We are probably due an off season in fairness. We are leaking too many scores and aren't really clicking.
I don't buy into this nonsense of 'now or never' though. The team is actually quite young, and we have a high quality group at u21 coming behind them. I could see us going out in the quarters, having a good rest, and coming back into contention next year.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 14/07/2015 12:57:46    1753167

I like them and fancy them to give it a damn good rattle this year. That said, it is a very difficult ask for them to keep coming back. A lot will depend on who they get in the quarter finals. A nightmare game for them would be Galway believe it or not. I dont know how the pairings are done for the quarter finals, but as far as I remember it is a draw. So Galway would be in the mix if they beat Derry. Lots of banana skins left to slip on, and it really will depend on having a full deck to play with from here on in.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 14/07/2015 13:07:02    1753174

Yes Mayo need a good rest alright

I mean that title they won back in 1951...

It'd take it out of ye

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 14/07/2015 13:25:57    1753185

Define high quality at 21 level? Are you basing this on the minor team that won an All Ireland because Mayos record in the Connacht and All Ireland u 21 championship is the third best in Connacht over the last 10 years..Roscommon and Galway have bothe preformed far better at this age and if anything they are the ones with high quality coming through.. With this team i dont think Mayo have the time to be taking a year out and coming again next year..

Belclare1 (Galway) - Posts: 1626 - 14/07/2015 13:53:07    1753202

Belclare1
County: Galway
Posts: 476

1753202
Define high quality at 21 level? Are you basing this on the minor team that won an All Ireland because Mayos record in the Connacht and All Ireland u 21 championship is the third best in Connacht over the last 10 years..

10 YEARS? more like 6 years....we were very good at u-21 level up to 2009 when we last won it. We need to start picking up the odd title at that level but it is not a be all and end all. Poor management at that level has a factor there. Mayo like Galway always have talent coming through. Our minor teams are always strong this years collapse aside.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11232 - 14/07/2015 14:20:37    1753237

I think 2009 and the team ye had before that was very good at that level winning Connacht titles and that is the basis off yer success at senior level in Connacht over last 5 years. But no All Ireland since 2006 and no Connacht since 09 at 21 level. Agree that its always good to be picking up underage titles along the way, its gives us all belief that there is hope. My point been that Mayo have struggled in recent years and for Master to say there is Quality at 21 level is a bit far off..

Belclare1 (Galway) - Posts: 1626 - 14/07/2015 14:59:16    1753274

Belclare1
Define high quality at 21 level?

A highly talented all Ireland winning group of minors, 3 years on - many of which have already played senior intercounty. Pretty straightforward really.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 14/07/2015 15:27:25    1753292

Belclare1 - The potential for a good u-21 team is there. It is nice to be picking up the odd underage title and doing well but lets face it it is not the be all.
Galway well know that too in both football and hurling codes. The Tyrone underage system was in full crank when they were doing well at senior level and was talk of dominance for years to come but where is it now? Same in Clare hurling. Loais found that out, while Kerry seem to operate outside the spectrum..what is it about them kingdom boys?

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11232 - 14/07/2015 15:41:55    1753310

The thing to remember here is Mayo already have a strong team and therefore do not need a strong u-21 to feed a revolution. If 2-3 players from each year group make the grade and are pushing for selection then they'll come into a high quality well established team. Teams coming from further back require to bring more of the same age group through and assimilating that group can prove much harder.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 14/07/2015 15:42:12    1753312

Mayo are a top 4 or 5 side the only teams that will beat them this summer is Kerry,Dublin,Donegal. They are not a darkhorse I would look to Derry or Galway as possibly darkhorses.

Mr_Pundit (UK) - Posts: 677 - 14/07/2015 15:54:27    1753326

TheMaster
County: Mayo
Posts: 13404

1753292
Belclare1
Define high quality at 21 level?

A highly talented all Ireland winning group of minors, 3 years on - many of which have already played senior intercounty. Pretty straightforward really.

