There are two matches of interest this coming weekend from the county’s perspective. One is a big club Championship fixture in hurling while the other see the county’s U20 footballers get their first run-out of 2020.
It’s Tooreen, of course, who are involved in the hurling match, which is an All-Ireland Intermediate club Championship semi-final tie against Fr O’Neill’s of Cork. This takes place on Saturday at O’Connor Park in Tullamore. Throw-in is 1.30pm.
Michael Commins has a superb preview piece on the game in this week’s Mayo News (paper and digital versions), in which he provides not just the background to the game but a potted history of Tooreen hurling club as well. It’s well worth a look.
In a separate article in that paper the same writer notes that if Tooreen’s first two scores on Saturday are points then, over the last four games, they’ll have bagged a hundred points in succession without having scored a single goal. Mind you, I’d say if the chance arises early on to rouse the waving of a green flag the Tooreen lads won’t be shy about capitalising on it.
Also on Saturday, Mike Solan’s U20s take on Roscommon in Castlerea. Throw-in for this game is 2pm.
Andy Moran is on the U20 backroom team this year and listeners to our year-end podcast will have heard his thoughts on taking on a coaching role with the group. If you haven’t yet listened to it, by the way, that podcast episode is here.
Saturday’s match is the first round of the U20 Development League, which is a warmer-upper for the Championship. This year we’re competing in Group 1 of the Leo Murphy Cup tournament, where, as well as Roscommon, we’re due to play Derry (on 11th January) and Donegal (on the 18th).
This year the U20 Championship – which uses the old-fashioned, straight knockout format – has been pulled forward and will be run off rapidly in February and March. Our first provincial outing is a tough one too, as we face defending Connacht champions Galway at MacHale Park in a quarter-final tie on Saturday, 8th February.
Best of luck to both Tooreen and the county’s U20s on Saturday.
Anyone have any idea on what the under 20s are alike ?great to see Andy a part of the coaching system
Great to see Andy involved so soon after his retirement. I’d say he’ll have no trouble gettiing attenntion from the U20’s.
Does anybody know when Kilmaine have their semifinal? With club, U20 and Senior fixtures we’ll be pretty busy for a while in .
Proposed team for Galway in Fbd
1.Rory Byrne Castlebar Mitchels
2.Eoin O’Donoghue Belmullet
3.Brendan Harrison Aghamore
4.Oisin Mullin Kilmaine
5.Michael Plunkett Ballintubber
6.James McCormack Claremorris
7.Sharoize Akram Ballaghadareen
8.Matty Ruane Breaffy
9.Diarmuid O’Connor Ballintubber
10.Fionn McDonagh Westport
11.Conor Diskin Claremorris
12.Ciaran Treacy Ballina
13.James Carr Ardagh
14.Liam Irwin Breaffy
15.Gary Boylan Belmullet
Kilmaine’s JFC semi-final is on Saturday 11th, Andy. They’re playing Na Gaeil of Kerry at Cusack Park, Ennis, at 1.30pm that day.
Good luck to Tooreen tomorrow I’m Tullamore, really tough assignment against an up and coming Cork team. Bookies don’t give them much of a chance but the experience of playing Ballyragget 2 yrs ago will stand to them. That day they probably were happy to put in a good performance, they’ll be looking for more than that tomorrow!
Like the look of that team Nephin20, but I would have Tom P at midfield. He needs game time. Also Jordan Flynn at 10 rather than Fionn. Also, is David Kenny not on the panel? He would need a run?
I like that team, is S Akram on panel at present? Maybe Ryan o Donoghoe needs a run also?
The Sigerson cup is on this month so no point flogging those players in this FBD game too. Eoin O’Donoghue, Mattie Ruane, Fionn McDonagh, James Carr, Ryan O’Donoghue and Tommy Conroy are all playing Sigerson. Oisin Mullin will probably be occupied with club and u20 activity for the next month or 2. Fergal Boland and David Kenny are hurling for Tooreen this weekend so may or may not be available.
I think Brian Murphy Ballintubber, Padraig O’Hora Ballina and James Stretton Claremorris are on the panel so that would be my full back line vs Galway.
