Everyone is expecting a tight, closely fought affair - a classic. It may not be. One team could have a collective nightmare and it could all be over at half time. Either team could win this by 7 points or more! There's rumours that several key Dublin players are injured. If so, this could be Dublin's second semi-final nightmare in a row.

avonali (Dublin) - Posts: 1991 - 27/08/2015 10:58:42    1776963

Barry Moran may play where is lined out, a "twin towers" approach. Look it the way things are gone these days, teams names and positions mean nothing. Nobody will really know how both teams shape up until the ball is thrown in on Sunday. Rumors of Dublin missing players is equal folly in my opinion.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11563 - 27/08/2015 11:10:40    1776976

Yeah I've heard nothing about Dublin injuries , can't see it Yew tree its to big a change to your team starting B Moran corner forward.

clondalkindub (Dublin) - Posts: 9926 - 27/08/2015 11:44:47    1777001

The only 'rumours' I've heard about injuries are over on Res Dubs and they're just for the benefit of a Mayo WUM that's annoying them all.

Supposedly Cluxton, Connolly and Brogan are all a doubt :)

CroiGorm (Dublin) - Posts: 1547 - 27/08/2015 11:49:13    1777004

clondalkindub - People might have said using him as a sweeper was too bold. Who knows. This management team have shown they are not afraid to think outside the box. Either that or Cuniffe will start with maybe Higgins playing the sweeper role.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11563 - 27/08/2015 12:10:10    1777021

When Castelbar got to the club AI final Barry Moran played most of his football at FF as a target man for the team. He can play there. It certainly would give Dublin a lot more to think about than just O'Shea. e.g. O'Shea might move to corner fw or gien a free role and move in and out to 1/2 fw line. Presuming ROC is marking him will he stick with him?

MaigheoAbu (Mayo) - Posts: 343 - 27/08/2015 12:24:35    1777031

I would be very surprised if B Moran played as a sweeper. As mentioned above if Cunniffe is fit we could play one of him Higgins or Barrett in that role. Personally, I think pushing right up on Dublin's backs is the way to get at them, which would mean not playing a sweeper but with maybe Andy or Freeman in the corner. Force them to make mistakes high up the field. If we play a sweeper it frees up an extra defender to double up on Aidan as well. But then you're playing a dangerous game with some seriously talented forwards and strong runners.

This is the first time I've been as interested in how the teams will line out as in the game itself.

wee_yo (Mayo) - Posts: 63 - 27/08/2015 13:03:01    1777046

wee_yo
County: Mayo
Posts: 22

1777046
I would be very surprised if B Moran played as a sweeper. As mentioned above if Cunniffe is fit we could play one of him Higgins or Barrett in that role. Personally, I think pushing right up on Dublin's backs is the way to get at them, which would mean not playing a sweeper but with maybe Andy or Freeman in the corner. Force them to make mistakes high up the field. If we play a sweeper it frees up an extra defender to double up on Aidan as well. But then you're playing a dangerous game with some seriously talented forwards and strong runners.

This is the first time I've been as interested in how the teams will line out as in the game itself.

My reckoning is that Moran will go to midfield. Parsons will track Flyyn when he goes deep, especially for kick outs and Boyle will be left as the sweeper. The 5 remaining Mayo forwards will be pressing the Dublin kick outs as much as possible after that.

However I will not be one bit surprised if Mayo line out with 2 or 3 changes to the team named either.

roundball (Tipperary) - Posts: 2514 - 27/08/2015 14:52:35    1777123

It would be worth a try to play o shea and barry moran for the first 10mins in full forward, apart from Roc dublin lack height in full back line and it would take them by surprise..

tommy132 (Mayo) - Posts: 638 - 27/08/2015 15:10:46    1777137

This is should be a great game of football.

The Championship (like the summer) may have been a damp squib all along, but with an enthralling semi-final last weekend, and this match coming on Sunday we might save it yet!

For me the key question is where are Dublin at? I think we have a good idea where Mayo are but Dublin have simply not been forced to show their hand all summer.

I feel they havn't been tested by any serious team yet. They have been allowed lead right throughout all their games and simply put, no side they have come up against has asked them any serious questions, has put doubts in their heads and challenged them to dig a game out of the fire.

Given all that, a semi-final is hardly the ideal time to start trying to figure these things out.

I feel Mayo can win this one (but as a Kerryman I hope Dublin win at a canter, for all the reasons outlined above!)

