Keegan: draw will give Mayo focus

THE group stage draws for the Sam Maguire Cup takes place today (Tuesday) at 1pm with Mayo occupying one of the third seed slots, along with Roscommon, Tyrone and Monaghan.
Mayo will be drawn in a group of four against one of the top seeds (provincial champions) and one of the second seeds (provincial runners-up): Galway/Sligo; Kerry/Clare; Dublin/ Louth; or Armagh/Derry; and one of the fourth seeds: Donegal, Cork, Kildare, Westmeath.
Mayo’s first outing in the All-Ireland series will either be on the weekend of May 20/21 or May 27/28. The draw is live on GAAGO today.
Former Mayo defender Lee Keegan believes that losing to Roscommon in the Connacht championship three weeks ago may turn out to be a ‘blessing in disguise’ for his old team-mates.
“Personally, I think these few weeks off will be good for Mayo,” Lee told The Mayo News last weekend after lining out with Westport in the Mayo senior league against Kiltane.
“There was no way they could keep going at the levels they were at during the league.
“Of course it was disappointing to lose to Roscommon, but if you're looking at the bigger picture and that's what Mayo are doing – would you rather a blip now or in six weeks’ time?
“Essentially, the championship season starts in three or four weeks’ time. We had a really good league and, as Kevin [McStay] said, ‘we're a learning all the time’.
“One of the aspects I'd like to see improve is our combination up top. We lacked a bit against the wall Roscommon threw up in front of us. We were a bit flat and that's to be expected after playing a league final just a week earlier.
“There's something wrong and unfair about players not being able to enjoy winning a national title,” he added before looking towards this week’s draw for the last 16 of the All-Ireland series.
“The group had a couple of weeks off and some downtime and now they're back again with a great sense of freshness I feel. Having time to concentrate on their own play and their own team development while others are involved in provincial championship may be a blessing in disguise in the long run.
“The lads will be chomping at the bit for the championship now and once the draw is made they'll be able to focus in on who they'll be meeting in the group stages. It's an exciting time.”
Meanwhile, on the subject of lining out with the county champions again for a new club season, the five-time All Star admitted that he was loving every minute of it.
“We had a good run in the Kelly Cup and it's nice to be here full time and get to know the lads properly rather than dipping in and out. You get to know whether a lad favours his right foot or his left, what runs he's likely to make and how he reacts to different situations.”
One of the men who caught the eye on Saturday evening was former Mayo attacker Colm Moran, who missed last year's run to the county title.
Keegan was happy to see him back in the blue and navy.
“We're all delighted to see Colm back. He's a huge addition and looks really hungry. We had Ben Doyle back tonight too and to have two lads like that, who were involved with Mayo, says a lot about the quality we're trying to build here.”