Former Mayo midfielder Seamus O’Shea says Kevin McStay will need to get his match-ups right at the back if his team are to prevail in Killarney this weekend.

After their Connacht SFC exit at the hands of Roscommon last month, Mayo are back in action on Saturday when they travel to take on the Sam Maguire Cup holders in round one of the All-Ireland SFC (3pm).

Speaking to RTE Sport ahead of the showdown at Fitzgerald Stadium, O’Shea feels that the Westerners have enough scores in their team to pull off an upset if they can nullify some of the Kingdom’s key threats.

"Limiting their better players is typically where they need to start. The two Cliffords, Sean O’Shea, making sure they get those match-ups right,” said the Breaffy man.

"They’ve been coming by scores pretty well throughout the year. If they have got everyone available, then you’d expect them to get scores.

"It’s how they match up at the other end and at least limit those lads’ influence as much as possible, and not give away frees. Sean O’Shea is as good as anyone in the county, he's going to punish you, so be as disciplined as possible at the back.

"They’ve struggled at times in getting possession around the middle of the field as well. If they can break even there, there is enough scores in the team if they’ve everyone available.

"It’ll be trying to limit where possible the influence of some of their better players, or doing as good a job as possible."

 

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