Of course we shouldn’t be worrying about the ref on Sunday – we’ve far bigger issues to concern us. If London had got any kind of fair shake against us the last day this would already have happened but, according to my records, if we lose to Galway on Sunday it will be the first time in over thirty years that we’ll have failed to make it as far as the Connacht final in two successive championship seasons.
In actual fact, it was even worse than that back in the Seventies because, after losing to Sligo in the 1975 final replay, we then conspired to lose a first round replay to Leitrim the following year before going on to fail to Roscommon in both 1977 (in the first round) and 1978 (at the semi-final stage), which meant that we were absent from the provincial decider for three years on the trot. We haven’t made it to the Connacht final every year since then but every year in which we’ve failed to do so (i.e. 1986, 1990, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2007) we’ve always got there the year after. Up ’till now, that is … no pressure there, lads.
jeez WJ its the longest day of the year and I can hardly see my hand with rain,I really dont need any more depression-Onwards n upwards and lets get behind our lads.Enough looking behind our backs!!!
Apologies, op2missteek, didn’t mean to dampen your morning (which sounds like it’s damp enough already) – just pointing to the stats is all. We have, of course, found ourselves in this position no fewer than six times since 1978 and each time we’ve managed to come through to the decider (though only once – 1999 – have we managed to win Connacht having failed to make the final the year before) so there’s no reason why we can’t do so again this year.
Ah statistics, the curse of every football supporter.
I’m trying not to read too much into them, as I’ll inevitably find some doom in there to ruin my week.
The confidence is returing after the London game however. I fully expect us to win this game.
I heard the team is to be announced after training tonight and that Howley is the only major injury doubt – although it’s unlikley he would have started anyway.
As for trying to predict the team, well Christ knows. We seem to average about 6 or 7 changes per game, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw the same here. It’s time we started to have something like a settled team.
McGarrity has to come back in if he’s anywhere near fit, as does Higgins, McLoughlin, A O’Shea and possibly his brother.
We’ll be lucky to get 25,000 at the game, so those of us there near to give the lads our full backing.
It’s Galway for fucks sake! None of our players or supporters should need any extra motivation for this.
Thats not confidence Dan, thats time, the friend of every Mayo supporter 😉
Well my confidence was so low after that Ruislip nightmare that it could only really go one way.
Sunday will tell us if the London game was just an aberration, or if we are currently in the midst of a decline not seen since the early 80’s.
I honestly believe it’s the former.
Dan im telling ya they will do well to get 13000 at the game. Sure Tipp only drew 16000 last Sunday. the money aint there no more and the interest is declining in the county team also. On top of that Galway supporters only ever supported in big numbers when they were doing well. Thats certainly not the case now.
The rain has stopped WJ!!!ROLL ON SUNDAY!!!!!!!!!
Wish it would stop here … and the days are only getting shorter from now on. Still, I’m with you as regards Sunday!
All very bleak isnt it Willie? So the indications are that if we lose on Sunday we are back in those barren days of the ’70s? God help us!
Make sure you dont point out that in 2001, Galway lost a Connacht semi final to Roscommon and went on to win Sam through the back door without so much as a Connacht final appearance… no that would only give some hope.
Also, maybe not highlight the fact that Galway had a period from 1990 to 1995 without a single Connacht final appearance, but have two All Ireland titles since.
Indeed that could actually be too positive, Connacht is the be all and end all.
Whats that Mayo saying again? We should die in despair rather than live in hope? Yes that’s it.
At least we don’t have the mad hairstyles that were in vogue back in the Seventies but, then again, we did have more hair then …
Just a word for Conor Niland who came so close to getting a second round match with Roger Federer at Wimbledon. His father Ray played for Mayo back in the 70’s, lining out at corner back in the league final in 1970.
4 1 up, serving and flopped to a 4 6 defeat. Just knew their had to be a Mayo connection.
Any team news guys ?
The team will be announced later on today or so I’m reliably informed.
Got the tickets just now lads! Can anyone tell me though, what number is the middle section of the stand? I’m trying to figure out if my tickets are for good seats and not shoved to the sides!!
My tickets arrived in the post this morning aswell esther, there in section 106, i’m nearly sure it’s right on the halfway line. I think thats where the season ticket holders were for the league, i can’t remember the section number but it was the halfway line. See ya there sunday 🙂
Dan,
I wouldn’t dream of dampening any expectations about the team and will back them to the hilt but there’s not a chance there’ll be 25,000 there.That would be a huge crowd for a Connacht semi at any point in history.It’ll be between 10-13000 depending on weather.It’ll be the smallest crowd ive seen at a Mayo Galway game since the first one i attended in 1987.I’ll gladly come back on here and admit wrong if the case may be.
there was only something like 17000 at the Connacht final in 1996 ferg.
Fair enough ferg/Ted, I’m probably being a bit optimistic there (about the crowd, not the team!).
I was just thinking back to the last semi I was at in Castlebar against Galway – 2002 I think.
Times are different now alright, we must have had about 30,000 that day.
Robbed from Hoganstand:
1. Hennelly
2. Cunniffe
3. A.Feeney
4. Higgins
5. R. Feeney
6. Vaughan
7. T. Mortimer
8. S o Shea
9. A. o Shea
10. K. McLoughlin
11. A. Dillon
12. A. Moran
13. J. Doherty
14. A . Freeman
15. C o Connor
For what it’s worth, that the same fifteen as I’ve heard it’ll be. Still no official announcement as yet.
A pity McGarrity isn’t starting according to this line-up. Trevor could have dropped to the bench with McLoughlin brought back to HB and A.O’Shea a third midfielder from the HF line. I won’t be surprised if McGarrity runs out No.23 and starts the games though.
Dan/Ted
I was there on both those days too lads.Whatever the crowd we’ll support the lads.Wouldn’t be too worried about the London result,probably a good thing rather that a bad thing.We’re no great shakes but neither are Galway.C’mon the Red n Green!!
I’m with you on that stevemac1982, I was expecting and hoping to see that happen as well.
Still, it’s nice to see a 3 man full forward line anyway.
3 good young fellas inside as well Dan..and as ferg said Galway are vulnerable enough themselves; like ourselves their full back line is probably their weakest line. If we can get good ball inside them 3 lads should do the business for us. UP MAYO
I’d say that O’Connor will drop to the half forwards and McLoughlin will sweep up around the half back line.
Feck this sweeper craic. I want to see us attack as often as possible and keep them on the back foot.
Castlebar is our home turf and we should tear into them from the throw in. Never mind this “wait for them to attack and crowd them with an extra man” shite!
Robbed from Hoganstand:
1. Hennelly
2. Cunniffe
3. A.Feeney
4. Higgins
5. R. Feeney
6. Vaughan
7. T. Mortimer
8. S o Shea
9. A. o Shea
10. K. McLoughlin
11. A. Dillon
12. A. Moran
13. J. Doherty
14. A . Freeman
15. C o Connor
How many changes would that be from the London game?
It’d be six changes from Ruislip, with Geraghty (injured), Barrett, Kilcullen (injured), Gibbons, Campbell and Howley (injured) all dropping out to be replaced by Higgins, Mortimer, O’Shea x 2, McLoughlin and O’Connor. Still no official word that this is the team but it’s the one I’ve heard and I’d be pretty sure that it is correct.
Thanks Mick!!:-)
Ciaran mac is on the bench .