yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11232 - 29/08/2016 11:49:05    1907462

Spoddgy (Mayo) - Posts: 660 - 29/08/2016 11:53:58    1907470

A massive plus for Dublin is that James Mc is back

He played a gruelling 76 minute match and came through with flying colours

That will really help to bring him on

He played a massive part in the EOG point at the end

Very important to have him back

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 29/08/2016 12:13:52    1907489

plike (Kerry) - Posts: 569 - 29/08/2016 12:20:51    1907495

Mayo will win, its all set up for them now. Dublin on a high, thinking they are invincible. Mayo equal to Dublin on power, they have just as good footballers and what they have over Dublin is something that cant be taught but only acquired after years of suffering and loss. Mayo are now nasty, hardened group will go through Dublin for a short cut on all Ireland final day.

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 29/08/2016 12:21:32    1907497

I've said it already but I think Mayo have at least one massive championship performance in them. In previous years they haven't been able to do back to back performances and thus have fallen short of the finishing line. This year, they've stuttered and stumbled their way into the final without picking up any injuries or suspensions. Everyone is writing them off and practically crowning Dublin champions already. This is dangerous talk and I'm sure Gavin will be looking to get his player's mind right for the task at hand,

It would still require a supreme performance for Mayo to do it, as Dublin are just a phenomenal side but i think Mayo have it in their locker to spring a surprise. Put in another way, if the sides were to play each other ten times you;d expect Dublin to come out on top 8, if not 9 times out of ten. But in a one off game like a final, Mayo's luck could finally turn and they get over the line.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9139 - 29/08/2016 12:34:49    1907508

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 29/08/2016 12:40:10    1907513

Llaw_Gyffes (Mayo) - Posts: 1113 - 29/08/2016 15:33:17    1907672

All this talk of Mayo not being in form and scraping their way into a final is bs in my opinion.

This Mayo team are in their third final in 5 years. The other 2 years they lost to the eventual champions in a semifinal. They are a quality side coming into this year and have since added Diarmuid O'Connor.

This talk of form is stupid. Mayo have played the teams in front of them and won they're not playing the invisible shadow that is Dublin's performances. They didn't blow anyone away, but maybe because they felt by trying to do so could mean them more likely to eventually end up losing. The aim of the game is to maximise your chance of winning, not maximise your average winning margin.

I'd rather win by 1 point 100% of the time than win by 10 points 99% of the time.

They were caught out by Galway, but as yesterday shows any team can get caught out, the difference was Dublin had time to recover.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4226 - 29/08/2016 17:00:50    1907730

were doomed..

Vishred (Mayo) - Posts: 303 - 29/08/2016 17:32:25    1907748

Take O Shea out of the game, don't give O Connor silly frees. Play our own game.

Liam makes a very good point, Mayo won in 2012 by disrupting Dublin momentum, giving away frees, feigning injury. It worked a treat, could be an option.

That said Dublin didn't have a place kicker that day, if the same frees are given in the final, Rock will have another good day.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 29/08/2016 19:58:28    1907793

Be afraid Dubs, be very afraid!

offtheboat (USA) - Posts: 57 - 29/08/2016 20:24:39    1907808

Dublin have been finishing games very strongly recently. They seem to be aiming to hit hard towards the end of the second half after the opposition have worn themselves out trying to get ahead. If Mayo want to stop them, I think they need to focus on the last 20 minutes or so of the match and make sure they're in a good position and ready to go hell for leather then. Dublin will empty the bench at this stage too, so Mayo should probably look at bringing on fresh legs too. They obviously won't want to put themselves in a situation where Dublin race into an insurmountable lead early on, but I think they'd want to look at finishing the game stronger than they started it and with their best 15 on the pitch for those final 15-20 minutes rather than having all their best players running out of steam just when Dublin start to call on the bench. Mayo will urgently need to clean up their tackling, which has been very sloppy of late. No excuses for gifting handy frees. But they are as physically imposing a team as Dublin and fitness shouldn't be an issue. One advantage Mayo will have is that they have been a lot less predictable this year than they have been in previous years. Under Horan they played with virutally the same 15 and in the exact same style in almost every game. Under Rochford, they seem much to have adopted a much less one-dimensional approach and seem to be more geared towards versatility. There are a lot of questions marks about how they'll set up and who will start. I don't think it will be as easy this year for Gavin to pin down exactly how Mayo will play. That being said, Mayo's traditional running game could ask serious questions of Dublin as they can look a bit rattled when the opposition drive at them. Pushing up on Cluxton is a must also.

Mayo are probably the only team over the last few years to really have Dublin on edge every time they meet. There is no reason why they couldn't put it up to them again.

ZeitChrist (UK) - Posts: 154 - 29/08/2016 20:36:43    1907813

Anything is possible on a given day I suppose but I just cannot see this Mayo team beating Dublin,I think Mayo missed their chance with this current team, they were always short that bit up front, as long as I have been watching Mayo it's been the same, that said though they came very close a few times.
No point in the yerra or arrah posts on here, it won't matter a damn on the 18th. Dublin by at least 5 or 6 points for me and even at that they will just be easing up.
Still looking forward to the match, kinda sorry it wasn't a draw yesterday, would have been good to see another good game,no doubt in my mind that Dublin would have won the replay.

TirChonaillabu2 (Donegal) - Posts: 344 - 29/08/2016 20:45:01    1907816

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7902 - 29/08/2016 21:20:56    1907831

I'll be avoiding the GAA forum as much as I can for the next 3 weeks as it will be full of nonsensical threads that are spin offs from this one. All the bitter lemons will be having a pop at both teams instead of showing them some respect. For what it's worth, Mayo are not there to make up the numbers and despite their form I am expecting a big performance. Will it be enough? I don't know. We are playing the team with the best forward line in the country but more importantly the team that have forwards on the bench who would walk onto the Mayo team. If we get our tactics right and manage to not concede any goals in the first half and it's still tight at half time then I will be more than happy in the knowledge our lads will die in their boots for one last shot at it. A lot of unknowns going into this but I am looking forward to it. If we stink the place out and win by a point fouling and being the most cynical team that ever played in Croke Park then I wouldn't be one but sorry. We are past the stage of trying to please people. Anyway lads try and keep the posts half coherent and thoughtful ok the build up but that is probably too much to ask.

http://youtu.be/0ver0lMNMgw

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 7902 - 29/08/2016 21:32:09    1907835

Kerry's performance yesterday would have beat Mayo I have no doubt. But Mayo have not hit form at all and find themselves in an All-Ireland final. They have to have one big performance in them. They have the experience, they know Dublin well and know they can give them plenty of problems.
This SHOULD be close.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8592 - 29/08/2016 21:34:07    1907836

The big question is How many pages will this thread go Its got about 3 weeks I'm guessing 25 for the over under

cluichethar (Mayo) - Posts: 454 - 29/08/2016 21:37:54    1907837

liner (Mayo) - Posts: 756 - 29/08/2016 21:55:06    1907850

GameOfTyrones (Tyrone) - Posts: 469 - 29/08/2016 23:00:19    1907870