Another View The Blog

June 26, 2010.  A little after 9 pm on a bright Saturday evening and the dust is swirling over another setback for Mayo football. The team is out the back door, out of the race for Sam. Dumped out by one of the minnows of the game.

 After defeat at the hands of Sligo in the Connacht championship a few short weeks ago, this time the unlikely assassins are Longford. The scene of the murder: Pearse Park, Longford. The scoreboard reads: Longford 1-12, Mayo, 0-14.

 Many are shocked, for Longford had thus far this year beaten only two teams in League and championship, lowly Kilkenny and London.

 Mike Finnerty and Billy Fitzpatrick have brought the game into Mayo households through Mid West Radio. ‘What’s the feeling? Embarrassment? Anger?’ Mike asks Billy in the post mortem; Billy has seen some really dark days in Mayo football, but probably nothing to equal this.

 Analyst Billy, whose passion for the Green and the Red knows few equals, is diplomatic in a trying moment. ‘Respect,’ he replied. ‘Where once we (Mayo) might have laughed at some teams that situation no longer applies. Now we must respect every team, they have all advanced.’

 Finnerty probed further: ‘Would team manager John O’Mahony be examining his position after four years in the role?’ he queried.

 Fitzpatrick, who played in Croke Park for Mayo at 42 years of age, was again the essence of diplomacy. ‘That’s a matter for John,’ he ventured.

 By the time the radio team handed back to Angela Nugent in the Ballyhaunis studio John O’Mahony was announcing to his players and the county board that he was stepping down forthwith. He had done all he could have done with Mayo over the past four years of his second coming.  Taking Leitrim to a Connaught title, and winning two All-Ireland senior crowns with Galway had proved easy compared to turning the Mayo ship around.

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Another View -  Western People

Wednesday, December 10, 2003

How about a few possibility thinkers?

THANKS to all of you from all around the world who have been sharing with me through the internet their thoughts and ideas on Gaelic football in general and on Mayo football in particular.
People living away from home have a deep and abiding interest in their county team, and I have always been struck by the passion Mayo ‘exiles’ have for the Green and Red, so I wasn’t surprised by the readyand engaging response.
Debate, as we know, is healthy as long as it is constructive and not personal. Largely speaking, people do their best, be they players, managers, coaches, county board members, club members. They work often in very difficult circumstances, and there is an understandable tendency to be defensive or be ultra conservative, or reply in a manner what does not help further the debate, and therefore the possibility of solution. The messenger often gets shot down and I can understand that too. And after yonks in the messenger business I can handle the pretty predictable reaction without getting excited.
Any debate about Mayo football should have nothing got to do with personalities. The issues are where the focus lies, and if the issues are addressed then other things also get sorted.

Walk down a country lane

 Mayo heroine’s inspirational work in Haiti

By Terry Reilly

 We had the great pleasure last week of attending a very pleasant and fulfilling reception in Castlebar when one of the county’s - and the country’s -  really great heroines, Gena Heraty, received a magnificent cheque for over 230,000 euros for her Haiti fund.

 The occasion was the opening of Mid West Radio’s new studio in Mayo’s county town, and Gena Heraty, from Westport, was home from Haiti to thank the people of the region for their incredible generosity. The plight of the people of Haiti had been highlighted by Mid West Radio (www.midwestradio.ie), and a fund was immediately established by the radio staff and listeners. Gena has been working with the less privileged in Haiti for many years and was there when the earthquake ravaged the county and its people. Read more