Mayo will win or lose on own terms

IN the aftermath of the 2006 All-Ireland, Jack O’Connor presented himself in the Mayo dressing room and told of how the year of soul-searching and hurt endured by Kerry since the previous September’s defeat to Tyrone had been a greater motivation than the heart-ache of Mayo’s 55-year quest for Sam Maguire.

In choosing to depart from the customary plámás of the victorious manager, O’Connor ran the risk of appearing to belittle the protracted suffering of a proud footballing county.

He had the advantage of having truth on his side, however, and based on the evidence of what he had just experienced on the field of play, David Brady for one, found himself concurring with the Kerry manager.