CONSERVATIVE MAYO REIN IN EXPECTATIONS.

Byline: ORLA BANNON

Mayo v Roscommon

IT WASN'T very long ago that Mayo started out each summer dreaming of winning an All-Ireland.

Despite having reached two All-Ireland finals this decade (losing both in 2004 and 2006 to Kerry), they have been a disappointment and now have set their sights on more immediate goals.

Winning a Connacht title is a realistic target according to Aidan Kilcoyne and first they must take care of Roscommon in today's semifinal clash in Castlebar.

"We haven't won Connacht since 2006 which is strange because since I've been on the panel (2004) we've only won two and you're expected to win it nearly every second year!'' he said.

"Galway have had the upper hand on us in the last couple of years. Last year in McHale Park was a tough one to take.

"We probably could have won that game but there were chances that we missed and we still regret that.

"I suppose there's only one way to put that right and hopefully we will be able to do that this summer.'' John O'Mahony has acknowledged himself that the pressure is on to win Connacht after winning nothing in the first two years of his second coming in Mayo.

Kilcoyne conceded: "I think we all realise we have under-achieved in the last couple of years.

"We're all going out to try and win Connacht and see where it takes us.'' If Mayo harbour any ambitions of performing in Croke Park later on in the year, then Kilcoyne admits that winning their provincial title is the safest route - particularly as they have a poor record in the qualifiers.

Both years they reached the All-Ireland final came on the back of Connacht titles. "It has served us better over the years.

"We haven't really done well in the qualifiers but I don't think that's a mental thing about qualifiers or anything else, we just could have done with a small bit of luck.

"Tyrone last year was an example, we ran them to within a point but we should have won that game.

"Fair play to Tyrone though, they got the scores and from there on they took the country by storm.

"That proved to us we're not a million miles away. We have a lot of things to put right but we're close enough so hopefully we can improve on the small things and give things a right good go this summer.'' Kilcoyne works with mentors.ie who are involved with the GPA in trying to help GAA players who are starting up their own businesses.

Mayo have quite a lot of students in their panel but with the business end of the season starting today, the real test will be to try to win silverware this year.

Kilcoyne is one of three experienced players back in the side following the facile win over New York last month.

The fact that O'Mahony has recalled Keith Higgins and David Heaney suggests he knows his team are in for tough contest.

MATCH VERDICT

ROSCOMMON are always capable of one big performance each summer and Fergal O''Donnell will hope it happens today. They already beat Leitrim in the quarter-final but are still without key players in Seamus O''Neill and Cathal Cregg. With home advantage and some very talented players, Mayo should be too good for them but it could be close enough.

Verdict: MAYO

CAPTION(S):

JOY OF TEXT Mayo boss John O'Mahony TARGET Aidan Kilcoyne