Christmas or no Christmas it’s foot to the boards this week on the Mayo News football podcast. Our first episode of the week went online last night and we have three more to come – tomorrow, Thursday and Friday – ahead of Saturday’s big match.
For the Friday episode we’re looking to gather some audio input from Mayo supporters. We got a marvellous response to our request for questions for last week’s Q&A episode and we’re now looking for a bit of more reflective input from you.
If you’re interested in doing a short piece of audio for the podcast then what we’d like you to include in it are the following:
- Your name
- Where you’re located
- What’s your first or best memory of following Mayo
- What the team means to you
- Where you’ll be watching the game on Saturday
If you’d like to contribute an audio piece along these lines for the show, then please get in touch with us and we’ll send you on the number to which you’ll need to WhatsApp your audio. To do this, you can DM @MayoPodcast, @MurphyRob or @MayoGAABlog on Twitter or else mail me here at the blog and we’ll reply sending you on the number.
We’d love to hear more female voices as part of the montage we want to put together for this episode. That doesn’t mean that male input isn’t also required – it definitely is – but we’re making a special appeal to all the many female Mayo fans out there to consider sending us an audio clip we might be able to use.
In terms of scheduling, we’ll need to have all of the audio segments by midnight (Irish time) tomorrow (Wednesday), with the episode going online on Friday.
The Mayo News football podcast is proudly sponsored by GRG, Game Ready Gear – sportswear designed by players for players. Check out their website at GRG-Sports.com.
First trip to see Mayo was the semi final v Dublin in 1985!! Will be watching in Limerick with my own sons and daughter!!
After Limericks success I am desperate for Mayo to win. Growing up, rugby was my passion. But since my eldest son started playing sports, particularly Gaelic Football it has ignited something in my that may have been lost for a while. My son recently informed me that he wants to play football for Mayo and win the All Ireland so he could see me be ‘really happy’. Lump in the throat stuff!! Wasn’t expecting a comment like that from a 9 year old!!
That is so lovely to hear that your 9 yr old son wants to play for Mayo . Limerick were fantastic last week so now on to Mayo to do the business next Saturday .I visit Limerick often
My first memory of regularly following the Mayo team was the league in ’86. I was 16 and started tagging along with yourself Willie Joe and Louis. We went up and down the country following the team and had some great Sunday afternoons.
My first mayo game I went to was the 1987 Connaught final against Galway. Don’t remember to much about it but I no we lost by a point I think. We had some great day and some very sickening ones since
My first was the 1984 Connacht championship v Galway in Salthill. I was 7. Dont remember much but my next door neighbour was on the galway panel and wasnt too happy about the kid next door putting a Mayo flag out the window! Missed the ’85 campaign cos I lived in America so first proper game was the 87 connacht final, which we also lost but have been a regular since. First game in Croke Park was the semi final v Meath in 88. I remember sitting in the old wooden seats in the upper Cusack, waiting with intense anticipation for the Mayo team to run out of the tunnel between the Hogan & Canal End. I must have had my eyes fixed on it for 5 minutes, but it felt like forever. I was so nervous my knees were hopping..and then that surge of pride and emotion that coursed through my body like a bolt of lightning when those green & red jerseys emerged out onto the pitch. And that roar. It’s a feeling that I can still remember now.
Cluxton.
How can he be got at? I thought Thomas Galligan’s reaction was very interesting at the end of the Cavan match, sarcastically clapping when a very soft free out was given. His ire was clearly due to the lack of frees he got from the Dublin backs fouling. Then Clucko is barely touched by a Cavan man and, of course, its a free out. Cluxton is practically a Gaelic football shrine at this stage. Brilliant, of course, but very much gets over-protected by refs. At this stage he probably believes it himself that he’s untouchable. If a Mayo player has a chance on Saturday to nail him fairly he should go for it. Its high risk, as it could result in a sending off, but this guy needs serious rattling, so its a risk worth taking, such is his influence. He’s far too precious and he knows it. Galligan through his utter frustration highlighted that. Its hard to nail a goalkeeper, ie from a fair shoulder, as those one-on-ones are far less common of course where a goalie is concerned. There are other ways to niggle him, ie Kevin Mcloughlin some years back. All I’m saying is I wouldn’t give any of these Dubs one single ounce of respect.
