There are a number of reasons to be downbeat for the long-suffering Mayo fan this weekend.

The under 20s’ exit was a start, the news on the O’Connors both being out for today’s game was another blow and the underlying sense that Mayo just aren’t firing on all cylinders at the moment at senior level at a time when some signs of progress are badly needed is probably the most prominent feeling.

But this article is not about any of that stuff. No, this is a piece for you to read as you have a late breakfast on Sunday morning if you’re a glass half full type of supporter.

So here we go. Reasons to be positive. 

1. The weather and the venue

Roscommon’s triumphs over Mayo in recent years have been built on a foundation of defence and conservatism.

For a group of football people that like to proudly pronounce their superiority in the area of natural forwards over Mayo, they rarely, if ever, set themselves up for a shootout with their old rivals.

Clogging up the centre, forcing turnovers and feeding their talented sharpshooters has been their blueprint for success in recent years and every pundit expects more of the same this weekend. 
However, both the 2019 and 2023 games were played in the tight surrounds of Hastings Insurance MacHale Park and on days where the weather was simply awful. Hyde Park is one of the biggest pitches in the country, two metres wider than Croke Park.

When every inch of space matters to a tightly choreographed defensive approach, having a pitch as narrow as the one in Castlebar is a nice benefit. Bad weather also helps. Neither is available to them this weekend.  

2. Ryan O’Donoghue

Ryan O’Donoghue is in fantastic form.

This should be a point on its own, not just a launchpad for talking points about Mayo’s deficiencies in attack. Yes, others are not chipping in enough and, yes, he will likely be marked by two Roscommon players for most of the game.

But he only scored two points in the defeat last year thanks in part to some poor form and niggling injury issues. This year, he is flying it by all metrics coming into this game. So let’s consider his current form as a positive, full stop.

3. Another year older

Sam Callinan is making his Connacht Championship debut on Sunday.

Hard to believe but he’s only just begun his Mayo journey and he was no doubt missed last year against Roscommon. Sunday will be his sixth appearance in Championship football, while Donnacha McHugh is in line for only his seventh senior championship outing if he starts or comes in. These are two players who have more than established themselves at this stage.  

Meanwhile Jack Carney will be making his 12th appearance for Mayo in  the championship and is another part of a new generation of Mayo players who have yet to see even an All-Ireland semi final and who are coming through and making names for themselves alongside the players who took Mayo to their last All-Ireland final in 2021. 

4. Not all bad news on injuries

It could be said that while the news that both Diarmuid and Cillian O’Connor didn’t make the match day 26, and Eoghan McLoughlin was ruled out for good measure, that the mood was low.

Yet it’s worth nothing that this season Enda Hession, David McBrien, Paddy Durcan and James Carr are all back and ready for action. In defence, bar McLaughlin, Mayo are picking from a full deck. 

Now, the shuffling of that deck and where players are being used is for a slightly less positive article!

5. Roscommon’s form

Billy Joe Padden underlined this in the podcast on Tuesday. He doesn’t see Roscommon beating Mayo because they haven’t played well this season and their form is poor.

The stats underline as much, relegated from Division One with the worst average score in terms of their attack and they suffered some heavy defeats towards the end of the campaign against Mayo and Derry. 

So there’s five reasons to be cheerful on a sunny Championship Sunday morning. Roll on throw-in.