Photo: RTÉ
The GAA held a media briefing thing at what looked like an utterly pristine Croke Park yesterday involving the four League semi-finalists and, as was the case last year, it was Cillian O’Connor who did the honours for us. (This time, by the way, he wore the no.12 jersey, last year he had the no.6 one on him).
The event produced plenty of handy copy – here are the resultant pieces in the Irish Independent, Irish Times and The Score – and as well as the usual fluff about pain, heartbreak and Croke Park (yawn), you’ll see that Cillian was also quizzed about the injury that forced him off early on last Sunday. He revealed that this problem is a new one and that it’s a glute injury (the glutes are, basically, the muscles in your ass – though Cillian was careful not to do a Forrest Gump on it when discussing them). He told the assorted newshounds yesterday that he’s due to have an MRI today to determine if there’s any tearing to the muscle in question.
In light of this, you’d have to say that Cillian may well not feature in the team that should be named later on tonight for Sunday’s semi-final. Nice and all as it would be to be able to front up to Derry’s A team on Sunday with our own equivalent, it wouldn’t make any sense to risk Cillian causing any further damage to the muscle, as this could potentially endanger his participation on more important battles over the summer. Caution might therefore suggest that it’d be better if the Ballintubber man sat this one out.
Love the Forrest Gump reference.
Derry will be pumped up big style for sunday ., With or without cillian we shoild sttill beat derry
If there’s any doubt, I’d say rest him.
Im sure he’ll be rested sunday, we have eneough depth in our squad to beat Derry. This result will all come down to our attitude on the day-if horan and the lads want to win the league, then we will prevail in this one, no doubt about it. If we approach it in a “what will be, will be attitude” then we will be bet, simple as that. People are given Derry alot of credit on this site, but remember kildare last year? The media darlings! Promoted from Div 2, high fitness levels throughout the league, and got into the semis, where they were ultimately bet by Tyrone.
My point is, we dont give ourselves eneough credit, we are a top team, we are the big dawg now. We should respect our opponents but not fear them, we are Mayo, runners up two years in a row, 3rd consecutive league semi in a row. I think its Derry who should be worrying about us in a big way!!!. We’ll win pulling up-beileve.
No one wins in Croke Park pulling up, unless your county is Kerry
I respectfully disagree reality check, Mayo v Donegal 2013, Mayo v Down 2012…
Despite the big talk from some posters, I’m convinced that this will be a long day for Mayo, especially without Cillian. He’s the most composed forward we have and Lord knows we need composure up front – we put a miserable 12 points on a joke Derry team last Sunday, though we had the chances to double that tally. Thank God Freeman was in goalscoring form.
This will be very tough and very hard-fought. Mayo to win, after a fierce battle.
Teams do win pulling up allright and Kerry are a typical example. So do Dublin (but then again it’s their home pitch). Anyway the examples you mention for us Juan are correct except for a few things.
Both those games were in championship and we came into them very fresh. Donegal last year were plagued by injuries and with all the nonsense talk that came out of the camp after losing to Monaghan and the week before the game about us, they had clearly lost focus of the game.
Down also was a championship game however it should be noted that Down at that stage had really peaked as a team and they have been on a downward curve since. They are now Div 2 standard.
Derry on the other hand are in the semis on Sunday on merit. Along with Cork they are the only team to beat the AI champions this season. Plus they have had a weeks rest while we are going for our third tough game on the trot. (You might argue that last Sunday wasn’t a tough match however we still had to make sure we won it to qualify – so their was pressure on us).
Anyway point is that people should not be surprised if Derry actually turn us over this weekend. They have nothing to lose and Brian McIvor is somewhat of a League specialist. I would assume the way they look to this season (their fist back in Div1) that if they do well in the League and have a good run in the Ulster championship it will be a successful year that they can build on for next year.
For those reasons I think their fitness has been geared toward this competition. Ours has not (I assume). And for those reasons we need to give them more respect.
Well that’s a pain in the as–, I mean glutes if cillian out. However, Freeman always seems to rise to the occasion when in charge of frees etc. give Adam Gallagher another chance if O’Connor is out….mayo to win by 4 pts..
