71 thoughts on “Team named for tomorrow’s final”

1. Great to see Cillian on the bench. Really looking forward to what will hopefully be a great game. Hopefullly Diarmuid, Paddy and Robbie will all be ok for Galway game. Hon Mayo

2. It is a team well capable of beating Kerry,we will certainly beat them so it is a case of keeping our players fit for Galway,onwards and upwards for Mayo thank you Willie Joe for keeping us in the know about all things concerning Mayo gaa,safe travel to all supporters and hoping for a great game with no injuries,I hope that the Kerry people who post on here have a good day without winning

3. The best team we could put out under the circumstances and we still manage to have a strong bench named, it’s a great achievement that Horan has orchestrated with this squad.
   Having said that I’m not confident at all simply because Kerry have their full team and we are missing DOC,Paddy and especially Robbie (not to mention Harry and Tommy)We have no long range free/45 taker and if kerry push up on our kick outs (which they will) we are very limited on kick out options. We need these guys back for the big one on April 24th and that’s the main focus.
   Usually I’m a glass half full kind of supporter but I’d be afraid we’d not only lose but take a bit of a tanking.
   Having said all that we’ve surly learned at this stage to never ever write our lads off.
   Hession,Mullen,Ruane are built for Croke Park, Ryan is the form player in the country,Carr seems to be fit and has a big game in him,doc is doing well,Leeroy is Leeroy and there’s a fella on the bench with a decent scoring record.

4. later than expected, was due to return for the last few group games but Cillian on the bench grabs the headlines of that named 26.

   Durcan,Rob and DOC are losses however Byrne,Hession and Loftus are good replacement and more than decent opportunity here to repeat the 2019 final victory over Kerry.

5. @corick bridge. Regarding the kerry folk it’s nice to wish them well we hope they come 2nd.

6. Hi Willie Joe, that’s our best available team and it’s well capable of defying the 2/1 odds against them . The cold and wet of Tralee is now a distant memory. I honestly don’t think the present Kerry team is exceptional . Mayo to win by 5 but 1 will do!!

7. where is david mcbrien? natural full back needed. Age old problem.

8. Devastating news from Sligo about Red Og Murphy.
   Very sad especially for his family. I understand that a number of Mayo players knew him well.
   Sincere condolences to his family and to everyone affected. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
   I intended to comment on the Mayo Team but it’s not important anymore.
   Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam dilis

9. 2 very strong teams and benches named
   It promises to be a hum dinger

   Delighted to see hession start, I reckon he’s a croke Park player,proper athlete

10. I asked WJ a week or so ago about Darren McHale. You explained he had a complicated foot injury which explains why we haven’t seen him since last summer. Along with Cillian he offers a major boost to our scoring potential and in particular to an underscoring half forward line. Hope McBrien is back soon along with the other injured lads. #Maigheoabu

11. It is great that we will see Cillian running out on Croke Park again. I am sure he had a tough journey to get himself to this stage. Hopefully we will get the win now.

12. Great to see Cillian, Darren and Eoghan named in the panel. Great chance for the likes of Hession, Coen, Carr and Loftus to remind Horan what they are capable of. I could see a few changes before throw in, however Carney and Loftus in half forwards are good options against a defence that will play a sweeper. Two lads well capable of scoring from play. Loftus very unlucky that he was moved to midfield but now has lost out to Flynn when he would probably consider himself a half forward anyway.

    Id like to see Aido start from the bench and come on with 20 minutes left to go, perhaps K Mc to start in the half forward line.
    But lookit, great to have a final, great to see a panel come together, hopefully get Doc, Hennelly and Durcan back for Galway.
    McBrien I really hope isn’t another injury, fingers crossed it is just a way of building him back into games but that could be wishful thinking.

13. Im happy with that team considering the injuries. Would like to see Eoghan McLaughlin getting a start. Would like to see him half forward to keep tabs on Gavin White. When you weigh up the two teams its hard to see us winning this one, Kerry were favourites before the teams were announced, they’re even stronger favourites now. Once we get no more injuries I’ll be happy.

