It’s clear from watching Mayo playing in the first two games of the league that a sizeable amount of time on the training ground has gone into the team’s defensive shape and structure.
The protection of the ‘D’ — combined with not just two clean sheets but no goal chances conceded — points to tangible progress considering how damaging goals have been to Mayo teams since 2012.
The team of 2024’s defensive form will get a full NCT this Saturday in Tralee with Messrs Clifford, O’Shea, the Geaneys et al lying in wait.
It’s unquestioned that as much, if not more, training ground work must be going into Mayo’s attacking unit. It’s just that the returns have not been as immediately apparent.
As Austy O’Malley said on the podcast this week, the raw materials are certainly there in Mayo’s full-forward line, but getting the blend, balance and cohesion is another day’s work.
Let’s crunch some numbers to begin with.
When we examine the full-forward line, in particular, the headline stats are pitiful.
Of the starting full-forward line from both games (Aidan O’Shea and Ryan O’Donoghue in both games, Tommy Conroy v Galway and Paul Towey v Dublin), Mayo have a return of just 0-2 from play — a point apiece for O’Donoghue and Towey.
Towey matched that total off the bench in Salthill.
But delve a little deeper and a more rounded picture begins to emerge.
Mayo have had eleven different scorers so far in the league and the inside forwards have their fingerprints on a good chunk of Mayo’s total score of 3-24.
Ryan O’Donoghue has pointed eight frees. Of those, two were self-earned. In addition he had assists for four more points. Two of these were smart, quick frees to Fergal Boland, the last score of the first half against Galway along with the more famous winner against Dublin.
Tommy Conroy had two assists in the first half against Galway while Aidan O’Shea has had assists for four points (three of which were he was fouled and O’Donoghue converted the free).
Without having the final pass, O’Shea also played a key role in three of Mayo’s first half points against Galway.
Interestingly the man with the greatest assists tally so far is also Mayo’s top scorer – Fergal Boland. The returning Aghamore player has kicked four points from play and had assists for 1-3. It would be 1-4 if O’Shea had converted the second half free he missed against Dublin.
Back to the inside line, it’s clear their contribution to the scoreboard is weak thus far but their overall contribution to the attack is steady, if not spectacular.
It’s also fair to add that, of the inside forwards, only Ryan O’Donoghue has brought a consistently high level across the two games.
He is Mayo’s best forward, there can be no doubt about that.
There are debates about Tommy Conroy’s best position – as an inside forward or further out, facing the goal. We think confidence is a big factor and a run of games and finding his form can see him be a live option in either forward line. He still hasn’t got a consistent run of game-time since his cruciate ligament injury in January 2022.
Online forums have seen plenty of criticism of Aidan O’Shea’s form, much of it merited.
Despite his general contributions being solid, he looks rusty and off-form. There have been some quick to conclude he is past his best but considering he is late back into the squad, it’s a tad early for that.
Paul Towey is three from three with shots at goal and each of those scores were well-taken, showing a real inside forward’s instincts.
However, he would appear more of a finisher in every sense. He’s not as good a ball winner as the other three starters and might be better suited to finishing, rather than starting games.
And there’s no doubt he could have a significant amount to contribute from that role as the year moves on
And then there’s Cillian O’Connor. Working his way back from lengthy spells on the sideline, he has been used as a finisher thus far.
Could Saturday night be the time to start him?
Whatever about who is going well in training, minutes in his legs is the equivalent of cash in the bank for later in the year – either as a starter or coming on.
James Carr is the sixth part of the equation, purely because, unlike the other five, he has not seen any action yet as he works his way back from injury. He brings a goal threat and an unpredictability that could be worth its weight in gold. It is clear he is central to management’s plans.
When you look at the inside options in their totality, Mayo have an embarrassment of riches.
We can’t recall such a high level of options for the inside line for Mayo but the challenge is getting the most out of them individually and collectively.
What players have the greatest understanding and chemistry with each other?
What is the starting unit if all six are fit and on form?
Does one of them slip back to the half-forward line?
Most importantly, how do Mayo use and get the most out of their inside line?
Ryan O’Donoghue has stated his favourite position is at the top of the ‘D’. But that may not always chime with an inside line that includes Aidan O’Shea.
