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Mayo GAA Thread

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Not a bad result for a B team and a team in fear..

tommy132 (Mayo) - Posts: 666 - 22/03/2026 17:57:44    2662284

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Wasn't expecting that TBH but some performance. Connacht again to have 3 in Division 1 is mighty. Ross and Mayo I believe will be the only teams in Ireland required to beat 2 division 1 teams in order to win provincial title. Avoid injury is the main thing now. Despite heavy defeat today I think Leitrim will have too much for Sligo but in reality Galway are effectively in the final already

martinjoe (Mayo) - Posts: 578 - 22/03/2026 20:40:32    2662355

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Replying To martinjoe:  "Wasn't expecting that TBH but some performance. Connacht again to have 3 in Division 1 is mighty. Ross and Mayo I believe will be the only teams in Ireland required to beat 2 division 1 teams in order to win provincial title. Avoid injury is the main thing now. Despite heavy defeat today I think Leitrim will have too much for Sligo but in reality Galway are effectively in the final already"
Both teams knew that the Connacht semi will be where it counts.

There is a real problem for the loser of that match.

Based on the draw

Munster will send Cork and Kerry into the last 16 with a home draw
Connacht will send Galway and winner of Mayo v Roscommon
Leinster will be 2 from Meath/Louth/Dublin
Ulster will be 2 from Donegal/Derry/Armagh/Tyrone

The loser of Mayo v Roscommon will have a tough away match in the last 16 and likely a raft of away matches to progress.
Its a bigger match than the Connacht final

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1719 - 23/03/2026 09:59:23    2662437

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A good league campaign it has to be said. I'd be worried though in the two games we lost, we lost heavily against the two best teams in the country. Thats the level we need to get to over the next 2-3 years.

It really is hard to see Kerry being stopped this year .

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11979 - 23/03/2026 12:20:15    2662486

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Replying To yew_tree:  "A good league campaign it has to be said. I'd be worried though in the two games we lost, we lost heavily against the two best teams in the country. Thats the level we need to get to over the next 2-3 years.

It really is hard to see Kerry being stopped this year ."
I don't think there's any logical expectation that Mayo can get to that level over the next 2-3 years. It will be interesting to see if Donegal show any symptoms of getting to Kerry's level at the '26 NFL final. They didn't last July anyway in the allireland final.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4621 - 23/03/2026 14:36:45    2662555

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "I don't think there's any logical expectation that Mayo can get to that level over the next 2-3 years. It will be interesting to see if Donegal show any symptoms of getting to Kerry's level at the '26 NFL final. They didn't last July anyway in the allireland final."
Well then what's the point? Kerry have better players no question (they always do) but if Mayo want to compete in finals again and possibly finally win one then they are going to have to get up to another level.

I'm not sure about Donegal either. Galway certainly have the potential but again there's questions marks over yer management team in my opinion. Armagh could be a team that causes damage. Again though it's very hard see anyone beating Kerry at the business end.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11979 - 24/03/2026 11:39:41    2662799

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Replying To yew_tree:  "Well then what's the point? Kerry have better players no question (they always do) but if Mayo want to compete in finals again and possibly finally win one then they are going to have to get up to another level.

I'm not sure about Donegal either. Galway certainly have the potential but again there's questions marks over yer management team in my opinion. Armagh could be a team that causes damage. Again though it's very hard see anyone beating Kerry at the business end."
Keeping the Cliffords and Séanie O'Shea quieter is surely in the plans of any team looking to get close to Kerry's level. Paudie is expected to return for their championship campaign. A huge task before you even consider a scoring plan against their very good backline. Jack O'Connor has mastered the art of getting them to peak for league and championship. Unfortunately we seem to struggle against lower standard forwards than Kerry's three wise men. But we don't know how teams plans are progressing at the end of March. Some could start to peak in their provincials. Dublin have been poor but, if they click, I wouldn't rule them out of a Leinster win and All Ireland semi final.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8484 - 24/03/2026 16:18:21    2662906

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What are the chances we can break Galway's winning margin of 30 points (2024) in the London game? London seem to be struggling at the moment in fairness. Hard to know if Andy will go with new lads or want to play Close to his top team

martinjoe (Mayo) - Posts: 578 - 24/03/2026 21:49:21    2662980

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As a Galway man I think in reality if you look at the team Mayo have, they lack cohesion and consistency compared to the top teams in the country and I think the mentality of the county in general is not where it used to be as it was in the 2010s. They're now realistically speaking, a division 2 team if you were to rank the counties, 3rd string in Connacht, and without a Connacht title since 2021. I think changes have to be made somwhere

Galwayman67420 (Galway) - Posts: 12 - 24/03/2026 22:54:24    2662997

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Replying To martinjoe:  "What are the chances we can break Galway's winning margin of 30 points (2024) in the London game? London seem to be struggling at the moment in fairness. Hard to know if Andy will go with new lads or want to play Close to his top team"
Did London not have their best ever Division 4 campaign?

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 427 - 24/03/2026 23:37:04    2663001

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Replying To martinjoe:  "What are the chances we can break Galway's winning margin of 30 points (2024) in the London game? London seem to be struggling at the moment in fairness. Hard to know if Andy will go with new lads or want to play Close to his top team"
Who cares, just get over and get the win and get back. We had a near escape there in 2011. London not going well but no more than NYC as our neighbours will know only too well and Andy himself, there's trips can be dangerous.

