Seriously smart and steely operator. Future All Ireland winning Mayo manager- you heard it here first!

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 28/01/2015 14:18:19    1687387

I seen a marked improvement in his all-round play in last year's championship compared to previous years. His ball-winning abilities and his strength on the ball have improved quite a bit and his score-taking from open play and his positional sense. Like mesamis says , if he continues to improve , he will be up there with one of the greats. I was sad to see him dismissed at the end of last year's semi-final replay for that petulant kick as it was born out of sher frustration with Kerry's blatant delaying tactics. He will miss Mayo's opening game of the championship this year. (food for thought for you fantasy football players).

s goldrick (Cavan) - Posts: 5518 - 28/01/2015 17:14:54    1687472

s goldrick
County: Cavan
Posts: 3267

1687472 I seen a marked improvement in his all-round play in last year's championship compared to previous years. His ball-winning abilities and his strength on the ball have improved quite a bit and his score-taking from open play and his positional sense. Like mesamis says , if he continues to improve , he will be up there with one of the greats.

Yeah I agree with this, I've questioned whether deserved the YPOTY awards on here before but I think last season he moved up a level.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12120 - 28/01/2015 17:41:17    1687481

He won't miss our first championship game. He is missing the first league game through that suspension.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11232 - 28/01/2015 19:07:33    1687508

Cillian O Connor is probably as good now as he will ever be. It wouldn't surprise me if his career high was 2013 his one black spot is failing to score from play in both the 2012 2013 AI finals however I don't agree a good player to become great has to win Sam.

D O Connor not a patch on his brother the big difference was he happened to play on a Mayo team that were good enough to the AI.

Gaa_lover (USA) - Posts: 3347 - 28/01/2015 19:48:17    1687520

/01/2015 10:36:09
MesAmis
County: Dublin
Posts: 8218

1687281
He's only 22 lads!

Just think about where he is now and what he has already achieved and think of how good he may be at 28 when he has had a chance to fully develop as a player!


Young mans game now. Most established seniors by 22 while thinking about retirement by 28.

Mr_Pundit (UK) - Posts: 677 - 28/01/2015 19:55:31    1687522

very good player but not 'great' yet

lilypad (Kildare) - Posts: 1363 - 28/01/2015 21:00:22    1687558

Honestly he is a good player! How good can he be? well come back in 8 years time and we will see, but personally he is no where near the greats of Joyce and Donnellan from Galway. These guys had all Irelands won at 21/22 and another three years later. Discipline will always go against him as well, as seen last year v Kerry.. So just because he racks up huge scores against the poor Connacht teams over the last few years i wouldnt be getting carried away yet!!

Belclare1 (Galway) - Posts: 1626 - 29/01/2015 08:08:08    1687579

Good freetaker, big and strong, but 1-12 from play in 6 games is a poor return considering Mayo played New York, Roscommon Galway Cork and Kerry twice. That's an average of 2.5 pts per game, not good enough to win Sam.

All teams that have won Sam over the past 10 years had class forwards in Brogan, Cannavan/ONeill, Gooch/O Donoghue, McFadden, and ONeill/D OConnor/Goulding.
Mayo have one quality forward which isn't good enough for Sam.

kerryrowz (Kerry) - Posts: 833 - 29/01/2015 10:22:35    1687613

C O Connor reminds me of our own Derek Duggan who also burst onto the scene as 19 year old then when he was 22/23 people wondered how good he could get? but injuries meant his first few years was his best. O Connor has picked up a number of injuries already which is a concern for any young player.

ispeakwisdom (Roscommon) - Posts: 2487 - 29/01/2015 20:46:26    1687894

ispeakwisdom
County: Roscommon
Posts: 1343

1687894
C O Connor reminds me of our own Derek Duggan who also burst onto the scene as 19 year old then when he was 22/23 people wondered how good he could get? but injuries meant his first few years was his best. O Connor has picked up a number of injuries already which is a concern for any young player.

True enough but I think if Cillian stays injury free he'll be some footballer when he hits his peak in a few years time.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13711 - 29/01/2015 21:18:10    1687913

great player but in the modern game he is mid career already, by 26 he will be thinking about retirement and he will deserve the rest by then, silly thread in fairness

maroondiesel (Mayo) - Posts: 1196 - 29/01/2015 21:19:24    1687914

A great forward who has carried the Mayo forward unit for a few years, his return from play needs to greatly improve but his steel & accuracy when taking crucial frees on big days at Croker is very impressive.

Bluewave (Dublin) - Posts: 552 - 30/01/2015 08:27:20    1687947

lets see how he gets on with a team in decline because thats where Mayo are heading.

giveballaghback (Roscommon) - Posts: 296 - 30/01/2015 18:49:50    1688171

The question is if you had to pick a full forward line out of every county, my personal 3 would be Gooch(Aware he plays at 11 now). O'Donughue and Brogan. Even though I think O'Connor is a good player id actually have Michael Murphy or Jamie Clarke ahead of him also.

cocopop (Roscommon) - Posts: 26 - 31/01/2015 15:48:12    1688350

was shackled by young dublin under21 player jack smith yesterday
only scored a point from play as the favourites uuj crashed out of the sigerson to dcu

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 05/02/2015 10:37:00    1690304

O Connor was held scoreless from play the one score was a free. If my memory serves me correct his marker Jack Smith struggled to get a start on the Dublin U-21 team.

Mr_Pundit (UK) - Posts: 677 - 05/02/2015 20:16:37    1690540

O Connor doesn't contribute as nearly enough from play as all the leading so called marquee forwards to me he is not in the same class as B Brogan, Connolly, Murphy, Gooch, Clarke scores the majority of his scores from dead balls

jacktheDub (Dublin) - Posts: 944 - 05/02/2015 20:52:47    1690551

Yeh jacktheDub, he's not quite at those lads standard as a footballer but he has time on his side to make his mark, he needs a good Mayo team around him, and let's be honest, they're not half bad!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 05/02/2015 21:16:16    1690558

dont feel he is anything that special from play outside of his finishing which is superb

fabio8 (USA) - Posts: 2182 - 05/02/2015 21:34:44    1690564