CONNACHT SFC FINAL PREVIEW Roscommon v Mayo:IN A way it's the champions Roscommon that have the momentum and the apparent whip hand in tomorrow's final. Despite the surprise nature of their win last year and a year spent in Division Four, Fergal O'Donnell's team look stronger than 12 months ago and more settled than their opponents.
The value of O’Donnell’s stewardship of the All-Ireland winning minors of five years ago can be seen in the presence of six of that team in tomorrow’s line-up. Contrast that with Mayo’s graduation rate from the players who won the All-Ireland Under-21 the same year: just three, although there are a further five on the bench.
Roscommon are the bookies’ outsiders for this but their progress has been smooth and accomplished, running up big wins in their matches to date, whereas favourites Mayo have struggled their way through such indignities as being taken to extra time by London and throwing away opportunities in the first half of the Galway semi-final.
Mayo’s biggest area of improvement in the semi-final was in the middle third of the pitch between the success of switching the O’Shea brothers there as a unit and the acquisition rate of scrappy and slippery ball.
That improvement will be well tested tomorrow. Michael Finneran has greatly improved as a centrefielder and his work in covering behind the middle and linking play will make the contest for breaks very competitive.
Mayo manager James Horan appears to have thought better of implementing the sweeper system he deployed to such good effect with Ballintubber but instead Kevin McLaughlin and Andy Moran will cover their half backs, facilitating any breaks by Donal Vaughan and Trevor Mortimer.
The battle in the middle third will be particularly influential tomorrow with both sides interested in getting a good supply to their dangerous inside forwards.
Neither Alan Freeman nor Jason Doherty have been served to optimal effect although the value of doing so could be seen in the Freeman’s clinically taken goal in the second half against Galway.
Roscommon for their part got 2-7 (2-5 from play) out of 2-12 against Leitrim from their full forwards, Donie Shine, Senan Kilbride and Conor Devaney. For Horan it will be critical to get the match-ups right in a defence that hasn’t always looked hermetically sealed.
For all their flaws though, Mayo have this advantage: they have weathered a hard season in Division One, somehow clawed their way out of humiliation in London and responded well to a demoralising first half against Galway.
That’s a fair amount of seasoning for any team in the first year of a managerial appointment and gives them an edge.
In the last episode: Mayo have won the four most recent matches between the neighbours. Two years ago in McHale Park Mayo lit the dynamite early to lead by 18, 3-10 to 0-1, at half-time – the third goal delivered by tomorrow's centrefielder Aidan O'Shea just a day after completing his Leaving Cert. By the final whistle Roscommon were 20 points behind.
You bet: Mayo are 4/6, Roscommon 6/4 and 15/2 the draw.
On your marks: Mayo have become the latest team to use a goalkeeper for place kicks but Robert Hennelly's accuracy wasn't exactly five star against Galway and it remains a problem area. Roscommon on the other hand have both Senan Kilbride and Donie Shine, a contrast which will price indiscipline rather differently at either end of the field.
Gaining ground: Roscommon haven't won this fixture for 10 years but encouragingly that was also a provincial final in Hyde Park, the most recent one between the counties.
Just the ticket: Stand tickets (€35), Terrace (€20), limited supply available.
Crystal gazing: Mayo narrowly.
ROSCOMMON: G Claffey; S McDermott, N Carty, S Ormsby; D Keenan, P Domican, D Ward; M Finneran, K Mannion; S O'Grady, K Higgins, C Cregg; C Devaney, S Kilbride, D Shine.
MAYO: R Hennelly; K Higgins, A Feeney, T Cunniffe; R Feeney, D Vaughan, T Mortimer; S O'Shea, A O'Shea; K McLoughlin, A Dillon, A Moran; C O'Connor, A Freeman, J Doherty.
Referee: M Collins(Cork).
