Mayo
The expectation was that a home tie against a Derry side who had lost three of their championship games would give Mayo a strong claim for a place in the quarter-finals. But as Conor Dohertyโs penalty slipped past Colm Reape to see Derry advance after extra-time, and a shootout, Mayo found themselves in the familiar House of Pain surroundings.
Manager Kevin McStay lamented his sideโs woes with closing out games after the defeat in MacHale Park. Mayo were one point ahead on the hour mark when Reape missed a free which would have extended their advantage. Matthew Ruane saw his goal-bound shot saved shortly after although Ryan OโDonoghue did send the rebound over the bar. Sam Callinan also spurned a chance to put Mayo two points in front when his fisted effort tailed wide during the four minutes of added time. OโDonoghue converted a penalty in normal time but saw his effort saved in the shootout, along with Paul Towey.
Crucial wins against Dublin [Group game] and Galway [Connacht final] also eluded Mayo due to lack of composure in the closing minutes. Having just taken the lead against Dublin in Hyde Park with a 73rd minute free from Ryan OโDonoghue, they conceded a Cormac Costello equaliser which ensured Dublin earned a draw to progress directly to the quarter-finals as group winners. Against Galway, they gave away the last two scores of the game. The second of those was the result of Galway pressure on a Mayo kickout which allowed goalkeeper Conor Gleeson seal victory for the Tribesmen with a long range free.
McStay was correct with his diagnosis.
Tyrone
Roscommon at home in Healy Park certainly favoured a Tyrone win on paper. But the 2021 All-Ireland champions failed to make use of their home comforts and stumbled into a six-point deficit by half-time. A second-half revival brought them back to within one after Michael McKernanโs point, but Daire Cregg swung over the insurance score to deliver Roscommonโs first-ever championship win against the Red Hand county.
It was a surprising result given Roscommonโs relegation from Division 1 and uninspiring run of championship results [three losses, one win]. They squeezed into this tie after defeating Cavan to ensure their survival with their only win of the group phase.
Tyrone, by contrast, had just completed back-to-back championship wins [over Cavan and Cork] for the first time since 2021. But they were unable to build on that momentum as they relinquished opportunities with seven wides in the first half. And their second half fightback was insufficient in stopping Roscommon from picking up just their second win in 11 games.
Inconsistent form condemns them to an abrupt exit.
Cork
Cork were the ones to pick up the tab for the cost of Louthโs admittance to a first-ever All-Ireland quarter-final. Lateral, laboured, ponderous play seemed to be the blueprint of Corkโs gameplan, retaining possession for large periods without any product. They failed to score for 15 minutes in the first half, and 17 minutes in the second half. At one stage in the second half, they held the ball for almost four minutes before a speculative Colm OโCallaghan shot allowed Louth to regain control.
Their encouraging display against Kerry in the Munster semi-final, and stunning victory over Donegal in the All-Ireland group stage, seem like a distant memory at this point. The 3-9 they posted that day against a resurgent Donegal who had just captured the Ulster title was built on an attacking approach that harvested goals from Mattie Taylor, Seรกn Powter and Rory Maguire. There was no such incision in how they played against Louth which will haunt them when the review the opportunities they didnโt take.
Monaghan
Manager Vinny Corey has said today that he will take time to consider his future with Monaghan after a difficult season which sums up the grim reality of their year. After a decade spent in Division 1, Monaghan were relegated earlier this year while their time in the Ulster championship was short lived after conceding three goals against Cavan in the preliminary round. That outcome did not seem likely after opening their campaign with a win against Dublin in Croke Park.
They were overwhelmed by Kerry in their All-Ireland group opener but seemed to restore themselves with a second-half rally of five points to earn a draw against Louth. They followed that up with a three-point win over Meath to enjoy their first competitive triumph in almost five months. Along with the uncertainty around Coreyโs plans, the future of star forward Conor McManus also remains unknown as Monaghan look to recover and regroup through the winter.
Sligo
Sligo will look back on their 2024 season positively. They brought Galway to the verge of heart failure with a valiant display in the Connacht semi-final. Rob Finnertyโs goal late goal rescued Pรกdraic Joyceโs side from defeat.
They scored seven goals in the Tailteann Cup as they progressed from the group phase with two wins from two before crushing Limerick to book their place in the semi-finals. Down needed a penalty in extra-time to shake off the stiff challenge of Tony McEnteeโs charges who lost Nathan Mullen to a red card.
Antrim
Goals were the undoing of Antrim in their Tailteann Cup semi-final loss to Laois. But similar to Justin McNultyโs side, they also built up a hefty account of goals throughout the competition, lifting nine green flags on the way to the semi-final. They scored four of those goals in their opening round win over Tipperary.
It was their second year in-a-row to fall at the penultimate stage of the competition after losing out to last yearโs eventual champions Meath, meaning they will be disappointed not to surpass that step this time around.
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Will connors fan put that in his diary, I am not sure if he gets paid extra for working weekends
I hope on the Leinster show this evening Off The Ball remember to put on a condom! Haha!
Ah no, some great fixtures and weekends there. About 12 serious games there. Munster v Saracens and Northampton, Leinster going to La Rochelle again, and Leicester Ulster have some history of mental games!
I think these fixtures mostly copy and paste but with different teams.
Off the ball salivating Iโm sure.
@Conor: The spin-churn turns
conflicting data there on Munster dates, text says first match on Sunday & next on Friday night, but list at end shows Saturday-Friday which is more likely correct since thereโs travel and all in there, and no reason to be scheduling Sunday-Friday at this or any stage of comp