Andy Moran concentrating on Mayo’s potential rather than Louth’s threat

Mayo manager Andy Moran. Pic: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Trying to predict the outcome of Saturday evening’s novel All-Ireland SFC semi-final between Mayo and Louth based on their past encounters is a futile exercise.

There is little or no football history between the two counties, with the obvious exception of the 1950 All-Ireland final when Mayo came out on the right side of a titanic battle at Croke Park in front of 76,174 spectators, the third highest crowd on record for a final at that time.

Their only other championship duel was three years ago when Mayo won a lacklustre round-robin group game in Castlebar.

So both camps will be looking elsewhere for motivation this week as they count down to the biggest game of their seasons, so far.

Andy Moran acknowledged as much when he was asked how the lack of any real or recent history between all involved might inform Mayo’s preparations for their first last-four fixture in five years.

“I think the journey we’re on, not to sound too passive about it, the rivalry is with ourselves,” mused the Mayo manager.

“I think these boys want to play for Mayo, they want to play for the jersey, and they want to really represent what's good about themselves and what's good about Mayo.

“I don't think it matters who the opponent is. It's the thrill they got representing Mayo against Meath, the thrill they got out of representing Mayo against Cork.

“I don't think they've felt that in a long time, and that's where we need to keep them.

“Whoever we’re playing, I think, at the end of the day, is irrelevant to us, to be honest.” 

Mayo’s upwardly mobile manager has made no secret of the fact that he wanted the team he took over last August to rebuild their connection with their supporters this season.

A connection that was strained and damaged in the wake of the 2021 All-Ireland Final defeat to Tyrone as a decade of ifs, buts and maybes on September Sundays finally took its toll.

Recently though it’s been obvious how many Mayo players have gone out of their way to acknowledge their supporters during games when emotions were running high, and afterwards when celebrating big wins against the likes of Meath and Cork.

“I was keen on it myself,” smiled Andy Moran. “And Boyler [Colm Boyle, now a team selector] was a fist-pumper, so I think that's probably just in us.

Andy Moran leads his Mayo charges. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne

“But I think the boys did really miss the connection with the crowd.

“I think 2021 was what 2021 was, and it's taken a long time to get people back in our corner. 

“And I don't think it's fully there yet.

“The boys know what they have a lot of work on to deal with the present right now, but into the future they have a lot of work on as well to keep that connection with the kids around the place.

“If you have the kids on board, and they see something to look up to, I think they'll bring their parents along with them.

“It's just about can they get to their full potential,” he added.

“What that potential is we don't know yet. I thought they could be a good Croke Park team, but I didn't know until that game against Cork was over. It's the same next Saturday.

“It's can you maximise what you're doing all the training for, and if you can do that, you've got a chance to win any game of football.

“So that's what we went after. I don't think the boys have done that absolutely to the best of their ability over the last three or four years. That’s what we chase them down with.” 

It’s 20 years since Andy Moran lined out in his first All-Ireland senior final as a young, fresh-faced impact substitute.

He went on to play in All-Ireland deciders in 2013, 2016 and 2017 so knows exactly what it will take if Mayo are to keep their recent run going.

But the 42-year-old from Ballaghaderreen struck a pragmatic tone when he was asked if he was confident about his team’s chances of reaching a fifth All-Ireland Final in 10 years.

“I've confidence in our players that they'll do what they say they're about to do,” replied the former Footballer of the Year.

“Confidence is just, how did the first five minutes go? How did the first 10 minutes go? 

“Where did the first breaking ball go? 

“Like, could Louth have really envisaged that a man would get sent off [against Monaghan] after six minutes?

“But do I have confidence that these boys will do what they say they’ll do? When we come up with a plan, will they go in and try to implement the plan? Absolutely.

“Do I think they're fantastic players? I do. I wouldn't be here if I didn't.

“But confidence about ‘finishing jobs’ and ‘semi-finals’, I don't kind really go into that.

“I'm confident that these fellas will execute what they say they'll execute and if they do that then they’ve a good chance of winning.”