Mortimer impressed by Mayo front men
The 2006 All Star left the panel in the week prior to last year’s Connacht final after becoming frustrated with limited starting opportunities.
However, he was greatly impressed by the display as a unit two days ago. “People say they weren’t all that great in the Connacht final, but they were creating chances and they took them against Donegal.
“Two of the goals were giveaways by the Donegal defence but they wouldn’t have come about if the Mayo forwards weren’t putting them under serious pressure.
“They’re different gravy at the moment. Cillian O’Connor is a class footballer and has a great head on his shoulders for a young lad. The composure he showed to roll that ball into the net a few minutes into an All-Ireland quarter-final was something else.
Andy Moran will get better the more he plays, [Alan] Freeman is doing fine and Dillo [Alan Dillon] did well against Donegal. [Kevin] McLoughlin is playing good stuff too.
“They all seem to be coming to form at the right time and I don’t think Donegal was their big game. The next one is always the big one and they won’t be getting carried away with themselves.”
Mortimer fully appreciates why Mayo have been made All-Ireland favourites but is wary of what lies ahead on August 25 and just how motivated Tyrone will be after Joe Brolly’s comments regarding cynical play.
“Tyrone and Mayo will be close. Mayo will be favourites and heavily fancied by the papers but they won’t go near them.
“Tyrone are always a dangerous side and they’ll be fuelled after the ridiculous things Brolly has said about them and Sean Cavanagh.
“They always have some attachment to a game to rise themselves over the years and that may be it. But Mayo have a decent record against them. You’d expect Mayo to win but it’ll be more difficult than people expect.”
Mortimer also joined the chorus of approval for Aidan O’Shea’s man of the match performance.
“Aido has always been a good player and everyone knew that when he came in three or four years ago. It kind of helps that he has [brother] Seamie beside him. They’re a powerful midfield unit.
“It’s always about the next game for Aido. The bigger the opponent the better he will play. Going up against (Seán) Cavanagh will get him going.
“His tackling was pretty good, he wasn’t reckless and jumping into tackles. I thought the yellow card in the first half was a bit iffy, I don’t think there was malice in it. He’s always played the game that way.”
Goalkeeper Rob Hennelly left the panel just weeks prior to Mortimer’s more dramatic exit, but was recalled to the panel following injuries to David Clarke and Kenneth O’Malley.
Mortimer said: “Robbie’s a good goalkeeper and at the time he had a pain because he wasn’t playing well, not getting a lot of games and had other things going on in his life. His kick-outs have been good, his handling is good and he brings a lot of confidence. He’s a good fella to have around the panel because he’s very enthusiastic. It will be difficult for the rest of them to budge him now but that’s a sign of quality in the squad.”
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