Mayo should have too much for Galway despite Kerry loss
TYNAN'S TAKE
SINCE that crushing league final loss to Kerry at the start of the month, attention has turned to Mayo's mouthwatering Connacht championship opener against Galway this Sunday.
Yet more than one person has said the following to me: "I'd have more faith in Mayo winning if we weren't at home."
Strange, isn't it? Your home ground – Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in this case – should give your opponent an added source of concern. Think of some grounds in soccer: Liverpool's Anfield, Milan's San Siro, Celtic's Parkhead, Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano. Their grounds have a mythic feel, almost ethereal. It can inspire the home team to even greater heights than anticipated.
Certain GAA grounds can be tough to go to for even the best teams. Think Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Healy Park in Omagh. Would you put Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in that category? Unlikely.
In no way is that a slight on Mayo GAA supporters, who travel in big numbers no matter where they go. Hastings Insurance MacHale Park has had its moments too, not least the Super 8s quarterfinal against Donegal back in August 2019. Never has this columnist wanted to not be away on holidays and instead sampling the incredible atmosphere generated that day.
But it doesn't happen often enough. I suppose Mayo's record on the pitch in the last decade hasn't helped. Since 2012, Mayo have played 47 games between league and championship, winning 26, with just over a 55% success rate.
From the opposition's point of view, you wouldn't be losing sleep. But all that goes out the window this Sunday and if you want an occasion that will rival or surpass that game against Donegal in 2019, your fiercest rivals will do just that.
This game, the first at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park since July 11 last year, will be a sell-out and it promises to be an occasion to remember.
TEAM
But will Mayo win? Everyone got a right land back when David Clifford and crew gave a Mayo a bit of a pasting in the league final and Mayo will be itching to get back on the field and remind a few critics that they haven't gone away.
With Mayo's injury list, it's hard to determine who will start. Goalkeeper Rory Byrne has proven an able deputy in Rob Hennelly's absence and will get the nod in his biggest test to date.
The full-back line should see Padraig O'Hora, Lee Keegan and Stephen Coen involved. Keegan impressed during the league and while O'Hora had an afternoon to forget against Clifford in the final, it shouldn't detract from his effectiveness.
The half-back line could be interesting. A lot depends on whether Oisin Mullin and Paddy Durcan are available or not. If they are not, Rory Brickenden, Michael Plunkett and either Enda Hession or Eoghan McLaughlin could start.
Perhaps the biggest dilemma for manager James Horan will be who partners Matthew Ruane in Jordan Flynn's absence. Does Conor Loftus come back in? Or Ruane's Breaffy team-mate Aidan O'Shea?
One big positive for Horan is the options for the six forward positions. Diarmuid O'Connor would be a big plus should he return from injury and the sight of Cillian O'Connor coming back in Croke Park should take some pressure off Ryan O'Donoghue's shoulders.
Jason Doherty hasn't looked at all out of place since his own return from a long layoff, while James Carr, Jack Carney, Aiden Orme and Kevin McLoughlin are all in contention.
No matter what Galway are able to throw at Mayo, you feel the Green and Red will have more than enough in the tank to see them off.