Talk of the town this week – and all over the country.
Connolly has failed with his case at Central Hearings and Central Appeals levels through the GAA’s official channels but may now take his case to the independent Disputes Resolution Authority.
If, as expected now, the Dublin forward is not cleared to line out, his absence will represent a massive blow to the Sky Blues.
Connolly scored 1-2 last Sunday without being at his brilliant best and boss Jim Gavin, who could still name him in the starting line-up before deciding on a late change, must now decide who fills the void.
Alan Brogan appears to be the standout candidate to step into the starting 15 but Connolly’s sheer footballing ability and energy levels will be missed.
2. Cluxton’s kickouts
Last Sunday was one of those rare off-days for Stephen Cluxton.
The Dublin netminder missed three second half frees that you would normally expect him to pop over, including one late effort from a similar distance to the one he nailed to settle the 2011 All-Ireland final against Kerry.
But of far more concern to Dublin was how Mayo attacked Cluxton’s kickouts, forcing errors from the Parnell’s shotstopper and crucial turnovers.
Mayo know how central Cluxton is to Dublin’s gameplan in terms of gaining primary possession but the Leinster champions were obviously reluctant to go long given the aerial ability of their opponents.
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Cluxton is sure to have worked on a plan B this week in training, however, and it will be interesting to see what he has come up with but Dublin need more ballwinners around the middle.
3. Do Mayo have the momentum now?
That stirring late fightback was epic stuff from Mayo and perhaps now they can build on that in round 2.
When the Connacht kingpins lost last year’s semi-final replay to Kerry, they went into that game having been reeled in late on by the Kingdom.
But now Mayo are travelling back to Croke Park with the confidence of a gritty comeback under their belts.
Aidan O'Shea and Mayo suffered semi-final replay heartbreak last year. Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
The Kerry game 12 months ago was dogged by the controversy surrounding the Gaelic Grounds venue, which Mayo were dead set against.
But they’re in familiar territory again at GAA HQ and will feel confident of closing the deal at the second time of asking.
4. Aidan O’Shea’s influence
O’Shea was a key figure last Sunday but not the swashbuckling, barnstorming figure we had seen in previous outings.
If O’Shea plays well, Mayo invariably do and the Breaffy colossus will hope to supply the leadership and scoring power that was sorely lacking last weekend, Cillian O’Connor the notable exception.
Some pundits have recently suggested that O’Shea is still a better midfielder, despite his successful transition to attack.
He stood in for the throw-in at the start of both halves before venturing further forward but O’Shea was still seen out around the middle third for spells to provide an extra body in a congested area.
We’re looking forward to O’Shea locking horns with Philly McMahon again whenever the pair are in close proximity, given last Sunday’s events.
5. Where has the needle between these two come from?
First and foremost, these are two highly-motivated teams who are desperate for success.
Mayo will feel that their need is greater, as their All-Ireland senior football championship famine dates back to 1951.
But Dublin won’t lack for incentive either as they prepare to line out without forward talisman Diarmuid Connolly.
That perceived sense of injustice, when placed in context with Mayo defender Kevin Keane’s successful appeal for a similar episode, will throw more spice into the mix.
Mayo still harbour massive regrets from their 2013 All-Ireland final defeat against Dublin and won’t want to suffer another big-game defeat against the capital’s finest.
6. The man in the middle
The baton has been passed to Laois referee Eddie Kinsella for what promises to be another highly-charged affair.
Joe McQuillan’s performance last Sunday drew mixed reviews. He got some calls right, some wrong, but the general consensus was that it was a pretty difficult game to referee and almost impossible to spot everything going on off the ball.
Eddie Kinsella manning the whistle at tonight's Laois SFC. His next outing will see him in Croke Park on Saturday pic.twitter.com/oZOq9xrCdg
Kinsella needs his four umpires and two linesmen on high alert to spot anything that he might miss.
If tensions threaten to boil over early on, Kinsella may well be tempted to flash a couple of early cards in an attempt to draw some of the heat out of proceedings.
