Team to play Roscommon named

Willie Joe

We’ve just named our team to play Roscommon. Here it is:

Mayo (NFL Division One v Roscommon, 5/3/2023): Colm Reape (Knockmore); Jack Coyne (Ballyhaunis), David McBrien (Ballaghaderreen), Enda Hession (Garrymore); Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore, captain), Conor Loftus (Crossmolina Deel Rovers), Donnacha McHugh (Castlebar Mitchels); Matthew Ruane (Breaffy), Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber); Fionn McDonagh (Westport), Jack Carney (Kilmeena), Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina Deel Rovers); Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), James Carr (Ardagh), Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet).

So it’s the same fifteen who started against Tyrone last weekend, which, in a sense, isn’t wholly surprising, given the performance the lads put on that night.

Best of luck to them on Sunday.

88 thoughts on “Team to play Roscommon named”

  1. Great all fit again, should be a good one! The Rossies have some young guns flying as well.

  2. Good to see the same again. We can expect the same subs to come on, maybe a little earlier , if , as I expect, we have built up a nice lead by half time! I’m optimistic , as usual

  3. Very settled and consistent team getting named week on week. Won’t change a whole lot for the championship. The fitness match sharpness of Tommy,Paddy might get starts? looks like Cillan is used as impact sub for the year ahead.

  4. I believe 5 changes to named team.Byrne in goal and cillian and Conroy in FF line.Durcan playing also.

  6. Roscommon training very hard all week for this. Might be a bit of burn out ??

  7. @Jack Orian hard week of training will leave little in the legs for the match at the weekend, it was suggested similar was done against Monaghan which might explain the poor performance. Perhaps they are happy enough with their 6 league points and have now switched to heavy championship training?

  8. Mayo didnt play in first quarter last day, hope they play flat out for full game just to see what they can do. Play best available team and play to win each game.

  9. That hard training story is doing the rounds for the last couple of weeks. Seemingly it’s tough as hell. I’ll be surprised if they’re aren’t at least a couple of changes by throw in but if that team starts I’ll be expecting a win by 3 or 4.

  10. again very much doubt that team will be the starting team. we do not really know if all the named players are available. We have seen players named to start in previous games and then not even be on the 26.
    We have a deep squad and whoever plays will be fighting for an ongoing place in the first 15.

  11. Tough test Roscommon will be hurting after last weekend against monaghan.

    Good strong team again I would expect we name a strong bench and hope to see padraig o hora on it! Tommy conroy I am sure he will get more game time hopefully he seemed to bounce onto the pitch against Tyrone so great to see!

    I wouldn’t knock the rossies though they are a strong team and flying young ones as others have said and will put up a fight in their home grounds but I still think mayo by 4 or 5 !

    Great to have the excitement back for games mayo seem to have their mojo back early days but positive stuff!

  12. @Culmore: That 22 minute spell the last day was odd. We dominated that spell too… except with the final execution.

    – James sent a tap over wide and hit the post with a scorable but tough mark.
    – Jack dropped one short into Morgan’s hands from the edge of the D.
    – Twice we’d cut them open and the last handpass badly missed the target (combination of slight pulls on the arm [which always tend to be let go these days, especially with Aido on the receiving end] and poor execution).
    – Three times ball was dropped/dispossed in postions the lads would normally hold it (Ruane on the edge of the square, Aido from a fantastic ball in from Fionn but at his toes. Both those potential goal chances and a point chance for D’OC slipping his grasp as he was racing through. Another unlucky one with McShane on Jordan too but his wasn’t a direct scoring chance at the time with plenty of bodies around the area at the time).

    Potential for that period to have played out as one of our most dominant of the game leaving a potential 2-4 to 4-4 behind us. Fine margins at times.

  13. A draw or a one point win for Mayo, with zero injuries for both sides would be a good result for everyone, I wonder how the Rossies would feel about a ONE point defeat?

