Monaghan last night named their team – their match-day 26, to be exact – for tomorrow evening’s League opener against us at MacHale Park (throw-in 7pm). Here are the details:
Monaghan (NFL Division One v Mayo, 4/2/2017): Rory Beggan (An Bhoth); Fintan Kelly (Cluain Eois), Drew Wylie (Béal Atha Beithe), Ryan Wylie (Béal Atha Beithe); Colin Walshe (Dubhamlacht), Neil McAdam (Na Cláirsigh Mhuineacháin), Kieran Duffy (Leachtain); Darren Hughes (An Bhoth), Kieran Hughes (An Bhoth); Karl O’Connell (Tigh Thalainn), Shane Carey (An Bhoth), Gavin Doogan (Machaire Cluain); Conor McCarthy (An Bhoth), Thomas Kerr (Béal Átha Beithe), Conor McManus (Cluain Tiobraid). Subs: Conor Forde (An Bhoth), James Mealiff (Cluain Eois), Owen Coyle (Leachtain), Brian Greenan (Cluain Tiobraid), Mikey Murnaghan (Domhnach Maighean), Niall Kearns (Seán Mac Diarmada), Dermot Malone (Fág An Bealach), Owen Duffy (Leachtain), Ryan McAnespie (Scairbh na gCaorach), Stephen Finnegan (Domhnach Maighean), Barry McGinn (Dubhamlacht).
Ten of the team named above also featured in the Monaghan line-up when we last met, which was in the League up in Clones last March. These are Beggan, Walshe, Wylie (both of them), Duffy, McAdam, Darren Hughes, O’Connell, Kerr and McManus.
We’re due to name our team at some point later on today. I’m out myself this evening so fire ahead and lash the details up on the comments if you see the team announcement as it could a while later on before I do.
The Mayo Advertiser has a few articles of interest today. The first in a Q&A by Colm Gannon with Stephen Rochford (here) and the second is John Casey’s column (here).
In the same paper Colm Gannon has a match preview (here) and there’s also a preview of the ladies’ League match this weekend. This is another Mayo/Monaghan clash but this one’s on up in Clones on Sunday (throw-in 2pm).
Have you signed up for the NFL prediction mini-league yet, by the way? There’s still time to do so (full details here) but you’d need to be getting your skates on at this stage. Week 1 predictions need to be done no later than 7pm tomorrow, by which time, no doubt, we’ll all be licking our chomps ready for the start of our first competitive outing of 2017.
Right, it begins again and not a moment too soon. I don’t know about ye but I’m really looking forward to tomorrow evening and the resumption of another 7, hopefully 8 months, of following the Green and Red.
I think this season will see a further imprint of Rochfords style and I am interested to see what tactical changes he makes in both positions and personnel. I believe Mayo are in a stronger position now than this time last year as the late appointment of Rochford to the post, when added to the huge number of players unavailable through either injury or club commitments, meant that we were on the back foot right from the off. Rochford had no wriggle room to try things out and was under pressure right from the off after the Cork hammering. Now, however, he and his management team are well bedded in. Everyone is fully familiar with each other now so we should really be looking to lay down a serious marker in this league competition.
I have us to win by 4 or 5 points tomorrow but it will be a hardy battle. We will have our hands full with McManus and it will be interesting to see how our forwards cope with the wily old heads of the Wylie brothers. Taking everything into consideration, if we could manage two wins from our opening three games we would be placed nicely.
Think this game has ‘banana skin’ written all over it.
Strong Monaghan team named. Some key players missing for us. Doubts about our forward line. 3-4 inexperienced lads likely to be in the our starting 15.
Would gladly take a draw from this one as it stands now, but a one point win would be a very good result IMHO..
It would be great to get off to a winning start – but its going to be a very tall order given both teams’ relative fitness and cohesiveness at this early stage in the season. First half will be crucial to not allow Monaghan run away with any kind of decent lead going into the break. Its going to be a big evening for a handful of our young bright prospects who will surely get a very warm welcome to senior inter county football….Ulster style ! Best of luck to all
Bit off point , just wondering if anybody else is having difficulties logging on here ?? All day it’s telling me cannot load this webpage, once I try second time it lets the page open ?!?
I’m expecting to see Irwin and Boland start in the forwards. Not sure about the defence, esp. the full back line, with so many players out. I think Irwin has more potential as a corner forward than Evan Regan who, to me, seems to take too much time on the ball before using it. I thought that this was particularly glaring when he came on against the Rossies in the recent FBD game. Mayo forwards generally seem to have an instinctive dislike to shooting on sight. Maybe it’s a lack of confidence but it’s my opinion that against top defences the first opportunity to shoot is almost always the best. Delay and gaps are quickly closed and will rarely open again.
Testing …….. // …… one two .. three .. !
Who are we expecting to mark Conor McManus?