Right I have went through this game in my head as much as I can , and I feel we have to deploy Lee Keegan at 6 and Stephen Coen to midfield to mark Fenton with Padraig O’Hora going to the corner to mark Rock.This move alone would put us in with a great chance off beating the Dubs as all these players are capable of winning these 3 massive duels.
https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2020/1215/1184640-mayo-for-sam-chicago/
My first Mayo game memory is the Connaught Semi final vs Galway in Salthill in 1967. I don’t remember anything about the actual game but I remember the very end of the game when the Mayo crowd went absolutely mad having finally beaten the great 3 in a row Galway team. I was confused to see grown men crying and I asked “Daddy, why are the Galway people crying? With tears in his own eyes, he picked me up and, in his delight, threw me up in the air. Catching me on the way down, he told me “Cos we beat them!”.
That moment lit a fire in me for Mayo football that never has, and never will, go out.
Thanks Dad.
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/kevin-mcstay-dublin-may-be-a-bridge-too-far-but-mayo-s-spirit-will-never-be-broken-1.4436514?mode=amp.
This brought a tear to my eye…so well written
First game I can remember being at was the ‘92 Connacht final. Can still see the cross bar breaking, thats about all i remembered….and the small tub of ice cream I ate on my seat in the Albany end.
Have to say McStays article today is probably the best thing i’ve read in years. When anyone asks ya whats it like to be from Mayo in a football sense, just go ‘here’ and hand them that article. Summed it up perfectly.
Remember Andy Moran charging Stephen Cluxton when he was fiddling about with the ball in front of his own goal in the 2015 drawn semi-final? The ball could have ended up in the back of the net if Andy had had the forethought to play it inside to Cillian, who was free and through on goal. But Cluxton was well rattled after that and hit a couple of wayward kickouts afterwards. It sort of set off our comeback that day.
Mayodunphy enon gavin broke crossbar lol
Yeah that’s a great piece by McStay. His pieces in the Times are always an excellent read. He’s also one of the few on TSG worth listening to.
I’d agree with much of what he says as well about how the run up to Saturday will go.
He mentions how he has low expectations right now and can’t see Dublin beaten, but he’ll somehow talk himself into believing Mayo will win by Friday. I think we’ve all been there.
Such a strange build up to an All-Ireland final.
There would normally be a mad scramble looking for tickets this week, whilst making plans to meet up with various people when we land over in Dublin.
Instead of that, there’s a near lockdown over here and the pubs are shutting tonight!
Was going to remain in quite mode until Saturday but this topic got me thinking, is this the end of the Willie Joe Blog ? or a planned post Covid19 get together after this fin?
I am based in Dublin for over 25 years but always have supported Mayo, never a good club supporter.
My first memory of Mayo was listening to the Radio in the mid 1970’s, a game v Sligo.
My first time to see a Mayo team was opening of a new pitch in Claremorris maybe 1980, 81 or 82 a challenge v Kerry.
First game in Croker was v Meath in 1988.
I would nearly always wear the Mayo Jersey while playing league matches in Secondary School, ( long before it became popular ).
Haven’t missed a final, and maybe some how will get to see this one next Saturday.
I suppose it’s the fact that Mayo has’nt won a final is the reason I keep it going.
I am changing tactic for this final, going for a Mayo win.
My motto is get ahead and stay well ahead.
Santa is coming to Croker this Saturday, to take, not to give, from the Dubs.
In fairness there seems very little hype at all. It’s a surreal build up to an all ireland. I drove through main street in Castlebar today and you could count the amount of flags on one hand. The heartache has been too much over the last decade it seems and all I talk to give us little chance. Horan may need to do something wacky and unorthodox to help us win this one!
The true sign of Dublin being rattled is when Cluxton’s kickouts are going astray and Rock is missing frees. Remember the drawn final in 2016? We had them on the ropes in the first half but somehow managed to go in at half time down by 5 points due to the two OGs. Cluxton kicked two out over the sideline and Rock’s early frees were missed.
