Will Galway bate Mayo?

Connacht semi-final time, and the first championship meeting between the two sides since Mayo grabbed a last minute point to beat Galway and win the Connacht championship in 2009, as both teams fight for a place in the final against Roscommon.

While Galway are coming off the back of a dissapointing league campaign they have some positives after the u21's winning the All Ireland against Cavan.

Mayo on the other hand are back in action after their hard fought extra-time win against London in Ruislip and have made a number of changes to that team.

As always between Galway and Mayo it promises to be a close game in Castlebar. Weather permiting we are in for a great game of football.

It's really a shame that Galway seem to have gone so badly downhill over the past year or two....an indication that Connacht isn't really in the best place at the minute. But in Championship anything can change and I would not be surprised to see Galway muster all their effort into beating their great rivals. But it's afterwards that you should be more concerned about. Say they beat Mayo...will that be their peak? Or will it give them the boost to go on and win Connacht and put up a serious challenge in Croker? And if they lose to Mayo will they just go quietly into the night in the Qualifiers?

I don't want to disrespect the achievement of Galway in winning the U21 title so convincingly but really the two best teams in the competition (in my humble opinion) expended themselves in a 3 game classic in the first round of Ulster. But anyway that's not to say Galway couldn't have beat them and even then just reaching the U21 final is a good omen because that's the underage group you really want to see doing well as it is a more realistic indication of who will form a future senior team.

I've always liked Galway and their playing style so, no harm to Mayo, but would like to see Galway back to its best.

bluearmy1 wrote:It's really a shame that Galway seem to have gone so badly downhill over the past year or two....an indication that Connacht isn't really in the best place at the minute. But in Championship anything can change and I would not be surprised to see Galway muster all their effort into beating their great rivals. But it's afterwards that you should be more concerned about. Say they beat Mayo...will that be their peak? Or will it give them the boost to go on and win Connacht and put up a serious challenge in Croker? And if they lose to Mayo will they just go quietly into the night in the Qualifiers?

I don't want to disrespect the achievement of Galway in winning the U21 title so convincingly but really the two best teams in the competition (in my humble opinion) expended themselves in a 3 game classic in the first round of Ulster. But anyway that's not to say Galway couldn't have beat them and even then just reaching the U21 final is a good omen because that's the underage group you really want to see doing well as it is a more realistic indication of who will form a future senior team.

I've always liked Galway and their playing style so, no harm to Mayo, but would like to see Galway back to its best.

Are you being serious? You could perhaps be forgiven for your blinkered approach in assessing the Down Senior team but how could you argue that the two best teams in Ireland were Down and Tyrone given that neither won even a provincial title?

Galway and Cork were the two best teams with Cavan a little distance behind. I fail to see how Down, a team knocked out by Tyrone who then lost to Cavan, who then were hammered by Galway, could be seen as one of the top 2 teams in the country.

Well you have to really take into consideration that Down and Tyrone played 3 games and that takes a lot out of teams, there was nothing between them (except the brilliance of Peter Harte, one of the finest young footballers I've ever seen) and having attended 2 out of the 3 games I can tell you it was intense stuff. Over the past decade in Ulster Armagh, Tyrone and Down have, for the most part, dominated the underage competitions. These counties have won nine out of the 11 U21 championships played since 2000. I just think Tyrone would have beat Cavan in usual circumstances, and I think they would have went on to win Ulster and probably contest the AIF. I said it was my opinion. I'm just going by how the trend has went over the years. And yes I do think Down and Tyrone were the two best teams in the U21 Champ'ship, in Ulster at least.....actually I would say Tyrone were slightly better in that their superior fitness shone through in the end. But it's not to take away from Cavan who can only beat what is put in front of them and they did that to win their Ulster title. And it certainly doesn't take away from Galway's All-Ireland. If you think I'm wrong or wearing blinkers fair enough. Your own's your own and I don't want to take this thread off in the wrong direction.

