The importance of defeating Cork on Sunday in round 3 of the All-Ireland group stages cannot be over-emphasised. If Mayo win, they top the group and go straight through to the All-Ireland quarter finals, ensuring they will avoid an extra game and a quarter final clash against another group winner, which will most likely be Dublin, Derry and Galway. Right now, that's the way it looks anyway.
If Mayo happen to lose to Cork, It will leave Mayo, Cork and Kerry (providing they beat Louth which they will ) all on four points, meaning the placings will come down to scoring difference.
Mayo are in a healthy enough position in that regard on +6 while Kerry are on -3 and Cork are on scratch. So to throw a little spanner in the works, if Cork were to beat Mayo by, let's say, four points, and Kerry went to town on Louth and won by eight or more, Mayo would all of a sudden find themselves in third position in group one. A scoring sequence like that would mean both Cork and Kerry would surpass Mayo on scoring difference. Hence the reason both games from all the different groups have to throw in at the same time.
Things could get complicated and nervy if such a scenario presented itself in the closing stages of Sunday's games but I think the easiest way to get your head around all the different permutations, is to simply know that if Mayo draw with or defeat Cork, then they are through as group winners.
Let me assure you, beating Cork will not be simple. Cork are somewhat of a sleeping giant, capable of going toe-to-toe with the best but at the same time, choking and playing dreadful on occasion, as the first round loss to Clare in the Munster championship proved. It was the Rebels' first time losing to Clare in 26 years.
Two weeks ago they took on Kerry in Pairc Ui Chaoimh and truth be told, could have and should have beaten them. Despite Brian Hurley scoring 0-6 for Cork, some of his decision-making at crucial stages left a lot to be desired. He took on some low percentage chances and missed and was off target for others he would normally convert. That's not going to say he will miss them on Sunday however.
Cork conceded 1-08 of Kerry’s 1-14 total from turnovers. The most critical of all those was when the ever-reliable Sean Powter lost possession in midfield. In trying to redeem himself, he rashly brought down Paul Geaney for a penalty that was scored and Powter ended up with a black card for his troubles.
Their manager John Cleary risks the temptation of starting his strongest 15 and clearly leaves a bit of fire power in reserves. Steven Sherlock and Eoghan McSweeney came on in the second half against Kerry and scored four points from play between them, which was a very healthy contribution. Let's see if that will be the case for Sunday.
Cork are big, physical and mobile around the middle. Both midfielders Colm o Callaghan and Ian McGuire like to get forward and score. Sean Powter drops deep to make a nuisance of himself when out of possession but carries the ball forward very effectively when Cork counter-attack. He will need close monitoring. Mayo will have to show on Sunday they are capable of winning games they should. It's getting to that time of year when losing is not really an option.
It looks like scoring difference will most definitely play a part in groups 3 and 4. Dublin and Roscommon are vying for top spot in group 3 having drawn their Croke Park encounter, so basically Dublin have to beat Sligo by more than Roscommon beat Kildare, as both are currently on similar scoring averages. For that reason you would have to fancy the Dubs to finish in top spot.
The same scenario presents itself in group 4 for Derry and Monaghan who are both on exactly the same points and on +5 in scoring difference after their first round draw in Celtic Park. You would expect Derry to go to town on Clare, while Monaghan should have a tougher encounter against Donegal.
Padraic Joyce finds himself in the same situation as Kevin McStay, knowing anything other than a draw or a win is needed to guarantee top place in group 2, although they have a much healthier scoring difference than Mayo. They have a +11 going into their clash with Armagh, so you feel the tribesmen will join Dublin, Derry and hopefully Mayo as group winners. Theses round robin group games haven't been the easiest to predict, but with teams now knowing what’s required, I don't expect too many, if any, shock results.
Massive congrats to the Mayo LGFA u14 girls
Massive congrats to the Mayo LGFA u14 girls who were triumphant in the All-Ireland final last weekend against Cork, winning the final by 2-09 to 0-7 in what was a superb performance. There was slight confusion about the grade of this game as it was advertised as the “Platinum Final” - which did confuse many - but let me assure you that this was the “A” final and our county now boasts the best u14 girls team in the country. Congrats to all the management and players especially our four representatives from Charlestown LGFA, Captain, Siofra McGuinness; Sophie Tiernan, Mikayla McLoughlin and Emily Higgins. Well done girls.
