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Mayo mangar Kevin McStay. Laszlo Geczo/INPHO

Kevin McStay: 'Once or twice we might have forced that two-pointer'

Mayo manager reflects on defeat to Dublin as new rules take hold.

MAYO FOOTBALL BOSS Kevin McStay didnโ€™t think the new rules had a major bearing on last nightโ€™s league opener against Dublin, but focused on certain aspects afterwards.

While Derry manager Paddy Tally maintained โ€œthe 12th man is killing the game,โ€ McStay hailed his goalkeeper Colm Reape, who scored a point from play and was key in the build-up to Mayoโ€™s goal in their 1-17 to 1-15 defeat at Croke Park.

McStay bemoaned his sideโ€™s โ€œvery poor opening quarterโ€ and lack of consistency throughout the game, but overall, reflected positively.

He accepted the Green and Red may have forced two-pointed efforts at times, but was keen to stress this was not a specific target from management. Fergal Boland scored the only double of the game, as Mayo dropped countless shots short throughout.

โ€œWeโ€™ll have to have a look at where those shots came from,โ€ said McStay.

โ€œIโ€™d say once or twice we might have forced that two-pointer, as in we brought the ball out ourselves, certainly near the end when we were trying to get the draw, that was the obvious one.

โ€œBut we got the ball generally into the hands of good shooters. It just didnโ€™t happen for us tonight. But the two-pointers, itโ€™s not simple.โ€

Mayoโ€™s attack completion was โ€œthe worst weโ€™ve had it for yonks,โ€ McStay continued.

โ€œYouโ€™re essentially giving a turnover if you put it into the โ€˜keeperโ€™s hands and we did a lot of that, so thatโ€™s a major thing for us.

โ€œI just didnโ€™t think the rules had a big deal with it. I thought it was a decent game of football, a reasonably open game of football, good parts and bad parts.โ€

The solo-and-go and three v three structures were the main takeaways for McStay, as he embarks on his third season at the Mayo helm.

As well as saluting debutants Davitt Neary, Sean Morahan and Cian McHale โ€” Cillian Oโ€™Connor and Padraig Oโ€™Hora are among those to have opted out for 2025 โ€” he reserved special praise for goalkeeper Reape.

โ€œOnce weโ€™ve three back, weโ€™re happy enough. Obviously every team will want a bit of coverage. The guy that you can commit most generously and one that wonโ€™t frighten the life out of you is your โ€˜keeper.

โ€œI thought his overload was very, very good tonight, really good. He scored one, and his interventions were very good in terms of coming into the line. Look, weโ€™re trying to develop every aspect of (the new rules). Itโ€™s not just any single thing.โ€

colm-reape Mayo goalkeeper Colm Reape. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Meanwhile, McStay says he is confident Connacht GAAโ€™s Air Dome will be rebuilt after the โ‚ฌ3.1 million structure was destroyed by Storm ร‰owyn.

The Mayo boss lamented โ€œa terrible loss for Connacht GAAโ€ but confirmed preparations for last nightโ€™s game were unaffected by the situation.

โ€œWe were the last men out of the Dome nearly on Thursday night. Itโ€™s a terrible loss for Connacht GAA, it really is, and Iโ€™ve spoken to [Connacht GAA Secretary] John Prenty about it. Itโ€™s something we were incredibly proud of.

โ€œIโ€™m talking in the past tense, but I know the people that got that built will be the same people that will rebuild it because theyโ€™re doers and people that get on with the job.โ€

McStay was also keen to wish Mayo champions Crossmolina Deel Rovers well in todayโ€™s All-Ireland intermediate club final. The decider against Ballinderry was postponed two weeks ago following the tragic death of Rรณisรญn Cryan, the fianรฉee of Mayo and Crossmolina star Conor Loftus.

โ€œItโ€™s been obviously a very difficult time,โ€ said McStay. โ€œWeโ€™ve a couple of great lads in our squad representing Crossmolina tomorrow so weโ€™re wishing them the very best.

โ€œWeโ€™re wishing Conor, in particular, the very best.โ€

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    Mute Paul Linehan
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    Jan 26th 2025, 12:13 PM

    The game of GAA football is doomed with too much hand passing and not enough emphasis on proper football. The wing back type goalkeeper nonsense is beyond ridiculous. The mark BS and more attacking play is required. No back passing to the goalkeeper would be a bonus too in my opinion.

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    Mute robert kelly
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    Jan 26th 2025, 12:27 PM

    @Paul Linehan: unfortunately like football/soccer and f1 and others, modern gaa is dead the last 15 years or so. Its sad to see once great sports slowly disintegrate and diminish

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