We go again. An absorbing All-Ireland final littered with mistakes, sub-plots, sideshows and duels provided plenty of food for thought. That though, was only the appetiser. Round two has provoked even more debate and musing. Which way will it go?
In the Irish Times Kerry legend John O’Keefe airs his doubts about the reigning champions. “After the drawn All-Ireland final I couldn’t help wondering about Dublin," he says. "They have been on the road now for a long time, demolishing so many opponents, that maybe it is catching up with them...
“Surely McManamon will have a better day or Paul Mannion, Eoghan O’Gara and Paddy Andrews will prove the difference late in the game. Yet I’m still leaning towards Mayo. They have shown the work ethic and know-how to finally win that elusive All-Ireland. We know this Dublin team, as they showed when misfiring so badly in the first match, will not release Mayo without a bitter struggle. But Mayo, just.”
In the same publication Malachy Clerkin also sides with the Green and Red: "Mayo, at least to these eyes, have grown in stature on the back of both the result and performance two weeks ago. Among the multitude of bizarre takeways from the game is the fact that they managed to end the day both having been the better team and having snatched a result when all seemed lost. They should be All-Ireland champions. They should also be a fortnight in to a desolate inquest into how they contrived to lose another final. If our main reservation ahead of the drawn game was that Mayo had form to speak of, that's gone by the wayside. The notion that Dublin are untouchable in the closing stages of a game has been nuked as well."
Another Kerryman expects Stephen Rochford's men to reign. "Unlike Dublin, Mayo’s flaws are identifiable and fixable and many of them revolve around the O’Sheas and the O’Connors," writes Dara O Cinneide in the Irish Examiner.
"Before the drawn game, I thought that Aidan O’Shea and Barry Moran might be tried together on the inside line at some stage. The timing and nature of Moran’s introduction [as a 66th-minute injury replacement for another sub, Alan Dillon] suggests that he was never really in the picture for the drawn game, and given that he hardly touched the ball when introduced, the case for a twin towers approach is weakened. So here we are with everything set at nought once again.
"The most imperfect Mayo team in recent memory against a Dublin team being touted, just 13 days ago, as the greatest of the modern era. Rarely, if ever, have the Mayo public felt as connected to their team, and this Dublin team, with one eye on posterity, are as revered on Hill 16 as any since the 70s. But now for the weather... Coming up to 7pm this evening, the fog we’ve all been walking around in this past fortnight will have cleared. At that stage, I expect Mayo to emerge into the clear."
However Pat Nolan, in the Irish Daily Mirror, believes the quality at Jim Gavin's disposal will ultimately decide this contest. “Given how bizarre the first instalment was 13 days ago, it almost seems futile to offer up an assessment of how things might pan out today," he says. "Perhaps even more so for the fact replays often bear no resemblance to drawn games. It’s likely to be every bit as close and with the margins so tight, the rule of thumb is to plump for the side with the better spread of players. That’s still Dublin."
Former Meath midfielder Liam Hayes stresses in the Irish Daily Mail that the Dubs will need more fire and brimstone to go with their much-vaunted 'system'. “Jim Gavin was compared to Kevin Heffernan by one former Dublin footballer in recent days, while in truth he is nothing of the kind. Heffo too had a brilliant mind, but Heffo was also a total bully.
"He personalised things for his footballers. Gavin depersonalises everything. The 'process' that he constantly talks about is absolutely vital. But the process of Dublin’s play has been flawed in this Championship. The team is that little bit flat, possibly only 10pc off but off nevertheless. To survive an even bigger challenge from Mayo this time around, to reach out for historic back-to-back titles, Dublin need a lift. From somewhere. From someone. They cannot rely on Mayo’s home-brewed Harakiri a second time.”
His countyman Bernard Flynn says in the the Irish Daily Mirror that there's a huge chance for Mayo to get over the line at the second time of asking. "Dublin are not playing as well as they once were and Mayo will zone in on that... It’s there for Mayo but more than anything they must ensure that little self-destruct button that has been their downfall before is not pressed. So no silly goals given away, no poor decisions, no stupid turnovers. As I predicted before the last game, this Mayo team can win.”
Finally, Lee Keegan's running battle with Diarmuid Connolly has attracted almost forensic attention. In the Irish Daily Star, Eamon Magee believes the Mayo man "broke" the attacker the last day. “When you’re a man marker you’re basically trying to be an annoying b****rd. You’re not looking to win friends and influence people. No man-markers get shortlisted for the People of the Year awards. Keegan is brilliant at what he does. I think he broke Diarmuid Connolly by the end of the drawn game. That to me was the reason behind the Dublin man’s decision to go for glory with that late sideline. There was a bit of ego at play, but I think it was more that he wanted to give two fingers to Keegan.”
