Room for improvement as Mayo end Allianz League campaign with narrow win

Mayo brought the curtain down on their Allianz National Football League campaign with a 2-13 to 1-14 win over Monaghan in Clones on Sunday, a victory that leaves them with four wins and three losses overall.

While it is nice to be heading into the Connacht championship on the back of a win, this victory over Monaghan did not in any way suggest the Mayo supporters can look forward to the championship with a great deal of confidence.

Mayo were poor for most of this encounter, and were a tad fortunate to come out on top. For 55 minutes they had an extra man but, for the most part, played second fiddle to the hosts, were very lucky not to have a penalty awarded against them in the 60th minute and had to rely on goalkeeper Rory Byrne to make an unbelievable save in the final seconds to deny Monaghan a victory that their overall effort might have deserved.

To look at some positives, there are a number of players returning ahead of their championship opener with New York in two weeks' time, notably Paddy Durcan, James Carr, Eoin O’Donoghue, Rory Byrne, Enda Hession and Padraig O’Hora, and they all got game time in Clones.

Granted, the result of the game was really inconsequential, with Monaghan already demoted and Mayo’s Division 1 status secured, but when you compare Mayo’s progress this year it has to be a worrying factor that they have produced the kind of football that would not imbue supporters with the belief that they can be serious contenders for the championship.

Inconsistency has been Mayo's biggest problem during the league. They have hit some hot spots when they really put some excellent football together, the resurgence against Derry being a prime example, but then you look at that second half against Tyrone and you do worry.

Mayo do have the luxury of what should be an easy enough opening clash in New York before they face Roscommon at the Hyde.

The league final a week before the championship opener is something Mayo will avoid this year, and manager Kevin McStay feels they will be up for a crack at the title – but he does have to make a few big calls over the coming days before he decides on who will and who won’t be on board the plane to the Big Apple.

- Reporting by Aiden Henry and John Melvin