Championship proper starts today in Killarney for Mayo

by Martin Carney, GAA's foremost columnist

AFTER the endless shadow-boxing, championship proper starts today for Mayo with the trip to Killarney and a joust with the Munster and reigning All-Ireland champions, Kerry.

On reflection, though, am I being a little over the top with this opening statement?

Can a mini-league that possibly affords a team the cushion of losing twice and still qualify for the preliminary be regarded as do or die? I’ll let you figure that one.

Anyhow, within the present structure, opening games don’t come much harder.

Kerry being what they are, championship specialists, will relish the prospect of getting Mayo on home soil and setting down a marker for all to see. After all, Mayo come with pedigree.

They are this year’s league champions and in the eyes of many among the list of favourites for Sam.

Form, suitability and availability determine selection and if all three coincide, management teams are left with a happy headache of sorts.

Raising the standards and dragging one’s top form to the summit is what every player hopes for at championship time.

There’s nothing worse for any panellist than to find he has left his best form somewhere in the rear-view mirror when it’s needed most.

Players crave a starting berth. The reality is that once someone grabs pole position for a place in the team in the opening round, it can be difficult to dislodge the incumbent subsequently.

Managers differ in approach but the bottom line is they want the best available to choose from.

The ‘horses for courses’ principal is an approach favoured by many and ofttimes their thinking in this regard is dictated by the perceived strengths or otherwise of the opposition.

For example, though he played little in the recent league campaign – a start against Monaghan coupled to a few minutes in the league final with Galway – the temptation of picking Padraig O'Hora may form a considerable part of Kevin McStay’s planning with a view of going man-to- man on David Clifford.

Clifford, when purring, is a match-winner.

A record of three goals and 25 points in his last five championship games is testament to the lad’s ability. Denying captain Clifford space to operate has to be a priority.

That done, getting someone equipped with the mix of defensive discipline, concentration and intelligence to carry out the task of neutralising the threat will loom large.

Perhaps O’Hora tops the menu in this department and it won’t surprise me to see him get the nod.

The Ballina man is an aggressive marker, would thrive on the challenge and given the fitness doubts about some of the defensive players, he could well top the bill for selection.

Nothing interferes more with having the best available than the dreaded injury curse. Having everyone fit and raring to choose from is the best case scenario but something seldom afforded managements anywhere.

Judging by some of the whispers, it appears that Mayo are travelling to Killarney with less than a full deck to choose from.

Nothing too serious, I believe, but enough to render some of the experienced core doubtful.

Situations like this test the depth and quality of the squad available. One of the success stories of the league was the ease in which the new back line gelled within a rejigged defensive structure.

The chemistry of the Coen-Loftus-Durcan half-back line impressed, although when given the opportunities, Enda Hession, Michael Plunkett and Donnacha McHugh performed admirably.

Doubts surround the availability of some from this cohort.

The team can ill afford to face the Kerry challenge without the best available.

The acquired understanding formed by the first mentioned trio took time to develop. Were this ruptured wholly or in part, I believe potential for trouble will loom large.

Mayo have to be secure, solid and in sync on Saturday. The Kerry they face will be a far cry from the apparently half-interested squad they faced earlier in the league.

That night, in round three, they barely had to break sweat before cruising to a seven-point win in front of a 15, 000 attendance.

Come 3 p.m. today before a crowd that will be at least double that, the atmosphere will be toxic, the stakes high and the reward worthwhile for the winner.

The scenario for the winner is promising. A win will bring comfort and give room to manoeuvre in a three-game mini-league whereas the losing team will be under a little more pressure in their remaining two games.

In Mayo’s case, and not for the first time, the question arises as to who will provide the necessary scoring power.

Ideally I’d love to see an inside line with Cillian O’Connor and Ryan O’Donoghue flanking Aidan O’Shea.

O’Connor, in the heat of championship, offers greater stability and certainty as a place-kicker.

Quite simply he has a proven record in the scoring department.

However, he is not being risked due to a minor injury.

Those in the engine room – Matthew Ruane, Diarmuid O’Connor, Jordan Flynn, Fionn McDonagh and Jack Carney – have been models of hard work and honesty.

The National League success stemmed from the tone they consistently set and the platform they provided game after game.

For Mayo to take the giant leap, however, it could do with a greater return on the scoreboard from the quintet.

From nine goals and 123 points scored this year, two goals and 27 points came from this collective. Pushing further forward on a more consistent basis might provide the remedy.

James Carr has an eye for the spectacular, with many of his scores topping the list for excellence. Targeting a greater personal return would do wonders for his own confidence and his team’s chances.

Today, Mayo must claim and set the early ground rules. Winning individual tussles will play a part but making optimum use of possession will be critical. Kerry love a fast-flowing shootout with a winner-takes-all approach.

If Mayo can deny them these rules of engagement but instead build a game where patience backed by effective counter-attacking become the norm, they can win.

This fixture is as hard as it comes.

After all the emotion surrounding the death of their mother, the Cliffords and their team-mates will be doubly determined to get the right result. Mayo must meet fire with fire and give a performance that will confirm their pedigree.

A win is what we’d like while at the same time not settling for anything less than an energetic and purposeful display.

Let’s hope the performance provides a big boost and sows seeds of confidence for the remaining games.