  14. As a Rossie I think both teams would take a draw. Regarding rumours of hard training we will know after 15 minutes how both are fairing out regarding fitness levels. It’s absolutely madness now how the championship is structured. With only a week between a final if either ye or our selfs got to a league final

  16. Roscommon have published their team.

    Conor Carroll (Oranmore/Maree)
    Conor Hussey (Michael Glaveys)
    Conor Daly (Padraig Pearses)
    David Murray (Padraig Pearses)
    Dylan Ruane (Michael Glaveys)
    Brian Stack (St Brigids)
    Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses)
    Tadgh O’Rourke (Tulsk)
    Keith Doyle (St Dominic’s)
    Richard Hughes (Roscommon Gaels)
    Ciaran Lennon (Clann na nGael)
    Enda Smith (Boyle)
    Ben O’Carroll (St Brigids)
    Diarmuid Murtagh (St Faithleachs)
    Ciarain Murtagh (St Faithleachs)

    Subs Colm Lavin (Eire Og) Donie Smith (Boyle) Colin Walsh (Oran) Eoin McCormack (St Dominic’s) Daire Cregg (Boyle) Conor Cox (Eire Og) Ruaidhri Fallon (St Brigids) Niall Kilroy (Fuerty) Paul Carey (Padraig Pearses) Cian Glennon (St Faithleachs) Fergal Lennon (Clann na NGael)

  17. @Joe2 Rossies are in flying form certanily no one in mayo thinks it’s going to be an easy match.

    Hopefully it’s an entertaining game and no injuries either side !

  18. A point apiece would be great. All the talk about these two teams being league finalists is very premature. Six points this year will probably not guarantee safety. Monaghan looked dead and buried a few weeks ago. If Tyrone win this weekend, the thing is wide open.
    Three games left, top teams on 6 points, bottom team on 2.
    Positive team selection. Like to see more minutes in the legs of Paddy Durcan and Tommy Conroy. Looking forward to a hard fought game!

  19. Thanks again for that Willie Joe. Good man @Joe2 and best wishes to the Rossies this wkend, in what should be an early season cracker. I worked with and made friends with some Roscommon folk in England 30 yrs ago and still call some of them my finest of friends today. I hope to catch up with my buddies for a pint this weekend down Ros country, and hopefully again in an Sportlan on Easter Sunday (very strange time of year for championship football).
    There might have been helter skelter on the pitch between our counties over the years, but the friendships always remained.
    I’m happy to see K McStay sticking with a winning team, altho I expect a couple of changes. Good luck to all esp those travelling to the Hyde. Mayo by 3 or 4..

  20. nice to see Roscommon like Kerry Galway and others. naming their 26 at the same time and not waiting until the last minute to name subs.
    Should be mandatory for all in my opinion.

  21. Jason Doherty obviously impressing in training and good to see him back in the frame. Brickenden likely to be out for awhile. Panel building nicely but so many fixtures in championship. At least theres a break after the first round of championship.
    Roscommon not impressive v Monaghan. I expect our fitness levels will kick in and give us an advantage. The wider full size pitch should also be to our advantage.
    For me, its how we manage a lead and also clarification on the AOS role. Not any fault of Aiden’s, but when he goes back into our defence, he gives away frees, picks up yellow cards and brings his marker forward into an attacking role.
    Im hoping we see a lot more of him as target man up front wher he can win and distribute ball.
    Not a bit convinced the roscommon keeper is good enough acfootballer to be making these surges forward.
    We’ll be wiser after Sunday but its mayo all the way for me

  23. @sean Burke, Mayo v Ros, at McHale Park, Easter Sun April 9th, throw in at 4 pm.

  24. @joe2.how is the roscommon goalie oranmore maree? I can only assume it’s the parent rule and if so is that 2 in a row after O’Malley from westport

  26. Connacht final a few years ago was capped at 18k (or something like that,open to correction on exact number) but we’ll be heading for similar or above on sun.

  28. Neither of us will want to lose, as both still only on 6.

    Conceivably we could both still be relegated.

    The last two matches could be dogfights!! If either team loses on Sunday.

