Mayo boss McStay: ‘There is a little bit we have to adjust to; we are not used to it’
Machale Kevin Challenge Cold: Crombie pic: (imnda) In Inpho/james Irish Association Mcstay Aid Motor Park Starting Manager Disease Neurone The Match The Hastings At During Mayo’s Of
All positive. It finished in a two-point victory for Monaghan in Castlebar, but both teams left content as they continue to get familiar with the new Gaelic football rules for 2025.
Mayo manager Kevin McStay sent out a side that included 17 players who did not play championship in 2024 for the challenge in aid of the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. His side drew level in the final quarter but then conceded a 50metre free for failing to hand the ball back to an opponent.
“I think I said the last time we spoke in general I am pro them,” he said post-match.
“I want to see what happens over a period of time, see what trends emerge. I think we are all getting used to them. There was no big deal. My concentration is more on my players and the team, having them ready for Dublin rather than the rules. The rules will look after themselves one way or another.
“There is a little bit we have to adjust too; we are not used to it. The instinct to hand the ball to an opponent after a foul is simply not there. We have to get used to all of those.”
Mayo dropped 10 shots short and finished with 43% conversion, but McStay was not overly surprised at the fact that there was no successful two-pointers in the contest.
“If someone gives you the statistics on the two-pointer, did I see it is .2 on average or something? It is kind of nothing. The big one will be the 12v11. That could be tweaked, it could be gone by the end of the league. Who knows?”
For Monaghan selector Andy Moran, this was a second time coming up against his native county. His Leitrim U20s beat Mayo in 2024. They face Cavan in the opening round of Division 2.
“A great runout,” said Moran.
“I think the key thing for Monaghan is there is no McKenna Cup. It is such a high-octane competition up the north. If you look at the first round of the national league last year, there was 18 points (scored). Monaghan beat Dublin, took maximum points. It shows how good preparation the McKenna Cup gets them. When you take that away you need games like this. Like the first 40 minutes, real strong appetite for boys to play football. Real competitive stuff.”
Rory Beggan showed brightly throughout and Moran was glad to see him back playing for the Farney after he choose to pursue his NFL dream in 2024.
“Rory is huge plus for Monaghan. He went chasing a dream last year, which no one begrudged him. Since I went to Monaghan, I have never heard a bad word about it, but you could see the knock-on effect on the team when he wasn’t there. To have him back, to have him play, that last play I was telling him to go back and protect the goal. He looked and said, ‘ah no, leave me here.’ He understands the game. He studies the game.” Moran is typically optimistic when it comes to coaching the new rules. In particular, the 3v3 structure brings huge opportunity.
“The difference… it is no one’s fault. Coaches the last three or four years, the way the game had gone, it was just the way the game had gone. Everyone attacked with 15 which meant you had 30 fellas, 28 outfield players behind the ball. Now it is a change. You can look up. You can see that out ball. Maybe we used to see it just in big games. Now you can work on first man moving, second man holding, whatever position you want to play them boys in, it is there for them.”