2013 All Ireland Final: Mayo v Dublin

[INDIANA]

Recent Mayo and Dublin games, even in the league, tend to be roller coasters. One team gets on top and scores heavily and then it reverses completely. 2006 & 2012 were both like that. Dublin's game versus Kerry suggests they won't do anything to avoid that sort of game so the question is, will we?

I expect Davy Fitz style hell for leather from Mayo from the throw in.

I think it will be our highest intensity yet, even higher than Galway or Donegal.

Dublin are obviously better than those two, but if the scores come for us with the work rate we will be really motoring. Given the above comment about roller coaster matches, even if we do get ahead, we know the Dubs can score quickly when they get their tails up. They won't quit after 25 minutes like the 2 above. How would we react to a Dublin comeback? Maybe like last year? We had two goal chances to end it last year and I think this year we would take at least one of those. We wouldn't like to be relying on Bernard to miss again.

There is then the issue of McMenamin and Rock coming in, with fresh legs, on players who have played the majority of a highly intensive game. Do we bring on fresh subs in the backs to deal with this? If so who?

Last year I was as hopeful as any Mayo supporter, but I was really concerned about the FF line. Regardless of what happened in the FB line at the start of that match, for me our FF line never got the scores that could have won it for us. Varley never got going, Cillian was bullied out of it at FF and Conroy was the best of the 3, but really only played well for a spell before half time.

This year were have Cillian in the corner, Freeman in form and Andy Moran with a bit to prove, but a chance to remembered forever. I much prefer this trio. We also have Conroy to come in. I think our forwards will be fine.

At the other end I am happier seeing Cunniffe there and Barrett has done well. If anything fails badly early on, bring back Higgins.

Flynn, Kilkenny, Connolly versus our HBs will be some battle. If the Dubs get 2 of these 3 pulling strings high up the pitch we will be in trouble. But we have the 3 to take them on. This contest will be worth the admission alone.

Midfield need to win our ball, which they should and there is Barry Moran if they don't. We will really need to figure out and disrupt Clucko's kick outs early in the game. If we do that we will win. Simple as.

Mayo by 4-6. (mainly because I don't want to be 2 points up watching McMenamin running towards our goal in injury time)

If you kick a lot of ball into COC you're going to lose. There is absolutely no way that injury is healed in 3 weeks. None. I can't see him influencing things hugely beyond free taking.

[From the Bunker]

The confidence of the Mayo people here in Dublin by the way is staggering. Never seen such bravado before a game which I suppose is  a relief to the cageyness/ downplaying  most counties engage in before big games.

I've gone to school, college and worked beside Mayo people all my life and invariably they fluctuate between being either morbidly pessimistic about their footballers or wildly optimistic to the point of delusion. With not a whole lot of grey area in between. You get used to it.

Yeah, they remind me of Galway Hurling fans! :p

[thebuzz]

Paddy Heaney in the Irish News has Mayo to win.

However at the start of his article he says "Readers are advised to approach this preview with caution. When predicting the winners of All-Ireland football finals, this journalist's success rate is only marginally better than Mayo's."

He finishes with "The famine in Mayo has now entered its 62nd year. But it's going to end. Beaten in six finals, it's hard to escape the hunch that tomorrow's game will prove to be lucky number seven.".

[seafoid]

Recent Mayo and Dublin games, even in the league, tend to be roller coasters. One team gets on top and scores heavily and then it reverses completely. 2006 & 2012 were both like that. Dublin's game versus Kerry suggests they won't do anything to avoid that sort of game so the question is, will we?

I expect Davy Fitz style hell for leather from Mayo from the throw in.

I think it will be our highest intensity yet, even higher than Galway or Donegal.

Dublin are obviously better than those two, but if the scores come for us with the work rate we will be really motoring. Given the above comment about roller coaster matches, even if we do get ahead, we know the Dubs can score quickly when they get their tails up. They won't quit after 25 minutes like the 2 above. How would we react to a Dublin comeback? Maybe like last year? We had two goal chances to end it last year and I think this year we would take at least one of those. We wouldn't like to be relying on Bernard to miss again.

