Six weeks after the start of the provincial championships, we are all back to square one again with the start of the group stage of the All-Ireland series this weekend.
The aftermath of the final whistle in Pearse Stadium was a tough place for Mayo supporters to be with joyous Galway management, players and supporters basking in the glory of a late comeback — and rightly so.
But however bad we felt as supporters, I can guarantee it wasn’t a fraction of the pain the players would have felt in that moment.
Losing dressing-rooms are tough, especially after a game you were so close to winning.
The sound of silence would have been deafening, the sound of the N17 by the Saw Doctors being blared out from the winning dressing-room across the way would have been a dagger through the heart of the Mayo players.
That defeat would have taken time to process.
I believe they didn’t return to training until the following Friday which was the right thing to do in my opinion. When they reflected on the game in the video analysis session, I am sure they will have argued they got an awful lot right. Two points up in Pearse Stadium going into injury-time in a Connacht final is a great place to be.
One point I am sure did come up was ‘How did we manage to leave David McBrien and Rory Brickenden so exposed?’
We often accuse this Mayo team of being too safe in possession and I would agree with that, with their choice of passes and shots very much in the high percentage bracket. But because they commit so many bodies into the opposition’s ‘45 when they attack, it’s actually very risky because we are so vulnerable on turnovers.
I pointed out with Mike on the podcast after the Tyrone league game that often our highest players in slowed-up attacks are our defenders. That day when we were turned over, Tyrone were attacking into an ocean of space with Sam Callinan left in the graveyard shift in trying to mark Darragh Canavan.
In the Connacht final it was McBrien and Brickenden that were badly left exposed by the rest of our defenders playing too far forward when we were in possession. Someone on the field should have recognised the danger and sat back as a ‘plus one’ while we were in possession.
And that brings us to this weekend against a Cavan team who have beaten Monaghan and were within a point of Tyrone after extra-time in the Ulster championship.
They are a team that will enjoy playing against Mayo’s style.
This game has danger written all over it.
These are games we typically don’t play well in. Last year we struggled with Louth and were beaten by Cork; the year before we really struggled with Monaghan and Kildare in the Qualifiers.
In fact, back as far as 2016 there are examples almost every year (except for the Covid years) of teams like Fermanagh, Westmeath, Down, Cork and Armagh that all put us to the pin of our collar. The most famous of all was Kildare in 2018 in Newbridge which, of course, ended in defeat.
I believe the team needs a couple of tweaks to find a new source of energy in the belief system. Mattie Ruane needs a dominant midfield partner. It was Jack Carney earlier in the season but we seem to have gone away from that. Whether it’s Carney, Jordan Flynn, Aidan O’Shea or Diarmuid O’Connor, we need a settled partnership in that area.
In defence I think we need up the aggression levels. We look too nice and forgiving at times. Maybe it’s time to unleash Padraig O’Hora?
The return of Paddy Durcan, if fit, would certainly help in this regard and his loss shouldn’t be underestimated in that Connacht final defeat.
Up front the positive news is that Tommy Conroy is on the way back to being the player we know he can be. I thought at times he was electric in Salthill.
Overall, as a unit, the starting Mayo forward line scored five points from play and one mark. They will know that’s not good enough. Our ability to break down mass defences is still a concern and the lack of goal chances we create is too.
We are not a huge point-scoring team with a range of outside shooters like Donegal, for example, so we need to start scoring goals. Even if that was a focus for the last two weeks it can add some energy to the team.
We still look our most dangerous attacking-wise on turnovers.
Mayo need to respond on Saturday. I completely agree with the lads on the podcast this week — we just don’t need a win, we need a performance.
The season really starts now.
mayotillidie says:
May 17, 2024 at 9:35 am
I said same in previous post, but Mayo rarely do statement wins. You could argue even win against New York, was not a statement win, and did not beat bookies spread
facetheball says:
May 17, 2024 at 9:56 am
Not sure they can give a statement performance. Only play well in patches and they then revert to the
slow lateral hand passing. Happens in every single game,
Supermac says:
May 17, 2024 at 10:19 am
Cavan team named.
No paddy lynch, no dara mcveety, no killian clarke, no Jason mcloughlin. All key players for them.
Lads if we don't beat them it will be nothing short of a disaster
Bate the blanket says:
May 17, 2024 at 10:20 am
Is there a buzz around the County for the game tomorrow?