Catcol, Innishbofin,
There are probably up to 20 others who need runs too. Leave out any of those listed and they would immediately “need a run”. A manager can’t win, whatever about the team/players.
Good point AndyD, well said.
Mayo 2018 U20 goalkeeper Patrick O’Malley has transferred to Roscommon. His mom is from Roscommon and opportunity opened up for him when Roscommons first and second choice keepers Darren O’malley and Colm Lavin opted out.
Agree that Stretton and O’Hora might see some action at some stage. We need to be developing a new full back but not too many obvious candidates out there which does not bode well. Think Diarmuid might take the No.11 jersey …is Diskin even still with the panel? Jordan Flynn has the strength to compete in mid-field and think he might get 40 mins there with Tom P needing some time in there also. Plenty of options at this early stage of the year which is always an exciting time.
Diskin isn’t with the panel.
Patrick O Malley joins the Rossies from Westport, is that O Malley and Carolan now who have joined the Roscommon team?
Best of luck to Patrick, he would have been the natural successor to Clarke and Hennelly with youth on his side.
When was Diskin dropped? From what I can remember he was our best Forward v Galway in the Fbd against Galway in Tuam Stadium last year.Liam Silke struggled with him throughout. He also was Mayos best forward in the Under 20 All Ireland Final v Kildare in 2018.Hard to understand why he was dropped.I remember him picking up an injury against Monaghan in the first half in the last round of the League last year and he came in as a sub against Roscommon in the championship.He didnt feature again after that.
Feel that Conor Diskin still has something to add to Mayo senior panel. Good pace and very strong on the ball, however, what may have gone against him was that he didn’t score enough when on the field of play – noticed on a couple occasions that he would lay off the ball to someone else even if in a better position to score himself. Even so he could still play a role as a very effective half forward. Hopefully we’ll see him back in the fold in the not too distant future.
Theres a terrific feature in today’s Examiner by Kieran Shannon on Cathal Freeman/Tooreen/ state of hurling.
45 yes Diskin was a slight disappointment to me last year. Scoring was really the critical thing. I felt he moved well, got into good positions and so on, but no end product as they say. Compare to Darren Coen and James Carr, who made telling contributions all through.
Speaking of the latter two, they together with Fionn Mac, Ciaran Tracey, Mikey Murray (on the panel?), should be better this year because they have a year’s championship experience under their belt, & increased S&C. We’re always chasing the next big thing, but it’s the steady accumulation of game time and toughness, mental and physical, that set a team on the upward curve.
Catcol feel you are been very harsh on Diskin, hes only 21 and it was his debut season at Senior Inter County.Darren Coen is 27 now and is in his 2nd stint in the Mayo panel after been dropped for a few seasons , Rochy brought in James Carr in 2017 so he has had 3 seasons training under his belt .I think Diskin has all the attributes needed for a top Inter County Footballer tall, strong and has serious pace, he had the most potential out of the 2018 Under 20s.
The U-20 match in Castlerea, ended in a draw.
Roscommon 2-10, Mayo 1-13
Mayo were missing Oisin Mullen their strongest player.
I would hope Adam Barrett also from Kilmaine will be involved. With the advanced mark we are missing an obvious starter if Barrett is not involved. He is tall, has great hands and the most accurate underage player since Cillian.
He is the best freetaker at this level and for that alone should feature.
That was not a very impressive performance against the Rossie’s U20’s today. They looked good early on but the loss of Kuba Callaghan – to a hamstring?- seemed to affect them leaving the full forward line less effective. In the second half they looked half asleep for a lot of it, going three points down from a halftime lead of three. A few subs seemed to revive them and they salvaged a draw. Rory Brickenden did some good things but looked very cumbersome with the ball on the ground. An area where he needs some special training – physical flexibility etc? I don’t expect to see Kuba in action again in this competition.
A lucky enough draw for Mayo, 2nd best for the most of the 2nd half. Loads of big,tall strong lads on the Mayo team but they lack pace and mobility. Derry and Donegal games should bring this group of players on further.
That’s a real shame about Kuba with the championship game vs Galway only 5 weeks away.
