Mayo's hunger may tip the balance their way

ALL-IRELAND MFC SEMI-FINAL Mayo v Down: MAYO CAME out on the wrong side of last year's All-Ireland, when Tyrone got the better of them after a replay.

It means the Connacht champions have already lost four minor finals in the last 10 years, including one to Down four years ago. That will surely give them any extra incentive they might need to get back into the decider against Armagh.

They perhaps haven’t been quite as impressive as some other Mayo minor teams of recent years, not yet anyway. It took a late free from captain Aidan Walsh to salvage a draw against Roscommon in the Connacht final, before they eventually prevailed in the replay.

They then enjoyed a fairly comprehensive eight-point victory over Tipperary in their quarter-final, once Alex Corduff sent them on the way by scoring the first of their three goals.

Down, however, are well capable of scoring goals themselves, as they proved in their 2-16 to 2-14 quarter-final win over a fancied Dublin. A classic last-minute goal from midfielder Niall McPartland sealed their victory.

Between them, Down’s potent full-forward line of David McKibbin, Ross McGarry and Matthew Bagnall amassed a tally of 1-6.

Mayo manager Ray Dempsey makes two changes from the team that beat Tipperary, replacing Michel McCormack with Caolan Crowe in the half-back line, while at corner forward Daryl Herbert replaces Jack McDonnell.

Mayo’s hunger, however, can’t be underestimated. Losing last year’s final was an experience several players on this team won’t have forgotten, and the drive to win that coveted minor All-Ireland – Mayo’s last win was in 1985 – may well prove decisive.

MAYO: M Schlingermann, D Gavin, K Rogers, M Walsh, C Charlton, S McDermott, C Crowe, D Kirby, A Walsh (Captain), A Farrell, D Coen, F Durkan, D Herbert, C O'Connor, A Corduff DOWN: J Deeny; R Doran, S McNamee, D O'Hanlan; K McClorey, C McClean, F McEvoy; K Quinn, N McPartland; C Clarke, R White, C Mooney; D McKibbin, R McGarry, M Bagnall.