14. Two ifs that will have a huge bearing now.
    If Cillian can be at 80% of his form, if we can get our current injuries cleared up to Robbie, Diarmuid, Paddy and David McBrien.
    That will in my view be our best squad since 2017. Maybe not as good a first 15 but far more bench options and more pace.

15. Good points there JP. Tomorrow will really be a test of the depth of the squad.
    Presumably if the u20s are beaten (negativity I know), they, (Irwin and co), will come back into the panel.

16. given allvthe changes in Carrick you couldn’t be sure of anything.
    I expect we could see Paddy Durcan tomorrow and maybe McBrien you just can’t say

17. The two mayo Ted Webb cup teams won 2 games each today any one know who they were playing?

18. Due to illness I wont be in Croke Park tomorrow, so a big thanks to TG4 who are showing all 3 big games today and both finals tomorrow. It doesn’t compensate for not being there but we’d be lost if we had to rely on RTE whose coverage of Gaelic games is worse than pathetic.

19. @ Sticks for the Reek
    Heartbreaking news about Red Óg’s untimely death.
    Strong Mayo connections with his Mum Geraldine from Meelick, Swinford
    May his family and friends find the strength to endure.

20. Cant see a win lads.Kerry just have too much with Brosnan and O Sè ,Moran on the bench.
    We are a long way off.

21. I think that’s a weak team. Half back line and half forward line in particular. Kerry team, at least on paper, is much stronger. There are options on the bench. Hennelly is a huge loss. As others have said, main thing is they are all back for Galway.

22. It’s hard to get excited about this game when you think of Red Óg’s family and friends. Such a shocking loss for all of them. It really does put football into perspective. God bless his family and his friends and team mates. May he rest in peace, though I can’t imagine this is the peace anyone would wish for a young man.
    My heartfelt sympathy to Red Óg’s family and community.
    Solas na bfhlaitais air..

23. Let’s see what the team is tomorrow at throw in.
    You could easily see 5 or 6 changes and some of those on the bench.
    I hope to see McBrien, Hennelley is a big loss because he can score long range points something we don’t have without him.That’s worth maybe 3 points on a good day.
    Paddy Durcan is a massive loss if not fit.
    Let’s see how it goes.
    Main question on Cillian is how has the injury affected him.My understanding is this injury is far more likely to damage you as a player than almost any other.Hopefully that’s not the case with Cillian

24. The game tomorrow pales into insignificance now after the awful death of Red Og and the cloud hanging over his family friends and Curry GAA.

    Safe travels to the Mayo fans and sure we’ll give it a rattle and have a pint after.

    All the best lads

25. Cillian was never the fastest player, so he was relying more on game smarts.

26. Much and all as I hate to say it, it’s hard to see us winning tomorrow. We have struggled to score goals (and tbh, also points from play) during the league, and I fear that the mounting injury list will be too much for us, which is a shame, as with a full panel I would give us a decent shot against the Kerrymen.

    Kerry have also named a side that closely resembles their championship team, with the exception of the missing Seanie O’Shea, while we are missing several key men.

    While it’s great to see Cillian and Darren Coen back (and to see a start for James Carr), I feel sorry for Fergal Boland if he doesn’t start. Would have thought that his performance down in the league would have merited serious consideration for a starting berth, but he got dropped for the Kildare game and now again. Very hard to fathom.

    Will Stephen Coen end up on D. Clifford? He struggled at 3 in the opening rounds of the league.

    Aido of course is another talking point, in Tralee he dropped back from centre-forward to midfield, allowing Kerry a extra man in front of their goal. Hopefully that experiment isn’t repeated.

    A few of our forwards seriously need to start chipping in with a few scores, Ryan can’t do it all every week and I imagine he will get some special attention following his performance down in Tralee. This is a big chance for the likes of Carr, Carney and Loftus to stake their claim for a starting berth against Galway.

    Safe travels to all those travelling from the Western coast tomorrow, Mayo, Rossies, Galwegians and Kerrymen.

