Four changes for Sunday

Willie Joe

We named our team to face Meath on Sunday earlier on today. For the record, here it is:

Mayo (NFL Division One v Meath, 9/2/2020): Robbie Hennelly (Breaffy); Padraig O’Hora (Ballina Stephenites), James McCormack (Claremorris), Brendan Harrison (Aghamore); Eoin O’Donoghue (Belmullet), Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber), Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels); Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore, captain), Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber); Fergal Boland (Aghamore), Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet), James Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels); Tommy Conroy (The Neale), James Carr (Ardagh), Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore).

So it’s four changes from the side that started the last evening against Dublin. In come James McCormack, Eoin O’Donoghue, Tommy Conroy and Kevin McLoughlin, while out go Oisín Mullin (with the U20s this weekend), Colm Boyle (injured, presumably), Jordan Flynn (suspended) and Aidan O’Shea (though it’ll be a surprise, to be honest, if he doesn’t start in Navan).

For Eoin O’Donoghue it’s a first start for the county in a competitive game this year. The last time Eoin lined out from the start in a game for us was against Monaghan in the League last March, while James’ most recent start was against New York over in Gaelic Park in the first round of the Connacht Championship last May.

After two positive cameos off the bench against Donegal and Dublin, Tommy Conroy is named to start on Sunday. That makes it his full League debut so the best of luck to him then.

Between retirements, injuries and unavailabilities we’ve a huge amount of turnover in the team named for Sunday compared to the one that started against Meath in the Super 8s at Croke Park last July.

Only four of next Sunday’s team – Brendan Harrison, Stephen Coen, Kevin McLoughlin and Fergal Boland – also started that game last summer, on a day, incidentally, that we beat Meath for the first time in the Championship since the All-Ireland final of 1951. Four more of Sunday’s team did, though, appear as subs that day at HQ with James Carr, Eoin O’Donoghue, James McCormack and Michael Plunkett all getting a run off the bench then.

No sign of Meath naming their team for Sunday yet from what I can see.

Finally, just for info, Sunday’s game is being shown live by TG4 on their YouTube channel – details here.

34 thoughts on “Four changes for Sunday”

  1. Forwards are starting to look more natural forwards than athletes, there is a lot of pace in that forward line. Reape doesn’t appear to be Horan type of forward. Listening to Horans comments the last couple of weeks in regards to Tommy Conroy he liked his energy, movement and Pace in the inside. Andy Moran’s movement always made him a standout. With Carr McLoughlin and Conroy I believe he may have found what he is looking for. The team on paper has the next generation look to it, with the some players getting a run of games for the first time. Young Towey in the U20s is also starting to turn heads.

  2. In fairness to JH he’s following a similar pattern to the league of 12 months ago but giving relatively new names and faces game time. It has to happen. We know what we can get out of the exceptional crop from 12/17, some of those legs must be tired but they all haven’t gone away so the challenge is for them to come back and the new arrivals to keep the jersey.

    We need to win this game and on paper we should but this is Mayo, when do we do easy…..

    Still, game will be tight and Meath are no pushover.

    If we play for 75/77 minutes like we were doing for 14 minutes last week against the Dubs and show some more composure in front of the posts we’ll prevail.

    Let’s hope Storm Ciara doesn’t make a mess of it.

    Off we go again.

  5. Eoin came on in all the super 8 games last year and also featured against Dublin in semi final. He started against monaghan in league.

  6. Interesting team, agree with the approach. These younger players need to be tested in games that matter, and we have experienced players to bring on as needed.

    I hope they make an early decision if match in doubt, would be happy to follow the counts, enjoy the intrigue of the oul politics as well as the gaa.

  7. Thanks for the correction, Done Deal – I’d missed the Monaghan game, though I knew about the subs appearances. It was games started I was focusing on. I’ve corrected that error now in the post.

  8. Need AOS or parsons in there, the forwards with the exception of Carr are all small and light, not much help for long kickouts around the middle or winning 50/50 balls.Nice to see Conroy getting a start, he has pace and can take his score. No established free taker in the starting lineup. DOC would seem the best option.
    Meath are desperate for a win so it will not be a gimme. Mayo will need to be more decisive in their forward play and improve on their conversion rate. The defense has been solid and conceding few goal chances.
    I expect to see at least 2 changes to the named team.

  9. Great to have team announced on a consistent basis on Thursdays, band most likely the starting team
    Quite experimental, except for goalkeeping position. Good to see James McCormack and EOD starting. I would prefer to see Padraic O Hora in half back line, I think he has more to offer there.
    Overall positive approach. Hope to see some improvement in shooting, free taking and goalkeeper howlers…
    Weather forecast will not make life easy. Is there tv coverage?

  10. Agree with WJ, will be shocked if AOS doesn’t start. The strategy has to be to pound them early and often. Much more preferable than saving him for a possible rescue mission late. Too much at stake this weekend.

  11. Weather is going to be horrendous on Sunday so we need big lads on, AOS will have to start. Why was the Jordan Flynn card not appealed?

  15. Where is Fionn McDonagh? Is he injured? He was playing in Sigerson only a few weeks ago so v surprised not to see him involved.

  16. I suspect the likes of McDonagh and Ruane are being nursed back to fitness. It’s still pretty early in the season for anyone recovering from a few knocks.

  18. I’ve gone back to 1980 – very quick trawl of the magnificent archives – to discover when we last were not beaten at a Meath venue. We drew that one. Haven’t met all that often, but the Navan/Kells record is terrible.

