Mayo The Real Deal?
In James Horan's first championship game as Mayo manager his charges were very lucky to escape from Ruislip with an extra-time victory. Following their 2010 humiliations at the hands of Sligo and Longford, defeat to London would no doubt have set the county back 10 years.
Fast Forward two years and Mayo are in their third consecutive Connacht final and most bookies have them as 1/50 favourites to bring the Nestor cup home for a third successive year
Following the victories of Donegal, Kerry, Cork and Dublin in the time since Mayo defeated Galway by 17 points, it became clear that there was a breakaway group of counties that would be competing for the Sam Maguire this year. On Sunday Mayo had their opportunity to prove that they belong as part of this group and are not just making up the numbers.
Prove that Mayo certainly did! Roscommon brought the game to them for the opening 10 minutes but once the defending champions caught their breath and took control of the game there was only ever going to be one winner.
How often do you see a team fail to score for the opening 12 minutes and still have the game won by half time?
Ok, for the final 20 minutes Horan's charges were very sloppy and wasteful but not many teams in the same situation would have fared much better. Every bit of atmosphere was gone from McHale park by half time and there was no fight left in Roscommon once Aidan O'Shea rifled over a point 10 seconds into the second half. The Mayo lads had begun to think of the next day out and trying to not get injured in the process.
With this performance Mayo proved that they are the real deal this season. With players like David Clarke, Keith Higgins, Colm Boyle, the O'Sheas, Alan Freeman, Kevin McLoughlin and many many more at his disposal, James Horan knows that Donegal, Dublin, Kerry will not worry his side as they aim to end the county's much storied search for Sam in 2013.
The bookies currently have Mayo at 6/1 to win the All-Ireland. Personally I agree with Colm Parkinson and Ciaran Whelan when they say that Mayo should be considered much closer to favourites for the whole thing. Remember that Barry Moran, Mickey Conroy, Jason Doherty, Cillian O'Connor and Andy Moran all have to return to full fitness and Mayo have probably the strongest panel in the country.
Dismiss the Green above the Red at your own peril.
Same old, Same old in Munster.
Cork vs Kerry in the Munster senior football final. Hands up who did not see that coming!
Ever since the draw was made last October both sides will have had July 7th pencilled in as another chapter in their rivalry, the same as the other Munster counties will have had round one and two of the qualifiers pencilled in as dates to be ready for.
Both of these sides have posted massive scores on their way to the Munster final, 4-37 for Cork and 6- 40 for Kerry. But it is not the fault of Cork or Kerry that they are so far ahead of the rest in their province. It is not even the fault of the other counties competing there as they are only as good as their best 20 players on the day.
The GAA has to look at this, and Connacht aswell, and see that the provincial system just does not work. The only year that Munster looks competitive is when Cork and Kerry meet before the final, and even then the winner always goes on to win the province.
Galway beat Laois by seven points and Dublin defeated Wexford by eight, over the weekend, but the similar margin of victory was about all these two games had in common. Laois were heroic in giving Galway the scare of their lives, leading as late as the 58th minute, before succumbing to a late Galway blitz. While Wexford were dreadfully ill disciplined and only briefly raised the faintest hopes of a comeback.
The Dublin game was turned on its head following the dismissal of centre back, Andrew Shore, for a wild pull after seven minutes, a theme that would sadly dominate the first half. It’s hard to know how good or bad Dublin & Wexford are, as a result. Keith Rossiter, was unable to take his place through injury, hinting at the sort of night Wexford were to endure. Dublin were much sharper than last week. With Stephen Hiney allowing Conal Keaney to be placed at wing forward, Dublin look a better balanced team. Keaney led the Dublin attack, but with Kilkenny on the agenda next week, a return to the defence wouldn’t be the biggest surprise in the world.
Wexford struggled to win possession a week ago and a man down, they struggled in this area again. They relied on placed balls to stay in contention, hitting just one point from play in the first half. Paul Ryan hit the onion sack after a mistake from Eoin Moore, hinting that he offers more than just reliability as a free taker? Dublin did just about enough over the course of the second half to remain reasonably secure throughout.
Comfortable championship victories over Carlow & Antrim should have alerted us to the possibility of a bold Laois showing, but it still came as a huge surprise when it arrived. Seamus Plunkett withdrew two of his inside forwards and with the benefit of the elements, Laois were able to pick off scores from distance. Laois led by a point at half time, with only Joe Canning impressing for the favourites.
The biggest upset since Buster Douglas stunned Mike Tyson in 1990 looked on the cards, when Tommy Fitzgerald raised a green flag with just twelve minutes to go, giving Laois the lead. It was however, short lived, after Davy Glennon pounced on a rebound, to double home following a great save by Eoin Reilly. To their credit, the Laois challenge didn’t wilt there and they hit back with a couple of points of their own. It took a soft goal from Aonghus Callanan to finally kill off the Laois challenge, and a couple of late Galway points flattered them greatly.
Laois were clever & sharp and this showed in their hurling. A lot will be said about the anemic Galway performance, but Laois just didn’t let last year's All Ireland finalists get into the game. They crowded the middle third for the majority and were lightning quick onto the breaking ball. They had the character to go on the attack when the game was there for the taking. I have nothing but admiration for Seamus Plunkett & Laois hurling after that performance. The opposite can be said of Wexford after some early wild pulling was followed by a tame submission.
The Sunday Game has been setting the agenda for many years, often missing the point, focusing on academic issues. Hurling is lucky to have someone of the calibre of Donal Óg steering the ship this year. His comments about 'two hands on the hurley' won’t cause the same stir as his ‘Team Ulster’ initiative did last week, but they were no less relevant, amid the stain of pulling and dragging which now dominates.
Mark Fives - @MFives86