Now of course Mayo should be winning this game. All eyes will then turn to MacHale Parka and the return of the rossies.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11979 - 25/03/2026 09:09:45    2663014

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Replying To martinjoe:  "What are the chances we can break Galway's winning margin of 30 points (2024) in the London game? London seem to be struggling at the moment in fairness. Hard to know if Andy will go with new lads or want to play Close to his top team"
I'll be honest with you. I think they're very low. Theres a lack of firepower and scoring in the mayo dressing room. Cant be relying on Aidan O Shea to score. Horan had the right idea with him playing full back, best I ever saw him play.

Galwayman67420 (Galway) - Posts: 12 - 25/03/2026 09:31:51    2663021

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Replying To cluichethar:  "Great display today from Kobe McDonald but unless his team in Australia will let him play up Untill he goes to Australia then he shouldn't be on the team. Maybe after today he'll have second thoughts."
To be frankly honest, I dont think that Kobe is ready for championship intensity. Big difference between playing in a dead rubber league game against monaghan versus a connacht championship game in Tuam. Talented boy no doubt, but I do think its too early for him so he is probably better off going down under after finishing his year with the 20s.

Galwayman67420 (Galway) - Posts: 12 - 25/03/2026 09:42:18    2663024

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Replying To Galwayman67420:  "As a Galway man I think in reality if you look at the team Mayo have, they lack cohesion and consistency compared to the top teams in the country and I think the mentality of the county in general is not where it used to be as it was in the 2010s. They're now realistically speaking, a division 2 team if you were to rank the counties, 3rd string in Connacht, and without a Connacht title since 2021. I think changes have to be made somwhere"
I actually think they are the strongest in Connacht atm as much as it pains me to say, they are dying for Connacht this year and if I was a betting man I'd put it on them (Not that I'd ever back Mayo)!

In saying that, it wouldn't be a great shock if we did turn them over provided we both get through the first few games. It's a funny division.

TobeaRossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 176 - 25/03/2026 09:45:03    2663026

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Replying To TobeaRossie:  "I actually think they are the strongest in Connacht atm as much as it pains me to say, they are dying for Connacht this year and if I was a betting man I'd put it on them (Not that I'd ever back Mayo)!

In saying that, it wouldn't be a great shock if we did turn them over provided we both get through the first few games. It's a funny division."
I think Rossies will really give mayo a clipping, I think Roscommon have some of the best forwards in the country which the mayo backs will not be able to handle. The league game last week was not a fair representation at all. This Mayo team simply cannot be ranked as the strongest in connacht considering they have not bet Galway in Connacht since 2021...... Its becoming the same every year

Galwayman67420 (Galway) - Posts: 12 - 25/03/2026 09:49:51    2663027

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The reality under the new rules is you cant call who will win between Roscommon, Galway or Mayo on a given day. The problem for all three is they are not in the top bracket of teams.

Galway & Mayo are short of a top quality FF
Roscommon & Mayo are short of a top quality fielder
Galway & Roscommon are short of a top quality FB and Mayo are playing theirs out of position

Connacht championship will be entertaining - but the best teams are elsewhere.

Mayo were up at the top level 10 years ago and dominated Connacht at the time.
Galway have dominated Connacht recently but couldn't close it out. They are both back in the pack now.

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1719 - 25/03/2026 10:37:27    2663040

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "The reality under the new rules is you cant call who will win between Roscommon, Galway or Mayo on a given day. The problem for all three is they are not in the top bracket of teams.

Galway & Mayo are short of a top quality FF
Roscommon & Mayo are short of a top quality fielder
Galway & Roscommon are short of a top quality FB and Mayo are playing theirs out of position

Connacht championship will be entertaining - but the best teams are elsewhere.

Mayo were up at the top level 10 years ago and dominated Connacht at the time.
Galway have dominated Connacht recently but couldn't close it out. They are both back in the pack now."
Remarkable that Galway have plundered the last 4 Connacht titles, when there's such an 'equality of needs' in Galway Mayo Ros, as you've described. Then again, the margins were tiny when Galway bate Mayo in 2022, 2024 and 2025. And Mayo even won the '23 joust, when there was no cup out of it. The difference between Mayo 2011-2017 and Galway 2023-2026 is that Mayo came closer more often, and we're closer in reality, but to no avail or advantage in overall Sam Maguire terms.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4621 - 25/03/2026 12:02:22    2663058

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "Remarkable that Galway have plundered the last 4 Connacht titles, when there's such an 'equality of needs' in Galway Mayo Ros, as you've described. Then again, the margins were tiny when Galway bate Mayo in 2022, 2024 and 2025. And Mayo even won the '23 joust, when there was no cup out of it. The difference between Mayo 2011-2017 and Galway 2023-2026 is that Mayo came closer more often, and we're closer in reality, but to no avail or advantage in overall Sam Maguire terms."
Can say he same for you lot last fww years being strongest in connacht but has given ys no advantage in sam mcguire terms 24.....

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 998 - 25/03/2026 13:00:51    2663075

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Replying To Galwayman67420:  "I think Rossies will really give mayo a clipping, I think Roscommon have some of the best forwards in the country which the mayo backs will not be able to handle. The league game last week was not a fair representation at all. This Mayo team simply cannot be ranked as the strongest in connacht considering they have not bet Galway in Connacht since 2021...... Its becoming the same every year"
Getting yourself all worked up there........ sure we might be playing New York in semi ha

S1234 (Mayo) - Posts: 998 - 25/03/2026 13:19:52    2663078

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Did London not have their best ever Division 4 campaign?"
London finished 3 bottom of Div 4 with only Leitrim and Waterford (who finished on zero points) below them. Mayo finished 3rd from top and as leading scorers in Div 1.

martinjoe (Mayo) - Posts: 578 - 25/03/2026 13:23:32    2663079

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