Mayo manager happy to have supporters back in full voice
Mayo senior football team manager Andy Moran is happy to have the county's supporters back in full voice on the big stage, writes Brian Gillespie.
Speaking in the aftermath of the team's facile 3-23 to 0-15 victory over Louth in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final, Moran said: “We had an aim at the start of the year: Can we get the Mayo crowd back supporting the team? I think that was answered today.”
Supporters of both counties thronged GAA headquarters on a fine July afternoon but it was those bedecked in green and red who were much the happier at the full-time whistle.
It's a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Moran's men after a Connacht semi-final drubbing at the hands of Roscommon back in April.
The five weeks between that game and Mayo's clash with Monaghan in Round 1 of the All-Ireland series allowed the management team space and time to find a great blend of youth and experience, with youngsters Jack Livingstone, Eoin McGreal, Darragh Beirne and Kobe McDonald now firm fixtures in the starting 15.
“We struggled at the start of the year,” said Moran. “I was probably too kind to the Sigerson a tiny bit with Cian (McHale) and then the Under 20s happened with Kobe (McDonald) and Darragh (Beirne), so we never really got them all together before the Connacht Championship.
“So those five weeks between Roscommon and the Monaghan game were huge for us. I remember we played a challenge match – was it Kildare? – and that was the first time we really saw the connection. We're hoping to just keep pushing on from here.”
Beirne and McDonald have particularly impressed in the full-forward line alongside Ryan O'Donoghue. They're learning from a master, Moran said.
“They're young, they've a great leader in Ryan up there who's kinda teaching them the way, but they're talented boys and it's just great to see it,” the Mayo manager said.
“It's great to see the Mayo crowd back in Croke Park supporting the team. That's just the most important thing.”