To call the conditions at Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday 'boggy' would be doing a disservice to the many fine bogs of Ireland. The surface of the Bog of Allen would have been more conducive to good football than the Roscommon venue.
The conditions really played into Mayo's hands. They were more physical than Roscommon, and it really told.
A four-point win for Mayo brought to an end Roscommon's run of four consecutive victories. Two of those wins were away from home against some quality opposition - namely Donegal and Kerry. The other two came against Down and Cork, the latter of those being at Páirc Uí Rinn.
The Rossies' form has made them the darlings of this year's league. They look likely to made the semi-finals, though their final game is against Dublin.
James Horan is one of those not buying the Roscommon hype. Writing in his Irish Daily Star column, the former Mayo manager declared that Kevin McStay and Fergal O'Donnell's side have plenty to do before they can be talked of as a 'top team'. He also questioned their ability to deal with pressure.
It has to be said that Roscommon were really poor yesterday. They were off the pace, standing off their men and, when they had the wind, their first reaction was to pass backwards or sideways.
To me, they looked a bit scared of Mayo. There's been a lot of hype over Roscommon in recent weeks, and they have some big wins.
But Roscommon have flattered to deceive a lot over the past five years or so.
They're often talked up - remember John Evans saying they'd win the All-Ireland? - but fail to deliver when the pressure comes on.
Roscommon do have good footballers. The Murtaghs, in particular, are really top players.
But they have an awful lost of work to do yet to be up there with the big boys.
Roscommon haven't even won a Connacht title in six years, so you can't talk of them as a top team yet.
Mayo won by four points on Sunday and for much of the game they did hold a healthy lead. However, Roscommon did give them a minor scare. Nine points in arrears in the second half, Roscommon got back to within three with just two minutes remaining.
It will now be interesting to see how Roscommon react to the loss in their toughest test of the league against Dublin next weekend.
Picture credit: Sportsfile