There is then the issue of McMenamin and Rock coming in, with fresh legs, on players who have played the majority of a highly intensive game. Do we bring on fresh subs in the backs to deal with this? If so who?

Last year I was as hopeful as any Mayo supporter, but I was really concerned about the FF line. Regardless of what happened in the FB line at the start of that match, for me our FF line never got the scores that could have won it for us. Varley never got going, Cillian was bullied out of it at FF and Conroy was the best of the 3, but really only played well for a spell before half time.

This year were have Cillian in the corner, Freeman in form and Andy Moran with a bit to prove, but a chance to remembered forever. I much prefer this trio. We also have Conroy to come in. I think our forwards will be fine.

At the other end I am happier seeing Cunniffe there and Barrett has done well. If anything fails badly early on, bring back Higgins.

Flynn, Kilkenny, Connolly versus our HBs will be some battle. If the Dubs get 2 of these 3 pulling strings high up the pitch we will be in trouble. But we have the 3 to take them on. This contest will be worth the admission alone.

Midfield need to win our ball, which they should and there is Barry Moran if they don't. We will really need to figure out and disrupt Clucko's kick outs early in the game. If we do that we will win. Simple as.

Mayo by 4-6. (mainly because I don't want to be 2 points up watching McMenamin running towards our goal in injury time)

Good post there muppet....

This team and managment have had a belief and conviction that they will win this match...this belief has been there since the Monday after last years final and they have been proved correct so far...

As supporters if they believe, we should believe....

Mayo by 4.

I bet they have loads of spreadsheets , go fluirseach ar fad.

[bucko]

Looking at the Dublin line up, McMahon in to obviously try and shore up what has been Dublin's weakest line so far this season. Am just wondering if Dublin will continue with the all action style they've stuck with all summer or will they play tighter at the back, and if so how much will this affect their normal game? Similarly with ourselves, will we play the sweeper or back McLoughlin's and Higgins' engines and ability to repeatedly cover back and get forward throughout the 70 mins? I really feel we have to choke up the centre channel from our goal out to the D any time Dublin get on the ball to restrict their goal chances. Would be happy with us restricting them to taking points as I don't think they will dominate us enough on the possession front to score enough points to beat us. If we can do this I can see us creating enough opportunities to win, but we have to take those chances. If we let Dublin in for goals, am not so sure. If we play as well as we can, and I'm talking the Donegal performance + 10% more for the full 70 mins, it'll be Mayo by 2+ points.

[INDIANA]

Looking at the Dublin line up, McMahon in to obviously try and shore up what has been Dublin's weakest line so far this season. Am just wondering if Dublin will continue with the all action style they've stuck with all summer or will they play tighter at the back, and if so how much will this affect their normal game? Similarly with ourselves, will we play the sweeper or back McLoughlin's and Higgins' engines and ability to repeatedly cover back and get forward throughout the 70 mins? I really feel we have to choke up the centre channel from our goal out to the D any time Dublin get on the ball to restrict their goal chances. Would be happy with us restricting them to taking points as I don't think they will dominate us enough on the possession front to score enough points to beat us. If we can do this I can see us creating enough opportunities to win, but we have to take those chances. If we let Dublin in for goals, am not so sure. If we play as well as we can, and I'm talking the Donegal performance + 10% more for the full 70 mins, it'll be Mayo by 2+ points.

Whose going to score all these points for Mayo?

