The waiting is over – all four weeks of it – and so later on today we’re back in action in the championship. Like the last two summers we’re also back in the qualifiers, this time starting out in Round 1, with a tough run of games to get through if we’re to make it, once again, back to the All-Ireland Series, which this year features the new Super 8s format.
And, of course, we’re back in knockout championship match territory. Back in a world where a poor performance – or an inspired opposition display – on any given day could end our interest in this year’s championship. We’re overwhelming favourites to overcome Limerick down at the Gaelic Grounds this evening but, for one of the teams, the inter-county football year will end in this game. We need to make sure that this isn’t us.
We should, of course, win this evening. I’m happy enough that the team we’ve picked for the job (albeit that it’s one which might feature a few late changes) will get it done and secure our place in Monday morning’s Round 2 draw.
Getting the win is obviously the primary target for this game. But it shouldn’t be the only one. We know from experience that momentum is a huge factor in getting a qualifier run going. A bright, confident display in this one should – as well as getting us the win – propel us forward into Round 2 in the right frame of mind.
Support for the team at the Gaelic Grounds was awesome the last two times we played down there. We could certainly do with tapping into a bit of that mood this evening, not least given how embarrassingly hushed we all were on home turf against Galway the last day. It’s not just out on the field that we need to up our game.
There’s little more to be said, to be honest – we need to win, hopefully win well and we all need to leave the place a little bit hoarse. Do all that and it’ll make for a productive evening in the Midwest.
Safe travelling all, best of luck to Stephen and the team, best of luck too to the county’s U20s in their Connacht semi-final against Leitrim at MacHale Park this afternoon. Back later on with the usual fun and games. Up Mayo.
Up Mayo!
No effin surrender today, let’s lay down a marker, and strike the fear of god into anyone who makes it to round two of the qualifiers. Maigh Eo Abu.
Looks like its brewing up a storm for the Gaeluc Grounds at 6pm!
What kind of storm do you mean
Hon Mayo! first time I’ve been able to make a trip over for the qualifiers and hope there’s the same crowds down today. hopefully a good chance to lay down a marker whilst giving some options in midfield and forwards a decent run out
@mayomanindublin That’s a strange comment when have we ever seen this Mayo team surrendered. Maybe they can be accussed of not be clinical enough on the big day against Dublin but since 2011 we have never seen this team surrender.
On a wider note I agree with Willie Joe and the fans. We as fans have turned our back on them at times. I was at the dinner in citywest after 2016 loss and so called fans didn’t even clap for Stephan Rockford. More sickening was at the Galway game the cheers that met that announcement that Ger Caff wasn’t starting. Her came back from a horrific injury that retired Paul O’Connell and is a great servant and role model.
Us fans get great praise for supporting Mayo but how could you not with their never say die attitude.
On the game get there, get a win. Would like to see some performancez from Regan, Coen, Hanley.
When we get on the road again I’m always reminded of the music lyrics to the Greatest little hobo.. “there’s a voice that keeps on calling me. Down the road is where I’ll always be. Every stop I make, I’ll make a new friend. Can’t stay for long, just turn around and I’m gone again. Maybe tomorrow I’ll want to settle down. Until tomorrow I’ll just keep moving on”. See ye all in Limerick
Ah Ref – twitter link is viewable on the blog- has a snapshot of the programme team and panel.
Spare a thought for the mighty Tom today, hope he is doing ok, But dont spare Limerick lads, All the best to Stephen and the lads, have a safe, and great day out all. Roll on 6 o’clock, we have waited long enough, the journey begins again, Up Mayo.
In terms of the performance of our supporters.
First of all, if Limerick really are in as bad form as has been suggested, the players should not need any encouragement today. That remains to be seen.
The question is why we (the supporters) didn’t perform against Galway. We had them there for the taking. We could have choked the life out of them, but what happened? …we fell victim to “stereotype threat”. What caused this? Some well organised Social intimidation may have helped. Negative billboards can put a damper on things.
What can we do now? If things are organised and people stick together, it can make a difference. It’s clear that the season tickets might not all make their way to the most loyal supporters. I remember looking across the Cusack before Rock struck the free last year with flashbacks to 2004 and 06, watching them leave before the whistle.
