OPINION: Mayo pass Exiles hurdle but defensive worries persist

SATURDAY’S visit to Ruislip was a positive and professional start to the Connacht Championship for Mayo, and in many ways, exactly what was required.

Coming into the game, Mayo were overwhelming favourites against London. A Division One side playing a Division Four one, even away from home, brings a certain expectation.

The job, first and foremost, was to get the win, avoid any drama, and build momentum—and on that front, Mayo delivered.

That said, the performance itself wasn’t perfect, particularly in the opening stages. The first 15 minutes lacked fluency and precision.

There were a few missed frees, some loose shooting, and a general sense that Mayo were still settling into the rhythm of championship football.

Against stronger opposition, that kind of start could leave you chasing the game. But against London, Mayo had enough quality—and crucially, enough composure—to ride through that period without any real damage.

TWO-POINTER RELIANCE

I was keen to get eyes on Shay Rafter, having heard good things about him and seen bits and pieces of him playing.

His Cill Chomáin connections had me keeping an eye on him, and he played as well as he could as an inside forward with balls flying over his head for two-pointers in that wind.

One of the most noticeable aspects of Mayo’s approach was their continued reliance on such two-point scoring.

With the wind at their backs in the first half, it made sense tactically. Over the course of the league, Mayo have clearly worked hard on this part of their game, and the improvement is obvious.

Players like Ryan O’Donoghue, Jack Carney, Cian McHale and Paul Towey all showed confidence in taking on shots from distance, and more importantly, the technique to execute them.

That ability to score from range is a valuable weapon, particularly in difficult conditions, and it allowed Mayo to stretch the game and create breathing room on the scoreboard.

However, it also highlighted an ongoing concern.

While Mayo are now far more comfortable with the two-point arc, there is still a sense that it can become their default option rather than part of a broader attacking strategy.

At times, particularly in the first half, the focus on working the ball out to shooters meant that other attacking options were underused.

Aidan O’Shea, for example, saw relatively little ball in dangerous areas. Against London, that wasn’t an issue.

But against better-organised defences later in the summer, Mayo will need greater variety—more direct play, better use of inside forwards, and more unpredictability in how they create chances.

FORWARD FOCUS

Ryan O’Donoghue remains central to everything Mayo do in attack. Even on a day when he didn’t start at his sharpest, he quickly found his rhythm and became the main driver of the scoreboard.

What stood out most was his intent. He looked focused, sharp, and determined to make an impact. If Ryan is hitting another gear now, that bodes very well for Mayo heading into the more demanding stages of the championship.

Alongside him, there were strong contributions from some of the supporting cast. Jack Carney continues to show consistency and intelligence in his play, while Cian McHale is quickly emerging as a serious option in the forward line.

His striking ability is impressive; he looks composed in possession and clinical when chances come his way. More importantly, he uses the ball well and makes good decisions, which is exactly what you want from a player trying to cement a starting place.

The second half offered a different kind of test. Playing into a strong wind, Mayo had to show patience and control rather than attacking flair. This is where their experience and conditioning really came to the fore. Instead of forcing low-percentage shots, they held onto possession, worked the ball through the lines, and picked off scores when opportunities arose.

Scoring 13 points into the wind is no small achievement, and it speaks to a team that is learning how to manage games in different conditions. That’s an important step forward. In previous seasons, Mayo might have struggled in those scenarios, but here they looked composed and in control throughout.

IMPRESSIVE DEPTH

Another major positive was the impact of the bench.

Being able to introduce players like Cillian O’Connor, Jordan Flynn, and the pace of Tommy Conroy adds a different dimension to this Mayo side. This depth creates both an opportunity and a challenge for management.

On one hand, it gives Mayo the ability to change games and maintain intensity over 70 minutes. On the other, it raises difficult selection questions, a welcome headache for Andy Moran and company.

McHale, in particular, has done his chances no harm with his recent performances. He has been consistently effective whenever given an opportunity, and that reliability is something management will value highly.

DEFENSIVE WORRIES

Defensively, there were still areas that will need attention. While the game was largely under control, Mayo did concede a number of chances, including several two-point opportunities.

Giving up that type of scoring repeatedly is risky, especially against higher-quality opposition.

Giving away three two-pointers near the end, although the game was nearly over, is a touch concerning, as well as a few more chances for them earlier on.

If you concede five two-pointers, you’ll need a big score at the other end.

It’s worth noting that Mayo’s defensive structure often looks strongest when they are dominating possession. Their game is built around controlling the ball, driving forward from the half-back line, and dictating the tempo.

When that breaks down, and they are forced to defend for longer periods, vulnerabilities can appear. Tightening up those moments—both structurally and in terms of concentration—will be important in the weeks ahead.

Overall, though, this was a job well done. Mayo came through the game without any real scares, got valuable minutes into a wide range of players, and built further momentum following a positive league campaign.

The bigger tests are still to come. Games against stronger opposition will demand greater precision, more attacking variety, and improved defensive discipline. But for now, Mayo have done exactly what they needed to do.

There is a growing sense that this team is developing in the right direction.

The improvements made during the league, particularly in areas like two-point shooting and game management, are carrying into the championship.

At the same time, there is still clear room for growth, which is exactly where a team wants to be at this stage of the season.

The focus now shifts to the Rossies, where the level of opposition will rise significantly. 

That’s where we will get a clearer picture of where Mayo truly stand. But on the whole, the performance bodes well heading into the semis.