Mayo GAA 17 July 1996

Connaught Telegraph


Connaught Senior Football Final



Galway gunning for revenge at McHale Park

MAYO BACKS TO THE WALL

Big Match Preview
by
John Melvin

Mayo backs are likely to be to the wall on Sunday as Galway come gunning for revenge at McHale Park, which has become something of a burial ground for Galway football in recent years.

If Mayo have a permanent tombstone erected in Tuam and inscribed with the words 'fail to win since 1951', Galway's obituary has been posted at McHale Park more times than they might care to remember in recent years;

In their three meetings in the 90's, Galway have failed to crack Mayo at the Castlebar county grounds and there is growing optimism in the county that once again the champions will fail to retain the crown they won last year but hadn't won prior to that since 1987.

No more than Mayo, when there is a famine in Galway it bites hard and tends to last for a few years. But there is a strong belief that a new era could be dawning for Mayo football under John Maughan.

In a county that eats, drinks and sleeps on optimism nd empty promises, the tide of hope is gradually beginning to flow and some of the lost sheep have gradually returned to the fold after some of the fiascos of the early 90's. If nothing else John Maughan has restored credibility and respectability to Mayo football. Now, all we want is a Connaught title to confirm the widely held belief that the county is at least on the right road.

Sunday is the one that will confirm or dismiss that notion. It is the one we have been waiting for. A chance to redeem ourselves after last years fiasco in Tuam. There is something uniquely special about a Mayo-Galway Connaught Final and the uncertainty that surrounds the outcome of Sunday's final at McHale Park (3.15) adds that extra tinge of excitement and anticipation.

As a Mayoman I would like two things. A good game and a Mayo win. However, I'll settle for the latter, and I'm sure John Maughan won't be too perturbed if the standard of football falls short but Mayo achieve victory. It is as big a test for Maughan as it is for his team.

This is his first championship since taking over the reins of management last winter when he set himself two targets. He has achieved the first- taking the team out of division three. The second was to win a Connaught title and he is within sight of that.

Mayo's league progress has been well documented. I'm not going to trawl over old waters. Suffice to say they did well to come out of division three and Maughan and his men deserve credit for that.

They did even better to beat Meath in the quarter final, probably the pinnacle of Maughan's achievements as manager and, in fairness, they did not disgrace themselves against Derry in the League semi-final.

Croke Park has haunted a few Mayo teams in recent years. I think that is one ghost Maughan has exorcised. However, the ghost of Galway is back again to haunt Mayo and a defeat on Sunday, regardless of it being a narrow one or not, could be a big set back in the process of team rebuilding.

Clearly a lot of work and a lot of hours has gone into this Mayo team and any criticism of the side for a lack of commitment or dedication does not stand up.

Galway have clearly had the tougher, and, indeed, the more impressive path. into the final. No more than Mayo, they have at times just stuttered to life. They played poorly in Sligo but managed to draw and wiped out Sligo who performed poorly in the replay. Then Galway got the start they wanted against Leitrim with an early penalty and threatened to overrun Leitrim in the second half but were gradually reeled back and were lucky in the end to hold out for a two point victory in the semi-final.

But, by all accounts, they have played the best football so far in the Connaught championship and would be favoured by many to advance on Sunday. However, there is still the unknown quantity concerning Mayo. It has been one of the most puzzling championship to follow.

A desperately poor display in London with a re-arranged side and then burst of ten minutes to wipe out the treat of Roscommon in the semi-final. I would venture to say Mayo have hardly played twenty minutes of decent football in their 120 minutes of championship fare which has got them into Sunday's final.

So what has John Maughan been up to? It is widely accepted that the team has been trained like greyhounds and they are going to run themselves into the ground. They will not just have to run themselves into the ground, but they will also have to chase and harry the Galway attack in numbers if they are to win. And that is why so much will depend on the Mayo backs on Sunday.

