McHale Park facelift long overdue 
Kevin McStay THE redevelopment of McHale Park in Castlebar has evolved, over a period of 24 months, from a sketch to a detailed plan and the announcement that full planning permission applies to the application is to be welcomed. I think.
The plan is ambitious and mention was made of a new 10,000 seater stand to replace the existing old and battered one; ground capacity is to be increased from 35,000 to 42,000 and floodlighting will be a strategic addition. Throw in some corporate boxes, office space and new dressing rooms and I guess one has to agree it covers the majority of needs at the old ground.
It all comes to what looks like an affordable €14 million and most supporters will want to welcome and support the project. And while this column wants to row in I must type an instant asterisk. The question that has to be asked is how often will the stadium be filled? Once every two years or so? Or will the mooted music concerts be the life-saver?
When Mayo play host to Galway, we can expect a full house but only if both counties are going well and a Connacht title is at stake. A resurgent Roscommon would attract big support on the road and that is another possibility. But is that enough to form the basis of a five year financial plan?
All our NFL games are now held in McHale Park and since the move we have established ourselves as a very hard team to beat at home. The players get used to the ground and in turn have a decided advantage for championship games. But the crowds at NFL games (and we only ever have four at most at home) are modest by any modern standard for GAA attendances.
The property people tell us the three golden rules when it comes to buying are location, location and, would you believe, location. Being the next parish to the USA is not one of the big selling points for qualifier games and I just cannot see HQ letting All-Ireland senior quarter finals make their way out of Croke Park when they need every big game they can get.
I realise the new stadium will not be a burden in terms of annual upkeep; one builds the arena and it very much looks after itself once you apply basic maintenance from one year to the other. Turn the key in June and it’s a case of ‘good to go’.
I sincerely hope the pitch is dug up and a new surface laid. For years now, especially during wet spells, it needed grass levels at about nine inches to ensure a game would not be called off. And the announcement of new dressing rooms reminded me of the old ones under the press box (ahem!).
Most modern hotels boast toilets that are bigger than those dressing rooms were: red painted wooden cubicles designed to house average sized under 12s and if a rub table was introduced you headed for the shower or jacks to tog! I expect the new package will use the changing areas in Croke Park as the template and that will be welcomed.
McHale Park was developed using the space to good advantage and the slope from front to back is so small as to allow everybody a very good view. When all the four sides are properly integrated, it should provide a superb location. I hope the County Board are not telling us everything and there will indeed be plenty of occasions to test capacity. And, of course, we wish the project a fair wind.
The erection of a new stand brings to mind a missed opportunity. That great Balla man, PW Nally, had a stand erected to his memory in 1952 in Croke Park and just over 50 years later the Carrickmore club in Tyrone eyed a break in play.
The stand was to be demolished to allow the new Croke Park to be completed. They asked for the old stand to be transported to their home, where it will now stand as a monument to PW.
I do not know if they paid a shilling for it but we on the Sweet Plains nodded while they drove to ensure each and every piece of metal and wood made it north. We missed the chance to bring it all back home’.
When I googled PW Nally his brief history informed me he was never even a member of the Association – he was in jail in 1884 when the GAA was founded and the poor man died there. A former St Jarlath’s student, he was a noted athlete and as a young man made a name for himself on a number of fronts.
But really, the place for this stand is in the refurbished McHale Park. And so today, we begin the campaign to have it brought home. We have a very good relationship with the Gaels from Tyrone and giving it to us is of course, the honourable thing to do. That, or else we will play the feckers for it; let the next championship encounter be the deciding rubber. C’mon Mayo!
Hanley’s heroics are real highlight IT would be silly to get ahead of ourselves and start talking about a repeat of the 2006 U-21 All Ireland final when Mayo caused a minor shock and beat the fancied Rebels. There is the matter of the Leinster champions first (well, we think it’s the Leinster champions but nobody seems too sure just yet!) and what they might bring to the table.
When one wins a championship from the position of outsider (as we did last year) it should fireproof you for seasons to come. That is the theory – in practice we throw the lesson away and forget that a well drilled underdog, tactically sound, enthusiastic and displaying a modicum of passion should always have the ability to administer a healthy bite.
My on site texter described it as one of the best Mayo underage days he witnessed. Coming from an informed Roscommon man that was something. And he relayed a short story to prove the human spirit gets up, shakes down and gets on. As a gang of the Rossies got up to go and a full quarter left on the clock, a Mayo Larry urged them to stay and endure the suffering. September 2006 was air-brushed in an instant and for now, at least the only way was up.
In winning another U-21 title, Mayo chalked up a hugely impressive scoreline. And I am told the scores came from everywhere: distance, close in, acute angles and perfect free taking. Less than a handful of wides in the hour plus of football marks it down as a performance of real substance.
The display and personal tally of young Pierce Hanley deserves a comment. It was an outstanding total and he will remember the last time he crossed swords with the younger Ros age group he came out the wrong end. Sport teaches a valuable lesson when it tests our reaction to adversity.
I know little of Offaly but understand Laois have a very decent side. And if we emerge from that game victorious let me lay down a reality check for all concerned. Cork have thirteen of the 2006 beaten finalists squad while the best from Ulster these past few years has been generally good enough to win the All Ireland.
Your comments please to kevinmcstay@mayonews.ie
