27 August 1997
T.J. Kilgallon's View
Well surprise, surprise it is not Meath or Dublin or Kildare or even Louth that Mayo face in the All-Ireland semi-final next, but Offaly. Three months ago I think very few people would have predicted such a contest but that is the glory of the championship and the surprises that it throws up.
Every year brings a few different counties to the fore. Last ear it was Mayo and Kerry who resurfaced after a few lean years, this year sees the resurgence of Cavan and Offaly.
That is good for the game and it's clear that there is now no one or two really dominant teams which was the case when Kerry and Dublin dominated in the late seventies - early eighties.
It is also obvious that when a county does come to the fore that it must grasp the opportunity totally and go the whole way. Otherwise, the same opportunity may not materialise the following year because other new teams have arrived on the scene and are fresh and hungry for victory.
Abiding Question
The abiding question going through my head last year after Mayo's defeat by Meath was would we ever get as good an opportunity to win an All-Ireland?
Fortunately, that opportunity still exists and the panel of players and management deserve credit for the way they have continued to work hard to improve their game and win the ultimate prize.
But I'm sure that everyone involved with the squad realise that it is now time to deliver and go the whole way and win the All-Ireland. This year's championship is still wide open and the present group of Mayo players may never get another chance like they have right now to bring Sam back to Mayo.
Failure this year may only raise serious questions about their ability to go the whole way.
I think it would also be difficult for the management to continue to get the players to put in the same time and effort in pursuit of their goal.
Some players like Dermot Flanagan, Liam McHale, Pat Holmes and Pat Fallon are the wrong side of thirty and other players like Colm McManamon have a lot of mileage clocked up already in their careers.
Add in the greater risk of injuries from sustained wear and tear plus the heavy demands from Mayo supporters for ultimate success and I think it's clear that the stated goal would become more difficult to achieve.
I am not for one moment trying to be pessimistic about the future of Mayo football. Far from it. Indeed I believe the future looks extremely bright for the county senior team.
This year already in a normal context has been very rich. Provincial honours at under-16, Minor and under-21's, Junior and Senior level is outstanding. It's vital that the under-16's, Minors and under-21's are motivated in the right way. For too long in the past many good young players have fallen by the wayside and have not fulfilled their early promise.
The first few years after leaving minor grade are so important. There needs to be a link between the management of players when they play minor and when they become eligible to play under 21 a year or two later. Mayo county board have been doing that in recent years with minor coach Martin Carney and Declan Ronaldson graduating onto the under 21 scene. Hopefully John P. Kean and his backroom team will move on with the present minors and last years minors to under 21 grade. That will ensure continuity for the present promising young players.
Formation
As usual the formation of the Mayo team creates much debate and discussion as the team is not due to be selected until to-night (wed) it is difficult enough to make a prediction.
The big question centres on whether Maurice Sheridan will be playing. I expect he will as he is a central player to Mayo's cause and a vital ingredient in a less than potent attack.
The goalkeeper and defence pick themselves. Kevin Cahill is a huge loss but I have great faith in a very competent stand-in full back in Pat Holmes. It is great to see David Brady back to full strength and I expect he will be in the starting line-up to partner Pat Fallon at midfield while don't rule out the possibility of young David Heaney appearing in this area if Brady does not start.
But it is the formation of the attack which has created so much debate leading up to this game.
If we are to believe all the talk, then Liam McHale will be posted at full forward with Colm McMenamon on the forty.
Many analysts have argued that Liam McHale should always be at full forward but different managers have tried, but not with great success. >From playing with him over the years I always felt Liam didn't fancy that position at all and was never comfortable there. It will be interesting to see how John Maughan decides to deploy McHale who is, without doubt, a central figure and will have to be playing well if Mayo are to win. There is a lot of competition for the four wing positions, P.J. Loftus, Ronan Golding, Diarmuid Byrne will be pushing for places but my guess is that Sheridan, McDonald and Nestor will be selected and either Casey or James Horan who is showing some very good form at training. Personally, I feel Nestor has more to offer in the half forward line than closer to goals. He has a huge work rate, is unselfish and would pick up a lot of breaking ball around the middle of the field which, to me, has been a weakness of the Mayo team in the also two games against Leitrim and Sligo.
If Sheridan doesn't make it, then I think Kevin O'Neill would be the likely replacement. Kevin is playing good football at the moment and is also a competent free taker.
My major criticism of Mayo this year is that they play too short a game. This was particularly true in eh Connacht Final against Sligo, especially in the second half. During that half Mayo only scored one point from play and I thought a lot of their moves broke down by over elaboration of the hand pas.
You may have noticed how Kerry used the long ball to good effect on Sunday last, while Cavan's short game got them into a lot of trouble. When Mayo did play the ball in long and quickly in the first fifteen minutes against Sligo, they threatened to overrun the opposition. I hope they adopt that ploy from the midfield area on Sunday. If not, I see a very fit team like Offaly being able to get plenty of bodies behind the play and disrupting Mayo.
And what about Offaly? I must confess before the Leinster final, the only player familiar to me was Finbar Cullen, Ciaran McManus, Peter Brady and Vinnie Claffey. That has all changed since their convincing victory over a depleted Meath outfit. I thought Offaly played some wonderful football in the Leinster Final. They know when to play the ball in long to their dangerous full forward line, they scored at will and also looked extremely fit and disciplined.
Impressed
In defence I was impressed with Cathal Daly, Barry Malone and Tom Coffey. Ronan Mooney has a high work rate and at midfield and up front the entire full forward line of Claffey, Brady and young Roy Malone caused havoc, scoring 3-8 from play between them. Add in their number 10 Colm Quinn who notched four points from play and you can see that Offaly have a lot of ammunition in their forward department. Without doubt it was the best performance by any team in this years championship campaign to date.
But Offaly are far from unbeatable. Meath had to line out with key players that featured against Mayo last year in Fay, O'Reilly and Geraghty, who were all suspended while injury robbed them of Martin O'Connell, Colm Brady and Barry Callahan. Meath looked tired and mentally jaded after their previous tough encounters and it was strange that Sean Boylan did not make too many switches, particularly when players like Ned Kearney and Donal Curtis were getting a roasting right from the start. Offaly's performances prior to the Leinster Final have been mixed.
They hammered Longford and were then taken to a replay by Westmeath and beat a Louth team missing Seamus O'Hanlon, by two points.
It would have been interesting to see how they would they have reacted under pressure if Meath had taken some of their early chances and if Jimmy McGuinness had got that goal just before halftime.
Concerned
They must be a little concerned about conceding 1-15 (1-11 form play) against Meath.
Full back Larry Carroll looked vulnerable when the bal was played in low to Brendan Reilly.
But I'm sure they will feel they are in with a good chance and many neutrals will see Mayo as underdogs, particularly in light of their poor Connacht Final display. But that is all history now and Mayo are a very experienced side with good backs and a good midfield.
The defence will have to play very well and it is a big test for the full back lien of Mortimer, Cahill and Flanagan and it is important that the supply is cut off to the full forward lien which means greater effort from the half forwards, half back and midfield.
The Mayo players got a big kick on the backside after their lack-lustre display against Sligo. It was a warning they must heed and unless there is nothing short of a fully committed performance from everyone on Sunday they could be in trouble.
They have the edge in terms of experienced and will not be lacking in support as every man, woman and child in the county will be behind them.
I know they can do it. And I think we have a very good minor team this year. They were unlucky to lose at the same stage last year and many believe they would have beaten Laois had they made the final.
And lets people get in early and give the minors they support they deserve.
What a day on September 28th if we had two teams in the final. I believe it is possible and good luck to all involved.
