Dublin manager Dessie Farrell ahead of the All-Ireland SFC clash with Mayo at Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon. Photo: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
Dublin manager Dessie Farrell has outlined how his team has practiced relentlessly for the moment that presented itself at the end of their absorbing All-Ireland SFC draw with Mayo in Dr Hyde Park, a result that puts them straight through to an All-Ireland quarter-final.
Cormac Costello finished but it was the sweeping move off a kick-out after Ryan O’Donoghue had put Mayo a point ahead with time almost elapsed that created it.
“We have practised these situations on the sideline. Every team in the country is doing that,” said Farrell.
“There is a lot of experience there within the 15 that finished, a lot of youth as well in terms of newer players bringing the energy and bringing that vitality that we knew we needed.
“We knew we had enough nous on the pitch to be able to figure it out. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. Thankfully today it did.”
Dublin now have two weeks to an All-Ireland quarter-final but Mayo will have a home preliminary quarter-final against Derry, Cork or Monaghan next weekend and their manager Kevin McStay says they can be upbeat about that.
McStay said they knew they were always capable of producing a performance to test the champions the way they did but didn’t find the commentary around them disrespectful in the build-up.
“Did anyone remember we went to Killarney last year and did what we did down in Killarney? So there was always that potential in the team,” said McStay.
“Coming into this game we’d won five of our previous six games, and that’s a very consistent effort from a Division 1 team.
“We are playing fairly quality teams generally speaking at the level we are at, and the game we left being us. Like, was anyone saying we left the game behind us against Galway?
“So I don’t see it as disrespectful, I’m amused by the lack of detail people are going into, and that’s the way the world is gone I suppose.
“But we knew what we were capable of. I have no whinge or anything like that, we get on with it now and learn to live and look after ourselves.”
McStay said the experience of last year will stand to them now and that having home advantage with a day’s less travel will also be of benefit next weekend.
Farrell said it was a “possibility” that Jack McCaffrey could play a full game but his impact off the bench was telling once again.
“Jack has the experience and he has the bit of guile as well to be able to figure stuff out in the clutch moments. He was very influential in that last play and delighted with his impact.”
