It's time for the Mayo footballers to "relax and live a little" according to former manager James Horan.

Writing in his 'Horan's Cap' column in the Western People, Horan gave his reaction to Saturday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final defeat at the hands of Dublin.

"As we all know, sport can be so cruel. Sometimes it's just not that fair. The hoped-for replay victory over Dublin was not to be. Dublin finished out very strong and took the prize. Mayo people's hopes were dashed again and that sickening feeling of disappointment reared itself.

"The effort of Mayo, as always, was superb; the honest of the players and commitment was total. What a group of players we currently have - brilliant characters and leaders who represent us magnificently. They are hurting now but will quickly see that the road ahead is clear and the only option is to keep driving on. There is not other choice. How we drive on is the only question.

"When people have invested so much in a game and a team, and when it doesn't go the right way, they feel disappointed and let down. Immediately they need their anger satisfied and the search for quick answers and scapegoats begin in earnest. They look for players who did not perform and of course, in defeat, everything the management did was wrong.

"People hear the usual rubbish from the TV analysts and start to believe the drivel that gets talked about. A lot of pundits say anything they think will provide a good sound-bite or will get people talking. There is no real substance in a lot of what's said."

The Ballintubber clubman continued: "There will be talk of retirements and things that went wrong but in my opinion it's time to allow these players and the management get some head space, enjoy life for a while and get out of the pressure cooker that is Mayo football. Quite simply it's time to relax and live a little. They deserve both that and the respect of us all. They have given so much that we can never fully understand the full extent."

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