We might not need to go overboard this evening, but it could be time to look across the hill and start building a mountain.
Njoy the day everyone. Good luck to all the players and managment. Hope it’s a rip roaring performance.
If
By Rudyard Kipling
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:.
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build’em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man, my son!
We have this same discussion every year about the lack of a unified vocal support. Some of us (a huge minority) have been bringing big colours to games for years and trying to get some noise going but let’s face it. There’s no tradition of it amongst Gaa supporters. The best you’ll get is the odd Mayo Mayo Mayo chant and the crowd reacting to events on the pitch, a score, a bit, a refs decision. What I’ve noticed in the past number of years is a noticeable increase in mayo support reacting louder to negative events (as if something has to piss you off before youll back your team) rather than taking the initiative and adopting a positive aggressive mindset, one that supports the team and inspires rather than waiting to be inspired.
If you genuinely care about being a supporter rather than a mere reactionary spectator then start by bringing a flag (does anyone remember the 90’s?! Now that was proper colour. I would also be a big advocate of the return of fog horns but that’s hoping for much). The next thing is to start or join in when you hear anyone else shouting Mayo Mayo! Or at the very least just make an effort to just be more vocal.
The level of support at the Galway game was nothing short of pathetic. We massively outnumbered Galways supporters and we didn’t make it count. The loudest, most enthusiastic roar of the day was to announce that Chris was in for Ger. After that it was library stuff.
Myself and Barry from MISC will have our usual flags at the game today. Feel free to bring one and join us. Or sit in with the club 51 crew and get shouting.
Up Mayo.
The thing is nearly everyone on here is a vocal supporter. It’s the others you, we need to get going around us.
Really could have done without Harrison and Vaughan picking up injuries
Also where the hell is Big Bird?????????
Midfield options running thin on the ground
Unless Barry is injured, may be a tactical decision to go for Conor as a mobile/tall midfield replacement…..ultimately not much point having Barry on the bench if he’s never going to get game time (which has been the case for a long time now).
If we go into today with any complacency it could be trickier than people think! Need to nail this early.
Is there any game on before our match at 6pm?
Same ol argument. Mayo supporters giving out to mayo supporters for not being as good a mayo supporters as them. Just go support your team and don’t be worrying about what others are doing.
It’s been a long 4 weeks.
Now time to lace up the boots and hit the ground fast and hard in Limerick.
I still have full and absolute confidence in this team, squad and the management. I read quite often some utter bizarre commentary on this blog (great work always Willie Joe, I don’t believe I’ve thanked you yet) about us. We are all entitled to opinions but I can’t see them being beneficial.
To todays game, it would fantastic to see a balanced team display without revealing all our cards. Get more time in familiar legs and see if fresher faces step up.
We will win but it’s a game to play smart and just because we are playing a division 4 team we can’t and won’t take anything for granted.
The adventure awaits again.
Best of luck.
Leantimes I see u will have room for 2 more, as ur other two passengers are away gallivanting in London,lol.
Good luck to Mayo today from a supporter who will be following events from a field in England
Everbody travelling to limerick today wants mayo to win badly of course as they do every game, everyone supports a team differently, just beacause you dont roar ar the top of your voice at every single occasion doesnt mean youre a bad supporter, a lot of people on here blowing their own trumpet about how they support the team and that they started a mayo chant and nobody else joined in, childish stuff if you ask me, and theres a reason why the decibel levels were low at the galway game, it was the most mind numbingly boring game you could ever wish to be at, lateral hand passing back and over the pitch for 70 mins, the crowd can only react to whats happening, up mayo!
I was late going to the game against Kerry in the league. Slipped in the back gate for the second half and watched from the McHale road side.
The crowd didn’t have much to shout about that night either, but there was one moment when the volume rose. It was like a surge of energy and got my adrenaline pumping anyway. Just sitting back and observing it, when it happens, you can imagine what it does for the players.
It’s just a matter of finding the right moments to channel it.
It’s just a pity that rival teams can look at our positives and learn from them. We should be looking to build on them.