What wasn't normal about the circumstances of the Ulster Final? Tyrone had a weeks rest after the Down games, then beat Monaghan, then had another weeks rest, then played Cavan. If Tyrone were the first or second best team in Ireland they would have beaten Cavan, they didn't. Cavan had 3 days rest after the Ulster Final and beat Wexford.

I don't see what Down Tyrone and Armagh dominating over the last decade has got to do with anything? This group of Down players didn't win Minor and I assume very few, if any, were involved with the U21's in 2008/9. Don't forget the hammering Cavan gave the Down U21s in the first round last year. The 2009 Minors no doubt improved and I'm not saying Down were not a good team but I do think it ridiculous to suggest they were anywhere near the best team in Ireland.
I was at the Ulster U21 final and fatigue was not an issue for Tyrone, nor have I heard anyone, even from Tyrone, suggest that it was. Cavan only just pipped it, a goal in the first minute and both teams then scored 10 points. Tyrone didn't fade due to tiredness or anything of the sort.

Each to their own opinion yes, but you're basing your opinion nothing more than speculation and giving little consideration to the way things actually happened.

My goodness this Bluearmy dude is quite the character - next he'll be making crazy statements about County Down golfers. I wouldn't put it past him to say that Rory McIlroy is the best golfer since Tiger Woods.

Playing two extra Championship games at full intensity at under-21 level is not normal circumstances. And God knows maybe those extra games did them good. Personally I think it had an adverse effect on them though. Tyrone, in my opinion, were the best team in Ulster at U21 level and that is because in my opinion they possessed the best players. Down, again in my opinion, were a close second but did not have any players who could match the likes of Peter Harte. As for last year...yes, great result for Cavan! There were serious issues with the training schedule of our U21s last year, coupled with quite a bit of complacency, and to be fair I think anyone would have beat them last year they were that ill-organised.

Again I'm not trying to take away from Cavan's success. Just because our seniors got to the final last year doesn't make them the second best team in Ireland by any stretch of the imagination but I still think they got there purely on merit, and the same goes for your U21s!

On what are you basing the assumption that Tyrone lost to Cavan due to tiredness? Did you even see Cavan play apart from the AI Final? You're doing a lot of talking up of Tyrone, two first round draws against them doesn't automatically make Down Tyrone's equals.. I saw Tyrone, Donegal, Fermanagh, Wexford, Cavan, Cork and Galway play this year. Galway and Cork were comfortably ahead of the rest. With Cavan next. I really fail to see how a credible argument can be made for Down being anything more than a decent competitive side, they competed well with Tyrone who lost to Cavan, not due to tiredness but due to Cavan being the, very slightly, better team.

Anyways that's all very off topic. I reckon Galway for this one, Mayo's last two Championship outings have been nightmares.. It will be interesting to see how many Galway U21s are included.

Jonsmith wrote:On what are you basing the assumption that Tyrone lost to Cavan due to tiredness? Did you even see Cavan play apart from the AI Final? You're doing a lot of talking up of Tyrone, two first round draws against them doesn't automatically make Down Tyrone's equals.. I saw Tyrone, Donegal, Fermanagh, Wexford, Cavan, Cork and Galway play this year. Galway and Cork were comfortably ahead of the rest. With Cavan next. I really fail to see how a credible argument can be made for Down being anything more than a decent competitive side, they competed well with Tyrone who lost to Cavan, not due to tiredness but due to Cavan being the, very slightly, better team.

Anyways that's all very off topic. I reckon Galway for this one, Mayo's last two Championship outings have been nightmares.. It will be interesting to see how many Galway U21s are included.

Ray Silke reckons they will line out as follows:

A.Faherty

A.Burke C.Forde J.Duane
G.O'Donnell G.Higgins G.Sice

F.Hanley J.Bergin

G.Bradshaw M.Hehir E.Concannon
P.Joyce P.Conroy C.Bane

Immaterial in my opinion. Two dinasours from bygone times throwing shapes..Ever heard the phrase "A timid priest gets no parish"..
The power in the West is Shannon-wise..the Sea-Board spawns Dreamers.....

