Mayo’s ongoing struggle with new rules doesn’t reflect well

A win is a win is a win, but my God, that was ugly viewing. Leaving MacHale Park on Sunday afternoon, it was hard to escape the feeling that Mayo won the match by being the better of two bad teams. Unless both teams’ fortunes and performances improve, a rematch in Division 2 in 2026 seems quite plausible.

It was a must-win match though and to give Mayo some credit, they found a way. There was a marked improvement in their showing in the last quarter when their tackling, intensity and energy from the bench just wore Tyrone down. One has to acknowledge too though that Tyrone were missing their two best outfield players and the outcome and quality of spectacle would almost certainly have been different if some Canavan magic dust was sprinkled on proceedings. That the most exciting and adventurous player on the pitch was a goalkeeper says it all.

There were a lot of off-colour, under-par player displays but I am loath to be too critical of any individuals. We’ve all been there, when the mood and confidence is low, everything seems like hard work. Nothing flows, sparks or comes easy and even the best players can seem ordinary. Ryan O’Donoghue is a case in point. Things just aren’t happening for him right now but he persisted to the end and was key in Mayo’s winning scores. A spring break for Mayo’s talisman may be detrimental to our league prospects but will almost certainly give us a better chance in championship in high summer.

The general mood and vibe around the Mayo camp right now doesn’t seem great. There wasn’t much goodwill or positivity about MacHale Park and everyone seems to be suffering. It's especially frustrating that Mayo seem to be the team least au fait with the new rule enhancements. Every team in Ireland seems to be having great fun with the changes except Mayo. Teams are scoring goals, creating overlaps, kicking two-pointers, utilising the solo and go but Mayo just don’t seem to be fully grasping how we can use them to our benefit.

Our repeated violations of the 3 v 3 rule are infuriating and almost embarrassing. Has any team in the country broke that rule more often? By the same token, has any team in the country kicked fewer two-pointers? Things can and will improve but they need to sharpish as Mayo look poorly prepared for the rule changes and it doesn’t reflect well on anyone.

That being said, it takes guts to dig out a victory when morale is low and the world, its mother and a few dodgy refereeing decisions seem to be going against you. In the last quarter, Mayo’s press and tackling and desire for turnovers was superb. Frank Irwin kicked some nice points which should give him a confidence boost. Jordan Flynn’s return definitely gave Mayo more presence around the middle. I like the cut of Davitt Neary’s jib. He’s got something and his derring-do and willingness to take people on needs to be encouraged. His clubmate, Aidan O’Shea’s introduction, helped coordinate Mayo’s press and led to some important turnovers.

Enda Hession had a nice game but his standing-still soloing manoeuvre in midfield was an unusual moment. Plays like this won’t win over disenchanted Mayo fans who are crying out for excitement and entertainment.

It was disappointing that Cian McHale was withdrawn at half-time. It’s a tale as old as time, your team is struggling all over the park and you hook the corner-forward. I’m not sure what withdrawing him so early achieves. He won’t have learned too much about being an inter-county player by sitting on the bench in the second-half. Sometimes you just need to persist with talented lads with potential even if things don’t happen instantly. Of all teams, Mayo especially need to back and nurture our big kickers as we go looking for two-pointers to boost our meagre scoring tallies.

***** 

I played two games this week under the new rules and my first impressions were very favourable. To be honest, they’re a dream for corner-forwards. No tracking back past the half-way line, even if you wanted to. A tap and go if fouled cynically to put your direct opponent under massive pressure if giving away frees.

And my favourite aspect? Goalkeepers’ kickouts being driven out past the 40-metre arc. Like the good old days! I've seen more clean fielding in the two club games this week than I witnessed in all the matches from 2014 to 2024 combined. It’s a classic skill of the game and it is great that it is going to make a comeback. Kickouts being kicked to the middle also eradicate the little dink to the corner-backs, an element of Gaelic football which has driven me insane in recent years. If anything contributed to the slow, laboured build-up, it was the 10-yard roll-outs to the corner-backs followed by the mind-numbing handpassing through the phases.

With kickouts going to the middle and three forwards staying up, the game will be faster, but there will be less long-range running for the forwards, allowing your most skilful players to focus on what they're good at. That can only improve the spectacle. These changes could also extend an ageing corner-forward’s career, which is appealing to the legs and lungs of this greying columnist.

I think we also finally have the answer to the age-old debate – play with the wind in the first-half or second-half. Derry and Dublin’s comebacks showed that 10 or 12 point half-time leads are no longer insurmountable if you can kick two-pointers. By playing with the wind after half-time, you know exactly what you need to do and how many two-pointers will be required to close the deficit. It could be the season of comebacks.

Aside from a few minor teething issues with the 12 v 11 and 3 v 3 rules, the changes have been a great success so far. Exciting, high-scoring games are happening all over the country each weekend. Let’s just hope Mayo join the party soon.

One more thing… 

John Fogarty of the Irish Examiner reported that there were eight changes to the midweek-announced teams in Castlebar and, similarly, eight team changes for Leitrim’s game against Kildare. Seriously, what’s the point?