@mayonaze where are ye congregating in the ground?We have a few who’d like to join in.
That poem was going round my head this week Revellino..
Will be interesting to see how midfield perform..Cohesive is key..
Also this craic of “i can only react to what’s happening on the pitch ” “it was a boring game” is pathetic stuff.Youre not some sheikh over at Man City demanding to be entertained.Its easy to be vocal when everything is going grand.The players have said the crowd have lifted them in the past (a great example being last year in limerick) Its the only tangible thing we can do to infulence the game/performance.
@The Mayo Viking… We do surely, have room for 2 more in the ‘Babe Magnet’ as Paddy Joe likes to refer to the ‘Talbot Solara’… He’s outside right now, tieing the two windscreen wipers together with baling twine, so that both of them will be working during the expected thunder storm in Limerick … We both had a bit of Luck last night in the McWilliam… And we will be picking up Two good looking Lassies on the Claremorris side of Ballindine, in about two hours time… I just have to feed the pig’s and I’m ready for road…. So if any of ye, see two good looking mature female Mayo supporter’s,, showing a bit of leg and holding out their thumbs, don’t pick them up, their ours!… And they wouldn’t travel in anything less than a ‘Solara’… “Well not after last night anyway!
Just gone through claremorris, quick glance in the mirror corduff travel , Our Lads are Enroute, can’t wait for this match , here’s to a long summer , cmon mayo !
I love these ‘how to support’ discussions. Almost as good as the who played well/didn’t play well.
Seriously, support as best you can. It’s all we can do.
Tbh I don’t believe there is much need for vocal support today . Galway game was where it was needed and it was pure much. Why people don’t think it makes a difference is baffling , it really does make a difference . If mchale park was buzzing with electrifying Mayo atmosphere v Galway , I believe we would of won . We let the side down. Most will think that is an outlandish/farcical statement to make but I believe it to be true.
Would I be right in saying we could draw Monaghan in mchale park in next round , if so , that is where support would be needed next.
On the coach now from Dublin to limerick , expecting a handy enough win tbh. I’d love to see us get some goals today. Habit is a great thing.
I think we are great supporters ok there are always a few around you that look glum no matter what. Ignore them and encourage on the lads. I was told last year in Ennis to put down my flag, I put it higher again.
I do believe when Tom got injured and to see him go off the pitch in that way our hearts sank and it was hard to shout.Thinking of him today and hope all going well. Up Mayo.
Looking forward to 1st of many games God willing too.
I agree Sean. We critique players constantly on here. We need to do the same with ourselves.
Our performance against Galway was 6/10 on the pitch. 4/10 off it, being generous.
But we usually come to life in the qualifiers. While we probably won’t need that vocal support today, it is an opportunity to let the lads know we are still with them.
Up Mayo!
Which stand will the main group of mayo bodies b.
Yeah, the Galway game was lost on the terraces. We let them squeak out a there with a soft one. Unforgivable.
I see now that the figure who think we won’t beat Limerick is up to 81 owl votes on Willie Joes owl poll. Great stuff.
Come on Mayo let’s us all get behind these fine footballers from our native county and show them our support .and let’s think of Tom Parsons today. In Limerick now: lovely and sunny here
Funny enough Mairead I saw Tom pumping the fist along with a Mayo chant whilst on the oxygen and that got my bit of the stand going! Obviously was very hard to see him taken off and fully understand why others felt a drop though
The calm before the storm James!
Best of luck to Mayo today. It will be interesting to see how Cian Handlebars and Evan Regan perform – it could yet prove to be the lifeline Mayo need.. I’m here slogging away up on my reliable Massey Ferguson – getting in the second silage cut. Hopefully will be finished soon, and ready then for the assault on the Hyde. The “Gadai chaoire” won’t know what hit them. Don’t think their gaeilge is great up there….
This exile wants to say
As I drive from S.F. to L.A.
I stream Midwest Radio
To hear our boys from Mayo
That Limerick they filet
A little late on the limericks I know, but I felt inspired.
Maybe this has been mentioned already. WHY THE HELL ISNT MAYOTV STREAMING THE GAME?
