It's patently obvious there's an inherent psychological flaw with Mayo and getting over the line. Harsher critics may cite it as lack of bottle. There's also an issue with the supporters of the team now accepting it and lauding their 'heroes' and putting them on pedestals before they win anything. Paul Curran and Vinnie Murphy have said this in the media recently but most analysts don't seem to want to address the issue

Elvis1935 (Mayo) - Posts: 46 - 19/09/2017 17:35:34    2048196

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 19/09/2017 19:26:29    2048232

It's very obvious that you're not really from Mayo at all, but indulge me for a moment by telling me: what you would prefer Mayo supporters to do? Boo the team? Heckle them? Spit at them? What?

Those lads emptied themselves for the honour of the county, rescuing more than one game this summer when all seemed lost. People appreciate that and turned out to show them that we're in this together. I can't see for the life of me what's wrong with that.

Oh, and btw, Mayo people aren't all angels, and the likes of Liam McHale, Ciaran MacDonald, John Casey, Conor Mortimer, JP Kean etc. have all gotten some abuse over the years. Did that help to win any of them Celtic crosses?

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 19/09/2017 19:29:31    2048234

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7885 - 19/09/2017 19:52:46    2048246

cavanman47 (Cavan) - Posts: 5010 - 19/09/2017 20:25:16    2048265

There are another 30 counties that need to develop that "psychological flaw".

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 19/09/2017 20:33:39    2048268

Laois76 (Laois) - Posts: 1270 - 19/09/2017 21:51:52    2048318

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 20/09/2017 09:58:03    2048436

Its dawned on me that Dublin and Mayo must be the most despised teams around at the moment.
The amount of fair play Dublin threads to be followed with bitter small minded comment.
On Mayo there is an endless line of posters and journalist's forming one hell of a Q sharpened boots and tearing into Mayo at the moment.
What else have Mayo and Dublin got in common ????? oh yeah the best two teams in the country Coincidence ????

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 20/09/2017 11:06:41    2048471

GaaGaa78 (UK) - Posts: 285 - 20/09/2017 11:25:58    2048480

As has been said by most others in this thread, Mayo are a phenomenal team who deserve a massive amount of praise for their achievements over the last 5 years. How anyone could question their resolve after what they've done this year and others, in coming back from the losses, is ridiculous.
As a Galway man, I'd be very proud if our panel showed the same character. We're well short of that at the moment.
A separate argument is that Mayo might lack composure in the final minutes of these finals, and that can be debated. That's only natural when they've yet to get over the line and have lost so many tight matches. But that's a different issue to their character, bottle, mental strength or whatever else you want to call it. They have that in spades, as well as having fantastic footballers.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2034 - 20/09/2017 11:40:22    2048487

This whole psychological flaw and something missing thing is a load of bull imho.

In fact I'd argue they're probably mentally the strongest team out there, easy to be mentally strain after winning etc but to come back again and again and again shows serious mental bottle and strength.

The plain and simple fact of the matter is they have a team that can match the best in the business in Dublin who will also go down as the best of all time but quite simply Dublin have a squad of players better whereas Mayo don't have that luxury.

1 to 16 they are up there with dublin but when it goes beyond that dublin have the advantage. Just more better footballers plain and simple.

tearintom (Wexford) - Posts: 1326 - 20/09/2017 13:22:52    2048549

Well I'd sooner believe that than some silly curse. I think anxiety could play a role in not been able to get over the line. Vaughan's moment of madness would fall under that. Mayo seem to be fine chasing a game but when winning becomes a distinct possibility they seem to panic. The approach of Dublin is that its just another game, look at rock with his final free he takes his time focuses, nothing was going to distract him from the job at hand. O'Connor didn't. We hear a lot about fine margins the last few days but I do think the phycological part could be that fine margin. The trauma of losing finals must have a role to play. I think anyone involved with coaching can testify to this

Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1591 - 20/09/2017 13:27:08    2048551

There was nothing in that game , mayo dominated for periods of that game , was only a score in it at the end , no one could be upset with that mayo team they threw everything at it . To come back year after year is an achievement . To get them over the line I reakon they need one more forward and a free taker who doesn't get involved with every decision the ref gives , just concentrates on his game ,

hipster (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 20/09/2017 13:36:58    2048556

Vinnie Murphy had a point though, I suppose Mayo have lost so many finals that it's become almost the norm, I have never seen the likes of it in any sport that I can remember,
I'm all for standing by your team through thick and thin but being constant gallant losers can't be acceptable either.
Maybe the Mayo curse is this fear of winning?

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2739 - 20/09/2017 13:48:14    2048565

Whatever about the psychological aspect Mayo must be physically exhausted after such a long season this year in particular and over the previous years. A lot of the team should be rested for the early part of the league at least, even if it costs them their place in Division 1.

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2987 - 20/09/2017 15:24:36    2048609

This Mayo team def has the mental resolve. 100% they do.

You don't keep coming back and doing so well without it.

This team just lacks forwards. Scoring forwards.

When playing Dublin a major Mayo scoring threat is diminished. They need Keegan/Boyle/Higgins getting forward but when playing Dublin their score getting influence is reduced.

That's their main problem for me. They just lack players to get them scores when playing Dublin.

Dublin just have too many moving parts for Mayo to worry about and this means they can't get the scores they need.

Dublin are just a better team with more options, full of players that can score off both feet regardless of their starting position.

Mayo are a great side but lack the vital options to beat Dublin.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 20/09/2017 16:52:09    2048653

Mayo have the worm in their brain Dublin had 10-15 years ago and must get rid of it the same way. This Mayo team can't. Perhaps a change of manager would actually help with better handling of young players coming through into senior ranks.

cjx (Tyrone) - Posts: 270 - 20/09/2017 16:56:23    2048655

Yes we do have a problem we don't have enough good scoring forwards. We have the ability there to beat Dublin I believe but against that team once you give an inch they take a mile we didn't have enough of a lead to hold them off.

Spoddgy (Mayo) - Posts: 660 - 20/09/2017 17:22:28    2048667

lilywhite1 (Kildare) - Posts: 2987 - 20/09/2017 18:40:53    2048698