The bookies are still strongly backing Kerry’s to-the-manor-born minors to get the better of our lads in tomorrow’s replay down in Limerick – last Sunday, Kerry were on offer at 4/11 whereas Paddy Power is now quoting them at slightly more generous odds of 4/7 to prevail tomorrow. In other words, they’re still the clear favourites to rack up a winning score against us at the Gaelic Grounds.
It’s only reasonable, I suppose, because our backline and midfield need to perform at least as well tomorrow as they did last Sunday – and they played really well last Sunday – and our forward line needs to play better than it did at Croker. The fear is that the Kerry lads who were shackled so well the last day will do better tomorrow and, if this happens, it could be difficult for our lads to stick with them.
So a tough day’s work lies ahead of our guys tomorrow but, if they remember Kevin McStay’s advice from last week and tear into their illustrious opponents with the same abandon that they did in Croker, then they have to have a great chance of reaching the final. A half-decent refereeing performance wouldn’t go amiss either, I suppose.
I hope that, the venue notwithstanding, there’s a good level of support there for our lads – I expect the full County Board to make the effort to be there, seeing as they made no effort whatsoever to fight for a venue that was fair to both sets of supporters – and that, like last Sunday, the performance on the field is one that will make all Mayo supporters proud. And one that makes those young Kerry royals cry more than a little bit. Best of luck, lads.