We’ve just named our team to play Galway in Sunday’s FBD League semi-final at Tuam Stadium (throw-in 1.30pm). Here’s the starting fifteen we’ve named:
Mayo (FBD League Semi-Final v Galway, 13/1/2019): Rob Hennelly (Breaffy); Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis), Brendan Harrison (Aghamore), David Drake (Ballaghaderreen); Colm Boyle (Davitts, captain), Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber), James McCormack (Claremorris); Donal Vaughan (Castlebar Mitchels), Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber); Fionn McDonagh (Westport), Conor Loftus (Crossmolina), Fergal Boland (Aghamore); Conor Diskin (Claremorris), Brian Reape (Bohola Moy Davitts), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole).
So for this second pre-season outing of 2019 we’ve made seven changes from the team that started against Leitrim last Sunday. In come Keith Higgins, David Drake, Colm Boyle, Michael Plunkett, Diarmuid O’Connor, Conor Loftus and Conor Diskin, replacing Eoin O’Donoghue, Ger Cafferkey, Lee Keegan, Seamus O’Shea, Stephen Coen, Colm Moran and Evan Regan.
The most recent time we played Sunday’s opponents was last May in the preliminary round of the Connacht championship. Sunday’s team contains five survivors from that clash in Castlebar, with Keith Higgins, Colm Boyle, Diarmuid O’Connor, Conor Loftus and Jason Doherty all starting for us on Sunday in Tuam as well.
Best of luck to the lads on Sunday, in particular to fringe players Michael Plunkett and Conor Diskin. Michael has previous experience for us in the FBD but Conor is lining out for the first time at senior level for the county. Here’s hoping it’s a memorable debut for the Claremorris player.
Great to see so many young lads in the forwards ,exciting times
Like the look of this team, Conor Loftus stating at CHF which is his best position, full forward line should cause problems good to see James McCormack getting another chance as he is a keeper and will only get better. We may struggle around the middle without the o Shea in a physical sense, but it is a good test for the younger players. Brendan Harrison fullback of the future, maybe but we need to try players in this position in the league rather than going into the unknown in the championship
Interesting team!
Not happy to see David Drake again but like anyone he has put his heart and soul into it like the rest of the panel so, while I think he isn’t a player that should start I’d be happy to be proven wrong. I want to put these herrin chokers back in their place and lay down a marker. Mayo Abú!
Drake at CB is a good call. Was very effective for Ballagh in the club championship. Best of luck to Conor Diskin on his first outing at Senior intercounty level. Good to see Conor Loftus get a run out. Captain Boyler at the helm – rockin !
Happy with that team to be honest. Drake is a back, I don’t know why he was brought on as a forward throughout Rochford’s tenure.
This Mayo teams average age is 25. Probably one of the quickest, most mobile teams we have togged.
Looking forward to seeing this Higgins fella, should have been given a chance long before now!!
Galway team named aswell. They look close to full strength in the backs and midfield but are missing a lot of first choice forwards. Comer, Walsh, Burke, Daly and Brannigan not there.
Maghnus Breathnach
Declan Kyne
Sean Andy O’Ceallaigh
Liam Silke
Kieran Molloy
John Daly
Dylan Wall
Ciaran Duggan
Tom Flynn
Cillian McDaid
Michael Farragher
Johnny Heaney
Frankie Burke
Michael Boyle
Barry McHugh
I liked the team last week, I really like this team.
Strength, experience and power at the back.
Athletic midfield.
And a forward unit mix of youth, pace and energy with a dose of age.
A win.
I am looking forward to seeing the newbies..but especially Keith and the mighty Boyler!! Never tire of admiring them!!! UP MAYO.
From a Galway point of view great to see the Corofin lads in, the return of Cillian Mc Daid but mostly the introduction at senior level of young John Daly at centre back, another son of Val and a terrific prospect. All in all two exciting teams named. Roll on Sunday.
