Connacht SFC preview: Mayo bidding for a famous five
May 14, 2015
At the 2015 Connacht GAA Football Championship launch, are Back, l/r: Galway captain Paul Conroy, London captain Martin Carroll, Roscommon captain Niall Carty, Sligo captain Mark Breheny, Leitrim captain Sean McWeeney and front, Mayo captain Keith Higgins ©INPHO/James Crombie
Galway manager Kevin Walsh reckons Mayo are "streets ahead" of everyone else in Connacht and, on the basis of what we have witnessed in the last four years, it's impossible to argue against him.
But, following the departure of James Horan as manager, Mayo appeared vulnerable at times during the league and that won't have gone unnoticed by Walsh and his Roscommon counterpart John Evans.
Can either Galway or Roscommon break Mayo's stranglehold on the Nestor Cup?
Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes have taken over the baton from Horan and they are well aware that a fifth Connacht SFC success in-a-row is the least that the county dedicated and loyal supporters expect.
The league didn't go according to plan, however, and the 0-10 to 2-18 hammering they suffered at the hands of Dublin underlined the challenge facing the new backroom team but they have until June 14th to iron out the creases.
Galway, meanwhile, came home from New York with a 16-point victory under their belt earlier this month and they will be expected to account for Leitrim with little difficulty in Carrick-on-Shannon this Sunday.
12 months ago they shipped a hefty 0-16 to 3-14 defeat to their arch rivals in the provincial decider and they are on course to renew acquaintances at the semi-final stages this time around.
The Tribesmen endured a topsy turvy Division 2 campaign and while they have some exciting talent at their disposal in the likes of Shane Walsh and Damien Comer, you can't help but get the sense that they have a long way to go before they are in a position to relieve Mayo of their crown.
On recent form, Mayo's biggest threat out west will come in the shape of Division 2 champions Roscommon who are riding high on the crest of a wave at the minute.
John Evans has, to date, successfully harnessed the underage potential that exists within the county and moulded them into a Division 1 outfit. Now we'll find out if they are ready to make the next step up in the championship.
The primrose and blues ran Mayo close 12 months ago before finishing on the wrong end of the 0-13 to 1-9 scoreline.
They enter the championship in a confident frame of mind and should overcome the hurdles of London and Sligo to reach the final.
With forwards of the calibre of Senan Kilbride, Diarmuid Murtagh and Cathal Cregg, they are a match for most teams in the country but they might have to bide their time before bridging the five year gap to their last Connacht success.
PREDICTIONS:
Champions: Mayo; Runners-up: Roscommon
ODDS (supplied by Paddy Power)
Mayo evens; Galway 9/4; Roscommon 3/1; Sligo 14/1; Leitrim 150/1; London 150/1
FIXTURES
Preliminary Round
Sunday, May 3rd: New York 0-8 v Galway 2-18, Gaelic Park, New York
Quarter-finals
Sunday, May 17th: Leitrim v Galway, Pairc Sean MacDiarmada, 3.30pm
Sunday, May 24th: London v Roscommon, Ruislip, 3pm
Semi-finals
Sunday, June 14th: Mayo v Galway/Leitrim, tbc, 4pm
Saturday, June 20th: Sligo v Roscommon/London, tbc, 7pm
Final
Sunday, July 19th: Semi-final winner v Semi-final winner, tbc, 4pm
Tweet
