Jack O'Connor

How are Sinn Féin, Micheál?

Well, I think if you look at this point last year, they had a motivational speaker in with the All-Ireland winning manager at the time, Jack O'Connor.

And I think somewhere tacitly, there was an admission there that motivation was needed because the party was facing into that hard slog of opposition.

Again, this year, things seem slightly different.

Yes, he got Mickey Graham, but I always felt this was a backroom team, that he had too many of his friends there, that he needed maybe good cop, bad cop.

They're a bit like when Keane O'Neill came in with Jack O'Connor and when Keane O'Neill came in with Eamon Fitzmaurice.

I mean, Keane was the exact polar opposite of these boys as managers, but it was his way as well, you know, so... our lucky yes but at the end of the day it's a results driven game the winners get to write the history and the history says no All-Ireland and two left behind

Dick just on Joyce obviously he was close to winning All-Ireland in two years but we're in September now like there are counties and I'll get to your own county in a couple of minutes as well there are counties like well underway to having you know plans for 2027 and goals and all that kind of crap but Galway are now starting a process of finding a new manager without an obvious candidate jumping out.

you know, The amount of like, look, everyone knows about under the counter payments in the G at both county and club.

And believe it or not, I would think as regards payment to managers, it's far more frequent at club level than it's at county level.

Uh, county level like you take Kerry so Jack O'Connor is retired so he's it's ideal role for him it's a full-time job county management but I'm thinking of all the rest of the county managers and you you take Andy Morton who has his own fitness business whether you go to all the most of the rest of the county managers and they're holding down a job or they're in a business or whatever like that Obviously, it's tough to dangle.

Where I see all the money at inter-county level being ploughed into is the background team, is the management team.

I've no doubt if Ben Murphy w- would have played in the Ireland final this year and would have done a good job and would have helped Kerry immensely.

I think Jack O'Connor might not say it o- out loud because he is in the hot seat at the minute, um, but it is having a huge effect on Kerry right now.

And again, I won't apologize for it.

I don't care what's happening elsewhere.

Yeah.

Because I would be 100% invested.

I would have loved to have seen Jack O'Connor and Kerry win the All-Ireland this year, and they didn't, and they won't make complaints about it.

They won't make excuses about it.

I've no doubt if Ben Murphy w- would have played in the Ireland final this year and would have done a good job and would have helped Kerry immensely.

I think Jack O'Connor might not say it out, out loud because he is in the hot seat at the minute, um, but it is having a huge effect on Kerry right now.

And again, I won't apologize for it.

I don't care what's happening elsewhere.

Yeah.

Because I would be 100% invested.

I would have loved to have seen Jack O'Connor and Kerry win the All-Ireland this year, and they didn't, and they won't make complaints about it.

They won't make excuses about it.

But, but, but by and large, you wouldn't say it was down to there was a ...

And I don't li- I like Jack O'Connor.

I have no personally-

I do

The only thing I'd

say about Kerry is some of them have been injured for a long time this year and they're only back and Jack O'Connor made this point the last day that we don't know how long some of them went without kicking a ball now Polly Clifford as John said got back to his best the last day and if one or two get back to their best today there's no stopping Kerry but I am a bit of a dreamer Pat alright

From the studio

on Diggs Lane, over to Liffey, to Drumcondra and Dublin Tree.

Throw-in is at 3.30pm. It's a lot cooler in Dublin 3 today than it has been in recent weeks across July and the wind feels more significant also.

We'll see what impact it has in the game itself but as we know it's been far trickier shooting into the hill.

in recent weeks Kerry the reigning All-Ireland champions come into this game as strong favourites they're looking to go back to back for the first time since 2007 and would also be the first time Jack O'Connor has managed to do so across his illustrious career as manager Mayo of course come into this final as complete underdogs looking to win a first All-Ireland title in 75 years having lost 11 deciders since 1989 2017 Footballer of the Year Andy Moran is in his first year as manager of his home county and has guided a young side through a rollercoaster season There is a change each to both panels, both injury-enforced.

Kerry's Jimmer O'Connor is out, Kylian Trant is in, and for Mayo, Stephen Cohen is replaced by John McMoneagle.