Eamonn Fitzmaurice: Breaking down the tactics

Midfield

The success of Seamus and Aidan O’Shea in this sector against Cork was one of the major reasons for Mayo’s victory. They ensured Cork could not engage their usual running game and instead they gave the Mayo forwards the possession that allowed them to trouble the Cork defence.

If Mayo cause an upset tomorrow they will have to gain supremacy here again. A vital part of the James Horan’s gameplan will be to limit the supply to the potent Kerry forward line. The O’Sheas are two big physical players. They are very strong in the air and will be a handful for Anthony Maher and Bryan Sheehan. As well as competing in the air the Kerry duo will go after them on the ground.

Aidan likes to play a bit of ball but tends to overdo it at times. He takes the ball into contact and can be turned over as Cork did for Paul Kerrigan’s goal the last day out. Kerry will be hoping Sheehan and Maher continue their good form and establish a vital foothold here.

Substitutes

MANAGERS put as much thought into the team that finishes a game as the team that starts. James Horan used his replacements very wisely against Cork. Ronan McGarrity is an experienced player used late in games to close them out much as Conor Counihan used Nicholas Murphy last year. He is a great target for kickouts and is also clever and resourceful in possession. Peadar Gardiner (assuming he recovers from his hamstring woes) brings legs and life to the Mayo cause when introduced. He is encouraged to play his natural running game which is most effective when the game is fractured in the closing stages.

Kerry for their part can call on Paul Galvin. While it is a blow for the Kingdom that he can’t start it gives Jack O’Connor a genuine match winner and game changer to spring from the bench. I expect this game to be very tight and could see Galvin in a match-winning cameo, much as against Cork last year.

James O’Donoghue has also done very well and should chip in with his customary late point.

Mayo’s defence

MAYO are better defensively, both systematically and individually, this year than in the past. Their backs are much more comfortable in one-on-one situations. They appear to have worked hard on this in training. They will face their ultimate test tomorrow in the shape of an in-form Kerry attack.

Trevor Mortimer has enjoyed a renaissance at wing back. He has been very effective in sweeping in front of his full-back line and has been prominent when Mayo are bringing the ball out from the back. It will be interesting to see how he copes from a purely defensive perspective tomorrow particularly if he marks Darran O’Sullivan. This week James Horan has spoken about not giving Kerry a start as Mayo did in 2004 and 2006. In those games the matches were over as a contest by half-time. Mayo will have focused on getting a good start and will look to keep things very tight early on. Expect them to play with a lot of bodies behind the ball and to tackle ferociously around the middle.

Ultimately how they fare at the back will decide their fate. If the Kerry forwards get enough ball they should have enough to do the business.