[muppet]

Looking at the Dublin line up, McMahon in to obviously try and shore up what has been Dublin's weakest line so far this season. Am just wondering if Dublin will continue with the all action style they've stuck with all summer or will they play tighter at the back, and if so how much will this affect their normal game? Similarly with ourselves, will we play the sweeper or back McLoughlin's and Higgins' engines and ability to repeatedly cover back and get forward throughout the 70 mins? I really feel we have to choke up the centre channel from our goal out to the D any time Dublin get on the ball to restrict their goal chances. Would be happy with us restricting them to taking points as I don't think they will dominate us enough on the possession front to score enough points to beat us. If we can do this I can see us creating enough opportunities to win, but we have to take those chances. If we let Dublin in for goals, am not so sure. If we play as well as we can, and I'm talking the Donegal performance + 10% more for the full 70 mins, it'll be Mayo by 2+ points.

Whose going to score all these points for Mayo?

We know, yous are the bestest ever.

[INDIANA]

Looking at the Dublin line up, McMahon in to obviously try and shore up what has been Dublin's weakest line so far this season. Am just wondering if Dublin will continue with the all action style they've stuck with all summer or will they play tighter at the back, and if so how much will this affect their normal game? Similarly with ourselves, will we play the sweeper or back McLoughlin's and Higgins' engines and ability to repeatedly cover back and get forward throughout the 70 mins? I really feel we have to choke up the centre channel from our goal out to the D any time Dublin get on the ball to restrict their goal chances. Would be happy with us restricting them to taking points as I don't think they will dominate us enough on the possession front to score enough points to beat us. If we can do this I can see us creating enough opportunities to win, but we have to take those chances. If we let Dublin in for goals, am not so sure. If we play as well as we can, and I'm talking the Donegal performance + 10% more for the full 70 mins, it'll be Mayo by 2+ points.

Whose going to score all these points for Mayo?

We know, yous are the bestest ever.

Not at all but I'm staggered by the Mayo optimism based on the following analysis

Kevin Mc Loughlin- very good hard working wing forward who may score 0-2 a game. Very good player though
Alan Dillon-           - your best forward in my eyes who needs a Tour de Force
Keith Higgins- a defender ( a very good one though)
COC- struggling with injury - top player- but carrying a serious structural injury into the game
Freeman - inconsistent. good player but has rarely strung two top performances back to back.
Moran  -out of form this season. Fine player but not playing well.

You go on about our defence and we just nod our heads and say totally agree with you. But what about Mayo's forwards?

[Syferus]

Recent Mayo and Dublin games, even in the league, tend to be roller coasters. One team gets on top and scores heavily and then it reverses completely. 2006 & 2012 were both like that. Dublin's game versus Kerry suggests they won't do anything to avoid that sort of game so the question is, will we?

I expect Davy Fitz style hell for leather from Mayo from the throw in.

I think it will be our highest intensity yet, even higher than Galway or Donegal.

Dublin are obviously better than those two, but if the scores come for us with the work rate we will be really motoring. Given the above comment about roller coaster matches, even if we do get ahead, we know the Dubs can score quickly when they get their tails up. They won't quit after 25 minutes like the 2 above. How would we react to a Dublin comeback? Maybe like last year? We had two goal chances to end it last year and I think this year we would take at least one of those. We wouldn't like to be relying on Bernard to miss again.

There is then the issue of McMenamin and Rock coming in, with fresh legs, on players who have played the majority of a highly intensive game. Do we bring on fresh subs in the backs to deal with this? If so who?

Last year I was as hopeful as any Mayo supporter, but I was really concerned about the FF line. Regardless of what happened in the FB line at the start of that match, for me our FF line never got the scores that could have won it for us. Varley never got going, Cillian was bullied out of it at FF and Conroy was the best of the 3, but really only played well for a spell before half time.

This year were have Cillian in the corner, Freeman in form and Andy Moran with a bit to prove, but a chance to remembered forever. I much prefer this trio. We also have Conroy to come in. I think our forwards will be fine.

At the other end I am happier seeing Cunniffe there and Barrett has done well. If anything fails badly early on, bring back Higgins.

Flynn, Kilkenny, Connolly versus our HBs will be some battle. If the Dubs get 2 of these 3 pulling strings high up the pitch we will be in trouble. But we have the 3 to take them on. This contest will be worth the admission alone.

