MARTIN CARNEY: Probationary periods vary in Gaelic football

BUZZING, bright and breezy, the Box-It Athletic Grounds was no place for the faint hearted on Sunday. Before a capacity crowd on this bank holiday weekend, I really wasn’t sure what to expect in Armagh beyond the usual fiery welcome.

Wearing their ‘hard done by' mantle after last year’s defeat to Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final, I anticipated they’d lay down a marker before their own supporters and build on the derby win over Monaghan the previous weekend.

Probationary periods vary in Gaelic football. They can fluctuate in length, take on different hues of intensity and most likely the newcomer will experience occasions where exposure in the most unforgiving circumstances will test character. From the ranks of the Mayo newbies, guys like Jack Coyne, Bob Tuohy, David McBrien and Conor McStay discovered a new meaning to senior inter- county football in the Athletic Grounds cauldron.

Active for the last four consecutive weekends, all of them participated in a game that, once it settled, was rich in excitement and intrigue, and in the end they were much better for the experience.

On reflection and looking at the game overall, this was one that Mayo should have won. The drawn game with Galway in the opening round felt like a win such were the circumstances surrounding Ryan O’Donoghue's last-gasp equalising point. In contrast, a sense of a point lost rather than one gained remained uppermost after the dust settled on this 17 points each decider.

Having taken the lead for the first time after 48 minutes and backed by a stiff wind, it looked to me by then that Mayo had found the key to unlocking Armagh’s unyielding defence. At the same time, showing commendable energy and discipline, they managed to blunt the threats posed by Andy Murnin, Rory Grugan and Rian O’Neill with some wonderful block tackling.

There was reason to be optimistic. Extending the lead to five points with the same number of minutes remaining when Colm Reape coaxed a lovely long-range effort between the posts after Conor McStay had been fouled, Mayo looked on course. Their demise over the remaining minutes was as much down to their own errors as it was to Armagh dredging a previously absent spirit from somewhere.

PROVOKE

Mayo’s late changes – which saw Aidan O’Shea start in place of Aidan Orme and Fionn McDonagh replace Diarmuid O’Connor, who was not on the match day squad – didn’t in any way weaken their hand or provoke a change in approach.

The Breaffy man, occupying the full-forward position for much of the first half, was clearly seen as a target to hit whenever the opportunity arose. Perhaps it had to do with the fact that Mayo were playing against the wind but in reality, the supply to the big man wavered from occasional to non- existent over most of the period. However, once he claimed a mark after 25 minutes and slotted the kick, his performance levels rose for the remainder of the game.

Though a two points return may be seen by some as a scant reward for his efforts, he proceeded to give possibly his best display in the colours for quite some time. Seemingly revitalised and responding to the new responsibilities imposed by management, he led by example in taking the game to Armagh from a much more advanced position than has been the case in the past.

McStay likes to mix and match his approach but it appears he sees in the O’Shea experiment something more lasting.

Once the preliminaries were dispensed with and both teams found their rhythms, the game had some memorable moments. In their new roles as prompters and distributors, both Conor Loftus and Stephen Coen sprayed some excellent ball to their forward line.

Bob Tuohy, in only his second outing, is already making his mark with his indefatigable energy and ball sense. Jordan Flynn’s two points were timely and of high quality. On the half-time whistle, he narrowed the gap to three points with a strike that did justice to Enda Hession’s wonderful approach work.

After every game, post-match inquests pepper conversations and needless to say the events surrounding the restart to Flynn’s point will have gathered traction on car journeys home. Armagh’s goalie, Ethan Rafferty, butchered this, leaving Cillian O’Connor with a gaping goal to aim for. In that last frantic play of the half, he spotted the opportunity but slightly over-egged his shot at goal, with a point rather than a major being the return.

Over the course of the opening 20 minutes after the break, Mayo were outstanding in practically every facet of play. Outscoring the home side by six points to two, they secured a lead that gave rise to a more purposeful and confident display.

Tackles and tracking on different occasions by Fionn McDonagh, Cillian O’Connor, the outstanding Ryan O’Donoghue and Stephen Coen provided platforms and assists for all of these. Flynn’s delightful second point after some wonderful work from David McBrien and Aidan O’Shea was a huge spirit-rouser.

Although Cillian and Ryan O’Donoghue (who interestingly continued with the place-kicking responsibilities after Cillian’s introduction) added to the total, mistakes were becoming more evident. Such had been the physical input from every member on the team that signs of tiredness were always likely to emerge. This fatigue coupled to some poor decision making, a resurgent Armagh and dubious refereeing decisions provided the cocktail that the Orchard men made the most of.

A little panic and loss of composure didn’t help matters either but over the course to the final 11 minutes of playing time, Armagh outscored their opponents by five points without reply.

Questions abound. Had Eoghan McLaughlin held on to the ball rather than go for glory, would we have squeaked a win? Against that, had Mattie Ruane and Enda Hession, at different times, not executed some excellent blocks, would defeat have been our lot? Perhaps he was showing signs of fatigue but would the cause have been better served had Aidan O’Shea been left on the pitch?

Debating all of these whys and wherefores are what add to the fun. Yet on the day Mayo can come away from a game safe in the knowledge that they are going in the right direction, responding to the promptings of their new manager and playing with a spirit that augurs well for the year.