PREVIEW: Unanswered questions for Mayo ahead of Monaghan showdown

IN the 1930s the pupils of Clonrye National School in Monaghan penned ‘Clones Fair’ a ditty describing the social gathering on fair-days and the excitement on Fermanagh Street and other well-known areas of the town.

On Sunday next Mayo supporters will make the short journey from The Diamond in the centre of Clones, along Fermanagh Street and up the hill to St Tiernach’s Park. The journey will only take a few minutes, but the destination is one where many questions will be answered.

When the draw pitted Mayo and Monaghan together there were many near the western sea who felt it was a handy one. They talked about the big league win Mayo enjoyed in Clones back in February and the fact that Farney men were relegated to Division 2 at the end of a very disappointing campaign.

However, that was a very short-sighted summation of Gabriel Bannigan’s men. League football and where one finishes on the ladder is of absolutely no importance.

All that matters is championship and the wins, losses and performances achieved there. Monaghan’s dismal league campaign is already forgotten. They’ve beaten Cavan and Derry in Ulster and pushed Armagh all the way. Now, they welcome a badly-wounded Mayo to their patch of grass where St Tiernach kicked ball back at the dawn of time.

Despite losing the Ulster decider, Monaghan are on the crest of a wave and a win on Sunday will set them up nicely to go deep into the championship.

Mayo, on the other hand, are under pressure and in a vulnerable place. The need for a win has never been greater and the questions being asked have rarely been louder. It all stems from the performance against Roscommon. Defeats are palatable, but hammerings in Castlebar in championship are harder to digest. Therefore victory is crucial in Clones.

However, getting the better of the home side will be a mammoth task. Mayo have so many leaks to plug if the boat is to regain buoyancy.

Andy Moran has some big decisions this week. Does he stick with the tried and trusted or put his faith in less experienced members of his squad. Does he go for ‘pace and space’ or a more conservative approach? Numerous challenge matches have been played over the past few weeks with some interesting selections as a number of pivotal questions hover in the ether.

How will the midfield question be solved? Who will play in goal? Who lines out at centre-half-back? Does David McBrien stay in the middle of the field or revert to the full-back line? Does the half-forward line need more natural attackers and less midfielders? Do Mayo revert more to zonal defence or go to a rigid man-marking system? Who is the designated man-marker?

The answer to the last question should not be Sam Callinan! Against Roscommon the Ballina man was haltered trying to mark Enda Smith and Mayo missed his attacking drives at the other end of the field. Donnacha McHugh may be brought in to fill that role.

In the full-back line, indications are that McBrien has filled that role on one or more occasions over the past few weeks, while Conor Loftus may leave the centre-half-back spot behind him and take up a more natural role in the forwards.

If Matthew Ruane is back to match-fitness he should fill one of the midfield spots, but if he’s not ready McBrien may have to remain in the middle.

If Loftus is picked in the forwards does Michael Plunkett, Sean Morahan, John MacMonagle, Stephen Coen or somebody else fill the centre-back role?

Injuries withstanding, will there be many changes to the forward line? Will Ryan O’Donoghue play nearer the goal if Loftus moves up? Will Kobe McDonald be available just days ahead of his Leaving Cert? Will Fergal Boland come into the team to add energy to the half-forward line and will Jordan Flynn stay at wing-forward or move to midfield?

There are numerous questions to be answered. Mayo will make every effort to find the solutions on Sunday afternoon.