Mayo’s recent record in replays makes for depressing reading.
They lost the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final replay to Kerry, they lost the 1996 All-Ireland final replay to Meath and, of course, they lost last year’s All-Ireland semi-final replay to Dublin.
In between they did beat Laois and Fermanagh in All-Ireland quarter-final and semi-final replays but, on the biggest stages against the biggest teams, reprises have not been friends to the Westerners.
If there was one bright spot to last year’s 3-15 to 1-14 defeat to Dublin (and let’s be honest, having led by four points early in the second half, bright spots are at a premium) it was that it captured the imagination of Tony McEntee.
The former Armagh and Crossmaglen forward had little intention of getting directly involved with a county team, until he struck up a conversation with Cillian O’Connor’s brother when leaving Croke Park last August following Mayo’s heartbreaking defeat.
“At that stage, I was pretty much not going into inter-county football at that point,” the former Crossmaglen manager told the Mayo News earlier this year. “As it happens actually, I met with Cillian O’Connor’s brother Pádraic. I met him afterwards randomly just coming out of Croke Park.
“He was disappointed but I was actually equally disappointed with just how the game went and the outcome of the match, as many people would have been leaving that day.
“I thought maybe that if I was going to do anything that might come up again, I might take up the Mayo role.
“That was it, there was no more conversation about it really until Stephen [Rochford] contacted me one day and asked me would I be interested,” he added.
It is incredible that McEntee was already contemplating a role with Mayo before being contacted by Rochford. He had turned down the Down job in 2014 and seemed to be content with his lot since stepping down as Crossmaglen manager in 2013.
By that time he had a hand in all six of Crossmaglen’s AIB All-Ireland club titles – four as a player and two as manager. Throw in an intercounty career that delivered six Ulster titles and the 2002 All-Ireland and you have a proven competitor.
That will to win is borne out in some phenomenal stats relating to McEntee’s record in replays. Mayo may have a poor recent run, but their selector’s own history as a player is very encouraging.
Gaelic Life journalist Niall McCoy has looked through the record books to discover McEntee lost only two of 21 replays during his playing career.
By my estimation Tony McEntee played 21 replays as a player. Won 18, drew one and lost two. Mayo will be hoping that rubs off on them. #GAA
— Niall McCoy (@McCoyNiall) September 19, 2016
And my workings. #GAA pic.twitter.com/TKgqO1vPUY
— Niall McCoy (@McCoyNiall) September 19, 2016
Throw in Rochford’s own recent history, directing Corofin to a Galway SFC quarter-final replay win over Tuam Stars last year and Mayo fans can take heart that the men in charge know what it takes to win second time round.
We review a crazy All-Ireland final and chat to Lee Keegan about his special relationship with Diarmuid Connolly. Listen below or subscribe here on iTunes.
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