  29. @No doubt his dad is a rossie and his uncle is the Ros county board chairman. Also was a starter for their U20s who reached the AI final two years ago.

  30. No Doubt – Ros goalie is nephew of Ros chairman. His father from Ros. He was goalkeeper for Ros U20 team beaten by Offaly in 2021 all-Ireland. He was previously sub goalie on Galway minor team.

  31. Ros Team looks good from 10 to 15 and forwards subs but less well known in the backs apart from 1 or 2. I think the key to winning this is once again good defensive structure as our forwards on paper at least should get us a good few scores. However the possibility of a heavy training schedule for either team could turn this one into a complete lottery. A draw would perhaps be the best result but can’t exactly concoct that score.

  32. Coming on the back of the showing against Tyrone it was always likely to be the same 15 starting. Hard to know though if the corner backs are actually fit after they went off, surely the likes of Durcan and Conroy will be pushing hard to start games before championship starts. We will only know a few minutes before throw in I guess.

    Is there any updates on the likes of O’Hora and Brickenden and when they will return to playing? It would be disappointing if we were to be kept in the dark.

    On the articles and countless comments on it’s only February/March, it’s only the league, can we not just enjoy a mayo team playing well for what it is? Who cares what the opposition are doing, Mayo are playing well, scoring goals and looking good at the back, let’s just enjoy that and not worry about some impending doom of losing a match.

  33. Great to see Mayo starting the same Team v Roscommon. Winning Matches breeds confidence , Confidence breeds success. Let’s improve again from every game. A Tough test v Roscommon awaits but No games are easy in Division 1. This Mayo Team are gelling nicely and We are starting to assemble a very strong bench. Durcan, Conroy, Cillian, Kevin Mc, Eoin Mc and O Hora to come back into it. Management know what they are doing . Dare We dream? Mhuigheo Abu. Mayo by 5.

  34. Yeah but it’s different nowadays obviously, it’s like people saying after a good performance “ all Ireland medals are not handed out in March “ true but they’ll be ready for their second polish by the third Sunday in sept in todays money .

  35. Hopefully that team is fit to start but I’d be disappointed if we don’t see at least a few changes before throw in. All very well having a strong panel , but a strong rusty panel won’t be much good to us in the heat of battle later on.
    So a few changes before and subs to be introduced earlier would be my hope.

  36. I really feel this Mayo team will get stronger and stronger the longer we stay in the championship due to our quality squad. We are in a situation where in several positions we can replace almost like for like, but crucially our high intensity game won’t drop or tactics need adjusting dramatically. We can thank James Horan and now McStay for us being in this position.
    With the nature of the split season, this is crucial. Each team will lose players.. its having a like for like replacement is what will count. I think we are getting into a position like Dublin had against us in them classic games.. they were bringing on game changers that just hurt us at the wrong time.. how many times did we cringe seeing some of their lads coming on thinking “Oh no not him please”… well what would our rivals think seeing Ryan go off but Tommy come on! Or O Shea go off and Cillian come or.. or would they fancy looking at hession go off and Eoghan come on? They be thrilled though at seeing Coen go off and seeing Paddy come on!!!!

  37. Paddy won’t be sub for championship. One of the first 3 named once fit. He seemed to have loads of pace when introduced the last day so we can expect him to be one of the first subs on Sunday. Coen still doing enough to merit a place in the team looking good this league. People keep on about Eoghan Mac but despite his serious pace he still lacks the decision making skills of Coen or Plunkett. If he adds that for sure he’ll be irreplaceable but not sure he’s in my first 6 now especially with some new lads coming on nicely. Hession looks more nailed on now this year and McBrien though early days seems like the player many suspected. Eoghan really only vying for 1 position LHB. Loftus has done fairly well and improving at CHB but Jason it seems can also be used there as backup. In the forwards Carney had a dip and might be over it but we have options, Tuohy, McDonagh, Cillian, Conroy, ROD at HF, Kevin Mc and Jason. Flynn is nailed on and Diarmaid is still I think very likely to play alongside Ruane as well suited to midfield where we have less backup options (Aido for 45, Tuohy and Carney). Also Reape giving management a selection problem as seems a slightly better free taker than Robbie and very good at kickouts too although we don’t know as much about his shot stopping as we haven’t conceded many chances. Initially nervous on the high ball but seems to be gaining confidence all round with every game.

