No disrespect to Tipp

They are 100% there on merit but lets not forget just how handy Kerry won Munster this year!

It would be a massive shock if Mayo lost - this is as handy a route to a final that they've had in a long time

Mayo have all the necessary experience and we've seen the lengths they are willing to go to win this year

Then just add it all up here

Dublin are missing 3 of their best players and are trying to do a back to back All Ireland titles - in fact back to back Trebles

Straight away trying to do a back to back is a massive disadvantage to any defending champion and this has long since been proven

Many of Mayo's big wins over the last 5 years have come against defending/deflated AI Champions not being the team they were...

Kerry although still capable of great things are not the truly great side they once were

Mayo have proven they are their equal in recent games against them and in fact should have beaten Kerry in 2014 when Kerry went onto win the All Ireland.

Its all there for Mayo in 2016 - the luck is also with them, all those home draws in the qualifiers, we know what AOS got up to and got away with, and then Tyrone missing several sitters, Mayo once again targeting players and getting them sent off with no retribution...

No it's going to happen at long last for Mayo - Mayo for Sam 2016

It's all adding up!

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 16/08/2016 10:06:48    1901623

We have a massive opportunity for sure and this Mayo team won't lack for determination. Moreover, we are good enough to win the thing and it's high time we took care of business. One game at a time now.

JamesH (Mayo) - Posts: 465 - 16/08/2016 10:28:28    1901635

Aidan O'Shea's neck and Sean Cavanagh's arm... not sure how we enginered that one.

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 16/08/2016 10:28:51    1901636

2013 was the biggest chance they have had since 51. To be beaten by a performance as bad as that from Dublin was absolutely criminal from Mayo's point of view and I didn't believe for one second that they would get a better one. I was wrong. The stars are aligned

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 16/08/2016 10:29:41    1901637

The general feeling in Mayo is that the current Dublin team are just unbeatable. I dont think any team with beat them this year. There does not seem to be any pressure on Mayo this year because Dublin are so good nobody expects to beat them. Dublin would also have a great run to the final playing 2 division 1 teams to get there. Mayo would not meet a division 1 team until the final so we would be untested going into it. My money is on Dublin.

Mfs (Mayo) - Posts: 251 - 16/08/2016 10:31:16    1901639

I think alot of Mayo people bought into the "star's are lining up" theory in 2013 but we fell flat in the final. 2014 then left a sour taste. I think many are hoping but until you end the famine there will be doubt in people's mind's.

If we beat Tipp I would love to get a crack at Kerry after all the beating's they have dished out to us down the year's. That said Dublin are probably too string for Kerry right now.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11230 - 16/08/2016 10:43:18    1901643

Felt it in my bones from a long way out it was going to be a Mayo vs Dublin final in 2016. Arguably Mayo are now stronger than last year and winning the under 21s' has only boosted the confidence. Dublin are a great team but are they as strong as last year considering their defensive losses? Probably not. Time will tell all.

JamesH (Mayo) - Posts: 465 - 16/08/2016 10:44:14    1901644

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 16/08/2016 10:45:29    1901648

So you think Kerry are a beaten docket then?

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 16/08/2016 10:50:17    1901650

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 16/08/2016 11:03:29    1901661

They certainly missed a great chance in 2013 arguably with Cafferkey, Vaughan, Dillon, Freeman, Moran at the height of their powers. It was definitely one that got away. However I think last year was an even better opportunity missed. They should have put Dublin away in the drawn semi. I'm convinced that the momentum from that win would have carried them by Kerry. This year if they overcome Tipp people may ask have they been tested going into a final against one of the two greats but that in itself may remove some of the expectation and pressure which seems to have dogged them in the latter stages over the years. I wouldn't write-off Tipp though. As underdogs I would love to see them do it.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 16/08/2016 11:07:57    1901667

JamesH (Mayo) - Posts: 465 - 16/08/2016 11:13:25    1901674

unclegerry (Mayo) - Posts: 1222 - 16/08/2016 11:37:27    1901684

I've thought other years were more like Mayo's year than this year only because I think Mayo have been too inconsistent this year. Before the Tyrone game I said that if both teams played to form so far then Tyrone would win but rather than Mayo being better than their previous games I think Tyrone played below the level they played at in their previous ones which cost them.

So, on the basis that I have fancied Mayo other years and they didn't deliver then it's Sods Law that they year I fancy them least is the year they will go on and lift Sam again. For the sake of the poor long suffering wife and the Mayo blood that is in my children I hope I am wrong and they do.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 16/08/2016 11:47:23    1901693

No I asked if you thought Kerry were a beaten docket, not if mayo could beat them.

You see you reference mayo's run to the semi. Then you talk about Dublin missing this, Dublin finding it hard to do that and so mayo having every chance against them if they make the final. So it appears you have written off Kerry in the semi completely.

How come you think Kerry are so poor that you can forgo them? We wouldn't be dismissing Tipperary like that.

TheMaster (Mayo) - Posts: 16187 - 16/08/2016 11:47:23    1901694

The point I'm making is that I think Mayo 100% can beat Kerry

I used example against Dublin and Kerry as to why Mayo have a great chance if they played either team

Do I think Mayo have Kerry's number - then I think yes they do.

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 16/08/2016 11:54:01    1901700

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 16/08/2016 11:56:44    1901703

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 16/08/2016 11:57:02    1901704

James H dismiss Eamonn Fitz at your risk he was always a thinking footballer outstanding defender you talk of the plethora of young stars coming through in Kerry it was under his tutelage that they developed in Pobal Scoil Chorca Dhuíne I for one expect more from him this year and expect him to be around for sometime to come notwhitstandong the negative vibes of MessersBrolly and Tommy Carr the Tipperary guru!

37sowhat (Sligo) - Posts: 752 - 16/08/2016 11:57:19    1901705

The odds might favour a Mayo/Dubs final, but the bookies won't be lining out next Sunday or the week after. We've got one foot in the final same as Tipp, and if anyone expects Kerry to just fulfill a fixture on the 28th, they don't understand the Kingdom at all. For all that the Dubs were better than Kerry last year the margin was still tight. If we get through and I had to pick opponent, I'd prefer playing Dublin despite they're being unbeatable.

Pericles (Mayo) - Posts: 2521 - 16/08/2016 12:05:03    1901710