Size matters.

There’s so much focus on gym-work and strength and conditioning programmes in the modern day game, that it’s fairly surprising when players find themselves physically at a loss to their opponent.

Players are conditioned down to a tee, they’ll all have similarly loaded programmes in they gym, but sometimes, regardless of the work they put in off the pitch, they can struggle to gain weight.

Obviously there’s a direct correlation with your height, but other factors are involved too, such as a player’s metabolism, or their genes.

It’s not always about the size of the dog in the fight, but it’s undoubtedly a huge advantage to a player if he has a height advantage over his marker, and a weight advantage, with a high ball raining down on top of them.

Some players compensate for this lack of size, with wholeheartedness, with courage, with fight, and the surprising weight advantage that the Dublin forwards hold over the Mayo backs going into Sunday’s game shows just how fiery the Mayo backs will have to be to match them.

In fairness to the Mayo lads, they’re never for the want of trying. Their ability to compete with the biggest players around only serves to highlight the phenomenal strength of character that these lads possess.

Donal Vaughan is the only Mayo defender who will go into Sunday’s decider with a height advantage over his marker, as he has three inches to spare on Paddy Andrews, and a few pounds in weight, too.

Four of the Dublin forwards have weight advantages over their direct opponents, with Paddy Andrews, and Con O’Callaghan the only two players who are behind from this perspective.

The majority of other players around the field are evenly matched with their markers.

We have focused on the predicted line-ups, which would see Diarmuid Connolly replace Eric Lowndes as the only change on the two sides that started the semi-finals.

Mayo                                     Height                      Weight

2. Brendan Harrison (Aghamore)                                           6 ft 0 in.                                                            12 st.

3. Donal Vaughan (Ballinrobe)                                                6 ft 2 in.                                                            14 st 5lb.

4. Keith Higgins (Ballyhaunis)                                                 5 ft 11 in.                                                           12 st.

5. Lee Keegan (Westport)                                                          5 ft 10 in.                                                          13 st 1lb.

6. Chris Barrett (Belmullet)                                                      5 ft 10 in.                                                          13 st.

7. Colm Boyle (Davitts)                                                              5 ft 9 in.                                                            12 st 8lb.

Dublin                                     Height                   Weight                  

10. Ciarán Kilkenny (Castleknock)                                               6 ft 1 in.                                                      13 st 10lb.

11. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala)                                                          5 ft 11 in.                                                     12 st 13lb.

12. Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincents)                                           6 ft 1 in.                                                      13 st 10lb.

13. Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes)                                          6 ft 2 in.                                                      12 st 11lb.

14. Paddy Andrews (St Brigid’s)                                                   5 ft 11 in.                                                     13 st 6lb.

15. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)                                          6 ft 1 in.                                                       13 st 6lb.

To summarise this, if Brendan Harrison is marking Paul Mannion, he’ll be two inches smaller, and 11lbs lighter than his man.

Donal Vaughan is three inches taller, and 12lbs heavier than Paddy Andrews.

Keith Higgins is two inches smaller, and 19lbs lighter than Dean Rock.

Lee Keegan is 3 inches smaller, and 9lbs lighter than Diarmuid Connolly.

Chris Barrett is an inch smaller, but 1lb heavier than Con O’Callaghan.

Colm Boyle is 4 inches smaller and 23lb lighter than Ciaran Kilkenny.

All of these stats were obtained from match programmes.

The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10