Expert View
Jim Gavin’s men are the league champions, they eased to Leinster success, they have been posting big tallies all summer and the scores they got against Kerry were top drawer.
But as a result all the pressure is on them. Jim Gavin won’t have been happy with the goals conceded against Kerry, but the gameplan they have is all out attacking football which does leave them exposed at the back. If there is a breakdown in the Dublin attack, Mayo can counter that with a quick break down field to get scores.
The impact of the Dublin subs will be crucial. Dublin have a really strong bench and given the influence Dean Rock, Philly McMahon and Kevin McManamon had when introduced against Kerry, I can’t see Jim Gavin tinkering with his starting 15. These so called super-subs have come in and decided the outcome of so many games — why would you change?
The mental fear that was evident with Mayo teams in the past doesn’t seem to be present this year. I suppose a lot of these guys have won minor and U21 titles, they know how to win. Kerry was the team they always found it hard to get past, but Mayo do not fear Dublin, they know how to beat them and have beaten them in the past.
I imagine Cillian O’Connor won’t start, the worst thing you want is for one of Mayo’s key players to start and then go off injured early on. It would have a big bearing on the game, it would be wiser to bring him on and I imagine Mayo would get a huge lift from that. I am going to sit on the fence and go for a draw, the team’s are very similar and I don’t think the All-Ireland champions will be crowned this weekend.
