Former Dublin stars wary of the Mayo challenge
THREE former Dublin stars - Ciaran Whelan, John O'Leary and Paddy Christie - all believe Mayo will pose a major threat to Dublin in Sunday's All-Ireland final.
Whelan feels Mayo have scored enough shock victories against Dublin in the past, especially in 2012 and 2006, to warrant naming them as serious contenders on Sunday.
O'Leary feels Mayo can give it a good lash, while Christie says that Mayo might have seen a few chinks in Dublin's performance against Kerry.
Ciaran Whelan
Speaking to The Connaught Telegraph, former Dublin midfield star, Ciaran Whelan, is under no illusion as to the challenge Dublin face next Sunday. He said that Mayo pulled off a few big wins over them during his playing days, especially in 2006. He believes that while most people think it is only a matter for Dublin to turn up next Sunday, this is certainly not going to be the case and that the Dubs should be ready for another huge battle.
He said: “I know Dublin are the huge favourites to win the All-Ireland again next Sunday. However, I am not buying into the idea that it is only a matter of Dublin turning up. Indeed, I think it is going to be a hard fought and close game, and one which could easily go right down to the wire.
“We saw last year how close Mayo came to stopping Dublin. It took a replay to decide the semi-final. In 2012 Mayo upset the odds when they won by 0-19 to 0-16.
“Back in 2006 was one of the games I like to blank from my mind. It was the game of the infamous pre-match scuffle in front of Hill 16 when Mayo came out first and took our warming-up space. It did cause a little friction.
“I don't know how much that affected us. We did start well and after 46 minutes we looked to be coasting to victory. I think we led by seven points at that stage, 2-11 to 0-10. But Mayo just got going and for the remainder of the match outscored us by 1-6 to 0-1 and beat us by a point. That was a massive defeat for us and one that still hurts.
“So, with Mayo you just never know. Yes, they haven't played as well this year. But they have come through the back door in good style and beat a fancied Tyrone side in the quarterfinals. They will pose plenty of problems next Sunday. Dublin will certainly want to be on their guard.
“The fact that Dublin got over Kerry in the semi-final is not going to have any bearing on this final. It will be a different game and one I expect could be a cracking match. If Mayo produce their best form they have to be in with a great chance. But they will have to be on their game as this Dublin team don't know when they are beaten.
“Of course I fancy Dublin to win. They have shown beyond all doubt what a great team they are. But anyone who thinks it is going to be easy is in for a rude awakening. But I am looking forward to what should be a great game.”
John O'Leary
Former Dublin goalkeeper John O’Leary, who lifted the Sam Maguire Cup in 1995, feels Mayo will be a tough nut to crack.
“Jim (Gavin) has a frighteningly powerful panel and are the hot favourites to capture a fourth All-Ireland crown in six years next Sunday. But I am of the opinion they are not going to find it easy against Mayo.
“Mayo are looking to avoid a third final loss in five years, and one has to give them every chance of finally ending their drought.
'It's now down to a 70-minute game, one shot at it, and from Mayo's perspective they'll be saying, ‘Well let's give this a good go, a good lash, and anything can happen',” he said.
'Statistically Mayo are going to win an All-Ireland at some stage. At some stage they're going to win it. Dublin have to guard against complacency. They're going to be red-hot favourites no matter what they try to do to talk themselves down. That's going to be really, really difficult. It's a big task to actually manage the expectations outside the camp. Jim seems to have them in a good space, but they'll have to work on that.”
Paddy Christie
Former Dublin full-back Paddy Christie believes that Mayo will need to target the reigning champions' kick-out and exploit the space if they are to have any chance of winning the upcoming All-Ireland final.
But Christie feels that Dublin did show a few chinks in their armour in the semi-final which a well-organised Mayo side could exploit next Sunday.
He said: “The Dublin kick-outs are a concern. If Kerry did nothing else they showed Mayo a structure to put in place that will certainly put a bit of a worry in Jim Gavin’s mind regarding kick-outs.
“Yet it’s a gamble, because you saw when Cluxton launched a few long-range kick-outs, it was dangerous on the other side, as Dublin then had the spare men up front.
“Another area that Mayo might target will be the space that is left in the Dublin half-back line, which could allow a team to score from distance.
“In around the centre-forward position for the opposition, in Dublin’s centre half-back position, it is often very, very free and you saw teams running through the middle there.
“Now they ended up running into strong defenders, but there are gaps sometimes in the Dublin defence and if people are prepared to fire from long distance, they can score against them.”