Hiccups inevitable for Mayo on long road yet to travel

The fate of the McGrath, McKenna, O’Byrne and FBD trophies will be decided over the next few weeks; hard to believe but already the competitions are nearing final stages in their respective provinces.

One recent game in particular from the above menu caught my attention.

When attracting a crowd in excess of 4,000 to see Donegal beat Armagh in their opening game of the McKenna Cup in Ballybofey, the home faithful gave a very definite vote of confidence to Jim McGuinness on his second coming. By any standard this was a huge turnout for the time of year. The McGuinness magic looks as if it’s already weaving its spell in the northwest.

On the evening his team scored three goals and 16 points. What this suggests is open to conjecture. That they are fitter than most others right now is fairly certain if one is to believe the reports of their pre-season training schedules.

What I find more interesting is that in scoring 19 times, perhaps the Donegal public are getting a snapshot of what is to come from the team in an attacking sense for the rest of the year.

One way or the other, I hope to see generally a more attack conscious approach, not only from them but from teams in all of the four divisions.

Division One teams, although it won’t particularly bother them, have a particular responsibility.

They are there for a reason. They are the tops, the trendsetters and those that others look to for successful playing trends that have earned them their elevated positions.

Let’s hope that all find a greater balance between attack and defence this year with an increasing emphasis on getting the ball forward quickly.

The recent charity game in the Dome, their pre-Christmas challenge game with Offaly and the opening encounter in the FBD League with London propelled Mayo into the new season. Providing opportunities for aspirants to rub shoulders with the tried and trusted usually paints the backdrop to these occasions.

For the new and ambitious, those who often form a reasonable chunk of the early-season squad, this period can be very fraught.

Keen to get game time, anxious to impress and hungry to parade their abilities and strengths to management, getting game time is vital.

For the most part the majority of the new faces have come to notice on the strength of their exploits with their clubs in the recently completed championships.

With every panellist today, either new or well established, conforming with and completing their individually prescribed strength and conditioning programme is essential. With many from the new batch this can take some adjustment. Aside from engaging with their collective on-field training responsibilities, adapting to a new reality where daily gym work is the norm can be daunting and demanding.

Bottom-line, though, it will be mainly on how they perform in games that will get them the recognition they crave.

In such a short, condensed and intense season early form is important, more so for some than others.

The experienced and hardcore can afford to occasionally underperform and still know they are nailed-on for the season.

Perhaps I’m guilty of presumption but I feel that the O’Connors, Aidan O’Shea, Ryan O’Donoghue, Matthew Ruane, Stephen Coen and Patrick Durcan fall into this category. Others who were on the fringes or unused last year due to injury or loss of form will want to make a statement if selected.

Rob Hennelly (outstanding for Raheny in the Dublin championship) is one. Rory Brickenden (what a boost he could give the defence if he remains injury free) is another, and Donnacha McHugh would add grit to the defence. Ballina’s Evan Regan and Aghamore’s Fergal Boland, I gather, are recalled and are capable of giving greater depth to the attack.

Yet, at a time when new blood is now needed more than in recent seasons the circumstances are ideal and time is ripe for new faces to make the step up to the senior inter- county ranks.

With this more than anything else in mind I watched Mayo play London in round 1 of the FBD on Sunday.

Going to the Dome I expected one result only; a Mayo win. Though of an experimental nature (nine debutants in total) I still felt that Mayo would carry too much power, skill and know-how to deal with the best London came up with.

I was wrong.

The visitors settled from the start, showed superior game management, applied their defensive system where everyone flooded their own half of the pitch and broke with purpose when the occasions arose.

In Matt Moynihan, Jamie McCann, Liam Gallagher, Daniel Clarke and Shay Rafter they possessed a powerful spine that set the agenda from the start.

Retaining possession, repeatedly moving the ball latterly and backwards, they were comfortable with a playing style that Mayo struggled dismally to break down.

During that opening period had it not been for the promptings of Jordan Flynn, in particular, Robbie Hennelly, Donnacha McHugh and Cillian O’Connor matters could have deteriorated beyond redemption.

Scores were hard earned, Flynn’s brace being the pick. A point ahead at the break, I still fancied Mayo to discover a sliver of form in the second period.

It didn’t happen.

Even a wonderful goal from Cillian, wrapped up in simplicity, did nothing to lift the spirit.

That strike after a pinpoint pass from Jordan Flynn who had fielded a Robbie Hennelly restart didn’t have the desired effect.

London, showing no signs of fatigue, continued to defend stoutly, made more use of the few chances and forced Mayo into hasty and ill- advised attempts at goal.

In total, Mayo registered 14 wides. London clung on gamely to the end and were full value for their first win over Mayo.

With a particular eye on emerging talent, I was underwhelmed in what I saw.

Few from the new bunch left a positive impression. For me the pick of the crop was Moy Davitts’ Conor Reid at wing-forward.

Though he didn’t bother the scoreboard, a lot of thankless and necessary work came through him.

Kevin McStay will be disappointed with the result but it isn’t time to despair. Obliged to try out new blood, there is always a danger that his selected 15 will be unfamiliar with one another.

That’s what happened as far as I could see against London. The team were strangers to one another and played accordingly.

Of greater disappointment will be the loss of a semi-final fixture with Roscommon on Saturday.

Still, it’s early days. Patience is needed now more than ever. Giving chances to new faces is necessary. Hiccups are inevitable on the long road yet to travel.