The league is not the benchmark that Mayo judge themselves on, but this being their first public outing since last December and not long until championship comes around - there is not much time for them to find their feet for the season ahead.
One man who hit the ground running in style last weekend was Tommy Conroy - last Saturday was only the The Neale man's ninth start for the county, and 13th appearance overall having made his debut last year.
Looking back on a game that Mayo managed to score 2-21, Conroy had a major impact on that total, not just the 1-3 from play he bagged for himself over the 70 minutes.
Eleven big plays Conroy had a hand in
We looked back at the game and picked out ten big plays that he was directly involved in that led to scores or very good scoring chances for Mayo.
(1 ) 4th minute - He collected a ball in from Ryan O'Donoghue, having to fight to keep it in play before creating space to shoot over a point.
(2 ) 8th minute- Won the ball near the end line that could have ran out of play and set up a move that finished with Ryan O'Donoghue being fouled for a free that was converted by Cillian O'Connor.
(3 ) 12th minute - Was picked out by a Fionn McDonagh pass down the right flank, but he still had plenty to do as he held off his marker physically, before creating space and driving the ball low past the Down keeper on his near post to score Mayo's first goal.
(4 ) 14th minute - Chased a punted ball in from O'Donoghue which didn't look to be much danger to the Down defence, but got an arm to it, forcing the Down goalkeeper to save the ball and put it out for a 45.
(5 ) 37th minute (1st half ) - Kicked his second point of the day with a good shot after creating space with a little step to get away from his man.
(6 ) 37th minute (2nd half ) - Won the ball to knock it into the path of Cillian O'Connor, who was fouled, and then kicked a point from the resulting free.
(7 ) 40th minute - Got in on goal from the right hand side, had the chance to take it himself but spotted O'Donoghue in a better position and picked him out with a pass, before O'Donoghue put the ball in the back of the net.
(8 ) 44th minute - Got in behind the Down cover again and went to fist a point, the ball bounced back off the crossbar and was put out for a 45 that Cillian O'Connor put over the bar.
(9 ) 58th minute - Got his third point of the day after he was found close in on goal by Diarmuid O'Connor.
(10 ) 67th minute - Chased the ball down the right side and stripped the possession off the Down defender, before breaking for goal and was fouled - it could have been a penalty under the new rules, but just the free was given and Cillian O'Connor kicked it over the bar.
(11 ) 69th minute - Was fouled again by Down in shooting range and O'Connor tapped over another pointed free for Mayo.
There are going to be plenty more bigger challenges ahead for The Neale man, but if he can keep up the kind of development he has shown over the past year - Mayo fans will be chomping at the bit to see him in action in the flesh once restrictions allow.
