Mayo forward Ryan O’Donoghue denied suggestions that Mayo supporters have not got behind the team after a low attendance in their defeat to Roscommon.
Just over 15,000 attended the Connacht semi-final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, with the rise in ticket prices to €35 in the stand a talking point in the lead-up to the game.
Mayo fans voiced their concerns with their defeat, as empty seats were clear to see in the 2-25 to 1-18 defeat to their rivals, as their search for a first Connacht title since 2021 goes on.
In a setback for Andy Moran’s side, Belmullet man O’Donoghue denied suggestions there is a disconnect between the team and fans.
“No, I don’t think so, I think Andy has done great things since he’s come in and all that stuff with the tickets this week, I don’t know if that’s the reason why there’s only 15,000 there.
“The Mayo supporters have travelled the length and breadth of the country over the last decade. I was a part of it myself from 2012 onwards, so we appreciate all the support and the hard work of the fans travelling the length and breadth of the country to follow us.”
After an encouraging start, Roscommon’s accuracy and determination at the kick-out became crucial as they took control of the game.
The end of the first half and beginning of the second saw Roscommon claw back and take the lead, which Mayo could not recover from.
Moran said after the game, Roscommon wanted it more, as O’Donoghue admitted Mayo need to look at their tactical and mental approach to the game.
“I think we were good in the first half and then just the third quarter after half-time just never seemed to get to the pitch of the game in the second half, just lost the kick-out battle, lost the ground battle, and we just weren’t able to claw it back.
“To be fair to Roscommon, they’re a good side, great league and some great forwards and just never got to the pitch in the second half, which is the most disappointing thing.
“We just never got to the pitch of it and 50-50 battle, that’s the nuts and bolts of the game now, and the kick-out battle and we lost that, and it’s not luck that you keep losing that and we got destroyed on it on Sunday, which is very disappointing.
“We should have been further up, I don’t think we touched the ball after the 31st minute to half-time, and I think they got three or four scores before half-time, which was disappointing because I did think we dominated large portions of that first half.”
Mayo will now have a few weeks until the All-Ireland series, as they will face a provincial finalist in the first round.
If they are to be a serious contender this season, issues at the kick-out will have to be addressed.
Under the new rules, winning the kick-out can quickly lead to a scoring chance,
“We have a lot of things to work on. We were way too open when we lost a kick-out. Kick-outs didn’t go to plan on the day. Roscommon put on a good press, and they figured out what we were doing, so yeah, we have a lot to work on over the next four weeks.
“For me, the new game is kick-outs and conversion rate, that’s what I think it’s broken down to. A lot of the momentum now is on kick-outs, and we lost that battle on Sunday, and we didn’t change it quickly enough, and we got punished, but, yeah, kick-outs now are a massive part of it.”
A major threat on the pitch for Mayo every time he plays, the new rules have created more opportunities for players like O’Donoghue, who has played in a deeper role so far this season.
Quicker play to open up defences, and the introduction of the two-pointer has been game changer, as he hasmitted how he wasn’t enjoying the sport prior to the changes.
“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 were 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.”