  38. Let’s hope for a cracker but I would be worried it will turn into the game like in dome. Let keep the rivialry on the pitch and friendships off it @RP #westisbest

  39. @mayomagic and dr Hyde thanks for the update. Guess that definitely makes him eligible.

  41. @Joe2 I don’t think itll be like the dome hopefully. I think the dome stops more open play I don’t know why but think it’ll be a more open game out of the dome ..

    Best of luck to our mayo guys they are on a roll hopefully can keep it going tommorow. People said a win against Tyrone was huge it was but a win against the Rossies would be even better….

    Heard some kerry folk saying Tyrone will up their game against them as they love playing them haha actually Tyrone where really good against us in the first 20 min or so and kept us scoreless but we put up the tempo find it insulting when people say Tyrone where poor they were not great but we were good to .. anyway thats last weekend looking forward to a good game tommorow!

  42. I like young McHugh at left half back, glad mgmt are persisting with him and giving us another option there. I think he has a nice skillset and has vision, and will only get better with a few more league games at least.

  43. What will be interesting tomorrow, is how many goals, if any, that Mayo can score.
    A look through Roscommon’s first four results, shows that they have only conceded one goal so far, which was against Tyrone. That means clean sheets against Galway, Armagh and Monaghan.
    Not form to be sneezed at.

    Having said that, I expect Mayo to win by 5+

  44. When you think about it, it’s clever on a couple of levels the way McStay and Co have positioned Loftus at 6, as part of an overall new defensive set up. They’re directly addressing one of the biggest issues for Mayo over the past decade, namely being opened up at the back, and consequently losing All Irelands.

    However the team is losing none of its strengths with this switch in strategy, as Conor and company are lightning fast and are naturals at carrying ball forward. It truly is the best of both worlds.

    Ray Silke was complimentary of it on the Last Word yesterday, saying that these runners will really shine in Croker. Here’s hoping. I know that’s all been said before, but the tactics are significantly different now.

    I think something people often forget when analysing Mayo is that the sweeper tactic has worked perfectly for us before, namely in 2016 when we played some of our best championship football with Kevin Mc dropping back. Perhaps this should have been persisted with.

    It’s not rocket science: our footballing DNA is made up primarily of hard running, athletic footballers with massive engines. It’s ‘made for’ counterattacking football.

    Add to that the bonus of Aido doing so well in his new role, accepting that he’ll get less possessions per match, but remaining patient and using the ball in a simple yet devastating way. This will also occupy opposition backs, keeping them honest.

    I really do hope this system continues to flourish. No reason it won’t, as we’re less reliant on particular personnel now, ie different players can come in seamlessly. Absence of Ego, Honesty of Effort. Amen.

  45. Given its Seachtain na Gaeilge, wouldn’t it be nice if the Mayo players interviewed by TG4 tomorrow were willing a la Paul Mescal to caith isteach cúpla focail? An bhfuil aon fáth nach bhainfeadh siad trial as?

  46. Really looking forward to seeing how we fare tomorrow, Roscommon will provide a great test. For me, I want to see our defence stress tested, and hopefully find some weaknesses that can be sorted out.
    Secondly, I would like to see continuation of the form that Jack and Fionn showed last week.
    Thirdly, see more minutes into the legs of those coming back from injury.
    The performance is more important than the result but confident that we can get both.

  47. if Mayo can score goals today that’s great (particularly Carr, would love to see him continue to make a habit of it), but if Roscommon do go defensive and we’re able to adapt tactically and win via points I’d be very happy too. Lots of potential scorers in form at the moment

  48. @Lionel….Oisín was away in Donegal brushing up on his Gaeilge in anticipation of all those Tg4 player of the match,awards he was about to receive. Then in come the Aussies and whisk him away. We might send Enda next time.

