Ex-Dublin forward Vinnie Murphy has played down Mayo’s All-Ireland chances, suggesting that James Horan’s men lack leaders in their forward line.

Speaking on the Hill 16 Army’s ‘Blue is the Colour’ podcast, Murphy – an All-Ireland winner in 1995 – said that he felt Mayo were still relying on veterans like Andy Moran to step up to the plate on the big stage and added that the group "don’t have much in them this year”.

“I know James Horan is back in but still you’re going back with the same group,” he stated. “I know two or three have come in but they’re defenders they’re bringing in and the one thing Mayo have never ever lacked is defenders or midfielders, it’s up front they need them.

“Andy Moran has been a fantastic player but it would be a bit like if we were still relying on Bernard to get 1-4 or 1-6 for us now. How confident would we be? We still think he’s a great footballer but we’re not reliant on one or two players anymore. But Mayo are and that’s unfortunate for them.”

On the currently injured Cillian O’Connor, he added: “He (O’Connor) has constantly failed when it’s come to semi-final, final times. When the chips are really down, he hasn’t done it. In fairness to Andy Moran, he has stood up umpteen times and been the man but he hadn’t really got anyone along with him to deliver.”

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