Well, we’re told they’re not playing so well anyway.
Mayo’s form, Mayo’s consistency, it’s all we’re hearing about. We heard it against Fermanagh, against Kildare and we’ve been hearing it throughout the whole summer, even after they’ve won a fifth game on the trot.
How much more consistent can you get?
Okay, barring Tyrone, they haven’t maybe been facing off with any genuine championship contenders but they’ve been beating what’s in front of them – just not convincingly enough for some people.
Jesus, lads, Mayo are in the All-Ireland final again – show them some respect https://t.co/zMpr5QQ03V #GAA
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 21, 2016
But Andy Moran spoke openly and honestly on The GAA Hour football podcast about Mayo’s season to date and he admitted that they’re not firing on all cylinders.
“The pressure, honestly, since we got beat by Galway has just been huge,” he told SportsJOE’s GAA Hour.
“We played Fermanagh, Kildare, Westmeath and, like, we were expected to beat all these teams. If you beat them by 10 points or you beat them by one point, you’re not going to get any credit either way.
“Our job was to do our best, stick in the championship, get to an All-Ireland final and that’s where we’re at and we’re happy.
“I think the problem, if I’m honest, is you’re so used to playing the Dublins, the Kerrys, the Tyrones and there’s always a pattern to the game – it’s a different style of game. Then when you play the likes of Tipperary, who just have young fellas who are just running ya, the word you used was pattern but there’s not really a pattern to these games.
“These teams just throw caution to the wind. They literally just throw caution to the wind.”
Listen to his full interview (from 12:16) below.
It’s not something Moran isn’t used to hearing, that Mayo aren’t the finished product because they’re not blowing this team or that team away. But it’s not something he particularly agrees with. Or cares about.
“You play Tipperary on Sunday: Tipperary, to me, have unbelievable footballers. Quinlivan, Sweeney, Austin in the full forward line – we showed them a huge amount of respect, we put someone in there in front of them,” the county’s most-capped player said. “Then they have their half backs, they’re really good players and all these teams are getting good managers in now.
“How’s our form? To be honest, our form was good last year when we drew with Dublin, then we were put out in the replay. I don’t really care what our form is like.”
The latest GAA Hour football podcast features Colm Parkinson, Senan Connell and Paul Galvin. Subscribe here on iTunes.