I honestly believe if Mayo are to win that victory will be achieved by the defence, rather than the forwards. And that defence is likely to remain unchanged from the Roscommon game. John madden, a good kicker of the ball, Kenneth Mortimer, Kevin Cahill nd Anthony McGarry on the full back line and Pat Holmes, James Nallen, the star of the semi-final and team captain, Noel Connelly, on a half back lien that will be expected to put plenty of pressure on the Galway defence.

I don't think we will have too many problems at midfield but it is an area that has posed a few problems for Galway. Maya have enough big men to police this area and Maughan has several options to take. David Brady is turning into a top class midfielder and is maturing with every game. He had a stormer against Roscommon and I'm banking on the Ballina man to deliver again on Sunday and I have absolutely no doubt he will.

But the other Ballina man, big Liam, will have to get kick a lot more if Mayo are to win. He must make a bigger contribution, it's as simple as that and he must deliver the ball a lot quicker up front rather than allowing Galway to close him down fast, which they will be trying to do.. Others without only half of his ability are busting their gut but the casual style of big Liam can often give the impression he has much more to offer. In the last ten minutes of the Roscommon game it just seemed he took it in his head to win the game. Hopefully, we will see a more sustained effort from him on Sunday. He will have to make a bigger contribution. Liam's a big boy now and now more than ever Mayo will be looking to him. He has plenty of experience and certainly should know enough about playing Galway.

I don't have a team writing this preview and I can only assume John Maughan will more or less go for a similar attacking formation as he did against Roscommon. That didn't work particularly well but in the end it was enough to win the match with the impetus coming from the half back line, and James Nallen in particular.

There is a good chance that the pace of P.J. Loftus could be sprung. It seems the Crossmolina man is back in favour and marked his return by plundering three goals against Kerry in a recent challenge match. That kind of form cannot be ignored. Tom Reilly is also on the mend and that will provide Maughan with another option as he contemplate horses for courses against Galway.

Regardless of which six forwards Maughan opts for, he will have a strong bench. Sheridan can be penciled in as an automatic while James Horans' strength will also be important. I expect Ray Dempsey will be in from the start while McHale is likely to be posted on the forty once more with McMenamon partnering Brady. John Casey, Diarmuid Byrne, Declan Sweeney and David Nestor or P.J. Loftus are the forwards that are likely to be given the task of breaking down a very solid Galway defence where Cathal McGinley in goals, John Kilraine, sturdy full back Gary Fahy, Kevin Fallon remain as last years full back unit while Sean Og De Paor, Damian Mitchell, if fit, and Alan Mulholland will run at Mayo at every opportunity form that half back line.

It is a strong Galway defence but Leitrim did manage 2-11 against them and certainly proved they are not impregnable by any means. However, it is how the Mayo defence handles Galway up front that could decide this game. Galway are capable of moving well in attack they have scored some good points. 2-13 is a fair score and that's what they chalked up in the semi-final.

The question is whether Bosco McDermott will resist the temptation to play the likes of Val Daly and Kevin Walsh who had such a huge influence on last years final when Mayo were hammered in Tuam. Jarlath Fallon is certainly the man that will have to be give special attention while Declan Meehan is another exciting forward while Fergal O'Neill, Neill Finnegan, Damien Mitchell and Tomas Mannion are al forwards of proven ability.

They certainly have the edge in scoring power. However, Mayo have had two very good challenge games under their belts. They beat a strong Cork side and also edged out Kerry with a few points to spare. P.J. Loftus came on against Kerry to score a hat-trick and Loftus, no more than David Nestor, is capable of sticking a goal away for Mayo. The bookies are usually fairly accurate. You won't get anything more than money on this one.

And that the way it should be. Galway are champions are playing the better football. They are very confident. But I have a feeling Mayo will be well motivated.

Mayo have prepared hard but have yet to produce the goods. Mayo do have their problems, That cannot be denied. But they also have character and I believe that will pull them through when the going gets tough as it is bound to in this televised final

If John Maughan could only take bit of the Wexford hunger and the Clare determination and put it into Mayo, they will win.



Connaught Telegraph - News - July 1996

Connaught Telegraph - Sport - July 1996