27. Mayo need to start well. None of this catch up. I don’t think AOS should be starting. When did he score last? I believe his reflexes are slow and is inclined to retain the ball and can get turned over. He would make a good impact sub if things were going against us. I know this is contradictory but he has a presence that may lift the team.This game will be about speed in the open spaces of Croke Park.
    Containing David Clifford will be a big factor. Who can do it I’m not sure. But Rory Brickenden had a good game against Kildare and turned over some great ball. It does not matter if the back playing Clifford does not get a kick of the ball. All he has to do is contain him. Stick to him like glue. All the time. Hard to do but someone has to do it.
    Red Og is a terrible loss to his family and friends. I cannot begin to imagine their grief. It is a hard blow.

28. What do you mean AOS is inclined to get turned over? He’s probably the least likely on the team to get turned over in possession.

29. Waterford remind me of ourselves with their quest for All Ireland success – well this is some performance tonight (without A. Gleeson). They are going full throttle to win a national title and i hope we do the same tomorrow.

30. its good we are getting a few players back as there must be some treatment table at the minute with injuries to Hennelly, Harrison, o brien, Paddy Durcan, Diarmuid, Fionn mcDonagh, Bryan Walsh, Mark Moran, Tommy Conroy. Only fit players not in the 26 are Paul Towey, Conor McStay and judging from a Mayonews photo this week Connell Dempsey, Kuba Callaghan. The other lads Sam Callinan and Frank Irwin are with the U20s

    from last years 41 man panel believes Eoin o Donoghue, Jack Coyle, Ben Doyle, James McCornmack, Colm Boyle, Luke Donerty and James Durcan are not involved this year.

31. @Mayolass, I was thinking the exact same thing as yourself there watching Cork v Waterford.. From today’s NF League Finals Div 3 & 4 and the NH League final.. It just might be a case of this weekend goals winning game’s, and in the case of the Deise winning League Titles.. It must have been disheartening for the Cork player’s seeing the Cork supporter’s leaving early from Semple Stadium..Kerry scored one Goal to our zero in Tralee very recently, but I know the weather was horrendous, but in fairness they didn’t really create too many Goal chance’s.. I hope we shut them out completely tomorrow.. And we Mayo certainly have been creating plenty of Goal chance’s, but unfortunately our execution of those chance’s leaves plenty of room for improvement.. Congratulations to, Mikey Hartes Louth, Mickey Grahams, Cavan and Waterford today.. Doesn’t a virtually empty Croke Park with more Sea Gull’s than people look very lonely and soulless… Mayo definitely will change that tomorrow.. No doubt get plenty of help from the Rossies and Galway.. Kerry fan’s will have to stay at home and fill in the census form!

32. @FW. I bow to your superior knowledge.

33. Some awful defeatist glass half-empties on here. Ok if you’re feeling morose in the lead up to a fecking Final but why do you think you should inflict your doom and gloom on the rest of us? 2 miseravle lock down years are ocer and Mayo are in another final. Wave the flags and cheer. #Maigheoabu

34. As 1989 said there could be a few changes before throw in like there was from the Kildare game and it seems the experimental situation is still in action and so be , we have in many ways fallen in to the final using the same strategy and it’s the Galway game that’s still firmly in the cross hairs not saying we’re not fully in it to win it we are all day and as the way it seems that Kerry are going full hog for it aswell they want that win and just hope we can put some serious doubts into which I believe we will

35. Four of us heading up tomorrow with five tickets in the Cusack and Hogan so anyone needing one can contact me at dp.ire@hotmail.com. Safe trip to everyone.

36. It’s strange that Keegan is never mentioned as marking Clifford….
    He rubbed out Connolly and Kilkenny at different stages and was seen as the best man natter in the game.He is in FB line now too but never a mention of him for the job

37. Yes let’s be positive and hopefully we will beat the Kingdom tomorrow le cunadh De. Mhuigeo Abu!
    Thinking about the young Sligo footballer and his family. As several of you have said it puts things in perspective.Beannacht De lena anamh dilis. Bron ar an mbas.

