Two schools' rugby internationals, James Gill and Gavin Duffy, will man Mayo's midfield engine room in tomorrow's All-Ireland Minor Football Championship semi-final clash with Cork at Croke Park. They form an influential partnership, central to the team's direct style of play that saw off the challenges of Roscommon and Galway.
The new Connacht champions' team manager, JP Kane, captained the 1971 winning team and aims to bring an end to a famine for the county's under-18's who have not won the title since 1985 when they beat Cork. With only two players eligible for next year it is a mature Mayo side with a "now or never" attitude. Kane concedes: "Cork have an edge in physical strength, but we hope to atone for any disadvantages in this area".
An impressive win over Roscommon and a one-goal win over a talented Galway in the Connacht decider has given rise to high hopes this time round.
The attack is led by Billy Padden, son of the famed Willie Joe and the Dillon brothers, Gary and Alan, who teamed up with Padden to help contrive victory in the All-Ireland Vocational Schools' final earlier this year. Team captain Pat Kelly and centre back Paul Coady emphasise Mayo's strength down the middle and Robert Moran, at right half forward, has shown enough good touches so far to merit one of the danger-man tags in attack. Cork have been not won an All-Ireland title since 1993, but victories over Limerick and Kerry, the reigning Munster champions, augur well for their chances. The team's attacking strengths is based on the most experienced half forward line at this level - John Flavin, Conor McCarthy and Pauric Hurley - who hold a huge threat for Mayo's defensive resources.
Verdict: Mayo.
Mayo: J O'Hara; M Meenaghan P Kelly J Brogan; R Kane P Coady C Moran; J Gill G Duffy; R Moran B Padden B Loftus; G Dillon A Dill on D Gallagher.
Cork: P O'Shea; N O'Leary N Furlong F Crowley; S O'Sullivan R Curran T Kenny;' D Niblock D Delaney; J Flavin C McCarthy P Hurley; R O'Mahoney B Collins C Brosnan.
