Diarmuid Connolly has warned Dublin to steer Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final with Mayo away from “chaos”.
The two heavyweights renew their rivalry at the weekend with Dubs legend Connolly insisting that his old teammates must play the game on their terms rather than allowing it to become loose and fractured, the terms of engagement in which he believes Mayo excel.
He said: "We saw what happened with Mayo in Killarney. Kerry went toe-to-toe with them, it was pure chaos for 10 or 15 minutes and that's where Mayo thrive. They always have thrived in those situations.
“But I think where they struggle is when they play the likes of Cork and Louth, who are both very structured, and they struggled for long periods against them. They didn't get their scores off as free-flowing as they usually do. And I think Dublin won't let that happen.
“I don't think Dublin are going to come out and play man-on-man with these on Sunday.
“They might do it for periods of the game but I certainly don't think they're going to do it from the start. If Mayo get a good start on Dublin and we're chasing the game, that could put us in a right hard spot to get back.
“Mayo love chaos and Dublin love structure, so I suppose it's a battle of the two."
Mayo have played three Division One teams en route to the last eight to Dublin’s one and Boylesports ambassador Connolly admitted that Dessie Farrell’s defence hasn’t been tested yet.
“I think Mayo will test them on Sunday. There’s a lot of new personnel in there, Sean McMahon started at centre-back the last day, could we see that maybe happening again?
“[Daire] Newcombe came in, he’s been very good in my opinion, the young lad from Whitehall [Lee Gannon] has been very very good, he got an All Star nomination last year and he’s contributing on the scoreboard as well, which is a huge plus for Dublin.
“Jonny Cooper stepped away, Mick Fitz [Fitzsimons] has been struggling for injury, Jack [McCaffrey] has been struggling for injury, but there’s still senior guys there. John Small is always going to do a job for you.
“I don’t think Dublin have a bad defence, I just think they have more options now.”
BoyleSports ambassador and Dublin legend Diarmuid Connolly came face-to-face with Mayo legend Lee Keegan on Clonliffe Road. The pair took part in an 'Epic Conversation' for BoyleSports ahead of this weekends Dublin v Mayo All Ireland quarter final. BoyleSports is offering 'Epic Odds' on the match - 6/4 Dublin, 11/4 Mayo
