Mayo SFC final: I think Mitchels will have greater power and depth than Garrymore

Mayo's foremost GAA analyst Martin Carney gives his verdict on today's much-anticipated clash

THE big day is on our doorstep. The county senior football final day.

Though the highlight of the club calendar, the competition has been eclipsed to a degree in a year when the exploits of the county team has cornered nearly all of our attention.

With respect, however, the battle for the Moclair Cup between Garrymore and Castlebar Mitchels will mean every bit as much to the contestants and their supporters as did the affair in Croke Park on July 26 last.

That Garrymore and Mitchels are the last two left standing has a special significance.

Mitchels, the town team, was founded in 1885. Having won their inaugural title in 1888, they can currently boast a total of 31. Indeed, since the 1930s they have managed to win at least once in every decade up to the end of the noughties.

Their failure to win a crown in the current decade is something they want to address and put right.

The year 2017 – the last time they annexed the trophy – seems a long time ago and no doubt Kevin Filan will challenge his squad to address this deficiency.

Garrymore, on the other hand, are the archetypal rural club. No village, no church, and just a small population to draw from. Their football pitch in the Killeenrevagh-Crossboyne parish near Hollymount acted as a magnet and drew together a community since the club’s foundation in 1918.

Over the decades they have endured the curse of small playing numbers, perennially striving to survive, but nonetheless anyone who ever competed against them know that their representatives will give all they can for the honour of the community.

Their golden era came over a nine-year period when they won a total of six senior titles between 1974 and 1982: incidentally, that last year it was Mitchels they beat in the final.

What can we expect, then, from these storied teams on Sunday?

Which of them will find that bit extra to claim the title?

Will Garrymore’s win over Mitchels in their group game have any bearing at all on proceedings and to what extent will the post-All-Ireland celebrations have had on their county stars?

If their most recent outings are anything to go by, both teams look in rude health and appear as though they are finding their best form at the right time.

Whatever uncertainties their earlier displays exposed seem to be a thing of the past.

The quality evident in Mitchels' win over Breaffy in the semi-final coupled to Garrymore’s victory over a fancied Belmullet at the same stage would lend strength to the argument that they are coming close to their best when it matters most.

Mitchels did as they liked against Breaffy. Unrelenting at the back, where the central axis of Donnacha McHugh and John McMonagle shone, they cut a very impressive unit.

With Patrick Durcan and Sean Morahan presumably manning the wing-back positions, Mitchels look to have a sector more than capable of stunting whatever Garrymore throw at them.

Bob Tuohy looked back to his best in the second half of that game and he will have plenty to personally motivate him.

In the last outing between the teams, Garrymore lorded matters midfield due to a wonderful display on the day by Gary Golden. Tuohy and an ever-improving Ultan O'Reilly can anticipate a battle royale with Golden and Colin Commins.

Noticeable with Mitchels this year is the incremental improvement evident in their attack from game to game.

Joe Forry’s form has gone up a notch in each outing and alongside him, Cian Walsh in particular has displayed a welcome consistency.

At a critical juncture in their semi-final, when reduced to 14 men, Forry responded with a vital goal and four points to steady his ship. Neil Douglas has found form at the right time, while James Durcan will pose a threat for any defence.

Their confidence in possession, accuracy and ability to bring others into play has elevated their worth tenfold to the team. The forward unit in general can take one thing for granted though; they will not get the freedom to play as they did in the semi-final.

Under no circumstances will the Garrymore defence be as accommodating as was Breaffy’s.

It is here that Garrymore need to get a repeat – and a little more – from what we have seen to date. Over the course of the championship they went four games without conceding a goal before leaking two to Belmullet in the semi-final.

At the back, Liam Óg Horkan has caught the eye at centre-back. With the expectation that the dynamic county duo of Eoin

McGreal and Enda Hession are also likely to be assigned defensive duties, Garrymore look to have a very solid sector.

David Dolan mixes his defensive duties with a facility to attack when the occasion demands.

Overall, Garrymore’s management has surmised that if Forry, Douglas and Walsh are shackled, it will increase their chances of success.

Garry' probably rely more on the strength of the collective than on individual brilliance. In stating this, one cannot ignore the contribution of Darren Quinn, Trevor Nally and Mark Gibbons in attack. Quinn in particular played havoc against Mitchels in their Group 2 game in early September.

In addition, statistically both are quite similar. Mitchels have scored four goals and 82 points while conceding two goals and 67 points. Garrymore, on the other hand, read four goals and 73 points to two goals and 62 points in their ‘for’ and ‘against’ columns.

Looking for pointers from their earlier group game is futile.

What happened then I cannot see having a bearing on the result here.

Mitchels, on that occasion, were below par due to illness and absences. They have improved. Likewise, Garrymore showed great character and improved quality in edging out Belmullet in the semi-final.

Will it come down, then, to the displays of their respective county players?

My understanding is that all the Mitchels county players declined the opportunity of travelling to the United States last week. It suggests to me that they have remained very much focused on the event.

Garrymore’s Enda Hession and Eoin McGreal, in contrast, availed of the trip, and it will be interesting to see if this affects them adversely.

Expect a rapturous occasion. On the one hand, Garrymore are trying to span a 44-year gap since their last title and Castlebar Mitchels are hoping to see their greater experience stand to them.

Though they will have to face the full wrath of a wonderful team and parish, I still think Mitchels will have that greater power and depth to give them title number 32.