Photo: Mayo Club 51
After Sunday’s false start the county’s footballers get a second chance to start their year this evening. Leitrim provide the opposition at MacHale Park tonight, where throw-in is set for 7pm.
From what I can see, cold and wet conditions are forecast for Castlebar later on. Not ideal weather in anyone’s book but at least it looks like it won’t be freezing so there’s a good chance this one will go ahead.
We named our team last night (too late for me to see it, given my current location and the shift in time zones involved) and it contains thirteen changes from the one named for Sunday’s ill-fated fixture against Galway. Here’s tonight’s team:
Mayo (Connacht FBD League v Leitrim, 10/1/2018): Paddy O’Malley (Westport); Marcus Park (Knockmore), Ger McDonagh (Castlebar Mitchels), Aidan Butler (Claremorris); James Stretton (Claremorris), Colm Boyle (Davitts), James McCormack (Claremorris); Barry Moran (Castlebar Mitchels), Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina); Fionn McDonagh (Westport), Neil Douglas (Castlebar Mitchels), Nathan Moran (Hollymount/Carramore); Ross Egan (Aghamore), Alan Freeman (Aghamore), Ciaran Treacy (Ballina Stephenites).
So it’s a case of all changed, changed utterly from the team that was named for Sunday’s game, with only Fionn and Ger McDonagh retained from then. I’m not even sure the Castlebar man was on the team announced on the day last Sunday (if this even happened) so it could be fourteen changes for this evening’s match.
A raft of players are set to make their senior inter-county debuts tonight. By my reckoning it’s nine, with Paddy O’Malley, Marcus Park, Ger McDonagh, Aidan Butler, James Stretton, Jordan Flynn, Nathan Moran, Ross Egan and Ciaran Treacy all lining out for the county for the first ever time. James McCormack came on as a sub in the opening round of the FBD last year, replacing Fionn McDonagh whose only previous start was in that game. Best of luck to all those lining out for the first time tonight.
Given where I am on the planet right now – allied to the fact that it is still only pre-season – I won’t be doing a whole pile later on about the game but I will give it some kind of mention. Safe travelling all and here’s hoping there is some on-field action to get exercised about on this occasion. Up Mayo.
This team is definitely the youngest one we’ve ever named. There are are seven u19/20/21.
Only Boyler U32 and Ger Mc u28are older.
Rest are all u23/24.
Actually I missed Barry Moran and Neil Douglas 🙂
Has it been made official that Cillian will captain the lads for the year or is there a change?
Is Boyler really gonna play ???????
Hi.how much are tickets to tonights match? Adult and child. Thanks
Think Boyler would be consulted if he wanted to play or not , maybe he wants to have a game , maybe it will benefit the new lads having a warrior like Colm beside them as they leave the dressing room .Don’t think its a huge issue . Remember there will be nerves tonight , I’m traveling down tonight .Actually excited to see the new players .
Looking forward to seeing the new bucks too. There’s a lot of pessimism about the age profile of our most prominent players and how they’re not being replaced so I hope tonight and the next few games show us we can be more optimistic.
Is anybody involved in the supporters group that were getting together after the All Ireland Final to see what help could be given to the team?
Would you have an email address that I could contact to see about supporting this
Fender tickets in and around 10 euro for adults.
Also surely not Ger Mcdonaghs first game for Mayo? He’s been around for a long time.
Anyone know the story with Seamus Cunniffe? Should be in and around the perfect age to be stepping up to senior football. Was an outstanding minor calm and composed. Done a good job on the big Cork full forward in u-21 final in Ennis. Haven’t heard much of him since possibly injured.
Looking forward to seeing Treacy tonight.
Does anyone know much about Ross Egan from Aughamore at corner forward tonite .is he good? Havnt heard anthin about him.
And what about Aidan Butler and James McCormack from Claremorris they didnt stand out in the county semi final against tubber from what I can remember and Marcus Park from Knockmore havnt heard much about him either?