Aren't most of those lads crocked, Master?

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 14/07/2015 15:59:14    1753329

Mayo can win it this year

suckvalleypaddy (Galway) - Posts: 1669 - 14/07/2015 16:07:18    1753335

It's going to be a very interesting August with Mayo and Dublin coming out of their respective provinces relatively unchallenged, and in Mayo's case with only a couple of games under their belt which is ludicrous). And I say that with the greatest respect to Sligo. Donegal and Kerry/Cork on the other hand have had some blistering games and hence the opportunity to fine tune their games.

Mayo have consistently been one of the best teams in the country, but we've yet to see them really tested. And yes, the same could be said for Dublin, but the difference is Dublin have had a few more games and have absolutely steam-rolled the opposition. Mayo have had one game and only managed to pull ahead in the 2nd half after been gifted a goal which settled them.

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 14/07/2015 16:44:46    1753368

festinog
Mayo have consistently been one of the best teams in the country, but we've yet to see them really tested. And yes, the same could be said for Dublin, but the difference is Dublin have had a few more games and have absolutely steam-rolled the opposition. Mayo have had one game and only managed to pull ahead in the 2nd half after been gifted a goal which settled them.

The further ago that galway game is, the closer you lads seem to think you were to winning. By the same token, had parsons not slipped unluckily, sice would have been slowed up and probably had to pop the ball over the bar - if at all. Another ref would have probably given comer two yellows instead of one. The reality of the game was mayo were superior and threatened to pull away numerous times. Galway got goals at good times to keep them in the game, but the result wasn't in doubt after 10 minutes of the second half. That being mayos first game and galway's third.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 14/07/2015 17:47:37    1753401

jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 13859

1753185
Yes Mayo need a good rest alright

I mean that title they won back in 1951...

It'd take it out of ye

----
Yeah, more bottling than Irish Distillers :)

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 14/07/2015 19:23:53    1753453

The term darkhorse needs to be revisited. Mayo are contenders : not darkhorses. A darkhorse may be Galway or Derry. I actually give them( Mayo ) a real shout this year . Superb middle eight. Its as simple and as mundane as this . Kerry , Donegal , Dublin and Mayo can all beat each other on nay given day. Cork and Monaghan can beat any of the aformentioned four however I dont think they would win two to three of these game son the trot .

Mayo can win Sam in 2015 and it wouldnt be a major shock.

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 14/07/2015 19:44:53    1753459

Why do so many people have to keep stating the obvious.....
Mayo dont have the forwards to win Sam. Thats the long and the short of it.

Monaghan and Tyrone have a similar problem.

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 14/07/2015 19:47:52    1753460

With Dublin, Kerry and Donegal failing to impress so far, surely this is an opportunity for Mayo to win Sam this year. I am sure the vast magority of Gaelic Football followers would love to see Mayo winning the All-Ireland after their own county. Mayo have either matched or beaten the leading counties at various times in the last few years in the championship and in fairness to Mayo they play good attacking football.They do not resort to this blanket defense, I know there are many people hoping that their long wait since 1951 will be over shortly.

fainleog (Limerick) - Posts: 598 - 14/07/2015 21:10:21    1753503

The Master: a tad defensive there old chap. I never said Galway were going to win or even looked like winning. Mayo's victory was never in doubt, but until that goal was gifted the winning margin looked like it was going to be a lot smaller than anyone would have guessed considering it was a top Div 1 team with aspirations of an AI Vs a middle of the road Div 2 team.

The fact that it's even a matter of debate says it all.

festinog (Galway) - Posts: 3097 - 14/07/2015 21:19:18    1753512

Best if Sligo stay at home on Sunday if all the mayo arrogance is to be read here. Mayo will lose to a very intelligent Sligo team by 5 points

Tradmyass (Sligo) - Posts: 14 - 14/07/2015 21:35:56    1753529