Preview: Dublin v Mayo- Allianz Football League

Tue, 30th January 2024

By Conor Martin

Dessie Farrell’s Dublin will be looking to get their Division 1 campaign up and running, when we visit Mayo in our second Allianz Football League fixture this weekend.

Get match tickets here.

Despite Cormac Costello getting Dublin off to a dream start in the opening stages of the season opener, Dublin would suffer a last-minute defeat.

After establishing control early on, by the 25^th minute Ciarán Kilkenny had given us a five-point lead.

However, a Jack McCarron goal from the spot and a second Monaghan goal from Stephen O’Hanlon meant it was all square at the break.

It remained a close game after the restart. Colm Basquel followed up scores from Costello and Paddy Small before Ciaran McNulty grabbed Monaghan’s third goal of the evening.

The game would be level deep into injury-time and McNulty would prove to be the match winner as Dublin were dispossessed high up the field and Monaghan broke away allowing McNulty time and space to slot the ball over the bar to claim the win for Monaghan.

After our defeat last Saturday, Farrell rued our decision-making as a factor in our defeat and that is something the Boys in Blue will be looking to fine-tune come Saturday.

Mayo go into the game riding high on momentum after an impressive opening day win away to their Connacht neighbours and rivals Galway.

After an even start from the two sides, which saw Galway and Mayo get their scoreboard accounts up and running, Kevin McStay’s men began to pull away from the hosts after a well-worked Eoghan McLaughlin goal and they maintained that lead thanks to points from Jordan Flynn, Bob Tuohy and Fergal Boland, which saw them lead by four at the break.

The 2023 Allianz Football League Division 1 winners Mayo remained in control when play resumed. Boland got them going in the second-half with an audacious score. Mayo would then continue to find scores with ease. Paul Towey got himself involved amongst the scorers before Cillian O’Connor converted a penalty shortly before the end to seal the comfortable 2-12 to 0-10 win.

Flynn and Boland are just exciting talents that Mayo possess, and they can also call upon Ryan O’Donoghue to be a threat to Dublin.

However, we have plenty of options to trouble Mayo. Costello was in fine form in the defeat to Monaghan as he scored 1-4, while Ross McGarry and Luke Breathnach will be looking to continue their recent good form in a Dublin shirt as we seek out our first win of our league campaign.

Those not making the trip to Mayo this weekend can catch the game on RTÉ 2 from 7:30pm!

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