Midfield need to win our ball, which they should and there is Barry Moran if they don't. We will really need to figure out and disrupt Clucko's kick outs early in the game. If we do that we will win. Simple as.

Mayo by 4-6. (mainly because I don't want to be 2 points up watching McMenamin running towards our goal in injury time)

If you kick a lot of ball into COC you're going to lose. There is absolutely no way that injury is healed in 3 weeks. None. I can't see him influencing things hugely beyond free taking.

I dont' think anyone has ever claimed that.

It's an incredible risk to take but all the word I've heard is that it's less shoulders and belts that are the problem and more falling on the ground on it that will dislocate it. A high ball into him could be more dangerous than anything Philly or any Dub player has in mind.

If he managed to stay in the game for 50+ minutes he will have a massive influence on proceedings.

[Tubberman]

Looking at the Dublin line up, McMahon in to obviously try and shore up what has been Dublin's weakest line so far this season. Am just wondering if Dublin will continue with the all action style they've stuck with all summer or will they play tighter at the back, and if so how much will this affect their normal game? Similarly with ourselves, will we play the sweeper or back McLoughlin's and Higgins' engines and ability to repeatedly cover back and get forward throughout the 70 mins? I really feel we have to choke up the centre channel from our goal out to the D any time Dublin get on the ball to restrict their goal chances. Would be happy with us restricting them to taking points as I don't think they will dominate us enough on the possession front to score enough points to beat us. If we can do this I can see us creating enough opportunities to win, but we have to take those chances. If we let Dublin in for goals, am not so sure. If we play as well as we can, and I'm talking the Donegal performance + 10% more for the full 70 mins, it'll be Mayo by 2+ points.

Whose going to score all these points for Mayo?

Probably the players who have been scoring them all summer - at a guess.

[ballinaman]

Looking at the Dublin line up, McMahon in to obviously try and shore up what has been Dublin's weakest line so far this season. Am just wondering if Dublin will continue with the all action style they've stuck with all summer or will they play tighter at the back, and if so how much will this affect their normal game? Similarly with ourselves, will we play the sweeper or back McLoughlin's and Higgins' engines and ability to repeatedly cover back and get forward throughout the 70 mins? I really feel we have to choke up the centre channel from our goal out to the D any time Dublin get on the ball to restrict their goal chances. Would be happy with us restricting them to taking points as I don't think they will dominate us enough on the possession front to score enough points to beat us. If we can do this I can see us creating enough opportunities to win, but we have to take those chances. If we let Dublin in for goals, am not so sure. If we play as well as we can, and I'm talking the Donegal performance + 10% more for the full 70 mins, it'll be Mayo by 2+ points.

Whose going to score all these points for Mayo?

Probably the players who have been scoring them all summer - at a guess.

[bucko]

Looking at the Dublin line up, McMahon in to obviously try and shore up what has been Dublin's weakest line so far this season. Am just wondering if Dublin will continue with the all action style they've stuck with all summer or will they play tighter at the back, and if so how much will this affect their normal game? Similarly with ourselves, will we play the sweeper or back McLoughlin's and Higgins' engines and ability to repeatedly cover back and get forward throughout the 70 mins? I really feel we have to choke up the centre channel from our goal out to the D any time Dublin get on the ball to restrict their goal chances. Would be happy with us restricting them to taking points as I don't think they will dominate us enough on the possession front to score enough points to beat us. If we can do this I can see us creating enough opportunities to win, but we have to take those chances. If we let Dublin in for goals, am not so sure. If we play as well as we can, and I'm talking the Donegal performance + 10% more for the full 70 mins, it'll be Mayo by 2+ points.

Whose going to score all these points for Mayo?

We know, yous are the bestest ever.

