EVERY WEEKEND, OUR Friday football preview will give you the who, the what, the why, the when and the where ahead of the weekend’s GAA championship action, as well as statistics from analyst Christy O’Connor.
There’s only one show in town this weekend as Dublin and Mayo clash in the All-Ireland SFC final. For a chance to win Senior Championship game tickets courtesy of eir, click here.
Dublin v Mayo
All-Ireland SFC final
When? Sunday, 3.30pm
Where? Croke Park
TV? RTÉ 2 and Sky Sports Arena
History beckons on Sunday. Mayo are bidding to end a run of 10 All-Ireland finals (including two replays) without victory and be crowned champions for the first time since 1951. Dublin are 70 minutes away from completing the first three-in-a-row since Mick O’Dwyer’s last great Kerry side of 1986.
The fact Dublin beat Mayo by a point after a replay in last year’s decider only adds to the intrigue of this contest. This rivalry hasn’t quite reached the levels that Kilkenny-Tipperary did from 2009-2016, but it’s not far off.
These two sides are well-accustomed to playing one another, and Mayo have repeatedly matched Dublin over the last five years.
While Tyrone and Kerry were the dominant forces of the 2000s, Dublin or Mayo have appeared in all but one final since 2011. The difference is Dublin have won four finals in the last six years, while Mayo have lost three.
The key for Mayo is to keep Cian O’Sullivan occupied at the back with the smart rotation of their six forwards, and they must commit the defence to the side of the field Dublin are attacking.
If Dublin work their patient switch across to the other wing, Mayo’s defensive structure has to pivot across and keep pressure on the ball carrier.
The strength of Dublin’s bench gives them the edge, with Kevin McManamon, Bernard Brogan, Diarmuid Connolly, Eoghan O’Gara, Michael Darragh Macauley, Cormac Costello and Paul Flynn (if he doesn’t start) all impressive options for Jim Gavin to hlep them over the line late on.
Christy O’Connor says:
- Mayo have had a shot conversion rate of 54% in this championship so far
- Dublin have had a shot conversion rate of 61% in this championship so far
- Andy Moran has converted 59% of his shots
- Con O’Callaghan has had a conversion rate of 63%
- Mayo have had 19 different scorers from play in this championship
- Dublin have had 16 different scorers from play to date
Verdict: Dublin
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