All-Ireland SFC quarter-final
Donegal v Mayo
Sunday, 4pm
Croke Park
Referee: Joe McQuillan
Latest from the medics and management….
Finally a grudge game with the stakes piled seriously high. Donegal’s casualty list has been damaging throughout the summer. Karl Lacey is named to start, but doubts persist whether he is fully in tune just yet. Donegal need him to be. The noises coming from the north west suggest Mark McHugh may make an appearance and Donegal require him too.
Mayo have encountered difficulties of their own. Goalkeepers David Clarke and Kenneth O’Malley remain sidelined so Rob Hennelly continues between the sticks. Cillian O’Connor’s recovery from a shoulder problem was evident in the Connacht final when the St Patrick’s Drumcondra student netted three goals following his introduction. Unsurprisingly O’Connor is in. Donal Vaughan, a fierce competitor, replaces Chris Barrett with Keith Higgins named at corner back. Speculation out west, though, suggests Higgins may actually start in a reshuffle at wing forward with Barrett included in defence.
DONEGAL: Paul Durcan (Four Masters); Paddy McGrath (Ardara), Neil McGee (Gaoth Dobhair), Eamonn McGee (Gaoth Dobhair); Frank McGlynn (Glenfin), Karl Lacey (Four Masters), Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill); Neil Gallagher (Glenswilly), Rory Kavanagh (St Eunans); Ryan Bradley (Buncrana), Ryan McHugh (Kilcar), David Walsh (Naomh Bríd); Paddy McBrearty (Kilcar), Michael Murphy (Glenswilly), Colm McFadden (Naomh Mícheal).
MAYO: Rob Hennelly (Breaffy); Tom Cunniffe (Castlebar Mitchels), Ger Cafferkey (Ballina Stephenites), Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis); Lee Keegan (Westport), Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe), Colm Boyle (Davitts); Aidan O’Shea (Breaffy), Seamus O’Shea (Breaffy); Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore), Richie Feeney (Castlebar Mitchels), Alan Dillon (Ballintubber); Cillian O’Connor (Ballintubber), Alan Freeman (Aghamore), Andy Moran (capt, Ballaghaderreen).
Checking the odds…..
Mayo are 4/6 favourites, Donegal are in the rare position of being All Ireland champions and slight underdogs at 6/4. Those who feel it could be low scoring and attritional will be on the draw at 15/2.
Clues from the form guide….
What have Mayo found out about themselves in this year’s Championship? Not very much at all. An aggregate winning total of 45 points in their successes over Galway, Roscommon, and London has them wondering about their true worth.
James Horan has worked on the Mayo minds with team meetings and debriefings part of the staple now. On school of thought is that Mayo will enter August fresh and eager for a physical examination with Donegal. Will the lack and sheer absence of proper engagements thus leave them exposed? These are the issues that Horan and the Mayo footballers have spoken about, but one thing is for sure they will not want to allow Donegal get a two goal headstart. That happened last September and Mayo were left reflecting on another missed opportunity on the biggest day of them all. Again.
Stunned by Monaghan Donegal did have enough to survive their trip to Carrick-on-Shannon where a feisty Laois awaited. Donegal are back where they wanted to be ‘minus some silverware’ according to Jim McGuinness. Down and Monaghan, though, have set the template of being resilient when facing Donegal.
Against Monaghan Donegal tried to remain calm and composed, but it followed a script usually associated with winter football. Opt for the strong wind, get a lead, and then ensure to take the sting out of the game. Suddenly a four or five point lead seems to increase in size as the seconds tick away and panic mode sets in.
With Colm McFadden and Michael Murphy tied up Donegal just couldn’t land the scores, but they both contributed handsomely against Laois. So did Paddy McBrearty. A defining 70 minutes edges closer.
The game breakers are….
Lots to choose from. With uncertainty surrounding the participation of Mark McHugh Donegal will be hoping that the convalescing Karl Lacey and Frank McGlynn can scamper forward when the chances arise. The rapid Keith Higgins may be on their beat too. McHugh mightn’t be around to dictate who and when they break, but Donegal are always dangerous when committing players on those swift dashes from deep.
Mayo have the raw strength to force turnovers themselves which anyone in Galway and Roscommon will testify to. Capable of earning possession the hard way monitor how willing Colm Boyle and Lee Keegan are to commit themselves forward. That could cause problems for Donegal.
For the All Ireland champions the usual suspects must deliver up front. Michael Murphy seized the initiative when these teams last collided in a Championship match scoring a goal that lit up Croke Park. It injected Donegal with hope and belief drained from Mayo’s system when he expertly lashed home. Mayo will try to stop Donegal at source, out the field and restrict the amount of possession that is kicked inside.
Colm McFadden’s left peg is dangerous, Paddy McBrearty was on the money in Carrick so Mayo are forearmed and forewarned. Half forwards Richie Feeney and Kevin McLoughlin will drop back keen to lend a supportive hand to their defensive colleagues. The importance of Feeney and McLoughlin shouldn’t be underestimated.
Gazing into the crystal ball….
In these straightened times with characters diminishing it was no harm at all to hear cross words from both camps. Some deem it trash talk, but it brought an extra dollop of excitement and this match carries a proper fascination. There mightn’t be any love lost between Donegal and Mayo, but this should be raw. Just what is craved on the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Since last September Mayo have nursed some grievances and they intend to take another step on the journey towards claiming Sam Maguire. This is the weekend that has dominated their thoughts for several months. Being ready to rock is their objective. Mayo might have to roll too because Donegal will come swinging from the outset.
A good start proved to be half the battle for them in the All Ireland final, but Mayo haven’t been overly spooked in quarters or semis before. Tyrone will remember 2004 for instance and highly regarded Dublin outfits have been caught too. Mayo are an imposing outfit and bring a consistency not always traditionally associated with the county.
Focusing on themselves brought facile triumphs over Galway, Roscommon, and London. Mayo weren’t worried about the past or records when thumping those three, but there is nobody disputing that the gradient steepens considerably now the business end of the inter county calendar has been reached.
From the first blast of referee Joe McQuillan’s whistle this ought to be intense. Scores should be scarce so if any Mayo or Donegal can stitch a healthy unanswered sequence together it may be decisive. Don’t expect it to be pure football, but it will be dramatic.
Verdict: Donegal, just about about, but this could go the distance
