Connacht Football/ Leinster Hurl Championship 2012

It was one of the more complete footballing performances I've seen in a while, or at least it looked that way. But the truth was they might as well have been playing an underage side for all the trouble they were caused. Passes were going to hand like they were on a training run, they weren't being challenged in slightest.

Having said that, the first two goals were very well taken and the very small number of wides, which is Mayo's biggest problem anytime they get to the All Ireland stages, bodes very well.

But the one thing that stood out, regardless of the poor opposition, was they had a look of a team playing with the utmost confidence, which I've never seen before in a Mayo team. Or at least, I've never had confidence in them

What do yee make of Mayo yesterday?

IMO they looked very vulnerable in the first half and benefited from some very soft frees which kept them in it. Granted the disallowed goal levelled that but the pen was outside box so the rub went their way. Aiden o Shea could have gotten a red also for his aggressive grabbing/ pushing into throat.
The other semi will be interesting now and all Mayo will have rosary beads out praying for a Dublin win.

rossie wrote: What do yee make of Mayo yesterday?

IMO they looked very vulnerable in the first half and benefited from some very soft frees which kept them in it. Granted the disallowed goal levelled that but the pen was outside box so the rub went their way. Aiden o Shea could have gotten a red also for his aggressive grabbing/ pushing into throat.
The other semi will be interesting now and all Mayo will have rosary beads out praying for a Dublin win.

I'd agree and the injuries to Peter Harte and Stephen O'Neill killed Tyrone. However, Mayo got over the line and that's the main thing in a semi-final and the 1st half in particular may have tempered some of the outrageous hype about this team.

I don't think this Mayo team would fear Kerry but they will know regardless of their opponents another first half performance like yesterday will result in more AI final heartbreak.

They needed that first half to give them a wake up call, the hype was ridiculous and highlighted again just how poor their opposition have been in previous rounds.

Don't think I've ever seen a Mayo team regroup like that before, though. Great to see.

I watched it in a pub with some Mayo people and they don't want Kerry. Even though they acknowledge dubs are better they would prefer to play the dubs. I watched second half of ladies game Saturday and Mayo were beaten by Kerry in spite of being the better team.
If that's how Mayo people feel it will be very difficult to shelter the players from that sentiment who after all live with and among them

rossie wrote: I watched it in a pub with some Mayo people and they don't want Kerry. Even though they acknowledge dubs are better they would prefer to play the dubs. I watched second half of ladies game Saturday and Mayo were beaten by Kerry in spite of being the better team.
If that's how Mayo people feel it will be very difficult to shelter the players from that sentiment who after all live with and among them

Spot on. Some cultures have "the bogeyman", in Mayo we invoke "The Gooch".

More heartbreak for Mayo on All-Ireland final day. They just didn't deliver at the crunch stage once again. I think that defeat psychologically will knock this group back a long way. Still have plenty of good players and won the minor today so more coming through but there are too many in that squad who have continually failed to deliver on the big day.

I'm heading up to the hurling replay today. Predictions?

Well done to Clare, played great hurling and showed strength of character to come through some sticky patches. If that was Galway they'd have ballsed it up. Its been a strange hurling year. I wonder will it be back to KK and Tipp next year or will it continue to be open? Clare look like a team with a good future ahead. Any number of teams will have hopes for next year though.

Cork showed their shrewdness that despite having a very average side they nearly robbed an All-Ireland.

Well done Clare, just know that they are going to celebrate like its .....1995

Anyone any thoughts on Galway v Sligo tomorrow. After a good display against a dissapointing Roscommon side, Galway should have the momentum to come through this one as well but Galway have flattered to deceive in recent years so who knows. I hope Galway can build on the end of the league and the Roscommon result to run out winners with a few points to spare here and set up a Connacht final against Mayo in Salthill to add to all the big events that will be happening in Galway over the next few months.