We’ve just announced an unchanged team for Sunday, according to GAA.ie. For the record, here it is:
Mayo (All-Ireland SFC Semi-Final v Kerry, 21/8/2011): Robert Hennelly (Breaffy); Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar Mitchels), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Richie Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Trevor Mortimer (Shrule-Glencorrib); Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy); Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Alan Dillon (Ballintubber), Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen); Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber), Alan Freeman (Aghamore), Enda Varley (Garrymore).
The only switches from the Cork game see Tom Cunniffe revert to 2 and Keith to 4 and the O’Sheas swap numbers at midfield but seeing as the team (and subs) hasn’t yet been named on the Mayo GAA site, it’s not 100% clear if the numbers as listed by GAA.ie are correct.
Once Mayo GAA publish the team and subs I’ll do an update here.
UPDATE: It’s now been announced on the Mayo GAA Twitter site that the team hasn’t yet been named officially and that this won’t happen until 5pm this evening. I’ll post full details when this happens.
Jaysus I’m getting excited ! Thanks to WJ and all the contributors to this site for the most entertaining and enjoyable build up. Am confident it will continue beyond Sunday.
totally getting excited also, im working up here in Dublin and there is a great feeling that we can do it, i can only imagine what its like back in the gree and red
looking forward to the build up around croker on sunday
I wasn’t just chancin me arm on Wednesday!.Gud luck to da b’y’s
advanti you must know someone in the panel whoever he is wish him all the best for Sunday, Jesus can’t stop thinking about Sunday reckon it’ll be 70/30 Mayo support if not more lets make it count C’mon Mayo!
good man advanti , you are vindicated
So its 5 30 this evening for the official team news according to Mayo GAA Twitter
Here’s a poem from Jimmy Smythe’s book ‘In Praise of Heroes’. It is about Mayo’s very first all-Ireland win in 1936 against Laois….
For thirty long years we have struggled
To capture the National Crown,
Though our dreams and our efforts proved fruitless,
Our courage and hope ne’er went down.
We faced the best in All Ireland,
Undismayed when defeat laid us low,
But we vowed that one day we’d be victors,
And bring back the cup to Mayo.
Louth, Kerry, Kildare, and Tipperary,
Mid the cheers of the Gaels of their day,
Fought and won this most coveted trophy
For their vigour and skill on the day.
Down the years we kept up the work boys,
For we knew we’d one day reach the goal
Of our county’s most cherished ambition
To inscribe Mayo’s name on the roll.
With the noblest of Erin’s young manhood,
Who were proud of the games of the Gael,
And in One Nine Three Six we achieved it
Sent it broadcast to hillside and vale.
Paddy Moclair, that gallant full-forward,
Sent the ball with such force to the net
That Delaney, the Laois custodian,
Hasn’t given up wondering yet.
Patsy Flannelly, Jack Carney and Kenny
Played the game of their lives without fear,
Less they’d fail before Laois – Leinster champions –
They counted on Laffey and Grier.
Drink a toast to the gallant defenders –
‘Tot’ McGowan, Quinn, Kelly and Burke,
Who with Regan, O’Malley and Ormsby
Were the boys who were fit for the work.
Captain Munnelly and Josie his brother
With oride set our faces aglow,
For their splendid and accurate shooting,
Brought the cup and the crown to Mayo!
Lets not measure our ability in past losses but lets focus on the great Mayo legends and victors of the game! Lets end the 60 year struggle in 2011!!!!!
feck ya mayofan i am holding back the tears here, great poem
Ya Jimmy Smyth has a great collection of them – but I thought this was particularly poignant…I really think it is in this Mayo team to be the stuff of legends –
win or lose we never give up!
Great poem Mayofan, let’s hope we have an updated 2011 version to pen later in the year.
I’ve also enjoyed the build up on this site. There’s a definite feel good factor about Mayo football at the moment, and for that we should all thank James Horan, his management team and all the players. Just think back to where we all were after the Longford game last year…
Even if we were to lose on Sunday (and I’m not even willing to contemplate that), we’ve come a long way, and there can only be a bright future ahead for this team.
