Team for Sunday named

We’ve just named our team and subs for Sunday’s league semi-final with the Dubs at Croke Park (throw-in 3.45pm). Here are the full details:

Mayo (NFL Division One Semi-Final v Dublin, 14/4/2013): David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites); Kevin Keane (Westport), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Chris Barrett (Belmullet); Lee Keegan (Westport), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Colm Boyle (Davitts); Jason Gibbons (Ballintubber), Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy); Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), Cathal Carolan (Crossmolina); Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole), Michael Conroy (Davitts). Subs: Kenneth O’Malley (Ballinrobe), Shane McHale (Knockmore), Michael Walsh (Ardnaree), Richie Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis), Enda Varley (Garrymore), Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites), Brian Gallagher (Claremorris), Darren Coen (Hollymount/Carramore), Alan Murphy (Ballinrobe), Alan Freeman (Aghamore).

So it’s two changes from the side that started against Cork last Sunday with Shane McHale – who, it must be said, didn’t put a foot wrong down in Páirc Uí Chaoimh the last day – being replaced by Chris Barrett at corner-back while Jason Doherty displaces Alan Freeman at full-forward. Keith Higgins is named on the bench, though Alan Dillon isn’t.

The above side shows four changes – two of which are enforced – from the side beaten by Dublin at HQ just over a month ago. Gone from that night are the penalty-stopping Kenneth O’Malley and Richie Feeney, as well as injured duo Keith Higgins and Barry Moran. The four starting on Sunday who didn’t feature in the starting fifteen last month are David Clarke in goal, Kevin Keane, Seamus O’Shea and Cathal Carolan (the latter made his debut from the bench that night).

Dublin are due to name their team later on but after a punishing week’s work, I’m due to lower a pint or two later on so I may or may not have details here this side of the morning.

27 thoughts on “Team for Sunday named

  1. Lookin forward to this game now . Will be a cracker whatever the result. I have a feeling we will sneak it

  2. I’m disappointed that freeman isn’t starting. The lad has all the talent and if he got a run of games I’m sure he would flourish eventually. It’s the same with Shane mchale. He has height, strength and is a tight defender.

    If we can keep the ball and not give it away stupidly like a couple of players are doing every week then we will win on Sunday. The dubs will punish us if we keep giving away the ball. This is a big chance for mayo and some of our guys. I hope we do it!

  3. And not to play the wrong passes and not to hold onto the ball too long. Personally i think we played better when we were kicking direct ball instead of the slower build up . But if the use the space of croker and put savage pressure on the Dub back line i think we will be in with a good shout

  4. I like this team a lot…happy to see Keane get the start at the back and surprised to see that JH has stuck with vaughan. Also happy to see Doc back in…he was on fire for many games and in Cillian’s absense, he carried the team with his scoring. He should move CHF and Aido to FF. Overall though, a strong team. Really looking forward to this match now.

  5. I cannot see us win I Sunday. Where are the scores going to come from. I hope I’m wrong.

  6. Mister Mayor :”Doc should move CHF and Aido to FF” (paraphased for ease of reading )

    if it was me i would Aido to midfield Doc to CHF and Andy to FF as i beleve it would be the strongest team that we could put out , with Andy and Doc rotating position from time to time .

    from watching DOC in action with rice college a few years back at CHF i know that he can work effectivly at that position .

  7. Patriot – hopefully the penny has dropped and Mayo will start to play clever football by maximising POSSESSION.
    Best wishes to Mayo team, panel and management.

  8. I love playing the Dubs because we always perform and give them a right good rattle. Even earlier in the league we were alot closer to them than the scoreline suggests. For the last 15 minutes of the first half and the opening 10 mins of the second the Dubs could not handle us. In fairness, the jackeens are mighty crack and can give and take a good slagging.
    Funny feeling about this one in that I am not particularly bothered about the result but I am looking forward to a good performance. Best of luck and it would help if Cafferkey introduced his fist to Brogans kidneys early on. Only saying…

  9. best of luck on sunday. i think Mayo will need a goal or two to win this one,my bet is that they will score plenty of points but no goal and a narrow loss.Unless somebody decides they really want a league medal and decides to burrow in like boyler did in last years semi against kerry, but that will remain to be seen.
    UP MAYO

  10. Dublin team now named on mayogaa twitter. Very strong looking but dont know about full back line. Hopefily experimental?

  11. too many of our contributors forgetting the growing list of injuries on the mayo team at present. Dubs will be at full strenght and have some serious players on the bench. enough then to tip the balance in their favour , but only after a good game of football

  12. Kind of surprised to see McHale dropped, a good man marker with a streak of steel. Thought his hit on Aidan Walsh last week was exactly the kind of thing we need, slightly over the line but very brave. Would have liked to see him and Keane in the two corners,both good hard corner backs.

