FOOTBALL ANALYST JOHN O'KEEFFEA PRIMARY concern for Galway manager Liam Sammon and one that could prove pivotal to the outcome of today's All-Ireland football quarter-final will be how to deal with Kerry's twin towers, Tommy Walsh and Kieran Donaghy.
The element or surprise has been removed primarily because of how the pair performed against Monaghan but it doesn't make it much easier to negate the threat. Sammon must address a defensive strategy to cope with the likely aerial bombardment. It's not simply about keeping Walsh and Donaghy quiet in terms of the scoreboard but preventing them from linking with Colm Cooper and Declan O'Sullivan.
Walsh's precocious championship bow and Donaghy's affinity for Croke Park represent a daunting task in a game where Kerry's superior goal threat could be decisive. Another hugely important area will be the midfield battle.
Darragh Ó Sé may not be the force of previous years, no longer making those lung-bursting forays up and down the pitch. Instead he is more selective in terms of his contributions but still retains the consummate footballer's knack of being able to intervene when required: he won several crucial high balls last weekend.
I feel Galway need to win about 60 per cent of the possession in this area if they are going to muster a serious threat. To accomplish this they will need to step up significantly from their performance in beating Mayo in the Connacht final.
If they cannot win clean possession at midfield, they will have to dominate the scrap for breaking ball.
Galway do possess a decent set of forwards and in many respects, particularly style of play, share similarities with Kerry. However, Sammon has introduced a couple of additional qualities, notably an improved work-rate in defence as midfielders and forwards track back and also greater numbers flooding forward to support the ball-carrier.
Galway will be hugely reliant on Pádraic Joyce to orchestrate their forward play. He no longer has the pace of his halcyon days but remains a brilliant footballer capable of bringing the best out of those around him.
Aidan O'Mahony is likely to be detailed to man-mark the Galwayman and I think Kerry manager Pat O'Shea will ask his player to surge forward as often as possible to try to take the legs out of his marker.
It's time for players like Michael Meehan to offer something more sustained than cameos of his ability. His duel with Marc Ó Sé, who found Tommy Freeman a real handful last week, will be an interesting tussle.
Galway need everyone to contribute whereas Kerry possess just that little bit more scoring potential based on a less wide-ranging contribution.
Galway's absence from the competitive arena may be a handicap. Kerry will benefit from last weekend's match and can be expected to start quickly; something which their opponents may struggle to cope with initially. At that point it could already be too late. Kerry should edge this one.
Wexford will return to what has become a familiar stomping ground this summer when they face Armagh at Croke Park. Manager Jason Ryan demonstrated the last day he was able to lift his side emotionally and also prepare them cleverly from a tactical perspective.
This time he'll have to find a way to contain Armagh's main strike force of Ronan Clarke and Steven McDonnell. They probably aren't as mobile as the Down full-forward line but they're better in the air and so present a different challenge.
Wexford will have to be equally adept at midfield, as they were the last day, to have a chance. Armagh are a hugely resilient side and there are few better at closing out a tight game. The extra game against Fermanagh would ordinarily stand to them but with a few of their older players there might be a little leg weariness later in the contest. They rely heavily on McDonnell and, to a lesser extent, Clarke.
Wexford will have to set a high tempo and maintain that intensity, sweeping forward and trusting the patterns that have served them so successfully. Getting Matty Forde ball would be a prerequisite to success. It should be close but Armagh's extra experience might be pivotal.
In tomorrow's third quarter-final at Croke Park, Cork should have too many quality players for Kildare. The Munster county's period of inactivity isn't ideal but is definitely preferable to Kildare's heavy workload of late. It may take them a while but I expect Cork to gradually take control of this match.
Kildare have recovered really well from the humiliation of the Wicklow defeat and while it might not have been pretty at times it's been pretty effective. Kieran McGeeney has reorganised them defensively but tomorrow it'll be how they fare going in the other direction that will dictate their fate.
Cork have the stronger bench, the better team and despite several horror shows in Croke Park, the venue should not impact on their psyche. The Munster champions should be good enough to eke out a clear-cut victory.
