Previews: A day for madness in MacHale Park
STARBOY: Mayo’s Kobe McDonald. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho
A former inter-county star made the point in conversation this week that six-day turnarounds are no longer the biggie they used to be. Well, Armagh’s turnaround if five if you include the fact they travelled to Adare on Friday.
It was never going to be about getting sessions in after the narrow loss to Louth but recovery and that has been hampered.
Kerry basically have had two extra days and on top of home advantage, which admittedly wasn’t so much a factor against Donegal, the edge is with them. A large part of Kieran McGeeney will love the amount of things piling up in front of Armagh. The more difficult it is, the better it is for him.
Ethan Rafferty will be trusted again in the absence of Blaine Hughes but if he doesn’t have baggage from last weekend he might have it from last year’s quarter-final.
Kerry are beatable at the moment and this will be won close to the wire but they just have more going for them to get by. Verdict: Kerry.
In the closing stages, Mayo knew they weren’t cute enough in Tyrone where the home side has as iffy a record in Omagh as Mayo do in Castlebar. They will need their crowd on Saturday evening not just in number but in voice.
So often Mayo crowds hush in fear of what can go wrong. Here they will be required to cajole the players into doing things right.
They remain a callow side who need such encouragement. Meath look slightly further developed but they can so often appear exposed in defence.
Their we’re-going-to-score-one-more-than-you approach will work against most teams and Mayo is among them. James Conlon was one game away from an All-Star nomination last year and is showing that form again.
Aside from an area or two in defence, they look balanced but this could be a day for madness.
Kobe McDonald doesn’t want to say goodbye to Mayo so soon. He should have a Croke Park farewell. It’s up to his team-mates to ensure he gets it. Verdict: Mayo.
You imagine that defeat to Offaly in Tullamore was coming for Down.
After the disappointment of the Armagh game, they needed to get it out of their system and are now truly focused on securing a guaranteed Sam Maguire Cup spot.
Fermanagh have built up a head of steam but their recent wins don’t compare to Down’s. Verdict: Down.
As the ground has hardened, so too have Offaly as a team and their speed and deceptiveness are really showing after a forgettable league where they were admittedly down a lot of players.
Wicklow went out at this stage last year despite a gutsy showing against Limerick. Oisín McConville has his team rallying hard for him. They can go one step further than 2025. Verdict: Wicklow.
As is often the case with minors, bringing them down to earth is as important as building them up. This Cork team is a fine one. Their form indicates victory will be theirs but they just can’t get ahead of themselves.
Derry dismissed the Connacht champions Roscommon and are clearly steeled by their Ulster experience. Verdict: Cork.
SUNDAY
If the venue isn’t to Dublin on this occasion, then the throw-in time is probably difficult for a lot of Donegal people who will have to hit the tarmac pretty early on Sunday morning.
Will that deter them from showing up for a team who may be in need of a helping hand?
Unlike recent Croke Park games, Dublin’s entourage were well and truly present in Cavan last weekend and they will have to be here to aid a team that doesn’t truly believe in itself.
There has to be doubt in the Donegal camp too but not to the extent that there is in Dublin’s. Donegal’s attacking formation might have found Parnell Park on the tight side but in GAA HQ they will have the space to express themselves fully.
Lee Gannon made a welcome return last week but Dublin need a lot more players capable of breaking lines to trouble Donegal. Verdict: Donegal.
If the Kerry County Board aren’t going around with their buckets to Killarney businesses after the money they’ve brought into the town this year, then Monaghan should be doing the same in Clones.
The place hasn’t seen so much action as Monaghan entertain for the fourth time in championship.
Unlike previous games, they didn’t wait to get going last weekend against Roscommon, who were incredibly off-colour. They will have to set the terms here because Westmeath won’t look back if given the opportunity. Monaghan have built up such resilience these last few weeks.
It might seem like they are punching but quality footballers like Conor McCarthy have found their match fitness. Westmeath’s fine half-back line will have to lead the way but you think Ray Connellan’s injury may be just one too many for them. Verdict: Monaghan.
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