38. @1989 – Keegan will mark Clifford.
    Mayo to win.

39. When the GAA allows late changes to be made willy nilly then there’s very little point in naming a team at all until an hour before throw in, it’s total nonsense and wouldn’t be tolerated in any other serious sport and it’s something the GAA need to sort out.

    And the lack of updates from County Boards regarding injuries is another farce which gives scribes license to write what they want regarding players who are injured and when they will return, you’d be bombarded with info if there was some gambling racket or numbers game being promoted to try and raise a few quid, so some basic information back to supporters who spend a fortune following their teams wouldn’t go amiss and cut out all the top secret stuff, it’s an amateur game so don’t let it go to your heads.

    As for marking David Clifford, it’s a bit of a psycho that’s needed on him as much as anything else and I’m clearly not talking about someone with mental health issues, I’m talking about someone with the ability to be able to psyche an opponent out, top players absolutely hate this and it can have a drastic effect on their game if executed properly and I’m not talking about sledging or anything like that.

    It’s definitely not a “nice lad” you want on him but not someone who will overstep the mark either.

    A player like Clifford needs to be stuck to at all times even when the ball is at the other end of the pitch that’s all part of the psychology, if you let him out of arms reach literally at any point of the game then you’re losing, don’t forget he’s the one controlling where you go, not the other way around but you need a brave defender as well a defender who will occasionally mark him from the front but again never out of arms reach, but regardless of who marks him tomorrow they shouldn’t be judged negativity if they don’t have a great day because he is a handful.

    If we don’t concede a goal then I give us a fighters chance tomorrow, a tough ask against a team who have scored a least one goal in every league game but it’s totally frustrating that we are constantly damned to hell with injuries and rarely if ever have a full hand.

    But there’s no point in talking about what we don’t have.

    Their wing backs Gavin White and Brian Ó Beaglaíoch are going to take some minding as well with both being well capable of marauding forward and taking their scores.

40. Yes but that was Lee at his best, age and injuries have slowed him down. Clifford will cause us problems and he’s only one of the Kerry forwards,capable of racking up high scores.We looked good against Kildare but tomorrow is a real test.As regards injuries its getting worse, Aido seems to to be one of the few who escapes injury despite all the heavy assaults.Not optimistic but hopeful.

41. I didn’t bother clicking on the link because we’ve read the same shite multiple times before but would Joe Brolly ever change the f@cking record

42. Good morning , weather here in Dublin this morning is clear sky, dry and very calm . Safe travelling to all those on their way . Enjoy the day for what it is , a national league final in croke park , cheering on Mayo .

43. Another final I have thoroughly enjoyed this league.We have way more good days than bad and regardless we have a team for the next 10 years.
    The Mayo roller coaster is leaving the station…..at 7.30 this evening it might be very high up or very low down but we are pinned in and can’t jump off even if we wanted to

44. Looking forward to a great game of football.
    I think Kerry are more afraid of us than we of them.
    I think we’ll win by 3/5points
    The boys will be well up for this.

45. Agreed, I think we’re going to win by 3 points.
    Such a massive boost having Cillian on the bench. Congrats to himself for putting the work in to get back to fitness. The match fitness will come.
    Hope he gets 20mins at least today. Safe travelling friends. Up Mayo.

46. Hitting up to the big smoke.best of luck to all the westies
    Thinking of the late Jim halligan our old bus driver and Charlestown gaa fan

47. He drove the tavrane school bus too , sound man was jimmy, RIP. Was he tavneena man by right , same place as dermot and Aidan Higgins ?

48. Our luck with injuries is unreal, can’t believe Rob now out for Galway game and doubts over Paddy and Diarmuid. Let’s hope for a injury free match today and that their replacements all do the job required. Hon Mayo!

49. Yes just outsideballagh I’d like to see the stats for the top 8 teams the last ten years since Andy done his cruciate v Down to the present day and compare them . Perhaps I’m just too focused on our bad luck but it really does seem disproportionate compared to let’s say our main rivals Dublin over this period .

