MEET THE PARENTS Mayo manager John O'Mahony and his wife Gerardine watch their daughter, Rhona, playing with Armagh in last Sunday's TG4 Ladies Ulster Senior Football Championship Final at Clones. Pic: Sportsfile
The magical mystery tour begins
Kevin McStayTHE removal of the lower ranked teams reduced the chance of a handy draw and if the more fancied teams managed to avoid each other in the first qualifier draw, well all we can say is, wait for the second round results!
The hope of course will be that Mayo are in that bowl and the expectation is they will. Players and management could hardly have wished for a more opportunistic start to their back door travels. Cavan at home is really as good as it gets.
We recall that qualifier encounter in 2005 when we nearly fell asleep in Hyde Park such was the standard of play in front of our eyes. Mayo did go on to win that fixture but this second chance system is not one we have a decent record in; defeats to teams like Fermanagh and Westmeath underline a blasé enough approach.
Fortunately we have, in John O’Mahony, a manager who has an excellent knowledge and great memories of the qualifiers. He drove the van when Galway availed of this road in 2001 and ended up winning the whole lot.
Rumours from Ulster indicate players have set sail for the USA (these are pretty much on the button actually), that attendance at training is poor indeed (these are false actually) and that morale is at an all time low. We cannot confirm or deny the latter rumour but urge extreme caution.
Rumours are very like challenge matches, searching for eternal truths will only cause you embarrassment. It may well turn out that the defections will galvanise the Cavan squad and they are looking forward to the road trip to Castlebar as an opportunity to vindicate themselves. Sticking it into your detractors remains a very basic and natural form of football motivation. It very often works too!
Ronan McGarrity’s return to something like full-time training is so very welcome. Not so much for the footballers and supporters of Mayo but more so for the man himself in that it signals good health once again.
We cannot and must not expect anything more than a boost in morale for both himself and the panel and a dipping of his toes in the championship waters of 2007. It might help reduce the hard work ahead as he prepares for the 2008 season.
We mentioned challenge matches above but it is true to say trial matches among your own often tell you more. Wins over Laois and Cork helped to airbrush the defeat to (wait for it) Cavan a few weeks ago. Yes, there has been a lot of experimenting and all will be revealed on the day but one should approach with trepidation.
We simply will not know until the ball is thrown in what the short-term future holds for this side.
There are certain motivations that are apparent; a defeat to Cavan will signal the end of the road for some great servants of Mayo football. Their race will be over and retirement the only option; the young guns, especially the 2006/2007 U-21s have an opening and must avail of it. Do you get a second chance to make a good first impression?
Round 2 will indeed be tasty but spare a thought for teams under the most severe of pressure. Our neighbours here in Roscommon totally under-performed against Sligo and nothing short of a victory over Sligo will satisfy the locals. John Maughan faces a tough couple of weeks as his team face into the Kildare challenge. Luckily Roscommon also came out of the bowl first so there is the relative bonus of the home draw.
Still, all teams can afford to dream because the provincial finalists contain teams we will hardly be quaking about. Sligo, Monaghan, Laois and Cork are the underdogs in each province and if matters pan out that way, their entry at round three will not frighten anybody.
Theoretically, Mayo can beat Cavan, beat the winners of Westmeath and Longford and could possibly face Sligo/Monaghan/Laois or Cork at home in the final qualifier. Next stop is then Croke Park and the quarter-finals.
As I said, all teams can afford to dream this week.
Club championship starts to take shape
THE senior club championship has played along quietly in the shadow of the inter-county main feature. It has been boringly predictable over the last decade or so; take one from Crossmolina or Ballina and throw in the odd, very odd, usurper.
I suppose it has always been this way, a team dominate over a span that covers the playing careers of their star turns and when they depart the summit, a new side emerges.
Ballaghdereen certainly have such a look about them and they have not disappointed to date. But the defending champions and clear favourites have, appropriately, emerged as the first team out of the pool and while they realise Ballagh’ let them off the hook last year, they will feel for sure the hot breath of the East Mayo side on their necks.
Ballagh’ have full points from two games and a scoring difference of +29. What more could they ask for at this point in the season? Points difference can be a tricky separator and the rule of thumb is simple enough, but not always applicable; if you have a substantial advantage in terms of a group rival (and +29 compared to Garrymore’s +2 is such a number!) then give yourself an extra point on the table. Ballagh’ then are essentially home and hosed on ‘5’ points from two games.
Luckily for Garrymore, they too have a serious lead in the points difference race over their nearest rivals, Claremorris and Shrule/Glencorrib, who face each other in the final game. Expect Claremorris to get something from that match.
Section B contains two sides with possibilities if they can get their acts together. Charlestown and Ballina know the score when it comes to this championship.
Though not at full throttle, I feel both will get there, but only if the dreaded points difference is avoided. If it goes to this method, anything can happen and nobody will know where they stand until the maths is completed.
Crossmolina have sprinted out of Section C, no problems encountered and very much a matter of business. Moy Davitts are out and Ballinrobe appear next up for shipping in what has been really a rebuilding season for them.
The last group is obviously the most difficult to emerge from. I am not sure why we have 17 teams in the senior championship and this type of lop-sided section reminds one of the provincial inequities that are often quoted when the fairness of the inter-county championship is questioned.
Tourmakeady bade adieu; they found life in the fast lane to be, well, too fast. Breaffy are making noises and will certainly emerge but points difference will be needed to find the runners-up. And as noted above, when that kicks in take a deep breath-anything can result.
It’s still Crossmolina’s to lose, Ballagh’s to win, and if either slips up, Ballina might get a soft one. Breaffy have emerged as the next Ballagh’ and are to be welcomed at the top table. We will revisit these predictions in a few weeks time and have a good laugh at my crystal gazing.
YOUR COMMENTS PLEASE TO KEVINMCSTAY@MAYONEWS.IE
