Mayo having a lash; it’s all we wanted to see

Spring has not yet sprung but there was a spring in my step after watching that match on Sunday. It was tremendous fare. A humdinger like that, coupled with the club final classic the weekend before, really does augur well for the Gaelic football season ahead.

The uncharacteristically benign Pearse Stadium weather conditions contributed to a fantastic spectacle but even more helpful was both teams’ attitude and desire to play ball. It was a dream start for Andy Moran but, funnily enough, I doubt Pádraic Joyce will be too despondent either.

Galway were missing more regulars, opened Mayo up with semi-concerning regularity and seem to have found some exciting new attacking talent in Fionn McDonagh and Ciarán Mulhern. Both managers will have probably left Pearse Stadium hopeful for the year ahead.

Given it was his first day out, it was probably a bigger game for Andy than Joyce and boy did his men do him proud. I always think it is good to get Galway early in the league. They are often slow starters as many of their star players emerge slowly from winter hibernation.

Mayo’s training camp to Portugal in December also gives them a headstart on many teams. It is important they make hay and get some points before things level up.

In recent seasons, it seems Mayo do a number on Galway in the league but Galway have our measure come championship. As impressive and heart-warming as Sunday’s win was, all roads still lead to championship and stopping Galway’s drive-for-five in the same venue in May. To that end, this win is a good morale boost.

Ask any fan what they hoped to see in 2026 and trophies probably wouldn’t come first. They wanted to see their team have a go, play attacking football and score some two-pointers – and that’s exactly what we got at the weekend, and then some.

Old rules or new rules, 3-18 is fair clipping and some of the scores were beautifully taken. Kicking five two-pointers was just what the doctor ordered. The long, direct style with plenty of kick-passing warmed the cockles of our hearts.

It wasn’t perfect and, for all the drama, the game was still error-ridden, open and probably very un-championship like. But so what. It was pure entertainment and that’s what football is all about.

There’s loads of time to iron out the kinks. When the attitude and principles are right, the rest should fall into place in time.

Andy et al. won’t be happy with all the goal chances Galway created but maybe that is the cost of playing front-foot football and going one-to-one at the back. Jack Coyne’s return should tighten things up and, if Mayo are to persist with an open style, moving David McBrien back to full-back could shore things up too. That, in turn, would give confidence to those further out the field to attack.

You can also be sure that Paddy Tally, a renowned defensive coach, will be licking his lips at the prospect of tightening those defensive channels as the season progresses.

Robbie Hennelly’s sparkling return to the fold was another huge plus. He kicked six points and denied Galway at least six goals, which are remarkable stats for a goalkeeper.

It was a near-perfect reintroduction for Hennelly and he proved he still has it at this level. I just hope management trial some younger goalies throughout the league too though. God forbid anything happens Robbie, as you could be left high and dry with a total novice come championship if more options are not explored.

Gaelic football is analysed to the nth degree nowadays but of all the stats, metrics and KPIs, winning your own kick-outs is still the biggest indicator of who will win the game. Hennelly landed nearly every restart in a dominant first-half as Mayo took control.

There was a 15-minute spell in the second-half when Mayo were under the pump on our own kick-out and the 11-point lead looked under serious threat. Galway were missing their first-choice midfielders so it was always going to be a big ask to dominate that area but their kick-out strategy did not look as well developed or rehearsed as Mayo’s. Paul ‘Papa’ Durcan will be happy with his goalkeeper’s showing on his first day out as goalkeeper coach.

Freed from the shackles of the full-back line, Sam Callinan looked a different player at wing-back as he took the fight to Galway and carried an ocean of ball into their half. His last-ditch tackle on Shane Walsh to deny a certain goal was a study in desire, pace and technique and a wonderful play.

Ryan O’Donoghue looked totally at home on the ’45 line. An outstanding footballer, his ball-playing ability and warrior tendencies are perfectly suited to centre-forward and he remains near enough to goal to get shots off.

There will be days when he is needed closer to goal but it’s horses for courses and his adaptability will make him hard to pin down. His big block and a similar one from Darragh Beirne were standout features of the first-half. Both plays led to Mayo scores and pointed to attackers working their tails off for the team. Very encouraging stuff.

There were also magic moments for Beirne and Cian McHale, bagging goals against our nearest and dearest rivals. To score such neat goals in a big game, televised nationally, will do their confidence the world of good and should be a major fillip.

It was also nice to see two left-footers get on the end of those moves. If we can get more left-footers scoring, the balance in the attack will improve drastically. Ironically, Mayo’s most famous left-footer, Aidan O’Shea, tidily dispatched his goal with his right.

There were a world of positives to take away from Sunday. Well done to the players and management on a sterling display that gave us all cause for optimism.

More of the same next Sunday, please.

One more thing … 

Watching the most recent Galway–Mayo games has left me deeply frustrated with the jersey clashes. I’m not colourblind, but the dark green and deep maroon on the shirts simply don’t make for easy distinction. Both counties have alternate strips, which they market extensively and sell to loyal fans for a pretty penny – so why not use them? It would make life easier for players and more enjoyable for supporters.