On C/F day in the Hyde, these spoofers will be found out.....

Boxtyeater wrote:Immaterial in my opinion. Two dinasours from bygone times throwing shapes....

Very true Boxty. A mere 60 years ago, before even Patrique was born, this would have been the highlight of any GAA weekend. Sadly, it is now the equivalent of a minor match, wheting the appetite of fans before the real games later in the afternoon.

(Meath v Louth would also have been a big game in the 50's, although Meath's skullduggery in stealing last year's Leinster title at least gives neutrals a reason for watching that one.)

Roscommon the new super power in the Wesht! Tis back to the late 70s/early 80s!

Galway to beat Mayo. Mayo promised a lot with most of the present team over the past couple of years but fell far short. Galway can only go in one direction,upwards plus the addition ofg under 21's will freshen the scene. Galway win and also will beat Roscommon who are not as good as they are potrayed by some.

Mayo struggled badly and were lucky to get out of London with the win. They have made wholesale changes. I think Galway will win this one alright. I don't think the Rossies are overrated. Connacht is poor enough but they were good last year and look like they have improved further this year.

Mayo will hammer a poor Galway team.

RMDrive wrote:Mayo will hammer a poor Galway team.

There'll be no-one hammering no-one - two poor teams ...

The kick up the hole Mayo got in Ruislip combined with home advantage might edge it. They are missing Doherty who scores goals for fun but Galway are missing more or less their 1st choice forward line of Meehan, Armstrong and N Joyce. We need more from the likes of Concannon,Conroy and Bane who are all well capable on their day.

Our FB line has two newcomser Colin Forde and Johnny Duane and we also introduce Greg Higgens and Mark Hehir from the U-21s. You would be hopeful that these lads will take to it seemlessly but theres no doubt their been thrown in at the deep end. I have no doubt that a few of the U-21s, Colin Forde in particular will make the grade at the very highest level. With a new look midfield of Hanley/Bergin and Bradshaw on the wing but likely to operate as a 3rd midfielder there's no doubt that Galway are building a team for the future. It might well be good enough on Sunday but with a point to prove and a more settled side Mayo are the percentage call this time.

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

RMDrive wrote:Mayo will hammer a poor Galway team.

There'll be no-one hammering no-one - two poor teams ...

With more players who have played in more all ireland Finals than the entire province of Leinster. On yer bike Cluxton

mossbags wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

RMDrive wrote:Mayo will hammer a poor Galway team.

There'll be no-one hammering no-one - two poor teams ...

With more players who have played in more all ireland Finals than the entire province of Leinster. On yer bike Cluxton

Singular surely???

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

mossbags wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

RMDrive wrote:Mayo will hammer a poor Galway team.

There'll be no-one hammering no-one - two poor teams ...

With more players who have played in more all ireland Finals than the entire province of Leinster. On yer bike Cluxton

Singular surely???

And I think the Meath people here might have a thing or two to say about that ...

Crawford and GG spring to mind ....

Oh I see you said 'played' rather than won. Having seen the Mayo lads in Finals I don't think ya can really use the word played .....

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Oh I see you said 'played' rather than won. Having seen the Mayo lads in Finals I don't think ya can really use the word played .....

Having ssen the Dublin lads in Finals............oh no hang on, we havent

whiterbananas wrote:

Jayo Cluxton wrote:Oh I see you said 'played' rather than won. Having seen the Mayo lads in Finals I don't think ya can really use the word played .....

Having ssen the Dublin lads in Finals............oh no hang on, we havent

Make up your mind

Jayo shown up here again I see
Poor game so far. A bit of lateral thinking from either bench will be the winning of this game ie bringing PJ out the field or something. Never have I seen a Galway/Mayo game so racked full of nerves

Hopefully the committee in charge of reviewing incidents come after Keith Higgins. Although, with the inconsistencies so far, we can't be too sure they will.

These are two poor sides but luckily for one of them, they were drawn on the "soft" side of the draw in Connacht.

Padraic Joyce. I see it every time I see him. Genius.