An exciting new era poised to demand much from all in Mayo GAA

by Martin Carney

OFFICIALLY, collective county training resumed nationwide on November 21.

The decision was taken to allow teams prepare for their respective pre-season provincial competitions which resume this year after a two-year break.

The Gaelic Players Association was strongly opposed to this as it felt that inter-county players nationwide needed a six-week break from all activity between the completion of their club commitments and the resumption of inter-county training. That they disagreed with pre-season competitions was a given.

What they publicly professed and at the same time knew are two different things. Regular challenge matches have been the norm that filled the void left by the absence of these official pre-season competitions. Everyone in the game is aware of this.

To my mind, a return to the official pre-season fare makes more sense in the circumstances. Players get gently eased into the season; managements are afforded a chance to experiment; provincial councils benefit and fans get a chance to see what’s new.

Officially, or otherwise, players have commenced their S and C programmes weeks ago, have routinely met collectively with their management teams and are prepared to do whatever it takes to gain that extra edge over their rivals. Players, when they commit to the inter-county model, know this is a given.

In Mayo’s case, they already have played a behind-doors challenge game to get a look at those who haven’t been involved before or in the past were seen as peripheral figures.

There’s no doubt that all Mayo followers look forward with anticipation to the commencement of the Andy era; to the next few years where new directions along with changes in style of play and personnel will be revealed.

The reality is that the disappointments at championship levels in recent years has deflated optimism, that same optimism which for the best part of a decade everyone embraced as their reality.

Take simply the recent nine-year time span from 2012 to 2012. Here Mayo contested All-Ireland finals on six occasions and on another two they were eliminated at semi-final stage. The only time they failed to get to semi-final or beyond in this spell was in 2018 when the ‘Newbridge or Nowhere’ campaign by the Lilywhites ended with a quarter defeat.

During that memorable spell Mayo followers, far and wide, had a path worn to Croke Park; it was their second home where they gave full vent in supporting a wonderful team.

That is now becoming a distant memory although the league triumph in 2022 shouldn’t be dismissed lightly. Getting back there and seeing their team once more assume a relevance when it comes to discussing potential winners of Sam will be high on Andy Moran’s agenda.

To kick-start their reign and speed up the process of getting to know one another, the squad travelled to Portugal over the weekend for a training camp. This practice is now the norm with many squads. Certainly, it seems that the top teams like to indulge in the practice before their season begins.

In Mayo’s case it’s seen as a vital part of fostering the bonding process between management and players. Both groups are new to one another for the most part.

Whereas some like Aidan O’Shea, Robbie Hennelly, Cillian O’Connor and Matthew Ruane have shared the dressing room with the manager as fellow players, this new role where they are answerable to his directions is a totally new experience. They may soon find out that Andy the player is a totally different animal to Andy the manager.

For all it’s a fresh start. Aside from Andy, the squad will have a completely different coaching cohort.

Paddy Tally, the new head coach, comes with impressive credentials having served in both management and coaching roles with his native Tyrone, Derry, Down and Kerry.

In the Kingdom he was chief coach under Jack O’Connor's watch when they were crowned All-Ireland champions in 2022. Colm Boyle will act as a selector while Paul Durcan, a man with strong Foxford roots, is the new goalkeeping coach.

Doubtless, the time will be well spent. Explaining proposed changes in playing styles and philosophies is something that doesn’t happen overnight.

Much of his first year indeed will see players attempting to adopt and adapt whatever changes Andy feels suits them and expects from them.

Players at club and county are still coming to terms with the new rules and it will be fascinating to see how more at ease they become with these in the coming months.

Improving the balance between the team’s use of the kick pass and the reliance on the handpass will be at the core of much of what happens.

As a top-class inside forward, Andy, in his playing days, was more aware than others of the importance of movement, receiving the ball at the optimum moment and having an instinctive understanding with his outfield colleagues.

Working on knitting these dimensions into their game is just one of many challenges facing the new management.

I am interested in seeing how will Andy view his own role. Will he adopt a CEO position of sorts and delegate the varied responsibilities to his management team.

Doing this at the outset I believe has the potential to erode his own position of authority and lessen his man-to man involvement.

Working close up with people is where I believe his strengths lie and I hope to see him engage this to its fullest.

There were quite a number of new faces on the plane to Portugal. They included, among others, Kobe Mc Donnell. Taking the Crossmolina tyro is interesting.

Does it indicate we may see him in some capacity wearing the Green and Red this year? Certainly, I’d love to see him feature in a few league games and aside from anything cultivate a bond with his contemporaries from other clubs.

Rumours abounded that Oisin Mullin was also aboard. I believe that that’s all they are – rumours.

If one thing in Andy’s ‘in-box’ is more urgent that others it is a need to quickly unearth new talent and blood them in the league.

Identifying new faces, integrating and familiarising them with the demands of the county game is of critical and immediate importance.

Doubtlessly, long established veterans like O’Shea and O’Connor, among others, still have important roles to play but never in recent years has the urgency to unearth new blood been more keenly felt.

His appointing Jack Coyne as captain is really interesting. A model of reliability and quiet strength, he is a fitting choice and one who will command due respect from all.

Exciting times ahead then and a fresh period that will ask a lot of all in Mayo football.