The implementation, or otherwise, of the black card will once again provoke plenty of scrutiny and post-match debate.
6 talking points ahead of Dublin and Mayo's All-Ireland semi-final replay
1. Diarmuid Connolly
Talk of the town this week – and all over the country.
Connolly has failed with his case at Central Hearings and Central Appeals levels through the GAA’s official channels but may now take his case to the independent Disputes Resolution Authority.
If, as expected now, the Dublin forward is not cleared to line out, his absence will represent a massive blow to the Sky Blues.
Connolly scored 1-2 last Sunday without being at his brilliant best and boss Jim Gavin, who could still name him in the starting line-up before deciding on a late change, must now decide who fills the void.
Alan Brogan appears to be the standout candidate to step into the starting 15 but Connolly’s sheer footballing ability and energy levels will be missed.
2. Cluxton’s kickouts
Last Sunday was one of those rare off-days for Stephen Cluxton.
The Dublin netminder missed three second half frees that you would normally expect him to pop over, including one late effort from a similar distance to the one he nailed to settle the 2011 All-Ireland final against Kerry.
But of far more concern to Dublin was how Mayo attacked Cluxton’s kickouts, forcing errors from the Parnell’s shotstopper and crucial turnovers.
Mayo know how central Cluxton is to Dublin’s gameplan in terms of gaining primary possession but the Leinster champions were obviously reluctant to go long given the aerial ability of their opponents.
Cluxton is sure to have worked on a plan B this week in training, however, and it will be interesting to see what he has come up with but Dublin need more ballwinners around the middle.
3. Do Mayo have the momentum now?
That stirring late fightback was epic stuff from Mayo and perhaps now they can build on that in round 2.
When the Connacht kingpins lost last year’s semi-final replay to Kerry, they went into that game having been reeled in late on by the Kingdom.
But now Mayo are travelling back to Croke Park with the confidence of a gritty comeback under their belts.
The Kerry game 12 months ago was dogged by the controversy surrounding the Gaelic Grounds venue, which Mayo were dead set against.
But they’re in familiar territory again at GAA HQ and will feel confident of closing the deal at the second time of asking.
4. Aidan O’Shea’s influence
O’Shea was a key figure last Sunday but not the swashbuckling, barnstorming figure we had seen in previous outings.
If O’Shea plays well, Mayo invariably do and the Breaffy colossus will hope to supply the leadership and scoring power that was sorely lacking last weekend, Cillian O’Connor the notable exception.
Some pundits have recently suggested that O’Shea is still a better midfielder, despite his successful transition to attack.
He stood in for the throw-in at the start of both halves before venturing further forward but O’Shea was still seen out around the middle third for spells to provide an extra body in a congested area.
We’re looking forward to O’Shea locking horns with Philly McMahon again whenever the pair are in close proximity, given last Sunday’s events.
5. Where has the needle between these two come from?
First and foremost, these are two highly-motivated teams who are desperate for success.
Mayo will feel that their need is greater, as their All-Ireland senior football championship famine dates back to 1951.
But Dublin won’t lack for incentive either as they prepare to line out without forward talisman Diarmuid Connolly.
That perceived sense of injustice, when placed in context with Mayo defender Kevin Keane’s successful appeal for a similar episode, will throw more spice into the mix.
Mayo still harbour massive regrets from their 2013 All-Ireland final defeat against Dublin and won’t want to suffer another big-game defeat against the capital’s finest.
6. The man in the middle
The baton has been passed to Laois referee Eddie Kinsella for what promises to be another highly-charged affair.
Joe McQuillan’s performance last Sunday drew mixed reviews. He got some calls right, some wrong, but the general consensus was that it was a pretty difficult game to referee and almost impossible to spot everything going on off the ball.
Kinsella needs his four umpires and two linesmen on high alert to spot anything that he might miss.
If tensions threaten to boil over early on, Kinsella may well be tempted to flash a couple of early cards in an attempt to draw some of the heat out of proceedings.
The implementation, or otherwise, of the black card will once again provoke plenty of scrutiny and post-match debate.
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