Billy Joe Padden says ex-manager James Horan deserves a lot of credit for the rich form of Mayo's footballers recently.

Padden, who made over 100 appearances for Mayo between 2002 and 2010, earning three Connacht titles in the process, believes Horan played a crucial role during his four-year stint in charge Westerners in making them one of the top sides in the country.

Mayo take on Dublin tomorrow afternoon for a place in next month's All-Ireland SFC final and Padden feels that a win for the Connacht champions will have to come down to more than another star performance from Aidan O'Shea.

"I don't like to say Mayo have a history of losing, they've won plenty, but just not been able to win the big one. In order to start winning the big one, you have to start changing the culture and I think that has happened in the Mayo setup," Padden told the Irish Examiner.

"I think James Horan can take a lot of credit for how Mayo changed and it's been driven on by Pat [Holmes] and Noel [Connelly]. The players bought into it. You can pick out leadership in any given game from three or four different fellas.

"Maybe in other counties it's different like Tyrone who rely on Sean Cavanagh for leadership. I know Aidan O'Shea is a big player for Mayo but you get leadership from Colm Boyle, Keith Higgins, any of the midfielders, Lee Keegan, Cillian O'Connor who was probably the leader last year."

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