The match between Armagh and Kerry is set to occur on Saturday at Croke Park, commencing at 5.30pm and broadcast live on RTÉ2 and BBC Two NI. Outside of losses to Dublin, six out of Kerry’s seven most recent All-Ireland departures have been due to defeats against Ulster teams. This trend may explain Kerry’s ultra-conservative approach in their quarter-final showdown against Derry where they narrowly avoided losing thanks to a steady finish.
This brings to question what Armagh will contribute to the match. Under the guidance of Kieran McGeeney, Armagh has successfully shaped itself into a formidable team capable of taking on any opponent. Although their quarter-final, against a Roscommon team depleted to 14 men, was not a grand spectacle, they managed an adequate performance.
Bearing the title of Ulster finalists, Armagh brings momentum to the contest. After 19 years of relentless effort, they are finally competing in the All-Ireland semi-finals. Their past opponents have consistently been top-tier, providing more challenging competition than Kerry has faced. Additionally, their performance against Derry, a team shared by both Armagh and Kerry, was notably superior.
Despite dilemmas over their prominent forwards’ underperformance, Kerry managed to easily withstand Derry’s efforts. Crucially, they found the means to secure a victory.
A key point to watch in the semi-final is David Clifford’s performance. Despite his stats ticking over only slowly, his impressive track record at Croke Park hints towards a significant contribution. Another vital source of points is Brian Ó Beaglaoich, who has amassed 0-7 scores in the past three games. Kerry’s midfield duo, Diarmuid and Joe O’Connor, have shown promise, and Cillian Burke has had a stand-out run as an energetic half forward.
As for Armagh, they have dependably effective substitutes. Athletes like Stefan Campbell, who’s netted crucial points, Jarly Óg Burns with his speedy plays, and the commanding presence of Ross McQuillan all form formidable reinforcements.
Maintaining momentum continues to be an issue for them, as they seem to lose speed shortly after gaining an upper hand. This paradoxical behaviour often hinders their progress, despite appearing to be a survival tactic. Rian O’Neill has not been performing at his optimal level this year, even though his track record at Croke Park is commendable. His performance in the quarter-final, however, did not reflect his usual prowess. As for Conor Turbitt, his outstanding performance at the forward positions is expected to carry on, creating issues for the opposition.
Although Armagh’s team can complicate things for their opponents, their unpredictable nature tends to undermine their potential during the crucial concluding moments. This is where Kerry, despite their lackluster performance, have always reliably delivered.
Verdict: Kerry
Donegal v Galway, at Croke Park, 4.0pm
This match will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 and BBC Two NI
The unexpected demise of All-Ireland winning manager John O’Mahony deeply affected Galway, but knowing him, he would not have wanted this to derail Pádraic Joyce’s planning. With numerous injury-related concerns already straining the preparations, it is a relief that the official team list shows no major exclusions, aside from the notable backup player Cian Hernon.
Ulster champions Donegal, on the other hand, reached this stage with ease after convincingly defeating Louth in the quarter-finals. However, their concession record of 0-18 stands as the highest among the semi-finalists, reflecting their performance this season.
Jim McGuinness’s team’s success has been underpinned by a strong defensive strategy. Excluding the Cork game anomaly, which saw them concede three goals, their defence has remained impenetrable in the championship.
Led by Brendan McCole at full back, the team’s defence is rigid. They’re known for speedy counterattacks that produce an impressive tally and array of scorers. Ryan McHugh shines as a top-notch playmaker and counterattack specialist while Peadar Mogan continues to excel as a reliable scorer from defence, also securing multiple Man of the Match titles.
The game presents challenges in the form of Galway’s defensive prowess – whether it’s the tight-marking approach of corner backs like Johnny McGrath or the wing backs who are adept at mounting successful counterattacks at the right moments.
The imposing physical strength of the champions from Connacht, including the likes Paul Conroy, Matthew Tierney, John Maher, who managed to hold down Brian Fenton last time, and Cillian McDaid, returning to his impressive form, is significant. Kieran McGeeney, particularly impressed, noted post-draw with Galway that their entire half-forward line, all standing at 6 foot 4 inches, were quite the sizable squad.
This physical prowess notably provides Connor Gleeson the opportunity to extend his restarts, with more chances his team will benefit. Jason McGee, after healing from an injury, is listed on the Donegal roster, and although McGuinness could benefit from him, he likely has some strategy to offset the inherent disadvantage.
Some whispers suggest that not all injuries in the Galway team have conveniently healed. Shane Walsh completed a match, the quarter-final, seeming a bit impaired; however, his manager demonstrates an unshakeable belief in his ability to bounce back from these setbacks.
While Damien Comer was not at his finest against Dublin, he managed to step up his play towards the end, the consistent shooting accuracy of Rob Finnerty, a fundamental element of the team’s success, is a cause for concern.
Joyce might be troubled over the team’s lackluster first half against Dublin and their close call to losing by half-time, saved by Walsh’s extraordinary marksmanship. If they commence this game slowly, they run the risk of being left behind.
Galway has shown they can come up with their finest play under pressure, pulling through both the Connacht final and All-Ireland quarter-final late in the match. More pace and urgency may be required though for this encounter.
The predicted winner: Galway.