Mayo's league final date change request falls on deaf ears

Mayo’s proposal to gain an extra day’s rest before facing Roscommon in a Connacht SFC quarter-final on April 9 is the second time this year that Croke Park have knocked them back

SUNDAY DATE: Mayo manager Kevin McStay. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Just as it was clear on Sunday that Pádraic Joyce wasn’t interested in Mayo’s request to make the counties’ Division 1 final a Saturday game – “I’ll be in Croke Park 4pm Sunday so...” – it was evident his opposite number Kevin McStay wasn’t going to make a red line issue. “My understanding is it’s 4 o’clock Sunday so that’s where it’s at,” said the Mayo manager.

McStay knows when to pick and choose his battles. As Roscommon boss five years ago, he insisted the county were due home advantage in a Connacht final against Galway despite the provincial council indicating that it was not fit for purpose. "Whether that's a difficult position for the Connacht Council or the GAA at a national level, that doesn't bother me," he declared.