  51. U20 match finished Mayo 1-11 Donegal 1-13. I believe Mayo still topped the group on the head to head win v Derry.

  52. @Lionel: Ní dóigh liom go mbeadh éinne ar an bpainéal Mhaigh Eo as na ceantair Gaeltachta- Tuar Mhic Éadaigh, Oileán Acla, Eachléim srl. B’fhéidir Ryan O’Donoghue, ach chum an fhírinne a rá níor chuala mé é ag caint as Gaeilge riamh. Ach dá mbeadh éinne ar fáil a bhfuil Gaeilge aige, bainfeadís feidhm as.

  54. Dubs certainly out to win today, but Derry look completely rattled from the get go.

  55. Dublin Derry is a full level below division 1. It’s slow, you attack and we defend stuff.
    Derry very wasteful, should be a lot closer.

  57. Dublin playing keep ball on the 65 when attacking instead of Derry doing it on the 45. Easier for Dublin to find space inside once they are holding the ball further out. Similar to Galway’s style.

  58. Hard luck for the under 20s they came back a bit though.

    Still think Dubs will win sam this year those guys will want one last one a lot of the 6 i a rpw team this is likely there last year or close to ot kerry won’t win back to backs.

  60. @It Means Nothing to Me, níl Paul Mescal as ceantar Gaeltachta, ach rinne sé iarracht macánta. Tá roinnt múinteoiri agus daoine eile léannta ar an bhfoireann. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

  63. Referees may be Mayo’s downfall this year.
    The ref in game v Derry is atrocious, very much in favour of the Dubs.
    Fitzsimmons should have gotten the red card, the Dublin corner bach, Gannon should have been sent of or given a black card
    The Dubs seem to still get away with fouling.

  64. @Lionel: Ach san ocáid céanna, bhí Colin Farrell at strachailt go dona le ceisteanna bunúsacha. Bratheann sé ar an nduine, a chuid compord agus líofacht na gaeilge. De réir cosúlachta, ní bheadh cainteoir eolasach i measc na n-imreoirí nó lucht bainisteoreachta Mhaigh Eo. Tá súil agam go bhfuil mí-cheart orm, ach ní dóigh liom go bhfuil.

    Bua thar cionn do Doire!

  65. Derry have won it think Dublin will improve but atm think both teams would struggle up in Division 1 . Cone summer I would say Dubs will be back in full force and Derry are a team to watch out for.

  66. Dublin had two clear goal chances in that 2nd half but Lahiff and Kilkenny fisted the ball over the bar both times.

    Something to remember when people say it’s the right decision!

  68. Strange one. Dublin had chances for goals and didn’t take them and a little hesitant with the shooting, very un-Dublin, but they’ve lost so many of their great team and maybe lacking confidence/composure. Still there was a lot more fight in them tonight than I’ve seen this whole league. I still think they’ll be there or thereabouts.

    Derry were rattled early on but they’ll take a lot of confidence from this. I still fancy them to go well in the championship but would be interested in a league final between these two in Croke Park with a bigger pitch that Dublin are more familiar with.

  69. Fitzsimmons has been riding his luck for ages now. A sneaky defender who gets away with far too much.

  70. Dublin are not contenders and neither are Derry. 13 pts a piece in an inconsistent and wasteful struggle. That was way off a division one game.
    The following are 29 or older.
    Mick Fitsimmons 34
    John Small 30
    James Mccarthy 33
    Brian Fenton 30
    Cormac Costello 29
    Ciaran Kilkenny 30
    Dean Rock 32
    Those seven players are seven of Dublin’s ten best players.
    Three of them are in their top five players.
    I really think Dublin are not going to be contenders for a few years.

  71. Sorry, obviously Derry got the winner, but a toss of a coin game where both were wasteful.

  72. Think I agree JP, though part of me is worried writing them off. They’re not the team they were, and the wave of retirements they’ve had has weakened them.

