Galway had the composure, Mayo didn't

Losing another Connacht final narrowly will be a hard on to take for Mayo, with Cora Staunton feeling that Kevin McStay's side lacked the composure necessary when it mattered to get the better of old foes Galway in Sunday's decider at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park.

In the end, Pádraic Joyce's side complete a provincial four-timer when winning by two points in Castlebar, this after they withstood a rally from the home side in the second half.

Mayo, after trailing by eight points when playing against the wind in the opening period, took the game to their opponents on the resumption and had opportunities to get their noses in front. They could never achieve that, with Jordan Flynn seeing his effort for a two-pointer at the death drift wide. A successful execution would have brought extra-time.

Speaking on The Sunday Game, Staunton was in no doubt why her fellow county men fell short.

"The biggest difference was a lack of composure from Mayo in the last 15 minutes; they had plenty of shots and chances to win it," she said.

"Galway had the composure from their key players when they needed it. Paul Conroy, in particular, and Céin D'Arcy around the middle got their hands on the ball, as did Cillian McDaid.

'Mayo's weaknesses showed up…Galway had more leaders on the pitch’ - Ciaran Whelan and @duckie15 reflect on the winning and losing of today’s Connacht football final pic.twitter.com/QJZGfogNa1 — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 4, 2025

"Mayo, when the shots were there to be taken, they were poorly executed. It was just that composure going down the stretch.

"Kevin (McStay) said afterwards that they've been in the games that were tight, lost by one point, happened last year against Galway and against Derry. It's about learning to get over the line and they had enough chances in the end. They'll be bitterly disappointed and it will be hard one to take for them.

"Galway were missing the likes of Damien Comer, Shane Walsh and Johnny Heaney. Johnny Maher, who has been one of their main players in league and championship, went off injured at half-time.

"It will sting for now but they don't have too much time to get over it; they have Cavan in two weeks' time.".

Fellow analyst Ciarán Whelan, while full of praise for Mayo's second-half surge, honed in on those leading the line and their inability to get those crucial scores.

"Mayo came out for the second-half with the wind and the chaos of the type of game it was suited them.

"They went level with 16 minutes to go and they could not finish the game from there. Their weaknesses showed up in terms of their front six and even up to that last kick there weren't many leaders that wanted to show up.

"That has been their Achilles heel to finish the game off, it was there for them but Galway showed great resilience and had more leaders on the pitch."

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