When Mayo went four points ahead three quarters of the way through last year's All-Ireland semi-final replay, Joe Brolly said that a giant thought bubble hovered above Croke Park. According to Brolly, it contained words to the effect of 'shit, what do we do now?'
The thought bubble that hovers over the build-up to this year's All-Ireland final contains a simple question - how do Mayo possibly go about beating Dublin? Can anyone construct an argument for a Mayo victory?
In violent contrast to the last time Mayo and Dublin lined up in an All-Ireland final, Mayo are perceived to to have limped into this final. The Dubs, meanwhile, have hardly diminished in stature in the last three years.
On our pre-All-Ireland final edition of the Hard Shoulder, we spoke to two celebrated midfielders who faced off during the famous 'Mill on the Hill' game of 2006 - Ciaran Whelan and David 'DB' Brady. And we canvassed the views of the scrupulously neutral Darran O'Sullivan.
Brady likes the way Mayo have tailored their game depending on the opposition during the 2016 season, something that was most evident against Tyrone and less evident in previous years.
Ciaran Whelan believes Mayo need to get their running game going and force Dublin onto the back foot.
Mayo are looking for the perfect storm on Sunday. I don't necessarily buy into the fact that they're not good enough. Their form has been patchy. I think everybody knows that. Going through the qualifiers is a different psychological battle. It's a challenge, it's matches every week, you haven't a whole lot of time to prepare for the opposition. That can lead to some indifferent performances.
They offer a different dynamic than Kerry. Mayo are different in that regard. They have that pace and power around the middle...
In my opinion, Mayo have to go for this. I think they've a very good running game. The likes of Keith Higgins, will they designate him to mark someone or will they give him a freer role? Because he's one guy who can get up and break the gain line. Colm Boyle was playing as a sweeper last year, he's now at 6. He can get going. Diarmuid O'Connor can get going. They have runners that can cause Dublin problems.
Philly McMahon and Aidan O'Shea is going to be hugely intriguing. I think Aidan O'Shea should be utilised out the field. Everyone say stick Aidan O'Shea in full-forward and bang long ball into him but I don't think that's working.
Listen below:
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The lads were speaking on the seventh episode of this year's Hard Shoulder podcast, a weekly GAA podcast hosted by Meath legend Anthony Moyles. The podcast will run for the rest of the season and will feature many more special guests, and scientists [citation needed] believe it will improve your life by somewhere in the region of 84%.
In addition to the big interview, we quiz our guests and discuss some of the big stories to arise from the past week.
Previous interviewees include Dublin's Bernard Brogan, Kildare forward Johnny Doyle, Wexford's Matty Forde, and the Sunday Game's Michael Lyster. Listen here.
You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher.
