COLUMN: Optimism on rise after Andy Moran’s opening Mayo games

As the dusk of the year draws in, and we bridge the 2025 and 2026 seasons, Sunday, December 21, was a good day all round for Mayo.

Two from two for Andy Moran in a pair of challenge games, and a rip- roaring third quarter against Eire Óg for Tooreen to send them into an All-Ireland final for the second time in three years.

READ MORE: The Mayo News 2026 Sports predictions - from Mayo titles to World Cup glory

For those of us there to witness Andy’s first 'official' game as manager, this challenge against Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte’s Offaly was a satisfying and enjoyable occasion, with a few tantalising hints of
what is to come.

It was great to see Mayo Cancer Support, Mayo GAA charity partner, as beneficiaries of this fixture. What a year it has been for them, following the Brave the Drop Croke Park Abseil Challenge, supported across the county.

Anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis, either their own, or that of a loved one, will know the fear and stress, and the ripple effect on loved ones. Mayo Cancer Support offers a range of entirely free supports for all ages, including counselling, group supports, creative therapies and complementary therapies.

What is rarely spoken about is how difficult it can be for cancer survivors to navigate the world after treatment, and howe vital community support is.

The organisation offers survivorship programmes and a survivors’ choir.

Anyone who has ever worked or volunteered with a charity will know the effort involved in awareness-raising and fundraising, so huge congratulations are due to CEO Orla Gillespie and her small team who quietly deliver these vital supports in the heart of the community, and to everyone who came out in the midst of the Christmas prep madness to support this worthy fundraiser.

Not that it was any great hardship to do so; despite the biting cold, the breeze was slack, and the rain stayed at a welcome distance. Christmas hats and jumpers were in plentiful supply, and it felt strange, but in no way unwelcome, to hear the festive tunes belting out across MacHale Park.

Reflective of this era in Mayo football, characterised by a reticence to get in any way enthused about anything and a welcome
aversion to hype, there was still enough for the most reluctant of optimists to find some cause for quiet
excitement.

Mostly though, it was just good to be back.

Despite a lively start - and welcome announcement by Tommy ‘Goals’ Conroy (one goal, one assist) that he too is back – the first half was relatively uninspiring. The home side trailed by one at the break against a lively Offaly side, who won the midfield battle throughout.

Mayo’s insistence on playing the ball down the centre led to frustration, and some of our old failings – dropping shots short – remained on display.

But like the Grinch in the end, it all came good for Mayo too. Obviously, it was great to see newer, younger players get a run-out.

Among those, Darragh Beirne was the stand-out; while not flawless, he looked perfectly at home alongside veterans like the inimitable Aidan O’Shea in a way that belied his tender years.

To see him claim Mayo’s only two-pointer was the icing on the cake.

On that: if Sunday is anything to go by, Mayo’s attacking approach in 2026 will mark a clear and decisive departure from the conservatism of the previous era.

In the second half, the supply in of diagonal ball increased, helping the likes of the excellent substitute Cian McHale to make hay, but it was delightful to hear the manager loudly encouraging players to shoot, and if they missed, that it didn’t matter.

When, as a side, you have been conditioned by percentage shot-taking, it will take time to adjust to a new mindset that embraces risk-taking.

The return may not have been majorly evident on Sunday, but the more we see this type of play, the more likely players are to succeed. Ryan O’Donoghoe also proved a huge influence upon introduction, and the freshly married Stephen Coen put in a typically solid shift.

Other players deserving of a mention were Belmullet’s Seamus Howard, who will have learned a lot from his outing; Liam Golden, delivering a solid shift after a long season with Ballina; Hollymount Carramore’s Nathan Moran who looked dangerous, and Kilmaine’s Adam Barrett, who chipped in with a nice score.

Notable also was veteran Michael Plunkett, who had a stellar club season and whose movement and vision on the pitch is always so smart. Moran nailed the mix of youth and experience. Getting that mix just right in the coming weeks will be key to our development in year one.

Andy’s work rate since taking over has been impressive, with lots of moving parts cranking into action.

The training camp in Portugal saw him keeping doors and arms wide open to our Australian exports. The diaspora meetings. The meet-and-greet, to re-establish bonds between players and supporters.

The efficiency of organising a development squad game on the same day against Mike Solan’s Longford (although a handy one to organise surely!).

The openness we have seen to date with the media.

Mickey Conroy and Ger Cafferkey’s under 19s being present on the day also, shadowing the senior squad, and
training in the gym with members of the senior panel is an indicator of how the class of the 2010s is pulling together in their new roles just like they did on the pitch, working as a team in pursuit of success.

Sunday felt like the quiet turning of a page into a new era - of the passing of the baton to a new generation, with a new perspective, and no lack of passion and desire to get stuff done.

No hype please, but I hope, in years to come, we’ll look back on Sunday as the first day of another momentous chapter in
Mayo football.

The sister, home from Australia for the Christmas and perished with the cold, was happy to get the first game of the Andy era. She’ll be home again in the summer for a bit.

It’d be nice to think she might get another, warmer, day out.

A very happy and peaceful New Year to every reader that has followed this fan’s journey all year, and here’s to a feast of football ahead in 2026.