Peter Canavan: McStay needs to decide on a game plan and stick to it

There will be no room for neighbourly politeness in Castlebar on Saturday evening when Mayo and Roscommon meet in a crucial Division 1 clash that could leave the loser embroiled in a relegation dogfight.

The Allianz League top flight is wide open this season, with only Derry boasting a 100% record at the summit of the table. Six of the seven other teams have lost two games each through the first four rounds, with Monaghan currently propping up the table after one win and three losses.

Roscommon are coming off an emphatic win at home to Monaghan last week while Mayo are still smarting from a second-half collapse in Tyrone that saw them hand back at three-point half-time lead and eventually lose by four points.

Former Red Hand superstar Peter Canavan, whose son Darragh continued his fantastic form in Omagh last Saturday, reckons Mayo boss Kevin McStay must stick or twist when it comes to his overall game plan and decide once and for all what to do with some of his most high profile campaigners.

"They're not in a position to tip-toe around each other for this one because neither of them will want to get relegated," Canavan said on the RTÉ GAA podcast. "Crucial game – how many times have we said that? Every round it feels crucial.

"The losers of this one certainly are going to be in difficulty

"Compare the two teams on form, you’d say Roscommon are the form team coming into this. But you’re not comparing like for like because Mayo didn’t put out their best 15 whereas Roscommon did put out their best and went out at all costs to try and defeat Monaghan at home.

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