All eyes on Croke Park as Dublin square up to Mayo

ALL eyes will be focused on Croke Park this Sunday afternoon as Dublin go head-to-head in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final with league champions Mayo.

It will be winner takes all at this stage of the competition with a prize of a semi-final place up for grabs with both teams fancying their chances of progressing.

While Dublin have been keeping a low key in the build up to the match, they were last out in championship action two weeks ago when they comfortably saw off Sligo in their qualifiers.

Yet Mayo will have the benefit of having the extra game particularly a high profile match against rivals Galway when they showed lots of potential to battle back for a big win.

Kevin McStay’s side will be flowing with confidence since their win over Galway and they will fancy their chances of seeing off the Dubs.

Mayo have plenty of experience in their side and will be going all out to make a point in the championship this year.

Mayo showed plenty of determination to claw their way back from a five-point deficit against Galway who were beaten in last year’s All-Ireland decider.

The plan of playing Aidan O’Shea as a target man in the full forward line has certainly benefited the team and with Tommy Conroy and Jack Carney leading the charge, they will certainly pose problems for the Dubs.

Paddy Durcan, Cillian O’Connor and Diarmuid O’Connor are other players that have plenty of experience while David McBrien has impressed in attack this season.

Dublin on the other hand will be looking to continue their run and they certainly have the potential to do that.

The return of Paul Mannion and Jack McCaffrey has brought more experience back into the squad while Ciaran Kilkenny and Templeogue/Synge Street’s Niall Scully will have key roles to play.

While Dublin have a wealth of experience in midfield were Brian Fenton and James McCarthy are key figures, they will need to be on top form to stop Mayo’s running game.

Daire Newcombe of Lucan Sarsfields and Cian Murphy from Thomas Davis, will need to be alert to Mayo’s strong forward line while Mick Fitzsimons and Paddy Small will need to be on top form.

But the difference could be in Dublin’s forward line and if the right ball is fed into Con O’Callaghan and Colm Basquel from Ballyboden St Enda’s, like the Sligo match, these players have the quality to stop Mayo in their tracks.