Team named for Sunday

Willie Joe

There I was earlier on saying that naming teams in advance wasn’t really the done thing for the FBD. Well, James Horan and his selectors clearly had other ideas – as is their prerogative – and have decided to release details of the starting fifteen for Sunday’s FBD opener against Leitrim at Carrick-on-Shannon (throw-in 1.30pm). Here’s the team that’s been named:

Mayo (FBD Preliminary Round v Leitrim, 6/1/2019): Rob Hennelly (Breaffy); Eoin O’Donoghue (Belmullet), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Brendan Harrison (Aghamore); Lee Keegan (Westport), James McCormack (Claremorris), Donal Vaughan (Castlebar Mitchels); Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy), Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore); Fionn McDonagh (Westport), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole, captain), Fergal Boland (Aghamore); Colm Moran (Westport), Brian Reape (Bohola Moy Davitts), Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites).

It’s just the first match of the year – a pre-season one at that – so I wouldn’t be reading too much into who has or hasn’t been named in this particular team. It’s a strong enough selection, for sure, but there’s also a sprinkling of newer lads in there too, with James McCormack, Fionn McDonagh, Colm Moran and Brian Reape all given starting berths.

Of that quartet, I think it’s only Colm Moran – a member of last year’s U20 team – who is togging for the first time at senior level for the county. The other three all saw action in the FBD previously and Brian Reape has been on the fringes of the senior panel for the last few years.

Leitrim have also named their team for Sunday – a piece on both team announcements is here.

Mayo GAA have also advised tonight that it’s advisable for those attending the game to buy their tickets in advance, which you can do at either Centra or SuperValu. Clearly, a bumper crowd is expected and there could well be a bit of congestion at the entrance so it’s worth heeding this advice.

62 thoughts on “Team named for Sunday”

  1. It would be truly remarkable if there’s congestion in Carrick on Sunday for an FBD match. But we’ve had to wait a long time.

  2. Safe capacity of Pairc Sean MacDiarmada is less than 10,000. With the Mayo following starved of intercounty football for 6 months, a capacity crowd is not out of the question.
    I’m off to Supervalu first thing tomorrow just in case.
    Nice balance in that team. It’ll be interesting to see who the subs will be and how they all adapt to the new rules. Also, what style will James deploy? Will it be based on the attacking half back line or has he learned a few new tricks in the last few years?
    Really looking forward to this game and IT’S ONLY THE FBD! What will I be like by Jan 26th?

    Bring it on!

  3. Interesting team and looking forward to Sunday now. I always thought that McCormack, McDonagh and Reape were the most likely “new” players to break through.

    A bit disappointed that no new full back or midfielder are being tried but hopefully we’ll have another game next weekend.

    People need to realise that 3 rounds of the league will be played by the 9th February. The likes of Leeroy, Harrison, Vaughan and Seamie had injuries in 2018 so need minutes on the field to be sharp for the start of the league.

  5. They won’t turn anyone away at the gate on Sunday. FBD games only get 2 or 3 thousand people usually. Just make sure you’re there early to allow time for queuing.

  9. So looking forward to this game. Unfortunately I wont make it up to Leitrim, but will listen to it on Midwest. I really hope the young lads will get an honest chance if they prove their worth when it comes to league and then on to Championship.

  10. Not too excited about that line up but sure you have to start somewhere. A real mish mash of players, some who will definitely feature all year, some getting their first chance, some getting another chance, some getting yet another chance and dare I say it some on their last chance.
    With pitches in great condition and the weather ideal, I hope these lads realise they are getting a better chance than previous teams who had to line out in atrocious conditions on terribly cut up pitches. Grab your chance lads and good luck.

  11. Couldn’t have put it better myself Ah now. The name-checking curse of James has fallen on Conor Diskin it seems. If that backline has ‘come through’ the trials it makes one wonder about the quality coming through.

  12. Ah lads, it’s the first day out in an FBD game, a bit early yet to be critising James on team selection. He can only start 15 players, that 15 May not even start and there will be a host of substitutions throughout the game so James will have plenty to look at. League opener in just 3 weeks so experienced players need game time under their belts or would it be better for them to go into a league game cold and risk another poor start to a league

  13. Can we not complain about team selection and just let the FBD run its course? There will likely be challenge games that we don’t even know about that will be far more intense than tomorrow. Christ remember when the FBD was played out and nobody even knew!?

    Happy New Year everyone!

  14. My local Centra in Dublin not doing them. Central have to pay a rental charge for the machines and see no point in having them in the early part of the year.

  17. I’d imagine they want people buying in advance to avoid any queues. There won’t be 10k at the game tomorrow!!

  18. Well there wont be 10k there thats for sure! Just to avoid the queues i popped into supervalu in cbar……the 4 in front of me all buying tickets for the match too!

