Just as one defeat does not doom a year, one decent victory does not mean Mayo are locked and loaded for 2017.
Stephen Rochford’s men bounced back from their opening day Allianz Leagues loss to see off a willing Kerry side in Tralee on Saturday night.
The westerners are getting back to full strength after easing into the competitive season and expect the likes of Aidan and Seamus O’Shea back in the near future.
Music to Mayo earshttps://t.co/NOPTXFAk82
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) February 14, 2017
Rochford had no hesitation in rejigging his team after their opening day loss. In doing so, he may have struck upon a winning formula for 2017. On The GAA Hour Football Show, Colm Parkinson observed:
“They put Cillian O’Connor in the half forward line – somewhere I would love to have a look at him. He was alright.
“Kevin McLoughlin was good as a link man for the forward line. A brilliant option for an out ball, breaking left and right, and his distribution was good with the diagonal balls. He has to move to the half forward line; end of story; centre half forward.
“Andy Moran in with Aidan O’Shea and maybe Cillian O’Connor also in the half forward line and distributing in. Mayo have such a good first 15 that maybe just a re-jig – and they have Stephen Cohen that can be that big 6 – they might not need the sweeper any more.”
As Conan Doherty pointed out, though, Andy Moran may be another half forward option.
In agreeing that the 33-year-old forward had a fine outing in Tralee [0-3], Parkinson noted how Jonny Cooper had negated his threat in the All-Ireland final and final replay by marking him five yards in front.
Just when you think you have all the answers…
