Mayo must keep foot on pedal

Tyrone v Mayo: (Saturday, Croke Park 4pm) - A SIMPLE twist of fate has taken both these teams to this particular juncture in the championship.

Mayo came out of their Connacht final defeat to Galway back on July 13th knowing a poor start had possibly cost them the game, and Conor Mortimer's missed free at the end had definitely cost them a replay.

They could just as easily have won that match, and be waiting in the All-Ireland finals just as Galway now are. Instead, manager John O'Mahony has had to revisit his qualifier manual, which he first used on the path to redemption with Galway in 2001, when they went on to the All-Ireland title.

Tyrone must feel slightly fortunate to be here at all. Westmeath looked to have a real chance of beating them in last Saturday's second-round match in Omagh, had they not had two men sent off and seen Dessie Dolan miss a glorious goal chance at the end that would have at least earned them a replay.

There are, however, few teams in the country right now to match the cool-handed experience of Tyrone, and they showed that again in the way they held out against Westmeath.

Brian Dooher still has a huge capacity for work, while Brian and Tommy McGuigan are proving an effective pairing in the half-forward line alongside him. Seán Cavanagh is fit to start despite the neck injury that ended his interest early on last Saturday.

Owen Mulligan and Raymond Mulgrew also made their first championship appearances of the year last Saturday, and offer some ominous back-up should the starting forwards fail to ignite.

O'Mahony was quick to dismiss Mayo's good record against Tyrone, mainly their quarter-final victory of 2004.

He clearly has other concerns, and with Ronan McGarrity and Mortimer troubled by hamstring injuries, he has delayed the naming of a starting 15 until shortly before throw-in.

Mayo did play some impressive football when they finally got a run on Galway, especially Dillon, and substitutes Billy Joe Padden and Aidan Kilcoyne.

The older legs of James Nallen and David Heaney creaked at times but largely held up, and the crucial thing for Mayo this time is to give a 70-minute performance.

If they can do that they'll force the best out of Tyrone.

TYRONE:J Devine; R McMenamin, J McMahon, PJ Quinn; D Harte, C Gormley, P Jordan; R Mellon, E McGinley; B Dooher, B McGuigan, T McGuigan; M Penrose, S Cavanagh, C McCullagh.

MAYO: TBA.

Referee:C Reilly (Meath).

Guidelines

In the last episode: Tyrone went into the 2004 All-Ireland quarter-final as defending champions, and strong favourites to beat Mayo, yet were fairly well hammered in the end, 0-16 to 1-9.

You bet: Paddy Power are giving odds of 4/7 for a Tyrone win; 15/2 the draw; with Mayo at 7/4.

On your marks: Tyrone come to Croke Park for their third game in as many weeks, having beaten Louth and then Westmeath in rounds one and two, and clearly won't be short match practice. Tiredness, however, could be a factor as Mayo will be well rested since their narrow loss to Galway. Gaining ground: Few teams have endured more mixed emotions in Croke Park recently than Mayo, most famously from the high of their All-Ireland semi-final of 2006, to the low of the final a few weeks later. They have still played some of their best football there, and while Tyrone view it as a home from home, Mayo shouldn't feel any disadvantage.

Just the ticket: Outlet locations on match day are the GAA ticket shop, North Circular Road (opposite Gill's pub), Bishop's Palace on Drumcondra Road, outside Martin Properties at the Dorset St end of Whitworth Road and on Ballybough Road.

Ticket prices: stand €30; terrace €20 (no concession on Terrace); juveniles €5 to stands (juveniles must be accompanied by an adult. Juvenile tickets are available for the Davin Stand and designated sections of the Cusack Stand); senior citizens €15 (Cusack and Davin Stands only); students €15 (Cusack and Davin Stands only). Concession refunds from Block D turnstiles to rear of Cusack Stand prior to entry. No refunds available after entry to stadium.

Crystal gazing: It's going to be tight and it probably won't be pretty, but if Tyrone can hold up over the 70 minutes and call on all their vast, hard experience they should just sneak it.