THE national post-match reports said it all. You could nearly visualise the hacks scratching their heads. “Mayo gonna Mayo.” “You couldn’t be up to them.”

And the best of all: “Let us introduce you once more to the magical legend that is Mayo.”

We were all scratching our heads a bit, to be honest. We knew a reaction was needed, but it was hard to fathom from whence it might come. Morale on and off the pitch had rarely been lower, the atmosphere so ugly, the mood so despondent.

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I wasn’t sure I’d make it to Omagh - a college day clashed with the match, and I didn’t think I’d have either the energy or the inclination for a solo dash North late in the day.

But on Friday evening, the lectures were postponed (no doubt to be rescheduled to clash with the next game). These trips are all about the company, after all and six of us piled in and headed North, more in hope than expectation.

Between the rain, the hurlers losing to Roscommon, and a savage bout of hay fever, the form wasn’t great. We made our usual stop in Enniskillen.

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One of us has recently acquired a new home, so had to  “pick up a few bits for the house.” With the addition of several new duvet sets, glasses, and lampshades (and several packets of cheap antihistamines), space in the back was tight. But the skies cleared, the sneezing stopped, and the omens began to improve.

WARM WELCOME

TAILBACKS into Omagh had us stuck until a Tyrone jersey-wearing driver swung the car around in front of us and rolled down the window. 

“Follow me,” he said, “this traffic’s going nowhere.” It was less of a shortcut and more of a lengthy orbital route that had us wondering if we were, in fact, about to be ambushed somewhere and have all our house furnishings and budget medication seized, but fair play to that man, he had us parked up at the ground in no time. 

One of our crew is a wheelchair user, and the stewards in Healy Park couldn’t do enough for him. Their accessible viewing area is excellent – covered, elevated, with nearby toilets, helpful volunteers and an unimpeded view.

A stark contrast to the embarrassing lack of facilities in MacHale Park. If money is going to be pumped anywhere, maybe ensuring that disabled people get to enjoy a matchday experience with their most basic needs met would be a good start.

Prior to throw-in, there was a going-through-the-motions feeling. Just get through these last games, then start over next year. Maybe with new management. The fear that a win would just paper over the cracks.

But it goes against our nature as Mayo fans not to want to win. We want to see our team hungry, contesting every ball, bringing the fight when it’s least expected. If there is ever a time to deliver your best performance of the year, it’s when your back is against the wall.

It wasn’t perfect. There were still phases of laboured, lateral play, but well controlled and better executed. Shooting was poor at times, and no two-pointers, but still we racked up 2-17.

Tyrone clearly were not “at it” – a quick turnaround taking its toll. But Mayo showed hunger, kicked the ball with intent (just three or four diagonal balls into the square caused mayhem) and there was a defiance and a team spirt we hadn’t felt all year. 

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NO SHACKLES

COLM Reape, who struggled against Cavan, had his cap this time, and at last, decent support on kickouts. His opposite number, Niall Morgan, had an uncharacteristic nightmare – conceding frees, gifting Mayo a goal, sending shots wide.

A day to forget for him, and one to remember for our midfield, who, in a real turn up for the books, cleaned up. 

Our young guns stood tall. Baby-faced Conal Dawson played like he’d never heard of shackles. Bob Tuohy was back, inadvertently setting up goals. Seán Morahan looked fully at home.

Jack Carney’s form and moustache both made returns, and in the first half, he threw himself, full-bodied into a tackle on Kieran McGeary that epitomised the spirit of the day, Mattie Ruane straight in to commend him.

Aidan O’Shea, superhuman, was everywhere. Paddy Durcan had the comeback of dreams, and you would want nothing less for him.

The electric Davitt Neary came on at 52 minutes and was a serious contender for Man of the Match. “A madman”, said Maurice Brosnan of the Examiner. What better compliment?

TINY, MIGHTY CROWD

AT 50 minutes, Darren McCurry does what he does best, stepping back onto his left and floating one over the bar to cut the gap to three.

Morgan then landed a two-pointer. The Tyrone comeback felt frustratingly inevitable. But Mayo tore up the script, scoring 1-3 without reply.

The moment of the match came when Ryan O’Donoghue faced down Morgan for a penalty. Ghosts of 2021 loomed. Breath held. Net rattled.

No mistake this time. Chants of “Mayo… Mayo…” rang out. A tiny, mighty Mayo crowd.
Still, we couldn’t relax. As Tyrone fans fled for the exits, one of our crew exclaimed, “Where are they going? Do they not know Mayo?!”

But we were, in fact home and hosed. It was fitting that the final score of the night fell to Jack Coyne, who rarely gets the credit he deserves for the solid work he does.  

WHAT NEXT?

DESPITE the off-field noise and poison, amidst the gnashing of teeth, we must remember that Mayo fans do want the team – and management – to succeed. They want Kevin McStay to be well, Stephen Rochford to do well.

No one wants to feel like we did after Cavan. Saturday felt fresher – new faces, clever use of the bench. What gives?
On GAA+ prior to the game, when asked if there would be any difference to the way that Mayo would play now that Rochford was in charge, Padraig O’Hora was unequivocal. 

“No, there won’t. The team has been set up by Stephen Rochford since this management team came in …he’s predominantly determined the style of football that we’ve been playing for the last while.” 

He urged: “Go out with a bang, throw everything at it, let them play football.” And so it came to pass. Why did it take this long? Will it continue? Who knows.

It’s still hard to imagine beating Donegal in two weeks – but who’d bet against us? 

WATCH: 'Feckin' mighty' - full after match interview with Mayo GAA manager