Being over in London you don’t get that same excitement and fervour before a big game. But thanks to everyone on this site I’m getting close to it now. It’s the next best thing to setting off for Dublin from Belmullet, passing through Glencastle and Bangor Erris, the green and red flag blowing away proudly out the back window.
You can’t beat this kind of nervous excitement. Like O’Connor’s article pointed out, what many other counties in Ireland wouldn’t give to be in our position right now…
Mayo team named for sunday,
The Mayo Senior Football team to take on Kerry this Sunday in the All-Ireland Senior Football Semi-Final in Croke Park is as follows:
1) Robert Hennelly – Breaffy
2) Tom Cunniffe – Castlebar Mitchels
3) Ger Cafferkey – Ballina Stephenites
4) Keith Higgins – Ballyhaunis
5) Richie Feeney – Castlebar Mitchels
6) Donal Vaughan – Ballinrobe
7) Trevor Mortimer – Shrule-Glencorrib
8) Aidan O’Shea – Breaffy
9) Seamus O’Shea – Breaffy
10) Kevin McLoughlin – Knockmore
11) Alan Dillon – Ballintubber
12) Andy Moran – Ballaghaderreen
13) Enda Varley – Garrymore
14) Alan Freeman – Aghamore
15) Cillian O’Connor – Ballintubber
16) Kenneth O’Malley – Ballinrobe
17) Alan Feeney – Castlebar Mitchels
18) Dermot Geraghty – Shrule-Glencorrib
19) Chris Barrett – Belmullet
20) Lee Keegan – Westport
21) James Kilcullen – Ballaghaderreen
22) Ronan McGarrity – Ballina Stephenites
23) Peadar Gardiner – Crossmolina
24) Aidan Campbell – Swinford
25) Jason Doherty – Burrishoole
26) Mark Ronaldson – Shrule-Glencorrib
Folks…..Like ‘J’, let me say many thanks to all for the past few days of commentary and absolutely pure Mayo heartland talk in anticipation of a great performance from our team on Sunday. I’ve logged on daily to get the latest comments……There’s a lovely article today many of you may have seen in the Indo Sport section on ‘The Mayo Myth’…..Very well researched stats on Mayo’s overall track record from 1989 onwards, the never say die Mayo spirit, the achievement in reaching so many finals, always game for the next season and unrelentedly focused on the ‘Sam etc….continuously. Championship wins aside, the author expresses his respect and admiration for Mayo’s high achieving record on the field at all levels over the years. Naturally the ‘Holy Grail’ is the Sam, but for those of us who eat sleep and drink Mayo football, this performance snapshot in the Indo really brings it home that there’s a consistency in the Mayo standard, overall, that we should all be proud of !!……….This article did the heart good as I prepare to head for Croker with my young daughter…..her first trip, and hopefully she’ll witness her ‘oul fella on Sunday losing the head with passion, excitement, and a fist in the air come the 70 minute whistle !!
Advanti you held the nerve and called it well. Fair play to you. Your source was/is good. I, on the other hand met a man who is also supposed to be in the inner circle of Mayo affairs. He disclosed to me that Aiden Campell would start for sure. Now either he was fed a steer bum or he fed me a steer bum so let me complement you on your accuracy.
Glad to see JH is at the mind games with O Connor. Give nothing away. I wud expect some changes to that lineup come sunday.
Just watched Cork match again. Jesus we were good in the second half.
Kerry lads i meet keep saying our midfield is the key.
they have missed the point………its a 20 man effort.
Roll on sunday……..Hup Mayo………….
2006 semi final between Mayo and Dublin is on TG4 as I write…
Just a little something for the weekend?
thanks for yer comments guys-we’r all pulling in the wan direction COME ON MAYO!
I was stopped at a lights in Longford today, some fella was crossing, he saw the Mayo flag on my car, and he shook his fist and mouthed ‘Come on Mayo!’
I’ve met a lot of people from different counties in the last few days and the goodwill has been fantastic. I’ve been keeping it low key myself, not thinking too much about it – just reading everyone here has got me thinking:
‘I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE SOME KERRYMAN ON HIS FUCKING HOLE WITH A SHOULDER!’
Flag up on the house, wind coming in from the Irish Sea catching it nicely.
For this weekend, more Mayo flags around here than Dubs ones!