Kevin McStay must get Mayo 'brimming with energy' again damaging loss to Cork

After what was a damaging defeat against Cork, Kevin McStay will have to pick Mayo up for a huge battle against Galway in today's All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final, and it will be real test of McStay's managerial credentials, according to Éamonn Fitzmaurice.

The loss to the Rebels on Sunday last at the TUS Gaelic Grounds meant that Mayo slipped from first to third in their All-Ireland group. Monday's subsequent draw pitted them agains their fierce rivals in Salthill (Live on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player).

"It's the most Mayo thing - lose to Cork and then draw Galway," was Fitzmaurice's summation of the space the Green and Red now find themselves in, when speaking on the latest RTÉ GAA Podcast.

"I think that defeat and the manner of it is really harmful," added the former Kerry star.

Galway also came a cropper on Sunday last, losing top spot in their group after a narrow loss to Armagh.

Expanding further on the Connacht duo's plight, Fitzmaurice said: "Think where they were last Sunday morning. Of course the players were focused on the game ahead but they probably thinking in the back of their minds that they are in a quarter-final.

"To lose the way both teams lost, then to end up playing each other in Salthill where Mayo have a better record in recent times, well it's huge. For the other Sam Maguire pretenders it's great, particularly the teams sitting in the quarter-finals. There's a big gun gone on Sunday evening."

On what's in store now for the Mayo boss, Fitzmaurice outlined a balancing act that his former Sunday Game colleague will now have to perform.

"Kevin McStay so far this year, I think he's managed things exceptionally well. Post Roscommon (Connacht quarter-final), the defeat there, they had time off, came back, and