Killian Clarke speaks of his experience of playing against Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final, and previews the final clash against Mayo.
Cavan star Killian Clarke speaks to OurGame about finally making good on his county’s underage success to lift the Ulster SFC title this season.
The Shercock clubman had initially decided to take the season off from inter-county duty, but made a u-turn to rejoin Mickey Graham’s outfit.
He talks about his journey, and the feeling of delivering a provincial title.
Clarke also previews the All-Ireland final clash of Dublin v Mayo, and explains what it is like to play against the Dubs at Croke Park.
Click play the top of the page to watch the full interview.
CROKE PARK ALL SET FOR CHRISTMAS CRACKER
The last action of the most unusual season in GAA history is poised to deliver a memorable occasion on Saturday as Dublin bid to become the first team to win the All-Ireland senior football title for a sixth successive year while Mayo are attempting to end a 69-year wait for a visit from Sam Maguire.
The game has a 5.0 start in Croke Park and will be preceded by the EirGrid GAA All-Ireland U-20 final when Dublin play Galway (2.15).
PATHS TO THE FINAL
DUBLIN
Dublin 0-22 Westmeath 0-11
Dublin 2-23 Laois 0-7
Dublin 3-21 Meath 0-9
Dublin 1-24 Cavan 0-12
Top Scorers
Dean Rock………….1-22 (0-14 frees, 0-2’45s’)
Ciaran Kilkenny…1-17 0-1 mark)
Sean Bugler…………2-4
Niall Scully…………1-5
Con O’Callaghan….0-8
Cormac Costello….0-8 (0-3 frees, 0-1 mark)
MAYO
Mayo 2-15 Leitrim 0-10
Mayo 1-16 Roscommon 0-13
Mayo 0-14 Galway 0-13
Mayo 5-20 Tipperary 3-13
Top Scorers
Cillian O’Connor………..5-31 (0-19 frees, 0-2 ‘45s’)
Tommy Conroy………….1-8 (0-1 mark)
Diarmuid O’Connor…….2-1
Patrick Durcan…………….0-4
Matthew Ruane……………0-4
LAST TEN CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2019: Dublin 3-14 Mayo 1-10 (All-Ireland semi-final)
2017: Dublin 1-17 Mayo 1-16 (All-Ireland final)
2016: Dublin 1-15 Mayo 1-14 (All-Ireland final) Replay
2016: Dublin 2-9 Mayo 0-15 (All-Ireland final) Draw
2015: Dublin 3-15 Mayo 1-14 (All-Ireland semi-final) Replay
2015: Dublin 2-12 Mayo 1-15 (All-Ireland semi-final) Draw
2013: Dublin 2-12 Mayo 1-14 (All-Ireland final)
2012: Mayo 0-19 Dublin 0-16 (All-Ireland semi-final)
2006: Mayo 0-16 Dublin 1-12 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1985: Dublin 2-12 Mayo 1-7 (All-Ireland semi-final)Replay
Dublin 6 Mayo 2 Draws 2
DUBLIN’S UNBEATEN RUN
They have remained unbeaten in the championship since losing to Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final. The Dubs have played 41 games since then, winning 38 and drawing 3. They have beaten teams from 18 different counties (eight Leinster, five Ulster, three Connacht, two Munster)
………………….Played……….Won………Drew………Lost
Mayo……………..6……………….4……………2……………0
Kerry……………….4……………..3…………….1……………0
Tyrone……………4………………..4……………0……………0
Westmeath……4……………….4…………….0……………0
Kildare…………….3………………3………………0……………0
Laois……………….3……………..3……………….0…………..0
Meath……………..3………………3………………0…………….0
Longford…………2……………….2……………….0……………..0
Donegal…………..2……………….2…………….0………………0
Roscommon…..2……………….2…………….0……………..0
Fermanagh……..1……………….1……………….0………………0
Carlow…………….1……………….1………………..0…………….0
Monaghan………1……………….1…………………0………………0
Wicklow………….1………………..1…………………0…………….0
Galway…………….1………………..1………………….0…………..0
Louth………………1………………….1…………………0……………0
Cork………………..1………………….1………………..0……………0
Cavan………………1…………………1…………………0…………..0
*Mayo are seeking their first win over Dublin since the 2012 All-Ireland semi-final. The counties have met 16 times since then, with Dublin winning 13 and drawing three. Dublin’s wins were in the 2013, 2016 and 2017 All-Ireland finals, the 2015 semi-final replay and the 2019 semi-final, the Allianz League in 2013 (twice), 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020. The draws were in the 2015 All-Ireland semi-final, the 2016 All-Ireland final and the 2014 League.
*Dublin and Mayo meet for the 16th time in the championship, with Dublin having won nine of the previous 15 to Mayo’s two while there were four draws, the most recent coming in the 2016 All-Ireland final.
