`Impetuous' Mayo play worries Loftus

MICK LOFTUS has seen Mayo's triumphs and disasters at close quarters for many years now. As a player he was on the fringes of the last Mayo team to win back to back All Ireland titles in 1950 and 51, and he was later to become a prominent referee and administrator, and became president of the GAA.

He remains one of the most respected figures in the association and his work as a GP and coroner in Crossmolina has kept him very much in touch with the local community.

As he ponders another All Ireland final featuring the green and red colours of his native county he believes that the big breakthrough may be just around the corner. He sees a combination of skill, commitment and the influence and motivation provided by John Maughan as the perfect mix.

I was really impressed by the way the players responded to Kerry's freak goal on Sunday. There have been times in the past when Mayo teams would slacken off after a set back like that but they really responded well and did not allow it to upset them.

"I think that there is a fair balance in the team at the moment, if everybody plays to their potential. I would worry about some rather impetuous things which some players did on Sunday. For instance when young James Nallen went forward to get that great goal, Noel Connelly was up the field with him. If the shot had been saved and the ball was returned quickly we would have been in trouble.

"Nallen is a very fine player, but then his uncle John was one of the best ever to play for Mayo, so I am not all that surprised. He is also from my own place, Crossmolina, so I am doubly pleased for him.

I am confident that John Maughan will harness his enthusiasm properly and not allow on necessary chances to be taken. I was impressed by Kevin Cahill on Sunday also. He really has matured into a good player and if he reproduces that form it will be a big bonus for Mayo, he says.

Ray Dempsey and Colm MeMenamon also come in for praise. I don't think that you will ever get McMcnamon to stay in an orthodox position. He is a natural player who always wants to be where the ball is and in the Connacht final and again against Kerry he was operating behind the midfield at times.

I believe that Maughan may have second thoughts about McMenamon's role against Tyrone or Meath. They will have watched the videos of the matches I have mentioned and will have worked out a strategy to try to counteract McMenamon's roving role. I won't be surprised if he plays a totally different type of game in the final, but I may be wrong.

"Ray Dempsey is a player I admire and with John Casey and David Nestor also in the full forward line any opposition will have to remain on the alert for the full 70 minutes.

"Anthony Finnerty is a very valuable player to be able to call on, and with David Brady and Anthony McGarry also available the selectors may have to spend some time before they decide on the starting line up," he says. "Maurice Sheridan is a fine free taker and James Horan is improving with every match. The more I think about it the more I believe we can win."

Dermot Flanagan was also on form. "It was a very good performance. After a bit of a shakey start he settled down to play a really good game."

Which of the two teams Meath or Tyrone would he prefer to meet in the final? "Well from a purely foot balling point of view I would prefer Tyrone. Mind you, perhaps I shouldn't say that. A minor team that I was involved with were leading them by 10 points in the All Ireland final of 1947 and they beat us by a point.

"Seriously, though, I believe a Mayo Tyrone final would produce an open. fast game and Meath might be tougher to beat."