With inter-county football over for another year, the focus has now shifted to the club scene where last weekend the first round of matches took place in the Senior, Intermediate and Junior club championships.
In this episode of the Mayo News football podcast, we review the opening round action in the club championships and we look ahead to the second round games this coming weekend. Mayo News sports editor Mike Finnerty hosts the show and he’s joined in the studio by Edwin McGreal and Ger Flanagan.
Ger recounts what it was like for Balla to play their first game in the senior championship for 23 years, in which they lost out to neighbours Castlebar Mitchels. Ed talks about his Sunday in South Mayo watching Senior and Intermediate games while Mike fills us in on what he saw in Knockmore and Westport, as the home sides there accounted for Aghamore and Ballaghaderreen respectively.
We then hear from Rob Murphy and me as we send back a dispatch from Clogher on Saturday evening where we saw Ballintubber get the better of Ballina Stephenites.
Ed, Mike and Ger also talk about the plight of Lacken Sarsfields GAA club who endured a tough day in the Junior championship last weekend. The lads discuss how this highlights the struggles of some clubs in rural Ireland.
Our popular ‘Bring Him In’ slot returns where we pick out some players for James Horan to keep an eye on ahead of 2022. We also reveal the identity of our very first ‘Podcast Player of the Week’ who wins a handy voucher for the Momentum Performance gym in Ballinrobe.
This episode of the Mayo News football podcast is now online and is available to listen to on iTunes, SoundCloud, Podomatic and Spotify. You can also listen to it directly on the Mayo News website as well as here on the blog using the SoundCloud player below or the one on the panel on the right.
The Mayo News football podcast has its own Twitter presence, @MayoPodcast, so if you’re a Twitter user you should follow us there to make sure you get the latest podcast-related updates, including new episodes.
The Mayo News football podcast is produced and edited by Ger Duffy Media.
Players to look out for in club championship that can challenge for a senior place
Conor diskin-Claremorris
Mark moran-Westport
Jack Reilly-Charlestown
Colm moran-Westport
Johnny maughan-Castlebar
Ben Doyle-Westport
Cian mchale-Moy davitts(not next year one for the future)
Nathan moran-Hollymount carramore
Ruari keane-Mayo gaels
Cathal Horan-Kilmovee (outstanding player for the mayo under 20s in 2019)
Eoin gilraine-Ballinrobe
Aidan Cosgrove-Kiltimagh
Shaun dempsey-Balla
Ethan henry-Mayo gaels
Ciaran boland,frank irwin and sam callinan ballina
I could go on because we have a lot of talent in this county
Admittedly underage results haven’t been good enough and worrying
We are still producing quality players that are hitting the ground running coming into senior
Here’s hoping long may it last
(All the names I’ve mentioned here are either for next year or the next couple of years)
If I have missed anyone please discuss.
I would add ciaran king to that list
Mark Moran…no
Jack Reilly…no
Cathal Horan..no
John maughan …no
Good man Jb – they are all guys that played underage for Mayo. Are there any names out there of players who missed out on that and are a bit under the radar who could be considered for senior team next year
Sean Burke-If you are saying no to lads between the age of 21-24 what in the name of God is the point of having a club championship?it is used to find new players to play for mayo
Mayo36-Yes Kieran king is a vital cog in the knockmore machine and could well be considered
On the one road-Cillian finn has talent from kiltimagh id like to see him given a chance
Oisin Tunney from breaffy was an all star for the minor team a few years ago really exciting back
It’s hard to see anyone that didn’t play mayo underage getting much of a chance unless they have improved drastically simply because they have missed out on so much strength and conditioning that you do at mayo underage
B Ben Doyle. No . Conor diskin most definitely
It might be interesting to examine what senior clubs are not represented in either the above list or the panel and question why that might be the case
What has happened Cathal Horan? Is there a reason he hasn’t pushed on (eg injury)? He was excellent for the u20s
Mark Moran was excellent for Westport and mayo last year. I’m surprised he hasn’t pushed on this year
When looking at possible additions, you need to focus on what the senior team is lacking currently. Kieran King is one of Knockmore’s most important players but we really don’t need another half back. Cathal Horan is similar.
We could do with a physically imposing midfielder to play alongside Mattie. I’m surprised Conor O’Shea never got a run here. He consistently outshines Mattie at club level and is more mobile than his brothers. Probably not going to happen for him at this stage.
Also a couple of genuine full back line players that know the position, not converted wing backs. Niall McManamon from Westport is an option, possibly Ruari Keane too. He did well on Tommo Culhane in the U20 game vs Galway and stood out vs Roscommon too.
There’s surely a place on the panel for Conor Diskin too. I don’t think he scored enough previously but seems to be improving in that regard.
Ahh shur look what’s the point in discussing a young mans progress . It’s a choice really isnt it and I suppose he choose just to live his life rather than have a go at the county stuff . I’d be fairly friendly with his older brothers and they are all massive footballers , without their contribution to shamrocks last ten years or so I’d hazzard a guess shamrocks might well be similar to lacken .
Maybe a word from the right person might change his mind. I highly rate him and its a position where we need the likes of diskin. On the final that was I couldn’t help notice o hora laughing in the parade similar to roman mcgarrity in 2004. Surely at this stage fellow s should know that its concentration time. U wouldn’t see a tryone man doing it. We need to wise up. We have only one plan. We’ll he wasn’t wrong on that one unfortunately. Another one is henelly s interview. Least said least mended. Surely management has to tell players where the limits are. We have alot to learn.
@sean Burke – not sure why you are ruling out Mark Moran?
I saw some footage of him playing last week and he’s after bulking up quite a lot since last year.
I think he’s a quality player with a big future for Mayo. Reminds me of Alan Dillon the way he moves around the ground and very comfortable on the ball, which is essential at IC level and the main reason Conor oshea has never really made it as an established Mayo player.
Enda from the ah ref pod & current Kilmovee manager – if you are reading this maybe you can comment on Cathal Horans Mayo prospects?
@Craggy boglands, to be fair to AOS and O’Hora laughing, it was nervous laughter or what’s called incongruous emotion, another pointer to inadequate psychological preparation.
That’s when the alarm bells started to ring.
Yes viper alarm bells definitely started to ring for me too. . Its not 1989 where we hadn’t seen a final for 38 years. We should be good at this by now. Let’s face it nobody has had more practice. Even the young lads have 2 all Ireland s lost already and them hardly 22. We need to cop on alot
@ jb13. John Gallagher of Mayo Gaels. Impressive at under age a few years ago. A big mobile forward who can score. Should be worth another look if he’s interested.
Horan for kilmovee would be far off inter county standard from what I’ve seen, watched a good bit of the junior championship the past few seasons and does not stand out one bit.