Mayo are in a good place now
By Martin Carney
TOWARDS the end of my column last week, I confidently predicted that Mayo would overcome the Armagh challenge but that victory would require a different solution to the Dublin win.
Being afforded generous space and playing a team that gave a less than committed performance was the norm in the Croke Park. Scores were easily manufactured and finished, and in truth Mayo won the game pulling up.
But in the Hyde on Sunday a different opponent emerged; one that was committed to an all-out defensive display and who did everything in their power to frustrate Mayo.
A last-minute change that saw Rory Byrne replace Rob Hennelly, who was injured in the pre-match warm-up, was the only change to the selected team. Byrne’s nerves were hardly helped when he conceded a goal within 30 seconds of the start as midfielder Ciaran Mackin’s attempt for a point dipped at the last minute and found the net.
To blame the 'keeper for a misjudgement would be unfair. In trying to narrow the angle, Byrne came well off his line and had to do so due to the absence of defensive cover. For the rest of the afternoon, he did little wrong; his restarts consistently found their target, his handling was confident and a late interception when Mayo were defending a one-point lead was timely.
That early goal gave Armagh the platform they needed to impose their game plan. Getting everyone behind the ball and clogging the attacking arteries meant that Mayo had to rely on a more patient and structured brand of football. The long ball that worked well in Croke Park wasn’t possible with the same regularity and was replaced with a more lateral and less expansive brand of play.
On at least five occasions Mayo didn’t do themselves any favours by taking balls into tackles and turning over possession due to Armagh’s group tackling and their own repeated failure to support one another. On top of this, quite a few found it hard to adapt to the pace and demands of the game. Sam Callinan and Frank Irwin, understandably, struggled somewhat, while wing forwards Fionn McDonagh and Conor Loftus had their hands full with the Armagh wing-backs Jarly Óg Burns and Connaire Mackin.
Getting behind the Armagh defence was well nigh impossible and of their six scores in the opening period, Ryan O’Donoghue registered four from frees while the other two came from the boots yet again of the impressive Diarmuid O’ Connor and Matthew Ruane. At times shot selection was somewhat rushed and too many attempts fell short into the arms of Armagh goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty.
Whenever Armagh showed some attacking flair and enterprise, they found willing finishers in Jason Duffy, Aidan Nugent and the particularly impressive Rian O’Neill. Whether they would have been better served by a more expensive style to support their full-forward line is a moot point but there is no denying the talent of O’Neill in particular.
BOOST
Over the course of the four games to date in the league the introduction of substitutes has served the team well.
Indeed, if nothing else, the campaign has shown that the gap between those who start and those on the bench has narrowed considerably. This is a huge boost to the team as for the first time in a while there is a confidence that those who come on as subs will at the very least perform on a par with those they have replaced and more often that not improve on what came before them.
In the Hyde we saw this reprised. Paddy Durcan, when he entered the fray after 26 minutes in place of Rory Brickenden, brought a fresh dynamic to the team. Aside from the two points he scored, his industry, tackling and link play were of the highest order. Aidan O’Shea, a half-time replacement for Conor Loftus, brought a sense of calm and confidence, and his performance in the central crucible was critical in the latter stages of the game in particular. Padraig O’Hora was aggression personified on his introduction and showed everyone why his presence is so important. Kevin McLoughlin was all go. Aside from conceding a few lazy frees, his customary industry was to the fore. That point with five minutes remaining which reduced margins to the minimum after a lovely piece of inter-play with Aiden Orme, heralded the late scoring spree that saw Mayo prevail.
And those late scores were a long time coming. For much of the half Mayo laboured in getting the ball into the scoring zone. Much of the passing was predictable and allowed Armagh regroup and set up their defensive shield. For a period between the 10th and 25th minute Mayo endured a fallow spell where poor decision making, little penetration and lack of rhythm became the norm.
Just like the other subs, Jack Carney, when introduced, did a lot with little possession. His sharp football brain carved the initial space for the Kevin McLoughlin point and his work-rate brought renewed energy to the team when needed most.
As he had done all day, Aiden Orme turned over possession for the umpteenth time and tilled the ground for Jordan Flynn’s decisive point which gave Mayo the lead for the first time.
These five unanswered points in the closing stages were a reward for the stubbornness and self-belief that defines this team. Even when not at their best, as was the case on Sunday, they stayed in the contest, displaying a persistence and cool-headedness that eventually earned them two invaluable points.
With four league games behind them, Mayo have ensured top division status again next year and find themselves, with championship just eight weeks away, in a very good place. Having given game time already to 29 panellists, James Horan has indicated there is healthy competition for places in the squad. With three games remaining in the league against Kerry, Tyrone and Kildare, there is still some time to tinker with the squad. Everyone will hope that Cillian O’Connor and Jason Doherty get some time together up front and that the wing-forward positions will become clearer pretty quickly.
In the meantime, Mayo – on the basis of points garnered – are in a good place and can face those remaining games free from any pressure.