Mayo faith has Ryan O'Donogue 'putting life on hold and training seven days a week'

O'Donoghue believes Mayo can recover from their defeat to Roscommon and be competitive in the All-Ireland series. "If I didn't believe that, I'd be away sunning myself in Australia like everyone else," he said

Ryan O'Donoghue: “The new rules have been absolutely excellent. The solo-and-go for me has just completely reformed the game." Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Ryan O’Donoghue wouldn’t be making the sacrifices he’s making if he didn’t truly believe Mayo will go all the way.

Saying that two days after Roscommon sent them out of the Connacht Championship in Castlebar for the second time in four seasons requires a conviction, which the forward has in abundance.

In spite of the 10-point difference, the 25-year-old is adamant Mayo can recover in the All-Ireland series next month. The kick-out and conversion problems they had at the weekend can be easily fixed, he believes.

“Yeah, I do, and it's the reason I'm putting my life on hold and training seven days a week. If I didn't believe that, I'd be away sunning myself in Australia like everyone else.

“So, I do believe that, and I do believe that we're close, yet far away. We have to earn the right now to talk about going to the top table because we just haven't been there over the last couple of years, and that's the goal.

“But I think if we sort out our kick-outs and 50-50s is an attitude thing, and then our conversion rate, that's something every team is trying to succeed with.

“They are massive things, but something small can just tip the scale, and that's the challenge and the opportunity that we have over the next four weeks.” 

O’Donoghue insists it’s down to the squad to respond when they learn their potential first round opponents on Monday. 

“It's on us. Yeah, it's on us. And just got to bring back that underdog mentality now because we are underdogs. I have no reason to talk otherwise.” 

The last time Mayo lost to Roscommon in 2023, they responded with a win over Kerry in Killarney, the Kingdom’s first senior championship defeat there in 28 years.

The enhanced qualifier system where teams have two guaranteed games, one less than the previous format is to O’Donoghue’s liking. “I think I prefer it this way rather than the groups. I thought the groups maybe some of the games didn't matter that much.” 

O’Donoghue hopes his fellow attackers Kobe McDonald and Darragh Beirne can bring some much-needed cheer to the county in Wednesday evening’s Connacht U20 final against Roscommon.

Ryan O’Donoghue was speaking at the launch of SuperValu’s sponsorship of the All-Ireland senior football championship where they also revealed their “Real Nourishment” campaign to improve nutrition confidence. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

He has been impressed by both, especially McDonald who he says “was the one taking the game to Roscommon in that second half” on Sunday.

“He can do anything like and he's so mature, you would not think he's 18 years of age and even that score he got the second-half for a dummy solo twice and then blasted over the bar, outside the boot from the 21. He’s brilliant.” 

Hailing from Belmullet, O’Donoghue knows all about wind and appreciates how like on Sunday it impacts games even more under the new rules.

“I think it's just like when you have the wind, you've just got to use it. I would have always been a man to go against the breeze in the first half, but that seems to have flipped now. Most teams are going with the wind when they win the toss and try and get a lead and then being able to get your 11 (players) up in the second half and calm it down. Then the other team have to come out and attack from there.” 

He has been part of and on the receiving ends of wind-assisted power plays because of the longer kick-out and two-point rules, and wholeheartedly supports them.

“I think if you're able to kick a two-pointer from play and from a free, people know that you're not allowed to foul them outside the two-pointer area. What it's brought to the game, no game is over now. No lead is safe, especially then if there's wind to play into it.

“Before the new rules came in, there wasn't that much highlights. Whereas now, every game there's a slow-mo video person there, and it's a goal or it's a diving block or something, and that's what the crowd want, that's what the people watching the TV want to see, and the more of that, the better.” 

O’Donoghue shudders thinking back to what playing elite football used to be before last season. "I remember we played Louth in MacHale Park in 2023, and we probably should have been beaten that day, and that was not enjoyable to play. The full-back line was marked, there was three or four inside of us, no-one outside the 45, and then it was turnover, up the pitch, and to be honest with you, it wasn't enjoyable.

“The new rules have been absolutely excellent. The solo-and-go for me has just completely reformed the game. Then you add in the two-pointers to that, and it's like you're letting the footballers play football. Whereas before that, you didn't necessarily like anyone. It was just a runner and a hand-pass.”