Mindset for qualifiers is key as championship hots up

We are seven weeks into the senior football championship it is now do or die time. No more second chances.

While the qualifiers may be great entertainment for neutral supporters, they are a minefield for managers and coaches. They present so many challenges and unknowns.

Time

While at this stage we all accept there is no easy fix to our fixtures and calendar dilemma, the preparation time teams have for their qualifier games this weekend is incredibly unequal. Armagh and Mayo have had six weeks to prepare; Meath and Monaghan have had three weeks.

All those in the Armagh, Louth, Cork and Mayo camps have had time to deal with their losses, get their heads right, re-focus and prepare for the qualifiers. The gap allows wounds to heal, gives coaches time to work on shortcomings and provides time to reset and create momentum. This momentum has many contributors; players, management, families, supporters and local media.

Of the eight qualifiers playing this weekend, Mayo and Tyrone have had great success through the back door. Their leadership groups and management teams have had plenty of time to remind all their squad members about what has worked in the past and what they need to do to perform again this weekend. The memory of qualifier success is a distinct advantage for teams going into games. Positive experience is hard to beat in sport.

Historically in some counties if there is a gap between championship games, preparation time for the qualifiers is compromised by round(s) of club fixtures. This is good for the club player but can be a painful distraction for county managers.

One of the most frustrating times I had as an inter-county manager was in 2011. After losing a Leinster final by a goal to Dublin we then had a two-week