Mayo owe Kerry one bigtime.I really fancy them to win this one.And i fear losing to Mayo in the final also.Ive said it all year its Mayo who will more than likely dethrone us.With the fear of losing three All Ireland finals in a row,whoever they would meet(providing they beat Kerry)would be in for one hell of a game.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 03/08/2014 20:32:51    1630943

Mayo proved today that they haven't improved since last year. I fancied them to make the final but after seeing them today ld have to say kerry.

Floops (Dublin) - Posts: 1623 - 03/08/2014 20:33:59    1630946

At this stage of their development, I think Mayo have too much physical power for this Kerry team over all. We clearly have a lot more mobility in the midfield area than Kerry and we have the footballers to more than match them. Let's be honest, Mayo made hard work of beating Cork in the quarter final and while Cork were well up for the game, I actually thought Mayo were very composed and played well within themselves. Perhaps Mayo have played a dangerous game up until now, a game they've just about got away with - but it really seems to me like we've been saving ourselves for the latter stages. I expect Mayo to really tune in on Kerry and go up through the gears in the semi-final and don't be surprised if Mayo really do a big number on them. While Mayo fans will naturally be delighted to beat Kerry for the Mayo players I don't think they really care who our opposition is at this stage because for them it's just about SAM or bust and rightly so!

JamesH (Mayo) - Posts: 465 - 03/08/2014 20:36:39    1630949

Kerry fans full sure they are in the final...well the ones I was talking too. I thought they were there for the taking yesterday it for galways inexperience. In fairness they have. It just bet us over the last 15 years. It hammered us...it's time we beat them. It make no mistake a repeat of the cork performance will be no good. Who are the favourites?

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11232 - 04/08/2014 11:37:00    1631089

jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 12902

1630875
Both Kerry and Mayo haven't come up against a team good enough to expose their under belly

Both teams have their weakness as has been exposed in the past couple of years

But I think Mayo will best Kerry

Mayo generally save their best performances for semi-finals

Think they'll peak against Kerry

It'll be hard to judge which team will be more cynical

Both are masters

Jimbo seems to have conveniently wiped the closing stages of last year's All-Ireland final from his memory, as well as the numerous biting incidents that his beloved Dubs have been involved in. Easy to brand others when you've a log in your eye...

Now, to the matter at hand. I would have serious worries about Mayo, based on yesterday's game, and also the general trajectory of their season. Mayo seem to only be able to play in fits and starts, whether this is down to conditioning issues or a mentality thing, it's a serious worry. As predicted beforehand, they struggled to deal with their opponents dropping back en masse, as in previous years.

James O'Donoghue will be licking his lips if Mayo leave their full-back line exposed like yesterday (and like the first half of the semi-final last year). Either dropping Keith Higgins back or playing a sweeper in front of J O'D the next day must be considered seriously.

Even though Andy Moran scored a lovely point in the second half, he was beaten to a number of balls and you'd have to call his mobility into question.

Also, a more general worry would be the complacency that sets in when Mayo build up a lead on an opponent. In my twenty years of watching Mayo sides, it's been something that has occurred again and again with Mayo sides, at all levels of competition. It's something that may take more than three weeks to fix.

Kerry for me, unless Mayo produce a 70 minute performance at full-tilt, for the first time this season.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 04/08/2014 12:19:02    1631131

Legendzxix and wfkerry zzzzzzzzzzz. Don't think even that aul sort of Kerry cute hoorism on a gaa forum won't save this Kerry team. The more I see of them the more I am certain they are there for the taking. Yara yara

Weary (None) - Posts: 249 - 04/08/2014 12:29:09    1631141

his will be very close.. Mayo need to tie up o donoghue.. If they do they should have enough in other depts... Easier said than done tho... Kerry won't mass the defensive ranks as much as cork and Roscommon did.. I think mayo have still plenty in the tank and I would give us a tentative nod here

Kerry not playing mass defence??...they play with ten defenders all the time...talk about not wanting to wake up and smell the coffee!

mayotyroneman (Tyrone) - Posts: 1821 - 04/08/2014 12:44:33    1631162

Yerra sure we probably havn't a hope in hell against the all conquering men from Mayo. And God sure, even if by some miracle we do manage to pip them we will only be a guard of honour for Dublin's coronation in September.

But back to reality, football's a simply game when it comes down to it and generally the team with the better forwards wins the match. Kerry are a far superior unit up front than Mayo. True our midfield and defence will need to seriously improve from Sunday, but I'm certain Eamon will see to that.

Kerry have nothing to lose going into this and have all the advantages that our tradition, our record against Mayo, our mental strength and our brilliant forward unit confers. Its a match set up for an Kerry ambush. Weary of Mayo but certainly not terrified of them.

Kerry to win it, and by a bit more than most people think...

