We’ve named our team for tomorrow evening’s All-Ireland final against Dublin at Croke Park (throw-in 5pm). Here it is:
Mayo (All-Ireland SFC final v Dublin, 19/12/2020): David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites); Oisín Mullin (Kilmaine), Chris Barrett (Clontarf), Lee Keegan (Westport); Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels), Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore), Eoghan McLaughlin (Westport); Conor Loftus (Crossmolina Deel Rovers), Mattie Ruane (Breaffy); Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet), Diarmuid O’Connor (Ballintubber); Tommy Conroy (The Neale), Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy, captain), Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber).
It won’t shock you to learn that, for the second match in a row, we’ve named the same team that started last time out. Suddenly, it seems, after the dizzying amount of experimentation we’ve done this year, we’ve got a settled starting line-up.
Dublin have also named their team and, like us, they’re going with the same team that started for them in the semi-final. Full details here.
I’m so wound up now I’d nearly mark Fenton and Macarthy on my own.
Any mention of the subs bench?
All the best to the lads and all the backroom staff. Nothing for it now only to scald them with pace and intensity.
Mayo to scrape and hoke and dig out the win.
What I’d give to be out on that pitch!!
Living in Galway, listening to ah ye haven’t a hope.. Blah blah all day… Jesus.. Just once…
All the talk about Fenton I forgot about James McCarthy sure lookit
Rob h , o hora, plunket, brickeden, durcan, carr , Coen, parsons,flynn and Higgins. (Ah ref has them up )
Hope this is ok to post but AH Ref has published the subs lists for both teams just now. I’m gutted for Boyler this but I know Horan will pick whose on form and there’s no room for sentiment in sport. The lads in the 26 will know how priveleged they are and hopefully show us why they earned that jersey ahead of former greats. Maigh Eo Abú
Mayo:
Hennelly
O’Hora
Plunkett
Brickenden
Higgins
Parsons
Flynn
Boland
Durcan
Carr
D. Coen
Dublin:
Comerford
Basquel
Byrne
Costello
Howard
Lahiff
Lowndes
McAuley
Mannion
McMahon
Kev McMenamon
Subs named
Hennelly
O Hora
Plunkett
Brickenden
Higgins
Parsons
Flynn
Boland
Durcan
Carr
D Coen
Very weak bench in comparison to the Dubs.
I can’t stop thinking of the possibility of Leeroy going to midfield… unlikely I’d say, as it may serve only to disrupt a fairly settled team at this stage, but it’s a tantalising prospect all the same. If he got on ball he’d put Fenton on the back foot big time. Lee could possibility be a menace to Dublin in the middle third, regularlydrivingat them and breaking their lines. Could James risk a Padraig OHora tomorrow in the FB line? Doubtful throwing a lad in like that for his first proper championship game, an AI final at that. Stranger things have happened though..
Lee coming to midfield though is the only potential rabbit-out-of-the-hat I could see tomorrow. He’d also help stop ball going into the Dublin forwards and half forwards. I love this side of things, pondering the match-ups and decisions around the starting 15. Its always fascinating. I suspect there’ll be no surprises from either team tomorrow though.
Great piece (by declan bogue) in the Irish examiner today about Ciaran Mcdonald. Lovely pic of himself and James walking in to Croker.
Nice to think that arguably two of Mayo’s best ever forwards end up being Manager and Trainer together. Lots of praise for McDanger and his understanding of the game at a deep level. Its brilliant that he’s involved.
Will it all come together tomorrow? Can’t wait for this one…..
Nothing new that Dublin bench stronger than ours. Its stronger than everyone’s bench
Could easily see Keith Higgins make a significant contribution tomorrow. You heard it here first. Looking at our bench there, I don’t see anyone else to match his quality in terms of driving at Dublin from the middle third in the last quarter.
Naming of bench is telling, not the time to criticise but I just cant fathom some of the reasoning behind have members of extended panel on ten plus years under their belt and near retirement not making the match day panel , why not give the experience and opportunity to a young lad .
Good luck to the Mayo team tomorrow and thanks Willie Joe for this blog, it’s been especially welcome given the fact we are all mayo supporters very much in isolation.
