Keegan: I would hesitantly back Mayo by a point or two
June 22, 2023
Mayo's Aidan O'Shea celebrates winning a free against Galway ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Lee Keegan believes Kevin McStay’s Mayo side are good enough to end Galway’s All-Ireland SFC ambitions this Sunday in Salthill.
After both suffering surprise defeats last weekend, the two neighbouring counties are on a collision course in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final in three days’ time with their respective seasons on the line.
Writing for RTE Sport this week, five-time All-Star Keegan says while he isn’t “blissfully confident” of a Mayo win, he feels the group can get over the line in this weekend’s derby out west.
“From a Mayo perspective, I can't say I'm blissfully confident but I believe the group are good enough to win. One argument in Mayo's favour is how strongly they tend to show up when the lifelines and the safety nets are removed. We performed well in the two Covid championships, beating Galway two years running in those circumstances.
“Certainly, if (Sean) Kelly and (Damien) Comer are out, that swings the pendulum in Mayo's favour. Personally, I hope they're fit. I wouldn't like to win with caveats. Let both teams play their best XV and go toe-to-toe.
“I would hesitantly back Mayo by a point or two.
“Whether the unwelcome detour and the increasingly attritional nature of their run will damage their credibility as All-Ireland contenders, that's for the following week. It can't help, either way.”
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