Image: @LondainGAA
Bloody hell, it’s Thursday already. I’ve been a bit sidetracked with work and what-have-you over the last few days and so have been less active here than I’d normally be in the days leading up to a championship fixture. I guess the fact that I’m not planning to get to it could be a factor here but it is our first outing in this year’s Connacht championship and it’s on this Sunday so the pot needs a bit of stirring.
The stuff about injuries in the camp has already been well poked over but there’s a piece by Mike Finnerty on this very topic in today’s Irish Examiner. This is mainly the same info that was in the Mayo News earlier in the week, confirming that Diarmuid O’Connor and Chris Barrett, as well as Brian Reape, are all unavailable for Ruislip and that Ger Cafferkey and Barry Moran are both doubtful.
What this means in terms of team selection should become clear later on today. Mayo GAA said on Twitter last night that the team would be announced at some point today, which I’m guessing means later on this evening. Details will be posted here when that announcement is made.
Two other pieces in today’s papers are worth having a look over. This one in the Irish Independent is about London’s Mark Gottsche who, aside from being a player, is also the London County Board Secretary and Treasurer. Some man for one man. There’s also a piece in today’s Irish Times in which James Horan reminisces about the close shave with ignominy that was our last appearance over in Ruislip.
Ever wondered what the London experience is like from the players’ perspective? Billy Joe Padden sheds some light on this in vivid fashion in this week’s Mayo News – here.
Finally, for now, the graphic above is from the cover of a special commemorative 80-page match programme that the London County Board have produced for Sunday’s encounter. If you’re lucky enough to be heading over this weekend and have your mitts on a match ticket, be sure to get your hands on this tangible momento of the game.
Support the lads via the Club and County Development draw. Tickets are available online – here.
Is it Sunday yet? 😉
I am so looking forward to Saturday I am barely thinking about Sunday 😉
Thanks for that update WJ. It’ll be interesting to see if we will have any players making their championship debut in this game. As far as I can remember Diarmuid O’Connor made his debut against New York in 2014. Maybe Stephen Rochford might want to start with an experienced team first though and then introduce players later in the game if things are going well for us. We’ll see how it goes, best of luck to all involved.
I thought that was funny in Billy Joe’s piece about getting the smell of burgers when he played over there in 2006 against London, while playing the game, thats a new one. Maybe that will be the last thing Stephen Rochford will say to his players before they leave the dressing room, concentrate on the ball and not the burgers. Remember the diets these players are on now, they might not have eaten a burger in months!
Ah the old bbq burger trick! Them London blokes would go to any extreme to distract our ladeens, some of them on their very first trip to the big smoke.
Playing Moy Davitts you would smell the freshly baked bread n buns during games was one I’m sure club players can attest to 🙂
Taken from the Mayo GAA website just now
Mayo begin their 2016 Connacht championship campaign with a trip to Irish TV grounds, Ruislip to face London this Sunday May 29th.
In his first championship game in charge Mayo manager Stephen Rochford has named an experienced team with ten of the team named for Sunday playing a part in the All Ireland semi-final replay defeat to Dublin in September 2015. There is just one championship debutant, corner forward Evan Regan.
The Mayo team for Sunday’s Connacht Senior Football quarter final clash against London in Ruislip at 3pm is:
1. Robbie Hennelly (Breaffy)
2. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)
3. Kevin Keane (Westport)
4. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)
5. Lee Keegan (Westport)
6. Colm Boyle (Davitts)
7. Patrick Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels)
8. Tom Parsons (Charlestown)
9. Jason Gibbons (Ballintubber)
10. Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
11. Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy)
12. Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)
13. Evan Regan (Ballina Stephenites)
14. Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber)
15. Conor O’Shea (Breaffy)
16. David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)
17. David Drake (Ballaghaderreen)
18. Caolan Crowe (Garrymore)
19. Shane Nally (Garrymore)
20. Michael Hall (Breaffy)
21. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore)
22. Cathal Carolan (Crossmolina)
23. Conor Loftus (Crossmolina)
24. Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen)
25. Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy)
26. Alan Dillon (Ballintubber).
Team Manager: Stephen Rochford.
