WHAT A DIFFERENCE TEN YEARS MAKE Then Galway manager John O’Mahony lifts the Sam Maguire after the All-Ireland win in 1998. Pic: Sportsfile
Mayo win game of two halves
Sean RiceAPARADOX surely. Before the match we would have been happy with a winning point. In the end, a margin of six left us somewhat hollow because it did not adequately convey Mayo’s dominance.
You felt, leaving St Conleth’s Park in Newbridge, that if survival in the division is decided on scoring averages, this might be the missed opportunity Mayo would eventually rue.
The ten points by which they were leading with only minutes left in the game did not fully reflect the ease with which they had breezed through Kildare. Such was their control that a further five points might have been a truer result.
What happened? Simply this: having magnificently turned a six-point deficit into a lead of six at the interval, Mayo won so much ball after the break that they began to toy with the opposition, became slipshod and casual, and lost the cutting edge that had swept them to the commanding lead at half time.
That first half had the large Mayo contingent in the 3,000 strong attendance in a jumble of emotions. Kildare ran riot in the opening minutes. Mayo looked out of their depth.
In seven minutes the Lilywhites had rattled in a goal and three points.
Mayo had barely managed one counter attack. No one seemed to know who was marking whom.
One thing for sure, John Doyle was creating havoc. Listed at right half, he actually started at left corner forward, and had already cracked in a goal and a point.
Its effect was momentous. Mayo began to lift the siege, to settle, to probe the Kildare defence. Austin O’Malley’s decision to move out in search of the ball was bearing fruit.
The Louisburgh man, in confident mood, won vital ball and delivered accurately. By the 11th minute, Alan Dillon, Conor Mortimer, and Tom Cunniffe now working from the half-back line — had cut the lead to three points. The battle was on.
The exchanges were more even now. But the loss of Trevor Mortimer with a leg injury caused some anxiety - until his replacement, Pat Harte, established himself as an able substitute.
Those three points still separated the sides until Tom Parsons started a move down the right wing that ended with a return pass from O¹Malley and as good a goal as we have seen this year.
In bulging the net, the Charlestown man was the epitome of composure and confidence.
He and Ronan McGarrity clawed themselves back into control at midfield after a shaky start against Kildare’s big Dermot Earley and Ronan Sweeney.
But the goal that did most damage to Kildare¹s confidence came in the 31st minute, and in its simplicity was reminiscent of great goals of the past — and of the dying art of the traditional forward.
Trevor Howley, playing extremely well at centre-half back, pumped in a high ball from the centre of the field. Andy Moran, having another impressive seventy minutes, grabbed the ball over the heads of two defenders, turned, and deftly tucked it into the corner of the net.
It helped Mayo to a six-point lead, and the speed of their recovery left Kildare stunned.
Although the home side did score the opening point of the second half, Mayo resumed control, and the defensive work of Keith Higgins was inspirational.
Less conspicuous than against Kerry, Kieran Conroy nevertheless, did little wrong, and John O’Mahony must have been well pleased with the endeavour of Colm Boyle at corner back in his first full outing for the county.
After a disastrous start, Tom Cunniffe recovered well, but some of David Heaney¹s deliveries lacked conviction which was unusual for such an experienced performer. David Clarke in goal was his customary competent self.
He was not to blame for either of Kildare¹s goals, the second coming from a penalty in the dying minutes of the game which really wiped the gloss of Mayo¹s victory.
They would have scored much more than five points if they applied themselves as cohesively as they had done in regaining lost ground earlier.
None of the forwards was found wanting — and it was nice to see James Gill rediscover his old battling form - but they became careless and counter productive, and when Tom Parsons lost possession it led to an attack in which James Kavanagh was fouled by David Heaney, and Doyle buried the penalty.
GALWAY WILL ASK ALL THE HARD QUESTIONS
AND so to Galway. No need for dressing room drama. The maroon jersey is Mayo’s motivation. On Sunday John O’Mahony leads his native county against his erstwhile charges, and the outcome at McHale Park may carry important psychological implications for a summer meeting.
Galway’s massive win over Derry and Mayo’s over Kildare ought to ensure a bumper attendance at MacHale Park for what must now look like the match of the league.
This largely new Galway, now managed by Liam Sammon, has rocketed to the top of the table with some powerful performances.
But the bedrock of their success so far this season is a remnant bunch of O’Mahony’s all conquering side. Kieran Fitzgerald, Padraic Joyce, Declan Meehan and Matthew Clancy are O’Mahony men, and have lost little of their old reliability. Joyce in particular is having a new lease of life on the ‘forty’ and has been the inspiration for most of their wins.
Liam Sammon will be pleased with the form displayed by the Tribesmen since he took charge at the start of the season.
In addition to the old reliables, players like Darren O’Mahony, Gary Sice, Gareth Bradshaw, Damien Burke, Fiachra Breathnach and Finian Hanley have earned almost permanent selection.
Midfield had given them most cause for worry. But Barry Cullinane had a massive performance against Derry and will provide stern opposition for Ronan McGarrity and Tom Parsons, where one of the principal battles will occur. In such claustrophobic conditions the breaking ball could do the damage.
How Trevor Howley performs on Padraig Joyce may have a bearing on the outcome. Joyce has sparkled in recent games, and his influence radiates throughout the team.
He has been the biggest single influence on Galway’s success in the league and if Howley, who is strong and fast, can manage to rein in the Killererin man, a giant step on the path to victory will have been taken.
James Gill will be up against the promising Darren Mullahy who likes to drive forward.
Containment of those runs ought to be an essential part of the Westport man’s strategy. Other duels of huge significance will be those between Austin O’Malley and Finian Hanley; Damien Burke and Conor Mortimer; Matthew Clancy and Colm Boyle, and Kieran Fitzgerald and Andy Moran.
Both sides will want to make their own statement about a possible meeting in the championship. League results in recent years have not accurately predicted championship form. Sunday’s is an appetiser for high noon in summer, but a loss by either side will, nevertheless, be sorely felt.
PAT ON THE BACK FOR MCENEANEY
EVER since he dismissed Liam McHale in that cauldron of 1996 and shattered our dreams, Pat McEneaney has not been a favourite of Mayo supporters.
But it must be said that his refereeing of Sunday’s match in Newbridge was as near to excellence as is ever likely.
In a game that fell to pieces in the second half, McEneaney’s performance ought to be obligatory viewing for aspiring referees.
