Vox Pop: Who will win the All-Ireland final?

Declan Lynch (Antrim)

There will be a lot of key match ups in my opinion. The big one will be of course how Mayo go about trying to stop Brian Fenton from doing what he does in every single game. He is the best midfielder that I have ever seen play the game. Whoever Mayo put on him – which could be Mattie Ruane – needs to simply sacrifice his own game to be beside Fenton every step he takes on Saturday. Stopping Fenton, which is easier said than done, will go a long way to deciding This final.

Lee Keegan has to be perform like he performed in the last few years against Dublin. Connolly is not there anymore so Keegan could pick up O’Callaghan or Kilkenny with Paddy Duran picking up the other. Keegan rarely lets Mayo down and will need to produce another key performance on Saturday evening.

In terms of Mayo forwards you would expect Cooper to pick up cillian O Connor and Mayo will need another top performance from him to cause an upset. If Cillian O Connor performs like he has done so far this season, Mayo will be in with a chance.

It will also be interesting to see if Mayo keep Aidan O’Shea in at 14 or bring him out. I hope and feel they will leave him inside early on and look to put early ball in on top of him with Cillian O’Connor close by. Mayo will need to score goals if they are to win. This is their best route to getting goals against this Dublin team.

Dublin’s key strength is the depth and quality of their panel. Every sub they will introduce on Saturday will be equally as good as the player they take off.

Dublin play to a simple system but play it better than any other county. They never force the ball or take passes or shots that are 50/50. They remain patient and wait on the opposition making a mistake or breaking out from their defensive unit, they are the best about at finding a gap within a defence and tearing it to pieces.

Cluxton and his kick outs is a massive strength for Dublin. He rarely hits a bad kick out and Mayo will need to come up with a plan that forces him to kick 50/50. If and that is a big if Mayo can do this, then they will be in this game. If not, I only see Dublin winning comfortably.

Mayos strengths is the ability of their half backs to get up the pitch and take scores. Durkan and Lee Keegan will be crucial to this.

I hope as a neutral that Mayo can get enough ball in early on and take their chances. The big hope is that Dublin are tested in some way in this final. It would be a shame and reflect poorly on the football championship if Dublin can win this all Ireland not having got out of third gear.

I expect or maybe I’m hopeful Mayo will come out and attack Dublin early doors Hoping to get an early goal or two. Mayo need to be in the game at half time, disrupt Dublin as much as possible. If Dublin settle into their game early on then I only see it going one way. I hope Mayo come out with an attacking mindset and decide to go for it rather than sitting back and hoping to be still in the game with ten or so minutes left.

Ultimately I see Dublin running out comfortable winners in the end but I hope for the neutral’s point of view that we get a close and entertaining game with Mayo finally breaking their Croke park curse.

Verdict: Dublin

Mark McHugh (Donegal)

The important match ups are who Lee Keegan picks up and who Patrick Durcan picks up. I think Keegan might pick up Kilkenny and Durcan could pick up Brian Fenton. Dublin have so many good players but those two are so important. They could push Durcan out to mark Fenton. Dublin’s defence this year has been better than ever. But they have not come up against a top forward line yet. They have played Meath, Westmeath, Cavan and Laois. They are division two teams. Mayo have had tougher games against the likes of Galway and Roscommon.

The question for Mayo is their defence and how open it was against Tipperary. They will know that and they will have a very different game for this next match. But Dublin are so well equipped. They have great players all over the field. Dublin have winners all over their bench.

I think that Mayo have a better chance than everyone thinks, but I still think that Dublin will win.

Verdict: Dublin

Niall McParland (Down)

“I fancy Mayo to put it up to Dublin for a large part of the game with Dublin to run away with it after the second water break. Match ups are tricky, Brian Fenton, Ciaran Kilkenny, and James McCarthy will have to all lose their battles, which is a fair task on its own never mind the other 12. Mayo’s kickouts could also find them falling short. Dublin are experts on kickouts both ways. The restart element is a big part of today’s game.”

Verdict: Dublin