We’ve just named our starting fifteen for Sunday. Here it is:
Mayo (NFL Division One v Tyrone, 8/2/2015): David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites); Michael Hall (Breaffy), Kevin Keane (Westport), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Lee Keegan (Westport), Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore), Colm Boyle (Davitts); Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe); Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber), Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Jason Doherty (Burrishoole); Michael Conroy (Davitts), Alan Freeman (Aghamore), Mark Ronaldson (Shrule/Glencorrib).
It’s another interesting pick, with Michael Hall handed his senior debut at corner-back, while Colm Boyle and Michael Conroy (who both came on as subs in Killarney) as well as David Clarke and Diarmuid O’Connor come in. Robbie Hennelly, Chris Barrett, Patrick Durcan, Adam Gallagher and the injured Evan Regan drop out. Aidan O’Shea and Cillian O’Connor are kept in reserve and are likely to feature in what will be another strong bench on Sunday.
Is it Sunday yet?
14 players? I know they’re good but come on! Lol
Who’s the halfback missing?
Keane at full back
Well spotted – Kevin Keane was omitted in error from the team listed (my fault, not the team announced). More hurry, less speed and all that.
Ronaldson,hall,Coen,O Connor the four lads given a chance to impress the other 11 have plenty of experience in both NFL and championship. No doubt Aidan O’Shea and Cillian O’Connor will be starters come March.
Best of luck to Michael Hall and the other newbies.
I don’t think Hennelly should have been dropped as he kept a clean sheet and was good in the air in Killarney. Though I just think that the management are trying out the other options, which is only fair. It will be interesting to see how Michael Hall fairs out at corner back. Looking forward to Sunday. Maigh Eo Abú
Not sure about ronaldson there in stead of o connor bad call hope I am wrong though.
I have heard of Hall.Can anyone tell me what kind of player he is?
How is Ronaldson a bad call.I was at the game last week and for me he didn’t do anything wrong.He didn’t score but a huge amount of ball went through him.Delighted to see Kevin Keane given a chance at full back again
Good to see variety of sorts. Will be interesting to see who makes the bench
if we named the same team there would be complaints. If we win the league we will have a warm fuzzy feeling for a few weeks…………
I agree and he was setting up attacks but he did not score from play and I think he is a bit not critcal but we need tall fellows in the corner remember kerry last yea
We are Mayo. We need to stay up and blood new players. We are one of the the top teams in the country. We do not need to win the league to prove this despite the shite breheny and the likes talk. We just need to win the big one
Best of luck to the new lads. Its nice to see David Clarke back too. Michael Hall is an excellent player but he is normally a half-back so it’ll be interesting to see how he’ll get on at corner-back. He was right half-back on the 2013 All-Ireland winning minor team. It’s amazing the amount of talented half-backs that we have. Another interesting selection is Kevin McLoughlin at centre half-forward, roll on the big game!
Good to see different lads getting a chance.durkan and coen did well last week so hopefully hall and o Connor can do good this week.hood to see the younger lads eager to take there oppurtunity.its not just about the ist 15 we need a strong 25 or 26 especially with all the subs we use!!!! All legal according to the rule book!!!
I think Cillian should be rested for this game. The lad is just after coming off a Sigerson cup campaign and really we have enough players that we can experiment with in his absence. We should be well able to kick on and win without him. I’m thinking that Adam Gallagher deserves another outing, he didn’t set the pitch on fire last week but after the long lay-off it was always going to take time for him to get back into the form he showed last year. Good to see that Coen is being tried in the half-backs after many said that the corner didn’t really suit him last week. Also good to see Hall making his league debut. We should be able to win this one, that will put us in a strong position to maintain our Division 1 status early on and we can continue blooding players. Add on another win against a tough-but-beatable Monaghan team and the pressure will be off us going into the big teams – Dublin, Cork, Donegal.
I would have expected Neal Douglas to get another run after his man of the match performance in his last game. Is he injured?
Ultair,S Coen spent most of the game last week as half-back and looked comfortable there
Opt2missteek, did see him bombing forward at times but he was started in the corner so good to see N/P switching things around.
Hall lovely player …clarke best keeper in the country until injuries ,, cone natural centre back ,,,, also mark r earned his place on team on last weeks performance ,,lookin fine for new management ,,,,, they have to try new players so patients please ,,,,
Will be looking to see Diarmuid OConnor coming onto ball on the run. With his rangey build n stride should be suited to that role.
