GAA COLUMN: Five things I want to see in 2026

It's scarcely believable we’re two weeks into the inter-county season already and just a couple away from the start of the National Leagues. 

It really doesn’t be long coming around, but we’re back up and running with a bang. New faces bring new excitement and after two rounds of the FBD League, there’s a real buzz around the county again. 

Especially after a solid run out in The Hyde in Sunday, albeit against a poor Roscommon team. Ball was being moved fast. More two pointers than we’ve ever seen and plenty to whet the appetite for the year. 

So with that in mind, here are five things I want to see happen in Mayo football this year, all of which this columnist believes would make a genuine difference.

MORE TWO-POINTERS

If Sunday was anything to go by, we’re off to a good start. I saw enough of them in club football last year to not accept anything but a much better return from Mayo this year. 

Ryan O’Donoghue, Adam Barrett, Jack Carney, Tommy Conroy and Tom Lydon all hit beauties. Mayo's failure to convert two-pointers seriously hampered us last year. The stats back that up. Consistently hitting a couple of two-pointers per game is a non-negotiable now. 

We have the talent. We have shooters with range. We just haven't had the system that allowed them to flourish. Last year we were playing possession-based football designed for the old rules. When the new rules came in, it was too late to change habits and it cost Mayo.

This is a new slate. A new opportunity. Andy Moran and his team need to instil confidence into our forwards. Take on two-pointers. Actively chase them. We saw plenty of it on Sunday. If they do that consistently, Mayo will be a different animal this summer.

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SHAKE-UP

Aghamore proposed a motion at this year's convention to add a provisional round to the senior championship. It was reverted back to the CCC for consideration – hopefully not to die a quiet death. 

This is something that needs to implemented. And they should go further. Add the provisional round between the second and third finishers in each group. But also remove the seeding for everyone except the semi-finalists in the championship. After that, open draw.

The championship has become far too predictable at senior. The same teams qualify for the knockout stages year after year with the odd outlier. The current seeding system gives teams a safety net. Chasing third place becomes the main goal rather than pushing for top spot.

If you land in a group with two big teams, most subconsciously aim for the safety net. Third place is your ceiling. Which is not exciting. A provisional round adds jeopardy. Removing most of the seeding adds unpredictability.

Yes, valid concerns were raised from the hurling board re:dates, but the reality is there’s room to play with. It gives teams who haven't been able to break through a realistic chance. Get a favourable draw. Build momentum. Go on a run. Suddenly you're in a semi-final and anything can happen. If the CCC is serious about improving the championship, this is a simple fix that makes the whole thing better.

ADMIT THE SEASON IS TOO LONG

The split season was a step forward. No question about it. But let's be honest. The club season is still way too long. There were reports before Christmas that the GAA is trying to tackle the issue of club managers being paid by not allowing outside managers in clubs. The merry-go-round of money and appointments is getting out of hand.

That's true. But it's not the root problem, and will only add to the suffering of small clubs, many of whom have no choice but to go outside.

The root problem is that you're asking someone to commit to a club team for seven or eight months of the year. Sometimes longer. Few are willing to do it. 

If the club season was confined to a shorter time, payments to managers would drop. The current system allows people to charge what they do because they're there for so long. Fix the length of the season and you fix half a dozen other problems along the way.

A CONNACHT TITLE

It's not the All-Ireland. It's not the silverware everyone craves from Andy Moran and his management team. But Mayo need to win Connacht this year. It's been far too long since we lifted the Nestor Cup. Galway have had a stranglehold on the province and Mayo need to break it.

We've been close. Really close. But close never pulled the calf and that needs to change. If Mayo lose another final to Galway, the tide turns a bit. Supporters get restless. We've seen it before. Past reputations and past commitment count for nothing when results don't follow.

Andy Moran and Colm Boyle need results on the pitch. A Connacht title would be a huge first step. It would get the county singing from the same hymn sheet again, which we haven't had in years.

HEALTHY COMMUNICATION CHANNELS

Looking back, there was a fractured relationship between the counties supporters and both James Horan and Kevin McStay towards the end of their tenures. Results were the main issue. But there were other things that could have stopped the tide turning at critical times. Communications, for example. 

For some reason, there's a culture in GAA communications to treat the media like the enemy. An old-fashioned strategy, originating from our natural Irish scepticism of strangers. Where we pretend to be friendly but really it’s a charade. 

As someone who has been there, if you don't get the media on your side, you won't get supporters on your side. Small things compound. Trivial stuff like not naming a full squad at the start of the year, not naming subs until match day, giving vague updates about injuries, and making a number of changes to the programmed team annoys supporters. 

It shouldn’t matter but it does. And it’s preventable. Positive engagement with local media on a regular basis. Make them feel more important than the national press. Have a proper system in place for post-game interviews. Build a bridge between supporters, media, and the team. Not a moat.

Lose the support of the county and you're finished. Just ask the previous management teams.

LOOKING FORWARD

These five things are all realistic. None of them require miracles. Just smart decisions and a willingness to change. The championship restructure is up to the CCC. The season length is up to Croke Park. The other three are in Mayo's hands.

Connacht silverware. Transparency with supporters. More two-pointers.

I’m not asking for much, right?