TOMORROW'S most compelling fixture in the Church & General National Football League sees Dublin take on Mayo in Castlebar with a host of troubles besetting either side. Dublin have started the season so badly that their most plausible chance of getting out of Division Two now looks to be relegation rather than promotion.

Mayo, on the other hand, are dealing with the fallout of what would have been judged a great success only six months ago. Losing the All-Ireland final by a point and after a replay represented extraordinary progress in the space of a year but the prize was there for the taking.

Facing a hard league campaign after September's disappointment and the subsequent suspension of seven players by the GAC, Mayo manager, John Maughan is aware of the implications.

"In hindsight, there were those who saw a deep-rooted inferiority complex inherent in the west of Ireland raising its ugly head. I don't agree. Personally I don't think I'm inferior, it's not part of my thinking and there's no question of this team not being good enough.

"It's unfortunate we lost but there's nothing we can do about that now. We've no control over the past but we do have control over what happens now.

"One difficulty for the team is the expectation levels in the county. This isn't new to me. In 1985 and `89, the same thing happened and expectations were high. How we perform next year is now our focal point. There's a lot of expectation out there."

He rejects the argument that the team can never fully recover from twice blowing a six-point lead in an All-Ireland final and replay, both of which they dominated.

"Not at all. The challenge will be all the more interesting and the man management will be all the more of a challenge for me."

Although the county came off better than All-Ireland winners Meath in respect of the disciplinary action taken by the GAC, feelings of resentment towards the media, the press specifically, are as common in Mayo as in Meath.

"The media plays a role in how the public perceives it," says Maughan. "It's hard to get it out of the way if there's wall-to-wall coverage. All this speculating on this or that kept it alive."

Surely, a massed brawl in front of a television audience of millions created its own dynamic in media terms?

"I wouldn't agree. If I come in in the morning and something's splashed all over the papers, it keeps it alive in my mind. The media keeps issues alive, rightly or wrongly. It's a quiet time of the year and anything that happens in a match of that magnitude gets blown out of all proportion.

"The whole thing was media driven. Some of the articles contained scandalous reporting. When these things happened in the past, they didn't get such a high profile."

Mayo must face the league without half of their All-Ireland team and also cope with injuries. Dublin will be as desperate for points tomorrow and the main aim is to make it to the break in reasonable shape.

"I've been handed an anchor when I needed a lifebuoy," says Maughan. "This (tomorrow's match) is a difficult assignment. They've as many problems as we have but knowing them, they're fine footballers and are not going to lie down. I want to retain our position in Division Two and pick up a couple of players. Reaching the play-offs isn't a priority but I'm not going to rule it out."

Additional vexation came with county champions Knockmore's decision to withdraw their players, Peter Butler and Kevin O'Neill, from the team to play Laois - a match lost by a point and in which Mayo had 18 wides; a match that O'Neill's free-taking might have won.

"I certainly didn't appreciate it. The club said on the Tuesday they wouldn't play and I contested it. The county board could have enforced it but I didn't want to go down that road. In Mayo and down in Clare, I've always respected clubs' requirements but I don't think players should be wrapped in cotton wool. I was in difficulty because of the suspensions and injuries and I needed a bit of loyalty."

Strained loyalties, suspensions, injuries and the disappointment of shattered ambition. Maughan's taste for challenges to his man-management skills will guarantee a thoroughly enjoyable year.