The Mayo News

When there is nothing left but the weather to talk about, spare us Celtic Park. The memory of that gauzy Saturday night in Derry last February still shivers the soul.

Good start will be half the battle


Sean Rice

WHEN there is nothing left but the weather to talk about, spare us Celtic Park. The memory of that gauzy Saturday night in Derry last February still shivers the soul.
From the wooden structure precariously perched on the terrace we struggled to make sense of what was happening under lights on the pitch. There was a hint of New Orleans in the crazy wind and rain.
Rivulets of water on the window caricatured the players as they struggled to make the best of what they were dealt with. Sometimes it was only our familiarity with the way they play that enabled us identify them.
From those trying conditions and against the odds the footballers of Mayo and Derry wrung an hour of high entertainment. The weather had challenged every fibre of the contestants . . . and lost. In the end, Mayo did not get the draw they deserved either, losing by a point after the whimsical ball went everywhere for them but between the posts in the final moments.
The visit of Derry next Sunday evokes that night of woes last season and Mayo will be hoping for kinder conditions at Ballina and a reversal of the result.
Thus the serious work commences. Feathered into the season by the FBD League, Mayo now prepare to hack it in the white heat of competition with the best in the country. It’s where championship reputations are forged. There is no soft game in Division 1 A. Everyone wants to make an impression, to draw from it a boost for the championship. Everyone wants to survive, but two counties will not. Last year Mayo just held on.
The last league meeting of Sunday’s rivals in Mayo was at Crossmolina in 2002 when Derry lost out by 0-16 to 2-8. Like almost all Ulster counties they fear none, and none can afford to be complacent against them.
Manager Damian Cassidy has announced a squad of thirty-four for the league including nine new players some of whom will be blooded for the championship.
But inevitably Derry will be depending on experience for victory and who has more than Sean Marty Lockhart who commences his 15th league campaign on Sunday.  The defensive rock may not start on Sunday, but he’ll be there with his advice and with the knowledge that only years of top competition brings, should Cassidy need to avail of it.
Paddy Bradley will be there too and Enda Muldoon, Kevin McCloy, Kevin McGuckian, Fergal Doherty, James Conway, Mark Lynch (who scored 1-1 against Mayo in Celtic Park) and Colly Devlin who ended with a similar tally. They were all part of last year’s success.
Bradley, McCloy and Doherty are the only survivors from the side defeated by Mayo in 2002. Their first fifteen for Sunday has not yet been selected, but you can be sure of a big physical side. It’s the nature of Derry sides.
Apart from David Clarke in goal, none of the remainder of the Mayo defence that started seven years ago is in contention. All but James Nallen have faded from the county scene. Remember them? Pat Coyne, Tom Nallen, Gary Ruane, Dermot Higgins, James Nallen and Noel Connelly.
Nor will next Sunday’s defence see the return of the bulk of last season’s performers. David Clarke will be there, his maturity edging out some aspiring young keepers. Keith Higgins is in Australia. Trevor Howley is injured.
Billy Joe Padden¹s itinerary through the team continues, and the FBD has not assured him a settled location. He was full-back last year, but for the moment the No 3 shirt is most likely to be handed to Ger Cafferkey.
Conor Moran and Chris Barrett are unlikely to be in John O’Mahony¹s plans for Derry, which leaves Liam O’Malley of last year’s sextet as the most likely lone survivor. His performance against Roscommon earns him serious consideration for a corner spot.
The Burrishoole man was in the Mayo line-up that drew with Cork 2-10 to 1-13 on Saturday at Kilmallock. By all accounts both sides were at virtual full strength and both managements will have learnt a lot from the rigorous workout. All except Conor Mortimer, out with a broken nose, were back from their various league experiences to team up for their first serious outing together this season.
Ger Cafferkey was at full-back and Ballinrobe¹s Donal Vaughan together with Liam O¹Malley in the corners. Tom Cunniffe at centre halfback was flanked by Peadar Gardiner and Pat Kelly. Behind them, David Clarke assumed goalkeeping responsibilities. Ronan McGarrity partnered Tom Parsons at midfield. Trevor Mortimer and Barry Moran occupied the central positions in a forward line that included Bill Joe Padden, Alan Dillon and Andy Moran.
No selection has yet been announced, but bar one or two positions the Mayo team will be on the same lines. Conor Mortimer is unlikely to have fully recovered to kick off his league campaign, and management will experiment with a few of those who impressed in the FBD league.
But John O¹Mahony has to be careful with the side he sends into battle. To stay in the division, home wins are essential. Unlike the last couple of seasons Mayo have the benefit of four home games this year. Victory in all four would ensure survival. They travel to Donegal, Kerry and Galway.
A scan of the opposition yields no soft points, however. Nothing will be won without persistent, hard graft. There is no wiggle room in this division. A win on Sunday against a big side like Derry is the start Mayo badly needs to sustain the confidence of supporters.

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