tullamore tomorrow (throw-in 2pm). Here are details of the starting fifteen and subs named for the game:
Mayo (All-Ireland JFC semi-final v Kilkenny, 25/7/2015): Blake Forkan (Kiltimagh); Pat Barrett (Belmullet), Brendan Moran (Cill Chomain), Barry Leonard (Lahardane); Sean Gaughan (Belmullet), Darren McHugh (Hollymount/Carramore), Mickey Barrett (Knockmore); Peter Collins (Islandeady), Padraic Feerick (Hollymount/Carramore); Gavin Conway (Ballaghaderreen), Cathal Freeman (Aghamore, captain), Darren Durcan (Parke); Damien McGing (Ballintubber), John Hutton (Claremorris), Ronan Malee (Kiltimagh). Subs: Matthew Flanagan (Balla), Rowland McIntyre (Belmullet), Eoghan Collins (Ballyhaunis), Declan Healy (Davitts), Eoin O’Donoghue (Belmullet), Brendan Carr (Ardagh), Michael Togher (Belmullet), Darragh Joyce (Islandeady), Kevin Newell (Ballina Stephenites).
If you’re not planning to be in Tullamore tomorrow, you may be interested to know that Midwest will be doing full commentary on the match, with Rob Murphy calling the action at O’Connor Park. No doubt @MayoGAA will be doing their customary blow-by-blow score updates during the game as well. Colm Gannon in the Mayo Advertiser has an excellent preview of tomorrow’s contest – here.
Tomorrow’s semi-final represents a huge day for Seán McLoughlin and his charges. The fact that two whole months have passed since the team last kicked a ball in anger – when beating Galway in the Connacht final – means that they’ll need to get tuned in straight away if they’re to progress to the decider. Here’s hoping they make it – best of luck to the lads tomorrow in Tullamore.
Best of luck to the Mayo Junior team today. Some fine footballers on show here. I have been impressed with Padraic Feerick, Leonard, Farrell, and others in the past. A long time since the last game was played and I hope it does not have an negative impact on this fine team.
It would be great to see the lads get to an All-Ireland final. Best of luck today. It will be interesting to see if any of these lads look like they have a future with the senior team.
The more teams we have in Croker the better. Hon Mayo.
Yes, Mayo won. Final v Kerry, ithink
Well done to the juniors.kerry in the final they prob be it in limerick!!!
Well done to the juniors. Final on same weekend as the seniors. Wonder will they give the juniors a run out in Croke Park? Be great if they did
Well if common sense was to prevail they could play the junior final in croke park but I wouldn’t bank on it when you see the likes of Galway v Donegal fixed for croke park when castlebar would being a suitable venue travel wise for both counties and Sligo v Tyrone should being fixed for enniskillen or Cavan.
Junior could be a great route to develop players. It isnt hyper competitive but its more the match day experience and training setup. Id be a big fan of getting plenty U21s in there from this years team from intermediate/junior clubs. TJ Byrne for example lads like that who had too short a season at county level. Effectively 1 game versus Galway and out. Will take the rawness off lads to allow them step up to senior easier.
Big problem with junior is these lads and management don’t get 1 cent in travel expenses from county board and unfortunately not all clubs are in favour of there players playing with county junior team.it would be a great way to develop players of all levels.remember Michael conroy and colm Boyle were recalled to the senior panel under horan after some impressive performances for junior team
Well done the the Mayo Junior team on reaching the AI. A real achievement given these guys set out last May as underdogs v a fancied Sligo that were reining Connacht Champions. I don’t know if any of these would make it in senior football, but they have some ambition and you will get no where without it.
Congrats to the Juniors. Here’s hoping they drive on now and finish the job.
Well done to the lads. Its great for them to be playing in an All-Ireland final. The very best of luck to them on the big day! They are just 70 minutes away from claiming an All-Ireland medal.
A bit of a shock tonight, Kildare beating Cork. With Fermanagh winning as well it just shows that winning games and momentum is hard to beat. Both provincial final losers lost again. Dublin will now be playing another team who played Division 3 football this year. Another blanked defence for them to contend with. Kidare are a very mobile team so their hard running game could trouble Kerry. They should go all out to test the lack of pace in the Kerry full-back line. Once Alan O’Connor went off today, Kildare lorded it around the middle of the field. If Kildare can get the better of David Moran then they might have a chance.
There is absolutely nothing about Kildare in the past few years to suggest that they can run Kerry close. A team does not suddenly come from nowhere [or relegation to Div 3] to challenge the reigning All Ireland champions. Beating Cork who have a history in recent years of collapsing when the pressure come on means nothing. Similarly with Dublin and Fermanagh and Sligo v Tyrone. Galway, who seem to be an improving team with promising young players may overcome Donegal, esp. if Donegal do a repeat of 2013.