It would appear that management do not want O’Shea and Cillian O’Connor on the field together. Perhaps it is because they are worried about both of them having to track and possibly getting mismatched in this regard. Perhaps it is because, with neither blessed with lightning pace, two of them together may blunt the inside line.
It’s clear that Mayo are trying to kick the ball as often as possible inside. O’Shea is an obvious target while Bob Tuohy has been sneaking in there occasionally too. O’Donoghue is a powerful man to win ball in front too, as is Carr while Cillian O’Connor’s wiliness is a weapon too.
How Mayo fare against mass defences is still a concern.
They scored 1-11 from play against Galway but only 1-5 against the Dubs. Winning and converting frees can often be an understated quality, but you cannot rely on them too much and throw yourself at the mercy of the referee’s interpretation of the rules.
Having players like Diarmuid O’Connor and Matthew Ruane back will add greatly to Mayo’s middle third thrust and should benefit the inside line as a consequence.
Against Dublin, a lot of ball kicked in came back out but, rather than throw the baby out with the bathwater and eliminate the kicking game, Mayo will surely have noticed that some rusty play and poor handling contributed as did some poor decision making.
The intent was there and this is vital.
Mayo’s ball-winning ability inside is a potentially key weapon in a modern game where so many teams are playing safe keep-ball.
Original thinkers have the potential to reap a reward this year.
Take Ryan O’Donoghue’s sublime assist for Fergal Boland’s winner against Dublin.
What were the risks? Well, if the ball was intercepted by being a foot or two over or under hit, Dublin could have broken upfield and kicked a winner.
Imagine the cries from the stand then? Everyone would be saying he should have had a crack and, ‘at the least, put it dead’.
But in that moment, Ryan O’Donoghue didn’t think about losing the game; he thought about winning it. It’s a subtle but vital difference in mindset.
Achill75 says:
February 15, 2024 at 9:33 pm
Not buying Eds Aidan O'Shea late into the squad excuse.
Aidans return from play at Full Forward since Kerry game last year
2023 Championship
Kerry No Score from play 2 marks and a free
Louth No Score from play , 4 frees
Cork No Score
Galway No Score
Dublin No Score from play , 1 free
2024 League
Galway No Score
Dublin No Score
A total of 0 points from our full forward in our 7 last games.
Cillian needs to start at FF and get a few full 70 minute games into him as Colm Boyle said on Off the Ball last night if we have any chance of reaching the later stages in championship this season.McStay has got this wrong as he proved by taking him off against Dublin last summer.repeating the same mistakes.
Southmayo Exile says:
February 15, 2024 at 10:03 pm
There is nothing to learn by playing Aidan this weekend. Why not try a ff line of Paul Towey, Tommy and ROD and get fast ball in with plenty of movement by the lads inside.
Or try someone like Bob Tuohy at ff and drop some ball into him.
We have a free shot on Saturday night. McStay knows at this stage what Aidan can do and his limitations. Let's try something different on Saturday night and who knows it might just work.
Achill75 says:
February 15, 2024 at 11:24 pm
Mayos best football since the 2017 All Ireland Final was the the last 15 minutes plus extra time against Dublin in the 21 Semi Final after Aidan was subbed off.He was Full Forward for both the Dublin and Tyrone games that year and yet scored nothing.I have nothing against Aidan , great servant and could do still a job at 11 maybe or coming on as sub midfielder.Hes just not quick and mobile enough to be an effective full forward at the top level like Donaghy or Liston.
The Full forward line has to be ROD , Cillian and Tommy Conroy from now on.
to win just once says:
February 15, 2024 at 11:50 pm
I seem to remember McBrien playing a super one two with Aido before scoring an excellent goal v Galway in Salthill last year. Lovely quick hands by O Shea. Lovely goal. Lovely result as we won by a point. He may not have scored it but was instrumental in its execution. Not a natural full forward yes, but a handful for most full backs. Come to think of it Tommy C is not a natural inside forward either. His strength is running at pace at a defence from deep. Yes Cillian is or at least was more comfortable in full forward line and I hope we see him start there on Saturday night.
JKEL88 says:
February 16, 2024 at 10:25 am
Id love to see Diarmuid tried at full forward for a game or two, he was in there for a while for a game during the club championship in 2022 and caused havoc.
