MIX IS LETHAL FOR MAYO MEN
FORMER Galway boss John O’mahony has described Mayo’s next two competitive games as a ‘lethal cocktail’ of ties.
If Stephen Rochford’s struggling side lose to Donegal today their 21-year stay in the top flight will finally end.
No other county has come close to that longevity in the top tier but Mayo have it all to do as Donegal are aiming for their 20th League or Championship game in Ballybofey without defeat.
Mayo’s next game after that is a huge Connacht showdown with Galway on May 13 and a loss there would leave them eight games from an All-ireland final.
O’mahony, who managed Mayo until James Horan took over for 2011, said: “It’s a lethal cocktail for Mayo really because there’s so much on the line, both days.
“Mayo need to win a Connacht Championship this year to go the shorter route.
“To a certain extent, that’s a must-win game and the stakes are pretty high going up to Donegal to stay in Division One as well.”
It’s all on the line for Donegal too as they need a win to stay up themselves. They’ll have key players like the Mchughs and Odhran Macniallais back after a bug, while Mayo are without their top talents.
Captain Cillian O’connor and former Footballer of the Year Lee Keegan are both injured, making a tough job even harder.
O’mahony said: “Galway have come up from Division Two and are in a Division One final now.
“They’ve shown that it’s not a total disaster if you do end up in Division Two. You can make real and genuine progress coming out of that division but it’s not what Mayo want. It would shake their confidence.”
Dublin and Galway are already through to the Division One final so the real intrigue is in the race for promotion.
Roscommon, Cavan and Tipperary are all still in with a shout and a Roscommon win over Cork at Dr Hyde Park would send them up.
It’s straight forward for Cavan too who will return to Division One if they beat Tipp at Kingspan Breffni.
At the other end, Meath need to beat Down to stay up.
If they lose to the Mourne men for the second year running they’ll be relegated to Division Three, alongside Louth.