If Ciarán Kilkenny had refused to give Diarmuid Connolly that ball, we probably wouldn’t be facing into Saturday’s Dublin-Mayo replay.
Thank god for poor decisions.
Kilkenny gave Connolly the ball, Connolly sent up a Hail Mary, Mayo got the ball back and Cillian O’Connor made no mistake.
So we go again. Fantastic.
On Thursday’s episode of the SportsJOE.ie GAA Hour, former Kerry wing-forward Paul Galvin asserted that neither side deserved to win the drawn match. Whether it was down to the conditions, nerves or spoiling tactics, the three-time All-Star thought it was a poor (if exciting) game of football.
“There was very little football played the last day,” he told SportsJOE GAA editor Colm Parkinson. “It seemed they were almost afraid of it.”
“Where were these guys when Philly McMahon was under the microscope?” https://t.co/wTCdQEW6Hr #Mayo #Dublin #GAA
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 28, 2016
However, while he was not overly impressed with the standard of football played, Galvin believes Mayo should be the happier side going into the replay as they have less work to do to end that 65-year wait.
Dublin, on the other hand, need major overhauling, according to the former footballer of year.
“I think Dublin have to improve by 50-60% to win it and Mayo need to improve by maybe 10-20% to win it. I think [Mayo’s] approach was perfect, I think they were aggressive and they were physically able to compete. They just have to improve a little from a footballing point of view,” said Galvin, who believes Jim Gavin should keep faith with his players, but scrap this safety-first approach that is holding them back.
“I think Dublin have a little bit more surgery to do to this team and a little bit more tinkering to do to get their performance right the next day,” he said.
“I am not saying Dublin are now a bad team, but they have a little bit of surgery to carry out and if they don’t do that I think it gives Mayo the win,” added Galvin, who would like to see Stephen Cluxton kick the ball longer, more kick-passing and fewer solo runs.
“I think there will be changes to the Dublin team. I would look more at the system and give the boys another game – go with a more orthodox game and play to the strengths of the Flynns and the Connollys and the Fentons and the MacAuleys. Play faster and play longer.”
Not all Dublin fans agreed with the Kingdom legend’s opinion. One in particular took it up directly with Galvin.
@SportsJOEdotie @pgal10 @ConanDoherty @AIB_GAA mayo trailing by 3 at 69 minutes and it's dublin need to improve 50%, seriously
— joe forbes (@joeforbes67) September 30, 2016
6 of those points were scored by Mayo. 50% is generous. 100% more like it.
— paul galvin (@pgal10) September 30, 2016
make your own luck, 8 or 9 dubs below par and mayo still chasing for last 60 min
— joe forbes (@joeforbes67) September 30, 2016
you're gettin there Joe. 8/9 Dubs below par = +50% imp needed. Good luck.
— paul galvin (@pgal10) September 30, 2016
If Dublin’s under-performers from the last day can find their form, then Galvin thinks they can become the first team to win back-to-back All-Irelands since Galvin’s Kerry in 2006-07.
However, while tempted by the 9-1 odds on a draw, Galvin thinks the advantage lies with Stephen Rochford’s men.
“I think Mayo have all the momentum, they have huge momentum. There is a real force behind them. It counts for a lot. I think Dublin have more to do to win this than Mayo do. If they don’t address these fundamentals in their game, I think Mayo will win.”
Will it be Mayo (or the Dubs) 4 Sam? Wooly, Paul Galvin and Conán Doherty preview Saturday’s All-Ireland final replay.