Em — — that seems to be working fine. So , as Delia Smith said at Norwich come on folks. WHERE ARE YOU.
Today is Friday. We have a match tomorrow.
Here is the Mayo team to face Monaghan tomorrow in round 1 of the Allianz League in Elverys MacHale Park at 7pm:
1. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)
2. Donie Newcombe (Castlebar Mitchels)
3. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)
4. Paddy Durcan(Castlebar Mitchels)
5. Colm Boyle (Davitts)
6. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore)
7. David Drake (Ballaghaderreen)
8. Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)
9. Danny Kirby (Castlebar Mitchels)
10. Fergal Boland (Aghamore)
11. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
12. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)
13. Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites)
14. Alan Freeman (Aghamore)
15. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber, Capt)
Here is the Mayo team to face Monaghan tomorrow in round 1 of the Allianz League in Elverys MacHale Park at 7pm:
1. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)
2. Donie Newcombe (Castlebar Mitchels)
3. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)
4. Paddy Durcan(Castlebar Mitchels)
5. Colm Boyle (Davitts)
6. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore)
7. David Drake (Ballaghaderreen)
8. Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)
9. Danny Kirby (Castlebar Mitchels)
10. Fergal Boland (Aghamore)
11. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
12. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)
13. Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites)
14. Alan Freeman (Aghamore)
15. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber, Capt)
Still no sign of the Mayo team: we’re not preparing for the All-Ireland final. I just regard it as bad manners that’s all that fans are left wondering before EVERY game what the team will be . When it finally emerges a few hours before the starting whistle, we are not then even given a list of the subs. Can anybody explain the reasoning behind this? Are we following in the footsteps of the Dubs and Kerry or are they following our boorish example – and we are playing neither team!
God help the Mayo sports journalists who are left every week with reams of surmise because they have nothing concrete to go on.
I see as I was writing the above, that the team has just been announced. But my comments still stand!Glad to see Paddy Durcan has been given the job of manacling Monaghan’s danger man.
If that team starts we have a great chance. Still think Monaghans superior fitness will tip the scale for them. They were knocked out in July so will be miles ahead of us. Monaghan by 2 I think.
John Machale. Well said. Disgraceful this carry on over a year. You’d swear it was part of the Fatima Secrets. Why this, why then a team but no subs? Some master plan? Grow up and respect the people who follow the county team, we aren’t idiots or fools. Do they think our opponents are quaking wondering whether we are going to spring Usain Bolt or Tiger Woods . Stop the childish practice . Name the subs too, are we that desperate to flog a programme
Decent team should have a strong bench too…Tom parsons Andy Moran Liam Irwin Michael Plunkett not sure is Diarmuird Oconnor in squad Conor Oshea is….pity Conir Luftus is injured and Jason Gibbons and Michael Hall…Shane Nally will also be on bench….It will be tight Monaghan to shade we will get better in the next few weeks..
That looks a very physical Monaghan team compared to ours. SR also seems to have picked maybe the top runners from 2016 to go along with the new faces. Does that mean that the bulk of the team are still in relatively heavy training and not fit enough yet for starting the NFL?
Also anyone know whats the forecast tomorrow? If its a wet heavy pitch the physical team has the real advantage.
PS: Happy 10th birthday WJ (or JG). The new site looks fab.
Cheers, JPM
Monaghan will fancy there chances against that selection, Hughes Wileys McManus will be eager to get stuck in so new guys especially have an opportunity to show their worth. I would agree with Andy D re: shyness at taking on the first shot. This was echoed by Tomas O Shea on seo sport when he makes the “mayo forwards not deadly enough” comment, hardly an original idea as Mark Twain might say. John O Mahony also brings up a familiar topic of the big guys not performing on the big stage in his Mayo news piece this week. To me this all points to heads not being properly prepped and needs to be addressed by individuals and the collective I firmly believe it can be improved on . From our side I believe expectation focusing on the next messiah needs to be checked, Already a young man of scarcely 21 is being offered up while last yrs pick is heading for oblivion. These young lads will take a few years on average to get to their potential with the odd exception making an early breakthrough, nurturing and patience required.
Looking forward to tomorrow with confidence.
The trick will be to get out in front on the scoreboard early on. Don’t allow them to play the game they want to, ie a deep lying defensive style that aims to hit McManus on the counter attack. We’ll need to score early and build up a lead that will force them to come up the field at us. They’ll want to suck us into a low scoring dog fight of a game. We’ll have to be cute, use pace and movement (Boland is perfectly suited to this) to create space in their defense and, ideally, target Ryan Wylie as he’s tough but hot headed and slow and should be a good source of frees in the scoring zone. We’ll need to have a helper with whoever is detailed to pick up McManus (one of the finest forwards in the country, at his best he is a one man full forward line). We must dictate physically and tactically right from the off.
