Going by most posts on all the different threads,many feel this year won't be mayos year.according to some next year presents us with our best chance.i dont know about the rest of ye but that's a load of bull in my opinion.its easier get a winner in a two horse race than a 33 horse one!mayos best chance is Sunday week and if they play to their potential have a great chance of ending the wait for sam and for what it's worth I'm an optimist by nature :)!

jono (Mayo) - Posts: 350 - 14/09/2012 12:26:00    1266111

Its very tiring having to read posts by Mayo and Donegal fans spouting their blind loyalty. Is there any fan out there from either of the two counties who has the courage to stand up and say "My county will not win the All Ireland this year" Its like everyone on here is 11 years old, completely blind that the other side they're up against in the final might actually be better than theirs!

Thank god for Martin McHugh who is not afraid to tip the opposition although he has been wrong all year to date

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 14/09/2012 12:48:53    1266127

cacsmckilly
County: Tyrone
Posts: 510

1266127
Its very tiring having to read posts by Mayo and Donegal fans spouting their blind loyalty. Is there any fan out there from either of the two counties who has the courage to stand up and say "My county will not win the All Ireland this year" Its like everyone on here is 11 years old, completely blind that the other side they're up against in the final might actually be better than theirs!

Thank god for Martin McHugh who is not afraid to tip the opposition although he has been wrong all year to date

Most Mayo fans in real life. I think they're all wrong.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 14/09/2012 14:41:30    1266218

It's great to read that thread, it's interesting to read how some posters rated Mayo so lowly and some of us knew we were a tough outfit.

Will we go on to win it, who knows, bookies give us no chance, journos, panelists and so forth give us no chance but in saying that , there are a hell a lot of useless so called experts out there. Nobody outside of Mayo can see what this team is about, it's baffling but i'm excited and impressed with the way prep is all working out down home form supporters to the panel.......no fancy hotel breaks for Mayo the week before the AI final, no scrapping over homecoming tour with Sam, no b/s with the fanbase either........it's all straight down the middle of the road no nonsense , we're goin up to take it home and to hell with the men from the hills blah blah

51longago (Mayo) - Posts: 2981 - 14/09/2012 15:02:41    1266247

cacsmckilly - It is human nature to let your heart rule your head. If I took a step back and pretended I was a neutral I would probably go for Donegal JUST......BUT I am a Mayo man through and through and I believe we have a great chance and can win the game.

It's a bit like 1998 - all the country and media have Donegal as marked on favourites.....could a team from Connacht spoil the party again?

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11689 - 14/09/2012 15:05:51    1266252

yes was reading the treads at the start off this topic ever body was sort off laughing making jokes about mayo chances off winning an all ireland myself included but as far as i seen mayo took down apart from start to finish better then donegal and against dublin nobody give them a chance but dublin had no answers for them in the first half yes things went pair shaped the last 20 mins but am sure they learn a lot from that more then they would off if they won at canter donegals going to have to be at their best totally different game to the kerry and cork matches mayo are to give it every thing and their certainly no joke

clougherna (Donegal) - Posts: 32 - 14/09/2012 15:32:17    1266269

clougherna
County: Donegal
Posts: 32

1266269 yes was reading the treads at the start off this topic ever body was sort off laughing making jokes about mayo chances off winning an all ireland myself included but as far as i seen mayo took down apart from start to finish better then donegal and against dublin nobody give them a chance but dublin had no answers for them in the first half yes things went pair shaped the last 20 mins but am sure they learn a lot from that more then they would off if they won at canter donegals going to have to be at their best totally different game to the kerry and cork matches mayo are to give it every thing and their certainly no joke

Here dude, have you got something against full stops and comma's?

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 14/09/2012 15:54:53    1266287

I'm starting to sense Mayo are starting to become favourites for the All Ireland final in recent weeks. I've never before seen the Mayo fans so adamant that they are going to cause and upset and bring Sam home, like I never seen them like that before the final's against Kerry.

Having spoken to a few friends & Colleagues from Donegal ( approx 12 people ) over the last week, most consider Mayo to be the most dangerous opposition Donegal could have got in the final. All gave various reasons, mostly that they are somewhat of an unknown quatity this year and play a style which could cause us problems. Also that Mayo have vast All Ireland final experience to draw from, which might make them less nervous on the day.
What shocked me was the lack of arrogance from these particular Donegal fans, I was expecting bragging and overconfidence which did not materialise. Maybe they are starting to believe the Mayo hype from HS or maybe they weren't all that arrogant to begin with.

I think any county that is about to contest their 2ND EVER ALL IRELAND FINAL IN OVER 100 YEARS has the right to get just a little bit excited. Donegal has been under the spotlight, with even a meet n greet training session with School children been used as ammunition on here. How dare Jim McGuinness agree to a 3rd party request to allow the school children from the county to meet the players. I think this is ridiculous really, shame on anybody attacking Donegal for that.
Even a homecoming event, which takes place regardless of whether the team actually WIN, has continuously slammed in Donegal's face. A few people are still stating it was a victory parade, which it clearly wasnt.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3026 - 14/09/2012 15:55:30    1266288

GaryMc82 Good post. You hit the nail on the head on a few different matters there. But most of all where you pointed out that Donegal fans and people are not arrogant. It's not in our nature and I hope it never will be.

turnandshoot (Donegal) - Posts: 446 - 14/09/2012 16:18:20    1266318

cacsmckilly
County: Tyrone
Posts: 511

1266127 Its very tiring having to read posts by Mayo and Donegal fans spouting their blind loyalty. Is there any fan out there from either of the two counties who has the courage to stand up and say "My county will not win the All Ireland this year" Its like everyone on here is 11 years old, completely blind that the other side they're up against in the final might actually be better than theirs!

