Cavanagh: Defensive depth could propel Mayo to new heights

A new-look Mayo under Kevin McStay are looking the real deal, according to RTÉ GAA analyst Sean Cavanagh.

The green-and-red opened their SFC group stage campaign with a notable win in Killarney, something no visiting team has managed in the previous 39 championship games at Fitzgerald Stadium.

But for the heroics of Kerry goalkeeper Shane Ryan, the margin would have been greater than the five points that separated the sides at the full-time whistle.

Three-time All-Ireland winner Cavanagh felt the home team played with a "bit of arrogance, bit of sloppiness", but was fulsome in his praise for Mayo.

Notwithstanding the Connacht semi-final defeat to Roscommon, a strong body of work was built up during the league and changes in both personnel and positions with Mayo fans again wondering if the drought for Sam Maguire, which dates back to 1951, might be ended in the coming months.

Speaking on The Sunday Game, Cavanagh was especially taken by the make-up of the defence.

David McBrien and Sam Callinan came in for their championship bows, and less than 12 months on from the deflating All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Kerry, not a single defender that started that day in Croke Park was in from the off at Fitzgerald Stadium.

With Lee Keegan retired and Oisin Mullin forging a career in AFL, the defensive quartet of Enda Hession, Paddy Durcan, Stephen Coen and Eoghan McLaughlin were all introduced to great effect as second-half substitutes.

"Mayo looked sharp," he said.

"The way they shut down the Kerry attack was massively impressive. You are never going to stop David Clifford, but they did nullify Sean O'Shea and Paudie Clifford

"Whenever I looked at that Mayo defence that Kevin and Stephen Rochford have put together…they almost finished