Time for Mayo to change the narrative and enter the ranks of the immortals

by Martin Carney, Mayo's foremost GAA columnist

IT has happened so quickly.

That’s the first thing that springs to mind when I think that this is All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final weekend, all about to conclude a mere three months from the commencement of the championship.

That Mayo are in the final prompts another bout of introspection as from the outset of championship 2026, few mentioned them as possible contenders and collectively most agreed they’d do well to win a Connacht title.

Yet here we go again, contesting our ninth All-Ireland final since the turn of the century and in the eyes of most observers with little chance of preventing the Kingdom from winning their 40th crown.

Adopting this viewpoint and not giving the team due recognition for what they have achieved in getting this far is doing them a massive disservice.

Think of their journey in terms of character shown, if nothing else, and then even the biggest sceptics must admit this has turned into one remarkable season.

At the outset little was expected. This was due to a recognition that the updated version of the team under new management would require time to build and complete a familiarisation process.

Adapting to the changes in style and approach that Andy Moran sought to introduce was never going to be an overnight event.

Even so, his revamped squad finished third in the league and despite that awful performance against Roscommon in the Connacht Championship, when the Primrose and Blue tore them asunder, they regrouped and now face the task that is the envy of all: seeking to win Sam.

If this was Tyrone or Donegal facing Kerry, they would be given a 50:50 chance of winning. Why, then, because it’s Mayo are followers slow to trumpet their prospects?

Are Mayo not as deserving of the same respect as the Ulster duo? If not, then I believe they should be.

Throughout their recovery phase after the Roscommon defeat, management has admirably addressed the recurring shortcomings and inched forward impressively.

Beating Monaghan was vital. Sure, defensive weaknesses were still evident, but they did enough to squeeze through.

Though we lost by a point to Tyrone in the next game, matters at the back improved.

Yet what opened eyes was what was evolving up front. A return of one goal and 10 points from a revamped full-forward line against Tyrone coupled to their earlier one goal and 16 points against Monaghan sowed seeds of hope.

The Darragh Beirne, Kobe McDonald and Ryan O’Donoghue trio had arrived. Once born, they matured quickly as a unit and instantly began to sparkle.

Understandably, loud moans about the frailty of the defending was the common refrain after the Meath win, but since then, in their wins over Cork and Louth, these deficiencies have receded.

The Mayo that represents its tribe today then, though far from perfect, has earned the right to be respected and seen as a team with a good chance of winning.

Without doubt all that can go right must go right on the day.

Jack Livingstone, one of the stars of the year, needs a flawless outing between the posts. He must get his restarts delivered quickly and in varied form. Kerry have a formidable middle eight who don’t take prisoners in the drop zone.

Mark O’Shea, Donnacha O’Connor and Mike Breen have been ever present in their seven outings.

Joe O’Conor, Sean O'Brien and Graham O’Sullivan have added considerable heft and skill to the sector too, and it's here the game will be won or lost.

Mayo’s middle eight must lay down the gauntlet from the off, betray no doubt whatsoever, and let the Kerry lads know that anything they get will be hard earned.

Weaknesses here, if they emerge, are likely to have a knock-on effect. It would result in allowing a bountiful supply to the Kerry attack, where they have a killing squad capable of putting any team to the sword.

Yet, Donegal (in Killarney), Tyrone and Dublin (both in Croke Park) all employed zonal defensive systems that countered this threat to a certain extent.

They proved it was possible to frustrate the Kingdom forwards for long spells.

Starving Dylan Geaney and David Clifford of ball is a tall order. Yet a system with an effective man-to-man marking plan grafted into it might achieve the desired result.

I’d expect Donnacha McHugh will get the task of tagging David Clifford, and how well or otherwise he fares is critical. Slightly relegated to the margins due to the attention given to David, the other Clifford, Paudie, is as big a threat again.

In last year’s final against Donegal, he was afforded too much room – and the same issue arose in this year’s semi-final against Dublin.

With more than 70 possessions in each game, Paudie was able to pick out passes, dictate the rhythms needed for his team, and leave his handiwork for all to draw benefit.

How Andy intends to curb his influence is his business but there is a compelling case for a dedicated man-marker here as well.

By my reckoning, between them the Cliffords have accounted for something in excess of 40% of Kerry’s total this year.

Dampening their impact on proceedings will take up a considerable amount of planning. This will provide one of the games intriguing sub- plots.

Winning their own restarts has featured prominently in Kerry’s successes.

Sean Murphy has delivered a masterclass in this all year. He favours medium to long-range punts generally, likes picking out Joe O’Connor on the wing, has imposing tower blocks in Mark O’Shea and Sean O’Brien for delivery in central positions, and if necessary picks out his corner backs beyond the arc.

A big question, then, is can Mayo damage this supply chain, create a cycle of chaos, and maximise the return from their own restarts, which have underwhelmed up to now?

Enda Hession and Sam Callinan have proved worthy successors to Colm Boyle and Lee Keegan this year.

Indefatigable, they have generated counter-attack after counter-attack aside from addressing their defensive demands.

Regularly inspiring those around them, they have provided the leadership from which others have benefitted.

The old maxim, though, is that scores win games.

Mayo need near-perfect efficiency from their forward play.

A full percentage return from place kicks coupled to a handsome collection of two- pointers are vital.

By successfully blending their industry with the levels of inventiveness and fearlessness shown to date, they can muster a winning scoreline.

It won’t be easy.

Dethroning the aristocrats is a tall order.

Mayo's approach must be free from doubts of any kind and laden with that character repeatedly evident in recent weeks.

Now is the time to change the narrative and let this be the team to enter the ranks of the immortals.