Mayo's mental toughness impresses O'Leary

April 29, 2012

Cork's Noel O'Leary and Alan Freeman of Mayo in Allianz FL Division 1 action ©INPHO/James Crombie
Noel O'Leary says there is no chance of Mayo cracking in today's Allianz Football League final.

More often than not, Mayo have failed to perform in big games at Croke Park, but O'Leary has noticed something different about the Connacht champions this year and insists that Cork won't be taking their challenge lightly.

"Every year they're picking up a bit and mentally I think it's tougher they're getting. I can't see a Mayo flop happening this Sunday," the half back said.

"James Horan has been changing the attitude up there and mentally they're after getting a bit tougher. They'll be a very hard team come championship, but as the fella says, they'll be a very hard team come Sunday as well, and we'll have to be at our very best to beat them.

"Beating Kerry (in the semi-final) was a super win for them. You'd hear people saying whether Kerry really wanted it, but we came in during the second half of that game and when they got the goal Jack O'Connor jumped up in the air.

"That tells you Kerry were up for it and anybody says otherwise is only fooling you. That was a super win and they won't be taken lightly.

"They certainly have improved an awful lot and they're improving as the months go on. If you look through their team, there are some quality players there."

Most Read Stories