50. Unreal Seán and this year even worse. Have the players too many miles in the legs. Would be interesting also to see hours played by some of our regular starters as the legs are just wearing out. Looking at subs bench today we seem very light on defenders!

51. Its just never ending. If Rob Paddy and Diarmuid are out for Galway then its the qualifiers for us. I honestly do not care how today goes, once we get through it without more injuries.

52. Dublin have missed lads over the years too.. just don’t notice them as much given the depth they had.

    I think in our last games (IE final or semi depending on yeduring

    As for today.. well Kerry have the far better forward unit, the individual match winners, the more balanced side and have shown better league form overall. Their need may be a bit greater too

    Mayo by 2

53. Sorry prematurely hit comment there 😀

    Second para should say – in 13-17 in our last game of each season (ie semi or final depending on year) we had more or less a full complement available for most part but I do stand corrected

    Think it’s been more pronounced 2018 onwards when we’ve declined slightly in any case from that golden period above

54. Best of luck to team and management today and looking forward to heading to Croker. But honestly I will be pleasantly surprised to win. Games are not won on paper but that Kerry team is superior to our team on paper. While the depth of our panel has improved we are absolutely screwed with injuries and now with longer term doubts about Robbie Paddy and Diarmaid, not to mention the loss of Tommy, its difficult to be optimistic. Kerry can leave O Shea and Brosnan on the bench and still name a seriously strong forward line. In the mean time their defence which had been their weak link is now being influenced by the seriously defensive orientated Paddy Tally and concede one goal from play in the league,. Great to see such optimistic opinions on the blog, but we have seen it all before previous big games, only for the optimism to become criticism as soon as the game is over. I expect Mayo to give it their best shot as they always do but Kerry very justifiably warm favourites. Maigh Eo abu

55. Best of luck to the Mayo team today. We face a very strong Kerry team today under a head master that I’d say their all scared shitless of…..so expect fire from them from start to finish. On paper they will win with a few points to spare but if we make the game chaotic like we are capable of then we will be right there come the closing stages with doubt creaping into our opponents minds. Eitherway a good performance today with no injuries will be a positive. Hon Mayo !

56. Is Rob definitely out for Galway game? I haven’t seen that anywhere

57. Hope Stephen Coen is back on form today but if not, who replaces him from the bench? Maybe we will see some changes to 26 before throw in!

58. Doc, Connacht telegraph reported yesterday that robbie had keyhole surgery on his knee and will be out for 6 weeks which rules him out for galway which is three weeks today. I know CT can be iffy at times but i cant imagine they would give such detail if it were untrue.

59. He had that surgery at least 2 weeks ago though

60. That certainly puts a better spin on it but youd imagine if the timeframe is correct it would still leave him out for Galway.

61. 4-6 weeks from Kerry game was my understanding
    He will be back
    They prob got it done then to make sure he didn’t have to do it over the championship campaign
    I’ll be amazed if he misses Galway game

62. Good luck to Mayo today, and indeed to all who are east bound. On the train to Dub at the minute and just enjoying the banter around me and on the blog here, thanks once again Willie Joe.
    Yes it’s true Robbie had arthroscopic (key-hole) surgery, but being out for 6 weeks is just speculative stuff. As someone posted earlier, without much info coming out from the Co Board, media like the CT can print what they like. That particular outfit usually do anyways.
    I feel we are a little lightweight in some areas today, but saying that we are strong at the back and in the middle, so if we can contain their forwards to a certain degree, and we’re as economical as possible ourselves, today game is up for grabs. I know, there’s a few ifs there, but I fancy us to scrape it, possibly in extra time.
    Up Mayo!

63. @to win just once, It’s a lot easier to concentrate on setting up well defensively when you have forwards who are able to take their scores and playing against an opposition who’ll run straight into roadblocks but no amount of Paddy Tally’s will beat good quick ball into the forwards, our issues are not having enough natural forwards to be able to win ball, beat their man and fire it over the black spot.