    Other than that team looks good and glad to see then sticking with O’Shea at CF. Unthinkable a few months back but worth it to beef up the forward line. Hope Gibbons continues where he left off against Cork, has great mobility and can make one of those midfield positions his own with a couple of good displays.

    Think we’ll give them a good rattle and no reason why we can’t win !

  13. Don’t care about the outcome of this game ,good performance and 1or2pt loss is fine .time to turn attention to the big picture I think we still have same problems as last yr ,need Andy Moran to come back strong at ff ,we in my opinion are still weak up front ,like what I see in Carolan but afraid he ll get the chop when Andy and dillon come back (I hope not) . No need for o Connor and doc on the field at the same time ,one free taker is enough .were in the mix for late September I’d say

  14. Seems to me that this selection is not picked to make up the numbers. Thought JH would pick an experimental selection that would give some big game experience to newcomers and be glad to get the extra game. At least this is what I’m thinking – for the first time ever – just a decent showing, a good game, and not having the distraction of a final so near to a championship tie.

  15. McHale should be starting. Did well against Dubs in last years league match after postponed fog game. Has the strenght. Last time out v Dubs in Croker full back line scorched. Tightened up we got a chance. McHale would have been an asset there. Glad to see Keane back

  16. Just musing here on a Friday night…Kevin Mac will be a marked man on Sunday. Dubs know if they shut him out, and they’ve experienced this in recent times, mayo are rudderless.
    Someone mentioned we’d need a goal or two to win this, I agree. Time for Doc to step up. A goal and two from him would be nice! with Kev Mac tacking on 3 before being stretchered off, Cillian to hit 4 from dead ball and three from play. Aido to cause havoc and hit two himself, plus one from Carolan, Mickey and the bould Boyler himself. Not unrealistic to expect 1-17? Sure why not?
    What do folks think we need to score to be winners here?

  17. My biggest fear on the Dublin team is on the bench, causes havoc when he comes on. MCMenanamon is a handful and one of those game changers who very few teams have. Hope Mayo have a tight man man marker on him if he does enter.

  18. I dont think we.ll win on sunday and for the life of me i dont know what jam. horan is try,n to achieve chopping and changing , barrett in again for mchale who done nothing wrong las day as barett did,t either against donegal, dont see the logic of doherty in for freeman unless he,s goin to go on a goal spree, which we need from some were as if we cannot take our goals chances when they arrive were gonna come up short again, like some 1 else said oconnor is the free taker from either wing simple as that. Its time now the shackels wer taking off and when the oppurtunity comes for goal 1 on 1 go for it, an if u miss or is saved go for it again and with it the cofidence will come , its all right fisting it ova the bar wen the defender is hanging onto ya, goals do win games and will make the diff. in close games as there is jus a kick of a ball between the 5 or 6 teams at the top. Like i said i think the dubs will hav just a bit more than us tomorrow but it shoud be close and a belter of a match….C,mon mayo

  19. 1.17!!? What are you drinking!!?

    We’ll be lucky to score 10/11.

    Beating a dininterested Kerry, Cork’s B team and Donegal is the height of our year.

    Big defeat coming.

  20. Not going to call this one – after me getting it wrong with the Donegal or Cork matches, I obviously don’t know what I’m talking about, so I’ll stay on the fence this time. Anyway with two fairly balanced teams it should be very close and like all Mayo matches, expect the unexpected.

  21. I don’t see Doherty at CHF again after being anonymous in the AI. He is a score getter and his place is in the FF line or not on the team at all. I agree with those saying that McHale is unlucky to lose out. Tomorrow would be a good game to win in a tight scrap and winning is a good habit for any Mayo team. Good luck tomorrow lads.

  22. I agree with Richard. Doherty didn’t touch the ball until the 36th minute (extra time) in the 1st half of the all Ireland final last sept. he isn’t suited to the half forward line in my opinion and when andy comes back there will be no room for him on the team. In fairness though he had a fine game in the league against Dublin this year scoring some great points, and he probably just about deserves to start tomorrow on reflection.

    I just think freeman needs a run of games to boost his confidence. He is still young and has still alot to offer if he is given a proper chance. Hopefully mchale will come on and prove his worth. I thought he deserved a start after a solid showing against cork. Finally, Safe travelling to all mayo supporters tomorrow!

  23. Mayo to rediscover the confidence and even swagger displayed in te first two thirds of last year’s AI semi final and beat the Dubs tomorrow. The championship will come in good time and Andy and Alan’s roles will become known. In the meantime, with a goal from either Conroy, Doherty or maybe sub Freeman, Cillian O’Connor to kick us to victory tomorrow.

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