By Paul Keane

You could call it a tale of two third quarters.

Rewind firstly back to the All-Ireland semi-final of 2019 and Mayo's difficulties against Dublin in that period after half-time. Leading by two points at the break, they would go on to concede 2-6 without reply in the space of just 12 minutes.

Almost exactly two years on, back at Croke Park and trailing Galway by five points at half-time in the recent Connacht final, it was Mayo that this time exploded into life, firing an unanswered 1-6 themselves to effectively overcome their old rivals.

Mayo are a different team now, in both personnel and style, to the one that lost to Dublin two years ago and that performance against Galway will give them real confidence ahead of tomorrow's latest semi-final showdown with the All-Ireland holders.

'We're playing with freedom, a lot of energy, and just trying to harness that properly,' said Mayo defender Stephen Coen. Much of that energy and enthusiasm comes from their young players. Since that loss to Dublin two years ago, Oisin Mullin, Ryan O'Donoghue, Eoghan McLaughlin and Tommy Conroy have all come in and thrived.

In turn, half a dozen Mayo players that featured in the 2019 game have since retired though Coen doesn't necessarily view the 10-point loss to Dublin as a watershed moment.

'I don't think it was because of that specific game,' said Coen, referencing the various personnel changes since. 'It just happened naturally. In a county like Mayo, there's always brilliant talent coming through. We're just really fortunate that there was a really good generation there at one age group, and there's been really good lads that have come in since then.

'When you've got players of that quality, you have to play them. A lot of their strengths are pace, explosiveness, power, getting up the field, supporting attacks, being good at defending. We're just lucky to have them and if there's any way at all to help keep them improving, that's what we'll do.'

Former boxer O'Donoghue has added real punch to Mayo's attack and in the absence of the injured Cillian O'Connor, the Belmullet man will be one of their go-to players against Dublin.

'Ryan is a guy with a lot of ambition,' said Coen. 'He's a real leader for us at the minute. He demands so much off his teammates so he would never shirk responsibility. He loves the challenge and he's going really well.'

At the other end of the experience spectrum, captain Aidan O'Shea is expected to make his 152nd appearance for Mayo.

"Aidan in fairness would be the ultimate professional and that shows in the amount of appearances he's made and all the games he's been involved in,' said Coen. 'He always makes himself available, he's always hungry to perform, a real leader in the group and someone that a lot of the guys would model themselves on.

'He minds his body, his nutrition, recovery, that would all be top notch, would never be questioned. He's just been brilliant for us for, I don't know how many seasons he's been in with us, is it 13 or 14 seasons probably?'

O'Shea mightn't win too many straight line races with younger colleagues like Conroy or O'Donoghue. But for sheer hard graft and, particularly his effectiveness in the tackle, there are few better than the big Breaffy man.

'I think with any team you play against you try not to go into contact when it's not necessary, but especially when you're playing against Aidan,' said Coen. 'Anyone that goes near him, the ball kind of pops out easily. And for a guy of his strength, he's always looking to get stronger, to get faster, to get more explosive. He never lets himself rest, he's always pushing on, trying to improve himself. That kind of sums up his attitude and his application.'