REBELS IN THREEFALL FOR FINAL ROUND TRIP

and I think Mayo would have a fantastic chance of winning that game with the way they’re playing.

“Against Kerry last Saturday was very positive and they can only improve, hopefully this weekend and that’ll give them momentum going into the early rounds of the Connacht Championship.

“James Horan learned a little bit more about his team. Their last outing against Dublin in Croke Park was very disappointing and I think James would be very anxious to get back there again and put in a much stronger performance and having that this early in the season would do the team a world of good.”

Dillon isn’t buying into the narrative that Dublin are slipping having failed to reach the League final for the first time since 2012, though he says: “There’s always that chance that they may not hit the levels that they’ve hit in the last couple of seasons.

“I’m sure Mayo, Kerry and Tyrone are only waiting for the opportunity. It is tougher when you’re the number one team and you’ve the rest of the teams chasing and I think if there’s an opportunity and Mayo are there, they’re in with a hell of a chance

“We’ll only know in the white heat of Championship when the serious questions are asked how Dublin answer them.”

In the meantime, overcoming their patchy home record and returning to the League final after a seven-year absence would be a welcome bridge to Mayo’s Championship opener against New York on May 5.

Dillon adds: “It’s been disappointing the last number of years, our home performances. I’m sure they’ve pencilled this game in to be a must-win, especially the last home game in the League. I expect Mayo to absolutely get out of the blocks early on this one. They have to. They can’t let Monaghan settle.” NFL DIVISION 2 TABLE

ARMAGH are the only team in Division Two who have nothing at stake.The top four can all be promoted, the bottom three are fighting to avoid relegation and Kieran Mcgeeney’s (above) side are in neutral territory in the middle of all that.Cork absolutely must win to avoid an

after contesting the Division One final, and hope Clare don’t beat Tipp.Playing against opposition that don’t need a result, Cork should be more than capable of getting what they need but they haven’t inspired that sort of confidence for quite some time now.VERDICT: Armagh