Reilly finds some elation in Mayo's mass rotation

Mayo minor joint-manager Tom Reilly has praised the players who came into the team for their Round 5 Connacht Minor Championship game against Galway on Friday evening.

Reilly and David Heaney rang the changes with Mayo’s place already booked in the semi-finals, where they will once again face Galway, and some 14 alterations were made to the side that started against Sligo the week before with goalkeeper Thomas Williams from Westport GAA the only player to retain his place in the starting 15.

Mayo came out on the losing end in a two-point defeat but made a good account of themselves, scoring 3-12 and remaining competitive on their travels against their provincial rivals.

“A lot of these lads came through the Mayo GAA Academy and would be well used to wearing the Mayo jersey but they put a lot of pride into it tonight,” said Reilly.

“They got an opportunity in the Connacht Minor Championship and I thought they accounted for themselves quite well and can take great heart from that.”

“From our perspective, it’s a panel. The conversation we had with the lads who got the jerseys tonight was, if you get the jersey make it very difficult for us to take it back off you, and the lads did that to a certain extent.”

He said the conditions made it a difficult game to play but was happy with how his team adapted to the weather, which broke into heavy rain throughout the day on Friday after weeks of prolonged dry weather sunshine.

“We were training in the dry weather but we wouldn’t put it too much on that because Galway had the same thing going on as us. I think a game on a night like this gets decided by whichever team has the least handling errors.”

“Overall, it was a great run out for some of our lads. The conditions were difficult and testing but it led to an entertaining game and the scoreline probably reflects that. A lot to take onboard after tonight’s performance.”

Reilly said that the result will not have much of a say in how things might pan out in two weeks time, nor will Mayo’s home advantage do much to swing the tie in their favour.

“I don’t think it’s a huge thing either way. We take each game on its own merits. We’d be quite happy to play the game in any venue and while of course we’re happy to be playing at home in MacHale Park, I don’t think it will have a huge bearing on the game itself.”