John O'Mahony Gaelic Football analystAll-Ireland semi-finals provide two of the most extreme sets of emotions for players, managers and supporters. Winning earns you the passage to Gaelic football's biggest day, the All-Ireland final. It justifies the hard work and sacrifices made in the previous 12 monthsand allows supporters weeks of anticipation and expectation and focuses the spotlight on their county.
Losing is like the door being slammed in your face within touching distance of the ultimate prize. It means everyone involved questioning whether the hard slog is worth it. You go over every minute of the game and add up all the things that might have made a difference - referee's decisions, injuries, wrong options - but that only intensifies the misery.
Semi-finals also affect teams differently. The finishing line is in sight and that frightens some while it inspires others. That will be the biggest concern facing all involved in Mayo and Fermanagh ahead of tomorrow's showdown at Croke Park.
Mayo are desperate to return to a final and a chance to erase the memories of 1996 and 1997, justified in feeling that they left at least one title behind them in the games against Meath and Kerry.
Fermanagh have reached this stage for the first time by totally rewriting the script with wins against Meath, Cork, Donegal and Armagh. They have played wonderful football that turned the formbook and tradition on its head.
Regardless of the outcome, Fermanagh have been the team of the championship. They have made great progress in recent years, taking a number of big scalps in league and championship, including Mayo in last year's qualifiers.
But having reached the quarter-finals last year they were hammered by Tyrone. To add to their problems they lost key players to their panel but instead of setting them back it seems to have inspired them.
Against Armagh, despite a bad start, when they went four points down in the first few minutes, they showed tremendous resilience and pace to overcome their opponents' physical strength. Time and again Shane McDermott, Martin McGrath, Mark Little, Eamonn Maguire, Colm Bradley and company raat Armagh from all angles; Stephen Maguire, Bradley and Tom Brewster did the damage on the scoreboard.
Mayo have just as much pace as Fermanagh. They also move the ball quickly to the inside forwards, all lethal finishers.
Kieran McDonald has become the ultimate team player at centre forward, distributing shrewdly, a quality not seen from him or many other Mayomen in recent years. This type of play contrasts with Armagh's slow build-up in the quarter-final and will trouble the Fermanagh defence.
It should be remembered that Armagh had Enda McNulty sent off just before half-time in the quarter-final, which allowed Fermanagh to play corner back Niall Bogue in front of Barry Owens and Ryan McCluskey for the second half. Armagh's supply to their inside forwards was then cut off, a fate Mayo are unlikely to suffer tomorrow.
One slight concern for Mayo is that they haven't had any tight finishes this year. They have steamrolled New York, Galway, Roscommon and Tyrone and have always had a cushion going into the final minutes. This is a testimony to their excellent performances but it would be comforting for them if they came out the right side of a tight finish.
Fermanagh have beaten Donegal and Meath in extra time and beat Armagh with an injury-time point. The key tomorrow tactically will come down to who wins most possession in the middle third of the field.
Midfielders Martin McGrath and Liam McBarron for Fermanagh and David Brady and Ronan McGarrity for Mayo had outstanding games in the quarter-finals. However, winning breaking ball and picking up scraps is going to make all the difference.
Here James Gill, McDonald, Peadar Gardiner, James Nallen and Alan Dillon, man of the match against Tyrone, look to have the advantage. Expect Brian Maloney to come out from the corner to help in this area. This will force Fermanagh to make a decision to get Bogue to cover the full-back line and allow Maloney free or follow him and leave more space inside.
Fermanagh may do the same with Colm Bradley so the tactical battle will be interesting but it is certain it is going to be very crowded between the two 45-metre lines. It must also be remembered that Mayo won the last day when Conor Mortimer and David Heaney were substituted early. They had been the stars up to that this year so if they can up their performances again Mayo may be in the driving seat.
Ultimately I think that the desperation in Mayo to atone for 1996 and 1997 might be enough to push them over the line.
Fermanagh's reaction to where they find themselves - within sight of the winning post - will be a vital factor. Tactically and talent-wise there is very little between the teams. Mentally Mayo just might have the edge.
