Big test ahead for Mayo

RENEWING RIVALRIES  Kieran Hughes of Monaghan in action against Padraig O’Hora of Mayo during the Allianz Football League in February 2020. Monday’s qualifier draw means the two teams will meet in a winner-takes-all clash in MacHale Park on Saturday week. Pic: Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile

Monaghan will be tough competition in a huge knockout fixture

Just a few short weeks ago, all looked rosy in the garden for James Horan and his Mayo team as they qualified for the NFL league final in Croke Park. This was to set them up for the crucial championship clash with Galway at MacHale Park.
However, they suffered a very heavy beating at headquarters against a hungry Kerry outfit, and when Galway came to Castlebar on April 24, they deservedly took the spoils. They now face Roscommon in an intriguing Connacht Final this coming Sunday afternoon.
Mayo have known for the past month that the backdoor waited ajar, and finally yesterday morning (Monday) they found out their opposition. Thankfully, they secured a home draw, but the calibre of the opposition in the shape of Monaghan will mean there will no room for complacency when the ball is thrown in on Saturday, June 4.
Eight teams were in the hat. It could be argued that Mayo got as tough a draw as they could. It is true that Tyrone and Armagh would also have been a challenging test, but last year’s All-Ireland champions have looked off-colour so far in the championship, and Armagh have it all to prove after a disappointing show against Donegal.
Monaghan too will not have been happy with their display when they were ambushed by an impressive Derry side, but Seamus ‘Banty’ McEnaney can still draw from one of the most experienced sides in the country – a side that has been at the business end of championship football for most of the last decade.

Championship atmosphere
So expect nothing less than a proper championship atmosphere when Monaghan come to town on Saturday week. A lot of their players know they won’t have many more chances to get back playing in Croke Park, and Mayo will have to bring their A game to advance to the second round of the qualifiers, which will take place just one week later against one of the losing provincial finalists.
The clear concern for Mayo is how many of their strongest 15 will be unavailable due to injury. The Mayo management have been keeping their cards very close to their chests in relation to the like of Oisín Mullin and Paddy Durcan, but the hope is that these two vital defenders will be available for selection.
The news does not seem so good for another first choice defender, Michael Plunkett, who picked up an ankle injury last week, while midfielder Jordan Flynn looks also unlikely to play. Rumours have also been circulating about the fitness of star forward Ryan O’Donoghue, but hopefully the Belmullet attacker will be fit to start on Saturday week.
On the positive front, the O’Connor brothers will have gotten some much needed game time into their legs over the last month since they both impressed when returning against Galway. Having both fully fit will definitely strengthen James Horan’s starting 15.
So the real key to Mayo progressing through the championship month of June is getting as many of those injured players back – and getting a confidence-boosting performance and victory against a battle-hardened Monaghan side.
The doomsday scenario is that Monaghan come to Castlebar and finish Mayo’s summer as early as June 4. Mayo fans obviously will not want that to happen and they may have a huge role to play by coming out in force and acting as the 16th man in MacHale Park. Mayo simply have to make home advantage count, or the back door will be firmly shut in their faces.