We named our U20 football match-day panel a short while ago for this afternoon’s Leo Murphy Cup Round 1 match against Sligo, a game that takes place at ATU Sligo where throw-in is 1pm. Here’s the starting team and subs we’ve named for this game:
U20 panel for today’s Leo Murphy Cup match named
Be interested to see how they get on. Nice to see some of the minor players from last season making an appearance. Would have expected to see niall hurley there but maybe he’s injured. I wonder is basquille any relation to the Dublin players who i think have claremorris connections
Hit him hard he’s no relation
6 point win for the U20s. Sligo could well be stronger than Roscommon and Galway this year, so a good start.
Mayo 2-11 to 1-11 up on Fermanagh at half-time in the hurling.
Fermanagh won the hurling match by two, 2-18 to 2-16. The absence of so many of our first team is really hurting us now.
Very enjoyable game in Sligo. Good win over a good team.
Sean Morahan looks like the total package, MOTM for me from CB. Brilliant defender and attacker. Jack Fallon and Ryan Fadden around the middle as good an underage midfield pairing you’ll see.
Young McMonagle was very impressive before going off with a serious enough shoulder injury, hope he’s ok. Full back Jack Ferguson from swinford also very good in the full back line.
Hurley, Maheady, Clarke and Tom O’Flaherty all on the quieter side but I wouldn’t worry too much. 16 points kicked and they weren’t really in top form yet.
Very very talented bunch
The basquille in Dublin panel connections from aughagower/ Westport
Hopefully with the Boyler in the backroom team we will see more balance between defence and attack with the u20 team this year and the players will be given the chance to express their skill and ability. Castlebar seem to have a lot of very good young players coming through.
Who did the scoring today retrocut
@Retro, would you have Morahan in the senior team?
@GBXI
He’s still only 17/18 yet so no rush. Ridiculous talent though
Ryan Fadden I recall was good for Balla. He’s a rangey lad that can score freely from play isn’t he?
@JP yeah about 6’2 really athletic. Not many like him. Scored a few from play today with a lovely style to his game.
Was at game on a beautiful day for football. Jack fallon has good potential, needs time n patience, kicked 2 or 3 play fine points from play and 4 frees,some really good players, some poor shot selection at time’s, there young and will learn from this.
No Adam Beirne I see unreal talent should be involved
Sligo U20s would be without some players today that played in and won the Connacht A and B school finals yesterday. Interesting Mayo chose to play a handful of last years minors, most of those probably won’t be U20 championship starters until 2024 or 2025. Round 2 v Derry,Round 3 v Donegal both at 1pm in the Connacht GAA Centre.
The hurlers need the Tooreen lads back, the draw last week appeared good but Roscommon getting well beaten by Louth today probably shows the current state they are in ( absence of so many first team players also)
Is Boyler with the minors or the U20s? I thought it was the minors
Adam Beirne was a late addition to the squad today
Boyler was added to the U17 coaching staff along with Balla goalie and Minor and U21 all Ireland winner Matty Flanagan.
Kenneth Mortimer was added to the U20 coaching staff and it’s himself, Peadar Gardiner and John Ryan (Kilmeena).
Adam Beirne came on in the last ten minutes and made a decent impact. Hard to play in the full forward line in Sheridan’s system though in my opinion, more of a focus on retaining possession and running from deep. Can’t remember an underage Mayo team with this amount of talent in the full forward line however. Clearly a massive emphasis in our underage academies / clubs for developing scoring forwards.
From the team and extended panel today:
Ronan Clarke (Moy Davitts)
James Maheady (Crossmolina)
Tom O’Flaherty (Aghamore) – more of a wing forward in my opinion
Dara Hurley (Claremorris)
Adam Beirne (Claremorris)
Oisin Cronin (Balla)
Finnbar McLaughlin (Westport)
Calum Filan (Castlebar Mitchels)
Doesn’t include the likes of:
Mark Gibbons (Garrymore, inj)
Niall Hurley (Claremorris, inj)
Davitt Neary (Breaffy)
Mark Cunningham (Castlebar Mitchels)
Simply can’t remember a team we’ve had in underage in the last 10+ years with that amount of talent in our forward line, or just in general having so many quality forwards coming through
Was there any noticable change in the way Sheridan had his team playing today as opposed to what we saw last year ? Any quick early ball going in or did we pass the leather off it first.
