FOUR OR FIVE years ago, people wouldn’t have thought twice when trying to forecast a Kerry-Mayo match. Kerry had a sort of a hex over Mayo and you could trust them to find a way to win.
It’s a different scenario before tomorrow. Mayo are a stronger, wiser and tougher team these days. You look at how they beat Roscommon and Cork and you know they’re battle-hardened now.
It’s a good thing to win games like that. Last year Mayo were rolling over teams and their confidence was sky high. You can lose a bit of focus that way and feel you’re invincible. Now Mayo feel they can push on a bit and everyone is going to have been driving each other in training to achieve that.
Starting XV
The Kerry team selection on Sunday is interesting. Is it a dummy team? Kerry haven’t done that this season so you have to believe in it. Declan O’Sullivan not playing is a big one. He’s a massive loss as a guy who makes Kerry tick and is such an intelligent footballer in how he uses the ball. His knees have been bandaged lately, maybe there’s an injury problem there? Killian Young is gone from centre-back and that’s another loss of experience.
I’d trust Eamon Fitzmaurice in his decisions. You get the impression that he thinks hugely about the game and is very calculated in his approach. He’ll have analysed this match in depth when it came to selecting his team.
He has an incredibly strong bench to call upon. It can be risky business to plan to still be in the game with 20 minutes left and then spring the lads from the bench to win the game. Sometimes you can be holding too many players in reserve. But Kerry definitely have the firepower in their subs that that could be vital towards the finish.
You have to give Kerry huge credit for where they’ve come from. They lost Paul Galvin, Tomás Ó Sé, Eoin Brosnan and Colm Cooper since last summer. Household names that won’t be replaced overnight. Yet they’re in an All-Ireland semi-final now and in with a huge chance of getting to the final.
Admire
I’ve huge admiration for Mayo as well. They keep getting knocked down but keep coming back. With Kildare we’d a few years there where we lost quarter-finals and then the semi-final in 2010. We kept on going but Mayo’s recovery has been even more impressive. They keep winning Connacht titles and keep getting to All-Ireland finals.
It’s tough when you’re beaten in big games. You’re questioned by others and start questioning yourself as to whether you can solve this problem. When the door bangs shut in front of you after a season, it can be tough to drive yourself on for another year. You need huge motivation and a strong will to win. Mayo’s persistence makes me think that they have that.
I’ve a lot of times for their older lads like Keith Higgins, Alan Dillon and Andy Moran who have been through a lot of bad days. I got to know a few of the other players like Lee Keegan, Colm Boyle, Aidan O’Shea and Kevin McLoughlin last year when we played together for the Irish International Rules squad.
They were good characters, real down to earth guys who went quietly about their business. They worked hard, conducted themselves and stood out as very good technical footballers. Outside of Kerry, Dublin and Donegal, I reckon the rest of the country would be backing Mayo to finally become the bride this year after years spent as bridesmaids.
Star Forward
First up they have to win tomorrow and they’ll need to stop James O’Donoghue to do that. He’s come on hugely this year. He’s a no nonsense forward and the goal is like a magnet for him. O’Donoghue is brilliant to watch and ticks all the boxes that you need as a forward. He’s having the summer of his life and has shown that he thrives in the pressure without the Gooch.
I’m still giving a hesitant vote for Mayo tomorrow. It’s a really tight call but they’ve been semi-final specialists over the last couple of years. You go back to 2004 when they beat Fermanagh after a replay, the classic win over Dublin in 2006 and the wins over Dublin and Tyrone in the last two years.
The pressure on Mayo before a semi-final doesn’t seem to be as severe as when they get to the final. They can cope and then get the job done. I think they’re a little stronger around the middle eight and can win enough ball there to beat Kerry.
They’re criticised for not having a Bernard Brogan or a Colm Cooper in their attack but they’ve a spread of scorers. Cillian O’Connor will kick five or six points while Kevin McLoughlin and Alan Dillon are usually good to row in with a few points apiece as well.
There’s balance there, if one player doesn’t show up, another will come in and take the game to Kerry. I see that as a strength. Kerry had a hex over Mayo but they’re more streetwise now. That can take them back to another final.
