Mayo target Connaught title as McStay yearns for consistency

NOW into his second year as Mayo senior team manager, for Kevin McStay the first year seems to have just flashed by as Mayo begin their second championship journey.

Last year ended in a league title and exiting the championship to Dublin at the quarterfinal stage.

This year, it seems, the focus will be on a Connaught championship title as the platform to raise an army for an assault on the citadel that is Croke Park.

If McStay could make one purchase should he wander through duty free en route to the Big Apple this week, it would undoubtedly be a litre bottle or two of consistency because it is the lack of same which has plagued his team since he took over the reins from James Horan.

This particular shortcoming, which has confronted Mayo on more than one occasion in the league this year, was encapsulated by the manager’s thoughts when a colleague asked a question about perhaps the best performance from his team since he took over the reins – Killarney, May 21, 2023, when they clashed in the first round of the group stages of the championship where Mayo ended Kerry’s unbeaten home record in the championship which had lasted 39 years.

“I do know we were a bit giddy on the bus returning home as the significance of ending that Kerry unbeaten home record began to sink in,” said McStay when he spoke to the print media at the launch of the Connaught championship at the Centre of Excellence in Bekan.

He added: “To do what we did was significant. I do remember the excitement in the dressing room.

“That's how confidence is built and I do remember saying at the time that what was needed now was to back up that performance.

“It was our best display. The introduction of subs saw one better than the next and then realising it was possible to live the dream but then we were knocked back to reality soon afterwards.

“We struggled to beat Louth and then lost to Cork. That was all down to a lack of consistency.

“We did beat Galway and at half-time against Dublin we thought we’re still in the race for an All-Ireland.

"But in the second half against Dublin that all ended and again a lack of consistency the issue.

"Unless we have that consistency this year then we will struggle to make progress but we will be aiming for more consistency this year,” he said.

That said, McStay has total faith in his team, his backroom team and those entrusted with getting the players into shape and bringing them back from injury.

And, unlike a number of teams, Mayo have no injury worries ahead of their opening game against New York with the entire panel of 36 making the trip and they include Eoghan McLoughlin and Diarmuid O’Connor.

“There has been a lot of speculation about injuries since the Monaghan game but I can tell you we have no injury worries.

“Yes, there were a few bumps and bruises but everyone was on the training pitch during the week.

He added: “We have given time to players who have been trying to get back in contention for places and they include Paddy Durcan and James Carr who played against Monaghan but I would never risk any player if he is not fit enough to play.”

Mayo’s fourth place finish in the National League is also a big positive ahead of their opening championship game, as, on paper at least, they must be ranked number 1 in Connaught and the team most likely to regain the Nestor Cup, which they last won three years ago when they beat Galway in the final.

“Look I’m sure any of the managers will be telling you the same thing.

“Winning a Connaught title is not only the best way to have a good run in the championship but it also boosts confidence to be going through the All-Ireland series as provincial champions and I have huge respect for the provincial system and always will have,” he said.

Having finally got the job he always wanted McStay reflected on the importance of a Connaught title.

“I value the Connaught medals I won. A provincial championship is still important,” he said, and, having crashed out at the first hurdle against Roscommon last year, he hopes things will work out a bit different this time round.

Although he was not harping back to playing that championship match a week after winning the National League title, it was a tough blow to be out of the Connaught race so quickly and again the defeat exposed Mayo’s lack of consistency, a word that came up a few times during their National League campaign.

“I’m happy that we finished fourth on the table but we had chances to win games we lost. I have used 36 players through the league and many of those players will learn from that experience but we will not be focusing on anything else at the moment other than New York.

“Of course supporters expect us to win but we also expect ourselves to win and we will use this opportunity to the utmost advantage and we have a programme laid out that reflects our total focus on the job that lies ahead.

“We expect to put in a big performance and we know what is expected of us and we also know what New York did last year when they defeated Leitrim,” he said.

He was reminded what London had done to Mayo in the FBD League a few short months ago.

“That result reinforces the point I was trying to make. We had some very familiar names playing for us in that game but London deserved their win. They were well-coached and well-motivated. We expected to win but we just didn’t perform well enough to win."

There was also a reference to the near-miss by James Horan in the 2016 championship when London took Mayo to extra time so it would be foolish for any team to take either London or New York for granted.

McStay will not be making that mistake as he believes he is coming into this year’s championship with a team a year older and wiser and much better prepared.

“The team will be a lot more settled as we have tried out numerous players in different positions and I think we have a panel that is in better shape than last year, well motivated with players putting their hands up as they want to be playing and winning.

"It does some down to consistency or inconsistency and I think we will see a Mayo team that will produce good football with a lot more consistency this year.”

He added: “The average age of our players is 24.5 years. We have tried players out in different positions.

“Some are in for the first year, others are now on their second year while a few are just coming back from injuries but overall this year’s panel is well prepared and from where we are standing we are in a good place.

"So let’s just go and give it a right good rattle.”

Those were the final words from a manager who has a lot of faith in the team he is leading to New York for what will hopefully be the first leg of a long, long journey in 2024.