Canavan expects the Dubs to crank up the gears

August 04, 2021

Dublin's Jonny Cooper tackles Kevin McLoughlin of Mayo ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Sky Sports pundit Peter Canavan believes Mayo will bring out the best in Dublin.

The two rivals are due to renew acquaintances in the last four of this year’s Sam Maguire Cup race and the Tyrone legend isn’t reading too much into Dessie Farrell’s side’s recent below-par performances in Leinster.

“The flatness in Dublin's performances over recent weeks is all relative,” he writes on skysports.com.

“It is not quite the heights they have scaled in Leinster over recent years, but that is only by their own incredibly high standards.

“If any of the other top contenders for the Sam Maguire Cup were facing Meath and Kildare, there is no guarantee that they would win with such ease.

“On Sunday afternoon, the result was never in doubt. The Dubs played well within themselves once again, and it did not have the feel of a provincial final. Dessie Farrell's side were never rattled.

“They did not appear to be highly motivated, but is that a result of 11 consecutive Delaney Cup titles? That consistency over the last decade is a remarkable achievement. They have had so very few off-days.

“They look like a team that needs to come up against an opposition that will fire them up. An All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo will do just that. The Connacht champions will get the best out of the Dubs.”


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