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 05/08/2014 11:30:08    1631669

Mayo will win. A lot of people falling for the whole tradition thing as if Mayo are afraid of Kerry. They are not and I think they will improve on the Cork game. Glad that people are split on it, goes to show people are unsure of Mayo which is fair enough until we get over the line.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7902 - 05/08/2014 11:49:58    1631689

Interesting game in store. The thing that jumps out at me is Cian O'Neill and Donie Buckley. They both have insider knowledge. But will the wily old veteran sell out his home county?!

As regards mayo and their metal strength, I actually think these lads will relish this questioning of their mental toughness. We in mayo have had to suffer this slight for a long time. Those lads grew up with it. It will be a big motivation for them, of that I have no doubt.

May I also say, I remember the Kerry lads at the quarter final stage last year cheering on mayo against Donegal. They wanted a mayo win more than some mayo fans. I hope whoever wins this game goes on to win Sam Maguire.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 05/08/2014 12:09:57    1631702

Couldn't understand that myself last year Master. I was just an interested neutral but some of the lads around me, jeaysus you'd swear they were from Mayo such relish were they taking in Donegal's defeat. Couldn't understand it myself, sure what animosity would there be between us and our Donegal friends. Maybe, like a lot of people, they just have want to see ye poor cratters put out of yer misery and finally win won back.


I must say I was quietly hoping for a Mayo win on Sunday, sure you'd get sick of playing that Cork shower and anyway I'd support a Rangers/England selection if they were playing em!!

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 05/08/2014 12:19:21    1631708

The Silver Medal Semi: Keith Higgins will mark JoD, end of story for the Kingdom. Mayo are setup to beat them.

realman2 (Kildare) - Posts: 464 - 05/08/2014 13:14:01    1631761

Don't really think previous meetings from the last decade will have any bearing on this game except to possibly give Mayo a little extra motivation.
Based on the set up of both sides at the minute I'd see the Kerry HF line V Mayo half back line as the key battle. Expect to see Kerry backs getting their match ups right and doing a decent job on the Mayo forwards with the midfield turning into a slugging match between 4 big men. Expect Kerry to add O'Brien to the full forward line(if fit)and go with 3 inside to test the Mayo back 3. Key then is can Kerry half forward line get on enough ball and transition it quickly to the FF line to do damage - if this happens mayo half line will have to sit deep because it was plain to see the Mayo full back line was shakey against cork. Forcing Mayo half back line to sit back would give Kerry a huge platform and deprive Mayo of scores and momentum.
Personally dont think Kerry have the mobility on the half forward line at present to do the necessary but if we get a step up from QF to Semi as we did last year will have the makings of some game!!

blacknamber (Kerry) - Posts: 267 - 05/08/2014 13:25:09    1631776

This has the potential to be one of the games of the season. Two great teams. Would have Mayo as slight favourites but can never rule out a Kerry team in Croke park. Wouldnt be surprised if Kerry come out on top.

fielder (Donegal) - Posts: 137 - 05/08/2014 13:37:36    1631789

Mayo @ 4/5, Kerry @ 11/8, draw @ 15/2

BlastCalyle (Mayo) - Posts: 206 - 05/08/2014 14:14:24    1631822

Despite grinding out the result against Cork which was very impressive given their near capitulation until O'Shea's brilliant goal, Mayo lack a forward like James O'Donoghue. He is a player who will make hay regardless of who is put on him, and the job at hand is to limit him as best as you possibly can. Hoping to neutralise him entirely is a foolish pursuit.

I think Mayo will do a worse job of this on JO'D than Kerry will do on the Mayo forwards combined, which is why I think the Kingdom will contest the final in September.

bob_dolphin (Limerick) - Posts: 694 - 05/08/2014 14:28:46    1631834

Mayo to win for me, although they have not played well for a full game yet they still are in the All-Ireland semi-final, if they tighten up at the back, they will get past Kerry and hopefully peak in the Final. Last year they peaked too early I believe in the quarter final against Donegal. Whatever people say about them letting Cork back into it they showed some heart to see game out.

aidan1000 (Leitrim) - Posts: 106 - 05/08/2014 14:40:01    1631842

Mayo will win this one. I base this on what I saw last weekend. I think that Kerry are a work in progress, while Mayo are ready for another final. Kerry is a bogie team for them, and to beat them may just be enough to see them right to set up a victory in the final. Kerry have lethal forwards, and it is up to the mayo defense to win or lose the game for mayo.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 05/08/2014 14:45:11    1631848

I think it's great that there is no pressure on our team this year, once we don't get beat by more than 7 points in the semi well then that can be seen as progress, I mean how many teams could lose players the likes of the gooch Tomas o'se Paul Galvin and Eoin Brosnan and still achieve as mush as the year before, not many I would reckon, no I think all the pressure has to be on the mayo team coz not only will they have to beat us in a semi but also either Dublin or Donegal in a FINAL. Also no disrespect meant to Monaghan or Armagh fans, terms and conditions apply.

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 05/08/2014 16:04:36    1631930

Think Kerry can win this, Eamonm Fitzmaurice seems like an excellent manager and their efficiency in scoring on Sunday was remarkable.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 05/08/2014 16:11:54    1631937