Kevin McStay: Mayo hugely competitive but we’re not at the top, top level yet

The Connacht side lost out in a shootout to Derry on Saturday night. 

RESPECT: Derry manager Mickey Harte and Mayo manager Kevin McStay in conversation before the penalty shootout. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

The Connacht final against Galway. The Round 3 Sam Maguire series tie against Dublin. The preliminary quarter-final against Derry. Three times Mayo were a point up in injury time. Three times they let it slip.

For Kevin McStay, this was the toughest to take. They bowed out of the 2024 SFC after losing on penalties in front of a 13,955 crowd in Castlebar.

“We lose the Connacht final with the last kick of the game,” said McStay post-match. “We draw with Dublin with the last kick of the game and we lost today with the last penalty of the game. That is tough. That are the margins that are involved.

“We are getting the wrong side of those margins too often and you know until we are a little bit more ruthless and clinical and stretch out our leads when we should stretch them out our lead. And we should stretch them out and not give everybody a chance to catch up with us. So maybe there is the work on.” 

Mayo had chances to see it out in normal time, especially when Sam Callinan broke in on goal with his side one point ahead. A fisted effort flashed the wrong side of the post. Chrissy McKaigue popped over at the other end to level it.

“My own sense of it is that it takes skill to do it. The best teams, the best players kick those points in those moment. Maybe we are not quite there yet. Maybe we don’t have that level, we believe we have the potential to get there. They are hugely committed to playing for Mayo. I know practice that skill to get better – that won’t be the issue. Can we push it on will be the big question.” 

After a superb showing, Aidan O’Shea was taken off in injury time and did not return to the field. Was that call because they felt he was spent?

“We felt that. I think again tonight he was immense.” 

For the first time since 2018, Mayo have not made it to the quarter-final stage. Their manager knows where they are and where they want to be.

“I’m awful proud of them. I think every match we played; we were hugely competitive. We gave it our best shot. They don’t know any other way but the effort they put in trying to win these matches.

“I’m going to reflect and say we’re hugely competitive but we’re not at the top, top level yet. That is where we want to get to and until we do, that is where we’re at.”