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 27/08/2015 15:14:28    1777139

I was watching the Mayo/Donegal game last night, one of the main things I noticed was how far off their men some Donegal players were at key times, and some of the half-hearted tackling was very out of character. I'm thinking maybe we'll be a little tighter hopefully!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8748 - 27/08/2015 15:25:59    1777145

After Mayos fortuitous second goal,Donegals heads dropped and there was only going to be one winner.Mentally,they were a spent force after playing so many hard games.Dublin are both mentally & physically fresh.After last years implosion,complacency will not be an issue.Dublin are in a good place,with Mayo being bigged up and favourites with so many.I feel there is a big performance in us and it will come on Sunday.Goals will come.And plenty of them.The hill will feed of this and Mayo will find it hard to live with.Heres hoping anyway

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 27/08/2015 15:43:17    1777162

So Cluxton, Connolly and Brogan are out? Hmmm, we might struggle a bit now!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8748 - 27/08/2015 16:26:57    1777185

cuederocket
County: Dublin
Posts: 2839

1777162 After Mayos fortuitous second goal,Donegals heads dropped and there was only going to be one winner.Mentally,they were a spent force after playing so many hard games.Dublin are both mentally & physically fresh.After last years implosion,complacency will not be an issue.Dublin are in a good place,with Mayo being bigged up and favourites with so many.I feel there is a big performance in us and it will come on Sunday.Goals will come.And plenty of them.The hill will feed of this and Mayo will find it hard to live with.Heres hoping anyway

What planet are you on with your Mayo Being "Bigged Up" all bookies have Dubs at 2/1 on in a two horse race

Jimmy Keaveney says Dublin, Eoin Liston Says Dublin , Dara O Se says Dublin, Jimmy McGuinness says Dublin , Im Martin Breheneys column all Leinster Managers have tipped Dublin

belmay (Mayo) - Posts: 172 - 27/08/2015 17:20:15    1777215

1777162 After Mayos fortuitous second goal,Donegals heads dropped and there was only going to be one winner.Mentally,they were a spent force after playing so many hard games.Dublin are both mentally & physically fresh.After last years implosion,complacency will not be an issue.Dublin are in a good place,with Mayo being bigged up and favourites with so many.I feel there is a big performance in us and it will come on Sunday.Goals will come.And plenty of them.The hill will feed of this and Mayo will find it hard to live with.Heres hoping anyway

What planet are you on with your Mayo Being "Bigged Up" all bookies have Dubs at 2/1 on in a two horse race

Jimmy Keaveney says Dublin, Eoin Liston Says Dublin , Dara O Se says Dublin, Jimmy McGuinness says Dublin , Im Martin Breheneys column all Leinster Managers have tipped Dublin

belmay (Mayo) - Posts: 172 - 27/08/2015 17:20:37    1777216

You could be right Roundball. That's actually what I expected to happen when we played Donegal as you would think Parsons would be the more natural one to drop back. But I think we need his pace in midfield more than Moran's aerial ability against Dublin. I think Cluxton is quick enough and smart enough to pick out the spare man if we drop someone back though. Then again a lot of people, myself included might be overestimating our advantage in an aerial midfield battle.

wee_yo (Mayo) - Posts: 63 - 27/08/2015 17:22:30    1777218

belmay,there is a thread on here called "Mayo v Dublin - one word".The last i checked,there was quite a few tipping Mayo,and nearly 2/1 neutral county posters doing so.Hence why i said there are many bigging up Mayo.Pretty simple really.Bookies odds will always reflect the potential large volumes of punters that could,or have,put money on Dublin to win,so it is a not a good barometer of how much a favourite we really are.The markets will dictate the price.As for the pundits,havnt read them as of yet,but thats good to hear they all go for us.We have won 2 All Irelands in four years to be fair.And,finally,i am of planet Earth.Try and keep a little perspective on things.

cuederocket (Dublin) - Posts: 5084 - 27/08/2015 17:50:59    1777229

It's a tough game to call. There could be a replay on the cards.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8784 - 27/08/2015 21:54:51    1777315

cuederocket
County: Dublin
Posts: 2841

1777229 belmay,there is a thread on here called "Mayo v Dublin - one word".The last i checked,there was quite a few tipping Mayo,and nearly 2/1 neutral county posters doing so.Hence why i said there are many bigging up Mayo.Pretty simple really.Bookies odds will always reflect the potential large volumes of punters that could,or have,put money on Dublin to win,so it is a not a good barometer of how much a favourite we really are.The markets will dictate the price.As for the pundits,havnt read them as of yet,but thats good to hear they all go for us.We have won 2 All Irelands in four years to be fair.And,finally,i am of planet Earth.Try and keep a little perspective on things.


Ok cuederocket I hadnt seen that forum. But the majority of the pundits Ias I said are tipping dublin. Briamn mcGuigan of Tyrone and Pete McGrath (Fermanagh Manager) the only ones I have heard to say Mayo


I hope it is not a draw for both teams sake as it would leave only 2 weeks to the final ..... play right into Kerrys hands

belmay (Mayo) - Posts: 172 - 28/08/2015 08:44:05    1777324

If you stop Brogan they've got Connolly
If you stop Connolly they've got Flynn
If you stop Flynn they've got Kilkenny
If you stop Kilkenny they've got Rock
If you stop Rock they've got Kevin Mc
If you stop Kevin Mc they've got A Brogan
If you stop A Brogan they've got Costello
If you stop Costello 'Ahh forget it who am I kidding, it's impossible to stop all those superstars, nice try Mayo'

KYTitletown (Kerry) - Posts: 816 - 28/08/2015 10:29:04    1777364