If the form line continues down the path it’s currently on, then there is a high possibility that Sunday’s clash between Connacht rivals Roscommon and Mayo could be the first of a three-game saga played out over six weeks.
They are the top two teams in Division One, and with three games remaining, look like they could make up the league final pairing. If so, that encounter will take place one week before the counties are due to meet in the quarter final of the Connacht championship.
So, the question swirling around Davy Burke and Kevin McStay’s heads this week will be, do they really want to meet each other in a league final days before the first round of the championship?
For most teams, the answer would be a most definite no, but for Roscommon and Mayo, their line of thinking could be slightly different.
A chance to claim national silverware in Croke Park isn’t something to turn your nose up to. Roscommon have only won the Division One title once, back in 1979, so are they really in a position to turn down the chance to do it again?
Mayo will probably be the more cautious of the two teams having won the league as recently as 2019, but Kevin McStay’s men are the only unbeaten side in the top tier, so does he want to throw that momentum away?
Sunday’s clash will make for intriguing viewing for a number of reasons. Of course, there is the rivalry aspect that comes with provincial clashes. But there’s also the influence of McStay, a former manager of Roscommon.
During his time in charge of the Rossies, the Mayo legend led them to a Connacht title in 2017 but has since returned to his native county and has them in terrific form.
He’ll know the Roscommon players inside out, especially the likes of Enda Smith, the Murtagh’s Diarmuid and Ciaran, Brian Stack and Tadgh O’Rourke, some of his most trusted lieutenants during his three-year tenure.
But more than that, he’ll know where they can be hurt. Roscommon have been building beautifully under Davy Burke, but has their bubble burst now they’ve tasted defeat for the first time this season?
A rejuvenated Monaghan were too hot to handle in Clones last weekend and maybe, just maybe, Roscommon’s surprise element is gone. They were widely tipped for relegation before a ball was kicked remember, but made a wonderful start to the year.
We could see a clash of style as well. Mayo, outside of the opening round draw against Galway, haven’t hit below 0-17 in their most recent outings, slamming home six goals in their last two games. Roscommon on the other hand are conceding around 12 point a game.
Both have forward lines have been in sparkling form and if the hosts can keep the score down, and keep the goals out, then they are in with a serious chance of toppling their Connacht neighbours and climbing to the top of Division One.
But Mayo look like they’ve found their groove and McStay’s old-school mentality means they’ll want to win every game and they should have enough to nick this one.
