Mayo return to Division 1, but at what cost?
TYNAN'S TAKE: By Stuart Tynan
One thing is for sure about following Mayo: there is never a dull moment.
On the surface of things, it was mission accomplished for James Horan and his team. Clare were beaten at Cusack Park, Ennis, and have returned to Division 1 at the first time of asking, and will resume their battles with the likes of Dublin, Kerry, Tyrone and Donegal.
Yet it was anything but smooth sailing, when it looked like it was going to be a comfortable afternoon for the visitors. A blistering first half display by the Green and Red put them almost out of sight, and the Banner men simply having no response.
Cillian O’Connor, Enda Hession and man of the match Oisin Mullin were outstanding, and the likes of Tommy Conroy and Jordan Flynn (who came on for the injured Diarmuid O’Connor) also made telling contributions. Watching that first-half was akin to total football and Mayo’s future certainly looks a salivating one with the south Mayo trio of Hession, Mullin and Conroy in full flow.
The sight of both O’Connor brothers going off will be a concerning one for all who follow Mayo, however. While Sligo and Leitrim (if they beat the Yeats County) should be taken care of by Mayo in the Connaught championship, they will have a huge challenge on their hands in either Roscommon or Galway should they fail to recover in time.
The latter two sides may be playing Division 2 football next year following relegation, but they will still pose a serious threat with Mayo not at full strength following the news of Cillian's injury which looks all but certain to rule him out of this year's All-Ireland championship and the Mayo senior club championship with Ballintubber.
It is all ifs, buts and maybes for the time being. Mayo is now back at the upper table in Gaelic football for 2022 and it should rightly be celebrated. All eyes will now turn to Markievicz Park for the opening round of the Connaught championship. Who knows what may lie ahead for Mayo later this summer.
*You can read Stuart's full column every Tuesday in our print edition.