Ronaldson on rewatching last weeks game was very good. He won some low difficult ball n released accurately under pressure. He was taking the correct option quickly. With more confidence he would have backed himself to shoot a stride earlier when he was pulled for overcarrying.
I see this being a tight game but our bench to swing it in second half.
A big result will be no goals conceded while scoring one or two ourselves.
Nice to see some of the ‘younger’ lads getting a taster of senior inter county football.
No doubt we will ses COC and AOS getting some game time with 10-15 minutes to go.
The new management have to be complimented in being brave in some selections this early in campaign..would like to see Seamie O Shea and possibly Gavin Duffy tried @ full back. Also a a ball winner @ 14 as option. .Patrick Durcan made excellent League debut..A most intelligent two footed footballer.
Loving that team. Fair play Noel and Pat. They will definitely know their best 15 by June.
Did DOC play for DCU V UUJ on Wednesday?
I do not see Michael Hall as a corner back. He looks ;like an out and out half back to me,
Good to see Coen getting a run at half back. As I suggested last week he did not look at home in corner back. Surprised Gavin Duffy, if he is seen as real option, has not got a run yet. I assume his “paperwork” is in order by now. There seem to be quite a few other players, other than last years regulars, due a run out yet so I’m not sure that there will be any certainty about our best 15 by June
It will be tough enough to get 2 points on Sunday I think.
That’s a strong Tyrone team and if they can get any sort of dominance around the middle (and they could with Peter Harte back) it could be a real tough day out for our FB line.
Mind you better to find out now if they can handle it than in June.
One other point (its a little late now but better late than never). Looking back at the Kerry game they really tried to provoke us and rough our team up. They showed what they wanted to do from the start when Johnny Buckley went straight through Evan Regan leading with his arm and shoulder.
When you look at it again on TV you can clearly see he made no attempt for the ball and decided that the man was going to get it instead. Regan got smashed off the ball as a result. I really feel for him and I hope he harnesses that and recovers well.
And pays that retribution back in spades.
Alf Stewart says:
February 7, 2015 at 12:43 am
Did DOC play for DCU V UUJ on Wednesday?
Yes started and then subbed off after 45mins.
Love seeing Coen at center back give him some time and it will reward Mayo. I would like to see Vaughan at center forward and the to O’Shea’s at midfield down the road, we’d be very athletic thru the middle with Coen, O’Shea’s and Vaughan. I know Vaughan won’t be Greg Blaney but still it’s a great spot for his work rate, and he can score goals. Though this is all coming from a yank across the pond, up Mayo!
And we will need to be athletic round the middle Bergie, especially for opposition like Dublin if we were to be lucky enough to find ourselves up against in late August for example. ( I know we play them in the league obviously too, but I don’t think they’re firing at all yet)
The Dubs are using their extended panel in the early rounds knowing full well 6 points is probably enough to stay up and 8 pts to reach the semi finals.
Any sign of Jason gibbons?
Another guy I haven’t heard much about in the last year is Conor Loftus? Horan had him around the squad last year if I remember rightly before he got injured, I believe he’s in DCU also, anyone know what his situation is? Hopefully his club mate Cathal Carolan will be back soon too.. We have great strength in depth in defence with the extremely underrated tom cunniffe coming back soon too I assume.. Add in Dillon, Moran, o Connor, parsons, Darren Coen, Brendan Harrison, Conor o Shea, David drake?? Serious competition for panel places even!!
Ant news on Richie Feeney. Has he retired? Was Hoping he’d get a chance under new management. What of Brian Gallagher, Horan once described him as the real deal and he hasn’t been seen since
Conor Loftus had injuries. But I believe is over them now. There’s another good forward from Crossmolina Fionan Duffy. Real teak tough build n demeanour. You could see him been a great lad to win dirty ball close to goal.
TJ Byrne has serious potential as a full forward.
Brian Reape as a goal scorer. I believe any team should have two forwards minimum who score goals at an above average rate.
Liam Irwin a powerful old style full forward.
Brian Gallagher was playing midfield for IT Sligo.
Probably a bit early for TJ, Liam Irwin and Reape to be breaking through but I fully expect to see more of them next year. Our u21 campaign will be one to watch this year.
I agree and ros and galway have been the Kings of the castle in the competition would be nice to take them down.