  19. It’s not only Centra / SuperValu shops in Mayo and Leigrimmselling the tickets, I got mine in Ballisodare earlier today.

  21. Would like to see Caolan Crowe (fb), Michael Plunkett, Matthew Ruane, Jason Gibbons, James Kelly and Ciaran Treacy get a run out off the bench tomorrow. Hopefully we’ll a few of these names at least make an appearance at some stage.

  24. Have we a New away jersey for tomorrow or is it the red&black or one the u17s wore this year against Leitrim that I don’t ever remember our seniors wearing?

  29. I would absolutely love to see Brian Reape tearing it up tomorrow. I’ve been so impressed with him in club championship however I know being good in club doesn’t always translate. Hopefully Horan can help him his perceived short comings off the last few seasons and he can challenge for a place.

  31. Sydney and Mayoforsam2k19 its well publicised on the local papers and socal media what the mayo panel is if you want to find it. There is no Jack Reilly or the other two lads you mentioned. I did hear Jack Reilly played very well at the trials but haven’t seen him myself so in position to question if he should be there. Along with the 15 named we do have Treacy/Carr/O’Sullivan/McLoughlin/D. Coen/Diskin/Conroy and probably a few more forwards. So much talent.
    Very exciting team for Sunday, nice blend of youth and experience. Can’t see why Mayo can’t give the league a good rattle this year and what better platform to prepare for it than 3 games in the FBD.

  32. Just heard earlier of the passing of two former greats, the imperious John Nallen and Seamus O’Connor, confirmed on RIP.ie. I never got to see O’Connor, who due to injury misfortune had a relatively short career in the late ’60’s, and only saw Nallen in a Jimmy McGee All Stars game, wher his class stood out long after his active football days. May they rest in peace among their former team mates and friends.

    Re Mayo GAA TV, they only get to broadcast games where they have control, i.e. Mayo Co Board games. So all Connacht games incl. FBD games are out as are NFL etc.

    Justathought, there are no “away” jersies in GAA. That is a totally soccer concept. Mayo, like other counties [and clubs] wear an alternative jersey when a clash of colours arise. Which may come into play later today as Leitrim have a predominantly green strip. Usually Mayo play an alternative whereas Leitrim play a mainly yellow/orange strip when we meet.

  33. Happy new year Willie Joe and good luck to James and his players as they set out on their 2019 campaign. I hope that players like .M.Slingerman, M. Plunkett , M.Ruane ,
    C. Loftus C.Diskin,
    JCarr p and C .Treacy will be given the chance to showcase their undoubted talent over the coming weeks and months
    Also I guess that highly rated up and coming youngsters Keith ,Andy and Boyler are champing at the bit to prove that they can mix it with the big boys this year.I believe that the above players will strengthen our panel and greatly increase our chances of winning Sam.
    Can you or any of your lpyal disciples confirm if Seamus O Connor who passed away in Ballycastle
    this week was the stylish defender who wore the Red and Green with distinction in ?he sixties?
    God bless the work
    ‘

  34. Andy – I know when we wear the away or alternative jersey as you call it and what colours Mayo and Leitrim usually wear but thanks ?, just wondered had we a new alternative/away jersey or which alternative/away one as the last one I remember seeing on seniors was black&red, whereas minors had a mainly red with green strip when they played them in the summer.

  35. Happy New year and new season.

    2019 – maybe the year that Mayo regains its killer instinct.

  36. Just a thought,
    Why do you call the alternative jersey an “away” jersey when you know it’s not an “away” one? That’s what I can’t understand and maybe you can understand why it gives the impresssion you are not fully “au fait” wiith GAA matters.

  39. If all we have too worry about is what to call the away/alternative/non-clash/red and black/not greenandred jersey then I think we will be okay for the rest of the year. If we have to avoid soccer terms in GAA then we need to change the colours of the yellow and red cards.
    By the way O’Neills who make the jerseys advertise the red and black jersey as an AWAY jersey, think someone needs to give them a call.

  40. Sub’s for today.
    M Schlingerman
    Ben Doyle
    C Crowe
    D Drake
    Cathal Horan
    James Kelly
    Ciaran Treacy
    James Durcan
    Conor Diskin
    Conor Loftus
    Darren Coen
    Oisin McLaughlin
    Tommy Conroy(kiltane)

  44. Fair play to Fergal Boland. Saved us in the 2nd half especially when everything was falling apart. Lots of work to do…

  45. Need at least 4 midfielders, Diarmuid is one, Seamus o Shea good for 40-50 minutes, Stephen Coen should be tried out at fullback as his distribution isn’t up scratch, forget about his shooting. Surprised Matthew Ruane nor Mikey Murray wasn’t on the bench James Kelly will be a good addition, A lot to work to be done Horan needs some time to put everything together. Only the start of the season but fullback is a big issue already especially with the rule changes.

