Oisín McConville: Mayo have gone about their evolution quietly, almost under the radar

The Connacht final was like watching football from a different era. It was a strange feeling and not that enjoyable

Mayo's Michael Plunkett and Ryan O'Donoghue celebrate after the game. Picture: INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan

Maybe I’ve been watching too much Ulster football of late but sitting in Croke Park yesterday for the Connacht final, where you might go 15 minutes without seeing so much of a tackle, is like watching football from a different era. It was a strange feeling and not that enjoyable. There’s such a difference, whether it be in tackling, intensity, the will to win.

It wasn’t a good watch for Mayo in that first half, where they didn’t bring anything to the table and fell well behind Galway. There was no co-ordination in their attacks and they played like a team of individuals. Galway had the chance to put them to bed, but even at the break, with a 2-5 to 0-6 lead, you weren’t entirely convinced they’d get over the line.