Have Himself and Tommy interchanging between Full Forward and Half Forward line during the game.
JP says:
February 16, 2024 at 11:20 am
Claremorris posters, do ye remember Tomas Griffin yere inside line player and underage sprinter. In my view our non selection and usage of him just showed how our whole football culture doesn't get inside line play.
No way to prove it (although I once did trawl his scores from play in available games data and it was consistent) but he's the kind of player we keep on dropping the ball on.
Kevin Keane Swinford, absolutely class, built like a gymnast, no, we didn't even know he existed till he was no longer playing.
The inside line is the game. That is where the real difference makers are. We're too casual identifying and bringing through those that we get. We're okay with clubs or county moving such lads back as wingbacks. We'll always have a plethora of players for wingback.
We need to be more rigorous on talent identification for inside line players. We're two generations dropping the ball on this line of the field.
Pebblesmeller says:
February 16, 2024 at 12:09 pm
I wouldn't rule out further experimentation with O'Shea at 14, but, I think to get the best out of him and to play to his strengths, it would involve him being a "pivot" in our attack as opposed to being a scoring forward (which he clearly isn't). O'Shea has many strengths to his game that none of our other forwards have, while at the same time, has weaknesses that could hinder our attack. For example, O'Shea is not going to take his marker on, drop the shoulder, and breeze past him on the run like O'Donohue. Nor is he going to get shots off quickly in tight situations like Conroy. So using him in these roles, as a conventional forward so to speak, will not work. You'll get nothing out of O'Shea in these roles, your attack will break down and then we will be counter attacked against.
But playing to his strengths and structuring your attack around those strengths will make it very difficult to the opposing defence. For example, O'Shea has great handling - his ability to move the ball swiftly off either hand - and his link up play can be worked on to make sure we have runners coming off his shoulder, at angled runs, ready to receive those little popped passess. McBriens goal v Galway last year is a prime example, O'Sheas body positioning and reverse popped pass to McBrien on the run opened up the channel for the goal. Without O'Shea there, that goal is never scored. Also, you have to consider that if O'Shea is inside he is going to be man marked or maybe even double marked. That alone frees up space elsewhere in our attack, even if you never use him. Plus, his ability to win ball, take hits and still retain the ball is unique to the point that if we can supply winnable ball inside to him it will almost certainly stick. It's up to the runners to be there to feed off him then.
Granted, it's not a tactic that will work for the entire 70 mins of a game but it is a real and viable option. And we need options to be able to switch the play and keep opposing defenses guessing. We need to be smarter in how we use him too. Really, we should be getting two or three scored marks per game off him but the ball into him is often inaccurate.
Plenty of work to be done but the end result is worth working for.
You Three says:
February 16, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Think the criticism of AoS is a bit ott, he's a baller, for the first time in a long time his hands let him down vs Dublin last time out. Looking forward to this weekend. One of those that could go 3 ways, they batter us, we smash them or it's a bit of a damp squid. Hoping Kerry go man to man and we have a proper game
You Three says:
February 16, 2024 at 1:03 pm
Forgot to say, great article Edwin, enjoyed that, read a lot of GAA stuff most nowhere near as informative as that, gg
Supermac says:
February 16, 2024 at 1:04 pm
I get your argument there Pebble but the role you are describing for AOS there is the very definition of a luxury player. We can't afford that kind of indulgence, none of the other serious contenders would.
If its going to be accepted that he won't be scoring (which seems crazy to me as an inside forward) then we need to be seeing far far more from him then the occasional good handpass or turnover.
The stats achill75 lays out are pretty stark.
I think if it's s choice between the 2 as it appears to be then it's Cillian at ff all day long for me, he will give you all those things, workrate, tackling etc and he knows where the posts are.
We know when it gets to the big games incroker Aidan at ff just won't work, (theres a mountain of evidence supporting that) so why build the entire forward line around it again in the league.
Thats not to say there still isn't a role for him, would be a great man to bring on with 20 mins to go if protecting a lead to tackle and press and help close up central channels
Ontheditch says:
February 16, 2024 at 4:47 pm
A bit unfair not to include assists and other contributions, completed passes, turnovers etc in analysis of AOS. Aidan is not a Kieran Donaghy, though he did manage to mark him out of it on one occasion