If it’s heading into the last 20 mins and we’re trailing by a few points we’ll be in bother because they’ll sit deep and counter quickly. They’re abrasive, cute and hardy but certainly beatable and I expect us to win by 4 or 5. We won’t be razor sharp, we can expect some passes not quiet sticking and some shots tailing wide bit one thing we wont question is their heart. Tomorrow, that’ll be enough.
Time for some of the new faces to stake a claim and for others to show that their race is not ran. I have concerns about some of the more established players but I’m hoping that they can do the business tomorrow.
That’s a respectable Mayo team and a lot of battle hardened bucks off the bench too. It’s a home win tomorrow under the lights. Our man Paddy has plenty for Mc Manus, no bother to him. Either way, I’m glad we’re here.
It certainly is an opportunity for lads to step up and stake out their claim if they are able to. I am mostly interested in the forwards right now.
Evan Regan needs to show us what he can do. I do believe he has it in him to be a really lethal forward but he must start delivering soon. As for Alan Freeman I hope he dominates and gives a good return on the scoreboard. Otherwise he could find himself out of contention altogether. I suspect Fergal Boland will be well able to hold his own. Will McLoughlin act as sweeper or an out and out forward? He might be needed in front of McManus on this occasion.
A win is very important at this stage and not to be left battling in late March or April for points to survive in div 1. The best scenario is to secure our status early and use the remaining games to test lads for a championship starting place.
Anyway it’s great to be back!
That is, with one or two notable exceptions, a fairly light weight forward line, Reckon Monaghans strong team will fancy their chances. Time for Freeman to step up and take responsibility. I really feel he has it in him but its time to make the jersey his own
How to use Kevin McLoughlin is certainly something that Stephen Rochford must be grappling with? He offers so many options, whether its playing as a sweeper, tracking runners, or splitting defences with his pace and kick passing.
In my opinion, i believe he offers us more to this Mayo team conducting operations at number 11. His movement, power and ability to get around the pitch against Roscommon two weeks ago was very impressive. It would be important to discover if McLoughlin and Boland to play alongside each other as there are some similarities in their play which could actually work against them. They are both very fluid players, who like to drop into pockets of space, receive the ball and initiate play. If they can develop an understanding, they could be a very potent force.
I don”t know why some are expecting Monaghan to win this evening.This Monaghan team has been around for quite a while [about as long as ourselves?] without ever threatening to set the world afire. As far as I can recall they have not made a league final and never threatened to make an All Ireland final in that time. Solid but not great and too dependent on McManus is my verdict so while they may have an edge in fitness I do not expect that to be enough to bring them over the line.
Regards the slowness in announcing the Mayo team I wonder is it related to management wanting to get all the players together on the Friday evening before making their final decisions. At this time of year players in Dublin etc are hardly travelling to training midweek. To me it is more important to get the selection right than meeting a deadline for supporters convenience. The practice of limiting the panel of players on a programme to 26 while number 27 can be introduced during the game is to me far more annoying than not announcing the subs. It totally devalues the programme.
Of all the things the management team have to worry about, announcing the team at a time that suits supporters and journalists, I would imagine, is bottom of the list. And lets hope it stays that way and they can prioritise things that actually matter.
Have a sneaky 5er on Mayo, Fermanagh and Laois tomorrow. Great to be back
Hard to call it. I picked us by about 2 or 3 in the mini league based on the size of our panel. Could be tight for 50+ and even if they’re a bit further ahead in training we should be ahead of this time last year and our subs are more potent. Andy and Liam Irwin to come in. Kirby has been doing well but league another step up in midfield position. I expect Tom P to come in by 45 at the latest and Donie should be good on winter ground being a cross country runner. The main risk is half backs but happy to see both Coen and Drake get game time. Keith lacks height for full back but with sweeper we should be OK. Guessing Barry Moran available too and could be very useful to bring in if any problems in midfield, full forward or full back and Nally who did well last year could also be brought in. Interested to see how Newcombe does at this level. No sign of Hall starting yet in 2017 is he injured?
Michael Hall is still coming back from injury yes.
Donie does have cross country type stamina and his football gets better each year. Initially he wasn’t a midfield option but these days he very well could grab onto a midfield spot and keep it. His footpassing and soloing are massively improved. He’s even a decent percentage on shots for points from 30/35 yards.
Just watched first half on Eir TV. Decision making not good early on with final ball. In contact cut them open near the end with incisive breaks and higher percentage passes. Encouraging is we had no wides by my count and one or 2 balls into goalkeeper. All forwards who got a chance took good scores. Freeman looks like he could get more scores. Hopefully we take up where we left off. Kirby and Donie both well involved so wouldn’t be taking either off for another while yet. Went through few ropey spells with kickouts. Should have another score from a free when J Doc fouled and he gave free out.