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Mayo staggering along thus far but they're in Croker for the Quarter Finals in anyways. MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13718 - 24/07/2017 11:57:24 2022447 Link 0 |
As much as I would love to see us beat Mayo I have to concede its a very tall order. While we were excellent in the Connacht Final a number of things went our way...We won the toss which meant we had the wind in the first half, The referee pulled Galway for a couple of off the ball frees which are normally not given, Galway hit the post at a vital time and Galway were atrocious on the day and got their tactics wrong. While Roscommon played very well and we had excellent ball retention we will find it very hard to break Mayo tackles in Croke Park. They are physically far stronger than our lads. Our full back line is still suspect and if Mayo neutralise Enda Smith at midfield than I cant see where we get te posession from. Also despite the positive vibes rom the panel I fear our team may be a bit overawed by the Croke Park experience. Mayo will seek to kill this game off in the first 15 minutes and if the get an early goal or two it could be a rout. That is not to say Roscommon are without hope. They are young and fast, have some excellent scoring forwards and a great attacking wing back. 4 games in 5 weeks for Mayo could be hard for Mayo particularly if the game is close going into the last 10 minutes. Aidan O'Shea going in full forward terrifies me as I cannot see our full back coping. Mayo will be very confident of beating Roscommon and in fact overconfidence could be their biggest drawback. Roscommon have not beaten Mayo in the championship since 2001 and our record in Croke Park is horrendous. That said i 2 of our last 3 champonship outings against Mayo the margins have been 2 points and 1 point. Roscommon CAN win but the need everything to go right for them. Mayo can win with some things going wrong. Manstein (Roscommon) - Posts: 43 - 24/07/2017 12:13:32 2022470 Link 0 |
I don't see Mayo taking Roscommon lightly at all. As we have seen any drop off in performance is severely punished these days. I think Mayo will win but I don't say that with any major confidence. Roscommon have the forwards to damage our failing full back line but Mayo hold the power and experience elsewhere.
yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11236 - 24/07/2017 12:31:01 2022486 Link 0 |
I think the Rossies will win.. They have great match ups.. their #6 mulloully (apologies on spelling ) will have a good shot at AoS. Mayo actually have to worry more about matching up with Roscommon than vice versa as Ros have better forwards. It will essentially come down to the mid field battle. Toothless (Dublin) - Posts: 38 - 24/07/2017 13:24:07 2022544 Link 1 |
Good post. Mayo under Horan were good at maintaining performance levels, but now it seems to all about doing what gets us over the line. With Galway we also won the toss and let them play with a gale... smacked a bit of complacency, which we hopefully won't demonstrate against you Rossies.
Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 24/07/2017 13:29:06 2022553 Link 0 |
I honestly thought that Mayo were really going to click against Cork and win comfortably. The way the game looked to be going in the second half had me sure my prediction was right. However the intensity levels really dropped for a long period, and the backs especially really struggled with an average at best Cork forward line. I really think the Rossies could win this game if they approach it in the right manner. There's a point when getting games under your belt and building momentum turns to fatigue. The Mayo lads might well be feeling those extra time minutes when they're facing a fresh young Roscommon team. Should be interesting, hope both games are going to be tight and competitive. Forpucksake (UK) - Posts: 130 - 24/07/2017 13:44:34 2022570 Link 0 |
Well that's my mind made up for me, I'm bringing home the turf on Sunday, not going to watch that rubbish.
Llaw_Gyffes (Mayo) - Posts: 1113 - 24/07/2017 13:52:26 2022577 Link 0 |
I don't buy into the age/burn out theory just yet. Mayo players were standing tall in ET while Cork players were dropping likes flies with cramp. Mayo have an excellent S&C team and it shows. 7 points up and I still was not comfortable because Mayo will always give the opposition a chance to come back into it. The changes backfired with Boyle going off and Leeroy's kick out which was uncalled for.
yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11236 - 24/07/2017 14:31:31 2022605 Link 0 |
Depends if Mayo brings their A game,depends what Mayo team turns up etc etc... seriously lads the Mayo you have is the Mayo you have been watching the last two years under Rochford, its a group of players that peaked in 2013 especially the older players who are playing on memory now, Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3353 - 24/07/2017 14:35:58 2022607 Link 1 |
honestly believe mayo arent as impressive against the weaker opposition due to how they are set up but will look better v the better sides, trend from last year but maybe they just arent at the same level, all i know is mayo werent impressive in the qualifiers last year either alano12 (Dublin) - Posts: 2208 - 24/07/2017 14:48:04 2022617 Link 0 |
Whatever the man reason that make Roscommon outsiders lack of focus will not be one of them. Do not be misled by McStays guff. He said the same before the match in Salthill. He,McHale etc are dying to turnover Mayo and while the Connacht Final win was celebrated the lads were back training at full tilt a couple of days later. Winning a Connacht title but getting stuffed in Croke Park is not what this team and management consider sucess, in fact getting a big beating on Sunday would be a huge set back to this teams development.
