We’ve just named the starting line-up for our NFL meeting with the Jacks at McHale Park on Sunday. The team shows only one change from the side that started our last NFL match (against Tyrone) but, due to events in that match up in Omagh, the starting line-up for Sunday won’t be same as that which we’ve named tonight. Mark Ronaldson is on the team in his now usual corner-forward position but last night’s CHC decision to confirm his month’s suspension means that, unless he decides to take his ban appeal a stage further, a replacement will have to be named on the day. The only other change from the Tyrone game sees the expected return of captain Trevor Mortimer at the expense of Alan Freeman (who could, of course, end up taking Ronaldo’s spot).
Here’s the team and subs we’ve named for Sunday:
Mayo (NFL Division 1 v Dublin): David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites); Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Peadar Gardiner (Crossmolina), Trevor Howley (Knockmore), Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore); Tom Parsons (Charlestown Sarsfields), Ronan McGarrity (Ballina Stephenites); Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen), Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy), Trevor Mortimer (Shrule-Glencorrib); Enda Varley (Garrymore), Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), Mark Ronaldson (Shrule-Glencorrib). Subs: Kenneth O’Malley (Ballinrobe), Kieran Conroy (Shrule-Glencorrib), Alan Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels), Liam O’Malley (Burrishoole), Chris Barrett (Belmullet), Barry Kelly (Ballaghaderreen), Neill Douglas (Castlebar Mitchels), Mikey Sweeney (Kiltane), Alan Freeman (Aghamore), Ger McDonagh (Castlebar Mitchels), Lee Keegan (Westport), Shane Nally (Garrymore), Alan Dillon (Ballintubber), Conor Mortimer (Shrule-Glencorrib).
The obvious talking point from the above is the return to the squad of both Alan Dillon and Conor Mortimer. With one place still to be filled, there’s obviously a good chance that one of the two tanned amigos could start on Sunday. The other point of note is that Johnno isn’t yet making any allowances for those who will be on U21 duty on Wednesday week, with both Kevin McLoughlin and Aidan O’Shea retained in the starting fifteen and a clutch more of likely U21 players named amongst the subs.
Is the match on TV?
It’s not, not even on deferred coverage. The choice, I’m afraid, is between the Mike and Billy Show on Midwest and the real thing.
there seems to be a genuine excitement in the county over this one. Given the positive weather forecast etc we could see a big attendance..10K might be stretching it but id say 8 k would be a realisitic number. Were going along nicely but people are over hyping us a bit too. Winning in Tyrone has earned us many admirers. Id say the Kerry boys are scratching their heads at our record against them. Anyway another win on Sunday, will probably raise even more eyebrows and with that our prospects of staying in Division 1 for another year. When was the last time we were out of the top division? We really do have a great record in the league but i remember for a couple of minutes in the tyrone game last year getting this sickening feeling that we could go down…i cant remember exactly but i think results elsewhere were all stacking up against us. Anyway a great chance to further enhance our league reputation on Sunday. Bring em on!!!
I’m certainly looking forward to it, Ted! I’d say we could well see 10k or so there if the day turns out nice and sunny as there’ll be a good crowd of Dubs down for it to swell the crowd too. I doubt if anyone is getting carried away at our promising start – we’ve all got too much scar tissue arising from previous false dawns – but it is good to be enthused about the team and where it’s headed again.
When were we last out of the top division? I had a quick look at the results archive just now and the last time we weren’t in either Division 1A or 1B was back in 1997 (then in ’98 they rearranged all the places as they do now and again). That’s a good, long record in the top flight and I guess we should really have more to show for our efforts than the single NFL we won in 2001.
I learned a long time ago not to get carried away with a few good results!
But it’s definitely encouraging and there’s a real feel-good factor around us at the moment.
Does anyone know when our team was announced, was it after the CHC’s decision? If so, I’d say we’re definitely going to appeal the decision.
If we did, and the next hearing upholds the ban, would the 4 week suspension still start from the FBD final?
I’ve tried to get my head around all the different disciplinary bodies and procedures, but to be honest, I haven’t a clue what’s going on half the time!
Yeah WJ, i was thinking around 97 too but the division 1b was, if memory serves me correctly, effectively division 2 but this was never acknowledges by the authorities . What i cant remember is where we were b4 they introduced the 1a/1b thing.
Any 1 title is poor enough return for sure. We had donegal on the rack for a period in our last final appearance but didnt push on. 2001 was special though but what most of my friends from other counties dont remember is that TY were not involved that year due to the foot and mouth. I need to stop gloating about it…someone is going to tweek the whole tyrone thing and twill all blow up in my face 🙂
Interstingly enough the same year 2001 we won the U21 All_ireland semi v Meath in April. Then we were forced to sit idle until Ulster finished theirs off in September October(Foot and mouth). Tyrone beat us , we were shagged with injuries to Trevor, Dillon, Loftus, McNicholas etc. The top brass patted us on the head for being nice patient and understanding boys in allowing Ulster to catch up. What was our thanks? Fast forward to 2004 and a six days after losing a senior final to Kerry we had to travel to an Ulster venue to play Armagh who had a thirty mile journey to make. Makes me want to vomit the way we allow ourselves to be shafted time and time again. If it was Cork they would have told Croke park to shag off and they would play a month later.
totally agree ontheroad. the scheduling of the U21 final in 04 was a disgrace. Has Mahony finally decided to stand up to them? The whole ronaldo thing would make it look that way. Of course the county board should have stood up to them long before now
Just in respone to your headin “trevor’s back” just wondering what people thouht of trevor and him been our captain. I know he has loads of heart,but how far can heart get you?.I have been watching him closely for the last year and a half or so, i know this will not go down with the old fashioned mayo fan but i feel hes not really much good, he will always make the odd burst and put in a big shoulder, but his all round game is poor, his foot passing and his shooting is atrocious..I suppose he was the most dissapointing person last year vs Meath, he showed no leadership whatsover, just wonderin what you and your readers thought?? When Alan Dillon,Pat Harte are fully part of the squad again,should Trevor be in the first 15?Should he be our captain or is it the lack of other candidates?
