Hard to find home comforts in Mayo GAA

by Martin Carney, Mayo's foremost GAA columnist

AS it was, as it is and as it always will be; winning the opening game in the group stage is an important step in any year’s championship journey.

Victory, aside from putting the allimportant points on the board, serves to endorse much of the pre-season work into which everyone has invested heavily.

It relieves pressure, provides a safety net of sorts and strengthens that layer of confidence which often at the start of the season is paper-thin, to say the least.

Teams lucky enough to register a win on opening day are inclined to look forward with real hope rather than over their shoulders at what might have been.

On the other hand, the consequences of defeat in the opening game, while not season defining, puts the losing teams immediately under pressure.

Doubts creep in, confidence takes a rattle and the reality that a similar result in their next outing could spell the end of their footballing season can, if let, become a reality.

As for drawn games? That’s a form of footballing limbo.

Saturday of last weekend twice exposed followers to this netherworld; Castlebar dropping a home point against an unfancied Charlestown and Ballintubber finding a way of rescuing their tie with Aughamore with a draw.

It was an evening that recorded just one home win – a pretty comfortable Breaffy one at that – and left Balla, playing at home, to rue letting Westport away with maximum advantage after their two points smash-and-grab.

By all accounts Aghamore more than deserved to share the spoils with Ballintubber. The visitors, short Cillian O’Connor due to suspension, were always likely to find matters difficult against the east Mayo lads, who pride themselves on keeping home turf a pretty sacred place.

Expecting Ballintubber to replicate the feats of recent times is a tall order as the core group who had the ability to swing games in their favour are no longer the force they once were.

I caught up with the Mitchels v Charlestown game in Pairc Josie Munnelly and saw a gallant and never-say-die Charlestown plunder a draw from the wreckage of a game that well might have gone against them.

In truth, while playing against a considerable wind, the Mitchels were the dominant force in the opening half. Despite conceding a Paul Towey-crafted goal early in the game, they bossed matters territorially, conceded few other chances and, not surprisingly, went into the interval with a two points advantage.

In practically every department Mitchels looked superior. Sharp on the breaking ball, supporting one another and generally comfortable keeping possession, it looked to the world that it was a matter of ‘not if, but by how much’ they would come out on top eventually.

One repetitive flashing red light was a reluctance to take shots at goals when opportunities arose. An extra pass compromised much good approach work and allowed a dogged Charlestown defence to execute some excellent last-ditch tackles.

In the second period Mitchels managed at one stage to extend their lead to four points. It should have been greater but missed opportunities, both from frees and open play, didn’t help their cause in building a healthy margin.

And true to their spirit on the day, Charlestown wormed their way back into the contest. Just when matters seemed beyond their reach, Paul Towey once again saved a ball from going over the endline, squirmed his way forward and set up their all-important second goal.

Delerium among the Charlestown ranks. With time running out, they went ahead by the minimum but, awakened from their reverie, Mitchels managed two late scores to lead the game by a point well into time added on. The second of these by Shane Morahan was a particularly crusty effort.

There was still time for one last Charlestown sortie. A foul committed in a less-than-favourable place for a right-footed player – well out to the right wing and into a strong wind – and with the added pressure of knowing it was the last kick of the game left Paul Towey with an all-or-nothing effort. He duly delivered.

For one who was well contained by Donnacha McHugh and Joe Tuohy at various stages, Towey nonetheless made his presence felt on a limited supply of ball – something any forward would take pride from.

A point gained for Charlestown? A point dropped by Mitchels? Interpret this as you wish, but Mitchels will be disappointed at not making more of their possession and the territorial advantage they enjoyed.

Later in the evening Breaffy did enough to see off the Kilmeena challenge. ‘Doing enough’ is the apt phrase. With big men Robbie Fadden, Niall Carter, Matthew Ruane and Conor O’Shea creating a formidable central barrier, Kilmeena found it hard to get ball to their forward line.

Jack Carney did his best but the supply to an impressive Caolach Halligan was never sufficient to worry the Breaffy bunch.

In the opening half, much of what was profitable came via Aidan O’Shea. He benefitted from the approach work and diligence of Tommy O’Reilly, Keith Mulchrone and Davitt Neary.

The crucial score of the game came midway through the second half when Neary decided to put the head down and test the Kilmeena defence. He succeeded, thanks in part to a slight deflection, but his goal was ultimately the game’s defining act.

By evening time Breaffy were the only team to enjoy home comforts, while Westport – to my surprise, at any rate – were made fight all the way for their victory over Balla. Ballina Stephenites did as expected and had matters their own way against Mayo Gaels.

Garrymore came, saw and conquered a gallant Ballyhaunis team and, in doing so, gave reason to suggest that they have a lengthy involvement in mind this year.

On Sunday last, in a high scoring game, Claremorris made home advantage count with their two-point win over Belmullet.

With respect, though, the surprise of the round had to be Ballaghaderreen accounting for Knockmore.

Under the management this year of former county minor boss Tomás Morley, Ballagh' clearly plotted a course that worked to their advantage and gave them the start they hoped and planned for.

The hard fact, though, from the senior championship is that of the eight games played, just three victories were registered by the home side. The tonic earned by victors Claremorris, Ballaghaderreen and Breaffy will stand to them on their travels the next day. All the others have added pressure.

Four of the fixtures in the intermediate grade resulted in home wins. Watching Davitts overcome Castlebar Mitchels B last Sunday morning, one couldn’t but be impressed by the Colm Boyle-inspired south Mayo men.

Whether or not they can go the whole way remains to be seen, but in failing to make home comforts count, Mitchels – like many others – have a steeper hill to climb going forward.