It’s actually interesting if you do a mini group of the four teams left i.e. the results involving Mayo, Derry, Cork and Dublin against each other. The points would be as follows: Mayo 5, Cork 4, Derry 2, Dublin 1, e.g. Mayo beat Cork and Derry and drew with Dublin. Cork beat Derry and Dublin. Derry beat Dublin. Dublin drew with us. We are the only unbeaten team among this four way group. So it just shows that we have nothing to fear against the other 3 teams. It also has to be taken into account that Derry played a weakened team against us and that Dublin were down to 14 men for a lot of their game against us as well. It’s going to be very interesting to see how Derry will cope if we can play with real pace and intensity against them. We should also remember that they put Westmeath and Kildare to the sword when they got on top of them. A good start is paramount for us on Sunday.
Agree if there are any injury worries I would not risk anybody . Championship is all that counts. League great this year for building panel and not rushing players back from injury. Derry are in great form but mayo should beat them as we should have 90% champ team. Fancy Cork to beat the dubs .Cork have a lot of critics but they still have a good balanced team and a better more natural forward line than us ,Sorry
I think it will be a close game, with many WTF moments for Mayo fans and groans. We should shade it but I’m never surprised anymore with what happens in Mayo games. It’s impossible to call. We are unpredictable, always have been.
I believe that we will be out strong. I expect us to start bossing them around the park . Its time to shift the “Mr nice guy ” identity . I do believe that we will show them that we are going to beat them physically. If we show up and act like we are the good guys we are will not win.But i do believe out experience will show and we will win by 6.
Reminds me of another Forrest Gump quote.. My Mamma always said, “Life’s like a box of chocolates.. you never know what you’re gonna get!” 🙂
Any news on team wonder will cillian will start but I am sure the medical team won’t allow it hope win on Sunday
The team is named:
1) Robbie Hennelly – Breaffy
2) Brendan Harrison – Aghamore
3) Ger Cafferkey – Ballina Stephenites
4) Tom Cunniffe – Castlebar Mitchels
5) Lee Keegan – Westport
6) Colm Boyle – Davitts
7) Donal Vaughan – Ballinrobe
8) Aidan O’Shea – Breaffy
9) Jason Gibbons – Ballintubber
10) Keith Higgins – Ballyhaunis
11) Andy Moran – Ballaghaderreen (Capt.)
12) Jason Doherty – Burrishoole
13) Kevin McLoughlin – Knockmore
14) Alan Freeman – Aghamore
15) Mickey Sweeney – Kiltane
im happy enough.Lets just go and beat these Derry lads !!!!!!!!
Hi All,
I may be wrong but I think the last time Derry played in Croker was against us Dubs in an All Ireland QF in 2008 I think, I am very sorry if I am wrong but my point is Mayo should beat Derry handy because of your experience playing in Croker. I wish you the very best of luck on Sunday I honestly do and it will be a very very tough game for us Dubs as I think Cork are going to be very hard to beat not just on Sunday but all year.
Kind Regards,
Martin the Dub
It’s interesting to see Vaughan named at 7 and Boyle named at 6 for this game.
thats how they played the last day. Vaughan played on the wing and boyles was centre. HopeSpringsEternal : do you live in Galway?
Best of luck anyway first goal ye got against tyrone was a cracker hope mayo and dubs meet again.
Yeah in the game against Dublin when Vaughan went forward, Keith Higgins covered for him so it’ll be interesting to see if that happens against Derry. No sorry I don’t live in Galway, Mayomaningalway.
im curious now HopeSpringsEternal : what part of country you living in?
Good luck to mayo on Sunday, I believe that Mayos experience of CROKE Park will be the difference , mayo to win by 3 or 4 points , Not a bad line up , Happy to see Donal Vaughan moved to the wing, I am sure I am not the only mayo person that believes Keith Higgins best position is in defence, Jason Doherty is best suited closer to goal , BRING ON THE DUBS.
Agree with you on our greater Croker experience and also on Keith and Doc.
It will be a very tight game.
Derry are more advanced than us at this point with their fitness (McKenna Cup more competitive than the FBD and their main focus is on the toughest provincial championship), they had the best league form (Beat the Dubs and even could afford to throw us the points the last day), they’ve a great manager, and they have a big strong team that well balanced. Yes, our experience could prove to be the difference!
Is cillian s injury serious if mayo beat Derry would be able to play then.
It is time that this team won a national title they are a great.bunch of lads and deserve a bit of sucess
A National title like the League would give them the confidence to go.and win the big one. They deserve the height of respect coming back year after year and for me it is the best Mayo I have seen for decades
When will James Horan come to his senses and realize that Keith Higgins is wasted in the half forwards
He could play the same role from the corner back position Im sure Ger Caff wpuld welcomr him back