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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Eamon Doggett

Kerry legend Aidan O'Mahony pinpoints Cian O'Neill's influence on Galway ahead of All-Ireland final

Former Kerry player Aidan O'Mahony thinks the underdog tag might play into the hands of Galway in Sunday's All-Ireland final.

The five-time All-Ireland winner is tipping the Kingdom to edge the clash, but he has great respect for the Galway management team, which includes former Kerry coach Cian O'Neill.

O'Mahony, speaking to Paddy Power News, said: "I think when you always go into the final as underdogs, it kind of stands to you. Ourselves, in 2014 we went in as underdogs after Donegal did the business against Dublin and, we scraped past Mayo after a replay and it did us no harm that day.

READ MORE: Marc Ó Sé warns of Kingdom complacency as sides named for All-Ireland SFC final

"But as I said, they are both two good young teams with fantastic players and Galway have a great manager in Padraic Joyce. You know, like he's been there, he’s done that and Cian O’Neill has been in there with Kerry and he is a fantastic S&C coach and on the pitch he’s very tactically aware as well.

"He’s brought so much to this team and they’re so well set up so they’ll have absolutely no fear coming into this game.

"Every player who puts on a county jersey wants to play in an All-Ireland final and I suppose since my time it’s changed with sports psychology coming in so they’ll be very well grounded coming into this game. They’re going to be ready and they’ll relish the underdog tag so I can only see it helping them."

Many think the key to a Galway victory will be dampening the impact of Kerry talisman Clifford.

The Fossa man could be in line to be named the Footballer of the Year if shining again on the biggest stage.

O'Mahony agrees but believes that there are many contenders for the crown ahead of Sunday's final.

David Clifford and Shane Walsh (Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Keith Wiseman)

"I think if you look defensively Jason Foley and Tadhg Morley have been immense at the back.

"Tom O’Sullivan is probably playing the football of his life and you had David Moran stand up when Jack Barry got injured and for a 34 year old he's playing like a 21 year old.

"Every game it seems to be another player come up like David Clifford for the first half the last day and then Sean O’Shea.

"But I think it always comes down to the All-Ireland final and there’s a few in the mix with Comer and McDaid also with their hands up from a Galway side, but, for me, David Clifford is probably the stand out player and Tadhg Morley is a close second."

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