2021 is becoming known as the year of the underdog but there’s one remaining question to be answered and that’s whether Mayo can banish the ghosts of footballing pasts by capturing Sam Maguire for the first time in seventy years at the weekend.

On this Throw-In football final preview special, Will Slattery and Michael Verney are joined by Cora Staunton and Peter Canavan as they look ahead to the big game.

“It's a little bit surreal down here,” Cora tells the show. “While there's plenty of flags and bunting, cars painted and stuff like that, it's not as hyped or as built up as in other years. I think Mayo fans have learned in the past that the more hype you have it's probably not the best. We're optimistic and there's a confidence down here but things are certainly calmer which is good.”

While in Tyrone, Peter Canavan says people are upbeat, never expecting to have got so far this year.
“The mood's very good, people are in great form up here, there is a great buzz about the place in the towns and villages. There's nothing but red and white so supporters have really bought into it and bought into this team. They've given us a great run so far and we're in a position very few expected us to be in.”

Injury concerns notwithstanding, Cora says it will be tight for Mayo but expects them to pull through by a point or two in the end, while Peter thinks it will be even tighter and will finish in a draw with nothing to separate the teams. ‘It’s too hard to call,’ he says.

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www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-throw-in/

The Throw-In’s All Ireland Championship series is in association with Bord Gáis Energy.

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