Iâve tipped Mayo a good bit out on this and still do. Kerry are brittle and thatâs their strongest XV starting. Their bench doesnât actually impress me too much.
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The Mayo team for the All Ireland Semi-Final against Kerry in the Croke Park at 3.30pm is:
1 David Clarke (Ballina Stephenites)
2 Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)
3 Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)
4 Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)
5 Lee Keegan (Westport)
6 Chris Barrett (Belmullet)
7 Colm Boyle (Davitts)
8 Seamus OâShea (Breaffy)
9 Tom Parsons (Charlestown)
10 Kevin McLoughlin (Knockmore)
11 Aidan OâShea (Breaffy)
12 Diarmuid OâConnor (Ballintubber)
13 Jason Doherty (Burrishoole)
14 Cillian OâConnor (Ballintubber, captain)
15 Andy Moran (Ballaghaderreen)
Vaughan full back - be the Lord jaysus. Anythingâs better than Cafferkey I suppose.
Keegan back in for Durcan?
Surely Durcan will start in place of someone named there?
Definitely a better option than Cafferkey and always plays well in Croke Park. Heâll annoy the fuck out of Donaghy and is the best of the natural defenders in the air, so Iâm happy enough with the call.
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Why wasnât Keegan starting the last day?
Youâd think so, but not clear who itâd be
He had an infection in his foot that has cleared up fully now. He couldâve played the last 20/25, but that wasnât needed.
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Was hospitalised with an infection in his foot in the week of the game
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He had a mental breakdown.
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I have a hunch too that Mayo will win on Sunday although Iâd never be overly confident about tipping a Mayo team to beat a Kerry team.
I just feel they have unfinished business with Kerry after 2014. They should have won both of those semi-finals. Bar the first half of the draw and the second half of extra-time in the replay, they were definitely the better team over those two matches. Fitzmaurice threw Donaghy on as a last ditch throw of the dice and he saved it and ultimately won it for them.
Donaghy is 34 now and itâs asking a lot of him to produce in the same manner. I really rate Stephen OâBrien and he should deliver from the start but Kerry will lose his impact off the bench where he can really damage teams. Presumably Darran OâSullivan will be that impact injection of pace instead but itâs questionable what kind of force he is now while Iâve never really rated or trusted Barry John Keane.
I too am not sure about Kerryâs bench and how ready their new players are and think the league final may prove to be slightly deceiving in terms of their real standing this year.
To me Mayoâs style has always matched up well with Kerry. Theyâve won five of the last seven league clashes between the two with another one being a draw, so Kerry have won just once in the league against them since 2012 - that was in 2016 where Mayo were a good bit behind in terms of preparation with Rochford not having had much time with them.
I prefer Mayoâs build up to this, theyâre over the hump now, back where they aimed for and have found out a huge amount about themselves over the course of this summer. While Durcan not starting would be a strange call, their defence still looks competent without him and either way heâll play a huge role - should he not start heâd be a terrific substitute to bring on, better than anybody on the Kerry bench.
I just fancy that they have an indefatigable spirit built up over this summer which Kerry wonât break, and will right the wrong of 2014.
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Kerry by 6.
Mayo for me and Mayo to win first AI in whatever the fuckity fuck years it is. 65?
Through gritted teeth, Iâd love to see mayo win it out. Theyâve been so close so often.
Itâs Galway and Mayos year
Insecure langer
Any names for me?
Kerry will get a tough game but win by 4 or 5 in the end. Theyâll target Vaughan who is a) not a full back and b) lacking serious game time. The more I think of it Donaghy will go to town on him. Kerry have good closers off the bench whereas Mayo are struggling in that dept. Expect to see Kerry pull Mayo lads down 50-60 yards from goal to snuff out runs in on goal.
Who have Kerry coming off the bench now thats so special.
Maher is a great midfielder to bring on to secure posession but he is starting.
Stevie OâB is a great sub to bring in. He is starting.
Donaghy is starting.
Savage arguably os a nice forward to being on but not much better than Loftus at this stage.
None of the rest of the Kerry bench is that frightening.
Iâd say its 50-50 on the bench
Didnât say they were frightening but good in last 10-15 mins. Barry should prob be starting, Bj Keane will get his usual two points, Sheehan is good for long range frees if close and Lynne and Fitzgerald are solid enough to shore things up.
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Would you though? Imagine the carnage? The buck-toothed joy as they lined up at the border to Galway to taunt you and spent every night smacking your womenâs arses and raping your livestock. I imagine whenever it happens Thereâll be deaths linked to the celebration.
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