Former Mayo star John Casey says the vilification of Lee Keegan is "bordering on ridiculous".

In the run-up to Saturday's All-Ireland SFC final replay, countless column inches have been dedicated to Keegan's past and future confrotantions with direct opponent Diarmuid Connolly and Casey feels this is a deliberate ploy from the Dubs to put pressure on referee Maurice Deegan to take action against the belligerent Mayo wing back:

"The build-up to the game seems to be all about Lee Keegan being vilified, which I find extraordinary," the Westport man told RTÉ 2FM's Game On. "For any outsider looking in, it looks like it's being planned and coordinated. In the papers every day this week, there has been a former Dublin player having a cut at Keegan, highlighting the way he plays on the edge.

"You have to think that is directed towards match referee Maurice Deegan. [Lee is] an unbelievable player and it's bordering on ridiculous, the way he's being vilified. Are you going to tell me that Philly McMahon isn't going to have tug of Aidan O'Shea's jersey next Saturday evening, or that Johnny Cooper isn't going to antagonise Andy Moran? Of course they are. It's the way football is being played.

"It's an amazing sideshow and a desperate attempt by Dublin to highlight Keegan. But it happens, it's football. Everybody tries to antagonise each other to get the upper hand. Lee Keegan has an impeccable disciplinary record. He was sent off once in an All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry and it was rescinded because the referee made a mistake.

"He plays on the edge, he's a born winner. I hope Maurice Deegan doesn't buy into this Dublin propaganda machine.  It's all a bit daft, I just wish, from a Mayo point of view and Diarmuid Connolly and Lee Keegan's point of view, they'd let them go out and play each other. It's a brilliant, brilliant spectacle, it's like McGregor-Diaz, it's what we want to watch."

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