Mayo’s NHL Division 2A isn’t getting any easier. This afternoon they took the field against Antrim up at Fr Healy Park in Loughiel and it was always a big ask to expect anything other than a decisive win for the Glensmen.
So it proved. The visitors did manage to claim the day’s first score but once Antrim settled into the game they quickly put the result beyond doubt. By half-time the home team led by 1-9 to 0-2 and they pushed on to win handsomely, by 4-19 to 0-7.
The hurlers have next weekend off before facing Wicklow at MacHale Park in a fortnight’s time, a match that throws in on Sunday 16th at 1pm. Like our lads, Wicklow have also lost both their opening matches so their meeting on Sunday week should be a competitive game.
This Wicklow game is the crunch game of the league. The winner in all probability stays up, the loser goes down. One has to believe that staying up will benefit Mayo long term although there may be hard lessons along the way. But Tooreen have proved in the club scene that hard lessons absorbed in the right way helps so hopefully it applies at county level too. But surely the hurling gurus in and about Croke Park can see the need and benefit of some extra help to Mayo hurling. Good work is being done in paces like Ballyvary and Carracastle but help is badly needed. apart from ensuring that the likes of Ballyhaunis do not fall away again.
Hard to know whether staying up is of benefit or not. I am afraid we are operating at a higher level than our ability suggests and there’s more tough games coming our way. I think the players deserve great credit as it can’t be easy shipping big defeats.