Mayo ‘didn’t get to the pitch’ of league final, says Kevin McStay

MAYO manager Kevin McStay has said his side ‘didn’t get the pitch’ of their Division National Football League final defeat to Kerry. 

The Kingdom became the first team ever to lift the Micheál O’Muircheartaigh Cup after beating Mayo 1-18 to 1-12 in Croke Park this afternoon.

Speaking to the media afterwards, McStay expressed disappointment with their performance but insisted his side are ‘way better’ than what they displayed during the six-point defeat. 

“I just thought we were a bit leggy, maybe, and just didn’t get to the pitch of the game. Never asked the big question at all, that’s the disappointing part in terms of we didn’t mind the ball properly, at this level of the game - we didn’t mind it at all actually,” said McStay. 

McStay denied a suggestion that the league final was ‘a hassle’ and insisted that Mayo were determined to win the game

However, McStay added that the scheduling of the game affected their performance against Kerry. Mayo will play Sligo in the opening round of the Connacht Senior Football Championship in one week’s time. 

“We were mad to win it, but the scheduling just hurt us a little bit. We are, as you can imagine, very keen at having a go at the Connacht championship and Sligo was the first fence, and we have to keep them in mind. It’s in the back.”

Further reaction from Kevin McStay to Mayo’s league final defeat to Kerry will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.