Dublin have tonight named their starting fifteen for Saturday night’s meeting with our lads under the lights at McHale Park (throw-in 6.30pm). The team shows only one change from that which started against Kerry last weekend, with Darren Daly coming in at corner-back in place of the injured Mick Fitzsimons. The All-Ireland champs will line out as follows:
Dublin (NFL Division One v Mayo 11/2/2012): Stephen Cluxton (Parnells); Darren Daly (Fingal Ravens), Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes), Philly McMahon (Ballymun Kickhams); James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams), Ger Brennan (St Vincent’s), Craig Dias (Kilmacud Crokes); Ross McConnell (St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh), Michael Darragh MacAuley (Ballyboden St Enda’s); Paul Brogan (St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh), Kevin McManamon (St Jude’s), Bryan Cullen (Skerries Harps, captain); Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent’s), Eoghan O’Gara (Templeogue Synge Street), Tomas Quinn (St Vincent’s).
TBH that’s a poor looking Dublin forward line. A few players missing & there squad doesn’t look as strong as ours.
We should win with a few points to spare.
Dublin will be wounded after their defeat to Kerry. I wouldnt be jumping the gun by saying that we will beat them. Our midfield is weak and with Aidan o Shea injured I expect the dubs to dominate that area. While their defence is strong and forward line weaker than what they have, expect a battle and a close game. With Cafferkey a big doubt and Cunniffe away expect our full back line to be fully tested.
Can’t see Cluxton pointing any fifties in McHale Park. This is a rare chance for Mayo. Again Midfield will be the key.
Agree with Patriot. Our defense looked pretty loose for the first 20 mins against Laois. Even without the Brogans, Dublin can score goals. Remember last year’s game with the Dubs? It will be interesting to see what happens?
I dont have the stats to back this up, but, it does seem that we score many less goals than the other top teams. We wasted at least 3 great chances last week. I don’t think we will get that many against the Dub FB line, but if we do, we need to take them.
Finally, one of the items everyone noted against Kerry in the semi was that our forwards don’t have the pace of the top teams. I don’t think introducing Pat Harte and C Mort has corrected this issue. McLaughlin is the only forward we have who can open up a defense with a real change of pace. I think our half forward line needs a real pace injection to make that next step upwards.
Had a quick look via WJs results archive about last season and this is the goals returns. We scored 12 in five FBD matches. There is a distortion there in that 7 came in the final v New York.
We scored 10 in the seven league matches and conceded 11. Come the championship in five matches we scored 3 and conceded 6. Two of those were against London. A conclusion I suppose is that the higher the level of intensity the harder it is to score goals. Or have we ever defined a big goal scoring full forward like Willie McGee or Jimmy Burke. has Mayo football changed its style to a smaller more compact front line player where we dont target a Donaghy type 14 , I know we have tried McHale in there before and Big Barry but they are /were mids.
I think it’s a shame we cannot score more goals but look at all the chances we missed last summer, we get into position but cannot finish. No shame there, but if they could work on the goals life would be a lot easier. Low and hard.
When we played them in the league in 2004 we won 1-10 to 0-3. They were held scoreless in the second half. Cluxton, Quinn and Cullen are their survivors from that match. We have nobody from the (programme) starting 15. Andy Moran came on as sub. David Clarke was sub keeper and his teammate from Ballina John Healy was the number 1. Just a thought in those calm times.
Immediate thought is that we should not fear this Dublin squad…certainly not their best 15. That said, our midfield need to really step up tomorrow. Should be a good battle.
Is it true that Seamus o Shea has joined his brother aidan on the injury list too. If that’s the case it will probably be harte and Barry Moran starting in the middle against Dublin. Two players who have played only one competitive game at inter county level since the longford debacle. I suppose it’s games like the ones coming up that will inevitably bring them on….. Hopefully!
cil shud add a bit of fire power to the forward line-great to see him back
It was the best league game of 2010, and Dublin snatched it in the end. The catching and footpassing of the Dubs that afternoon was sublime. I think we have a good chance tomorrow night. Our problem areas are not limited just to midfield. You can add the 3, 6, 11,14 positions as well. We lack a backbone down the middle.
Who is cil?
Cillian O’Connor I would assume.
Very disapointed in Mayo’s performance to-night.
Cluxton was handed at least four balls,
and what about our seven wides.
Total confusion all over, taking too long to decide
what to do with the ball.
Mayo’ s worst performance in a long time.
Forwards were easilly smothered by the Dublin
defence.
Cathal Henry.