The age profile of this Mayo team does not suggest this should be it for them. I would not wager a lot of money of them winning it out next year because it seems like another world away right now. But my wounds from Sunday are still understandably raw. We struggled to comeback from losing the 2 finals in the 90's but I also recall Cork losing 2 finals in 87 and 88 and then winning the next 2 against ourselves and Meath. I know the championship is a more gruelling prospect now with backoors and quarter finals but I would not write the epitaph of this group just yet. Dillon and possibly Andy moran will be thinking long and hard during the winter bout their futures. They never recovered from their injuries and looked like lads with too much mileage on the clock. If Horan stays he needs to intoduce a little new blood up front. Aidan Kilcoyne if available is good enough to be pushing for a start on this team. Theres more in Darren Coen and Doherty too.. Galway will be eyeing up a crack at Mayo next year especially after what happened in Salthill this year

unclegerry (Mayo) - Posts: 1223 - 25/09/2013 10:58:00    1489023

I found that as opposed to Dublin, for Mayo there were 'a lot of things that had to go right' and 'a lot of things mayo had to do' to be in the game! Mayo need to go into a final playing their own gameplan rather than having to hose down the gameplan of their opposition as their starting point as it puts them on the backfoot straight away!


Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 25/09/2013 11:18:08    1489042

Mayo will win Connaught because their ahead of us all at the moment. That means a QF in Croker. Most teams wont bounce back but I wouldnt write off Mayo and they could get to a final again depending on the draw they get. There are a couple of teams that will improve on this year and they are Cork, Tyrone, Donegal, Meath, and Cavan are looking to join the top table as well.

johnterry (Galway) - Posts: 582 - 25/09/2013 11:20:21    1489045

It wasn't so long ago Dublin wouldn't be back after getting hammered in all ireland quarter finals....two all irelands later that's forgotten about.

Mayo will be back, their minors just won an all ireland and Mayo will eventually get their day.

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 25/09/2013 11:29:50    1489054

Winning becomes a habit but so does losing and who knows what mental effects this defeat will have on Mayo. As Horan said "this one was harder to take".

I think that Mayo are still short a few players to win an All Ireland, especially in attack. Tyrone, Kerry, Cork, Dublin and Donegal have all won All Ireland in the past 13 years with at least 2 or 3 real dangerous forwards. Mayo have Andy Moran back but his best is behind him and although Cillian O Connor is a class act they need to find another few of him.

Like another poster said Mayo will probably make the quarters again next year but even if they make it to the final I still don't think they will win it!!

Tir Conaill Abu (Donegal) - Posts: 1677 - 25/09/2013 11:37:40    1489058

Mayo are a good team. It'll be more a mental thing next year more than anything. They do have the players. Connacht will not be as easy as it was this year though as i expect a big challenge from ourselves and the Sheep Stealers.......

Mayo will be back though......

tribeinbrum (Galway) - Posts: 4155 - 25/09/2013 11:39:10    1489061

i agree, Mayo have what it takes, they lost this all Ireland by a single point ONE point and if you listened to the analysis you would imagine the gap was the Grand Canyon.

Edenburt15 (Cavan) - Posts: 723 - 25/09/2013 11:41:56    1489067

Mentally it will be very difficult for Mayo in 2014 and as other posters have said I think they need to find a few quality forwards. Aidan O'Shea would be an option at fullforward as I think he is limited at midfield,great in the air but his mobility found him out in the Semi and final.

Horan has a mountain to climb and convincing them that they are good enough to win an All-Ireland will be difficult.

I hope I am wrong but I fear that this current side are doomed to failure. 2013 was the All-Ireland they should have won considering how awesome they played right up to All-Ireland final day and then to be beaten by a Dublin team who on the day performed well below what they where capable of.

Skillful_Bill (Tyrone) - Posts: 102 - 25/09/2013 11:54:52    1489084

Good point Over the Bar. Dublin were ridiculed for over ten years as "losers" and "bottlers". Fact is they were beaten by Meath, Armagh, Kerry and Tyrone teams at their very best.

Now suddenly they are being lauded as ruthless and full of character and refusal to lie down. They are no different in that regard to the Dublin players of before 2011. Indeed some of them are stil there. Difference now is that they have the football to beat their peers.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 25/09/2013 12:04:26    1489093

I honestly don't think that Horan is good enough to win an AI with Mayo

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 25/09/2013 12:05:09    1489094

No not for me!!

They have suffered too much, This group of players wont win the all Ireland.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13655 - 25/09/2013 12:14:53    1489103

Mayo BLEW their chance the last day. Dublin performed as bad as they will ever perform in a final and still ran out easy enough winners. 1 point in it at the end but Dublin had the game already won with 5-10 mins left.

Mayo will find themselves in the all ireland 1/4 final again next year where if they can raise their game for that they should have a realistic chance of a semi appearance and who is to say they wont reach another final.

But to be honest I think mayo have seen here last final appearance for another 3/4 years and as for winning one...could be another 50 years before they win one after that shambles of an attempt the last day

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 25/09/2013 12:19:44    1489107

My heart goes out to them and their supporters, I cant honestly ever remember any team getting to two finals in a row and loosn both??? Begin to wonder is the whole myth about a "curse" more truth than a myth. Seriously, how could you get over that....I think at this stage the entire country wants them to win it....

Mollymalone (Dublin) - Posts: 1137 - 25/09/2013 12:34:33    1489117

They'll be in the quarters/semis next year again so will not be far away.

This was indeed a big chance to win missed by Mayo but who's to say they won't get another shot.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13833 - 25/09/2013 12:40:49    1489122

Mayo will be Dublin's biggest danger again next year. Mayo have the best 1 to 9 in the country and if they can find a forward or two then they can end there quest for SAM.

kerry74 (Kerry) - Posts: 1354 - 25/09/2013 12:44:52    1489131

kerry74
County: Kerry
Posts: 1048

1489131
Mayo will be Dublin's biggest danger again next year. Mayo have the best 1 to 9 in the country and if they can find a forward or two then they can end there quest for SAM.
_______

Kerry will be in the final next year

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 25/09/2013 12:55:47    1489143

Kerry were the best team we played against in the Championship

Kev Mc cost you another All Ireland title in 2013

Kerry would have beaten Mayo on that performance

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 25/09/2013 12:58:26    1489146

In a few weeks they'll be back training on the come back trail - again, thats the way it goes.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4956 - 25/09/2013 13:01:49    1489149

Mayo will be at the business end next year, young lads are resilient and this mental torture stuff is exagerrated. They'll win connaught and probably be in the semi, right back in the mix. Kildare, Meath, armagh, derry and galway fans wouldnt mind a few years like mayo have had, losing one championship game a year-try a qualifier exit in Mullingar for a bit of perspective!

switec (Kildare) - Posts: 525 - 25/09/2013 13:04:30    1489152

No ! Blew a great chance last Sunday playing a young Dublin team who didn't play well on the day. The margin of victory is irrelevant fact is they didn't perform on the biggest stage yet again.To the people saying they will be there again next year as they will win Connacht easily I say 12 months is a long time in football, do you think we are going to stand still in Galway? No chance. The Rossies are also going to improve and have the talent to beat Mayo on their day.

Barnowl94 (Galway) - Posts: 3150 - 25/09/2013 13:22:02    1489170