Kevin McStay on New York: The prep, the almighty scare and the travel plan

Kevin McStay will be trying to avoid a scare like he had as Roscommon manager in 2016 when he travels stateside with Mayo this weekend. 

ALL ABOARD: Mayo manager Kevin McStay and his Mayo side are ready for their trip to New York for their championship clash this weekend. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Mayo are in a good place. From the moment he remerged for his second season at the helm, Kevin McStay has vehemently pushed this simple truth: “We’re still in the mix.” In Connacht’s Centre of Excellence, the Mayo boss cuts a calm figure. His side got what they wanted out of the league. He stresses they did not set out to avoid a spot in the final, but they did have ‘different objectives’ as well. 

Questions about injuries are batted aside: “I seem to be talking about injuries an awful lot and we’re one of the teams that don’t have injuries!” Ryan O’Donoghue and Sam Callinan were withdrawn in the final round against Monaghan as a precaution. Paddy Durcan, James Carr and David McBrien are all back. Diarmuid O’Connor is on the comeback trail although the New York fixture might come too soon. Everyone is on grass training. There isn’t a single long-term injury.