Liam McHale believes Ger Brennan not starting Sunday's All-Ireland football final at centre back will be bad news for Mayo.

Brennan has been playing a holding role which gives wing backs James McCarthy and Jack McCaffrey the freedom to get forward, but the difficulties he encountered against Kerry's Colm Cooper, coupled with the relative success Cian O'Sullivan enjoyed when he switched from midfield to number six against the Kingdom, leaves the St. Vincent's man in danger of losing his place for the decider.

"No disrespect to Ger Brennan, but in Mayo we'd prefer if he started centre back because we can match him up with Alan Dillon, " former Mayo midfielder and selector McHale said at a Vodafone event yesterday.

"If Cian O'Sullivan goes centre back and (Denis) Bastick goes into midfield, in my opinion, we have to put Dillon into the full forward line because (Dublin's half back line) will kill him athletically. And we don't want our best ball player running around chasing fellas."

McHale, who played in four All-Ireland finals (including the 1996 replay against Meath in which he was controversially sent off), admits the fitness of forwards Cillian O'Connor and Andy Moran is a big concern for the Connacht champions.

"You can't carry (O'Connor), for sure. You're as well to start him and also Andy Moran struggling to get back fit after the knee operation is a big concern. Andy is way off what he was last year and the year before. They're our two top forwards so if they're below par, it's going to make it that bit more difficult for us.

"Andy is probably flying in training, nobody trains harder than him, but I hope he hasn't done too much now and hasn't over-cooked himself." Tweet

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