A year in which Gaelic football wore a new suit in Mayo
Martin Carney
IT was different alright; 2022 certainly was different. From a Gaelic football perspective this was the year where the sport wore a new suit. Crowds were allowed attend games without restriction for the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic. Mayo played all their homes games away during the National League and most noticeably, a split season for club and county created a complete new dynamic for the sport.
The staging of the All-Ireland final in late July heralded the end of the inter-county season two months in advance of what had been the norm. The Tailteann Cup, for teams competing in the lower divisions, worked a treat and if anyone had doubts about what it meant to participating counties, then all they had to do was witness the unbridled joy displayed by the Westmeath players after beating Cavan in the final.
Reverting to the July date for the All-Ireland final, I am still to be convinced with arguments that it’s for the betterment of the code, although (here’s the contradiction) the exclusive stage for club fare later in the year did much to elevate club competitions to another level.
For Westport, Ballyhaunis and Islandeady, success in their respective grades was the culmination of wonderful work from within their clubs and all played some really fine football on their paths to glory.
UNREMARKABLE
This year, unfortunately, proved to be one of Mayo’s more unremarkable inter-county seasons for some time.
Kerry cornered all the plaudits on the national stage where their All-Ireland win coincided with the coronation of David Clifford as the latest prince in their pantheon. Gifted, strong and perceptive, his accuracy built the foundation for success at every level of competition he competed in. His collective displays were the highlight of the year.
Mayo’s National League season, as I’ve already referred to, took place outside the county due to extensive work on Hastings Insurance MacHale Park. Promising displays against Donegal, Monaghan, Dublin and Armagh saw a near flawless start to the campaign. New names like Donnacha McHugh, Paul Towey, Aidan Orme, Rory Brickenden and Frank Irwin, among others, got valuable game time and in the process gained an education in some of the requirements and expectations demanded from a modern-day inter-county player.
By the time Galway came calling for the opening round of the championship, there was a cautious optimism that the time was right to slay the old enemy. However, an impressive opening spell that saw Johnny Heaney score the all-important goal of the game and a blistering third quarter left Mayo with too much to do and despite a bountiful closing period that yielded five unanswered points, time simply ran out.
Subsequent wins in the qualifiers against Monaghan and Kildare set up a mouth-watering tie with Kerry where, alas, the combined talents of Sean O’Shea and David Clifford propelled the Kingdom to an eight-point win. For a county grown used to being in the shakeup for All-Ireland honours, seeing their team come a cropper in the qualifier was disappointing for the fan base, though not surprising.
That defeat signalled the end of James Horan’s second period in charge. It’s sometimes convenient to forget the time and energy he gave to the county throughout his management terms. I think he is due a big word of thanks for consistently bringing those under his care as near as was possible to the summit of the game year after year.
Rarely did a Mayo team grace the biggest stage without hope and purpose. Always his own man, he gave the impression of one possessed with immense self-belief and trust in his own judgement. Teams under his baton were always fiercely combative and dredged from themselves every last piece of energy in pursuit of victory. That doesn’t happen by chance; it’s proof of the positive chemistry that prevailed during his watch.
CONTENDERS
In trying to decide on the contenders for team of the year, one needs look no further that to west Mayo. I am open to criticism in not being decisive and brave enough to choose singularly but in 2022 joint winners are deserving of this accolade, in my opinion.
To win an All-Ireland at any level takes something special and in early February Kilmeena did just that with a rip- roaring success over Kerry champions Gneeveguilla in Croke Park. Inspired on the day by a huge display from Jack Carney and a solid contribution from the bench, they deservedly took the honours after extra time.
Keeping any club oiled and primed takes work but doing so with a rural club requires so much more. Operating off a slimmer base that their urban counterparts, the pressure is considerably greater. The toil in keeping the few that are to choose from in work and interested in playing can be a struggle.
Speaking recently with a friend, he told me that from the 2018 intermediate winning Belmullet team only one remains in the game - Ryan O’Donoghue. Most of the others have simply emigrated and looked to life beyond the sport that has been their companion since childhood.
Westport is my other choice. That November afternoon when they put Ballina Stephenites to the sword in the senior club county final will live long in the memories of those of us lucky enough to have been there. For one reason or another the club in the past struggled to translate underage success into something comparable at senior level. A thrilling All-Ireland intermediate club win five years ago was a straw in the wind that something serious was stirring but even by their own admission, nothing compared to the joy experienced in winning their first ever senior crown.
For players like Kevin Keane and Lee Keegan this was a special moment where years of close calls and near misses became things of the past as they raised the Moclair Cup. Displays from others like Rory Brickenden, Cillian Kilkelly, Fionn McDonagh and Mark Moran did much to make this possible.
In truth it was a reward for much of the great work that has quietly continued in Rice College under the watchful eye of Martin Connolly and within the club itself. The only regret I have is that the late great Paddy Muldoon didn’t live to savour it.
For quality football alone, few matched the standards displayed by Ballyhaunis in pursuit of the intermediate title while, Islandeady’s county final display reached the right level at the right time in annexing the junior title. Following their progress at a higher grade is something I look forward to next year.
Great work continues apace at academy level and under the leadership of Sean Deane, the cream from here went all the way to the All-Ireland minor final where they came a cropper against Galway. Nonetheless, the experience of getting there and savouring the thrills of big match days will stand to them, provided they stay involved.
Tantalising, what might have been and what finally happened is a phrase that sums up the year in general. Hopefully 2023 will bring greater glory.