For what it’s worth, and irrespective of what you might have heard on the streets since, I didn’t meet a single person who believed that Mayo would beat Galway before last Sunday’s game in Tuam. That is why that one point victory had people giddy with excitement after the match. It was an incredible result. Let’s be honest here for a minute. The form shown in Ballina exactly one week earlier against a mediocre Dublin outfit was to say the least very ordinary. Yet here, a week later, 14 of that very same starting 15 are brimming with confidence after taking the scalp of the form team of 2009. It’s not too difficult to analyse the reasons for the victory. Put the maroon and white of Galway in front of a green and red jersey and you have a different attitude and approach to the whole occasion. Clearly it’s a mindset. There is no doubt that there would have been lots of smiles, not to mention a bounce in the step of all who participated in the morale boosting victory last weekend. Because the win is worth an awful lot more than the two points on offer that more or less saw Mayo scramble away from the relegation zone and into mid- table that will surely guarantee Mayo division one football next year. This victory reminded everyone that the age-old rivalry that exists between these two teams is very much alive and well. Long may it continue! Both sides just love having a go at one another, out on the pitch and extending into the terraces too.
Form always goes out the window when Mayo and Galway meet
Form going into this particular encounter suggested that it would be a stroll for Galway. Mayo, it was expected, would present a thorn in the side of Galway for a while but ultimately the class of Galway would shine through. After all they are in sparkling form these past few months. But just as the Mayo under 21s proved a few weeks ago in Charlestown, when you put any team under pressure they can look quite ordinary. I have discovered during my time in management that the days when you are really confident of winning are very often the days you become unstuck. On days when little is expected from Mayo, they very often go on to produce performances that leave people scratching their heads in amazement. But let us not forget that Mayo did not raise a single flag from play in the first half. The only surprise was that the impressive Galwegians were not leading by more than the six point margin at the interval. That margin would have been nine points had Michael Meehan not pulled his penalty wide of David Clarke’s upright with minutes to go before the half time whistle. But there is rarely a kick of a ball between these two sides these days, not to mention our impressive form in Tuam over the last decade. And true to form Mayo came out after the half time break completely rejuvenated and with all guns blazing they literally tore into Galway. There is a suggestion that the management of this Mayo team can be a little aloof and remote at times, but at the end of the day they must take enormous credit for enabling their charges to go out and express themselves. The Mayo team deserves great credit for wiping that six-point deficit and in a nail biting finish had the experience and guile to create enough chances to win the match. OK, so there are obvious issues as to why it took Mayo so long to get out of the blocks, something that has crept into their game in recent times. That is something that management will surely focus on over the next few weeks. It would be a real shame if they were to give Galway that kind of a lead in championship football. I suggest that they might not be as accommodating in such a scenario.
Planning for the championship under way
By the time you read this I believe Mayo management will have met with James Nallen, David Heaney, and Aiden Higgins to establish their plans for the championship. John O’ Mahony would have entered ‘talks’ quietly confident (particularly after last Sunday’s victory ) that all three will come on board to strengthen the options for the summer challenges. I am sure an e-mail or a call has been made down under to check on Keith Higgins’ return date. When you throw Trevor Howley’s name into the mix, things look even rosier in the garden. Lots to look forward to.
Mayo under 21s have sparkled again this year. There is no doubt that the team has improved enormously over the last few weeks. The first victory over Galway was significant as a lot had been expected from Galway at this level this year. Against Roscommon they rode their luck and needed that last minute fortuitous goal to bring the game into extra time. They proved that they were the better side by winning in extra time reasonably comfortably. Those two victories will see Mayo go to Markievich Park tomorrow evening as favourites to win their fourth Connacht final in a row. Managers are very often displeased going into finals with the favourites tag attached and I am fairly sure Pat Holmes, Noel Connelly, and Michael Collins are no different. These guys are fairly astute however and I know they will have their young charges totally focused on the task at hand irrespective of favouritism. Mayo to prevail in this one.
Meanwhile the league gets under way here in Mayo this weekend. Most clubs will have spent the last couple of months improving fitness levels and honing skills for the challenges ahead. Sunday will be the first barometer of progress or lack of it. New managers at various clubs will be under pressure to deliver first wins to prove that their appointment was the right one. Time will tell!
Well done St Joseph’s
Congratulations to St Joseph's convent, Castlebar girls u-19 football team on their success in the All- Ireland B schools final on Wednesday. They had a really comprehensive victory in the final that had the girls dancing in the stands of the famed Clan Na Gael club in Roscommon after the presentation on Wednesday evening. The team had the luxury of being expertly coached by Cora Staunton. To win an All Ireland at any level is a tremendous achievement and a great credit to all involved.
Ballintubber relive their history
I have just watched, and thoroughly enjoyed, a DVD entitled Ballintubber GAA Club – A Social History. It is a terrific production chronicling the history of the club. It was clearly a labour of love for all involved and the photography and scenic shots of the parishes of Ballyglass, Ballintubber, Clogher, and Killawalla in particular are absolutely breathtaking. It has a montage of photographs and video shots of historic successes of all the great days of Ballintubber GAA down through the years, of which there were many as it so happens. If you don’t believe me, give Tony O’Connor a call at 086 0853151!
