Nicola O'Malley confident Mayo can turn around their fortunes

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2 days ago

Mayo defender Nicola O'Malley says she is confident Mayo can turn their season around ahead of the Ladies All-Ireland football championship.
Following relegation from Division One, Mayo lost back-to-back games against rivals Galway, including the Connacht final.
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Life will not get any easier for Mayo, as they face All-Ireland champions Kerry and Cork in their group.
With a young squad that has seen a lot of turnover in the last 12 months, O'Malley says consistency has been an issue for the team this season.
"They is probably phases during games where we play quite well, we just don't do it consistently enough", says O'Malley.
"It is very easy to look at the negatives, and that is what people tend to do. We are trying to focus on the positives, and how we can build more of those into games.
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"We have a very young panel at the moment, so it is very important we don't just look at the negatives, there has to be positivity looking towards what we are trying to do.
"There is a lot of girls who would be in their first year of the senior panel, it is a different level of performance and a big step up to the senior level. You do have to keep that in mind."
Led by someone who experienced plenty of ups and downs in a Mayo jersey, Liam McHale will not panic.
For O'Malley, the encouragement he gives the team on the pitch and allowing freedom for younger players has been important to the squad.
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"He encourages us to play our brand of football and try things, which I think is great. We don't want players to be afraid or worried about what style of play they engage in.
"He has been there himself in the lead up to games. In the Connacht final, he has been in the dressing room, he knows what it is like.
"It is great to have someone of his experience and help the younger girls through that."
With three different winners in the last three years, and several contenders for the All-Ireland this season, it could not be more open.
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They may not be talked about as potential winners, but Mayo going about their business under the radar, particularly under a period of transition, may suit this squad better.
"I do think that the underdog title would suit the younger girls on the team, that there isn't that level of expectation on them.
"You are free to go out and play. I think if you look at all three divisions, there is a number of teams in contention. It keeps that excitement in the games, and hopefully can hlep draw support in crowds at the games.
"The last thing you want is having one team that is dominating, it keeps the excitment out of the games."