  73. Mayo U20s will play Meath in the final on March 11th. Venue TBH.

    Tonight’s match on RTE was further evidence of two team going in different directions. Derry on the way up and Dublin the way down. Derry subs impact made the difference. The strength Dublin use to have with subs coming on as good if not better than those coming off is now gone.

  74. Maybe I am half worried to not write the Dubs off to haha but maybe this year is wide open but think Dubs will be around the top in summer if they don’t win it def not the team they once where .

    Kerry I know only early days but they are not in the same form as last year I am sure they will pick up but can’t see them winning it.

    Could be a team up the north that gets it who knows.. looking forward to tommorow!

  75. Mayo has a great chance this year possibly the best for years,we must not be afraid of any team,we have a brilliant management team in place some brilliant players so we must go for it,we don’t need to fear anyone

  76. Missed 1st half of Dubs v Derry but enjoyed the 2nd half. True neither would frighten ye but we have to remember it’s the league. Dubs have no motivation to win Div 2, if they were in the mix for Div 1 would be different. They play maybe a bit too conservatively and Dessie not as good as Jim but they have plenty to come back and will be in the mix for Sam based on the quality of their veterans. I can see them coming into the pack when those over 30s retire but think anyone underestimating them is a fool. Kerry maybe not as good as we thought bar the genius that’s Clifford and Conn OC will progress through the championship maybe not to peak form but even 80% of that is a handful for most. Rock subbed might be a slight worry for them form wise.

  77. Losing division two games and falling over three other division two opponents.
    The quarter finals are just a few months away against what would likely be an in form division one team. That’s a pretty big improvement to make that’s less likely with an old team. I wouldn’t be suprised that Dublin are the oldest team in all four divisions?

  78. Obviously the Gaa on a price saving mission at the moment!!, with some of the appointments to certain games. I get they are impartial, but when a close decision is on the line they will always favour the team from their province. It’s even worst when the ref is from the boarding country of the province

  79. Toe2hand – as previously indicated to you, you’re not allowed to post comments under that handle as it’s too similar to the Toe to Hand one used by another contributor.

  80. Bit torn this evening.
    One of my biggest pleasures in life is seeing Mayo beat Roscommon…
    Part of me says go really strong on team selection and get safe in Div 1 ( I’m not convinced team named will start ) .
    For example, should we not play Aiden at all tomorrow.. he is the type of player you might learn by marking him ..
    Basically, should we show our hand to the Rossies now or hold some in reserve for championship

  81. @My Ball Hmm I say go strong get safe in division 1 as even teams on 6 points could get into a dogfight at the end considering the league is linked with sam now def go strong tommorow and then do the best for connaught after but staying safe in division 1 should be priority..

    Be interesting to see if we can keep the tempo up against the Rossies tommorow if we can then the last 2 games where not just a fluke I dont think they where a fluke at all but if we get a good win tommorow it will tell a lot about where we are… I would not diss the Rossies but mayo by 4 or 5 heres hoping to a good open game and not like in the dome in fbd!

  82. GAA obsessed,I think your comment about Stephan Coen is a little disingenuous.All the Mayo managers in the last several years have had him in their team,some even naming him as Captain(including Kevin McStay).All the players that tog for Mayo deserve our respect-there’s enough outsiders putting them down without our own joining in.

  85. Your correct Achill75, Fitzsimmons has got away with very serious fouling, my list is endless, remember the cogs of his boots into the thigh of a Mayo player a few years ago in the league.
    One player I like to see getting seriously clocked on the pitch.

  86. @opt2midteek I wasn’t putting him down.. I was making the point of how strong our bench is from the view of the opposition.. as in could you imagine having Stephen Coen mark you for a big chunk of the game and then to possibly see a Paddy Durkin come on you then.. its a compliment I’m giving Mayo! I was just using players names to highlight our strengths, I’m not saying that’s how I would start or use subs during matches.. even if Paddy and Stephen started a damn good sub is coming in if they needed replacing is my overall point

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