Mayo and Horan cannot afford another shock ambush in Mchale Park
I’D go as far as to say that Mayo’s visit to Mchale Park this evening is a treacherous prospect for James Horan and his players.
A shock defeat to Roscommon would derail everything that Mayo are aspiring to – and to such an extent that there would be no way back in 2019.
And that brings a amount of pressure.
The bookies have a Mayo win down at 1/5 today – so not a single sane football fan in the country gives Roscommon a prayer.
But this fixture smells of danger. Throw in Mchale Park as the venue, where Mayo have struggled at times to perform to a required level over the years, and it only enhances that feeling.
As of now, Mayo look like a different proposition to last year, when they were running on gas fumes. certain
James Horan looks like a man who is doing everything right and can do no wrong. And, on paper, Mayo are 5 to 10 points a better team than Roscommon.
If this game was in the Hyde l wouldn’t be writing this piece. But it’s not – and so it’s set up for a Roscommon ambush.
It is critical that Anthony Cunningham gets all his match-ups spot on, just as Cavan manager Mickey Graham did against Monaghan.
Roscommon’s discipline must improve in pressure moments. If his new defensive system doesn’t implode – something that has happened too often to them – then they have a chance.
I was really impressed with Mayo scoring 3-11 in the league final against Kerry, although I thought the Kingdom were pretty poor.
In Matthew Ruane they have found a real gem. Outside of him, there’s no new player picked in today’s starting line-up who is a game changer or match winner. That’s still a worry .
Mayo will not win the All I reland going through the back door, so all the pressure is on them.
One would expect a powerful and physical professional dismantling operation from them, such are the expectations within the county since the league decider.
But I go back to the first round of the league, when Roscommon showed great physicality and heart in pushing Mayo to a single point in horrendous conditions. They frustrated Mayo for long periods.
Look at the way Limerick set up against a fancied Tipperary, and it was the same with Cavan against a
Monaghan.
You need the necessary belief to win big, and Cavan had it in abundance. Deep down, Roscommon have lacked real it when it comes to Championship football.
To take down one of the big guns like Mayo or Monaghan, it’s all down to how you set your team up and how disciplined you are in your execution of your key match ups – then staunchly refusing to deviate from your game plan.
This is paramount. Cavan were relegated – just like Roscommon – but it didn’t affect them one iota come Championship.
So, can Anthony Cunningham deliver a managerial masterplan, or will Roscommon roll over and allow Mayo to steamroll them again?
If Roscommon show some true belief like Cavan - they can cause surprise
top four team in