Demanding O'Mahony still looking for improvement

It's either mind games gone berserk or a genuine distraction because most of the talk ahead of Sunday's Allianz National Football League final concerns the state of the pitch and the size of the crowd. Neither Mayo's John O'Mahony nor Donegal's Brian McIver yesterday seemed particularly bothered about who actually won or lost.

The two managers were in Croke Park to talk up the game, which promises to be the most competitive league final in years, yet from the start their attention focused on the poor playing surface and the poor attendance that's expected.

"We were playing in the first game last Sunday," said O'Mahony, referring to the semi-final win over Galway, "and the grass was actually still wet when we went out. So one thing they might want to consider is watering the pitch earlier in the day, if they are going to do it. I wouldn't want to be totally negative about it, but it has been used a fair bit lately and maybe that's a factor as well.

"But look, hopefully the best team will still win on Sunday. We're certainly happy to be getting the games up there. A few players on this team still haven't played there yet, and it's always good for them to get a feel for the place, and get a second test run on Sunday."

A year ago McIver was preparing for the Division Two final (which they lost to Louth), so getting to Croke Park for a crack at the Division One title - and a first National League for Donegal - clearly represents a journey in the right direction.

"Well, yeah," he said, "I think we've definitely made good progress, and that's all down to the hard work and commitment of the players. We know we have Armagh waiting for is in the championship, but we're still delighted to be playing these games on the trot.

"Playing top class games against top class teams is, I believe, the best way to prepare, but exactly what bearing that will have on May 27th only time will tell."

What both managers called for on Sunday was a crowd worthy of the occasion, but the problem with Croke Park is that even when it's half-full it feels half-empty.

"I do think a final like this could be marketed a little better, maybe played under floodlights on the Saturday evening, or whatever," said O'Mahony. "The GAA managed to get 82,000 for the opening game in Croke Park and there shouldn't be any reason why they couldn't get that for the final as well. I know the Dublin factor was huge for that, but with proper backing I think it can be done.

"Like I know coming from Mayo last Sunday a lot of people had no idea of the various concessions on offer, and then some students ended up paying €25 because they'd no ID. So the message needs to be put out there. But I also know this is the fifth Sunday in a row we're out and that is asking a lot of our supporters.

"But last year there was criticism when the finals weren't played in Croke Park, and maybe for games like this a 55,000-seater stadium is what we're looking for. In other words, Croke Park is just too big, because there was an eerie atmosphere for our game up here last Sunday, no question about that. The other option is to do away with the play-off stage altogether, although there is still a great tradition of the final shoot-out in the GAA, and that's hard to get rid of."

McIver was equally hopeful of a good crowd: "I'd have no complaints about playing it under lights. It definitely won't look well if we only have 24,000 or so again on Sunday, which was a disappointing crowd for the four counties involved last Sunday. Every game has been so competitive this year, and it would be great to have a full house this weekend."

As for the actual outcome of the game, Donegal will start as marginal favourites given their impressive run through Division One A, and the fact they beat Mayo back in round two. O'Mahony agreed Mayo's form needs to improve if they are to land a first league title since 2001.

"Ironically we were playing well in the first half for the first couple of rounds, and maybe fading a little towards the end. While now we're having some problems starting off. But we all realise that to win on Sunday we'll have to play very well for both the first and second half.

"But I think it has been a great league this year. I think there's been a reason in every game, for every team. It's really been cut-throat and at no stage could you really relax. And yet we haven't been playing particularly well, simple as that.

"There's no way our performances so far will be good enough to beat Donegal on Sunday, and that's proven by the fact they beat us in Ballybofey earlier on this year. And we've lost five or six players to injury since then."