Not at all but I'm staggered by the Mayo optimism based on the following analysis

Kevin Mc Loughlin- very good hard working wing forward who may score 0-2 a game. Very good player though
Alan Dillon-           - your best forward in my eyes who needs a Tour de Force
Keith Higgins- a defender ( a very good one though)
COC- struggling with injury - top player- but carrying a serious structural injury into the game
Freeman - inconsistent. good player but has rarely strung two top performances back to back.
Moran  -out of form this season. Fine player but not playing well.

You go on about our defence and we just nod our heads and say totally agree with you. But what about Mayo's forwards?

I agree with you about the forwards, however Vaughan, Keegan and Boyle have scored 2-15 between them coming into this game. It'd be hard not to see them contributing something to the scoreboard tomorrow. We don't necessarily need our forwards to shoulder the whole scoring burden. Re your point about Freeman, IMO he's been our most underrated forward all season. He has consistently improved game by game, if his curve keeps going upwards he may cause more problems than one might think....

[INDIANA]

Looking at the Dublin line up, McMahon in to obviously try and shore up what has been Dublin's weakest line so far this season. Am just wondering if Dublin will continue with the all action style they've stuck with all summer or will they play tighter at the back, and if so how much will this affect their normal game? Similarly with ourselves, will we play the sweeper or back McLoughlin's and Higgins' engines and ability to repeatedly cover back and get forward throughout the 70 mins? I really feel we have to choke up the centre channel from our goal out to the D any time Dublin get on the ball to restrict their goal chances. Would be happy with us restricting them to taking points as I don't think they will dominate us enough on the possession front to score enough points to beat us. If we can do this I can see us creating enough opportunities to win, but we have to take those chances. If we let Dublin in for goals, am not so sure. If we play as well as we can, and I'm talking the Donegal performance + 10% more for the full 70 mins, it'll be Mayo by 2+ points.

Whose going to score all these points for Mayo?

We know, yous are the bestest ever.

Not at all but I'm staggered by the Mayo optimism based on the following analysis

Kevin Mc Loughlin- very good hard working wing forward who may score 0-2 a game. Very good player though
Alan Dillon-           - your best forward in my eyes who needs a Tour de Force
Keith Higgins- a defender ( a very good one though)
COC- struggling with injury - top player- but carrying a serious structural injury into the game
Freeman - inconsistent. good player but has rarely strung two top performances back to back.
Moran  -out of form this season. Fine player but not playing well.

You go on about our defence and we just nod our heads and say totally agree with you. But what about Mayo's forwards?

I agree with you about the forwards, however Vaughan, Keegan and Boyle have scored 2-15 between them coming into this game. It'd be hard not to see them contributing something to the scoreboard tomorrow. We don't necessarily need our forwards to shoulder the whole scoring burden. Re your point about Freeman, IMO he's been our most underrated forward all season. He has consistently improved game by game, if his curve keeps going upwards he may cause more problems than one might think....

Mayo's defence is definitely a good bit better then ours. Stronger at midfield too but honestly I don't believe your forwards are in our forwards league.

You'll need 70% posession to win tomorrow. We don't. So midfield will decide the game.

[Syferus]

Freeman has been very consistent this season. One more top-drawer performance will make him a serious contender for an All-Star.

[GalwayBayBoy]

The confidence of the Mayo people here in Dublin by the way is staggering. Never seen such bravado before a game which I suppose is  a relief to the cageyness/ downplaying  most counties engage in before big games.

I've gone to school, college and worked beside Mayo people all my life and invariably they fluctuate between being either morbidly pessimistic about their footballers or wildly optimistic to the point of delusion. With not a whole lot of grey area in between. You get used to it.

Yeah, they remind me of Galway Hurling fans! :p

If you knew Galway hurling supporters believe me, optimism is not a trait I would ever associate with them. Simmering anger and fatalism would be more like it.

Playing very well and leading at half-time in last year's All-Ireland a lad from Gort sat beside me leaned over to me and said "watch them f**k this up now in the second half".