Maughan heralds new dawn for Mayo

Connaught Telegraph




Golden goals send Galway packing . . .
in Bank of Ireland
Connaught Senior Football Final

Big Match Report:
by
John Melvin

Mayo 3-9 - - - - - Galway 1-11

AT LAST, a new day appears to be dawning for Mayo football. The self-doubts, the fear, the uncertainty and insecurity that comes from losing- no, being humiliated- disappeared with the mist at McHale Park on Sunday as Mayo welcomed a new manager, a new team, and what looks like a new era for Mayo football.

Of course, it wasn't a flawless performance, but John Maughan promised one thing last winter. He promised that the Mayo jersey would be worn with pride. That pride shone through despite the haze at McHale Park on Sunday, and when both teams came into the final straight of a tense and exciting Connaught final, it was Mayo who had the power, hunger and self-belief to reach the finishing line first and reclaim a title they last won in 1993.

They now meet Kerry in the All Ireland semi-final on August 11th. Who is to say Maughan's plans do not involve a couple of more chapters? He has never set his sights too high, nor has he ever set them too low. Losing is a word that does not come easy to him and one wonders will he ever allow it into his vocabulary.

This was an extraordinary final in many ways. There was good and bad. The good was the quality goals, four in all, while the fact that the game was wide open until Ray Dempsey's goal always ensured it was exciting and close.

Galway will be cursing themselves for not having a decent freetaker on board while they also suffered a major blow when Jarlath Fallon had to cry off with injury.

The bad was also there. Galway produced one of the worst display's of free-taking by any team while the refereeing in both the senior and minor game were of a standard that must make the Connaught Council take notice before the game is completely destroyed by referees who seem to lack basic common sense.

But, above all, it was a final that will be remembered for those golden goals and Mayo's three in particular. The goals will be seen as the reason why Galway failed to retain their title, but I'm sure Bosco McDermott, when he sits down to analyse this game, will be cursing the fact that Liam McHale was not born in Salthill, or on one of the Aran Islands for that matter.

Despite what Colm O'Rourke might tell you, Liam McHale proved that basketball and football can be combined, and he showed just how when he bounced that ball several times on the run.

McHale was the man who led the charge when it needed to led. I don't think I've ever seem him in the thick of the battle so much. Galway just couldn't handle him while David Brady's contribution, although not as enormous, was still none the less significant.

The sideline too must take some credit for a few tactical moves. The decision to give Colm McMenamon a 'free run' caused a lot of confusion with the Burrishoole man picking up a lot of ball. Giving Pat Holmes the responsibility of policing substitute Val Daly proved judicious. The backs in general worked extremely hard and Nallen, although we did not see too many of his forays, was in total command and Kevin Cahill exuded confidence in the full back line.

The flanks did creak at times and mistakes were made, on a greasy surface, but the work rate of Ken Mortimer, Anthony McGarry, when switched, and Noel Connelly was absolutely tremendous, particularly in the last ten minutes when Mayo's fitness began to really tell the tale as Galway legs visibly weakened, some even began to buckle.

But the goals were the highlight of a match which was spoiled by the rain in the second half. Anthony Finnerty has taken a fair share of stick, but when Maughan decided to bring back some of the foot soldiers of 89 he chose wisely.

Finnerty made two goals- the first a gem of a pass to Casey and the second, turned out to be the match clinching move for Dempsey, who really made an impact when moved into a more central role having been left too long isolated in the corner where he lived on rations in the first half.

John Casey was the other key man in the attack, but it was the meanderings of Colm McMenamon which really left most people, particularly Galway, bamboozled in McHale Park.

McManamon had his fair quota of mistakes. That cannot be denied. But he did a power of work and if you had your eyes closed when he scored that vital point late in the game after taking a brilliant pass from Brady, I can assure you it was like manna from heaven as it really hit Galway in the gut at a time when they were still lurking dangerously as it put three points of daylight between them 3-8 to 1-11 with two minutes still remaining.

The injury point from P.J. Loftus was an excellent score, but Mayo had this game won by then with their fitness level really coming into play and their sheer grit and self-belief carrying them through in the end.

Mayo: J. Madden, K. Mortimer, K. Cahill, A. McGarry, P. Holmes, J. Nallen, N. Connelly, L. McHale, D. Brady, J. Horan, C. McMenamon (0-1) M. Sheridan (1-3); A. Finnerty, J. Casey (1-2); R. Dempsey (1-0). Subs: P.J. Loftus (0-1) for Horan.

Galway: C. McGinley, J. Kilraine, G. Fahy, K. Fallon, A. Mulholland, I. O'Donogue, S. Og De Paor, F. Gavin, A. Leonard, F. O'Neill (1-0); S. Walsh (0-3); D. Meehan (0-2); T. Mannion, J. Fallon (0-2); N. Finnegan (0-3). Subs: for Walsh, Daly for, T. Wilson.

Ref: F. Finan (Sligo).

Now you've gone throught this why not wish the Mayo Team luck for the match against Kerry.

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Connaught Telegraph - News - July 1996

Connaught Telegraph - Sport - July 1996