Win, draw or it’s kaput for Mayo
by Martin Carney, Mayo's foremost GAA columnist
It provoked the occasional frown.
Drawn against three Ulster teams in the group stages of the championship: Donegal, Cavan and Tyrone.
From the beginning, everyone knew that the campaign needed a two-win return to ensure progress.
Few imagined it would come down to a straight-forward shootout against Donegal in the final group episode.
That is has comes back to that hard to explain defeat against Cavan in the opening game. Nobody expected that. The visit of the Breffni men was the supposed banker of the three. Definite win!
Rarely in recent times has sport's old certainty of upsetting the odds come back to haunt in the way it did to Mayo that weekend.
The reality now for Mayo is that only a win or draw will guarantee further championship football this year. Lose, it’s kaput!
The subsequent upheavals after the Cavan defeat tested everyone. First there was the case of the county board requiring a meeting with GAA’s top brass to explain and plot a way forward out of their financial turmoil.
Then we had manager Kevin McStay’s unfortunate illness that required him to step back from his managerial duties. Into the mix, from the players perspective, there was the rush to find answers to the Cavan defeat and then prepare for Tyrone.
Well, whatever was said and hatched here resulted in that wonderful win in Omagh and provided all with a sense of redemption and renewal. It allowed the team banish any negatives that lingered from the Breffni blues.
What supporters saw in Omagh was a glimpse of the Mayo they crave: a team playing with an energy and consistency all over the pitch that allows little or no leeway for the opposition to flourish.
A reprise of this, and more indeed, will be required again in order to overcome Donegal. To bring out the best in themselves, that amalgam of energy, intelligence, discipline, self- belief and efficiency has to dovetail once again.
Mayo will approach this in a positive frame of mind. Aware they have to win, they also know they have a decent record against the Tir Conaill men; this will bolster belief.
In their seven league and championship encounters since 2017, Mayo have won four and drawn the remaining three. Of these only one was in championship: the quarter final tie in 2019 where Mayo emerged victorious by four points.
The fact that the tie is in Roscommon is another plus for Mayo. They are unbeaten in the Hyde, believe it or not, since 2001. Quite a remarkable record.
All that aside, fans continue to argue and speculate where the game will most likely be won and what will be required to get the right result.
From Mayo’s perspective, it’s vital as far as possible to take the game to Donegal from the throw-in, while at the same time provide themselves with a secure defensive system that will deny Donegal any early advantage.
Herein lies the big issue. Whenever Donegal start games well and build early leads it allows them to play the game on their terms and dictate the rhythms. With the comfort of their early lead they normally retreat into their defensive pocket around the arc, invite teams onto them and then attempt to hit them where it hurts on the break.
This approach is a feature with all Jim McGuinness coached teams; they play with confidence and are comfortable in executing his game plan. Generally they profit.
His teams play to a template and with a structure where ball retention, patience and breaking from the back at speed is emphasised. The extent to which Mayo can disrupt this system while at the same time add their own element of chaos and adventure will lie at the heart of how the tie will unfold.
The guessing game as to who starts for Mayo is in full flow since the Tyrone victory. There’s little doubt that the changes made the last day added a freshness to the team.
Patrick Durcan’s presence provided that injection of energy and enthusiasm that the team had lacked for some time. That dash, ability to time his runs and notch vital scores lifted all of those around him.
Given a free role the last day where he ranged between midfield, centre-back and further afield when required had a profound impact on the game.
Though relatively inexperienced Bob Tuohy, Sean Morahan and Conal Dawson equally made telling contributions.
Tuohy’s athleticism and inexhaustible ability to track runners could well be an important foil in countering the forward forays of Finbar Roarty and Peadar Mogan.
Both attack with great regularity and speed from the back and are particularly good at notching vital scores; between them they share 1 goal and 10 points from their corner-back positions. Indeed, Roarty’s goal on the half-time hooter against Cavan was the game's turning point.
Morahan did a fine man-marking job the last day and along with the outstanding Jack Coyne created a ‘no-go’ zone in the full-back line.
His selection could come down to the availability or otherwise of his Mitchels clubmate Donnacha McHugh. McHugh, if fit, may be assigned to mark Michael Murphy.
Murphy’s return to the team, more than anything else, has been the catalyst for Donegal’s transformation this year. His presence, footballing nous and ability to inspire is incalculable. The outcome may rest on the extent to which Mayo can dim his bulbs.
Mattie Ruane’s return to form in the middle of the field alongside David McBrien’s increased awareness of the importance of his positional play at centre-back made a big difference in Omagh. Mayo need the same and more from them again.
Ruane’s battle with the in-form Michael Langan will be one to watch. The Donegal midfielder is playing with great authority both in executing his primary ball-winning duties and being prolific on the scoreboard. His 16 points from play in the championship to date is an enviable return.
Defensively, Mayo did well against Tyrone. As a unit they will again need to be tight and vigilant, while at all times anticipating runners coming from deep. Donegal have had scoring returns from 18 different players. Threats are possible from all quarters.
Colm Reape’s improvement the last day with restarts was welcome. The knowledge that he has good ball winners in the middle is a bonus.
If the ‘new’ game did nothing else, it certainly increased the responsibilities on goalkeepers.
They still carry a huge responsibility but never has the spotlight shone as brightly on them.
Much of Mayo’s scoring return will likely come from the boot of Ryan O’Donoghue while alongside him the role of Aidan O’Shea will remain as important as ever.
Of their 2 goals and 17 points against Tyrone, O’Shea, though he only scored one point, had a hand in 1 goal and eight points while the Belmullet man put his name to 1 goal and six points.
What was a source of encouragement was the regularity of others to have a shot at goals when the opportunities arose. In that game Mayo had something in the region of 37 attempts at scores.
As ever Mayo will travel to Roscommon fully aware of their destiny. A win or draw will suffice. The confidence gained from the display and win over Tyrone should stand to them. All, substitutes included, made a difference.
That display bodes well for tomorrow..