How Mayo lost good guy image

Let’s be honest, before James Horan took charge Mayo weren’t the most daring of counties.

It’s not that they would be classified as conservative. Nice is often seen as a poor adjective but it’s a precise one to describe what Mayo had been.

Controversy wasn’t something they skirted unless you count their decision in 2006 to warm up in front of Hill 16 prior to the All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin. Horan hasn’t been afraid to upset a few people or dabble a little in the black arts. Such is the only way to get ahead in Gaelic football nowadays.