Because they’re not in possession of the rights, Southpaw?
Rousing reception for Tom Parsons, just made his way into stand on crutches!
What a reception for Tom P !!!!!
Tom Parsons just arrived into the Stand on crutches …a mighty welcome from the fans! (We will miss him on the field so much this summer)
We’ll definitely miss him, now someone else has the chance to step up, good result also for the U20’S 1-24 to 1-03 is no mean achievement and there may be a shock in stock as Roscommon U20s are leading Galway 1-11 to 0-9 with 10 minutes left
Oh wow! Wonderful to hear that. Come on Mayo!
Fair play to whoever brought the huge flag in!
Fast Mark
There was a young lad from Mayo,
Football mad don’t ya know,
He went to all matches,
To view the high catches,
And relished the guick tap and go.
We should hold out with a bit of luck
We will be in the hat for Monday
Now thats more like it!
Roscommon were in the u17 all Ireland final last year. Not sure why it’s such a shock to people that they have a decent u20 team.
Job done. Really racked up the goals in second half. Congratulations to Cillian on breaking the Mayo scoring record. (3-9 must be up there as one of best scoring displays in a Championship game for the county as well). He isn’t too far off the Gooch’s record now either. Not bad for a 26 year old.
That’s a marquee performance from Cillian. Exceptional.
Traipsing across Geneva on a choo choo.
Someone fill me in – who were the standout performers (outside of Cillian)?
Job done well. Good men. On we go.
Lads will ye get off the feckin pitch!! Don’t ye know there are Munster Senior and Minor Hurling Championship games on tomorrow!!
Where were harrison and Vaughan today? I presume they are injured. Any official word on how long for?
Great stuff, great win. really happy with that. Well done all involved
Great result and good to see the hammer put down at the end. Looking forward to Monday and praying for cheap flights!
Please God all happy bloggers tonight.
Listening to the match tonight in Abu Dhabi. Delighted with the result and the performance from some players who have been the subject of some unfair criticism. I see Cillian racked up 3-9 but it’s a pity we still don’t have a marquee forward. If we had I wonder what he’d score?
Did any of our fringe players put down a marker for a regular starting position. If not are they capable of being impact subs? Game changers?
Realistically we have a bit to go with our panel and conceding of second goal will ring a few alarm bells.
However we may be lucky to get favourable draw on Monday and give newcomers another decent run.
Anyone feel any of the fringe players did enough to get excited about them
I wouldn’t put money on it Sinead37, there a hard lot to please.lol. Brilliant, Just what the doctor ordered, and a superb man of the match display from our much maligned captain, another handy draw on Monday, would be the icing on the cake.
larry duffy
Roscommon beating Galway U20s was a shock on paper, many were tipping Galway for the All lreland. Roscommon got to the All Ireland u17 Final year but funny enough they didn’t have one of those players in their team today. Galway on the other hand have dominated Connacht in the last 2 minor finals this years U19 and U20s, we were handed a 13 point defeat last year to them. In hindsight I’m not sure how much can be read into the scoreline when i looked at the Galway team only 5 survivors from there 2016 final team that beat us by 6 points, and 5 from last years teams. Galway did have Rob Finnerty Ryan Forde Dessie Conneelly and Finian o Laoi playing today but no Evan Murphy who has lead us a merry dance the last two years. Still fancy our lot to do well next week in Mchale Park.
Mayomessi, if your last line refers to the U-20 Connacht Final, it’s in Hyde Park next Sunday
On the ditch I thought James Durcan did well he looked very lively I was disappointed with Hanley he was easily dispossessed a few times and looks a bit light Evan did ok he can win his own ball but missed a few frees other than that it was the old reliables the two work horses that are the O shea’s And Boyler Barrett etc and Cillian was on fire I think it’s the old soldiers again we are relying on this year don’t really see any of the new boys apart from maybe o donoghue making any impact this year hope I’m wrong
Thanks Backdoorsam. James has the pace to be useful impact sub. A favourable draw Monday should bring home on again. The cost of lack of discipline could finally be focusing Cillian on his game,