    This is a banana skin. Meath will view this as 2 points they can gain. We have a newish team, and whether they have that winning mentality at this stage is open to debate. Ballybofey should stand to them at least. Aido will be needed I feel.

  19. U20 team named.
    1) Jamie McNicholas- Kiltimagh
    2) Jack Coyne (C) – Ballyhaunis
    3) David McBrien – Ballagh
    4) Luke Tunney – Westport
    5) Aaron McDonnell- Ballinrobe
    6) Rory Brickenden – Westport
    7) Enda Hession – Garrymore
    8) Oisin Mullin- Kilmaine
    9) Jack Carney – Kilmeena
    10) Ciaran Gavin – Ballintubber
    11) Frank Irwin – Ballina
    12) Paddy Goldrick – Charlestown
    13) James Jennings – Mayo Gaels
    14) Mark Moran – Westport
    15) Paul Towey – Charlestown

    Strong physical team. McBrien, Brickenden, Carney, Gavin, Irwin and Goldrick all strong lads. Good luck to them

  21. At what point do GAA decide if games will go ahead. U20 game tomorrow due to be played in middle of orange wind warning and yellow rain warning. Will make a farce of the game.
    Mayo due to travel up to Navan tomorrow for game Sunday. Currently a yellow wind and rain warning for Sunday – could possibly be upgraded to orange warning.
    Common sense should prevail and player welfare considered. Both games should be deferred to next weekend. Don’t be forcing players and supporters to travel long distances in dangerous conditions – and maybe call off game at last minute.

  22. Southmayo Exile: Couldn’t agree more.
    Both games if they go ahead will be played in atrocious conditions putting players and spectators safety at risk.

  23. Navan pitch will be playable even after very heavy rain– wind/safety travelling will be the problem

  25. As its only Mayo that’s travelling to Meath the decision to call the game off can be left to the last minute. Don’t matter if its yellow, orange, amber or any other colour warning. It’s only Mayo and its not important.

    If it was Dublin and the “best supporters in the country” making a rare pilgrimage outside Leinster to say Donegal or Kerry or Mayo in a force 11 gale, then that’s a different story and the decision to call off would have been made the Tuesday before last to avoid inconveniencing them great men.

    Have ye learned nothing?

  27. Mark Rule
    We have a few strong players on the bench also, Hopefully we will see John Gallagher who started last year game and Kuba Callaghan who came on as sub last year as the game progresses, Patrick Chambers and Adam Barrett also if they got over injuries. Still no word on why Basil McLeod Louisburgh Intermediate fullback and Cillian Golding Balla are not part of the setup, both were involved at this age group in 2018 and 2019, nobody on the panel from Castlebar Ultan o Reilly nor Brian Walsh. I see that Ethan Henry came on as sub for St Colmans he must have been carrying an injury.

  28. Kuba picked up a hamstring issue for the first game against Roscommon. Came on the last day against Louth and scored a goal. So wouldn’t be surprised if he starts, not sure what the story is with Chambers and Barrett but would be huge to even have them on the bench. Not sure about McLeod but I believe Golding picked up an injury before games were played. With the short season this year, it ended his chances which is a shame . A brilliant footballer.

  29. Wonderful to see S Coen named as captain and the key man on the middle of the park. I think we should look at building the whole team around hin going forward. He is the key to our success going forward.

  30. I wouldn’t agree with the last post. I would say Stephen is a great servant but not a good enough player to assume that role. I would say he’s able to maximise his ability better than most Mayo players and definitely improved last year especially his scoring which was a weak point prior to 2019. When playing midfield he has yet to really dominate. I expect plenty of more years in a Mayo jersey and more improvement. A slow burner, he could well be good enough in another year but far from guaranteed his place just yet so captain role wouldn’t be a priority.
    Our most obvious captains are Paddy Durcan who’s nailed on starter and AOS. Diarmaid gives his all for the team but doesn’t always present a forward threat. Midfield might suit him. I can only presume Ruane is unavailable as he made a big impact last year.

  31. Carrot Face +watery eyes = bucket head (such a mouthful I’ve forgotten what I was going to say after typing your handle) I believe you have a point I think with Orange warnings being in place for tomorrow the GAA should move fast to call off games before people make the long trek to matches around the country. I have a feeling our game with Meath will be called off

  32. I’d absolutely give Stephen the captaincy. He’s proven captain material and I don’t think that changes because he’s now in senior. He’s proven he can handle the pressure of being a captain and while senior inter county is a huge step-up he’s clearly got those core qualities required and they’re qualities that are fairly rare and transfer through all age categories.

    It’s clear that the Mayo captaincy has weighed heavily on some of his teammates so why not give Stephen a chance. I thought he played well last week and there’s a lot more to come from him I feel. I agree he needs to start dominating more and he was prone to mistakes a couple of seasons ago but perhaps he’s the type of player that needs to be given that ultimate responsibility, the challenge he needs to spur him on and cement his place as the key leader in the team.

    Paddy Durcan would be another good choice so we’re certainly not stuck for options.

  33. Mayo is under orange and u20 game still goes ahead so don’t expect a blanket ban for senior games

  34. 45
    ‘ Galway lording over Mayo’??
    Look at the records of the respective senior teams over the past 18 years in Croke Park – which team have given their supporters the greatest days out??
    Your throw away remark suggest your allegiance is not with Mayo.
    A heroic effort by both sides today!,

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