We’ve just named the team to face Armagh tomorrow night. Here’s the full list:
Mayo (NFL Division One v Armagh, 3/3/2012): David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites); Kevin Keane (Westport), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Richie Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Lee Keegan (Westport); Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), Barry Moran (Castlebar Mitchels); Alan Freeman (Aghamore), Alan Dillon (Ballintubber), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole); Conor Mortimer (Parnells, Dublin), Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen), Enda Varley (Garrymore). Subs: Robert Hennelly (Breaffy), Alan Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels), Eoghan Reilly (Castlebar Mitchels), Danny Geraghty (Ballintubber), Shane McHale (Knockmore), Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy), Jason Gibbons (Ballintubber), Michael Conroy (Davitts), Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber), Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore).
In all there are four changes from the team that lined out to face the Dubs and the fog three weeks ago. Out go Eoghan Reilly, Peadar Gardiner, Kevin McLoughlin and Cillian O’Connor and in come Ger Cafferkey, Richie Feeney, Jason Doherty and Andy Moran. There are a few positional switches too, with Alan Freeman (who will apparently wear 25 tomorrow night) moving out to 10, Alan Dillon moving across to 11 (come on James – when are you going to accept that this makes no sense at all at all?) and last year’s goal machine coming in at 12.
There are two changes to the subs list too with Jason Gibbons and Michael Conroy coming onto the bench while Pat Harte, Michael Forde and Danny Kirby drop off. It seems we’re travelling with 25 instead of the usual match-day squad of 26. Sure, if it comes to it, we could always share Billy Joe with them.
The defence is more solid looking compared to the Dublin game. Interesting to see Doherty at 12. I feel he is better closer to the goal. I do think our full forward line is too small and could get bullied and knocked around by physical Armagh defenders.
Im not sure about Barry Moran and Aidan o Shea playing together in the middle. There isn’t much mobility there. The midfielder for Armagh, Charlie vernon runs all day long at speed. He must have 3 lungs. Vaughan would be the man to pick him up.
Yeah, defence looks ok and forwards has lots of scoring threat even if it looks very unbalanced position-wise. I have a feeling the mid-field could get cleaned: Armagh are very strong there and as has been mentioned, our 2 boys don’t have the mobility and aren’t strong defensively.
We seem to have a pretty strong bench though, so I think we might just sneak a win here if we can take the limited chances we get.
It’s hard to see much ball sticking up front with this forward line. It looks like Freeman was a late change for McLoughlin and that would have been even lighter again. We’ll know more after the game.
Interested to see Freeman at no.10, I think it could suit him. Doherty at 12 an interesting selection. Varley deserves a chance to show what he has to offer again. We mustn’t have a slow start against Armagh like we did last season in McHale Park, we cannot leave ourselves a gap to bridge.
Not sure about this line up, especially the forwards. Can’t really see them lining up in those positions. Doherty in the half forward line seems unlikely, maybe Moran will swap with him or be given more of a roaming role.
Agree with seanod87, I’d be worried about how we fare in centre-field. O’Shea and Moran will be up against one of the best partnerships around. At least we can judge them properly after this match up.
Still, I do fancy us by a couple of points or maybe a late OG by Padden
I watched Armagh against Kerry, they scored some long ranged points from play something we were unable to do against the Dubs ,instead we tried to walk the ball into the small square and of course lost it every time.
We will have to take long range points from play, if we are to compete with the top teams and beat the packed defence that is played by these teams.
We cant start slowly again or let armagh get a run on us like the dubs did. I reckon AOS & Barry could do well tomorrow night. Barry was having a stormer v the Dubs the last night. Good to see Doherty n Varley getting a start. Goals and points there. If Mayo are a point down Billy may stick one over his own bar! Safe trip to all travelling. Oh btw anyone know is there parking near the pitch. To my shame never been to the pitch before, only to the planetarium as a young fella.
Good luck to the lads! They will need to be a lot more decisive and direct than against Dublin, and somebody please tell billy fitz that if you are not cheating you are not trying.
I thought Freeman & Varley when he came in did very well against Laoise.
With all the games including u21 we have to rest some players.
Looking forward to the game
David,I dont u/stand your comment re Billy Fitz
Looking forward to the match this evenin,Think its about 20years ago since i was at a match in tat grounds and while there was a good few goals scored i think the points were hard come by.IT will be a real test 4 this mayo team to see where there at and also a test 4 JH.I see he has made some changes both in personnel and positional but to me its there style of play tat needs the most attention.We seem ta let teams gain the upper hand early on and then use our purple patch to play catch up. we won’t get away with this against the big guns