That sort of manic tackling and harassing is what we need to do on Saturday. That same game in 2016, if you watch it back, every single time Dublin got possession there was a pressure and a hand in by a Mayo player to let them know we were there. They didn’t like it one bit and that’s why they fear playing us. They know we’ll be up for this and “the fly that was finally swatted away” in last year’s semi will be back buzzing around annoying the Dubs on Saturday but this time there might be a fatal sting!!.
My first game was in Charlestown, I. Ab ’63, we played some league games there, first trip to Croke Park 11966, Moyo won minor final, Galway their 3rd in a row. Next trip to CP wS for 1970 league final, which we won. A lot of disappointment since, but as Kevin McStay said “We never give up” and when we have a team like that, there is Always Hope
Ya pullhard it is very noticeable the absence of flags ,bunting etc.in our towns but I’m betting by Saturday morning the colours will be out…I wonder would JH put OHora in the corner, move Leroy to the hb line and keep E.Mc in reserve to explode into the match when it has broken up a bit. A bit of a gamble but I’d say OHora with controlled aggression would shake a few dubs to the core….Leroy would not be as tied down and offer more punch on forward raids. Either way I’m with Mc Stay in starting to believe we could actually do this as Saturday approaches. A mom performance needed from Mattie,now our senior midfielder at just turned 24. He has done it before in an AIF.
Making a very brief visit to the blog to note and rejoice in the fact that we can now legitimately say Mayo For Sam without fear of reprisal from WJ!!
Strange times indeed; I am not overly optimistic but Kevin McStay summed it up so beautifully. We just cannot help but hope!
There is reading, listening and chatting galore to be done this week – enjoy it as much as possible.
The dubs were very rattled in the last 5minutes of the first half in the 2019 semi final. Cluxton struggled to find options and the Dublin half forwards and midfield forgot how to show for the ball. The hill was silent too and the momentum was all with us. Second half was a different story straight away. But we showed only a year ago that high intensity and commitment can shake the dubs up. We will not be fielding a fatigued team this year. We’ve a chance. Less than 50:50 I think. But a fighting chance.
First post but fan of blog for years. Put into it by another mayo exile. Great work. And lovin the podcasts too. Thanks so much
I’d be hopeful of a big performance from Mattie Ruane too. His record in finals for Mayo is impressive. MOTM in Connacht final, borderline MOTM in league final 2019 and MOTM in 2016 U21 final.
Fondest memories are listening to Mayo games in the early / mid eighties on the radio. Mayo and indeed Connaught teams were not that fashionable for TV at that time. 89 final was the first real lift off for me even though there were some good times the yrs proceeding this – 85 minors etc . A few weeks build up in the Beaten Path (Players and Plebs !). However the afters were brief so one wonders what the win would bring after all those yrs of waiting ? we live in hope !
We can, indeed Anne-Marie! I’m all in favour of it, as you know, once Sam is up on the pedestal and there to be claimed at the end of the game. Mad to think that this will be the case once again on Saturday evening. Not even the fact that the winning team won’t get to keep the cup alters one iota the allure of claiming it.
My earliest memory of following Mayo was a championship match v Galway in Castlebar towards the end of the 70’s. A golden era for mayo at midfield but not a whole lot else. We had Willie Joe & Willie Nally there. They had Willie Joyce & Willie Duggan?? At 8 & 9. The mayo crowd had a huge banner read “our Willies are bigger than yours”. Can’t remember any details of the match but I can still see the banner clearly. The fun and craic associated with following our beloved Mayo in the intervening 40+years has been an absolute joy. I’ve met quite a few football people from other counties at our matches who have come for that reason,…to be among genuine mayo people.
My first time cheering on Mayo was against Dublin in the drawn semi final in 1985. I was with my dad and a couple of siblings. We were in the upper Hogan stand and when TJ Kilgallon equalized the the whole stand shook. I missed the replay and Brogan’s goal but I’ve been following them ever since. This was the first time I didn’t vote for a Mayo win in the poll but I’ve been wrong all the previous years and hopefully that streak continues.
My earliest memory of Mayo football was the 1977-1978 League final
Dublin under Heffo won 2-18 to 2-13
Mayo put up a great fight that day.
That was a super Dublin team at that time.
Then the Bomber came along and that was the end of Tony Hanahoe and company.
My earliest vivid memories are from 1989.