AndyD did you watch the full Cork Kildare game? The passing accuracy and shooting accuracy was mainly Kildares ability and only 30% Corks poor performance. If they scraped past Cork you have a point. They dominated the game in every aspect and were full value for their comfortable win. Alan OConnor and James Loughrey would have made at the most a 3 pt difference. OConnor eventually would have tired on that wet pitch. Cribbin would have ran him ragged in the second half. Kildare right now are far better than the Kildare that faced Dublin. Dont let division 3 fool you. They will demolish the other teams with that panel being fit. Theyve had Niall Kelly come back and his goal yesterday showed his quality. If Kerry tog a middle eight like they have so far Kildare have the speed to overrun them in the middle eight. The Kildare goalie is in great form with his kickouts.
Well done the Juniors, wud b nice to see ye go all the way now..
Have to say didn’t see that game yet and had it put down to Cork capitulating as usual in the qualifiers. There as unperdictable as the Irish Weather.. I’m guessing they underestimated Kildare, didn’t have the stomach or key players to stand out when things started to go wrong and Kildale had their homework done. But that was a massive winning margin. The surprise element will be gone now for Kildare thoughh and Kerry, as they always do, will do just enough at this stage in the competition to get over the line next day out
Kerry rubbing their paws in anticipation of Kildare, who are a mediocre team at best. People need to put into perspective how bad Cork were last night, no guile, no fight, nothing. Cork had no energy, but were unlucky to hit the cross bar at start of 2nd half, a goal then could have turned the game. When are we ever gunna get some luck? Dublin swanning into a semi final having faced the superpowers of Longford, Kildare, Westmeath, Fermanagh!!! Jesus christ, they actually had it a million times tougher in the league!
That’s very easy run in to a semi final for the Dubs. Kerry likewise have very easy run in also. Expect both to be in unstoppable form for the semi final, talking up the attributes of their opponents as we saw last year from Kerry.
see Spillane is tipping us to go very close in the papers .
As all prominent individuals in the media have outlined that concession of 2-11 v Sligo is a lot
What do people think the team will be for the quarter final ?
Let the Dubs have their easy run to the semi final….best to catch them under cooked. It will take one hell of an effort, but a slightly more battle hardened Mayo can take them if we can keep the performance levels seen last Sunday going for the next couple of months. A tough battle is what we need now in the quarters and I think we’ll certainly get it against Donegal/Tyrone. Who knows what could happen on the other side of the draw – maybe lady luck will shine down on us this summer…
Kerry will beat Kildare by as much as they want. I’m guessing between 7 and 10 points. And yes, I did watch the full match last night. Cork showed all the signs of the demoralised provincial losers unable to rise above the 7-day turnaround. They hit the bar, Kildare got the goal, and Cork collapsed like a house of cards.
That result might do us no harm. Dublin won’t be as road-tested in the semi-final after playing Fermanagh as they would have been after playing Cork. Assuming we can squeak past Donegal or Tyrone, we’ll have been pushed harder.
Well done to the juniors.
With regards the Cork Kildale game Cork were dealt a killer blow when OConnor went off. Kildale lorded midfield there after and Cork showed no leadership or desire.
Easy qtrs now for both Dublin and Kerry.
We’ll have real test v Donedeal but we’ll be all the better for it.
Kikdares 1-21 is not just conveniently explainable with collapsing Cork. Cork had their 46 well protected, similar to Kerry. It was the accurate kicks and deep handpasses over the top centrally and down the flanks that opened up Cork. This ball often came back towards multiple runners. That is good teamwork that is hard to execute and difficult even for a fresh team to defend against. Kildare were also denied chance of 2 extra points instead of the scored free. It was a penalty late in second half the replay showed he was inside.
You can’t question Kildare’s application and intensity yesterday. They had a good number of turnovers but we’re given time and space to look good. Kerry will have no fear or difficultly dealing with them.
JP, I did not have the opportunity to watch any of any of the Cork Kildare game but my opinion of Kildare is based on their results in recent years, in particular this year’s championship where, as I recall, they were rolled over fairly easily by Dublin. A team does not come from nowhere to challenge a hardened outfit like Kerry, esp. nowadays when the top teams are so well prepared. In addition the drawn Munster final and Fitzmaurice’s fairly radical surgery resulting from it will have knocked any sense of complacency out of the Kerry team, When Gooch could be dropped after one comeback game all Kerry players will have taken notice, A poor performance by any of them could see them languishing on the subs bench for the rest of the year and they know it. so there will not be many poor performances, particularly against Kildare.
Kildare may have executed their game plan, but Cork are a far superior outfit. They were coming off a hugely disappointing result in Munster after two tough games against the All-Ireland champions, with just a week to recover. They lost Alan O’Connor to injury and, with that, their grip on midfield. They hit the bar when they had Kildare under pressure, then conceded a goal almost immediately. That prompted the collapse.
Kildare are not tactical geniuses all of a sudden. If you don’t believe me, watch Kerry eviscerate them next weekend.