If only the FBD League was still in existence. There'd be 10,000 Mayo souls pouring into a freezing cold, damp and windy MacHale Park in January filled with optimism and excitement.

A new era has officially begun, and if there’s a more popular pairing than Andy Moran and Colm Boyle to take the reins, I’d be very surprised.

Two cult heroes of Mayo football. Two of the greatest players to ever wear the jersey. Two players who helped Mayo get as close as we’ve ever come to that damn Sam Maguire.

But the cauldron they’ve stepped into is a different kettle of fish. A clean slate, if you like. They won’t need to ask the many great men who have taken the reins before them about how quickly your past heroics are forgotten if things go sour.
This is the big time and primary success metric for Andy Moran is simple. Win the All-Ireland!

In these same pages this columnist wrote these very words about James Horan’s second reign. About Kevin McStay too. There are other KPIs, sure, but none matter like Sam Maguire for the Mayo supporters.

Harsh or not, that’s what they will be solely judged on.

DELIVERY

It was hard not to feed off the enthusiasm and optimism that Andy and Colm Boyle brought to Thursday night's press conference.

They said all the right things, like every manager before them, but Andy delivered it in a way that only Andy........

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