Kingdom likely to assert dominance over a much-improved Galway side

By Peter O’Dwyer

There’s romanticism about Kerry and Galway clashes that makes today’s clash an enticing prospect, especially considering that it’s been six years since the last in championship football.

Romanticism will only get the blood flowing so much though, the chance of seeing a game of relatively free-flowing football played by two teams that like to attack is the real attraction to this tie.

Kerry, endowed as they are with a seemingly endless supply of gorgeously-talented footballers, are favourites to claim victory just as they did in 2008 against the same opposition. Just a few weeks ago though nobody was giving them much of a chance as All-Ireland contenders.

The marauding massacre Kerry inflicted on Cork’s hometown heroes changed all that. As with every side whose reputation is built largely on one performance, questions as to just how good Kerry are remain however.

With Donnchadh Walsh doing his best Gooch impression, ably assisted by the likes of the two Geaneys; Johnny Buckley and James O’Donoghue (who routed the Cork defence more than anyone), there’s little doubt Kerry have the talent to beat any team in the country.

Add to that a midfield of Anthony Maher and Bryan Sheehan with Aidan O’Mahony and Marc Ó Sé marshalling the backline, there are plenty of the core ingredients for a title tilt.

The defensive unit as a whole is yet to be properly tested however, and with a young half-backline there are stripes to be earned before the sceptics are won over. Galway seem easier to evaluate: much improved but still not up to this level.

The Connacht final loss to Mayo was as predictable as it was illustrative of that point. The Tribesmen were a million miles from challenging James Horan’s men yet their performance was a vast improvement on the embarrassment they suffered a year previous.

With four games played, one loss and three convincing wins this year’s championship can already be recorded as a success for Alan Mulholland and his young side.

That Shane Walsh provided us, the general public, with the treat of the summer is just a little something for the rest of us to enjoy; Galway fans should already be content with their side’s improvements.

The four goals shipped against Tipp last week will be of concern to Mulholland as they seek to keep the aforementioned Kerry talent at bay however. While the game was over by the time Tipp rattled off their scores, another such lapse in concentration could lead to a turkey shoot against the Kingdom.

This appears a relatively straightforward game to call with the week turnaround also likely to count against the men from the west.

A decent performance like that put up by Galway in Croke Park six years ago would signal a return of sorts for the Galway footballers though.

Leaving Pearse Stadium last May that prospect could not have appeared more remote.