THE emergence of Jason Doherty as the latest gem will have added a new dimension to James Horan’s plans for his team of the future. But his two-goal haul against Galway is no guarantee that the Burrishoole man will figure on the first fifteen against Armagh in the third round of the Allianz league on Sunday. That’s the inference to be drawn from what we have seen so far.
Competition for places is providing an edge to Horan’s selections of which no two taking the field in the last four games were similar. Positional variations have been the hallmark of each lineout, Ronan McGarrity at midfield about the only exception.
In such a system, assumptions are largely redundant. Players are moved like chessmen, none knowing from one week to the next whether he holds his place, or is switched or is rested. Certainly, there is no room for complacency. A good performance is no guarantee of a place next time out — nor does a bad game consign a player to oblivion.
It’s a delicate balance with which Horan and his selectors are grappling, a tweaking process, trying to hold Division 1 status while providing every opportunity to players to produce and hone their latent talents.
So Jason Doherty might or might not start on Sunday. His performance against Galway provided plenty of promise and many see him eventually teaming up with Alan Freeman (still recovering from a hand injury) and becoming a profitable partnership in future attacking set-ups.
Notice of the Burrishoole man’s potential is not new. Apart from his performances for his home club, Doherty was one of the most prominent NUIG forwards in the FBD and Sigerson competitions. Only against Mayo, ironically, in the FBD final, was he out of sorts. In the Sigerson Cup quarter-final last week, he scored 1-2 of NUIG’s total of 2-3 in their defeat to UCD.
To survive in the division Mayo need more than the three points they have already garnered and they have been eyeing Armagh, who have only one victory to their credit, as a target for two further points.
Both would see victory as a crawl to virtual safety, and the struggle, therefore, will be intense. With few crumbs falling from their remaining games against Dublin, Cork and Monaghan, victory for Mayo is imperative.
Their last senior league encounter with the Orchard County was in 2005 when Armagh beat Mayo in the league semi-final at Croke Park by 0-19 to 0-14. Keith Higgins, who will be absent on Sunday, Ronan McGarrity, Andy Moran and Alan Dillon were on the losing side.
Featuring also, at midfield, was Billy Joe Padden, and the fact that the Belmullet man is now a member of the Armagh team is an added attraction to Sunday’s game.
Padden had the essential qualities to make it big in Mayo, but was given no time to settle in any one position. There are few places he has not held from fullback to full forward on Mayo teams, and given time could have slotted into any. He is one that was given away.
Significant confrontations with the Northerners at other grades included Mayo’s U-21 defeat in the All-Ireland final of 2004 by two points, a couple of weeks after losing the senior final to Kerry… and that still rankles. They also lost the minor final two years ago to the same county.
The two have met in the league on eleven occasions over past thirty years and Armagh are in front by six wins to four with one draw. Their latest league outing ended in defeat to Down in Newry by a single point, in what has been described as a thriller. And the fact that Mayo at home managed only to draw with the All-Ireland finalists is an indication of the strength of the men from the north.
Big performers are Brendan Donaghy, Finian Moriarty, Ciaran McKeever and Kevin Dyas in the backline, Kieran Toner and Charlie Vernon at midfield, and Michael O’Rourke, Padden, Rory Grugan and Steve McDonnell in the forward line.
Tom Cunniffe, the Feeney brothers, Ronan McGarrity, Andy Moran, Kevin McLoughlin and Alan Dillon are all likely to feature for Mayo, and in all of their games the team as a whole has shown an appetite for success.
Sunday’s game provides a stiff test of their durability, and only a vigorous performance for the seventy minutes will earn them a win and thus ease them into the tougher assignments to come where points will be difficult to come by.
All eyes on U-21s
THREE years ago the county’s minors came close to bridging a 23-years-long chasm when drawing with Tyrone in the All-Ireland final… only to be denied in the replay at Longford.
On Saturday some of those minors line out against Roscommon in the opening round of the U-21 championship. And in light of Mayo’s defeat to Roscommon in the same competition last season, this qualifies as a ‘must-see’ attraction.
There have been calls in the past for the abolition of this competition in order to prevent burnout in young players. I see its value as a safety net for those leaving minor age… a gauge of their progress, and a bridge to senior football as they move into adulthood.
Of that minor final, Robert Hennelly, Eoin Reilly and Aidan O’Shea stand out in the memory mainly because they are members of the current senior squad. The rest come to mind only when focus is on the U-21s and you wonder how the promise of David Dolan, Shane Nally, Aidan Walsh, John Broderick, Shane McHale, James Cafferty, Raymond Geraghty etc is progressing.
Not all of that minor team will have made the transition. But the development of those who do will be scrutinised for senior potential. Without the U-21 championship many of them would be lost to the county.
Saturday’s is a big battle. Roscommon football has made huge strides in recent years. They have reached a stage where they fear no one, not even a Mayo team bent on avenging last year’s defeat.
Mr Tuam Stadium retires from post
THE retirement of Paddy Talty brings to an end an era of unequalled dedication and commitment to Tuam GAA Stadium. For several decades Paddy has served as secretary of this venerable old ground in the football capital of Galway.
Unlike grounds in Mayo and other counties, Tuam Stadium, although vested in the GAA, belongs to the people of Tuam, not to local club Tuam Stars, and as chairman and secretary respectively Miko Kelly and Paddy Talty gave endless hours of their time and energy to developing the famous pitch in line with modern requirements.
Miko died a few years ago, and Paddy continued on, but the loss of his colleague must have weighed heavily on him.
Ever gracious and welcoming to visitors, Paddy was a permanent figure in the press box, and having handed on the torch to Ian Doyle we wish him many happy years in retirement.
Just a thought …
No easy draws in the county championship. But title holders Ballintubber will be fancied to head their group which includes Crossmolina, Garrymore and Westport. Finalists Castlebar have tougher opposition in Charlestown, Aghamore and Ballagh’.
