Mayo firepower to rock Rebels

This game has been dominated by some unexpectedly lively pre-match ‘banter’, what with Cork’s claims that Mayo are the experts at tactical fouling and the like. All of which makes a change from them being tagged as Mayo’s weak link.

Cillian O’Connor dismissed the debate about the county’s attacking threat and, while there is a case to point that finger on the basis of the last two All-Ireland finals, they generally don’t struggle outside of September.

Down and Donegal have been hit for a combined 7-35 in the last eight this last two summers and Galway were done for 3-14 in this year’s Connacht final. Yet Mayo come to Dublin as a team that has yet to hit its straps this summer.

James Horan has described Cork as a “wounded animal” after the debacle against Kerry and Brian Cuthbert reacted to the loss by embracing a more defensive hue against Sligo. He has chosen the same 15 here. Will the approach be identical, too?

Mayo, who are also unchanged, beg fewer questions. They bring experience and physicality to bear too, but if Cork can keep it tight until late they possess a stronger bench with the likes of Daniel Goulding, Donncha O’Connor and John Hayes to spring if required.

All the pressure is on Mayo, but they possess pace in abundance and the suspicion is that they will have done enough to pull sufficiently clear of any late charge by then. Queries as to their firepower and strength in depth may have to wait for another day.

Verdict: Mayo