Mayo’s pathway to Division 1 is Clare

TYNAN'S TAKE BY STUART TYNAN

MAYO are now 70 minutes from a return to Division 1 at the first time of asking as they face off against Clare in Ennis.

It is safe to say their Division 2 campaign could not have gone any better from a results standpoint, although how much we can take from the performances given the opposition they have had to face remains to be seen.

In torrential rain on the day, Down was swatted away with relative ease. Yes, the Mourne Men were poor, but Mayo’s performance was full of energy and desire. Even more impressive considering it was their first competitive game in five months.

Any inkling that it was going to be more of the same against Westmeath were in for a rude awakening. It looked like for long periods that Mayo were going to slip to a surprising defeat. But Mayo manager Horan looked to his tried and tested, and the likes of Paddy Durcan and Cillian O’Connor drew on all their experience to get Mayo over the line. Mayo secured their place in the Division 2 semi-finals, even if it was not particularly convincing.

With both sides in the semi-finals, their final game against Meath was a straightforward dead rubber. It is a difficult game to analyse in any great detail, although Mayo racking up another mighty score and Aidan O’Shea returning from injury are positives that can be taken.

So, it’s the Banner men that now stand between Mayo and a spot at the high table once more. Clare have performed well in their group with Cork, Kildare, and Laois. But the game against is a step up to another level. Clare did put it up to them in their last meeting four years ago in the All-Ireland qualifiers, but just like that last meeting, Mayo will have too much for them in the end.

*You can read Stuart's full column every Tuesday in our print edition.