When Galway face Mayo on the 18TH of June ,Its looks like Galway have a while chance to make a massive upset. With their forwards they look very effective but there defensive systym needs work.

oakleafersir (Derry) - Posts: 808 - 24/05/2016 17:17:11    1858205

A stroll in the park for Mayo.

Galway are nowhere near Mayo's level yet.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13803 - 24/05/2016 17:49:52    1858213

Mayo have to beat London first

ros1 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1211 - 24/05/2016 18:03:53    1858220

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8006 - 24/05/2016 18:28:48    1858227

Up to 5-8 years ago Mayo/Galway games were hard to predict, but realistically Mayo will win this one at a canter. In that time both on and off the field Mayo have moved significantly ahead of Galway in terms of preparation, conditioning, finance and organisation.
Galways performance in the league was very poor especially the last 3 games. Any time we have played any of the top 4 teams in the few years the margin of defeat has been at least 7 points, with little sign of improvement.
Would love to say we could win it but you have to face facts

Fr_Tod_Unctious (Galway) - Posts: 94 - 24/05/2016 20:21:13    1858274

skinthecat (Galway) - Posts: 394 - 24/05/2016 20:59:36    1858299

Not being arrogant, I would be confident we win Connacht this year. The Mayo team won't be taking any team for granted, they are around the block a while too long for that trap. The danger though is always there. I remember as a young fella going to Castlebar in 1998 first round think there was no way we could loose....look what happened.
That said I am unsure if Galway have a calibre of players now that they had in 1998.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11587 - 25/05/2016 09:50:41    1858351

Is this Mayo's best team?

1. Hennelly
2. Barrett
3. Cafferky
4. Higgins
5. Keegan
6. Vaughan
7. Boyle
8. S O Shea
9. Parsons
10. D O Conor
11. A O Shea
12. McLoughlin
13. Regan
14. Doherty
15. C O Conor

Am I leaving anyone out? Would you's have young Coen in there? Or some other 21's players? Moran n Dillion are impact players I presume at this stage of their careers?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 25/05/2016 11:11:05    1858400

Can only see one outcome and thats a Mayo win by at least 6.

Condorman (Dublin) - Posts: 983 - 25/05/2016 11:31:45    1858411

Clondalkin, , more or less yeah but I would have Paddy Durkan in there and there is an argument for moving Keith up to the half forward line at this stage in his career if the legs are going. The game is long gone from a set 15 player game.
I am going to name our "B" team in relation to the team you just named:

1. David Clarke
2. Kevin Keane
3. Caowlen Crowe
4. Michael Hall
5. Shane Nally
6. Stephen Coen
7. Paddy Durkan
8. Barry Moran
9. Jason Gibbons
10. Conor O'Shea
11. Conor Loftus
12. Stephen Carolan
13. Brian Reape
14. Alan Dillon
15. Andy Moran

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11587 - 25/05/2016 11:35:07    1858414

I'd expect mayo to win by four or five points.should be a good game of football.

dave1988 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1247 - 25/05/2016 11:46:01    1858422

Wow some panel Alan Freeman can't get into the B Team? If Cillian had the same pace as his younger brother Mayo would have won at least 2 Sam's by now.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 25/05/2016 11:48:22    1858425

Clondalkin - good point I did miss Freeman by mistake. You would have to fit him in. He is a player that has got chances and at times looked great and other's bad. He played very well in the 2013 semi final win v Tyrone but then was taken off early in the final against Dublin and was doing ok in my book's. It was clear that day CIllian was not fit....a mistake from the sideline.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11587 - 25/05/2016 12:00:57    1858437

Galway don't have the players to challenge Mayo at the moment.
Who are Galway's top class forwards?
Shane Walsh is easy on the eye and a good player but he's not a heavy scorer. Comer can do a bit of damage but is a bit of a 1 trick pony. Mayo are stronger than Galway all over the park (and particularly around the mid-field area) and will win by 4+ in my view.

pdempsey (Mayo) - Posts: 1313 - 25/05/2016 12:24:54    1858445

Mayo defence very strong midfield also very strong forwards not as strong but I still think it's easily a team strong enough to win Sam even if I don't rate some of the Mayo forwards. Galway or Roscommon won't beat this Mayo team this year imo.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 25/05/2016 12:39:34    1858453

Fr_Tod_Unctious (Galway) - Posts: 94 - 25/05/2016 13:07:14    1858471

There myths all over the place ,I honestly cannot fathom how every year there's a sneaking suspicion for Galway , if its not them there's always someone upping Derry's chances, some day some year they may be right and we will have to listen to the I told you so,s , but for now Mayo are a potential All Ireland winner Galway are not , they may give Mayo a rattle but cant see much more than that , championship always needs new interest surprise teams etc. , so if I'm wrong no probs.

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 25/05/2016 13:29:21    1858479

I may be wrong on this, and perhaps Galway Gaels will correct me. But I think that Galway have never really embraced the modern, more defensive game, They are traditionally a fine footballing county who played the game with a certain flair. I would include Down and Meath in this bracket. Big Joe Kernan got short enough shrift down there for example. Walsh seems to have trouble getting the best available players to him to even join the squad! Is that because of him? Or do some of the better players in Galway just not fancy the commitment needed to play a game which has evolved away from the way it was traditionally played?

In any event, to answer the question, no. Mayo have way too much in the locker yet to be caught out by Galway.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9774 - 25/05/2016 14:25:37    1858513

Is this Mayo's best team?

1. Hennelly
2. Barrett
3. Cafferky
4. Higgins
5. Keegan
6. Vaughan
7. Boyle
8. S O Shea
9. Parsons
10. D O Conor
11. A O Shea
12. McLoughlin
13. Regan
14. Doherty
15. C O Conor

Am I leaving anyone out? Would you's have young Coen in there? Or some other 21's players? Moran n Dillion are impact players I presume at this stage of their careers?

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts:7460 - 25/05/2016 11:11:05 1858400

I'd have Clarke instead of Hennelly, Harrison instead of Higgins, Durkan for Vaughan and Higgins at centre forward moving O Shea to full forward instead of Doc. The under 21's coming through have stirred things up a bit and make for interesting times. I'm hearing good reports on management, but we will have a better idea how things are shaping up after the next couple of games. We are usually starting to get a bit giddy at this stage but thankfully all is quiet within the county at the moment. Thankfully Tyrone are going well and are being tipped in a lot of places as being the only team capable of dethroning the Dubs. Hopefully our odds are getting longer.........

Llaw_Gyffes (Mayo) - Posts: 1113 - 25/05/2016 15:12:44    1858542

Mayo have to beat London first, which as the matches in 1996 and 2011 showed is not always easy.

That said, I'd definitely have Barry Moran partnering SOS in the middle. Regarding Alan Freeman, did he not get injured in the 2013 final?

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 25/05/2016 15:45:19    1858555