Top GAA analyst Martin Carney's verdict on Mayo prospects

1935. The year Ronnie Delaney and Jack Charlton were born. In the USA, the Hoover Dam was completed and parking meters were introduced. At home, Tipperary footballers reached the All-Ireland semi-final.

Croke Park on Sunday sees the four times All-Ireland winners return for the first time in 81 years. Standing in the way will be a rejuvenated Mayo confident of reaching their third final in five years.

If timing means anything then Mayo are in a great position to dispose of the Premier County challenge. By defeating Tyrone, Mayo issued the clearest signal that the components needed in a final push for Sam are coming together at the right time.

A greater tactical nous was apparent; players who had previously been pale shadows of their former selves rediscovered their form. That cuteness and ability to effectively game-manage the closing stages of a contest was clearly in evidence.

What Mayo need now is to build on this. Stephen Rochford and his management team were innovative and resourceful in deploying their players against Tyrone. Though its importance to the winning process won’t be as pronounced on Sunday, I hope that Mayo maintain their current defensive template. The old adage that practice makes perfect comes to mind.

Casting an eye over Mayo’s defensive patch at any time during the Tyrone game it was reassuring to see bodies back in position. Never once did Mayo lose their defensive shape.

Kevin McLoughlin, so talented and comfortable on the ball, has really grown into his role as sweeper-cum-link man while Keith Higgins, in his familiar location, excelled. I expect either he or Brendan Harrison will man-mark Conor Sweeney who, despite his inconsistencies, can be a handful. Sweeney and Michael Quinlivan carry a twin threat that deserves the same respect as Mayo afforded Sean Cavanagh and Conor McAliskey.

Lee Keegan should start again in the full-back line with the assignment of marshalling Quinlivan. Keegan is at his most effective for the team when he is given a specific role of snuffing out the opposition’s main man. Sean Cavanagh and indeed Diarmuid Connolly can vouch for this. A Tipperary win is impossible without Quinlivan performing at his best.

Tipperary will be more direct than any of Mayo’s previous opponents. They favour the use of an early aerial delivery to their full-forwards. Mayo will hope that David Clarke’s assurance under the high ball will again generate confidence.

Mopping up any breaks will remain high on Colm Boyle’s to-do list. Boyle, all season, has exuded vitality that has shown no sign of abating and Tipp’s creative centre-forward, Kevin O’Halloran, can expect few favours from the Davitts dynamo.

As they showed against Cork and Galway, the Tipperary half-forward line will regularly forage behind their midfield. This should once again allow Patrick Durcan to attack with the same purpose as he has done recently.

Few Tipperary players graft as well as Peter Acheson. The ex-UCD man and team captain, alongside the ageless George Hannigan, form a hard working midfield partnership. It’s here that Stephen Rochford’s biggest selection dilemma will unfold. Will the fit again Tom Parsons earn a recall? Donal Vaughan’s box-to-box running and recent quality displays in Croke Park are, in my mind, impossible to ignore. With a higher probability of long restarts from Tipperary, is the occasion not suited to Barry Moran?

One from this trio, and given his current form I’d plump for Vaughan, will partner Seamie O’Shea, my man-of-the-match against Tyrone. At times Seamie can infuriate with his insistence on taking the ball into tackles but his mental strength in putting an ordinary display against Kildare behind him speaks volumes for his character. A formidable tackler, it is noticeable that his deliveries to the full-forward line have become more frequent and accurate.

A 13 points total was a poor return from the Mayo attack the last day when you consider, among other things, the contributions of veterans Andy Moran and Alan Dillon.

In attempting to protect their lead with 15 minutes still left to play, Mayo dropped anchor and afforded Tyrone four clear opportunities to at least draw the game. I felt that had they showed more ambition in this period a narrow win could have become something more substantial. More ruthlessness wouldn’t go astray.

Aside from his skill, Aidan O’Shea’s presence and ability to put the frighteners on opponents resurfaced in the Tyrone game. Credit him also with showing remarkable discipline in the face of repeated provocation.

Much was made of the circumstances surrounding Sean Cavanagh’s red card but scant attention was given to the constant taunting O’Shea endured. All told, the return to form of the Breaffy man was welcome and timely.

I’d only play Diarmuid O’Connor against Tipperary if fully fit as any recurrence of his injury could jeopardise his further involvement in the championship. Jason Doherty will never lack heart and effort. Furthermore, his skill set would be perfect in combating the highly influential Bill Maher.

Another gratifying outcome from the quarterfinal win was the display of Cillian O’Connor. His sharpness of thought and movement, allied to his all-round accuracy, are re-emerging and he will be a handful for Tipperary.

One of sport's key principals is that Mayo apportion appropriate levels of respect to Tipperary. Mayo must target this game with a similar approach that would be taken for granted were it Kerry or Dublin in the opposite corner.

Taking any result for granted, as Mayo found out against Westmeath, can backfire. Mayo dwarf their opponents as regards experience and depth. Due to a combination of factors, some of Tipperary’s most sought-after talent is absent, with commitment to hurling being the main reason.

Apart from their starting 15, Mayo have a host of players on the bench who can boost the drive for victory once they are introduced.

Tipperary are a third division team that Mayo should beat. Provided the winning processes are present - accurate restarts, disciplined and aggressive defending, a dominant midfield working in tandem with a clinical attack - it’s hard to visualise anything other than a Mayo win.

To boost confidence and increase belief, the win must come packaged in a big performance. The team is more than capable of rising to and overcoming the challenge.