It’s been an interesting summer. 61 Championship games have been contested. Two teams remain. Dublin and Mayo will again do battle for the All Ireland Senior Football Title.
Will Sam Maguire remain in the capital for the third consecutive year? Or will he be travelling west on Sunday evening when the dust has settled?
The boys in blue are in search of their 27th All Ireland Title, and hopefully their third in a row. They’ve dominated this competition since the turn of the decade, winning four of the last six finals. Winning on Sunday will surely install them as the team of the decade, even with a few years to spare.
Mayo are still looking to break the hoodoo that has followed them for well over 60 years following back to back All Ireland wins in 1950 and 1951. They’ve been finalists three times already since 2010 and have been knocking on that door so many times.
These two sides have met in the championship 14 times in the past. Dublin have come out on top 8 times on these meetings, Mayo have only beaten Dublin twice, with 4 of the games ending in stalemate.
Sunday will be the fourth time Dublin and Mayo have met in the All Ireland Final. And Mayo have never beaten Dublin in the big game, with the Dubs seeing them off in 1921, 2013 and 2016.
It’s worth noting that Dublin’s only defeat under Jim Gavin in the championship came against Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final. They drew with Mayo in the 2015 semi-final and 2016 final and won both replays. It leaves Gavin’s record as follows:
Played 30; Won 27, Drew 2, Lost 1
Stephen Rochford is only in his second season as Mayo manager. Their championship record under him is as follows:
Played 18, Won 12, Drew 3, Lost 3
PATHS TO THE FINAL:
DUBLIN:
Leinster Quarter Final – Dublin 0-19 Carlow 0-7
Leinster Semi Final – Dublin 4-29 Westmeath 0-10
Leinster Final – Dublin 2-23 Kildare 1-17
All Ireland Quarter Final – Dublin 1-19 Monaghan 0-12
All Ireland Semi Final – Dublin 2-17 Tyrone 0-11
Over 5 Games:
Total Score For: 9-107
Total Score Against: 1-57
Average For: 2-21
Average Against: 0-12
Dublin’s Top Scorers:
Dean Rock 3-24 (20f, 3 ‘45s’)
Con O’Callaghan 1-20 (8f)
Paul Mannion 0-14
Ciaran Kilkenny 1-9
Bernard Brogan 0-9 (1f)
MAYO:
Connacht Quarter Final – Mayo 2-14 Sligo 0-11
Connacht Semi Final – Mayo 1-11 Galway 0-15
All Ireland Round 2 Qualifier – Mayo 2-21 Derry 1-13 (aet)
All ireland Round 3 Qualifier – Mayo 2-14 Clare 0-13
All ireland Round 4 Qualifier – Mayo 0-27 Cork 2-20 (aet)
All Ireland Quarter Final – Mayo 1-12 Roscommon 2-9
All Ireland Quarter Final Replay – Mayo 4-19 Roscommon 0-9
All Ireland Semi Final – Mayo 2-14 Kerry 2-14
All Ireland Semi Final Replay – Mayo 2-16 Kerry 0-17
Over 9 Games:
Total Score For: 16-148
Total Score Against: 7-121
Average For: 1-19
Average Against: 1-13
Mayo Top Scorers:
Cillian O’Connor 3-59 (42f, 1 ‘45’)
Andy Moran 3-21
Diarmuid O’Connor 3-5
Kevin McLoughlin 2-7
Jason Doherty 1-10 (1f, 1 ‘45’)
PREVIOUS CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS:
2016: Dublin 1-15 Mayo 1-14 (All-Ireland final) Replay
2016: Dublin 2-9 Mayo 0-15 (All-Ireland final) Draw
2015: Dublin 3-15 Mayo 1-14 (All-Ireland semi-final) Replay
2015: Dublin 2-12 Mayo 1-15 (All-Ireland semi-final) Draw
2013: Dublin 2-12 Mayo 1-14 (All-Ireland final)
2012: Mayo 0-19 Dublin 0-16 (All-Ireland semi-final
2006: Mayo 1-16 Dublin 2-12 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1985: Dublin 2-12 Mayo 1-7 (All-Ireland semi-final) Replay
1985: Dublin 1-13 Mayo 1-13 (All-Ireland semi-final) Draw
1955: Dublin1-8 Mayo 1-7 (All-Ireland semi-final) Replay
1955: Dublin 0-7 Mayo 1-4 (All-Ireland semi-final) Draw
1923: Dublin 1-6 Mayo 1-2 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1921: Dublin 1-9 Mayo 0-2 (All-Ireland final)
1904: Dublin 0-8 Mayo 1-4 (All-Ireland semi-final)
Dublin 8, Mayo 2, Draws 4