In all fairness it wouldn't be much of a fan from either side who thought their team definitely wouldn't win in an evenly matched game like this. I would admit to being nervous about this game and would not be surprised by a Mayo win. I don't think either team are the finished article and something like a freak goal, a bad refereeing decision, etc etc could decide it.

Thank god for Martin McHugh who is not afraid to tip the opposition although he has been wrong all year to date

Ha Ha I know McHugh. He is from my neck of the woods & a cuter man you will not find. I would take any predictions he makes about Donegal with a barrow load of salt!!

This is a real 50-50 game and will go down to the wire. I definitely think Mayo can win it. They have been hugely impressive in their last 2 games (as were Donegal) and are playing with far more confidence and self-belief than previous Mayo teams. They showed a lot of mental toughness to hold on against Dublin when it looked the game might be slipping away from them. Also the fact that they are not facing Kerry in the final this time will put an extra spring in their step. I'd love to see them do it but I certainly would not begrudge Donegal an all-Ireland either.

Gaillimh_Abu (Galway) - Posts: 1037 - 14/09/2012 19:35:21    1266420

i really think mayo can win it, there shooting from the wings and outside the 45 meter line is fantastic , and thats exactly what you need to do to beat donegal, go on mayo.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 14/09/2012 20:39:39    1266443

I see the Mayo lads were on the SFC Wikipedia page doing a bit of editing.

2012 23rd September Mayo 1-15 Donegal 1-11

Harmless banter or extreme arrogance?

Sergeant_Slash (Cavan) - Posts: 2182 - 14/09/2012 20:49:07    1266449

Sergeant_Slash
County: Cavan
Posts: 1529

1266449 I see the Mayo lads were on the SFC Wikipedia page doing a bit of editing.

2012 23rd September Mayo 1-15 Donegal 1-11

Harmless banter or extreme arrogance?

Harmless banter....wish we'd thought of it first

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 14/09/2012 21:02:50    1266463

Sergeant_Slash
County: Cavan
Posts: 1529

1266449
I see the Mayo lads were on the SFC Wikipedia page doing a bit of editing.

2012 23rd September Mayo 1-15 Donegal 1-11

Harmless banter or extreme arrogance?

-----------
Dyslexia

ruanua (Donegal) - Posts: 4966 - 14/09/2012 21:14:24    1266478

Mayo can win it if the ball flies over the bar from long range. If they get a nervous start, or dont score for the first 10 minutes, they will b in bother.

One thing that our blanket system is defo going to improve in terms of the game, is players being forced to have a go from distance, and stop the percentage play of trying to work the ball into the 30 metre zone to draw frees etc. I think that it will also force the long quick ball from defense to attack. Working the ball up the field will not work.

My gut feeling is that Mayo have a golden chance of winning if they take the correct options early in the game. If they try to out tactic McGuinness, it will b a long afternoon for them

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3853 - 15/09/2012 10:52:50    1266541

Donegalman: "If they try to out tactic McGuinness, it will b a long afternoon for them"

There's no doubt Donegalman, Mayo will try... every game we've played has featured something different tactically... the question is, if we succeed..?

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 15/09/2012 12:24:52    1266583

Donegalman: "If they try to out tactic McGuinness, it will b a long afternoon for them"

There's no doubt Donegalman, Mayo will try... every game we've played has featured something different tactically... the question is, if we succeed..?

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 15/09/2012 12:32:58    1266585

I have no Doubt in my mind Mayo are going to win the AI everyone is talking
about Donegal that they are going to do this that and the other to Mayo let me
tell you they will be all talking about Mayo at 5pm on Sun Sept 23rd

wfkerry (USA) - Posts: 933 - 15/09/2012 12:39:09    1266586

If Donegal don't win the AI this year, then Mayo will, and that statement of the obvious is something to savour for both counties, particularly in the light of where they've both come from only a couple of years back (ie. nowhere!). In 2010 no one would have believed the suggestion that both Mayo and Donegal would make good in a couple of years so, regardless of anything else, both sets of players, management and support staff deserve enormous credit for breaking the mould in a way not seen since the 90's.

If you look at who Donegal have beaten to get to the final, you'd have to say that they might rightly feel a sense of having already earned the title, but as Clint Eastwood says to Gene Hackman at the end of The Unforgiven: "Deserving's got nothing to do with it!". Mayo felt deserving in the past and got a kick in the rear-end to show for it! As regards form, only the knockout games are relevant really, and beating Kerry and Cork is a line that no one can argue with, so it rightly sets Donegal up as favourites - Mayo's wins were less spectacular and, as we know, the Dubs game could have been blown, which means Mayo have a lot to put right the next day out performance-wise. I don't see the point in predicting the score a week out... the weather will have a big bearing - the worse the day, the tighter the scores will be - harder to swing over 40m points on a cold/wet one. If the day is good, both sides have shown they're capable of putting up big scores.

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 15/09/2012 12:46:29    1266590