Intensity of Dublin will be too much for Red Hands

WE’LL make a prediction right here in the first paragraph — but it has nothing to do with the result.

Neither team will line out as have been named.

It will be quite the achievement for Eoghan O’Gara to start after fracturing his wrist four weeks ago while if Martin Swift did indeed break his nose last weekend, he is surely a doubt.

Those are but two of several possible changes to the line-ups. Either way this delayed quarter-final makes the mouth water.

After the midfield high jinks last year, where Dublin sacrificed possession because they were so sure of their defence, we’re facing a different game here.

The Leinster champions’ game has evolved, while Tyrone come into the game as the underdogs, having rediscovered form in the qualifiers.

Dublin, like Kerry, are quick starters. Dublin, unlike Tyrone, Kildare, Mayo and Donegal, haven’t been playing their best football in the second halves of games.

In fact, they have lulls and Tyrone will know the best time to exploit Dublin’s weaknesses is in the third quarter of the game.

Tyrone also showed how they can adapt so seamlessly to the situation when they went from man-to-man to a sweeper system against Roscommon last day out.

There won’t be as much need to change against Dublin. They’ll have a sweeper from the outset, as should Dublin with Ger Brennan possibly taking up that role.

As Pat Gilroy said in yesterday’s press conference, 2008 is an irrelevance to this Dublin team. None of the defence that started three years ago play today. Some of his players don’t even know what it’s like not to beat Tyrone.

It’s been up to themselves to keep their claws sharpened over the last while but if the reports from training are true, Tyrone will find it difficult at times to live with their intensity.

Watching them beat Roscommon last weekend, it was remarkable just how much Tyrone lack in pace in the central areas even if Sean Cavanagh made up for so much.

Someone as dynamic as Michael Darragh Macauley, when he comes on, could make a lot of hay around there although Martin Penrose’s restoration to the team could offer speed there.

It’s also important to stress Tyrone have conceded goals in all but one of their five championship games this year while Dublin have found the net in all three of their outings.

Considering his class, Bernard Brogan will not play as badly as he did against Wexford.

He has a point to prove as do Dublin who have been told all week Tyrone handed them last year’s quarter-final win.

Take them to win by two or three.

Verdict: Dublin