Nice team for Sunday. Nice to see Hall getting his game. Still not convinced our midfield is good enough. Forwards will have to be on their toes as this Tyrone outfit are not coming to make up the numbers. Mickey Harte will have them up for this game. Its nice to see Clarke in goal. Hennelly kept kicking the ball down the middle last Sunday and just like in Limerick, Kerry had all the pickings. To make things worse our midfielders never made a run before the ball was kicked out. I think Jason Gibbons has a niggling injury and has not trained since match in Ballina, he is a guy that is mobile and a good passer of ball with foot or hand. Anyhow he is someone we need. A win on Sunday would be icing on cake before the break.
Agree Anne Marie those lads some are not even out of secondary school. They’d have plenty on their plate with club/college/schools/u21. A good extended u21 campaign would be great. Maybe bring in some lads for a few trainings under Buckley but not with a view to playing them. More looking towards 2016.
Personally the thing that gives me great comfort is the upward curve we’ve been on skill wise. Last Sunday apart from a few stray kickpasses was a very accurate performance in terms of the basics. Add to that all those young lads who’ll be pushing hard for starting or bench spots. Different from other years we have options coming through in defence and attack. Probably only weakness is I haven’t seen any young midfielder yet but we have five years of cover in midfield with current selections.
Danny Kirby anyone?
You’d imagine john that if Kirby is going to ever make it, it will be under pat Holmes. He knows him better than any manager in mayo. I like his physicality, but am a bit suspect about his pace. Time will tell.
Just watching Dublin v Donegal,Deegan refing it.He looks twice the gobshite he looked last Sunday,some crazy decisions.
The standard of refereeing is becoming very poor.
True Mac. Surprised that he hasn’t got a run. He’s a gritty bit of stuff and useful but then again another favourite of mine, Kilcullen , never got to grips with it either
Definitely think kerry would not have dominated mid field if gibbons was fit hope he is back. Soon
It’s worse than poor Sean.Surely there has to b some sort of standard set for referees.I might be wrong but I think with the size of the GAA and the money that’s behind them there should be a proper management over referees,like management over any county team.I think there should be a man in the stand watching the referees performance that can sub him when he’s not up to standard.I think it would sort a lot of it,I may be wrong,just my opinion
Saw Brian Gallagher in mullingar v w’mesth last year and he that look of a natural scoring forward. Would really like to see more.
Have also heard v good things of Loftus.
What bout that young minor last year who is gone playing with Sligo rovers? Surely the co board etc should be doing their utmost to bring these lads thru.
Good luck to our boys on Sunday. A bit doubtful about key positions such as FB & CHB – both positions require height, muscle and mobility as well as the self-assurance to command their area of responsibility but who knows we may yet stumble upon the optimum personnel and their placements. Rossies had a great win tonight, lets hope we can do likewise tomorrow.
A lot of young talent around Mayo at the moment. There is no guarantee that a underage minor star will ever play senior football for the county. I have seen this all too often in the past. Our U21 teams have won 2 games at this level since Noel and Pat quit in 2009. That is the worse record I can ever remember. If our young players are that good lets see them to win Connacht and push for national honours as Galway and Ros have done in our absence. Best wishes to all the lads tomorrow especially the youths gaining valuable experience in Div 1 football. Our focus should be Div 1 status and blooding some new players.
It’d brill to see all the youth the new management brought in is c loftus on or off the panel does anyone know
It’s a progressive thinking team from the management and I’ve mayo down to win by 4! But I wonder how msyo will fare at midfield as Tyrone look strong there. If they get the upper hand there it will be interesting how mayo try to counteract it with kickout strategy etc.
Great win for the Rossies tonight it would be great if they can get in the promotion mix with Galway. Connacht is going to be very interesting this year could the 3 neighbours all make all Ireland QF ‘ S! But which one would be Nestor cup holders……..!
Mayonaze, Gary Boylan is young lad who is with Sligo Rovers on a one year contract. Things can change quickly so you wouldn’t know where he’d end up. I only seen him once in a club game and couldn’t tell if he was left or right footed as he seemed equally good with both.
I watched Tyrone – Monaghan. Tyrone are going to struggle against physical teams. They were turned over a lot either side of half time. Personally watching it once bodies started to tire in second half the tackles from Monaghan they weren’t able for it. They’re heavily reliant on Sean Cavanagh n Mccurry.
Gaelic football (handpass ball ) is becoming painful to watch.