I wonder if this was always going to be the Wednesday team and the new lads last Sunday were just unlucky Therefore will last Sundays team play again Galway on Fri night?
Congratulations to all of debutantes on being selected to play for Mayo tonight….. A few experienced heads… Hopefully on Friday night, we will see the same team as selected for last Sundays, postponed fixture… It’s all positive…. Surprisingly Leitrim are not favorites considering just how inexperienced this particular Mayo team is…. Should be interesting!
@TH
Ross Egan u20 had a good summer for Aghamore. Stocky build and very skillful.
James Mccormack u21 is a rangey athletic player with a lot of strength for u21. Versatile middle third player.
Marcus Park is a stocky tough Knockmore defender with speed and no brake pedal.
Aidan Butler I don’t know too much on.
Having read the Leitrim observer they will have inexperienced team also, in round 1 of the FBD eight debutants they had.
How many of that Mayo starting team tonight has started for Mayos U21,minor or u17 county teams?
Do the FBD League winners still get a trip to New York, or has that been done away with?
Very young side named and the best of luck to them. Its just about getting game time. Don’t know much about some of those selected and I am really looking forward to seeing them in action.
@It Means Nothing To Me it was done away with, last team that traveled over was Mayo in 2011.
Strange as it may seem, Clubman51, I’m almost certain this is the case. I’ve checked back as far as 2011 and I can’t find any game where Ger McDonagh either lined out or came on as a sub. If it is his debut, it’s certainly well due at this stage. I guess with so many options at full-back – we’ve had Ger Cafferkey, Kevin Keane, Shane McHale, Cathal Hallinan (in the early days of the James Horan era), Keith Higgins (all of the League last year), Chris Barrett (a few times) and Ray O’Malley (all three FBD matches last year) – he’s simply never got the chance. Tonight, at last, he does.
I think Mayo didn’t go on their trip to New York a few years ago after winning it and it threw it all up in the air. It wasn’t really a holiday – more like an awkward few day trip over to play New York!
On The train from Dublin. Well, it’s January – time to hit the road.
Looking forward to seeing these newbies, though it may be only fleeting. And Leitrim fielding an experimental side per mayomagic, WTF. Where’s the respect?
Will the match be broadcast on Midwest radio this evening? Bfuil fhios ag einne
Three Claremorris men named in the team, surely a first in the history of Mayo Senior football.
Best of luck to the young lads tonight. Our 2018 journey starts from here…up Mayo
That’s an astonishing fact Willie Joe I don’t doubt you. A man like Ger who has been around playing a high standard of football for so long. I suppose he mixed between midfield and full back for a few years. Always done a good job on Cillian in the games I’ve watched him.
James Stretton was excellent earlier rounds of championship, was injured for Breaffy and Ballintubber games.
James Mcormack held his own against Aidan O’Shea in the quarter final and probably let the game pass him by in the semi finals.
I saw Marcus park in the county quater final against Mitchell’s. Looks like a tigerish corner back but I have reservations over his size for inter county. Defently deserves a chance.
These young lads might not make the final cut but should be kept in a development panel with a weights programme designed for them to push on in the years to come.
Excited for tonight, more of a trial game than anything else.
Stuck in the big smoke tonight so would love to hear how the game goes from anyone who attends!
Think Ger Mc was midfield most his early years. Switched to full back in recent years. He’s exactly how I like a full back to be. Gives you a nice secure feeling as the corner backs and goalie beside him.
Leitrim 0-7 mayo 0-6 approaching half time.
8 to 6 in favour of the visitors at half time. Bad night for it with rain.
Leitrim 0-8 mayo 0-6
6 points without reply.from leitrim to.close out.the half.
Roscommon 3-8 sligo 0-8 at half time.
Live match tracker on hoganstand.com
The lads back from Kuala Lumpur have nothing to worry about on this showing but it’s early days and if we can pick up 3 or 4 guys between the Fbd and the league to add to last years panel it will have been a success
A draw. Soft goal for leitrim in the last play. Soft goals.