Fair enough Nephin20. You’ve convinced me!
Yeah kuba got a bad hamstring I’m afraid was struggling to put weight on it,I hope that isn’t our strongest team no offence to anyone that was out there but the defence was Ready for a missile to be shot through it so so open
Impressed by David Mcbrien number 6
Midfielder from burishoole done well
Hope and pray kuba will be ok such a talented player and one that’s needed on it
Frank Irwin did well tried his best but you could see he was clearly nervous
Jamie mcnicholas kick outs good
Have to say Corofin are a joy to watch. Their footpassing and the ability to give the right ball at the right time to the guy in the best position. It’s baffling that Liam Silke & Ian Burke are the only regulars on the Galway team. And I know club and county is different, but the level these guys play at, it’s hard to believe Kieran Molloy, Ronan Steede, Jason Leonard and The Farragher’s weren’t key players for Kevin Walsh. Padraic Joyce is going to have these guys available in January not in April unlike previous years. If Galway develop a more expansive style of player, they’ll be a real dark horses in 2020.
Dark horses in what way? They’re a division 1 county and Padraic Joyce has said that an all Ireland is his aim.
I suppose Wide Ball based on the fact they’ve only got to 1 AI Semifinal since 2001 and that we get much farther than them in The Championship and consistently beat them when it matters. They’re also about 20/1 with most bookies and in any previews I’ve read for 2020, it’s Dublin, Kerry, Us, Tyrone & Donegal, they don’t even get a mention. In one paper they were ranked behind Roscommon, Meath & Cork. If that’s not a dark horse I don’t know what is?
@Willie Joe
are the above people posting comments here about Conor Diskin not been on the panel for next year going against the rules of this blog. Is it spreading rumors? and is it only hear say? I haven’t seen any official statement to say Conor Diskin is not part of the panel for 2020. Especially not nice comments when we are talking about an young player with a very bright future in the green and red.
That’s a fair point, Turfmanmayo, one that maybe others should take note of. I’ve no information yet myself on who is or isn’t on the panel this year and I’d agree it’s best to leave discussion on this until there’s some solid news to go on in that regard.
Any word on Cathal Horan from kilmovee? He was impressive in the u20 all ireland final in 2018, wondering how has he progressed since and what age he is now?
I echo that Larry Duff…He was a pivotal part if the Mayo comeback that day in Croke Park.
I think if he was with a senior club he’d be on the Mayo senior panel by now. The problem, saying it for years, is that if you’re a footballer from an intermediate or junior club in Mayo it puts you in a significantly disadvantaged position when it comes to maximising your potential. It’s fine when you’re in school because you’re playing at a certain level in the college’s system but once you leave education you rely solely on club football. If you’re with a small junior club you’re playing alongside lower calibre team mates and against lesser quality opposition. This results in young talented players from such clubs falling behind their peers from senior clubs. The stats are there…over the past 25 years how many senior Mayo players have come from a junior or weak intermediate club??
I’m not suggesting players leave their home parish to join a senior club because that would kill the potential for smaller clubs to progress. Rather, the best formula LIKE KERRY HAVE BEING DOING FOR YEARS…Is to have divisional teams compete in the county senior club championship. No brainer.
Moffatt should prioritise this structural change immediately. It will increase the talent pool in the county which will have obvious positive implications in our quest for success.
Larry Duff,
If Cathal Horan was U20 in GAA terms in 2018 he had to have been born in 1998 so logically he would be 22 sometime this year.
Think about it!!!
Mayo beat NUIG in a challenge game in Dangan this morning.
Mayo 0-17
NUIG 2-9
Galway teamed named for Sunday .Looks strong .
Details on the Galway team are here: https://www.galwaygaa.ie/news/2244-galway-team-to-play-mayo-2.
Surprised to see Damien Comer lose the captaincy as I thought he was Galways main leader in the Kevin Walsh,
Shane Walsh is probably the most skillful footballer in Connacht in my opinion but has a habit of going missing when Galway need him most.Maybe PJ has put him captain for the year in that it might give him that kick to perform when Galway really need him.