Sliding doors time for the Green and Red
Mayo players waiting to be let through the air-locked doors at the Connacht GAA Air Dome ahead of their game against Roscommon in the final of the 2023 FBD Connacht Senior Football League. The teams lock horns again at Dr Hyde Park next Sunday with the stakes much higher. Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Sometimes all a team needs is one big win to ignite a season. The Mayo Under-20s and seniors will hope that they can get that big W this week as they both face season-defining matches. To date in 2024, the two teams have shown promise at times but there have also been days when patchy performances would have you questioning their Connacht and All-Ireland credentials. They are now at a crossroads; a win and the possibilities are endless while a loss for either team leaves their season in tatters. Proper championship stakes!
The U20s probably took their eye off the ball a bit against Leitrim in the last round and paid the price. They’re young, it can happen but I expect a laser-like focus for a do-or-die clash on home turf against Sligo on Wednesday. We’d love to already be qualified for the semi-final or final like Galway but one cannot deny that the new Under 20 format is brilliant for the competition and young lads’ development. As it is, any of the four sides playing on Wednesday evening can qualify so it promises to be box-office stuff. I’m sure Twitter (X) will be hopping with updates and permutations as the drama unfolds.
It was a poor decision to change the age grades a few years back from Under-21 to Under-20 as I felt we were diluting the quality of the fare. This new league format and excitement has really given the competition a shot in the arm though. What’s also noticeable in the new Under-17 and Under-20 grades is how much more competitive Sligo and Leitrim are becoming. Perhaps it is the case that the traditional giants of Mayo, Galway and Roscommon are not producing teams of the same level but I’d reckon that it’s more to do with Sligo and Leitrim’s improvement due to a concentration on high-quality underage coaching and S&C developmental programmes.
Speaking of the old Under-21 grade and season-defining games, I remember playing Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final in 2006 on our way to winning the All-Ireland title. Our form up to that day was scratchy. Cork annihilated us in a challenge match in Ballinrobe the previous month and we squeezed past a doughty Leitrim side in the Connacht quarter-final on a wet St Patrick’s Day in Carrick. Even in the first-half of that game versus Roscommon in Kiltoom, we were unconvincing.
Then, at half-time, something happened that lit the torch for an epic journey. Pat Holmes, our manager, took the floor, gave the table in the middle of the dressing room an almighty wallop and openly challenged our most talented and mercurial player, Michael Conroy, to do better. “Mickey C, it’s time to get serious!” Holmes said with intent and forcefulness. Mickey C got to his feet and roared back “I am f***** serious!” From that moment, Conroy’s form was incredible. He was unmarkable against Galway in the Connacht Final, cleaning none other than Finian Hanley. He almost singlehandedly dragged us to victory against Tyrone after extra-time in the All-Ireland semi-final in Breffni Park. That was a sliding doors moment for that team as our talisman decided that day was the beginning of the journey and not the end of the road.
Mayo are at a similar pivotal juncture on Sunday against the same opposition in the Hyde. It’s only April but it’s a big game. Defeat will not be terminal in All-Ireland terms but you do feel that a loss would be a crushing blow to the team’s confidence and belief going forward. It is hard to see players and fans building up the belief and energy to have a real cut at Sam if the result is not favourable at the weekend. A Connacht title is a real and worthy goal for this team this season so I’ve no doubt but that the team will be going bald-headed for glory. Mayo’s record in the Hyde is good and I’m always more fearful of the Rossies when they’re rank outsiders which they won’t be next Sunday. Last season’s equivalent fixture in Castlebar, so soon after the League Final against an unfancied Roscommon, had all the ingredients for an upset. Mayo will be focused and forewarned at the weekend so I’m expecting a victory after a tense and tight tussle.
What I’d really love to see this week is a full Mayo senior squad announcement à la Dublin who released their 40-man roster on the eve of their Leinster Championship opener against Meath. Of course, 40 players seems like a massively bloated and expensive number to have in a 15-man game. Pep Guardiola only used 22 players for Man City in last season’s 61 game treble season. Why do the Dubs need 40 for a max 10-game championship campaign with at least a two-week gap between games?
Leaving aside the massive squad numbers, some of the detail in that squad announcement was wonderful. Each player’s age, position, club, list of achievements, occupation and senior intercounty debut were given. The players’ primary schools were also named. As a primary school teacher, I thought that was a lovely touch and nice nod to their role in the player’s formation.
Each player was also asked their “Childhood Sporting Hero”. Interestingly, about half of the 40 chose soccer players such as Roy Keane, Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry, Leo Messi and lethal Croatian striker, Davor Suker. Only seven named Gaelic footballers and these were mainly legendary Dubs including Ciaran Whelan, Paul Flynn and Stephen Cluxton. Ciarán Kilkenny chose Galway star Michael Donnellan, which is probably not surprising given his close ties to Galway GAA (he is a cousin of Galway legend Sean Purcell). Ever the hipster and not your typical GAA head, Jack McCaffrey had a left-field choice and picked the Harry Potter Quidditch star, Viktor Krum, as his sporting icon. It’s all trivial enough stuff but us GAA folk lap up these titbits. I wish other teams would do this sort of thing more often instead of the veil of secrecy that often pervades.
Indeed, in a similar vein, Malachy Clerkin’s behind-the-scenes report in the on Wicklow Gaelic footballers’ training sessions in the build-up to the Kildare tie made for great reading. Joe Public are mad for Gaelic football and love to get a peek behind the curtain now and again.
Netflix would probably pay a mint to go backstage with an intercounty team for a season in the manner of their hit sports docu-series or F1’s . Think of the interest there would be in a no-holds barred Mayo GAA season chronicle on a streaming site. Mayo football is one of sport’s greatest soap operas. The County Board could name their price. The proceeds could clear the debt on MacHale Park and go towards a new Centre of Excellence.
With a tired provincial system and attendances on the wane, every county should be compelled to follow Dublin and Wicklow’s example to engage fans and increase attachment with our county teams. We have a super product and a captive audience but let’s get more creative in promoting our players, teams and games.
Bulgarian Krum (McCaffrey’s hero) had a famous quote in : “Vot is the point of being an international Quidditch player if all the good-looking girls are taken?” In the same spirit, I ask: “Vot is the point in being an intercounty footballer if none of your people have access to you?”
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You’re probably wondering who Cluxton chose as his “Childhood Sporting Hero”. You’ll be shocked to read that that section was left blank. Never change, Stephen. Never change!