In fairness to drake, he played his best football in the club championship in the full back line. Did a good job on aido in one game. Glad to see reape, Boland and McCormack retained and best of luck to Conor Diskin. An exciting prospect
No one can say JH is not giving youth a run out, interesting team and looking forward to seeing young bucks up front and perhaps Drake at 3.
Poor reflection on talent levels in Nth Mayo – 1 man out of 15…..
It’ll be interesting to see if this team actually starts…. Any bets on a few late changes??
Like the Mayo team named . Also ( might be wrong) but in my opinion ..JH has put down an early marker as most of the lads that struggled or didn’t play well against Leitrim are not starting .
In fairness to JH, he’s on the ball big time. He knows we need to develop forwards, and Reape, Diskin, O’Donoghue (once fit) will be given every chance to impress. As I said last week, Harrison is our best option at FB, has that bit of dirt in him that Caff could never muster, age is also on his side. Vaughan can be a damn good player when fully fit, so great to see him starting again and getting fit for the league. McCormack also will be gaining confidence with consecutive starts and could well take boylers starting spot in the HB line come championship. Imagine bringing on Boyle with 20mins to go and him told to empty the tank…serious quality to bring in late on (something we’ve lacked for years).
Galway have a strong enough team out, and i’d expect them to win this, but its still another valuable 70mins in the build up to the real stuff on the 26th of January. Galway by 4.
Best of luck to all the new lads starting. Drake deserves another chance – by all accounts he had an excellent club championship in defence so people need to lay off him for a bit and give him a fair shot in 2019. Seems like McDonagh could well become a Horan favourite – his type of player. Anyone know if Jordan Flynn is involved in the setup at all?? Should have served his suspension by now. No excuse for what he did but he seemed a talented lad so hopefully he can stay involved long term..
Colm Boyle captain v Galway, Zippy back in defence,DOC back in Midfield and Reape and Diskin in the Full Forward line,I am liking this even if it’s the FBD.Expect abit of fireworks in this, a strong Galway team named too, with a good few Corofin players lining out.
Liam 2 – I’ve added the ‘2’ to your handle to distinguish you from the other Liam who comments here regularly. I’m not sure there will be any changes to the team named. I know it’s only a small sample but, if last Sunday is anything to go by, we might need to become used to seeing the team named starting on the day without any late changes to the line-up.
Serious talent there lads with so many to come back can honestly see a forward line of o donoghue mclouglin mcdonagh o Connor reape and diskin come championship with the likes of proven talent like Andy and Jason coming in that’s serious very serious people don’t realise how good mayo will be in years to come can’t wait for another journey
You can’t help but be excited for this game and this team. Yes, it’s pre-season but exactly what I wanted to see. Lots of youth = Hungry to prove something! Up Mayo! Not going to take PKs this week!
have to agree with willie joe about sad times in north mayo….. 2 former all lreland club champions …what has happened?
Larry duff met him over the christmas and he wasnt involved then.
Hope he gets a call i think he has a big future with mayo.
Agree Larry Duff on Flynn. There’s aren’t there that needs nurturing.
Was listening to Galway Bay fm last night, where Barry Cullinan was interviewed Re tomorrows game and his view on 2019 expectations for both Mayo and Galway. As expected, in summary his view is Mayo team are over the hill and no talent coming through, he “fears” for Mayo!!! Of course Galway have an abundance of talent!!! Unbelievably biased comments, hard to take him seriously as an analyst. Really hope Mayo shove those comments down his throat tomorrow, even if it’s only the “fbd”!!
Barry Cullinane a man that never won a game in Croker in this time with Galway footballers, pure bluffer, he should stick to the hurling he was better at it!!
Inisbofin.. Its Galway Bay Fm ! What do you expect to hear.. Maurice Sheridan was interviewed this week and said the same thing about the underage talent coming through in Galway and said Mayo need new faces as 12 are over 30.. Nothing new they are just stating their opinions..
