Dark Days are Here Again?
After a long winter mulling over their 2016 defeat, Mayo narrowly lose their Allianz League opener at home to Monaghan. On RTÉ's League Sunday, Pat Spillane holds out little hope for the Green and Red in 2017.
Pat Spillane says Mayo failed to lay down a marker against Monaghan and doesn't rate their chances this year. @RTÉ2 #LeagueSundayRTE pic.twitter.com/tDg3FGNjej
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 5, 2017
League Survival and Selfie Preservation
A two-point win at home to Donegal is enough to preserve Mayo's top-flight status but doubts remain about Gaelic football's greatest survivors' ability to rebound once more. And that is before Bernard Flynn mentions selfies (10'30" below)...
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Bragging Rights Remain with the Tribe
For the second year running, Galway dump Mayo out of the Connacht Championship at the semi-final stage. Keith Higgins is sent off in the first half but Mayo rally and have a couple of chances to level the match and avoid another qualifier odyssey. But the backdoor beckons.
Qualifier Quest Becomes a Quagmire
Stephen Rochford's side eventually find a way through the Qualifier back door, requiring extra-time to see-off Derry in Castlebar before powering past a game Clare in Ennis and very nearly coming unstuck in extra-time against a much-maligned Cork.
Neighbours Slapped Down, Eventually
Having struggled to a draw against a confident Roscommon, Mayo maintain a proud record of reaching seven successive All-Ireland semi-finals by gutting their Connacht neighbours in the replay. Cillian O'Connor, Andy Moran, Keith Higgins and Kevin McLoughlin all find the net in a one-sided encounter.
Rochford Gambles and Doesn't Lose
In one of the stranger moments of an already bizarre campaign, Stephen Rochford details Aidan O'Shea to play full-back against Kerry's Kieran Donaghy. It does not go to plan, with the Kerry full-back having a hand in 2-5 of Kerry's 2-14 total, but Mayo survive to fight another day. Again.
And Then There Were Two. Again
As his own beloved Kerry are dispatched of in rather clinical fashion in a semi-final replay, Sunday Game pundit Pat Spillane has to admit that Mayo are live contenders for an All-Ireland title: "Mayo are miles better than last year. They will come, they are not afraid of the Dubs. On the day, Mayo have a chance".