Nice to read and feel part of another great journey and hopefully we will have a little luck tomorrow. I’m thinking I will be a bag of nerves, nearly to the point of not being able to sit and watch it, may have to resort to doing laps of the house tomorrow with an occasional squint through window at TV, it really is that stressful but great to be able to be a proud mayo supporter.
I’m happy enough if Dublin start that team. While they have very good midfield and forwards, I feel their back line can definitely be got at. I don’t believe their defense is as good as teams past and definitely not as clever. However us winning depends on securing enough ball and failing that, continuing to implement turnovers against a team that doesn’t like risking contact. As for our team, there are risks sticking with the same 15, so presuming they start, I’d be hoping for 1 or 2 positional changes. Apart from that pretty happy going into another AI final. There are 2 players I’d worry about at this level but if they play well and hold their own, then we’ll be well in the game. Have to trust management has planned the game well.
Good man, Revellino!!!
Keith Higgins, what an individual! I have so much respect for him as a player. I’d love if he made a contribution at a time of need tomorrow and aced it.
Hi All, this will bring a tear to your eyes (it did to mine anyway)
https://youtu.be/lBKtR0yPzwk
– A county waits with low expectation, little hype but a bit of hope. A quiet Mayo is a dangerous Mayo.
– Like many others looking at this logically a 7+ win for Dublin looks on. Mayo though do not do logic in AIF, in fact they do everything but logic.
– Rory O Carroll was a sub the last day so I could see both him and Philly taking turns on Aido. Paddy Small has shown really well all year and so has Bugsie Buggler up until the Cavan game we do not want to be making heroes out of either tomorrow evening.
– I posted previously that to me this is the most important AIF since 1982. Mayo needs a Mayo win and the senior championship needs a Mayo win.
– Have we a Seamus Darby ? We could have. Same result as 1982 will do fine even if we have to sweat to the last kick of the game.
COME ON MAYO
The best subs we have ever had going into a final.
For anyone who’s interested, Centra and SuperValu outlets in Mayo and Dublin (including Rob’s Centra in Ballinrobe!) will be stocking the match programme tomorrow. A list of the Centra stores is here and the SuperValu ones are here.
Mannion, Howard, Costello to come off the bench. Unfortunately we’d don’t have anywhere near that quality but that doesn’t mean we won’t win. It makes it an almost impossible task though. Our main starters need to have the game of their lives and give us a decent lead going into the final quarter. Clearly its a huge ask.
Best of luck to James and the lads for tomorrow. Just go out and give it your all and please god it might just fall right for us on the day. Would love to see zippy come on with 10 minutes to go and slalom through that Dublin defence for a winning goal. C’Mon Mayo
New podcast episode online, the final one in ‘The Final Countdown’ series. Loads of different voices on this one, including plenty of supporters. There’s even some singing!
Good luck to all involved tomorrow. find it hard to call tomorrows game. Hopefully we come out the right side. Just a thought We have lost all irelands every way possible in the past the only new way to go now is to lose on penalties. Only saying.
I don’t know why but I keep thinking of the feat of the french firemen and how they saved the Notre-Dame from distruction.last year. We all looked on in horror and helplesssness as the flames raged and trampled everything in its path..Any yet, despite the magnitude of the task, the men perserved and won out in the end. A lasting image I hsve is the singing of the people on the streets as the firemen fiought inside the building to tame the beast of a fire.
As i sit here tonight waiting for tomorrow to unfold, i feel we, as mayo supporters, are like the people on the streets of paris – doing what we can but effectively watching and waiting helplessly as we will on the players . To a man, i beliieve none will be fiound wanting and will do everything in their power to put out the flames of the dubs tomorrow. Just like the firemen. I think they can do it.
At around this time every night I do put in the two ducks and count them.
Id love O’Hora to start instead of O’Donoghue, move Mullin to MF and mark Fenton, put Loftus to centre forward. I think O’Hora would handle Paddy Small. Won’t happen im sure.
No surprises on either team.i fully expect them both to line up as named too.
