Dublin back to best after statement victory - Peter Canavan

Peter Canavan believes that Dublin looked back to their best as they coasted past Mayo to secure their place in this year's All-Ireland SFC semi-finals.

Dessie Farrell's side matched Mayo in the opening half of their Croke Park encounter before dominating the second half to ease to a 12-point victory.

The Dubs are now just one game away from a place in this year's final and they will have to get past Monaghan in the semi-finals to secure a place in this year's decider, which will be played against the winners of the other last-four tie, where Kerry will take on Derry.

Dublin dominated the game from 2015 to 2020 where Jim Gavin's side won a remarkable six in a row, however, there has been a change of fortunes over the past two years.

But now former Tyrone star Canavan belives that the team are starting to look like the team of old going into the business end of the championship.

"The first half was a very entertaining and open game of football," said Canavan, speaking on The Sunday Game. "And at half time in the debate among the boys, Tomás (Ó Sé) said 'we're not sure about this Dublin team, beacuse you can't really compare them to the great Dublin team'.

"But in the second half they had all the hallmarks of the great Dublin team that won six in a row. They were ruthless. And in their first seven attacks they had six shots and six scores.

"They was a physicality and an aggression around the middle of the pitch, and it's been a while since we have seen Brian Fenton as aggressive and as motivated as he was in that second half.

"And the way that they disposed of Mayo, the game was virtually over after ten or 15 minutes of the second half so that was a massive statement."

'They had all the hallmarks of the great Dublin team that won