Glorydays says:
May 17, 2024 at 10:39 am
Bate the blanket theres more talk about the Bruce Springsteen concerts than the match. A very low key build up probably take a win against Dublin to get the show back on the road. Feeling around this part of Mayo is that we have regresded but we will beat Cavan Roscommon will be tricky
TsuDhoNim says:
May 17, 2024 at 10:45 am
@Bate the blanket: Not even a little. Even chatting to the folks going to the game, it's mostly fear & apprehension rather than excitement or belief.
As Boyler alludes to (absolutely spot on) in that piece, something needed to spark that confidence. On and off the field.
Gizmobobs says:
May 17, 2024 at 10:45 am
Hard see Paddy playing, Diarmuid be in more likely from the off and maybe change in half forwards as well.
1/5 with the bookies and as Supermac outlines with those players missing for the Breffini men we could possibly beat the spread of 5 points if get a good start.
Gizmobobs says:
May 17, 2024 at 11:08 am
Mayo Senior Football Team is as Follows:
1. Colm Reape Knockmore
2. Jack Coyne Ballyhaunis
3. David McBrien Ballaghaderreen
4. Donnacha McHugh Castlebar Mitchels
5. Stephen Coen Hollymount Carramore (C)
6. Sam Callinan Ballina Stephenites
7. Eoghan McLaughlin Westport
8. Matthew Ruane Breaffy
9. Diarmuid O’Connor Ballintubber
10. Jack Carney Kilmeena
11. Darren McHale Knockmore
12. Jordan Flynn Crossmolina Deel Rovers
13. Aidan O’Shea Breaffy
14. Tommy Conroy The Neale
15. Ryan O’Donoghue Béal an Mhuirthead
SUBS
16. Rob Hennelly Raheny
17. Fergal Boland Aghamore
18. Rory Brickenden Westport
19. Paddy Durcan Castlebar Mitchels
20. Enda Hession Garrymore
21. Conor Loftus Crossmolins Deel Rovers
22. Conor McStay Ballina Stephenites
23. Cillian O’Connor Ballintubber
24. Padraig O’Hora Ballina Stephenites
25. Paul Towey Charlestown Sarsfields
26. Bob Tuohy Castlebar Mitchels
https://mayogaa.com/2024/05/17/mayo-senior-football-team-announced-12/
Achill75 says:
May 17, 2024 at 11:09 am
Team in
Great to see a good shake up in team selection now just a change in game plan and more risk taking.
Moose79 says:
May 17, 2024 at 11:09 am
@bate no and it's no harm tbh.
I don't think there'll be any statement performance. We will probably do that thing we do where we play all the ball, lead by a few mid way through the 2nd half and then struggle to close it out.
I'd happily take 1 point wins in the next two and then if there's 2/3 big games in us, that's the time to do it.
Mood is very flat in general but I think that's accross the board in both codes to be honest.
Achill75 says:
May 17, 2024 at 11:16 am
For me Sam Callinan is in best position now at 6.hes not a corner back has never played there for Ballina or Mayo underage, he doesnt look comfortable there as it proved against Paul Mannion last year and Darragh Canavan in the League.
Bonni Boyler says:
May 17, 2024 at 11:18 am
Thanks Gizmobobs was just about to search for the Team. Interesting to see Darren Mc Hale start if the team is as announced.
FW says:
May 17, 2024 at 11:19 am
Good team and strong bench.
As people are saying this team need to do something to spark themselves and the fans,I really want them to do this for themselves. It's such fine margins,there would be a much bigger crowd and feeling if we had (and we should have) beaten Galway.However we have to forget about that now,that was the real competition anyway.
I'm one of the more optimistic posters on here but I'm not sure I believe in the way this team is playing.On the other hand look at how quick things can change....Galway were being written off and PJ was going to be sent packing,one win and suddenly they're dark horses for Sam.
Whatever the results in the group,if we can go into the last game against Dublin and that's a top of the table clash then we're back in contention.
FW says:
May 17, 2024 at 11:41 am
Meant to say this is the main competition.
Thedarkyfinn says:
May 17, 2024 at 12:53 pm
Almost the full deck to pick from and great to see Sam at 6. Maybe a couple of changes before kick off who knows. Expecting a performance here but sadly wont see it which is a bit annoying being so close to it. Something previously planned has put a kybosh on attending. I'd expect a decent attendance for this one with the time, weather and not on TV factors so hopefully a good atmosphere to boot