Canavan calls a Mayo win over Dublin

Daniel Carey

SKY Sports GAA analyst Peter Canavan believes that Mayo will beat Dublin “by a couple of points” in next Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final.
Speaking during a Sky Sports preview ahead of next weekend’s match, Canavan said he believes that Mayo “have it within them” to beat Dublin for the third time in ten seasons at this stage of the championship.
“The more I see of this Mayo team the more convinced I am that they have it within them,” said the former All-Ireland winning captain.
“They’ve a new dynamic to their team, a new management, and more importantly a new targetman in Aidan O’Shea. He’s playing the football of his life.
“He was like a man possessed against Donegal, he just wanted everything. A charismatic figure like that in a team can encourage the rest of them, and drive them on.”
The former Tyrone All Star forward also highlighted the defensive strategy that Mayo employed against Donegal.
Canavan said that this ‘cagey’ approach would stand the Connacht champions in good stead against Dublin’s strike forwards.
“I don’t think the Mayo defenders will be shaking in their boots about the Dublin forwardline,” he explained.
“They’ve played against them numerous times before and they know that if they give them space, and there’s one-on-one situations they’re lethal, and they’re going to cause havoc.
“But Mayo are playing with more cover at the back now, they’re playing a more cagey type of game, more tactical than in previous years, and that’s giving their defenders a better chance of stopping the Dublin attack.”
Meanwhile, Canavan’s fellow Sky Sports pundit, Jim McGuinness, is predicting a narrow Dublin win.
However, he believes that ‘the margins are fine’ and wouldn’t be surprised if Mayo come through.
“Mayo are a different animal this year. They’re bringing so much to the table,” said the former All-Ireland winning Donegal manager.
“They’re the hungriest team in the country, they’re on a crusade that is going to end at some stage in All-Ireland glory.”

* Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final between Mayo and Dublin is being shown live on Sky Sports 3.
Coverage begins at 3pm.