Clifford and Kingdom come calling for Saturday showdown
David Clifford marked his return to Kerry's starting team by scoring 3-3 against Tyrone on Sunday last. Castlebar is Kerry's next port of call on Saturday next. Picture: INPHO/Lorcan Doherty
After four rounds, rule confusion, a heavy beating by the old enemy, an unconvincing victory on home soil and then going back to what we know best – chaos – to earn a point at the home of the All-Ireland champions, we can only ask one question: what Mayo will show up this Saturday for the visit of Gaelic football royalty?
With the game not on television, it will be interesting to see how many make the trip to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park as Mayo look to take a massive step towards Division 1 safety when they face Kerry. There was much commentary on the lack of supporters who attended the Tyrone game (just over 6,000) and despite the win, you would not have blamed many of those who had shown up if they demanded a refund or left early given the very poor spectacle the game was. So how many descend upon the county town will be as of much interest as the game itself.
Oh to have been a fly around the Mayo camp in those six days between the Tyrone and Armagh games, as it was very much two different Mayo displays that were offered. There was the victory over Tyrone but the performance was dire. However, while Mayo only got a point in Armagh last Saturday evening, the display gives so much hope. Those two games sum up where Mayo still are: a chaotic side who are a match for anyone in top form but still unable to replicate that form on a regular basis.
Injuries have not helped manager Kevin McStay’s cause and he has been forced to throw a few bodies into the ruthless cauldron that is Division 1 football. One man who has thrived has been Breaffy’s Davitt Neary, who is proof that you don’t necessarily need to be in the underage system to get an opportunity – or to take it. He has grabbed his chance with open arms, with his goal against the Orchard County calmness personified. He already looks a shoe-in for championship later this year.
Sean Morahan, Eoin O’Donoghue and Paul Towey all impressed while the returns of Aidan O’Shea, Jack Carney and Jordan Flynn are a massive boost. Coupled with the return to form on Saturday of Ryan O’Donoghue after an indifferent first three games, a consistent showing over the 70 minutes this weekend and Mayo are more than capable of getting a result and leapfrogging Kerry in the table.
As for the visitors, they rescued a first round win away to Derry after a dramatic late show in stoppage-time saw them score two goals to snatch it at the death.
Defeats to Donegal and Dublin followed but Kerry returned to winning ways after coming from behind to defeat Tyrone. That win would not have been possible without the return of their prodigal son David Clifford, with the Fossa superstar scoring 3-3 on his first league start. McStay and his management team will be working overtime to devise a way to curtail his influence; if he is allowed to run amok in Castlebar, it could be a long afternoon for Mayo – and that is without mention of what his brother Paudie, Paul and Dylan Geaney, and Diarmuid O’Connor are all capable of delivering.
How the game unfolds all depends on what Mayo turns up on Saturday. But given the history these two sides have with each other (Kerry won by one point in Tralee last year, Mayo by seven in Castlebar the year before), it won’t be dull either way.
