Dublin v Galway: Three key battles

An intriguing affair to look forward to when Galway take on Dublin.

LACKING MINUTES: Damien Comer has been struck with injuries and with few minutes under his belt how will he fare against Dublin. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

1: Shane Walsh and Damien Comer are both named to start on Saturday evening. It has become a rarity for Galway’s two marquee forwards to occupy the same field of grass on matchday. On only one other occasion in 2024 - the All-Ireland series group opener win over Derry - have the 2022 All-Star pair started the same fixture.

Comer is desperately shy of match minutes, but management will hope muscle memory can overcome that particular obstacle. Michael Fitzsimons hasn’t had it plain sailing in championship, so does Pádraic Joyce try and isolate Walsh on the 35-year-old, with Comer and Seán MacMahon squaring off. Or would Dublin prefer if those respective match-ups were the other way around.

2: Dublin have watched the tapes. They’ve studied the evidence. They know Connor Gleeson is prone to mishaps and restart malfunctions. How severe and how often do they press?

Galway have ball-winners out the field in John Maher, Matthew Tierney, and the in-form Paul Conroy. But can these men make their mark at kick-outs when the middle third will also be home to Brian Fenton, Brian Howard, and Ciarán Kilkenny. If Galway are forced short, how comfortable and competent will they be in doing so?

3: Two members of the Galway full-back line have never played championship at Croke Park. A problem? We are about to find out.

Corner-back Johnny McGrath and full-back Seán Fitzgerald both started the 2023 League final defeat to Mayo, but did not see game-time at GAA HQ the summer previous when Galway negotiated a path to the decider.

Croke Park championship debuts do not come more daunting. A Dublin inside line of Small, O’Callaghan, and Basquel. A Dublin inside line refreshed from the fortnight’s reprieve from knockout fare.

2022 Young footballer of the year Jack Glynn, although only 23, is the most experienced member of Galway’s last line of defence. And so does he shake hands with Con, with McGrath and Fitzgerald picking up Paddy Small and Colm Basquel. But if Joyce doesn’t want Fitzgerald being dragged away from in front of the Galway vault, Con will be his dance partner and he’ll have no option but to keep pace.