Any chance of the famous Mayo roar returning to 'voodoo' Castlebar venue?

Mayo will rekindle their rivalry with the Royals at Hastings Insurance McHale Park, Castlebar, later today, 6.15 p.m. to be exact.

Andy Moran's side suffered a gut-wrenching loss against Tyrone last weekend.

A phenomenal last-gasp two-point free from Niall Morgan put paid to Mayo's hopes of smooth progression to the quarter-finals.

Eyebrows were raised in group chats across the county when the likes of Mattie Ruane and Fergal Boland togged out for their respective clubs, Aghamore and Breaffy.

It is an inevitability that Mayo supporters turn to those who are absent when defeat strikes, but the players who took to the field in Omagh will be hurting most - and they know, as well as anyone, that they had the requisite skill and talent to beat Tyrone.

Defensively it was a more solid Mayo performance, but there were several agonising ‘What if?’ moments at the death that supporters have grown too accustomed to.

Hope remains, however dim, with a pivotal all-or-nothing home clash against Meath to come.

It is a Meath side that arrives without great fanfare.

A Leinster title challenge passed them by this season - much like Mayo in their own provincial campaign - and they have struggled to ignite the championship since, despite occasional flickers.

Again, much like Mayo.

Hastings Insurance MacHale Park has been far from a fortress in recent championship football and Moran's men will need to banish the hoodoo of losses to Roscommon and Cavan to get over the line in a tricky test.

A quarterfinal place awaits, and reaching it would represent a reasonable expectation met for the new management's first season in charge.

What would be warmly welcomed above all else is the roar of Mayo returning to MacHale Park.

Supporters will be needed in their droves to drive the team over the line - because if there is any chance of quenching this county's undying quest to return to Croke Park, it starts in Castlebar.

We live in hope.