Facing arch rivals will bring best out of Mayo, claims Moran

THEY may have almost exited the Connacht championship in dramatic circumstances in London last month but Andy Moran believes the best is about to come from Mayo.

The experienced vice-captain is in an ideal position to assess his team’s chances of knocking Galway out of the provincial race next Sunday in Castlebar; he hasn’t missed a national league or championship match since March, 2006.

Moran’s incredible run of appearances also includes last year’s embarrassing championship defeats to Sligo and Longford, but he believes Mayo will be a different proposition next weekend.

“For a start we’re playing a team that are at the same level as we are,” explained the 27-year-old.

“Last year when we played Longford they were a Division Four side, and Sligo had won Division Three but we were still expected to beat them.

“But when you’re playing Galway people know it’s a 50-50 game. Players know it’s a 50-50 game. From what I’ve seen over the years, it actually takes the pressure off you in a strange way.

“When you’re expected to win the pressure comes on, and you can’t switch it off in the middle of a game. I could see in training the guys know it’s a big game. Galway do too.”

The Ballaghaderreen forward is an extremely positive person by nature and makes no secret of his upbeat approach. He is adamant things have changed in the Mayo camp since they survived their rattle in Ruislip.

“There’s probably going to be a lot of sledging and mouthing from both sides on the field and it’s going to be an interesting battle,” he mused.

“To me we have very good players but we just haven’t produced it as a team yet. Are we in a good place? We will only know on Sunday, but training since the London game has really come on.

“The Dublin lads have come home, really lifted training and in my mind we’re moving in the right direction. We need to start proving it in big games, in big championship games.

“I’ve always said that if we get 15 guys on a field that will die, or actually kill, for each other, that will really work themselves into the ground for the team, Mayo are going places. Against London it wasn’t there. Against Cork [in the league] it was there. That’s the level we have to get to.

“But Cork in a league game in the middle of April is not when we want to be playing well. We want to get guys working hard for each other in a championship game in the middle of June.

“And then we’re going places.”

Moran has won three Connacht senior championship medals during his eight previous seasons with Mayo and would dearly love to add to that collection. But he knows a big performance against Galway will be required to set up a final date with the defending champions Roscommon.

“It’s 70 minutes that — I wouldn’t say is going to define our year — but it’s going to mould the year into something. If you go back door, you’re out two weeks later. If you win you’re in a Connacht final which is two very different scenarios.

“Do I believe Mayo are good enough to get to the latter stages of the championship? Of course I do. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. I still believe that.

“If we get the foundations right; the work-rate, the spirit, the pride in the jersey, we’ll be close to any team. The key is to get that every day we go on the pitch.

“At the moment our inconsistency is killing us.”