Don’t write off the Dubs, warns Horan

MAYO manager James Horan is anticipating a response from Dublin this weekend and believes they’re not as far off as people think.

Dublin and Mayo will renew hostilities under the Saturday night lights at Croke Park and while a victory for Mayo could all but secure their spot in Division 1 for next year, the Dubs are still searching for their first points in a campaign which has seen Horan’s counterpart, Dessie Farrell, come under scrutiny.

They have lost their opening two games, to Armagh and Kerry respectively, but Horan feels Dublin have been ‘incredibly unlucky’ so far.

"Armagh would’ve hit anyone cold that night," said the Mayo boss. "(Armagh are) in terrific shape, a good team and running on top of the ground at this time of the year. You saw it in their second game also (against Tyrone).

"Kerry knocked up a big score against Dublin. We were watching the game. I think Dublin were incredibly unlucky in the first 20 minutes of the game.

"A goal went against them, then another goal chance they butchered and the goal that Kerry got that created the avalanche was definitely a Dublin ball. There was a big swing and I think the confidence was a little rattled, but up to that I thought Dublin were quite good.

"They’re not as far off as people think so I’m sure they’re relishing us going up there. They’ll see it as a chance to get their season going but we love going up there and we love playing Dublin. It’ll be a great encounter, for sure."

As mentioned, Mayo would surely be all but safe from relegation should leave HQ with another two points in the bag on Saturday (February 19) and despite a ‘poor start’ in both games, Horan has been pleased with what he seen from his charges so far.

He said: "Getting three points is great. In both games we had poor starts. I suppose from what you want to start like, to be down and keep plugging away, keep at it and keep trying to figure it out was quite pleasing. The effort and all the basic stuff you need in winter league football was there, so that’s very pleasing.

"A good few players have got game time. Obviously Brendan Harrison, Jason Doherty and guys like that coming back in are a huge plus for themselves and the team."

SCIENCE

Two of those players who have come in are teenagers Donnacha McHugh and Sam Callinan. To be both competitive in Division 1 while still introducing new players into the side can be difficult task but Horan feels it will be very beneficial for those new guys and the team, both in the short-term and the long-term.

"Sometimes there’s a bit of science to the team you pick and what you’re trying to do, and other times there’s not and you pick what you have. We had 16 or 17 players out of contention for the first game. You have guys playing different competitions. It all depends where things are.

"We have guys going well in training. Whether they’re here a week or here a year, you try and give that guy some game time and there’s nothing like a high pressure Division 1 game for a learning experience for a young guy.

"Donnacha (McHugh) played against Donegal and Sam (Callinan) came on. That was hugely important for them to give them reference on where they are and how they’re developing. They’ll be able to use that over the next few weeks to see where they’re at."

Horan added: "My first time with Diarmuid (O’Connor) and some of these young guys when they first came in, the rate of development of some of these young guys in the course of two or three months can be phenomenal.

"As a management team, we’re always willing to invest in that because you just don’t know what return you’ll get in a short space of time.

"Some guys at 18 can be brilliant footballers but they’re not ready for the grind of inter-county football. Sam is in Leaving Cert and you have to give him time off for mocks also, but he’s a very focused, solid young guy who is built for the game."

HIERARCHY

It’s a much-changed dressing room for Mayo over the past number of years since the beginning of Horan’s second stint as boss. The names have not just changed, but the dynamic also.

"That’s significantly changed over the last few years. I remember when I was first playing, there was a hierarchy of players, like where you would set in a dressing room. It’s sort of a flat structure now. There is no one above or below anyone, no matter how long you’ve been there.

"Aidan O’Shea was captain last year and he was phenomenal in integrating the young players. Jason Doc (Doherty) will help Tommy Conroy a huge amount because he’s gone through the same injury.

"There’s huge togetherness as a group. When Mark Moran and all those young guys came in (in 2020), we had Seamus O’Shea and Chris Barrett and their reactions to those guys coming in was huge.

"A lot of the senior players can look at it selfishly in that these young guys can help us be successful as well. They work very closely and younger player are accepted very well."