  46. A case of blowing out the dirty diesel or a sign of things to come for the year ahead? Whatever way one paints it up drawing with Div 4 Leitrim who weren’t full strength in 70 minutes of football and conceding 2-13 against them is not good not good at all

  48. Wasnt a bad crowd up from Mayo but way off the numbers some people were expecting!

    Thought we started brightly. However our defence was ragged from start to finish. Harry our best performer in that section. Why does caff always let his man win the ball? O’Donoghue caught out a couple of times. Defence wasnt helped by our lack of dominance in Midfield. Unfortuntately we were fairky anonymous in this section, particularly as tge game developed. Up front useful first half Reape and colm Moran. Zero attack 2nd half. Things totally fell apart all over the pitch and in truth we were lucky to hold on to get a draw with leitrim smashing against the crossbar with a few mins to go.

    Only real positive was Fergal Boland. Everything he did was right. Oozed intelligence whereas lots of our players kicked stupid balls away and made poor decisions in possession.

    Would like to see Loftus next wknd. It’s time for him to step up to the plate. Would also like to see cathal horan.

    It’s early Jan. We know this. Lots to do though.

  49. Yes Seamus O’Connor is the great half back,along with Sally Loftus two greats passing on, I had the great pleasure of seeing them play,and knowing them

  50. Same old problems at midfield & full back. So many midfielders never score (despite years of trying at highest level) – has Coen or Shamie O’Shea ever scored a point even. Shane Nally got one chance and had a beauty (Roscommon or Kerry game?) – is he available or what’s going on? Boland a good find – need to blood guys & midfield & full back – preferably who can pass the ball.

  51. Agree full back problem but more so mid field . Fair play to the fringe players , some good potential but early days and we need to be patient .. Thought there was a huge Mayo following today .. Leitrim deserved a draw but that game will bring on the new lads . Interesting to see what team JH puts out against Galway

  53. Reasonable first half. But we were not punished for a looseness at the back. Problems not plugged at half time. James Kelly’s forward raids with no cover in his absence punished early second half. Lack of substitutions worrying. Struggled at midfield and forwards starved of ball. Silly free giveaway by Keegan, who could have easily given away a penalty in first half. Very indisciplined. Leitrim had their best spell when they were reduced to fourteen men.
    Some positives and we march on to more serious test. Very unfair on Leitrim that they do not get another game in competition. Hope they win div 4.

  54. I know we should have beeting Leitrim by 10 points plus but we have a lot of players to come back and it’s only January and we have to rebuild a new team we should let go of the same old players with the same problem but it’s good to be back

  55. Jesus, calling for players to be dropped from the panel after an FBD game against Leitrim on 6th January. Will ye calm down and wait til the real football starts before making any sort of judgements.

  56. Its a rebuilding exercise for Horan realistically that team reached the end of the road in Newbridge last year. This is an early result but if Mayo are well beaten by Galway next time the alarm bells will be ringing. Hard to know if Galway are too interested in FBD though but you never know.

  57. Galway in Tuam next weekend will be a different kettle of fish, defence and midfield will need to get their house in order for that one. Hard to see Cafferkey starting at fullback unless there’s no one else putting their hand up for the position. It is, of course, early days and every team will be trying to feel their way into the new season but as of now, Horan will have a lot of head scratching to do before the League kicks off. 2019 here we come……

  58. Alarm bells should never be ringing with FBD games. They’re glorified challenge matches, an opportunity to get players up to speed and have a look at some younger players – nothing else.

  59. People should not say players names it’s not fair it’s only after Christmas and probably not training to much over Christmas

  60. Guys like Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle & Chris Barrett have all scored vital points to bring Mayo back into games in the past (e.g Barrett got 2 v Tyrone in the 2013 AI Semi Final) – midfielders need to be able to convert scores in current game. I’ve followed Mayo for over 10 years, since return from the US – and for another 40 years before that – even a moderately mobile full forward line will always got goals vs poor Ger Caff – poor vs Cork, don’t mention 2012.

  61. It’s no shame if we have to rebuild and if we do Horan is the right man to rebuild. I’m suprised we struggled to put Leitrim away but we will have a better idea where we’re at next week against Galway and The last Saturday in January against Roscommon. I wouldn’t panic just get a lot of it is down to rustiness and probably heavy training this time of year.

  62. We need Aidan O’Shea back at midfield for next week, also I think Paddy Durkan should be tried out at full back.Feral Boland was excellent today as were Brian Reape and Fionn McDonagh. Keep the faith lads, it is early days yet.

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