Having not seen the gates of Croke Park in 2024 (unless you went up to support Galway in the All-Ireland final), the Mayo diehards get the opportunity to visit HQ on their first outing of 2025. 

This won’t be ‘Mayo versus Dublin’ quite as we would have known it over the years, but this is a new era and new faces are going to emerge from both squads. 

Mayo’s off-season has been dominated by talk about who has stepped away rather than exciting new prospects ready to come and stake their claim for 2025. The loss of some of those players will be judged fully at the end of the season — for now it’s time to move on and focus on the here and now. 

With the pre-season competitions on the scrap heap, the only opportunity to get a look at Mayo came three weeks ago at the charity game against Monaghan. 

It was a match played in arctic-like conditions that not much could be taken from. 

The fact that I watched in the game in 30 degrees heat in Melbourne made me feel somewhat for the new lads, especially, trying to make some sort of impression. 

One thing I did notice — and I spoke about it on the pod during the week — was our lack of size and primary ball winners around the middle third in that starting Mayo team. 

It’s an area where I feel we have struggled for a few years now. The new kick-out rule makes it essential you have players around that middle third who can compete for and win their own ball. I will be interested to see who lines out in that area on Saturday. 

The big question is: what does a good League for Mayo look like? 

Does Kevin McStay want to be in a League final with Sligo looming six days later? 

I doubt it somehow. 

For me, the necessity to ‘blood’ some players outweights the importance of the League table. Let’s not forget Galway, having been depleted in personnel for the League last year, finished on five points and in sixth place and needed a helping hand from Derry on the last day to stay up. 

But what they got was minutes into squad players that proved invaluable in their run to the All-Ireland final. 

Colm Reape has been a nailed-on starter for Mayo for the last two years but, after an indifferent year for county and club, I would like to see newcomers like John Vahey and Adrian Philips get a chance to show what they can do over the next few months. 

Defence is an area where I think we are best equipped in when we have everyone available. 

I still believe there is improvements and gains to be made in the likes of David McBrien and Sam Callinan. They strike me as two boys that can go to another level. 

Jack Coyne is another I feel has more in him. 

The biggest one for me is Enda Hession. He has struggled, in the main, since he burst on to the scene (Micah Richards style) in 2021. Yes, he has had good games sporadically since, but I feel this is a big year ahead for him. 

Up front, Mayo supporters wouldn’t have been too disappointed to see University of Galway knocked out of the Sigerson Cup midweek as Ryan O’Donoghue’s importance to this team looks greater than ever. Who can make the step up with him in the absence of Tommy Conroy, Aidan O’Shea, Jordan Flynn and Diarmuid O’Connor is going to be interesting. 

On a final note, I’d like to wish Crossmolina all the best in the All-Ireland Intermediate club final on Sunday. 

Three Mayo Players to watch out for in 2025

Seán Morahan (Castlebar Mitchels)

The Mayo Under-20 captain from last year is a fantastic prospect. 

He has had a tough time recently, though, with hamstring injuries and the fact he hasn’t lined out in recent games for UL may mean there may has been a re-occurrence. 

There is no doubt the Mitchels’ man is one of the best up and coming defenders in the county.

Frank Irwin (Ballina Stephenites)

A player who had a superb club season with Ballina. It feels like now should be the time for Frank to break into the Mayo team proper. 

I mentioned earlier about our lack of ball winners around the middle third; Frank fits that profile perfectly, along with being an outside shooter. 

Like Seán Morahan, though, he hasn’t lined out for UL recently so let’s hope he isn’t carrying an injury into the League.

Cian McHale (Moy Davitts)

The third University of Limerick player on my list, but Cian did play midweek in the Sigerson Cup and scored 1-3 in the process. 

I will be very surprised if we don’t see him start the early rounds of the League, at least. I played against him in the County Intermediate semi-final last year and his level of accuracy from range was eye-catching. He is a player who has the potential to dazzle.