Anything less than a win will be a major setback for Mayo

by Martin Carney, Mayo's foremost GAA columnist

RINSING the disappointment of the Connacht final defeat from the system has taken longer than I’d imagined it would.

The defeat to Galway was bad enough, but the nature and circumstances made it harder to bear.

Not for the first time, a seemingly defendable lead as the clock went into the red disappeared due to lapses in concentration, sloppy defending and questionable refereeing decisions.

In reality, winning the Nestor Cup offered Mayo its only realistic path to silverware this year. Irrespective of how things went in Salthill, I still believe Mayo, at this moment in time, are well short of the best Dublin and Kerry bring to the table.

Unfortunately, what was a realisable goal came to nothing as Galway’s character, fuelled mainly by the display of Damien Comer, shone through to eke out a win by the narrowest of margins.

The defeat hurt but I still believe there is sufficient desire in the squad to turn matters around. Mayo certainly didn’t find form when needed the last day, but there is still much to play for.

Fair enough, on recent evidence many players are performing short of their best – mainly due to the hangover effects from injury – and not enough of them are assuming the leadership roles that every team needs.

Furthermore, the tactical subtleties and variations in play that would make the team more difficult to compete against are either absent or not working.

With regard the former, Jordan Flynn is a case in point. I have for some time regarded him critical to the Mayo cause but his recovery from recent injury is slower than hoped for and he has yet to find his best form.

Likewise, Jack Carney and Sam Callinan have yet to fully blossom. Switching Callinan to the half-back line might unleash the energy levels that have up to now been absent. Carney, quite simply, needs to apply himself more consistently over the course of a game.

From a playing point of view, I see merit in patiently probing before delivering the killer pass into the forward line. Retaining possession becomes central with this approach. Equally, there is little to counter the argument about the importance of defenders getting forward to score.

But the Mayo way at the moment doesn’t do enough to maximise the use of their full-forward line, I feel. They have shipped some criticism, unfairly I believe, for their inadequate scoring return against Galway.

Yet there is an inevitability that when the ball is held up outfield by backward and lateral movement, the inside line cannot maximise the threat it carries.

The team overall would benefit from a speedier delivery to their full-forwards. Exploring the potential rewards by doing this are risks worth taking.

For all that, Mayo are still in the championship and in the exact same position as Galway.

The race for Sam begins for Mayo this evening when Cavan visit Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, while Galway have to entertain Derry.

On the face of it there should be only one outcome – a Mayo win – but after the Salthill setback, a lot will depend on how the recovery period unfolded.

Restoring the team’s self-belief, rebuilding damaged confidence and facing a few home truths will have been high on Kevin McStay’s agenda.

The need to heal the wound caused by the circumstances of the defeat was as important as dealing with defeat itself.

Conceding three points in time added-on left a scar. Footballers pride themselves on their ability to see out the final minutes of a game and cling to whatever advantage they established.

The opposite is equally the case. Late scores like those conceded against Galway – all from frees that were questionable – can prompt levels of self-questioning and self-doubt.

Analysing why this happened, overcoming the disappointment and moving on are vital on the path to recovery. Though I’m sure the defeat damaged morale, at the same time there is no need for panic.

Mayo players haven’t overnight become a group of no-hopers with little to play for. There is still a robust spirit within the squad and this togetherness will help the recovery process.

One mustn’t forget that Mayo, at the moment, with the exception of a handful, is a relatively inexperienced team. For example, all from the starting defence the last day, including goalkeeper Colm Reape, were playing in their first senior provincial final.

None would have savoured before the chaotic nature of the final 10 minutes. They will have derived benefit from the experience and learned some home truths. In moments like those, clear-headedness and composure rank highest. These were absent in Salthill.

Cavan then will present an interesting challenge. The game will give the faithful a glimpse of how well Mayo have recovered. Much interest will focus on possible changes in attacking strategies.

For example, will the team continue with its slow and ponderous approach in getting the ball forward, as was the case the last day, or will it favour a more direct approach?

Cavan finished in third spot behind Donegal and Armagh in Division 2 and with the exception of a bad beating against the Orchard men, they were more than a competitive match for all others.

After beating Monaghan in their opening Ulster championship game, they agonisingly lost by the minimum against Tyrone. In this game they scored 3-16.

Since then they have lost their star forward, Paddy Lynch, to a serious knee injury. Already he registered one goal and 14 points in their two championship games.

Like Mayo, Cavan have invested heavily in their team. New manager Raymond Galligan has made no secret of his ambition to restore Cavan to their previously held eminent position in the province.

Their record of 40 Ulster titles and five All-Ireland senior crowns puts them well ahead of everyone else in the province. Incidentally, their last Sam Maguire success came in 1952.

Like their Ulster counterparts, Cavan will place quite an emphasis on mass defending. Their aim will be to deny Mayo an early advantage and exploit any residual damage from the Galway defeat.

Mayo themselves should have a stronger hand to pick from. Cillian and Diarmuid O’Connor, if available, will strengthen Kevin McStay’s hand. Jordan Flynn will have benefited from his last outing but more than anything, getting Paddy Durcan back is critical for the team.

He’s a leader with a great football head and commands the respect of his colleagues. Plagued with injury all year – he missed the final five games in the league – the team has found it hard to fill the void left by his absence.

Mayo will look for better skill execution, being able to exercise greater control around the middle third and being more accurate when opportunities arise.

It’s vital to win the game, rebuild confidence and get points on the board. Anything other than this would leave a massive hill to climb.