Connacht title 'a more realistic target for Mayo' than 'Sam' - Keegan

Former Mayo star Lee Keegan said Mayo could do with winning next Sunday's Connacht SFC final against Galway "despite the dubious reward of a meeting with Derry first up in the group phase."

In his column today on the RTÉ Sports website, he elaborated: "The caveat here, of course, is that three teams get through the group phase.

"Had it been two teams progressing - as it should be - then Group 1 would be an absolute bloodbath and some might even argue that the two teams in Salthill would be left wondering whether it's actually in their interests to win the game.

"As it is, that shouldn't apply. Especially for Mayo, who I think will be keen to put some silverware on the table for Kevin McStay and Stephen Rochford.

"Rochy, in particular. It's mad to think he's won an Ulster medal as a coach but still has no Connacht title won (at county level anyway).

"We lost to Galway three years on the spin during his stint as manager. He's never even been in a Connacht final! It's mental. And in his term he brought us within a whisker of winning an All-Ireland twice.

"McStay and Rochford could do with Connacht title

"At the time, it was no big deal given that for us back then, the All-Ireland was the only game in town. Most of us already had an armful of Connacht medals at that stage anyway.

"But now, it might annoy him, especially after the ambush last year. McStay, too, will be eager to get a Connacht title under his belt as manager, just to tick that box.

"For the younger players, the likes of David McBrien and Sam Callinan, it's important to get that first Connacht medal on the board.

"At the minute, where Mayo are in their evolution, I don't know if All-Irelands are really a topic of discussion.

"For the time being, a Nestor Cup might be a more realistic target.

"Ahead of this weekend, both teams feel like a bit of an unknown quantity. They also have their injury issues.

"Paddy Durcan went off injured in the semi-final and the sense around is that he'll miss this one. Diarmuid O'Connor hasn't played since round 4 of the league. Cillian O'Connor is meant to have picked up an injury in New York.

"Galway's injury situation has been chronic and well documented at this stage, though at least a couple of big beasts are beginning to return to action now. In what condition is the question.

"Mayo were fairly unspectacular and workmanlike against Roscommon. After a big wobble in the lead-up to half-time, where they were devoured on their own kickout, they took over in the third quarter.

"The last 10 minutes of the game were a complete snore as Mayo ran down the clock. It was good to get revenge for the loss last year but I don't think the main All-Ireland contenders were watching on in trepidation.

"As for Galway, I know Joyce was pretty scathing of their performance against Sligo, where they were blessed.

"Obviously, we didn't learn a whole pile from them running up the score against London. All we learned from them in the league is that - not unlike a lot of teams - they're bang average without their best players.

"It took Damien Comer to dig them out of a hole in Markievicz Park. Rob Finnerty palmed the winning goal but the Sligo fans there will tell you Comer was the game-changer.

"His return is the best news for Galway, and he's probably the main reason why they can't be counted out this weekend.

"I speak as someone who's had the extreme misfortune to mark him a few times. He's a real focal point of their attack and is an old-school full-forward in many ways.

"If all other avenues are closed off, you can lump the ball into him any which way and he can cause havoc. He's a massive weapon."

Keegan said showed frailties in the semi-final win over Roscommon.

"One concerning statistic to emerge from Hyde Park was that Roscommon had more shots overall. They'll be lucky if Galway are as wasteful as the Rossies were the last day.

"The biggest positive for Mayo in the Hyde was their full-forward line. They scored 1-10 combined. Aidan O'Shea rattling the onion bag, Tommy Conroy looking sharp and, more importantly, scoring. And Ryan O'Donoghue, at the minute, is playing brilliantly every day he goes out.

Weighing up injuries and form, I would just tip Mayo to win a one-score game. "