don’t write us off
 BY DAVID
THORPE
Thousands of Mayo and Kerry fans across Britain were celebrating on Sunday
as their respective counties moved one step closer to All-Ireland glory
with comprehensive wins.
Bonfires were being lit throughout Kerry in the name of Kieran Donaghy.
The big Tralee man turned in another epic full-forward performance as
Kerry swept past Cork and into their third consecutive All-Ireland final.
Mayo fans endured their customary roller-coaster ride as Mickey Moran’s
team hit a dozen wides on their way to beating Loais.
The Connacht champions will face Dublin this Sunday with a place in the
All-Ireland final against the Kingdom at stake.
Bringing the Sam Maguire back to Mayo would ease more than 50 years of
hurt for supporters of the county, who have endured many near misses.
Going into the clash with Dublin on Sunday manager Mickey Moran believes
that while the Metropolitans will be deserved favourites, his side are
capable of bridging that 50-year gap and taking home the biggest prize
in Gaelic football.
He said: “I’ve always maintained that this is the most talented
group of footballers I have ever worked with, without a doubt they have
the ability to win an All-Ireland.”
Mayo are the outsiders with the bookies to win the All-Ireland, a situation
which suits Moran just fine.
He said: “I was worried at the start of the season about the hype
surrounding our team, we are a young side, and it has worked in our favour
that we have been outsiders for every game we played including the Connacht
final.”
Moran revealed to The Irish Post this week that burly forward Billy Joe
Padden is a major doubt for the Dublin game and said that while he was
broadly happy with the performance, there was much room for improvement.
Moran said: “Every game you win at this stage is excellent. There
were some very pleasing aspects midfield and defence were particularly
good.
“We didn’t convert enough of our chances that is a worry
and something we will be working on but I don’t think we should
be written off. There is too much talent in this Mayo team for that.”
Dublin come into the game in the unusual position of being the neutral
fan’s choice to win the trophy. They have been the most consistent
of the teams remaining in the hunt for Sam. Paul Caffrey’s men haven’t
been troubled in any of their matches to date.
The manager was anxious to sound a note of caution going into the weekend’s
semi-final clash however.
He said: “There are no easy games left at this stage. Mayo have
been doing the business for years, we can’t look down on their record.
I don’t think Dublin need fear anyone in the competition but we
are not taking anything for granted either.”
So with the football Championship reaching its decisive stages, GAA fans
from Cricklewood to Coventry and Derby to Dagenham have begun the hunt
for the hottest ticket in town all hoping to watch their county lift the
All-Ireland title. |
