The playing conditions were tough on a heavy pitch at Páirc Seán MacDiarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday. The rain and the wind didn’t help matters either but, thanks to a masterclass performance from Cillian O’Connor, Mayo opened their Connacht Championship campaign with an eleven-point win over Leitrim and now go forward to meet defending provincial champions Roscommon in the semi-final next weekend.
In this episode of the Mayo News football podcast we review Mayo’s victory over Leitrim. Mayo News reporter Ger Flanagan was at the game in Carrick-on-Shannon and along with Rob Murphy he hosts this podcast episode.
First up we hear Ger’s thoughts on the game soon after the final whistle had sounded then it’s over to Billy Joe Padden for his review of the contest. Ger then provides further background from Páirc Seán to this strangest of Championship days before James Horan gives his post-match reaction to his team’s eleven-point win.
In the final segment of the podcast Rob chats with Edwin McGreal of the Mayo News and me about how the game played out and what it means as Mayo get ready to take on Roscommon next weekend.
This latest episode of the Mayo News football podcast is now online and is available to listen to on iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify and Podomatic. You can also listen to it directly on the Mayo News website as well as here on the blog using the SoundCloud player below or the one on the panel on the right.
The Mayo News football podcast has its own Twitter presence, @MayoPodcast, so if you’re a Twitter user you should follow us there to make sure you get the latest podcast-related updates, including new episodes.
Enjoyed the Podcast. Ger & the other journalists deserve great praise for hanging around for thirty minutes in them conditions.
Anyone that can predict 15 players in their correct positions this week, should win a prize.
If we have a middle 10 of
Diarmaid (Sweeper)
Durcan
Keegan
E Mclaughlin
AOS, Flynn, Ruane
Maclaughlin, COC, ODonoghue
we would have plenty of ball winning ability.
We can’t afford AOS at FF or Keegan out of HB line.
What would most worry me the way Horan is lining the team up is fast high direct ball into our FB line. Cox and Murtagh are both big physical players who could do serious damage if given space. We need someone to sweep who is good in the air
James is a very attack minded coach. It was the same issue Mayo had in his first stint. Great going forward but wide open in defence. I feel Stephen Rochford was more tactically aware and planned out who to stop opponents.
Against Tyrone it was too late before they moved Keegan onto Mckenna.
James will have to put a plan in place against roscommon otherwise they will run through at ease against us.
If Horan doesn’t seal off the middle of defence then its curtains in the next game, Keegan is not a corner back and never was good in tight situations , Keegan Durkan and McLaughlin has to be halfback line next day. Some physical strength is needed at midfield also , forwards for a change look ok.