Depleted Mayo set for short summer in 2025

The Mayo women's footballers are set for a short summer unless they can develop a more coherent attacking plan, according to former Donegal captain Nadine Doherty.

After seeing a wave of player opt-outs and retirements in the off-season, Liam McHale's side are staring relegation in the face after suffering five defeats from five in their Division 1 campaign.

Eliminated by Armagh at the All-Ireland quarter-final stage last summer, Mayo have lost 16 players from the 2024 panel, with Lisa and Sinéad Cafferky, Eilis Ronayne, Laura Brennan and Fiona McHale among those unavailable.

They suffered their fifth successive defeat at home to Kerry just under a fortnight ago - 10 points the final margin - with a Kildare side battling for survival the visitors to Swinford this weekend.

"It's very sad to say Mayo are playing for pride with two games left," Doherty said on Game On on RTÉ 2fm.

"They're relegated. For me, they shouldn't be.

"I think it's a combination of 15-20 players not playing for Mayo who should be playing for Mayo and their gameplan that needs to be more dynamic than soloing the ball up the pitch and hoping for the best. Because that is what it looks like at the minute.

"I feel if they are to challenge in championship, a change is needed somewhere."

Mayo players line up for Amhrán na bhFiann ahead of their game in the Athletic Grounds

While squad turnover due to opt-outs is a widespread issue in the women's game, Mayo's issue in 2025 is especially pronounced.

Doherty was particularly struck by the team's reaction to a virtual consolation goal in their away to defeat to league leaders Armagh in the Athletic Grounds in late February.

"It struck with me a few weeks ago when they played Armagh and they lost heavily. Saoirse Lally - who's a great footballer and a very honest footballer - scored a goal and, I don't know how long was gone in the game, but they were down by about 10 points.

"I'm not taking a swipe at the girl personally. But they celebrated this goal. And you just thought, 'is that where Mayo are at?'

"They're celebrating a goal and they're down by 10 points? And if they lose the game, they're possibly relegated?

"You're just wondering what's going on in the background."

Lidl Ladies Football League standings

Though it's over two decades since they got over the line on All-Ireland final day, Mayo have been more or less a permanent fixture in the top tier in the modern era.

The westerners have reached the All-Ireland semi-finals on seven of the last 10 seasons - albeit only reaching one final in that span in 2017 - but Doherty foresees a short summer unless things are addressed.

"It's such a shame because they've a brilliant county board there. They've brilliant structures. We talk about attendences across the country. But for every Mayo home game, if you purchase a ticket, you're entering into a draw for a weekend away in a hotel. So, their attendences have gone up massively.

"So, it's very sad to see for a county like Mayo. I don't know when they were in Division 2 last, if ever. But that's where they're headed. So, I feel it's going to be a very short summer for them because they've a very tough championship draw."

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