    When he’s on song Doherty is as good as any in the country who would fit into that category but it could be argued on another day that the style of football introduced by Horan didn’t lend itself well to developing or nurturing enough players to be able to do this.

    But that’s the stall we have and it doesn’t mean that it can’t be successful but we really need to cut out the totally avoidable turnovers for that to happen, learn how to lower the gears as well, we served our time under Dublin, we should have learned a lot from them how to actually control a game and nobody can say we weren’t close to them but Dublin we a different kettle of fish, they allowed us to play football.

64. Good luck to the team and management today. If we play well and no injuries, like others have said above, that’ll do me.

    Plenty of places on the team still to be resolved before the Galway game.

    Good luck to all.

65. Surely, there will be a few surprises right before throw in, I’m expecting 2 or 3 changes to the starting lineup and maybe 1 in the substitute s also.
    In my book a man maker doesn’t have to be a good attacking footballer, but a a tough annoying sticker. I don’t want to see this Mayo mistake repeated again, attacking defenders cannot be man makers.
    If Clifford stays in his position close to goal than I would give the job to one guy only, if he moves out the pitch then it’s a different strategy.

66. Viper
    Correct turnovers killed us in Tralee and ball handling has been poor enough.
    To win today someone like Carr or Carney need to show up and get 1-4 or 1-5
    That’s not beyond reality though.
    However middle 3rd have to get 55% possession at least otherwise we lose handy enough

67. Short extra pod for club members just gone online on Patreon, setting the scene for today.

68. Kerry have the better squad for this one on paper and definitely better starting 15. However both teams have to go out and perform. Also we’ve been a better 2nd half team than anyone else in the league. Should have beaten Tyrone and nearly caught Kerry. If we’re within 3 of them at half time I’d give us a decent chance. I think Coen and either Plunkett or Hession could swap. I’d put Mullen on Clifford as he has the pace although Keegan is an option, he still looks a top defender in 2022 being 33 doesn’t seem to have slowed him. I wouldn’t put O Hora on him but management knows best. I’d make them favourites by 3 or 4 going by league stats , maybe even a bit more allowing for selections but we all know what our team can bring. Would love to see Jack put in his box, clever manager but don’t like his dour style. Some people saying Kerry aren’t great but if they stay organised at the back for 2022 will remain AI favourites, but that’s a big if. 1-9 they are far from the top of what’s out there but their work ethic has been good this year. I do rate Gavin White highly and hope I’m wrong there. Remains to be seen if they can defend like they have been at the business end. If Moran comes on put Aido on him. Hammer the hammer. James Carr has to perform to keep Cillian off. Loftus is the man for long range frees, the best starter anyway for that job.

69. Not much between the sides a couple of weeks ago and if we converted just one of our goal scoring chances we could have won. How we deal with Clifford will determine to a large extent the outcome of this match. Lee used to be our best sticky man-marker but he has lost a bit of pace so it would probably be too much of a risk to give him the job. Oisín should have learnt a few important lessons (with the help of his coaches) from the match in Tralee: don’t dive into the tackle, instead force your opponent away from goal and onto his weaker foot. And what’s happened to making yourself big, two big strong arms spread out as a barrier is the best way to prevent a score. Easier said than done but Tyrone limited Clifford to 3 points from play last week so he is not unstoppable. Lots of other things to consider today but that’s the main one. Best of luck to our lads today and to all those travelling to the match. Can’t sign off without thanking Willie Joe for this great blog, it really makes match day and the lead up all the more enjoyable.

70. So much depends on our midfield axis today, including Aido. I think Byrne will have to go long with the vast majority as the press will be fierce & we simply can’t afford to send 50/50 short kickouts. Game over if we do.
    So midfield will have to win their own kickouts & prevent quality ball dropping in front of Clifford & co. If we are to win this our mom will be 8 or 9.
    A huge task ahead but doable. Up Mayo.

71. Its a hammering here in Croker. Thats two back to back very poor performances in headquarters. We look so ordinary.I missed what happened Jordan..he looked very shook coming off. So disappointing. Not seeing much “learnings” here.