MAYO SUFFERED THEIR second straight league defeat yesterday, going down to a superior Cavan side by two points at Elverys MacHale Park.
It marks the second time this season Mayo have been beaten in Castlebar and they’ve also struggled against Ulster opposition so far in 2017.
Cavan and Monaghan have plundered victories against Stephen Rochford’s men so far in the league campaign, and the Connacht side face northern sides Tyrone and Donegal – the two favourites for the Ulster crown – in their final two games.
Mayo’s hopes of reaching a league final were pretty much put to bed with their latest defeat, and they’re now in real danger of dropping into the second tier.
Manager Stephen Rochford believes they’ve only themselves to blame after leading by 0-8 to 0-4 as they approached half-time.
“The reality is that we put ourselves in a good position in the first half and again we’re being penalised for our own mistakes,” Rochford told Newstalk’s Oisin Langan.
“We have to suck it up and get ourselves ready now for next week.”
Mayo shipped a goal to Geroid McKiernan right before the break and it handed the visitors renewed belief for the second-half.
“If we hadn’t conceded that goal we might have asked different questions of Cavan but they’re the things that come in this division. We have to dust ourselves down and get ready for Omagh.”
Tyrone are up next on the agenda and one aspect Mayo need to work on is their finishing.
They’ve failed to net a goal from play in the entire league campaign, with Cillian O’Connor’s penalty against Roscommon the only time they’ve raised a green flag so far this year.
“We kicked 10 wides and five into the goalie’s hands so we had plenty of opportunities,” added Rochford.
The continued absence of Aidan O’Shea and Jason Doherty hasn’t helped their scoring exploits, but the form of Cillian O’Connor will really worry Rochford.
O’Connor has scored just 0-5 from play in his first five league games of the season, and has gone scoreless from open play in his last two games – against Dublin and Cavan.
It’s been noticeable in the past two games that Mayo’s opponents really focused on not conceding frees inside the scoring zone, especially on the left-side where O’Connor is most proficient.
Left-footers Kevin McLoughlin and Evan Regan chipped in with 0-3 between them from frees in the last two games, but a couple of converted 45s is all O’Connor has contributed since their win over Roscommon on February 25.
Mayo’s attack was stagnant against Cavan, with no running off the shoulder as they struggled to break down the Breffni’s defensive set-up. Andy Moran and Conor O’Shea were the only two forwards to post more than a point in the 70 minutes.
Mayo are increasingly reliant on scores from midfield and the half-back line, with Danny Kirby, Lee Keegan and Tom Parsons scoring 0-7 between them.
It’s still quite early in the year but unless Mayo can rediscover their touch in front of goal against Tyrone and Donegal, they might be following winless Roscommon down the trapdoor.
The42 GAA / SoundCloud
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
I wonder how long it takes him to sign a few Irish in Bristol? Not saying it’s a bad thing but as he said he knows how good some of these players are
@Chris Mcdonnell: Well he’s already got Mads!
@RMcG: fair point I forgot about him but I was taking more about young players maybe second in line at their clubs.
I’m delighted for marmion. He got total of 6 minutes in the first two south African tests and was then replaced for the third by a player who had just announced his international retirement. He was clearly a player who deserved better than that and it took an injury to Murray to get his chance to show it. Still prefer Murray but Al least now we know that we have two 9s and 10s capable of playing.
Better than Murray potentially
@Alan Barber: that’s silly talk. Can you just not say he’s a fantastic player.
@Chris Mcdonnell: No. No I can’t Christmas Bells.
@Chris Mcdonnell: Chris this Alan b is like a sepsis on the 42. He lives on the soccer articles spewing about Man U or Liverpool can’t tell which as I don’t engage and now unfortunately he has infected the rugby comments.
My advice would be not to acknowledge him and hopefully he gets a job or something in the meantime
@bobby henderson: can just mute him. That’s what I did
There is no better preparation for playing Test Rugby, than actually playing test rugby. Critical that Murray has a deputy that is totally armed top step in when required. But is should not require injury to Murray for Marmion (or AN Other scrumhalf) to get sufficient game time to progress…
his big hots playing on the wing against Australia changed Joe’s perception of him
Marmion should be considered just as “cover” for Murray. He’s a different type of player and one that should be used when the strategy is complimented by his skillset. His consistent speed of delivery is top-drawer and he has the speed and eye for a gap to keep fringe defenses from taking short-cuts.
@Dennis Laffey: indeed it’s his eye for a gap that sets him apart from Murray. Marmion is such a nuggety little player, bristles with intent with or without the ball. If your an opposition nine he must drive you demented….
For me Murray rarely breaks whether it’s strategy or. choice,but it’s an oddity for a nine of his size who is by no means slow.
But it astonishes me given how much team’s target Sexton, that he doesn’t carry the ball up more himself and keep opposition backrows guessing….
Have some decorum, Daragh, its’ free