In Focus/Mayo footballers: Ian O'Riordan talks to the third man in what is becoming a dream Mayo management team

Mayo's five successive wins and the only unbeaten record in Division One has made them the headline act for the last two rounds of the Allianz Football League. That they look to continue this run in Parnell Park tomorrow evening adds to that hype, as they face a Dublin team who can't afford another loss if they're to stay clear of relegation.

Much has already been said about Mayo's resurgence in recent weeks, primarily explained by the fresh approach of manager Mickey Moran, and his maverick football coach John Morrison. But there is a third man.

A year ago, Kieran Gallagher coached Sligo IT to a third Sigerson Cup title in four years, and was also in charge of the Mayo minor team. A native of Swinford and a former Mayo minor and under-21 footballer, Gallagher was quickly making a name for himself in coaching circles. When John Maughan stepped down as Mayo manager at the end of last summer Gallagher joined the shortlist of successors.

In the end the county board went with the Moran-Morrison ticket, the first appointment from outside the county in 11 years, but when it came to completing the management team Gallagher was the obvious candidate.

So far they've been proving a dream team. Moran's deep football philosophy and mild manner might be considered a little old-fashioned, but that's well balanced by Morrison, who is more vocal and self-confident. Gallagher's youthful enthusiasm and willingness to share and learn ideas completes the happy triumvirate.

"It has been a dream start," admits Gallagher. "The only real disappointment so far was the FBD league final. Obviously the two boys have brought a huge freshness to the thing, but more importantly they didn't bring any baggage whatsoever, so everyone was starting from a clean slate.

"I suppose I'd describe this management as a good blend of youth and experience. The big thing is the similarities we have in training methods. The fact that we're trying to do the same thing means we fit in very well together.

"I really believe in the same sort of training as John Morrison does. I was doing a lot of the same stuff with Sligo IT and also the Mayo minors. And it is very high-intensity stuff, always using the ball. I think the players have really risen to that and always arrive in training with a smile on their faces."

The secrets of Morrison's regime have been sneaking out in recent weeks. A sports officer at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown who still lives in his native Armagh city, Morrison has degrees in sports management, coaching and psychology, and learned many of his principles while working with the Ulster rugby team.

Most of the training is at or above game pace, and one of Morrison's philosophies is to repeat without repeating - in other words no two sessions are the same. But he also tries to get inside the heads of the players, building personal profiles of them all. Psychologically Mayo must be stronger than they've ever been.

One of the other things he definitely shares with Gallagher is the notion that winning is a habit. It's written on the wall of every dressingroom they enter.

"I strongly believe that," explains Gallagher, "and that's why every time this team has gone out this year we try to get them to play to their best of the ability.

"It's as simple as that. That goes back to the training, which is all done at the highest level possible.

"Being the Mayo representative I suppose my personal role was to help make sure we had the best 30 players in the county playing with us. And I believe we do.

"But we're always looking to improve, so that's why we also have a development panel of around 23 players that also meet on a regular basis, and we can call from that panel when we need to.

"So I also see this team as a work in progress. Right now they are performing as well as can be expected but we know there's a long way to go. But what's particularly satisfying is that the players have been very, very committed to what we're doing.

"We try to get everyone together at least once a week, which means the Dublin-based players have to travel over 300 miles round trip. But they're doing that and still coming to training with great enthusiasm."

Gallagher knows that Mayo's unbeaten run will be severely tested by Dublin, who are usually at their best under the lights of Parnell Park.

Ronan McGarrity misses the game because of basketball duties, and Ciarán McDonald is still several weeks short of playing fitness - but still they're thinking only of maintaining that habit of winning.

"We're not sure of the league semi-final place just yet, so we'll definitely be battling hard. And floodlight games against Dublin are always something to look forward to."

Mayo football has been in equally high spirits before and nothing much has come of it, but sometimes you have to believe the hype.