Cork are half-way through their campaign to equal Mayo’s
seventy-year-old record of six National Football League titles in a row. If
yesterday’s third title in three years is anything to go by, they will do it.
It matters little to the victors of course, but yesterday’s
game made for poor spectacle. It quickly became apparent that familiarity has
bred contempt between Cork and Mayo and a lot of nasty, mean-spirited fouls
littered play. Referee Maurice Deegan had a chance to cut it out when the
centre-backs, Cork’s Graham Canty and Mayo’s Dónal Vaughan, treated themselves
to a punch-up early in the second half. Sending both men off, for striking or
attempting to strike, is the response demanded by the rules, and would have
served as a warning against further bad behaviour. Not even a card.
Ger Loughnane, one of the greatest Gaels, used to tell his
players that they couldn’t rely on the referee for protection. They had to
protect themselves. This is a lesson better learned by Cork than by Mayo. James
Horan’s Mayo is showing an admirable bit of snarl in games, but when Cork upped
the physical ante Mayo had no answer and were well beaten, really, in the end.
And by what was clearly the better side. Joe Brolly and Pat
Spillane believe that Cork won because they had the better forwards, and
certainly the Cork forwards did better than Mayo, racking up some very tasty
scores. Fintan Goold had a much better day against Mayo than he did during the
All-Ireland quarter-final, and Daniel Goulding’s final point was a treat to
see.
However, An Spailpín would contend that the soul of the
current Cork team is in their half-back line of Noel O’Leary, Graham Canty
(formerly John Miskella) and Paudie Kissane. They give Cork a presence and a
personality. To beat Cork, you must conquer that line. You must endure more
than they endure and inflict more than they inflict.
Mayo were able to do it in the summer, but not yesterday in
Croke Park. Cork didn’t see Mayo coming last summer, and they were riven by
injury. None of those factors applied yesterday.
A school of thought holds that, because yesterday was for a “national
title” and the quarter-final was for nothing, Cork have avenged that summer
defeat with interest. Probably not, is An Spailpín’s view but that’s up to the
Corkonians themselves to decide and more power to them.
From a Mayo point of view, it’s disappointing to lose
another final in Croke Park. Of course it is. But it’s been a great League
campaign, not least as the team looked like being on their way to Division II
around Easter. But even in the ahses of ultimate defeat. there’s much to be
happy with about the campaign.
The defense is settled and solid. The Mayo half-back line
doesn’t match Cork’s for presence, but it’s by golly getting there. The
first-choice defence is now nailed down.
Aidan O’Shea will anchor the Mayo midfield for the next ten years, but who to pair him with this summer remains a vexed question. Barry Moran has never quite captured his club form, and the returned Pat Harte is looking more and more like a contender.
Up front, the half-backs pick themselves at this stage, but
the inside line remains a trickier matter. Mayo haven’t had a nailed-on
full-forward since John Casey – Alan Freeman looked to the manner born for two
years, but his star seems on the descent now, which is a pity.
Freeman was unlucky last year because, while Andy Moran
could play at 11 or 14, Freeman didn’t swap in and out as easily. Cillian
O’Connor will start for Mayo in every game, but wearing what shirt is the
question. Plenty of food for thought for James Horan and the faithful until
Mayo face either London or Leitrim in eight weeks’ time.
