Connacht SFC preview: Six-in-a-row beckons for Mayo
May 19, 2016
At the 2016 Connacht Senior Football Championship launch in Claremorris were, l/r: Dave McGreevy (London), Gary O'Donnell (Galway), Tom Parsons (Mayo), Mark Brehony (Sligo), Cathal Cregg (Roscommon) and Gary Reynolds (Leitrim) ©INPHO/James Crombie
While winning the All-Ireland remains an obsession for Mayo, they have the chance to make history in their own province this summer. Having completed a record-equalling five-in-a-row last year, Mayo can become the first team to achieve the six-in-a-row. And if Roscommon's performance against New York is anything to go by, Galway would appear to be their only threat.
After the fallout from the players' heave against joint-managers Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly last autumn and a poor start to the Allianz League, Mayo finished the campaign strongly to retain their Division 1 status. Since then, the U21s have tasted All-Ireland glory and the feel-good factor has returned just in time for another assault on the Sam Maguire.
Stephen Rochford's men should have no problem accounting for London in the quarter-final to set up a last four date with Galway. The Tribesmen have improved under Kevin Walsh and narrowly missed out on promotion to Division 1 of the Allianz League a few weeks ago. But it's unlikely that they've improved enough to take Mayo's scalp.
Having lit up the Allianz League with a series of brilliant displays, Roscommon were poor against rank outsiders New York and are lucky to be still in the championship. Fortunately for them, they have time to rectify things as well as a favourable route to the Connacht final. Leitrim won't fear them in the quarter-final, while Sligo - who had a decent league campaign - would relish the opportunity to repeat last year's semi-final victory.
But you would still have to fancy the Rossies to make the final against a Cillian O'Connor-captained Mayo team who should have too much guile and class for them.
Predictions:
Champions: Mayo; Runners-up: Roscommon.
Odds (supplied by Paddy Power)
Mayo 1/2; Roscommon 3/1; Galway 5/1; Sligo 25/1; Leitrim 200/1.
Fixtures
May 1: Preliminary Round: Roscommon 1-15 New York 0-17, Gaelic Park.
May 22: Quarter-final: Leitrim v Roscommon, Carrick-on-Shannon.
May 29: Quarter-final: London v Mayo, Ruislip
June 12: Semi-final: Roscommon/Leitrim v Sligo, Dr.Hyde Park or Carrick-on-Shannon.
June 18: Semi-final: Mayo/London v Galway, Elverys MacHale Park.
July 10: Final
