Mayo’s half-season ratings

1.David Clarke
Can count him lucky as one of the few Mayo players to survive last Sunday’s game with his reputation intact. Played well throughout the league and kept his defence well marshalled throughout. 8/10

2.Chris Barrett
Unlucky not to have nailed down a starting place earlier in the league as he made some good contributions from the bench throughout. Finally got his chance in the two Cork games and should have done enough to keep his place in the corner come championship time. 7/10

3.Ger Cafferkey
Dropped midway through the league after some lacklustre displays he regained his place against Monaghan and kept it for the rest of the campaign. Ger needs to up his game considerably for the championship because too many players are roasting him every Sunday. 3/10

4.Liam O’Malley
Had been one of the success stories throughout the league but his confidence will no doubt have taken a knock following the league final. Badly needs to bulk up as he seems too light and easily thrown off the ball. Has not become a bad player overnight though. 6/10

5.Donal Vaughan
Has confounded all his critics, myself included, during the league with some stellar displays from wing-back. Vaughan is fast become the leader of this Mayo defensive unit and is even chipping in with the odd score, particularly the goal against Monaghan which kept Mayo in the game. 8/10

6.Trevor Howley
Not a county standard centre back. Always put 100% effort into the position but was found wanting when coming up against big name players like Donnacha O’Connor and Declan O’Sullivan. Could be moved to the corner come championship time. 4/10

7.Kevin McLoughlin
Undoubtedly the find of the league campaign. The u21 captain has nailed down the #7 shirt for the championship following some brilliant displays, particularly against Cork (twice) and Kerry. Was Mayo’s man of the match in the league final. 9/10

8.Tom Parsons
How Parsons is still a starting member of the Mayo 15 is beyond me. He carried his poor form of 2009 right through the league and never once looked like a player who could catch the ball, let alone control midfield. The emergence of Seamus O’Shea should bring an end to Parson’s days as starting midfielder. 1/10

9.Seamus O’Shea
Was finally given an extended run in the team after years plagued by injury and O’Shea grabbed it with both hands. Was one of Mayo’s best performers in every game so far this year, either at centre forward or midfield, and should start alongside McGarrity for the championship. 8/10

10.Andy Moran
A mixed campaign for the Ballaghdereen man. Will be happy to be back among the forwards but I still doubt if O’Mahony knows exactly where to play him. (He ended up as a 7th defender in the league final) Always gave 100% and could be one of Mayo’s best players this summer once he knows his role in the team. 7/10

11.Alan Dillon
Coming back from Australia not much was expected of Dillon in this campaign but he brought his best football back with him. Dillon hasn’t played this well since the 2006 season and seems to be really enjoying the centre forward role. Everything goes through the Ballintubber player and he rarely makes the wrong decision. 8/10

12.Trevor Mortimer
Must be sweating on his starting place for the championship with the return of Aiden Kilcoyne to full fitness. Wastes too much ball with wayward passing and shooting. Always gives 100% but that is not enough these days. 4/10

13.Conor Mortimer
Took longer than Dillon to rediscover his form after travelling Australia but finished the league with a bang. Has brought some passing into his game which can only help the other forwards and is still banging over a couple of points in each game. Along with Dillon he was the only Mayo forward to end the league final with his reputation intact. 7/10

14.Aiden O’Shea
Second season syndrome took a hold of O’Shea and it took a strong hold. Could not keep up with the pace of games and continued to try and go it alone whenever he has the ball, even if there is a team mate in a better scoring position. Needs to become more of a team player and work on his fitness if 2010 is not to be a wasted season for the young DIT student. 3/10

15.Mark Ronaldson
Started the league magnificently with Conor Mort’s absence leaving a whole that needed to be filled but petered out by the end of the campaign. Being taken off for McGarrity at half time in the league final was probably his lowest point as a Mayo player. 5/10

Keith Higgins
Unlucky to be injured against Monaghan but thankfully it was not as bad as originally feared. Still Mayo’s best defender and man-marker and he was sorely missed against Cork. Will be back in situ by the championship opener against Sligo. 6/10

Peader Gardiner
Also unlucky with the injury sustained against Dublin as he had been playing well in the wing back role up to that point. Will find it hard to break back into the team when he returns thanks to the form of McLoughlin in his absence. 4/10

Ronan McGarrity
Another player who missed some time due to injury but returned against Cork in the league final. Will be needed at 100% fitness for the championship as he is still Mayo’s leading midfielder and holds the ability to control a game from midfield. 4/10

Aiden Kilcoyne
Yet another injured player for Mayo this season, only returning against Cork in the league final. Will be needed at his sharpest this summer and could steal the #12 jersey from Trevor Mort. Offers more to the team in attack than T. Mort. n/a

Enda Varley
A great find for Mayo this season. A sub on the All-Ireland winning u21 team in 2006, Varley grabbed his chance with the senior team to such an extent that he finished as Mayo’s top scorer and was hugely missed in the league final against Cork. A definite starter for the championship and a star for the future. 8/10

Kieran Conroy
Done well when replacing Cafferkey for two games in the middle of the league but inexplicably lost his place and hasn’t been seen on the pitch since. Should be Mayo’s starting full back for the championship. 6/10

Pat Harte
Reliable when called upn from the bench. missed the opening part of the league but can be happy with what he contributed. will be pushing for a starting place during the chmapionship but more likely to be used as an impact sub.

Injuries could be used as an excuse for the league final collapse against Cork but that would be unfair on Cork. Mayo played well throughout the league up to the final with most of the same players injured and it was not a problem.

The defeat to Dublin will be seen as one that got away from them as they hit 18 wides but did have 27 shots on goal. This shows the forwards, particularly the younger players, had no fear of taking on the shot.

Mayo need to quickly get over the Cork defeat and pick themselves up for the trip to Sligo on June 5th. The Division 3 champions will fancy themselves to take a huge scalp in that game following the respective performances of the two teams in the league finals.