V true Tuamstar but to state no talent coming through in Mayo is ott, Maurice’s point is absolutely correct, we all know we have an aging squad and it certainly needs new talent to emerge. I believe it’s there and look forward to James bringing it though and developing a new team over the next 3 years. I accept your point rd Galway bay fm but I always expect accurate knowledgeable sports analysis no matter what media I read or listen to. A good example is this blog which is so professionally run.
I think mayo will have 10 players 30 or older on the panel, not the first 15 this summer. Dublin will probably have more than 10.
Barry Culinane entitled to his opinion. It’s true that Mayo have had a poor enough time at underage since minor/under 21 all Ireland wins (bar under 20s last year), but a lot of these Mayo lads seem to be progressing a little later. And they are not being flogged either at minor etc.
I listened to Johnny Ward quite consistently run down Mayo’s chances during 2017 on the Thrown Inn podcast. So it’s nothing new to hear from the Galway lads. Just a bit of banter
For sure, Barry Cullinane is entitled to his opinion. I’ve met him a few times and we’ve had him on the podcast as well. He’s totally sound and is well able to put across his views. Whether or not others agree with him is up to them, it’s only an opinion after all.
In fairness to Barry Cullinane he is one of the better analysts out there and a very good co commentator. Our talent coming through is unproven so it’s up to them to prove him wrong! I like the look of that Mayo team and great to see Higgins and Boyler back in harness. It will be a pretty lively affair and the result is probably more important to Mayo than Galway given our recent history. We need to keep our discipline as I’m sure it will be tested. It has cost us dearly over the last few seasons. A win would be a bonus as it gives us another game and we will get a look at the new Roscommon under Cunningham. The Rossies are keeping very quiet at the moment. See ye all in Tuam shams.
just one point looking at the 2 teams, are there other keepers playing club football in mayo and Galway worth a look, find it strange that Hennelly and Breathnach are in goal at a stage of the season where potential should be looked at, realistically, neither will be playing in the summer.
A Galway man being biased towards a Galway team on a Galway radio station. The shock of it all. Why are people people getting excited about such things.
Some facts on Galway
1 championship game won in Croke Park in 18 years against Kerry in the Super 8s last year, which seemed very like a Kerry team who did not turn up on the day.
They have consistently struggled to put a very ordinary Roscommon team away in recent Connacht finals losing to them in 2017.
Struggled to put away Kildare last year who had there best player in Daniel Flynn sent off in the last 20 minutes eventually winning the game by just a point.
They were well beaten by Monaghan in Pearse stadium in the Super 8s last year.
In the 2nd half of last year’s All Ireland semi final they were given a hammering by the Dubs losing by 8 points and got a late consellation goal through Shane Walsh .If there to get near the Dubs this year they would need 5 new backs.
So let Barry Cullinane and Maurice Sheridan hold there horses on Galway.The only Galway back that would get into the best Mayo team at present would be Sean Andy O’Ceallaigh at full back.
It might only be FBD but tomorrow is a great opportunity for our new / fringe lads to impress. It will be fiercely competitive and physical as always against Galway and they have a fairly strong team out. I suspect it will be no place for the feint hearted which is exactly what James Horan wants for these young lads right now. The truth is if they can show well tomorrow they might be capable of league and championship. The stakes are fairly high for some of them. They need to lay down a definite marker.
If Fergal Boland can reproduce his form against Leitrim he will be very hard to ignore. Similarly for Brian Reape – if he can demonstrate that he is capable of inflicting damage on Galway he might well be in contention for a place among the 26 if not the first 15. Young fellas need to show that they can produce the goods fairly consistently and against good opposition. Anything less is no good. Certainly we also need to be patient with young players and even the very best players can have an off day but what we do need to see is that they not only have the football ability but the right temperament as well.
Looking forward to this game and the many intriguing sub plots.
