If Sunday’s football semi-final is one of the most common at the latter stages of championship, then Saturday’s is the complete opposite.
Mayo versus Louth is a novel pairing, just their third ever meeting in championship.
The Green and Red have been one of the best teams of the last 40 years, winning this match to reach the final on no fewer than 11 occasions since 1989, most recently in 2021.
But it’s the Wee County who have lifted Sam Maguire more recently, when they landed the title in 1957. That year, though, was also their last semi-final appearance.
You have to go back a further six years for the last time Mayo were the kings of Ireland.
Needless to say, it’s a massive opportunity for two counties who been All-Ireland champions just three times each.
Kobe McDonald, left, and Jordan Flynn are key players for Mayo
For Tomás Ó Sé, who was speaking on the RTÉ GAA Podcast, there’s a lack of urgency in some of Mayo’s play, something which could trip them up on Saturday evening.
“I was looking at the Cork-Mayo game and I was saying, ‘how are Cork not six, seven points up here at halftime,’ said the five-time All-Ireland winner.
“They created those chances, they just kicked an amount of wides. Cork would look back at that game with regret.
“Mayo still had the resolve to push through (but) I just feel that with the talent they have inside…
“I know that Ryan O’Donoghue comes out under the breaking ball an awful lot and he leaves the two lads inside. Kobe (McDonald) comes out at the odd time as well.
“But, jeez, Mayo are missing a trick not moving it that bit quicker. Is there a bit of fear that they’ll turn the ball over that little bit more? Maybe. But, if you have the players like you have inside there, move it quickly.
“People think that when we say move it quickly, that it means a 45-yard raker of a ball; it doesn’t.
“You can carry the ball quickly, hand pass the ball quickly. As long as you’re going forward and as long as you’re moving it.”
And while Andy Moran will try to set up his team to play to their strengths, he’ll also be conscious of Louth’s danger areas.
The Leinster men claimed provincial honours for the first time in 68 years in 2025, and a trip to the All-Ireland final would be a massive, further step forward.
Ó Sé says that the Wee County impressed him with how they set up in their quarter-final victory over Monaghan.
“You watched Louth earlier on (in the year), they weren’t as direct as they were in Croke Park,” he explained.
“You have good weather coming up, it’s going to be really hot inside in Croke Park and it lends itself to fast football.
“Now, it’s going to be really hard on the players but that was a marked difference in Louth against Monaghan, the way they moved the ball at pace. Every single time they went fast, they went direct.
“If you’re Andy Moran, you’re going to have to have a plan for Dara MacDonald.
“You’re going to have to tag James Maguire, he kicked four points from play (against Monaghan).
“They’re going to have to have a plan for Ciarán Byrne. He’s been outstanding coming off the bench for Louth every single time this season. He’d be starting on most teams around the country.”
Ó Sé concludes that if Mayo don’t change things up at Croke Park, then it will be Louth who will make it to the 26 July decider.
“I just feel that Mayo, looking at the players they have, looking at the age profile of the team, they have the players to be a little bit more direct.
“I hope it’s this weekend because I think it could pay off for them if they go down that road.
“But I’d still stick with Louth (to win) overall.”
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Watch the Tailteann Cup final, Down v Wicklow, on Saturday from 3.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on all matches on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch the All-Ireland Football Championship semi-finals, Louth v Mayo on Saturday from 5.30pm and Dublin v Kerry on Sunday from 3.15pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on all matches on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1