I thought Trevor was very poor against Meath. He showed zero leadership when it was most needed. The only time has has ever come up trumps in Croke Park was against Fermanagh in both games, other than that he has been very average. He does not have enough real quality for me. As for Pat Harte, don’t get me started.
ANDY MORAN has ALL the ingredients for the captaincy. Its the easiest decision the management will have to make when the time comes. Its the obvious choice!!!!As for harte….the most disappointing player for me last aug…having said that i believe he will acknowldge this and will push on this year.
looks like the long cold winter is beginning to fade and now that the sun is tracking higher in the sky, mayo hearts and hopes are begining to soar as well. And, yes, so far so good in the run in to Sunday’s game, chasing 3 from 3 in the NFL, a win will surely guarantee Div1 for another year and present the opportunity of having a serious and realistic crack at a national title. But, but, but, before we start to loose the run ‘again’ a little bit of cold analysis might be in order. The galway team we thumped in round 1 was clearly stuck to the ground from the effects of heavy physical training and limited ballwork, Tyrone were also thrown off kilter with the sudden suspension of their key players shortly before the Mayo game, and we only scraped by them in the end. I expect us to get past the Jacks on Sunday, but they will be without an array of proven championship players and credit must be given to Gilroy for blooding new young players, but they will not be as settled and cohesive as the Mayo team.
it has the makings of an exciting, free flowing and high scoring game with the culchies having the final say, i reckon by 3-5 points.
We will have much tougher tests ahead in this campaign, trips to derry, cork and kerry (whats the plural of nemesis?) will be true barometers of our real worth. So much to look forward to!!!
ted im sure you will agree but your captain has to first 15 gauranteed, although andy has been very good so far do you think he will hold down a spot in june?? I cant see him going back to into defence.. As for Pat,although i agree his performance was not great but he was put in at ff after 20 mins,which in my opinion limited him. If i had to pick a captain which probably luckily for mayo i do not but pat harte would be up there.
you dont rate pat harte facetheball?
excuse my spelling lads ‘gauranteed’
While I’m definitely not losing the run of myself with our unbeaten start to the year, I’m not going to undersell us either.
The performance against Galway was very good, I was especially encouraged to see that we seemed to have a plan B. It wasn’t just constantly trying to land high ball on top of O’Shea, which appeared our only option last year.
We looked very dangerous when we ran at Galway with pace. I’ve always felt we have the right players to play a very high tempo running game. It’s good to know we also have the option of landing high ball in top of our full forward line. Having these options can make or break games.
We do have this tendancy to make excuses for victory sometimes (maybe it’s because we’ve been let down so many times in the past…).
I don’t know the in’s and out of what training Galway have been doing, but they showed no signs of heavy physical training when they beat Monaghan the week after. Maybe we were just better than them??
And sure, Tyrone were missing some important players. But so were we, arguably 5 that would be considered regular first 15 players. Again, maybe we were just better than them??
So while I understand that we don’t want to be getting carried away, let’s give ourselves some credit as well.
just letting everyone know that the masters presintation dinner dance is on in the knockranney house hotel westport on saterday nite the 27th of march tickets €35 avalable from any of the team
Agree with Arsene re Trevor. Seems to be always coming back from injury or suspension. Problem for Mayo is they dont have a single player who inspires as captain. Do what soccer managers do when in doubt, give it to the keeper for all the difference it makes. O Mahoney has been poor in picking his captains. He started out with Kevin O Neill at a time when Kevin needed to focus on holding his place. Then he gave McGarrity the job, a bit like asking a trappist monk to roar. Ronan plays but is not a shouter. Then it went to Trevor. He’s lucky to be on the team. Gardiner seems to be the permenant vice captain. We lack a Noel Connelly or Pat Holmes or David Brady. Men who led from the trenches. Could come back to bite us.
Great stuff there from ontheroad about the nature of the captaincy. I agree with Ted about Andy Moran for the captaincy – holds his place, team veteran now and is a natural leader. Bit harsh on Harte I thought – I can think of two others whom I thought played worse in August but, you know, best to just walk away and face the next kickout really.
You know boys, a little interest bet on the draw at 15/2 could be worth consideration …
Harte was very poor in the Connacht Final and he was dreadful against Meath. Andy Moran would be my captain.He was excellent all last year and has been Mayo’s best player this year.
Have to agree with ye lads but maybe not so much with the pat harte debate, he is one of our best player, why he is not played at mid field i cannot explain, he is perfect for it, great engine can field a modern mid fielder(the opposite of michael Quirke which can only be a good thing,i think where mid fielders should be based on)
Lads do ye remember the late 90s when mayo used to have a huge mayo jersey cover the crowd, is it still about??