EVIDENCE of the bad blood that exists between Donegal and Mayo has been further highlighted by a series of remarks made by Rory Gallagher.
Speaking to The Irish News, Donegal's assistant manager has accused Mayo of helping Monaghan in the build-up to the Ulster final.
Gallagher reckons that Mayo provided Monaghan with advice on how to beat Donegal when the teams met for a challenge match before the provincial decider.
He certainly doesn't think it's a coincidence that Mark McHugh was hit with heavy challenges when Donegal played both teams.
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"Maybe we suspect there was a bit of collusion between Monaghan and Mayo," said the Fermanagh man.
"Bear in mind Lee Keegan's tackle on Mark McHugh at the start of last year's All-Ireland final. When Lee Keegan got booked he came out and winked at a team-mate as if to say 'job done'."
McHugh was forced to retire from the Ulster final after his collision with Monaghan's Stephen Gollogly, who was also unable to continue playing.
Although Gallagher was keen to stress that he didn't believe that Gollogly's tackle was planned in advance, he was adamant that the Monaghan player should have been sent off.
"I don't believe for one minute that Gollogly went out do the harm he did. He went out to hit him hard, but our player came out of it badly. I know Gollogly hurt himself as well.
"I don't believe Malachy O'Rourke sent any player out to 'do' anyone. That is not in his nature.
"But ask some of the top referees to view the incident. Was it a dangerous tackle? It was reckless and dangerous. At the end of the day that deserves a red card."
Gallagher's accusation that Mayo combined forces with Monaghan is bound to inflame the already simmering tension that exists between two counties that will contest an All-Ireland quarter-final on Sunday.
Comments made by Mayo boss James Horan have also suggested that there is little love lost between last year's All-Ireland finalists.
In response to Jim McGuinness's claim that Donegal's key players
have been "targeted" for special treatment, Horan said: "Last year they [Donegal] brought football to a different level on many fronts, particularly in the area around physicality.
"They really ratcheted that up last year and put a lot of teams to the sword based on their strength, power and tackling.
"I don't know if any of you have been at the end of a Michael Murphy tackle recently, but there's serious, serious physicality in that team."
While Horan declined to comment on his relationship with Jim McGuinness, the Mayo man insinuated that the Donegal boss wasn't popular among his fellow managers.
"Show me a team that has good body language towards Mr McGuinness on the sideline," said Horan.
It's understood that the animosity between the teams stems from a challenge match that was played last year when a reckless challenge on Paddy McGrath led to a particularly hard-hitting encounter.
Rory Gallagher admitted that the rivalry has deteriorated since then. "It has developed. There aren't any big handshakes between us after the games," he said.
Gallagher also reckons that Mayo are still holding a grudge from last year's All-Ireland final. In the build-up to that match, RTE pundit Joe Brolly highlighted the number of cynical fouls which Mayo committed in their semi-final against Dublin.
"Horan thinks that we planted Joe Brolly and that is fuelling him as well. That is a big part of it."
However, Gallagher insisted that Brolly acted independently. "People should know that Joe Brolly is his own man and that he does what he wants."
While Gallagher believes that Joe Brolly "is his own man", he didn't pay the same compliment to James Horan.
Commenting on Horan's often carefully-worded remarks, Gallagher pointed to the influence of Kieran Shannon, the sports psychologist who works with Mayo.
"I think Horan works to a pre-meditated script and I think Kieran Shannon is behind a good bit of it.
"I know Shannon fairly well. He was involved with Fermanagh when Malachy O'Rourke was there. I think Shannon is behind Horan's statements."
Meanwhile, it appears Mark McHugh has lost his race to be fit for Sunday's All-Ireland final rematch after the Kilcar man was left off the Donegal team released last night.
McHugh's young brother Ryan continues in the half-forward line after starting against Laois, while the only change from that game sees Footballer of the Year Karl Lacey come in for Declan Walsh.
DONEGAL TEAM
All-Ireland SFC v Mayo: P Durcan,
P McGrath, N McGee, E McGee; F McGlynn, K Lacey, A Thompson; N Gallagher,
R Kavanagh, R Bradley, R McHugh, David Walsh, P McBrearty, M Murphy, C McFadden