Rob Hennelly says Mayo supporters should appreciate that they are in a privileged position, with the county continually being one of the top contenders to win the All-Ireland Football Championship.
Last week, the Mayo county board said "personal attacks" on players and management following the All-Ireland final defeat to Tyrone earlier this month were "unacceptable".
Many Mayo panel members were back on the pitch this weekend for the first round of the county's senior championship. A Breaffy side featuring Hennelly, Aidan and Conor O'Shea, and Matty Ruane defeated The Neale, who had Tommy Conroy among their numbers.
"The first week is a bit of a blur," Hennelly told TG4 when asked about the fortnight since the All-Ireland final.
"You're just trying to avoid people a little bit. This week, I watched back the game a couple of times, took a few learnings from it. We just have to take the positives from it.
"I was looking at the players in the squad, and in the dressing room after the game, it's a new group. There's lots to look forward to. We should be a lot more positive than people are at the moment.
"In fairness, I understand where supporters are coming from, but everyone is disappointed. It's tough, and obviously it's tough on the players as well. I think it's important that we put it in context: We're very lucky in Mayo that we can compete at the highest level.
"We've got another great squad of players who have an opportunity to go on and improve on this year, which was a really successful year, bar the last game where we didn't do ourselves justice.
"If we learn from it, build on it again, there's so to look forward to. If I was talking to Mayo supporters, we are very lucky, we are in a privileged position in Mayo, and we should probably appreciate it a little bit more."
Aidan O'Shea interview after Breaffy vs The Neale in Mayo SFC
Lán Ama
“When you lose everything is wrong, when you win everything is right”
Tuaraimí Aidan O'Shea tar éis Cluiche Ceannais na hÉireann roinnt seachtainí ó shin. @MayoGAA @GAA_BEO #GAABEO #MayoGAA pic.twitter.com/S6j7Fz4MnC
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) September 26, 2021
Much of the criticism following Mayo's defeat was directed at Aidan O'Shea.
"When we win, when we lose, it's not something I pay too much attention to," said O'Shea, who scored four points for Breaffy against The Neale.
"I've been off the grid for the last couple of weeks. When you lose, everything is wrong; when you win, everything is right. Obviously, there's a balance every time you play.
"We were disappointed a couple of weeks ago. We've got to learn and move on. Seeing the likes of Tommy (Conroy) playing here today, you see the talent that's in the county, no doubt, we'll pick up and go again next year. That's what we'll do, that's what we've always done."
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