NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE/Semi-finals: As they prepare to face Tyrone in the league play-offs, Mayo selector Billy Kerins says his side have absorbed last year's championship lessons. Keith Duggan reports

Mayo's all-year-round fan fraternity could only issue a collective sigh when Enniskillen was announced as the venue for the league semi-final against Tyrone.

A strange affinity has developed between Mayo fans from Crossmolina, Castlebar, Bohola, wherever, and the northern venue. Enniskillen is where Mayo began their league-winning spree well over a year ago and where Fermanagh halted it two weeks ago. That should have been a fitting, symmetrical end to it, but for last week's quirk of fate.

The thought of another cross-country hike through Leitrim and Cavan challenges the spirits of even Mayo's eternally up-for-it football supporters. Manager Pat Holmes was thoroughly annoyed, declaring himself "disgusted" at the decision.

"It's no problem with the pitch, it's a fine ground," explains selector Billy Kerins. "But it's really no more than an hour away from most parts of Tyrone, while for some Mayo people it means a three-and-a-half hour journey.

"It's the GAA's call, there is nothing we can do about these things, but surely there are several halfway points. The Mayo fans are great, though, they like their football and I wouldn't worry about them travelling."

This time last year, Mayo's sure-footed strides to the league semi-finals made them concentrate on the competition in its own right and they were pleased with the bonus of early silverware. As defending champions, they have made it to the last four with an ease and authority that has caught the eye.

"The fact that the league only began after Christmas really suited us because we had taken a decent break. I suppose some of the performances did surprise us a little, but we have a good young squad with a lot of natural scorers. I think the return of James Horan has also really benefited the younger players in terms of having a defined leader."

Although many Mayo supporters await the return of another source of inspiration, there is little sign of reconciliation between Crossmolina playmaker Kieran McDonald and the senior side, with work prompting the forward to apply for a transfer to a Galway club. However, having recently reversed that decision, it has been speculated that he might be back in Mayo colours for the summer.

"We invited Kieran onto the panel when we were resuming training after Christmas and that didn't happen. We have had no contact since," clarifies Kerins.

Holmes's Mayo side is distinctly different from the promising teams that were fancied to deliver the ultimate prize in 1992, 1996 and 1997. They are a physically less imposing bunch, lighter, younger and more nimble, and also thrifty in front of the posts.

"Yeah, that has been a change from the teams down the years," says Kerins. "A good few of these lads have come through from underage level and the attitude is extremely good within the squad.

"We absorbed the lessons of the championship last year and took a long break, and it was good to get back to football again in January. I suppose the league has really taken us right up to the championship, it's really only a matter of weeks now before it all starts again."

So with Roscommon also in the last four, would Mayo prefer to avoid meeting them prior to their Connacht date, or would a dry run be desirable?

"Well, when it's down to the last four in the league, I think it is safe to say that every team will be trying to win it. That's all I would say on that."

But Tyrone have been the most consistent league team over the past two seasons apart from Mayo, with the foot-and-mouth quarantine ruining what had been an impeccable build-up to last year's play-offs. Although beaten by Donegal, they have eased through the other top division, also amassing some very high scores.

"I watched Tyrone beat us in last year's under-21 All-Ireland final. Both teams will have players from that game on duty again tomorrow. They are a very good side, strong and skilful, with a really good forward line. But these are the kind of hard games you need at this time of the year."