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'You know it's Mayo when they're tackling you': O'Sullivan hails strength and resolve of losing finalists

‘The resilience that this team has built up over the last number of years is really the difference coming through those hard battles.’

FIVE-TIME ALL-Ireland winner Cian O’Sullivan says there is ‘a good healthy rivalry’ between Dublin and Mayo which takes the form of an intensely physical encounter on the field.

Mayo’s long search for a Sam Maguire was prolonged on Sunday as the Connacht county lost out by a point to O’Sullivan and the Dubs as they completed a three-in-a-row. For O’Sullivan, it was fitting that feat was completed against the toughest team he’s faced.

“The physicality that team brings is unrivalled,” O’Sullivan says of the Green and Red.

“You know when you’re going out playing against those guys that you can’t be bringing the ball into tackle. All over the pitch they’ve very strong players and very physical in the tackle. You do know it’s a Mayo player when they’re tackling you and tagging you.

“We’ve the utmost respect for this team. Don’t know how many finals that’s been over the last number of years and they keep coming back and they keep raising the bar. What a bunch of players.”

With Mayo claiming an unwanted record eighth All-Ireland final defeat, O’Sullivan was asked if he had any sympathy for Stephen Rochford’s men and the teams that have gone to the well before them.

“You’re just so caught up in your own euphoria, that it’s probably not something that enters your head and there’s a very good healthy rivalry between us there. Off the pitch you would. You can’t afford to on the pitch at all.

“Last year that (Mayo) game went to a replay won by a point, won by a point today. There’s very fine margins there. Cillian O’Connor had a kick there, it hit the post. If that had gone over. It would have been a completely different story. Very fine margins and we know that there isn’t much between us and the other teams.

Cillian O’Connor with Cian O'Sullivan Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

“I think the resilience that this team has built up over the last number of years is really the difference coming through those hard battles. The experience of that really shows in those last couple of minutes. We just controlled the ball very well. Probably not the prettiest thing to watch but hold on the possession and see the game out in the last few minutes, thankfully we were able to do that.”

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