Then again Galway's defence wasn't up to much.

MichaelO (Tyrone) - Posts: 820 - 05/08/2014 16:12:14    1631938

The Kerry lads make me laugh playuing down there chances, saying the players they have lost (Granted they have lost Gooch, but the others had their service done, no player will go forever).

This is a good kerry team with real scoring power, they have younger fresher legs in defence (Than last year) and a well drilled system. They have a really top coach in Cian O'Neill and a very astute manager in Eamon Fitzmaurice. All in all they are a formidable outfit and the Mayo defence will have to be considerably better if Mayo are to win . Mayo need the performance of the Midfield / Forwards to be 20 % better than against Cork,
Mayo need the performance of the Backline to be 100% better than against Cork, Remember Kerry annihlated Cork , Mayo beat Cork by one point . A much improved performance required by Mayo but hopfully they can pull it off.

belmay (Mayo) - Posts: 172 - 05/08/2014 16:59:05    1631979

Think Kerry will win because this year they are playing for 70 mins
Not like the last couple of years where they ran out of steam in the last 10 mins of games
Plus if you look at the Mayo Cork game a third of Mayos scores came from Cork players losing the ball when in possession

RAHKILL (Westmeath) - Posts: 395 - 05/08/2014 17:05:44    1631986

Kerry to win, even if u double mark o'donoghue, you are leaving space for players like geaney to run riot, if u dont double mark o'donoghue he will run riot!

as_ky (Kerry) - Posts: 535 - 05/08/2014 18:52:16    1632052

Kerry will really fear Mayo in this one. Going for their third All Ireland Final appearance in a row makes them a formidable outfit and one to be feared. I hope our lads can put up a respectable performance so that our team building for next few years won't be thrown really off course. I'd say within five points of them would be a fairly acceptable outing for our lads especially as we don't have a great semi-final record against Mayo of late.

I will travel in hope however.

dingle2 (Kerry) - Posts: 278 - 05/08/2014 21:35:29    1632188

Kerry will really fear Mayo in this one. Going for their third All Ireland Final appearance in a row makes them a formidable outfit and one to be feared. I hope our lads can put up a respectable performance so that our team building for next few years won't be thrown really off course. I'd say within five points of them would be a fairly acceptable outing for our lads especially as we don't have a great semi-final record against Mayo of late.

I will travel in hope however[/I].

Straight out of the Mick O Dwyer school of yerra.

Yes Kerry are experts at playing down their chances. I advise all Mayo supporters to enjoy the championship. That means put up your flags, and put on county songs etc in the town squares. I am saying this because I have been in Mayo in the lead up to the big game, and people are almost forbidden to mention their chances, out of creating hype. This has proven to be something that doesnt affect a county any more. 2 years ago, when we won the all ireland, you couldnt go anywhere without flags or songs blaring. It didnt affect the players. Similarly 20 odd years ago it was the same. It is time to enjoy the rest of the summer. Forget about mind games, it might just take a wee bit of the pressure of your players.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 06/08/2014 08:54:18    1632225

Donegalman
County: All
Posts: 1460

1632225
Yes Kerry are experts at playing down their chances. I advise all Mayo supporters to enjoy the championship. That means put up your flags, and put on county songs etc in the town squares. I am saying this because I have been in Mayo in the lead up to the big game, and people are almost forbidden to mention their chances, out of creating hype. This has proven to be something that doesnt affect a county any more. 2 years ago, when we won the all ireland, you couldnt go anywhere without flags or songs blaring. It didnt affect the players. Similarly 20 odd years ago it was the same. It is time to enjoy the rest of the summer. Forget about mind games, it might just take a wee bit of the pressure of your players.

Donegal and Mayo are not really comparable in that sense, as the men from the hills just don't have the same baggage when it comes to September football. I would be of the opinion that some Mayo people (mostly fairweather fans or non-football people) go overboard when the county side is going well. It would be impossible not to absorb it to some extent.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 06/08/2014 09:18:05    1632229

It's long past time that our players should be pressurised by hype within and outside the. We were long enough outside Croke Park in the 70s,mainly because of a great Roscommon team, getting there in championship seemed a big ask. In '81 we got back there, in '89 we got to our first final in 38 years. We've been there since, you know the rest, but we're nearly complacent now about playing in Croker in August and/or September. We shouldn't be.

