Dubs will require greatest display ever
SAYS JAMES HORAN
FORMER Mayo boss James Horan feels Dublin will need to produce their “greatest performance ever” in Sunday’s All-ireland final. But he’s more than confident that Mayo will be able to cope with Jim Gavin’s three-in-a-row chasers, whatever they throw at them. It’s the second successive year that the sides have met in the final, though Horan feels both are more advanced than 12 months ago, when Dublin squeezed through after a replay. “Dublin were very vulnerable last year and Mayo played very well in patches in both games but just didn’t get there,” said Horan, who will be on punditry duty for Sky Sports on Sunday. “Dublin will be much better this year, but so will Mayo because both teams are evolving all the time. “Certainly Jim came out very strong and very early to give a public scolding, if you like, to that team [after last year’s drawn game]. “They are pushing hard for their greatest performance ever, that’s what they feel it will probably take, and it will. “It will take Dublin playing at their ultimate. I see some people saying 80%, but that’s rubbish. “Dublin will have to be at their best to win it, and Mayo equally.” Horan was in charge of Mayo the last time they beat Dublin (in the 2012 All-ireland semi-final) and, from a tactical viewpoint, he reckons they will pressurise Stephen Cluxton’s restarts. “There is a lot of talk about pushing up on kick-outs now. There are a number of different factors. I think Mayo will do it. “It will put pressure on Stephen Cluxton, who dictates the pattern of the game. Also, because Mayo push up, it will upset the formation of the game. We saw Tyrone sit back and Dublin could use their width and depth, I don’t think they’ll be able to get into that pattern because Mayo will push up. “They add more of a dynamic, more chaos to a game, when you do that. “So I think Mayo will try that, just to shake it up. Not let Dublin do what they want to do. Make the big decisions they don’t want to make.” One big decision Gavin must make is what to do with Diarmid Connolly, having left the St Vincent’s man (inset) on the bench for almost the entire semi-final stroll against Tyrone, Horan doesn’t envisage Connolly starting on Sunday. “I think he will be a guy that will come on and drive the Hill crazy when he does so and maybe that’s where Jim is thinking now. “The players that he has so far this year have really stood up for him. The Niall Scullys and Con O’callaghans who have come in have done very well. “It would be very difficult to start Diarmuid Connolly based on his game time.”