COLUMN: Garrymore hoping lightning strikes twice

The last time Garrymore and Castlebar Mitchels met in a county final was 1982. Garrymore won on the day and they haven't won one since. Nor have they been in one since either. Forty-four years on, the big question this time around is whether lightning can strike twice in one season for the south Mayo men. Garrymore beat Mitchels by five points in Hollymount in the last group game, and for this columnist, I always disliked the idea of coming up against a side you’ve beaten for a second time.

Albeit both had advanced at that stage and there wasn’t a huge amount to lose. However, the townies were really, really flat on the night and won’t be like that again. A dangerous prospect. I had the (mis)fortune of playing for Balla in the same group as the two of them, so between all the analysis that comes with preparing for a championship game, and then playing, you get to know a fair amount about them.

This columnist went out on his shield a few weeks ago in these pages and said Garrymore had the cut of champions on them. I still think they do, but with that said, I am less confident. Why? Because I predicted Mitchels would lose to Breaffy in the semi-final, but the first 30 minutes they produced that day was the best half of senior club football I've seen in Mayo all year.

If they replicate it, it’s hard see them lose. So what I'm telling you is both teams will win the county final. Make sense of that if you want. I can't, because there are as many reasons to back each of them as there are to doubt them.

​THE CASE FOR MITCHELS

On paper, you lean towards Castlebar. Nobody in the club championship has their panel depth. A third of the starting fifteen won an All-Ireland with Mayo this summer and when you look down through the panel and it's an embarrassment of riches. Kevin Filan has spent the championship experimenting with his team, mainly the forwards, and the semi-final suggests he has got it right.

Joe Forry hit 1-4 in the first half against Breaffy and nobody in their defence had an answer for him, while Neil Douglas, the evergreen, really rolled back the years. Cian Walsh has scored in every game this year expect him to do damage again in the final. Their defence is where they really stand out though. Donnacha McHugh is the county team’s go-to man marker, while Paddy Durcan looks really fresh after the inter-county season. John MacMonagle was man of the match against Breaffy, and while Sean Morahan has spent as much time in the half forward line as the half back line, he’s a huge driving force

Their kickout is a big weapon for them. Rory Byrne is as good as any goalkeeper in the county on restarts at the minute. In the opening round of the championship against us they worked ‘the spine’ really well. Essentially their half backs and midfielders line up in a straight line from the 21 to the halfway line to ensure the channels are empty and allow Byrne ping it into the space.

When you have pace and smart footballers like they do, it’s hard to stop, especially when the likes of Morahan, Bob Tuohy, Durcan etc are running from deep. A huge concern for Mitchels though is the fitness of James Durcan, who went off injured ten minutes into the Breaffy game with an ankle injury. I thought he was coming into serious form all year and although it’s expected he’ll play a part, there’s no way he will be 100%.

THE CASE FOR GARRYMORE

The thought of Garrymore winning is a really romantic story. The club is the Mecca of a unique place in the county that has very little else. Fields, hills, sheep, and a stunning ground, right in the middle of it all. But for what they lack in infrastructure and resources, when they cross the white line, I'm confident every one of those lads would die for the jersey. Few clubs in Mayo can say the same and mean it like Garrymore do.

Don't mistake romance for a lack of football. Fintan Forde and Tony Corcoran have a team with the right blend of youth and experience, and they play simple, effective stuff. Keep the house solid and do huge work around the breaks and the middle. Most kickouts go long towards Gary Golden, a workhorse and one of their most influential players in that battle for primary possession.

Win the break and they are gone, with Liam Óg Horkan and Eoin McGreal breaking through the lines, and very well aided by Enda Hession who is excellent in a roaming wing forward role. The scorers are there too. Darren Quinn is in the form of his life and was outstanding again against Belmullet. Shane Nally, Trevor Nally, Mark Gibbons and Andy Glennon carry that two-point ambition, while Cathal Slattery is a real handful and live wire in possession, as likely to win it inside his own half as he is inside opposition's.

There is an edge to their motivation too. Mitchels will win more county titles in the next decade while, realistically, I don't think Garrymore will, not for this team at least. You can't escape the feeling that, for Garrymore, this might be the one.

​HOW IT GETS WON

When we played Garrymore, we identified one thing. Push them back inside their own half. Press the kickout, get bodies around the break, and when you win it, get out of the ruck fast, out wide and inside. That is when Garrymore get exposed.

Try to walk the ball up the field and you get clogged and frustrated like what happened to Ballina in the first round of the championship and Mitchels in the third.

Garrymore's job is different. Do not cough up handy possession in attack. Mitchels turned us over around their own half back line double-digit times and broke in numbers all day. There is too much pace and power around their middle to be loose, so patience in attack is non-negotiable.

The match-ups will decide plenty. McHugh on Quinn if Quinn stays inside. I'd expect Morahan to tag McGreal while Durcan will definitely be sent out to negate Hession in that free role.

​PREDICTION

I said Garrymore had the cut of champions and I still think they do. Playing a team for the second time in one championship makes me nervous though, and I wouldn't be surprised if this ended in a draw.

Conditions will play a huge part. A dry day suits Mitchels, no doubt about it. A wet one, with Garrymore dragging them into a battle, and I think the Paddy Moclair Cup goes south for the first time since 1982.