Mayo manager Andy Moran wasn’t too downbeat after seeing his side lose to Donegal on Sunday.
Mayo fever has been ramping up since the start of the league but Sunday was a reality check.
“I think you know it can’t be all roses. Jim is there in his third year and I think we are maybe just at a different phase at the minute.
“They had a very strong team out. We had a strong team out as well but they went heavy and right from the off, they were a step ahead of us.
“What I would say about our lads – I would be very, very disappointed with the first 25 or 26 minutes – but I felt for the rest of the game we performed well.
“But you can’t give Donegal a six-point lead playing against the wind into the second half.
“We won the first two games and we learned from them.
“We had a plan today – what’s the famous one about a plan, I’m sure you all know – we got a slap in the face and we have to adapt but we will learn from that and go again.”
It was put to Moran that Donegal’s play pace and movement and tempo was mesmerising at times, and the new bainisteoir responded saying:
“I wouldn’t be mesmerised by it. I thought it was good.
“Sure we’ve seen Gallen and the two O’Donnells at this stage.
“I saw them last year with Monaghan but there is a way to beat them. I don’t think anyone should be fearing them too much. The game is there to be played and the next time we play Donegal, it will be a different game.”
