Mayo boss James Horan insisted that Dublin will be a different animal later in the year after his side claimed a rare League victory over them.
The five-point victory at Croke Park was Mayo’s first over the Dubs in the League since 2012, while it is also a decade since they last recorded successive wins over them as they followed up on last year’s All-Ireland semi-final.
It was also the first time that Mayo had beaten Dublin in Dublin in the League since 1971, but Horan wasn’t getting bogged down in any of that, instead pointing to the key players that his opposite number Dessie Farrell is without.
He said: “Look, from our regard we are just trying to keep working. We improved a few things from the Donegal and Monaghan game and we were a bit better tonight. So we are happy to continue on with that.
“Dublin are missing a lot of players. We have banged into them long enough to know that they have an awful lot of players to come back into that.
“They won’t be happy with their performance and some of their shooting. So we have to factor that in as well. From what we could do and from where we are in the season, we will take that.”
Horan welcomed Matthew Ruane and Oisin Mullin back into the side for the first time this year, the latter having recently decided against a career in the AFL, though the manager spread the praise around.
“They are very strong players and we saw that today. I was particularly pleased with Aidan Orme who showed the composure he can bring; Paul Towey worked very hard in the first half.
“Donnacha (McHugh) first time playing up here. Kept going, kept bring big energy there. I thought Jordan (Flynn) and Mattie were very strong.
“We have quite a few injuries as every team has this time of the year. The intent and attitude was strong.”
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