I find it incomprehensible that Brian Howard isn’t starting this year. Him and mannion on the bench 2 of the best players in the country ffs
Dubs bench is interesting. Only one defender on it in mcmahon. Risky move from farrell if they were to pick up a few defensive injuries. Great to see the back of cian o sullivan. He has played well against us the past as sweeper
.Mayodunphy, I thought that O’Hora for O’Donoghue might be an option too, but with Coen holding at centre back and Keegan given license to break forward from midfield. It would be a big risk for Horan though, with very little game time already.
I wonder will Rory O’Carroll be a surprise starter on Sido?
Had him marking me a couple of years ago over here in Auckland and he is an insane athlete
Sad not to see Boyler on the dubs bench
He must be injured.
InTheCity, it could well happen. James has to try something, if our midfield starts as is, it’ll be lights out early, end of. O’Hora worth the risk, he did come on for a good while against Tipp, so it could happen. Personally think Lee doesnt have the same engine as 2-3 yrs ago, so thats why I’d go with Mullin, he can go up and down all day.
My head is in a spin! All I know for sure is that I’m weary of playing Dublin and losing. I’m almost afraid to think or hope anymore that we might actually win. Losing does that kind of thing to your head I’m afraid.
I don’t know how the older players keep going. They are a special breed made of totally different stuff to me. And I’d give anything to see these lads win just once and walk proudly off that pitch with big broad smiles of satisfaction on their weary faces instead of etched with pain and disappointment to which they have become too accustomed. Just once that’s all.
I wouldn’t really mind missing the celebrations, the crowds, the cheering, the parades the hullabaloo or the like ……for once. To compensate instead I would commandeer the TV, pull the blinds and play the video of the game over and over and over again and laugh loudly, uncontrollably, shamelessly every time.
Just once! Just once! Please God….just once!
surprised there is no M Moran ,F McDonagh , or Boyle or S O Shea on subs bench
Sean Burke, isn’t it great sentiment isn’t deciding a panel. If your good enough, your there. BELIEVE!
Diehard I like how you are thinking. That would be perfect. Let’s hold the dream and enjoy the replay… laughing all the way. Mayold acquaintance be forgot…. it’s our year. Maigheo go deo.
Would expect Lee Keegan to move to half back line but don’t know who would go to corner back.
A lot of great Mayo players not making the 26. Horan probably likes a certain type of player that gives us the best matchup against the Dubs. Best of luck to James, Ciarán and team. Hoping they play like their life depends on it and we get some breaks. History in the making. Maigh Eo Abú!!
Freo calling: We can win this. Our mentality is good. Players and supporters are up for this. A fearless attitude and a belief in our own ability…
We are Mayo lyrics
I am the legend of Carney, Quinn and Prendergast
I am the great Sean Freyne, still fighting till the last
We have our hope, we have our dream
We’re coming home, we’re on your team
From Inisturk to Erris Head
We proudly wear the Green and Red
Chorus
We are Mayo
From Ireland’s West we come
We have our hope, We have our dream
We’re by your side and on your team
We are Mayo
From Ireland’s West we come
From Inishturk to Erris Head
We proudly wear the Green and Red
We are Mayo
I am of Blacksod, Achill, Knock and Clare Island
I’ve walked the Ceide fields,
climbed the Reek and fished the Moy
From Sydney bay to Amerikay,
Cong’s Quiet Man to Grainne Uaile
From Inishturk to Erris Head
We proudly wear the Green and Red
Chorus
We walked the road to Delphi
We’re of the Castlebar Races
We’ve battled for the glory and
We’ve risen from the ashes
We have our hope, we have our dream
We’re coming home, we’re on your team
From Inishturk to Erris Head
We proudly wear the Green and Red
Chorus
We are Mayo, We are Mayo
We are Mayo, We are Mayo
Game day and I’m even more nervous. Taking my personal feelings out of this everything really has to go so well and so many variables. I just hope we really raise our game. The fb line, kickouts and midfield have been an area we have needed to work on all year and have had time to do so really hope we get it right. I just hope the young lads rise to the occasion and no crowd will help them and the ref. I was more worried then earlier in the week when I saw the Dublin bench so we need a mammoth effort from 20 out there