I was on the train to Drumcondra on Sunday morning, families clad in green and red, up at dawn to travel long miles in terrible weather to support our minors, Galway and the senior team. Laughing and joking all the way to the stadium not a care in the world. Some of them were kids going to Croke Park for the first time. I never had a thought to ask why. Mayo people love football. We have the utmost respect for any players that wear the county jersey in competition. Simple as. Let's go buckape. The Rossies are on the rise, the Tribesmen will be a force again next year, we can never be sure when we see Croker Park the next time.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7387 - 06/08/2014 09:38:03    1632239

Apologies for the typo's !

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7387 - 06/08/2014 09:47:04    1632247

RAHKILL
County: Westmeath
Plus if you look at the Mayo Cork game a third of Mayos scores came from Cork players losing the ball when in possession

That is a major strength of this Mayo though...turning over the ball inside the oppositions third and getting a score. Mayo doen it nine times inside the Cork 65 and yielded 1-4.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11248 - 06/08/2014 10:00:56    1632252

Past results will have no relevance in this . I cannot see Mayo losing this one .

TheRightStuff (Donegal) - Posts: 1688 - 06/08/2014 14:11:34    1632450

Gleebo
County: Mayo
Posts: 170



Donegal and Mayo are not really comparable in that sense, as the men from the hills just don't have the same baggage when it comes to September football. I would be of the opinion that some Mayo people (mostly fairweather fans or non-football people) go overboard when the county side is going well. It would be impossible not to absorb it to some extent.

We have had plenty of baggage over the years, and one thing is for sure, there will come a time when our team is not as strong, and we dont have much to shout about for a while. That means make the most of it, i dont mean by going around the place bigging up your team and smalling down the opposition, I mean by just enjoying the occasion and having fun. I think that the players are too well screened now to be affected by the activities of the public. That is my instinct about it anyway.

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3830 - 06/08/2014 14:26:24    1632463

When weighing both sides up, I would consider Mayo to be the stronger team overall. Mayo's half forwards, midfield and half back lines are superb. They have a decent full forward line, and likewise a decent full back line.
I don't doubt their ability, but I do have reservations over energy this season. To me they look like they have lost a spring in their step, well certainly they haven't managed to hit top gear just yet. Is it any wonder after 4 years? It's been 4 years without a break, and that is difficult for players to sustain year after year without burning out.

Kerry have rebuilt, and a new look team is starting to take shape. Still questions marks over them though

Both sides have beaten Cork and Galway, and Mayo have overcome the added challenge of Roscommon.

Kerry have probably looked the more Impressive against Cork and Galway, If you were to compare how both teams fared against the same opponents. However that may not be the most accurate Indication.

Kerry believe they can take Mayo, and have the ability to provide Mayo with a much sterner test than Cork did. I suspect a tight game, and I believe Kerry will edge it.

GaryMc82 (Derry) - Posts: 3017 - 06/08/2014 16:31:23    1632550

I have predicted for a while now that Mayo will reach this years All Ireland Final and still stand by that, I just hope when they eventually win SAM, that it is not us they are playing in the Final because we will never hear the end of it.

I could take losing to Kerry any day, but after last Sept, I hope it wont be Mayo that beat us. It would be unbearable... :o)

Kerry are gonna have to play out of their skins to beat Mayo in the semi.... Should be an excellent game.

Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 3743 - 06/08/2014 17:05:50    1632588

Yerra we are good at downplaying other peoples expectations of us alright. But honestly we always travel supremely confident when ever we face into a big game, one of the advantages of the Kerry tradition.

But I understand why some down here are a little apprehensive facing into the game. I mean we will be facing what has been the second best team in the country for the past two seasons. A lot of the Kerry side that probably should have won in 2011 have gone and even last year's side that came so close to the final has seen major changes due to injury and retirements. This team has been slowly developing since 2012, but has really only emerged and found its feet during this year's league campaign. We've played some great football so far but have yet to meet a team of Mayo's ability. Despite this I feel confident

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 06/08/2014 22:00:31    1632738

This game is as 50/50 as you can possibly get.
Really looking forward to it
Both teams have weaknesses but the fact I think this year is likely the last for the likes of Marc O Shea, Declan O Sullivan, Donaghy etc could be the incentive to get Kerry over the line

woops (Kerry) - Posts: 2073 - 07/08/2014 08:26:53    1632745

Can see this going right down to the wire. Mayo to prevail. To be honest I can't wait for this match.

bluedubstar (Dublin) - Posts: 835 - 07/08/2014 09:25:43    1632767

Pound for pound the two best footballing counties in the country

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 07/08/2014 09:46:12    1632775

Maigh Eo should win

an tseabhac (Kerry) - Posts: 441 - 07/08/2014 14:44:47    1633002