Opinion
Edwin McGeal
1. Experience is often a virtue
WHEN Mayo needed leadership in the second-half two players stood tall — experienced wing-forwards Andy Moran and Alan Dillon.
Dillon, who was captain for the evening, was hounded any time he was in possession but he never shirked from it and, when needed most, he provided two creative and crucial assists for late scores from Kevin McLoughlin and Moran (the final score of the night).
The vice-captain was his typical bundle of energy and was the key reason for Mayo’s comeback with accomplished score-taking.
While he might not always pick the right option – his decision to shoot for goal in the first half and being easily blocked a case in point – he certainly has loads to offer and looked very comfortable as an attacking wing-forward on Saturday night.
2. Midfield battle will be fierce
THE Mayo manager noted afterwards how unusual it was for any team to win as much clean midfield possession as his team did on Saturday night. And he was right.
Both Jason Gibbons and Ronan McGarrity were in high-fielding form and, if anything, substitute Tom Parsons outdid them.
Add in other players to come into the reckoning like Barry Moran, Seamus O’Shea and Pat Harte, and possibly James Moran and James Kilcullen, and you get the feeling it will be one hell of a battle for the number eight and nine jerseys for the summer. As it should be.
3. Alan Freeman is a real find
THE Aghamore man’s superb performances against Sligo and Longford last year, when some more experienced players were passengers, was a rare positive to be taken from the abject 2010 championship from Mayo.
The question was this – was it a flash in the pan or had Mayo found a gem? On Saturday night Freeman pointed the answer in the direction of the latter with another strong performance, especially when brought to centre-half forward.
It’s a real pity he broke a bone in his hand but there’s much to look forward to from an exciting forward who looks comfortable anywhere up the middle.
