EDITORIAL: Bitter pill for Mayo GAA

So near and yet so far. There was a real feeling of desolation in Castlebar on Saturday evening as the Mayo GAA faithful left Hastings Insurance MacHale Park knowing there would be no big day out at Croke Park this season.
Having put up a super display against All-Ireland champions Dublin in Hyde Park six days earlier, there was a real feeling that Mayo could once again go deep in the championship and have a real say in the destiny of the Sam Maguire cup in 2024.
But Kevin McStay’s side never really got going against a rejuvenated Derry side, and despite the heart-breaking nature of a defeat on penalty kicks, it was hard to get away from the fact that the better team had won the preliminary quarter-final.
Mayo’s first-half display was their worst of the season. They only scored one point from play in a full 35 minutes and were lucky to be trailing by just three points at the break. But the opening 15 minutes of the second half was much better, and when Ryan O’Donoghue dispatched a fortuitously awarded penalty, Mayo went two clear and looked in the driving seat.
Had Mattie Ruane dispatched a great goal chance a short time later, Mayo would have had a proper cushion but Derry were up for the fight and they remained on Mayo coat-tails for the rest of the game, and in injury time, Chrissy McKeague fisted a late equaliser, meaning the floodlights would be needed at MacHale Park for extra-time.

Enthralling extra-time
Those 20 minutes of extra time were enthralling, and there was a real championship atmosphere at the home of Mayo football for the first time all season long.
It was Derry who looked to be heading into the quarter-finals as the clock ticked down, but a superb score from Jordan Flynn levelled matters and meant we were heading for the dreaded penalty shoot out.
Derry had earlier in the season won the league final on penalties against Dublin and they put that experience to good use by nailing four of their five attempts, meaning Mayo were shown the exit door after misses by substitute Paul Towey and the normally reliable O’Donoghue.
So instead of preparing for a Croke Park showdown with Kerry this weekend, Mayo are facing into a full six-month wait before they will be togging out again in the 2025 National Football League.
The format of the championship means that Mayo have been left with plenty of ponder. The team that knocked them out of the competition have lost three times in the championship and a Roscommon side who Mayo beat twice this year are still standing and will probably fancy their chances against Armagh next weekend.
Old rivals Galway are also looking forward to having a right go at Dublin next weekend, so two Connaught teams will be taking centre stage next weekend while Mayo watch on, and that is indeed a bitter pill to swallow.

Where to now?
So where to now for Kevin McStay and his management team? There certainly seems to be little talk of them stepping aside as they have been given a four-year term but they certainly have much to think about over the next few months. The average age of the panel is still quite young. It’s hard to see the likes of Aiden O’Shea or Cillian O’Connor retiring, as they are still only in their early 30s, although the lack of game time for the top scorer of all-time was a little baffling, especially on Saturday evening when the team are struggling so badly for scores.
The style of football currently being adopted by Mayo is hard to watch at times. The constant recycling of the ball and lack of a proper kick-passing system really has to be looked at, and this was all too prevalent again on Saturday evening. Everyone knew that Derry were going to put men behind the ball and the lack of game plan to counteract this was again missing, which is very frustrating. So coming up with a system which can get the best out of what is undoubtedly a talented squad has to be high on the agenda for McStay and his team over the winter months.
It was hoped that our minors would lessen the pain of Saturday’s defeat with victory in their All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday evening, but they were simply outclassed by a very good Armagh side in Longford, meaning the weekend was one to truly forget for the loyal Mayo GAA following.
The club championships don’t begin until mid-August, so there will be a full two months during the height of summer without any real cutting-edge action. The current format of the championship is coming under increasing scrutiny, and one can only expect that changes are in the offing sooner rather than later.