OPINION: Cool heads needed to sort Mayo soccer stand-off

The late American author Horace Jackson Brown Jr was renowned for his deep-thinking.

He is best known for writing Life's Little Instruction Book, which was a New York Times best-seller. Many years ago one of his quotes, 'Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity,' crept into my cranium and never left.

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This week, those eight words are very pertinent when one thinks about the debacle currently rumbling through Mayo soccer. The team are busily preparing for their upcoming Oscar Traynor Cup semi-final against Limerick on Sunday week.

It's a huge opportunity for the players and victory will send them to their second successive All-Ireland final.

However, three Mayo players aren't currently training with the squad and unless common sense comes calling, the trio won't feature in one of the biggest games ever to take place in the county.

Ballyheane have withdrawn, Michael Fahy, Nathan Reilly Doyle and Ben Edeh from the Mayo squad because they have a grievance with the Mayo League.

The club certainly believe they have been wronged by the powers-that-be – and maybe they have grounds for complaint, but why deprive three players of an opportunity to represent their club, their county and most importantly their families on such a big day?

There are many ways to make a statement – many ways to take a stand, but, in my view the only losers in this stand-off are the players. The three Ballyheane players won't get the chance to play in an All-Ireland semi-final, and the rest of
squad lose out too because they won't have the service of three of their team-mates.

In my view, if Ballyheane think their stance impacts on the officers of the Mayo League they may be incorrect. The rule-
makers will continue to do their thing; the Mayo team management albeit disillusioned with such a decision will continue to prepare methodically as always for the game with the players at their disposal and life will continue to move on.

Ballyheane are aggrieved that their refixed match against Castlebar Celtic was rescheduled for last Thursday night when they were beaten 3-0 by the champions. I can understand their annoyance.

It's hard to play on a Thursday night when club have players working or studying all across the country. Their ire is completely understandable. However, stopping three players representing Mayo is not the avenue I would have chosen to show their displeasure.

The only losers in this stand-off are the players. The only people who matter in this stand-off are the players, therefore, this needs to be sorted out immediately. Talking to many in the soccer community across the county in the past few days the universal feeling is that the stance is unfortunate and the people being punsihed are the innocent ones.

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Composure and consideration is required. Get the players back in the Mayo squad; get Ballyheane and the Mayo League officials in a room and talk this through in order to make sure there is greater understanding on all sides.

As Horace Jackson Brown Jr stated; 'Nothing is more expensive than a missed opportunity.' The three
Ballyheane lads should not miss this opportunity.