Search Results for 'Kevin McStay'

Two weeks ago I was fully convinced Mayo would get the better of Cork when the game was in the melting pot. Last Sunday in Croke Park I almost had a seizure and nearly required a defibrillator as fear gripped me for the final 10 minutes against our Connacht rivals Roscommon in the All-Ireland quarter final. A statement issued by Bray Wanderers recently was described in the national media as being “bat-shit crazy”. The game between Mayo and Roscommon was worse.

Well! There’s no doubt where I’m going to begin this column this week, and it is about last Sunday in Croke Park. Now I know this column extends to both Roscommon and Mayo so I hope the Mayo readers will excuse me when I go on a little bit about Roscommon.

Following last Sunday's action-packed All Ireland SFC quarter-final draw, Roscommon and Mayo return to Croke Park next Monday for an eagerly anticipated replay.

They don’t make it easy on the faithful, but the Mayo congregation will head to church at least once more this summer after a dramatic draw with near neighbours Roscommon on Sunday in Croke Park. There were more than a few decades of the Rosary said by the traveling worshipers down the final few minutes of injury time as Mayo created and fluffed a few chances to win the game and the devotions were dedicated to the full time whistle blowing when Roscommon looked to steal it right at the end.

Former Roscommon goalkeeper Shane Curran believes that Mayo’s experience of playing in Croke Park over the past six years could be enough to see them over the line against his native county.

Last week, I remember telling anyone that was willing to listen that Mayo will beat Cork but it won't be straightforward. Not in my wildest dreams could I have envisaged what occurred. This current crop has certainly put us through the ringer, we have been to hell and back, twice now in three weeks. A rollercoaster of emotions is just a massive understatement. Looking for a simple explanation is a waste of time.

The long road had a few more miles added to it last Saturday evening in Limerick when Mayo were brought to extra time for the second time in three games, and on Sunday they head into their seventh All Ireland quarter final in as many years looking to take down the newly crowned Connacht champions.

A first Connacht title in seven years ensures 2017 will be fondly remembered in Roscommon, but Sunday’s Croke Park clash against Mayo promises to be interesting.

Roscommon manager Kevin McStay was delighted with Sunday’s splendid 2-15 to 0-12 Connacht SFC Final success over Galway at Pearse Stadium.

In my final paragraph on these pages last Thursday I said that if Galway were "absolutely focused, and went out and performed to their utmost capabilities, then they should be good enough to beat Roscommon."