Nowhere to run, nowhere to Hyde
TYNAN'S TAKE: COLUMN BY STUART TYNAN
MAYO were always going to be a no-win situation whatever the result against Leitrim.
If they won by a convincing margin, it was expected. If it was a tight game, we'd all be up in arms over our inability to beat the 'minnows'. If we lost? Well, thankfully that didn't happen but the year we're in, you wouldn't have bet against it. So what can we take from the game? Well, that is a bit more tricky to explain.
We have to mention the conditions the game was played in and the state of the pitch. They were both very poor but it was the same for both teams. While I don't think Mayo will encounter a pitch in that bad of a shape again for the rest of the championship, the weather that will accompany winter football this year may cause teams to have a rethink of strategies, if it hasn't already, and it could lead to a few more upsets over the next couple of weeks.
With such a condensed championship, squad depth is never going to be more important and Mayo have that in abundance. A total of eight players made their championship debuts and with several of the 'old guard' making their return or close to it, James Horan has a wealth of options at his disposal.
Several of the debutants are nailed on starters for this Sunday. Oisin Mullin dealt with whatever threat came his way while his powerful runs from the full-back line will be a huge weapon against better opposition.
Eoghan MacLaughlin continues to shine at half-back while The Neale's Tommy Conroy is going to be a nightmare for opponents to deal with due to his direct style, and he bagged another important goal in the first half.
But for all the talk about Mayo's future (which looks very bright), the importance of their battle-hardened campaigners cannot be understated. Cillian O'Connor, for one, remains Mayo's most important player. His tally of 1-9 in the aforementioned conditions as well as his link-up play with Aidan O'Shea was impressive while the impact of Paddy Durcan, Lee Keegan and Chris Barrett (who appeared as a sub) was telling.
All eyes now turn to Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday and Mayo will meet a much stiffer challenge at the hands of Roscommon. In what will almost be a reverse of last year, Roscommon are coming into the match as Division Two champions while Mayo will be playing in said division next year. No one was talking about Roscommon last year coming to MacHale Park and winning but that is exactly what happened. I'm sure Mayo supporters will be more cautiously optimistic this time around.
No doubt conversation over the past week among Mayo supporters far and wide was dominated by who Horan will or will not name in his starting line-up.
Does he continue to operate his policy of giving the youth a chance or will he turn to his tried and tested? Will he throw the likes of Michael Plunkett and Rory Brickenden into the lions den or will Barrett and Colm Boyle be given the nod? Will Bryan Walsh, Jordan Flynn, Mark Moran and/or Ryan O'Donoghue line out at half-forward or will Diarmuid O'Connor and Kevin McLoughlin make their returns?
There is also the conundrum with O'Shea. While the combination of Conroy, O'Shea and O'Connor has borne fruitful in recent weeks, will Horan elect to move O'Shea into the middle of the park with Breaffy clubmate Matthew Ruane to combat Roscommon's physical presence in the middle or will he stick with Conor Loftus in midfield?
I do feel if both teams play to their full potential, Mayo will win. As seen on many occasions over the past decade, they are at their best with their backs against the wall.
One things is certain: like Horan said, expect fireworks.
*You can read Stuart's full column every Tuesday in our print edition.