Great to see those new faces in the Mayo forward line for sunday. My only quibble would be that on the little bitIi have seen of the new forwards in U20 and against Leitrim, none are exacty speed merchants. Good footballers all, but not a lot of speed. Certainly there is a good physical presence in that Mayo FF line so interesiting to spped waht tactics JH deploys to get them on the ball.
Really good test for these forwards against a very strong Galway back line.
Big year for Conor Loftus – Really needs to shine in these types of games to prove he serserves a place.
Tuamstar – a lot of Galway people I know are spinning the same view…that Mayo have no talent coming through. Maybe it’s just a a hope that we fall of a cliff…for people to come out and say Mayo have no talent coming through is outlandish if they aren’t attending club and and underage games. We did reach da u-20 final only last year….
Can I just ay that whenever anyone, who dares to say anything that is not praise for Mayo, will get a certain amount of posters into meltdown.. They are only words.. Words have never scored a point or a goal or lost a match..This is only the FBD for gods sake..It is a fact that Mayo have brought hardly anyone new into the panel in the last few years. They should have been blooded by now, not starting off. For Jaysus sake give new lads a chance. It could take them a year to bed in fully. Just because they don’t instantly shine doesn’t mean they won’t..
TH Some facts about Galway. They have beaten Mayo in Connacht in the last three years and have beaten us 5 times in a row. They have also a lot more AI titles than us despite the fact we are pretty even in Connacht. They have a good team at the moment and have been dominant over us in the last few years at underage with the exception of U20 last year. And I say all this as a Mayo man who enjoys nothing more than defeating those pesky neighbours.
Galway have wiped is underage for the past few years with the very odd exception so it’s only natural and most likely correct that they’ve more talent coming thru underage. We had it over them in the ‘noughties’ at underage and reaped the rewards over the past decade. We seriously need to improve and become more consistent underage…hopefully this Mayo Way/academy works.
I’d disagree too with one poster on the comment that O’Ceallaigh is the only Galway defender who’d make our defence. Kieran molloy would..and silke would be very close.
I like the look of our team. Very happy to see Reaper at 14 again.
Any of my Galway mates say Kerin has been their best defender for a while. Cillian’s found him difficult anyway.
Diarmuid wins club POTY (obviously!). Ryan O’Donoghue wins YPOTY
Good man TH there with the bitter analysis. FBD league maybe is a must win for Mayo but thats only a sign of your fear of Galway preventing you getting to the Super8.
No point getting to the Super 8’s or a semi final to get a hammering from the Dubs in Croker, the 2 championship games I attended in Croker in the championship was Dubs v Roscommon and Dubs v Galway in semi, both games were a shambles and has turned me further off Gaelic football. Even the supporters on for all teams lost any interest in watching the enivitable unfold.
Things will change sooner or later, Dublin will slide and will be overtaken, my bet is that Kerry will come again for a few years.
Galway people will say Mayo88 – no point getting to an all Ireland final if you don’t win it. Some of our final performances especially against Kerry were a shambles also. I’d reckon in our last 20 games against Galway between underage, club and county we have only won 5 out of the 20. Hopefully this will start changing sooner rather than later.
anyone know the list of subs for today
I know you could pre buy for 10 but many don’t know until the day if they can attend or not…the Connacht Council are a bloody disgrace charging €15 to what is essentially a pre season friendly…taking advantage of fans yet again.
We were very lucky that Galway didn’t score three second half goals. That said, they didnt and we faced down the home straight four points to the good. Not trying to be wise after the event here, but that’s when I expressed the view to my company that I fancied Galway to win. While we like to proclaim that we are the only team who will put it up to the Dubs we are also the most considerate and charitable team on the island of Ireland. There’s no meanness or ruthlessness in our DNA. If Galway were five or six points up today there’s no way they would have allowed us back in. They would have slammed the door on our fingers. But, Mayo will always find a way to let you back in. To disagree is to ignore history and the facts.