IRELAND COACH PAUL EARLEY has refused to accept that the International Rules series is effectively over.
His side hold a 22-point lead heading into next Saturday’s decisive test at Croke Park with Australia after their 57-35 win at Kingspan Breffni Park last night. With 66 minutes on the clock in Cavan, Ireland led by just eight points after a strong Aussie fight-back.
A burst of late scoring that included three Ireland overs and a crucial Kevin McLoughlin goal, worth six points, has left significant daylight between the teams.
“Whether we won or lost, it is still half-time,” insisted Earley. “There is another game to go and it will be a big challenge next weekend, especially when you see the way they improved in the third quarter.
“That will give them a lot of confidence and we can’t underestimate them or take anything for granted.” Earley added:
It is a good position to be in, absolutely. But a goal, a couple of six pointers turns it around very quickly and we will be leaving nothing to chance.”
Earley rejected the suggestion that the second test will be a tough sell to fans now. Just 17,657 turned up at Breffni Park and with Ireland now so far ahead, they may feel the contest is over.
“I hope not,” he said. “I think a lot of people have bought tickets already for Croke Park. A lot of people I’ve spoken to over the last couple of weeks said they have put it in their calendar for next weekend so I certainly hope not.”
Dublin’s Paul Flynn noted the Australian’s strong form in the third quarter and claimed the result flattered Ireland in the end.
“Even in the final quarter they hit the cross bar,” said Flynn. “I don’t know how they did it. It was nearly harder to do that than score. That could have been a big swing if they’d got that goal.
“I was surprised at how well they did. Some of the shots they kicked were really, really good. They just didn’t create as much as I thought they would.”
Can’t criticise Mayo’s sporting qualities. If they were more streetwise they would have an All Ireland by now. Cork bit too nice at times as well.
Mayo streetwise, It is Mayo and not Germany!
Mayo for salad
They’re brilliant throughout the making of the salad but mess it up at the end.
Sounds like he’s making excuses already!
Trying to influence the referee more like and smacks of desperation
Not the first time this has been, rather unfairly, levelled at Mayo. Similar accusations were made before last years final though of course everybody conveniently forgets that Dublin spent the last ten minutes of that game hauling down Mayo men to scrape over the line. Mayo need to stand up to this rhetoric and take some control of the rhetoric, referees are only human after all.
Mayo did the exact same thing in the 2012 semi final against Dublin too, hauling down players and time wasting, just to clarify that Mayo are no saints either. But lets try to stick to Cork v Mayo this Sunday without trying to bring Dublin into it.
Semi-Final match-ups: Dublin vs Donegal, Mayo vs Kerry
All-Ireland Final: Mayo vs Dublin……..Mayo to end the Curse and beat Dublin by three points :)……..you heard it hear first
Since the new format was introduced, 11 times out of 13 the team that won the All-Ireland was either Kerry or the team that knocked them out.
Making excuses already! Hope mayo hammer them now.
Mind games! Mind games! You’re fooling no – one.
This is the funniest thing I’ve ever read. Where’s my violin?!
Cuthbert is right them Mayo shores are gettho hardened, look at Edna for example, a right gurrier
Why has Andrew osullivan left the panel? Played slot in the league and impressed to be honest. If we get with in an asses roar of mayo I’ll be happy enough. Don’t think cutbert is the man to take us forward tho.
Hahaha this has to be a joke, what happened to battle hardened cork teams. Mayo to make final again but expect same result as always
Final it’s there’s Sunday
We could sneak an unfancied win if we could sort out our Midfield
Midfield will be damage control for Cork, Mayo have the strongest midfield in the championship when it comes to fielding our own kickouts. Cork don’t have a Cluxton to nullify that.
Mayo 4 Sam 2014. This is our year. Mark my words.. !!!
Mayo have not peaked yet for a reason and never took the League serious, .. Learned from mistakes last year of showing they’re hand too early . Mark my words Mayo will bulldoze Dublin in this years final !!!!
http://youtu.be/2G_hmuU2PEc. Up the dubs you have no chance
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz