McHale hopes Dubs stick with Brennan

Mayo legend Liam McHale is hoping that Ger Brennan retains his place in the Dublin defence for Sunday's All-Ireland SFC final because it would suit the Connacht champions better.

There is increasing pressure on Brennan's centre back berth after he struggled to combat Colm Cooper's influence during Dublin's semi-final win over Kerry.

Brennan was replaced by midfielder Denis Bastick at half-time, with Cian O'Sullivan reverting to the half-back line and the younger, faster Kilmacud Crokes clubman fared better in keeping tabs on Cooper.

It leaves Dublin manager Jim Gavin with something of a selection dilemma and 1996 All-Star McHale, who lost three All-Ireland finals as a player in 1989, 1996 and 1997, feels that Mayo would be pleased to see Brennan on the pitch from the throw-in.

"No disrespect to Ger Brennan, but in Mayo we'd prefer if he started centre back because we can match him up with Alan Dillon," McHale admitted, speaking at Vodafone's preview of the All-Ireland final.

"If Cian O'Sullivan goes centre back and (Denis) Bastick goes into midfield, in my opinion, we have to put Dillon into the full-forward line because those three guys (Dublin's half-back line) will kill him athletically. And we don't want our best ball player running around chasing fellas."

While the position that playmaker Dillon fills might depend on Dublin's selection, McHale has more pressing concerns about the fitness of two of Dillon's colleagues in attack - Cillian O'Connor and captain Andy Moran.

The westerners are hoping O'Connor will be fit to start after he suffered a shoulder injury during last month's semi-final victory over Tyrone. The Ballintubber ace was in stunning goal-scoring form prior to that, firing home hat-tricks against both London and Donegal.

Moran, meanwhile, has worked his way back from a cruciate knee ligament injury sustained against Down in last year's Championship. He made a goal-scoring return as a substitute against Galway in May and followed up with appearances against Roscommon, London, Donegal and Tyrone.

However, the experienced Ballaghaderreen clubman is playing well below par at the present - certainly nothing close to his 2011 All-Star-winning displays at full-forward - and McHale fears he might have over-trained in his bid to get back playing.

"You can't carry (O'Connor), for sure. I believe he played an A versus B game in Johnstown House last weekend and came through that, but that's a whole lot different compared to what will be coming at him on Sunday.

"You're as well to start him. If you don't start him and he comes on and goes off again in five minutes, you're after losing two subs.

"It's unfortunate that we didn't get this (shoulder) operation done last May or June. He'd obviously be a concern. His fitness would take your confidence away.

"And also Andy Moran struggling to get back fit after the knee operation is a big concern. Andy is way off what he was last year and the year before. They're our two top forwards so if they're below par, it's going to make it that bit more difficult for us.

"Andy is probably flying in training, nobody trains harder than him, but I hope he hasn't done too much now and hasn't over-cooked himself."

Former selector McHale dismissed talk of Mayo playing a sweeper this weekend - 'with the high line we've been using all season, that can't happen' - but wants to see his county a little more 'defensively minded'. "The game has to be tight at half-time. We can't afford to concede early goals," he insisted.

All in all, the man who was controversially sent off in the 1996 All-Ireland final replay against Meath remains confident that James Horan's current crop can end Mayo's 62-year wait for All-Ireland glory.

"Last year was a great chance (to lift the Sam Maguire). I still think they have a chance and I'd be reasonably confident.

"But this is a really good Dublin side with some very talented young players in it. It's going to take a really top class performance from Mayo to win it."