Jordan and Jack delighted to crown a Royal occasion

Much had been made of the impact of new players into the Mayo team following the Connacht semi-final defeat to Roscommon, but two of their seasoned campaigners stepped up in a big way last Saturday.

Jack Carney and Jordan Flynn, for so long operating as wing-forwards, were in midfield together against Meath and, roared on by the home faithful, were key to Mayo overturning a nine points deficit with 30 minutes to go to book their place in the quarter-final.

Jordan Flynn kicked a pair of inspiring two-pointers while Carney, after two missed attempts, ensured third time was the charm when sending Mayo in front with 10 minutes to go. He praised his teammates and management for their belief in him.

“I suppose in previous years I mightn’t have backed myself in that moment after missing two shots, but it's probably the faith of the management and teammates in backing me to take on the shot even when it's not going my way. That was probably a release of a lot of emotion.

“[The crowd], for me anyway, it's incredible. It gives you that additional energy that you need closing down the game. As an opposition, when it's against you it's a hard place to be. Thankfully we have it on our side, and Andy always says to us, if we give them energy they'll give it back.” 

Despite being seven down at half-time following a poor first-half display, Mayo came into the break on the back of a good spell in the final five minutes and both Carney and Flynn knew the game had not gone away by any means.

“It's just natural now. Three or four years ago, that's the game over. But we find ourselves in that position quite often, and we've been in that position where teams have pulled it back on us,” said Carney.

“Again, we've learned from the past and we knew going in [at half-time] it was an okay position to be in. Obviously, we got way better, but it was an okay position to be in, particularly going with the wind in the second-half.” 

Jordan Flynn admitted that Mayo were “probably a small bit flat-footed,” in the early stages and noted the “running power” of Meath.

“But this team, we feel real close. We've a real bond together. I suppose we said at half-time, if this is the last time we want to spend in MacHale Park this year, we at least want to bow out with a bit of dignity. I think once we got the crowd on our side, the crowd were massive for us.

“Having a home game like that, they really stood up for us and they really drove us over the line.” Flynn said that in his eyes the final five minutes of the first-half was the game’s turning point.

“In terms of our energy, you know, in the last five minutes, and then especially when Eoin McGreal gets a stop before the buzzer. If they even get one point there, it's massive for them but to have been the last ones to score before half-time was huge. That was a real momentum builder for us.” 

Cork now lie in wait this weekend in Croke Park, which will be the first time Mayo have played there in the championship since the 2023 All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin. Both players are ‘incredibly excited’ for the occasion.

“We've had some really difficult summers in the last few years,” expressed Jack Carney. “Particularly lads my age, we're very close, some of us live together and we've had summers there where it's been summers of just reflection and watching in from the sidelines of Croke Park, wishing we were there and with regrets. It means an awful lot to be back there and hopefully we’ll be back there for a few more games,” he offered, while Flynn said the experience will be huge for the young members of their squad.

“Some young boys in there are mad excited to get to Croke Park and I suppose as one of the older lads now, it was kind of our duty to try and get them there. Whatever we do next week, we'll have to wait and see but them boys are going to get a run out at Croke Park this year and we'll see what happens.”