Mayo ‘in good shape’ to upset Tyrone

TYRONE’S form has sparkled to such an extent this season that they have been installed as heavy favourites for tomorrow’s All-Ireland MFC semi-final against Mayo.

The match is viewed as the next assignment for Raymond Munroe’s team to pass on route to landing the Tom Markham Cup on September 19th. But Connacht champions Mayo are still travelling to Croke Park full of optimism tomorrow afternoon.

“We’re going for it,” says Mayo boss Tony Duffy. “We really feel that we’re in with a serious shout and we’re not going up there to make up the numbers.

“My gut feeling is that we’re in good shape and the lads’ heads are where we want them to be. We’re going to have a right crack at Tyrone.

“We’re devising a strategy to counteract their style and believe they are eminently beatable. If things go our way, we get a bit of luck, a few refereeing decisions, we’ll be there or thereabouts. But we have to play well. That’s the key issue.

“I haven’t seem them in the flesh but I’ve watched them on DVD and they’re a serious outfit. They play a very similar game to the Tyrone seniors. They pressure teams, force turn-overs, and attack at pace. They’re comfortable on the ball too and play with that familiar Tyrone style. They’re going to be hard to break down but we’re going to have to try anyway.

“This is why I took the job, to test myself against the very best managers in the country at this level. I can’t wait for the match. The biggest obstacle for us is, with all this talk about how good Tyrone are, maybe it’s to try and convince our lads that they’re every bit as good as them.

“But I believe we are.”

Mayo’s cause has not been helped by the hectic schedule some of their players have had to endure between club and county to date this season.

“It’s about a hundred miles away from being ideal,” conceded Duffy. “But, having said that, playing championship football for your club is good for fitness and sharpness. It’s not ideal but I have no problem with lads playing for their clubs, within reason. I appreciate that the County Board have a job to do. The main thing was that most of the lads came through unscathed.”

Mayo captain Cillian O’Connor is one of those players who is fit and the Ballintubber attack has been in superb form this season.

“We’re preparing for him to be tightly marked and for Tyrone to also drop a man back in front of him,” admitted Duffy. “But we’ve got other players that can cause them problems too and Cillian can play a big part for us by keeping two or three of their players occupied. That will allow somebody else the opportunity to do damage.”

Meanwhile Tyrone midfielder Harry Óg Conlon insists they are guarding against complacency entering the match.

“We have been successful so far and that can make you complacent. We have to get our mindset right. Mayo have been a bogey team for Tyrone in the past, especially the minors, but Raymond Munroe has been keeping our feet on the ground. We have to control our confidence and not get complacent.

“We need the same mindset as we had in the Ulster final. Raymond is always talking about this team working for one another – the ‘whole team’ ethos. Training is going really well and there is a lot of competition for places in the starting line up. Everyone is on their toes and hopefully coming to their peak at the right time.”