Manstein (Roscommon) - Posts: 43 - 24/07/2017 16:34:58 2022698 Link 2 |
Welcome to hoganstand newbie. Whatever one says about McStay he most certainly doesn't talk guff matter of fact he's a breath of fresh air compared to the guff some of the other managers say. I don't see this aging Mayo team stuffing any team the only way that would happen is for Roscommon to be poorly prepared, by about 410 on Sunday we should all know for sure how focused Roscommon are for this game before that is just second guessing!
Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3353 - 24/07/2017 17:06:49 2022715 Link 3 |
Well you should because its clearly there if it wasn't Mayo would have won comfortbly on Saturday and wouldn't have allowed a Cork side in poor form back into the game and Cork lost four key players to injury in that game i might add also. When this Mayo side "arrived" in 2011 the average age of it was 23, they were fresh,hungry full or running. Fast forward to now the starting team on Saturday average age was 29 with 7 of the starters in their 30s and plenty of others in their late 20s will huge mileage on their clocks. The likes of Andy Moran,Seamus O Shea and Colm Boyle no longer have 70 mins in them and all three players were key players when Mayo were at their peak. I have my doubts if a young and inexperienced Roscommon team are ready to topple Mayo yet but in AI semi final against Galway who have already beaten Mayo twice or Kerry the 2nd best team in Ireland will exploit Mayo.
Yondu (UK) - Posts: 845 - 24/07/2017 17:28:27 2022727 Link 0 |
Hoping that Roscommon don't let the occasion get to them and that they hit top form. We must have the smallest and lightest team playing senior c'ship football so it's important to use the wide open spaces of Croke Park to overcome this lack of physicality. In truth nobody knows how good either team is but I am hoping the Rossies can edge it, even if we have to rely on the ref., the linesmen, the umpires and any bit of luck that's going. neverright (Roscommon) - Posts: 1648 - 24/07/2017 17:53:02 2022739 Link 0 |
Yondu is right, and it's some of this Mayo team's greatest players, who are exhibiting the age decline. Boyle, Higgins & Moran are all still playing great football for spells, but if you could wind their clocks back 5-8 years, you would take that opportunity obviously. Younger key players like Keegan & A.O'Shea are exhibiting mileage decline too. O'Shea is revving up gradually to his old impactful self in recent weeks, and Keegan will no doubt hit top form by the September final, if Mayo are still there, which seems unlikely, with the Kerry problem having to be negotiated this season before the final. Getting Tipp in a semi last year was just what the doctor ordered, for this outstanding, but by now logically declining, Mayo team.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3458 - 24/07/2017 17:55:48 2022741 Link 0 |
If have to say that I believe Andy Keith Higgins, Cafferkey, Alan Dillon, Barry Moran will all have to be replaced next year, possibly David Clarke as well. They are struggling against div 2 teams on a regular basis..
Belclare1 (Galway) - Posts: 1626 - 24/07/2017 18:13:02 2022757 Link 0 |
Andy, Keith and David Clarke are struggling?
GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7363 - 24/07/2017 19:12:32 2022779 Link 0 |
I notice you didn't correct your fellow countyman from Connaught to Connacht.........
MedwayIrish (Wexford) - Posts: 2324 - 24/07/2017 19:55:21 2022796 Link 0 |
No.. individually they are Mayos best players , however they are all in the 30 + age bracket and I believe another full season won't appeal to them. Lots of mileage up there.. Mayo are struggling as a group to beat these div 2 teams
Belclare1 (Galway) - Posts: 1626 - 24/07/2017 20:10:53 2022800 Link 0 |
I'm going to come out and say what I'm really thinking. First and foremost, I've admired this Mayo team and shouted for them in every game (Roscommon excepted of course) over the past few years. But I think they're a year behind Donegal in their slide which may seem mad considering how close they came last year. Roscommon should respect Moran, O'Shea, C. O'Connor and Keegan, a formidable foursome of course, but they're carrying the rest of the Mayo team. I'm not going to put in any "ifs" in here so I expect Roscommon to get their shooting boots on and outscore Mayo. It'll be a high scoring game but Roscommon have an eye for goal which Mayo do not and that'll be the differernce. Don't take offence Mayo fans and by all means remind next week should I be totally wrong or I'll be in the Davin stand (317) with my 6 y.o. if you want to tell me personally so keep it polite please. Rossies by 6. Sindar (Roscommon) - Posts: 348 - 24/07/2017 21:10:59 2022817 Link 1 |