COLUMN: Positive signs for Mayo ahead of visit of Armagh

SOMETIMES, the most important thing after a defeat is simply to win the next day out.

That was the situation for Mayo in Clones. After a difficult afternoon against Donegal the previous week, this was less about style and more about getting the job done.

Mayo had four points already on the board and had made a decent start to the league, but this was the kind of game they simply had to win — and win well.

Against a Monaghan side short on confidence, Mayo did exactly that, and the manner of the performance made the journey home that bit easier.

From early on, there was a sense of control about Mayo’s play, and just as importantly, there was clear evidence that important lessons had been learned from the week before.

Playing with the wind in the first half, their approach was far more controlled and deliberate. Instead of forcing ball into the full-forward line at every opportunity, they carried possession into the scoring zone and trusted their shooters.

Shot selection was disciplined. Most efforts came from central areas, and the accuracy reflected that.

HUGELY POSITIVE SIGN

Fergal Boland, Darragh Beirne and Jordan Flynn all showed their ability to strike cleanly when given the chance, while Jack Carney also chipped in.

If last week showed Mayo what not to do with a strong breeze at their backs, this was a much better example of tailoring a game plan to the conditions.

The running game brought the half-back line heavily into play, and the finishing was sharp and confident. For a new management team trying to establish patterns, that willingness to adapt is a hugely positive sign.

Early on, there was a sense that Mayo might be relying too heavily on long-range shooting. For the opening quarter, they rarely used the inside line at all, and the attack looked slightly one-dimensional. On another day, you might question that balance, because the best teams have the ability to mix approaches.

But this wasn’t another day. The plan worked, and when a plan works as cleanly as this one did, it’s hard to argue with it.

ASSURED IN POSSESSION

The running game in particular stood out. Conor Loftus carried forward with confidence and purpose, building on his display the previous week. 

He looked assured in possession, with a clear picture in his mind each time he received the ball — when to drive, when to release and when to keep things simple. It was a mature performance.

From deeper positions, Paddy Durcan showed his familiar attacking instincts, getting forward to contribute scores, while Sam Callinan continued a very encouraging run of form. His kicking has noticeably improved, and that matters. 

His defensive work-rate and ball-carrying ability were never in doubt, but if he can consistently add scores to his game, it becomes a serious asset.

Around the middle of the field, the platform was strong again. Bob Tuohy has quietly become a reference point in this Mayo side.

Every developing team needs players whose roles are clearly defined and consistently executed, and Tuohy looks like that kind of presence.

His primary job is straightforward — contest kick-outs, provide a physical target, prevent clean opposition possession — and he is doing it reliably.

That kind of certainty makes life easier for everyone around him. Teammates know what to expect and can organise accordingly.

Alongside him, Jordan Flynn and David McBrien were excellent.

McBrien again offered a useful blend of strength and mobility. Safe in possession and effective around the breaks, he complements Tuohy well, and the developing partnership is taking pressure off others to contest aerial ball.

GENERALLY SOLID

Defensively, there was plenty to like. Mayo’s one-on-one defending was generally solid, even if Jack McCarron caused problems at times in the second half. His goal came from a fortunate rebound, but it was also a reminder that dangerous forwards need constant attention.

Overall, though, the defence looked organised and alert. Jack Coyne, in particular impressed with his sharpness and willingness to join the attack, reflecting the influence of a half-back line that repeatedly drove Mayo forward.

Before the break, there was another moment worth noting. As the hooter sounded, Fergal Boland struck a huge two-pointer with the wind.

It was a shot to nothing in one sense, but it showed awareness as well as technique — recognising the moment and taking the chance. Those are the little details that can lift a team heading into half time.

Not everything was perfect. There were spells in the first half where Mayo’s passing lacked precision, with a few handpasses going astray in difficult conditions.

Ryan O'Donoghue had a quieter opening period before improving after the break. These are the details a management team will still focus on.

But there was far more good than bad.

Darragh Beirne again showed the instincts of a natural finisher.

One second-half score in particular stood out — collecting in space, shaping to shoot almost before the ball reached his hands, and finishing clinically.

The best forwards recognise moments early, and Beirne has that look about him. Even his first-half point showed a growing confidence.

The goal that really settled matters came from the understanding between Aidan O'Shea and Ryan O'Donoghue. O’Shea’s clever movement opened the space, O’Donoghue supplied the pass, and the finish was powerful and decisive. Once that went in, the result never looked in doubt.

BITTERSWEET

Then came the cameo everyone will be talking about.

Kobe McDonald announced himself in spectacular fashion. The two-point score was struck beautifully, the ball exploding off his boot with a confidence that belied his inexperience.

The goal was even better — driving at pace and finishing low into the corner with real authority.

It was a rare kind of finishing, the sort Mayo supporters have not always seen often enough.

And yet there is an odd feeling that comes with it. Perhaps “bittersweet” is the nearest word. Because as impressive as the debut was, there is the knowledge that his time in a Mayo jersey may be short before the pull of Australia takes him elsewhere.

On a personal level, it was a validation. Every inter-county debut matters, no matter how confident a player might be.

To deliver like that in your first appearance confirms that you belong at that level.

But it also leaves you wondering what might unfold if there were a decade ahead instead of an uncertain few months.

In the end, Mayo did exactly what was required. They responded to defeat, adapted to conditions, and took care of business. Sometimes progress isn’t about perfection — it’s about learning lessons and applying them the next day out.

On this evidence, Mayo are doing exactly that.