Selectors: Donie Buckley, Tony McEntee & Sean Carey.
Team named, no shocks. Does anybody know what’s going on with Donal Vaughan, are injuries curtailing him? I know we have gifted with half backs but there has to be a place for an athlete like him.
I would really like to see Tom Parsons up his game to what he is capable of. If Aidan O’Shea slows us down in the winter, Tom does the same in the summer. He takes the ball and almost refrains to aimless walking pace which is generally followed by a languished foot pass. If Aidan is to do his thing at 11, somebody really needs to grab the game with Seamus at 9. While Toms strength is his fielding, more is needed from a serious 8.
A strong team – they’re taking no chances here. Get the win in the bag and maybe then try some experimentation. Our defensive subs line up looks a bit raw. Surprised that Freeman isn’t in the 26. Is he injured?
No real surprises there. As expected considering the players available. Could possibly be a change or two come throw in which is the norm these days. Interesting that he has gone with zippy in the corner. The senseable choice I think, he would need to play this game at hf for experience if he were to move there for the summer.
Irish TV GAA grounds? Wonder how long they have been sponsoring the ground in Ruislip? You would think they would be showing the game on their channel when the ground is named after them.
Is Donal Vaughan injured? I seen during week Cafferkey, Diarmuid OConnor, Freeman, Barry Moran and Reape were injured. Panel of 33 whos the other player not named?
Answer by own question its chris barrett. Given we have at least 6 injuries I wonder are all the match day panel of 26 fit to play. Injuries with leave training camp hard.
@tommyk, Barrett is injured too
Sensible lineup no doubt, probably a good game for Regan and Conor O Se to cut their teeth and get confidence from .
I know Conor played before but he looks a different player now .
I guess Freeman and Barry are injured ?
Tommyk – it’s Chris Barrett. Presumably also injured?
Ya I too was looking forward to Higgins at 12 but maybe he doesn’t want to reveal too much just yet and Higgins needs a game under his belt to be ready for Galway .
With Barrett injured, Higgins was always going to play corner back. Still a very strong lineup considering all the absentees.
Mayo Maori, Irish TV are only dying to cover the game but Sky and RTE have the rights and are not budging (even though neither of them are showing it themselves).
RTE obviously dont want any other carrier to get a foot in the door and set a precedent where any game they are not showing can be picked up by another station. Its all about money at the end of the day.
I can tell you, I’ve fallen victim to the smell of those burgers in Ruislip, damn fine burgers they are too I can tell ya! If your worried about your waistline, give yer ticket to someone else!!
RE Irish TV, they took over the sponsorship of the Emerld grounds in Ruislip last summer (June/July I think). To be fair they have tried to show the game live, but as yet RTE & Sky still have the rights to the match.
I was thinking that might be the case about not getting the TV rights. Its a pity
Would mayo club streaming have been allowed cover it? They do an excellent job on club games they cover.
Cormac,
not sure when it was the last time I saw Tom Parsons execute a footpass. He didn’t do a single one vs Donegal in the quarters last year and I don’t recall him doing any in either of the games against Dublin either, so I’m not sure that criticism of him is fair. In my view he was one of our outstanding players last year – if he can improve, great. If he can be as good as last year, I’d be more than happy with that.
Tom P covered unreal ground last year, 16km in one game, made some important turnovers and linked well. Didn’t get turned over himself all year. Look at any stats and he’s done really well. With all the hard work he does no surprise he offloads in a timely manner when on the ball. IMO he was joint first with Anthony Maher for 1st midfield all star spot and Fenton got it cause Dubs were eventual AI winners based mostly on replay performance vs us. Very underrated outside Mayo and even for a few within.
Coming back Mayo vs London in the opening game of the 2026 Connacht football chamipionship the Foot and Mouth Disease caused the game to be post-phoned in 2001 and not part of the 2021 Championship because of Covid-19.