My family didn’t go to games, but I do remember from when I was a very small child in the 80s the family and a few of the uncles always got together on Sundays and the curtains were drawn after the dinner so the armchair analysists could watch whatever game was showing on the day. There was always plenty of swearing. I’m not sure if I remember 1985 or not but I certainly remember Padraig Brogan’s name being mentioned many times.
But 1989 was the year the Mayo journey started for me and my earliest memory is of the Connacht Final replay v Roscommon where Mayo “kept the faith”. Being from Ardagh there was particular interest in how Larry was doing and by god he made himself known to the Rossies that day. The relentless wides in extra time. And of course Jimmy Burke’s goal when man and ball crossed the line. That was the first time that year I recall my mother jumping up and down with joy and I’ll never forget the torture she put herself through on the day of the final. At one point (probably the 38th minute) she was to be found lepping up and down on the couch (a crime I would never have been allowed to commit) but that was going to be as good as it got. In the second half she went out for a walk in the hope that the game would be over when she came back, but alas, she arrived back just in time to see Teddy McCarthy seal the deal for Cork. This Saturday will probably see her go through similar torture but unfortunately opportunities for walks after 5pm in the country are fairly limited, so she might have to stick this one out, god love her.
That was long before Mayo for Sam or man buns were ever a thing, and little did eight-year-old me think that 31 years later in 2020 we would still be keeping the faith.
I’m a sentimental old fool, so I love the daftness and craic that final week unleashes around the country (and on the front pages of the locals, ahem) and the emotion it stirs among our own around the world. One of the few advantages of the internet at times like this is the way it allows people to share those stories, it allows us instant connectivity to these stories and videos and in times of pandemic where we are all a bit more isolated.
Three more (broken) sleeps …
Does anyone remember the opening of the pitch in Swinford I think 1978.Mayo played Dublin…did we win or lose that game.I was 7 I think we lost by 4 points I remember Jimmy Keavney kicking a free right in front of us i watched through the wire. Or did I imagine the wholething
My first memory of going to a Mayo game was heading down from Dublin (we lived in Meath) on a train alongside the roving expats from Bonniconlon, Knockmore, Aghamore and Attymass that were domiciled around us.
I can remember the game was in Hyde Park at the tail end of the 80s and I was too small to see the game. All I could hear was crowd echoing the name of Willie Joe and I could tell he was soaring on this particular day.
We were winning well (or so I was told) and I was living off the commentary of the crowd. All I can remember is an elderly Roscommon man behind us gesturing to my father to sit me up on the railing in front of him. He added that it would be a shame for a kid to miss the display of Willie Joe.
Because we lived outside the county every game was a trip away for me. The journeys to Tuam, Salthill, Sligo and Croke Park are etched in my childhood memories. And now I’ve the privilege of introducing my own kids to the Mayo brigade.
I remember proudly bringing my Scottish wife to Croker to the 1997 All Ireland semi final when Mayo beat Offaly 13 to 7. Quite a few people thought I was wasting the ticket on her especially as expectations were high that year after the awful disappointment of 1996. But I needed her to get some understanding of what it feels like to be from Mayo and start to get used to the highs and lows of the Mayo emotional roller coaster.
Like almost everyone who is not Irish, she found it hard to get her head around the game itself, but even more how unpaid athletes could put in such huge effort and then go to work the next day and how an amateur organisation could have such an amazing stadium.
She might not describe herself as Mayo to the core (yet) – we live in Edinburgh – but she will be decked out like me in green and red on Saturday; heart surging with every Mayo score and devastated with every concession and hoping against hope that this will finally be our year.
My first memory of being at a Mayo match was the 1980 Connacht Final in Roscommon, when we got soundly beaten by Dermot Earley and his mates. I recall the traffic getting out of Roscommon that evening and eating an ice-cream which was bought for us by a certain former Castlebar Mitchels goalie who was in the car in front of us. The things that stick in your head!
First experience of Mayo in Croke Park was the 1985 semi-final drawn match, will never forget TJ’s equaliser
First time watched Mayo was the opening of the pitch in Westport around late ’50 early ’60s A long time waiting for Sam. Saturday will end the long wait.
Lovely post, onemoreyear.