Eight-time All-Ireland winner Philly McMahon feels it is vital Mayo “rehearse adversity” in the build-up to Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC final against defending champions Kerry.
Andy Moran’s side enter the game as outsiders to secure the county’s first Sam Maguire success since 1951 and banish the memory of 11 consecutive losses on Gaelic football’s biggest day.
Some of those defeats have been chastening, while others have come by the narrowest of margins, so to end that unwanted run, McMahon believes it is crucial they have a plan in place for the moments that don’t go their way this weekend.
The former Dublin defender, who will be part of the BBC punditry team this weekend, notes that Kerry’s know-how in finals gives them a huge advantage and overcoming adversity coupled with genuine belief is crucial if Mayo are to get over the hump.
“Mayo need to ask themselves what are the things that could happen we don’t want to happen, so let’s train for that and 80 percent of what we do will win us the game,” he said on The GAA Social.
“Louth, I would say, did not do any ‘rehearse adversity’ [in the 17-point semi-final defeat] because they just let it snowball or anything to trigger the team to do something structurally different.
“You address the elephant in the room that ‘yes, we’re not great at winning All-Irelands’ but I’m sure that was done a long time ago because they have got there and now it’s about focusing all the attention on what they can do on the day.
“Mayo are in a good place, are progressing in a good first year under Andy Moran, but if Kerry hit a purple patch, will they fall into a default of ‘we’ve had a great year and got to an All-Ireland final’ or will they fight back and go to win an All-Ireland?”