Mayo show licence to thrill in James Bond-like display

Stephen Rochford and his team got everything right yesterday. It was my first time witnessing Mayo get all their tactics and tactical battles correct, writes John Divilly.

Their match-ups were spot on and they reinforced that and, while they didn’t win the Connacht championship last month, they are still unquestionably the best football team west of the Shannon, for another year at least.

Mayo came with a simple plan. Stop Roscommon at source and nullify their talisman, Enda Smith. They executed their plan like James Bond, coolly and stylishly, and ordered their martini after 15 minutes. The Roscommon players and management were well shaken and the Roscommon supporters were stirring nervously in their seats.