*Dublin and Mayo have met 53 times in League and Championship. Wins stand 32-13 in Dublin’s favour, with eight draws.
*The most recent clash between the counties was in the second round of the Allianz League last February when Dublin won by 1-11 to 0-8 in Castlebar.
*Dublin have yet to concede a goal in this year’s championship, having kept clean sheets against Westmeath, Laois, Meath and Cavan. Mayo kept clean sheets against Leitrim, Roscommon and Galway in the Connacht championship before conceding three goals against Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final.
*Dublin are bidding for their 30th All-Ireland title while Mayo’s are chasing their fourth.
*David Coldrick (Meath) will take charge of the All-Ireland final for a fourth time, having previously refereed the 2007 (Cork v Kerry), 2010 (Cork v Down) and 2015 (Dublin v Kerry ) deciders.
GAA ALL-IRELAND SF ROLL OF HONOUR
37 – Kerry (1903-04-09-13-14-24-26-29-30-31-32-37-39-40-41-46-53-55-59-62-69-70-75-78-79-80-81-84-
85-86-97-2000-2004-2006-2007-2009-2014)
29 – DUBLIN (1891-92-94-97-98-99-1901-02-06-07-08-21-22-23-42-58-63-74-76-77-83-95-2011-2013- 2015
-2016-2017-2018-2019)
9 – Galway (1925-34-38-56-64-65-66-98-2001)
7 – Meath (1949-54-67-87-88-96-99)
7 – Cork (1890-1911-45-73-89-90-2010)
5 – Down (1960-61-68-91-94)
5 – Cavan (1933-35-47-48-52)
5 – Wexford (1893-1915-16-17-18)
4 – Kildare (1905-19-27-28)
4- Tipperary (1889-95-1900-1920)
3 – Louth (1910-12-57)
3 – MAYO (1936-50-51)
3 – Offaly (1971-72-82)
3- Tyrone (2003-2005-2008)
2- Donegal (1992-2012)
2 – Limerick (1887-1896)
2 – Roscommon (1943-44)
1 – Armagh (2002)
1 – Derry (1993)
GAA ALL-IRELAND SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2020
CONNACHT
Nov 1: Quarter-final: Mayo 2-15 Leitrim 0-10, Carrick-on-Shannon
Nov 7: Semi-final: Galway w/o Sligo.
Nov 8: Semi-final: Mayo 1-16 Roscommon 0-13, Dr.Hyde Park.
Nov 15: Final: Mayo 0-14 Galway 0-13, Pearse Stadium
LEINSTER
Nov 1: First round: Wicklow 2-9 Wexford 0-11, Chadwicks Wexford Park; Offaly 3-14 Carlow 0-20, BNM O
Connor Park; Longford 1-9 Louth 1-7, TEG Cusack Park.
Nov 7: Quarter-final: Dublin 0-22 Westmeath 0-11, MW Hire O’Moore Park.
Nov 8: Quarter-finals: Meath 7-14 Wicklow 0-7, Aughrim; Kildare 0-20 Offaly 0-16, MW Hire O’Moore
Park; Laois 1-16 Longford -14, BNM O’Connor Park.
Nov 15: Semi-finals: Meath 5-9 Kildare 0-15, Croke Park; Dublin 2-23 Laois 0-7, Croke Park.
Nov 21: Final: Dublin 3-21 Meath 0-9, Croke Park.
MUNSTER
Oct 31: Quarter-final: Limerick 2-14 Waterford 0-9, Fraher Field, Dungarvan.
Nov 1: Quarter-final: Tipperary 2-11 Clare 1-11, Semple Stadium.
Nov 7: Semi-final: Tipperary 1-15 Limerick 2-11 (aet), LIT Gaelic Grounds
Nov 8: Cork 1-12 Kerry 0-13 (aet), Pairc Ui Chaoimh
Nov 22: Final: Tipperary 0-17 Cork 0-14, Pairc Ui Chaiomh
ULSTER
October 31: Preliminary round: Cavan 2-15 Monaghan 1-17 (aet), Clones
Nov 1: Quarter-finals: Armagh 0-17 Derry 0-15, Celtic Park; Donegal 1-13 Tyrone 1-11, Ballybofey.
Nov 7: Quarter-final: Cavan 0-13 Antrim 0-9, Kingspan Breffni Park.
Nov 8: Quarter-final: Down 1-15 Fermanagh 0-11, Enniskillen.
Nov 14: Semi-final: Donegal 1-22 Armagh 0-13, Kingspan Breffni Park
Nov 15: Semi-final: Cavan 1-14 Down 1-13, Athletic Grounds.
Nov 22: Final: Cavan 1-13 Donegal 0-12, Athletic Grounds
ALL-IRELAND
Dec 5: Dublin 1-24 Cavan 0-12, Croke Park
Dec 6: Mayo 5-20 Tipperary 3-13, Croke Park.
December 19: Final: Dublin v Mayo, Croke Park