I hope we see at least some modification as last year was a hard watch & ultimately unsuccessful.
2 Hops.
Spot on about last year being a painful watch. For me losing the final v Sligo was the worst defeat of the year in any grade. Was actually in a rage for a few days. Should never have happened. Game comfortably won and conceded two stupid goals.
Nephin, he did very well just to keep his job after last year. Awful stuff.
Good competitive game in Sligo. While Sligo were under strength from schools squads, . Mayo looked strong and first half was very cautious , noticeable change in tactics in second with fast ball inside , strong direct running and some excellent scores. Also good mix of younger and more experienced lads all over the pitch . Also noticeable is the strong management team in M Sheridan , K Mortimer and P Gardiner , all know their football and good mix should reap dividends hopefully for this squad in what will will be a relatively short campaign in this age group.
Thanks for that @This is…that sounds encouraging.
This seems to be the most active thread on u20s. Peoples thoughts on this being a tall and physical team?
I think if they have Sam Callinane and Bob Tuohy they’ll have a good competitive team.
Think there’s a few players to take points from play. Don’t think there’s any senior ready scoring forward but that’s rare at u20.
GBXI surely 6 points up with little time left was a great position to be in.
Surely it was the backs and goalie that et us down not the management.
Mark Maloney claremorris should be on the panel as well
I wouldn’t be to optimistic on the U20’s chances this year based on what we have seen in the last 2yrs. That was a decent team last year and the football was nearly trained out of them (style, type, strategy and game plans etc. were poor at best). I hope I’m wrong but I cant see that changing this year
How did Ballina’s ciaran Boland play good with club last year
Well 16pts wasn’t bad for a first game out in early season weather and pitches.
A good competitive Leo Murphy run would show us some degree of where we’re at.
Still think it’s vital they have their two strongest players for championship, Sam Callinane and Bob Tuohy.
Considering Sam Callinan has been an unused sub in the first 2 league games, you’d imagine he’ll be released back to the U20s in a few weeks time. Barring a big injury crisis among the backs.
Hard to know with Tuohy, hopefully he’ll be able to play U20. Putting him 11 with Fallon and Fadden midfield would make us very strong in that sector.
@JR, yes but the way they play under him is so simplistic and negative (ironically it suited the conditions in the Galway game last year). This year will be the acid test given how strong the panel is. I have little faith though.
Well with Kenny Mort & Peadar involved I would hope and expect we would see an improvement in our style of play . Also delighted to see the 2 midfield lads playing well and continuing a great tradition of good midfielders from that Balla/Mayo Abbey axis. Some great ones,Willie Nally, TJ. K, Pat Fallon to name a few.
Probably came from a few square miles of each other.
Surely the U20 management should be getting the team to try and replicate whatever system the senior team are using. Minor and U20 levels are the stepping stones to the first team and players should be helped to be ready.
Is Peadar gardiner still with the u20s?
Good one Two Hops on the Balla Mayo Abbey axis.
Having watched this U20 squad over the few weeks the coaches have had their challenges with schools, third level and Mayo senior squad considerations , it’s been a balancing act for them to try and give all lads an opportunity in challenge games and now the Leo Murphy. In fairness they seem to be still in the lookout for talent and have not closed the door on anyone that has potential. They are still bring new lads into the training panel as the schools and colleges competitions finish up. They will have the remaining Leo Murphy games and a couple of challenges before I would guess they finalise a 30+ squad to focus on championship with. I hope the senior lads are released to them as this is a talented U20 group and could make a serious impact. Most of last years team are there again this year and they have a point to prove after last years disappointment and the experience will hopefully drive them on.