Joe Kernan reckons Mayo's 65-year wait for Sam could be about to come to an end.

The Ireland International Rules manager says the Westerners' remind him of the Armagh team he led to All-Ireland glory in 2002 because they keep coming back.

"Like ourselves, Mayo are obviously hurting after a few near misses and badly want to prove themselves. We felt exactly the same and when it came down to it, what got us over the line was everyone working hard for each other," he told the Irish Examiner.

"That sounds a bit cliched, but it's true. Look how much Tipperary's win in the hurling was down to them simply outworking Kilkenny. If you're the bookie, you naturally say that Dublin will win, but I suspect this could be Mayo's year.

"They've got to step up and prove themselves. In many ways, we know what we'll get from Dublin. Mayo are the ones with all the question marks.

"Nothing less than an unbelievable performance will do, but something tells me they have it in them to produce it."

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