THERE was a lot of uncertainty around the Mayo team after two defeats in the first two rounds of the National Football League but the team have certainly turned their fortunes around in recent weeks, and with one game left to play, they could well now end up in the final of the competition.
There are a whole host of permutations that could come into play next Sunday afternoon when the final four games in the division throw-in at 3.45pm.
Mayo will welcome Jim McGuinness’s Donegal team to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park with Mayo sitting one point behind them in the table. A victory would see Mayo leapfrog Donegal and push them on to nine points.
Galway and Dublin currently sit on top of the table both with 8 points, but both face tricky games in the final round against relegation-threatened opposition.
Kerry travel to Salthill needing a point to insure their Division One safety, while Dublin have to travel to Tyrone who themselves are seeking two points to also avoid relegation.
Permutations
The final game in the division sees already relegated Derry travel to Armagh, with the All-Ireland champions needing a win to stave off relegation, providing Dublin can take at least a point from their trip to Tyrone. So all the teams in the Division barring Derry still have some to play for as the competition enters round seven.
Mayo captain Stephen Coen was very happy with how his side played in Derry on Sunday.
“We knew it was going to be tough. We’re pleased to have put in a dogged performance and build momentum into next week. It was a ground-battle and a savage effort in the middle of the field. They have some savage players and if you give them space they’re going to hurt you. It’s going to be that way every day from now on for the rest of the year. It’s so important to produce a 70-minute performance, and we’re not there yet,” said Coen after the game.
So Mayo are likely to pick a strong side on Sunday and they should have it in their locker to finish the campaign on a very satisfactory nine points – and then wait and see how things pan out in the other three games.
As stated on these pages on numerous occasions, it does seem crazy fixture planning to see a league final being played in Croke Park just a week before a lot of teams are down to start their championship campaign.
While they won’t be underestimating the challenge Sligo will bring to MacHale Park on Sunday, April 6, Mayo will be hot favourites to win that game with Sligo only managing to win two of their games in Division 3 this season.
Donegal on the other hand will be facing off against a wounded Derry team and that game promises to really get the 2025 championship up and running.
Final pedigree
Mayo have been in three of the last six NFL finals, winning two in the process and capturing another national title is not to be sniffed.
And with players like Diarmuid O’Connor, Paddy Durcan and Tommy Conroy due to return from injury, perhaps another national final would be just the type of game to get Mayo properly tuned up for a tilt at the Connacht Championship.
Sunday’s four games in Division One all throw-in at the same time and there will certainly be many supporters following the games online to see how the various scenarios play out. The season is really heating up, and it’s great to see Mayo involved at the business end of it, rather than being embroiled in what many predicted would be a relegation battle this season.
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