First cut is the deepest
IT may have petered out on a negative note, but what his selections have quarried from the Allianz League in general ought to have assured James Horan that a firm foundation for progress has begun.
The Mayo boss ran the rule over a host of players throughout the campaign, and you sensed something more than the ordinary in his leadership the way no two selections in either FBD or Allianz leagues were the same despite the pressure on him to stay up,
He can be satisfied too that the maximum amount of talent available to him has been on view over the eleven performances of the leagues. Nor can anyone reasonably complain that he was given insufficient time to convince the manager of his worth.
After the nightmare of Longford the options open to the manager were limited. New stock, and enough game time provided to them to enable each find his space, was an imperative.
It was no surprise, therefore, when a motley crew of young eager faces speckled the line-outs . . . well over twenty in all. Nor is it any surprise that most of them make up the thirty strong squad to which the manager is limited for the championship.
At one time or another we have seen in action Cathal Hallinan, Jason Gibbons, Alan Feeney, Tom Cunniffe, Lee Keegan, Eoghan O’Reilly, Neil Douglas, Cillian O’Connor, Aidan Campbell, Alan Feeney, James Burke, James Kilcullen, James Moran, Ruaidhri O’Connor, Ian Rowland, Cathal Freeman, James McAndrew, Kevin Dolan, Michael Nestor, David Killeen, Brian Benson, Richie Feeney, Andrew Farrell, Jason Doherty, and perhaps one or two more.
Some of that group will not be included in the pruned squad. But most notable absentees right now are experienced team members Aidan Kilcoyne, Tom Parsons, Barry Moran and Mark Ronaldson, who to many observers might be regarded as unfortunate to feel the sharp edge of the selectors’ axe.
In regretting their exclusion one can, however, also understand the decision of the manager and his team who afforded Parsons and Kilcoyne in particular every chance to stem their obvious slide.
Parsons’ is a disturbing case. No one of the Mayo squad can field like him. Few in Ireland possess his grace and authority in the air. He evokes memories of Willie Joe and John Morley. But he doesn’t have the heart of either.
His work-rate has cast doubt on the essentials that James Horan requires of his players . . . a singular refusal to submit to defeat even in the face of adversity. That’s the manager’s golden rule, and, unfortunately, the Charlestown man’s stumbling block.
Nor is Aidan Kilcoyne scarce in talent. But for the Mayo senior squad he has flattered to deceive. For some reason he lacks the confidence with Mayo that is inescapably evident in his club football. He has not enjoyed a lot of luck around the edge of the box for Mayo, and his accuracy from frees has also been out of sorts.
Barry Moran’s injury problems have denied him membership of the winnowed squad. He showed some real form for Castlebar Mitchels on his recent return, but James Horan will have asked himself again and again could he rely on Moran when he needs him most. The history of his injuries would suggest otherwise.
Against the retention of Parsons and Moran also may be the fact that Horan is not short of midfield potential with the O’Shea brothers, Ronan McGarrity, Jason Gibbons and James Kilcullen all hot contenders for the vital control room.
For a man who scored a total of 2-20 in the FBD League, Mark Ronaldson must be asking himself what more proof was necessary of his stewardship.
Throughout that campaign in January the Shrule/Glencorrib man looked more and more like the ideal replacement for his injured club-mate Conor Mortimer. It’s hard to know why he faded out of the picture.
Still, no place on the chosen squad is sacrosanct and consistently good club performances in league and championship could redeem those who have just lost out. Their progress will be monitored in the weeks ahead and all of them will have opportunities to prove the county selectors wrong.
A sizable segment of the side that collapsed in Longford has been retained, and their experience was invaluable through the recent campaign. Alan Dillon, Andy Moran, and Keith Higgins especially, and Alan Freeman, a relative rookie last season, exemplified the zeal sought by James Horan.
Presumably they will be the animating force of the championship side in the weeks ahead, and the lessons of the league will have encouraged no illusions about the task that confronts them.
Despite a myriad of experiments no satisfactory conclusion can be drawn about the defence. There were some good performances, notably against Down, Kerry and Cork. But against Armagh, Monaghan and Dublin it creaked badly . . . as if in need of a keystone to hold it all together. With match practice, the imminent return of Donal Vaughan might help.
Up front the discovery of Jason Doherty has brought a fresh impetus to the attack, and together with Freeman has been the talking point of Mayo’s league run. To maintain that form will be the manager’s hope.
The road ahead is, of course, long and arduous. Shadows still linger. But James Horan and his selectors have begun brightly. What more can be asked of them?
Deel Rovers defy hands of time
TEN years on and his rare talent still flourishes. A decade ago this month Ciaran McDonald and Crossmolina broke new ground for Mayo football with victory over Nemo Rangers in the All-Ireland final of the club championship.
It’s only like yesterday that we were sitting transfixed as McDonald and his men defied the might of the southern champions to mark the breakthrough, and begin a new chapter in Mayo football.
Their unprecedented success did not, however, transform the county’s norm as Mayo, having won the National League earlier, were elbowed out of the Connacht championship in the final by Roscommon.
But then, that Mayo line-out contained only McDonald and James Nallen of the Crossmolina side, and it was no fault of theirs that Mayo were unable to emulate the feat of the new club champions.
The Nallens and a host of other stars of that all-conquering team have since bowed out. Only four bridged the gap on Sunday when Crossmolina lost to their old neighbours Knockmore by a late point in the league.
McDonald and Gabriel Walsh were in the starting line-up. Damien Syron, a sub ten years ago, was at full-back, and Stephen Rochford, a pillar of their defence in that final, was sprung from the bench on Sunday, and came close to grabbing a winning goal.
The vigour of McDonald has, however, outlasted all of them, his appetite for the game undiminished. On Sunday he led by example from midfield, and it was hard to believe that in his mid thirties he could still qualify for the honour of man of the match.
Just a thought …
Kevin O’Neill supplies the ball that gains the winning point for Knockmore; Stephen Rochford comes close to snatching victory for Crossmolina, and Ciaran McDonald is the team’s tour de force. All ageless wonders. All exemplars.
