THERE’S PLENTY OF football to be played before 27 August but, as things stand, the scene is set for a mouthwatering All-Ireland semi-final between Dublin and Tyrone.
In their respective provincial semi-finals yesterday, two of the leading contenders for Sam Maguire glory flexed their muscles.
And with the draw as it is, the Leinster and Ulster heavyweights are on a Croke Park collision course next month.
What a prospect that would be, Dublin with Diarmuid Connolly available again after a 12-week ban to add further spice to the mix.
And if there’s one county out there capable of ‘poking the bear’ (© Pat Spillane), it’s Tyrone.
All of that is based on the assumption, of course, that Connolly will reclaim a starting place.
And on the evidence we’ve seen from Dublin in their last two outings, that’s no guarantee.
Connolly faces a battle to force his way back into the starting line-up and even players who’d walk onto the vast majority of other inter-county teams in the country, Bernard Brogan and Kevin McManamon, had to be content with bench roles against Kildare yesterday.
That’s before we even mention the emergence of Con O’Callaghan, who scored six of his 12 points from play.
Brogan came on for black-carded Dean Rock and picked off five points from play in an imperious display.
There’s life in the old dog yet, evidently, and Brogan’s performance has provided Jim Gavin with a welcome headache ahead of the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
With Armagh, Down or Monaghan to provide their opposition at the next hurdle, it’s odds-on that Dublin will advance.
And with Tyrone due to play Armagh, Kildare or Monaghan, you’d have to fancy the Red Hands to fulfil their half of the bargain, too.
Tyrone were stung by Mayo in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final and won’t want to make the same mistake twice when they hit Croke Park.
Win there, and with that 70-plus minutes under their belts at GAA HQ, and they’ll provide Dublin with massive opposition.
Tyrone will feel confident of putting the clamps on Dublin’s red-hot attack but there’s a new attacking dimension to Mickey Harte’s men this season.
That’s not to suggest that they weren’t scoring last summer because they were, and quite heavily for a spell.
Tyrone opened up with 3-14 against Derry before adding 0-16 and 5-18 (replay) against Cavan.
13 points was enough to secure the Ulster final against Donegal but 0-12 wasn’t when they lost to Mayo.
An average of 19.4 points is decent shooting across the course of a season but when that drops to 12.5 in an Ulster final and All-Ireland quarter-final, it’s an obvious area for concern.
In the 2017 Ulster championship, Tyrone landed 22 points against Derry and their 1-21 haul in the Donegal game was up considerably from last year’s meeting with their rivals.
2-17 in Sunday’s win over Down is good shooting too and Tyrone’s average scoring rate across the three matches was 23 points.
On average, they’re conceding under 14 points per game too and that’s another reason to be positive.
Dublin averaged almost 30 points per game in Leinster, a figure skewed by the massive 4-29 posted against Westmeath.
They conceded just 0-17 over the course of the Carlow and Westmeath games but Kildare’s 1-17 haul on Sunday will have heartened Tyrone, and the other would-be All-Ireland contenders.
Of course, all of the above is based on the premise that Dublin and Tyrone come through their respective quarter-finals.
On what we saw from both on Sunday, however, it’s difficult to imagine anything other than victories in their next matches.
In the 2000s, Tyrone’s rivalry with Kerry defined them. Now, and as they look set to emerge as consistent force again, it could boil down to their clashes with Dublin.
Both teams are blessed with depth in their squads. Have a look at this list of players who were unavailable or didn’t start for Dublin on Sunday against Kildare: Jonny Cooper, Michael Darragh MacAuley, Eoghan O’Gara, Diarmuid Connolly, Cormac Costello, Paul Flynn, Conor McHugh, Brogan and McManamon.
It’s a frightening prospect for the rest but similarly, Tyrone had Ronan O’Neill coming off the bench to score two classy goals, while Declan McClure, Darren McCurry, Cathal McShane, Conor Meyler and Lee Brennan were also introduced.
Kerry will be happy that they’re on the other side of the draw but they could have Roscommon and Mayo to contend with, so nothing’s easy there.
Still, with Dublin and Tyrone eyeing each other up, Kerry can go about their business with less glare, and that will suit them just fine.
Right now, it’s difficult to envisage a team other than Dublin, Tyrone or Kerry lifting Sam, and the winners of the Dublin-Tyrone clash (again, if it happens) would have to be considered favourites.
It’s set up for something special. Let’s hope it delivers.
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I don’t often support nordies, but this one would be an exception…..
@Jumperoo: They’re welcome to you.
@Jumperoo: Jealous?
@Jumperoo: Shock horror: Non Dublin supporter would like to see Dublin lose
@Jumperoo: bitter much
@Jumperoo: As a Nordie il be in the Dublin camp!
@Denis McGrath: Awww sore loser Denis?
Dublin for Sam
@Bruce Lee: very brainey,,
@Bruce Lee: not this year. Kildare put it up to ye on Sunday broke through yer defence too easy. Only for the too giveaway goals it could have went the other way.
@Finbarr Lucey: Your command of the English language is something to behold. Your teacher should be shot.
@Finbarr Lucey: dream on, Dublin had another gear and only used when they had to
@Finbarr Lucey: have a soft spot for Kildare hope they get a semi final out of the all Ireland this year but watching the game on Sunday, Dublin never came out of 1st gear, there was another level in them, once they went 9points ahead after 11 or so mins they just cruised, never felt they were going to lose. Can’t see past them again this year.
@Finbarr Lucey: come on now Finbarr that wasn’t even our best team
While I admire what Dublin have done and how they play the game their fans have being insufferable these past few years. You would swear no other team has ever won anything. I think the gap has also closed this year.
Tyrone VS Kerry final
@phil: Poor Phil
@phil: I see just as many bitter, mean spirited and jealous comments about us from fans of other counties as I do cocky remarks from our own fans…they’re all as bad as each other, if you ask me. We spent a lot of years watching Dublin come up short, so you can’t begrudge us enjoying seeing our county setting the standard for others. Good luck with your final prediction, but I’m not sure that Tyrone can stop them.
@Alan Morrissey: Best of luck Alan. I spent my childhood in Co. Cavan, surrounded by Dublin blow ins who sagged us off for playing GAA. Now the very same people are “Dublin die hard, life long fans”. I suspect it is them who are the biggest group insufferable Dubs.
@phil: listening to the pundits too you would also think no one else has either. Creating the dublin vs the rest if the country attitude on both sides.
Thinking too far ahead, a lot can happen in between.
@Frainc Ó Broin: The sport is unfortunately very predictable and the qualifiers on that side of the draw aren’t playing well.
@Rochelle: I think both Monaghan and Kildare would stand a good chance against Tyrone.
@Rochelle: Tell that to Roscommon
If and when they do meet( no disrespect to the other counties), I’d fancy Tyrone to suffocate that excellent Dublin attack. Can they convert at the other end though ? We’ll have to wait and see. My money’s on Tyrone..
@Harry Corry: I will have some of that with you, happy to take your money. Let’s go big.
@Harry Corry: That’s the big question. Or will they go into safe mode in the last 10-15 mins like they did in the league game?
@Harry Corry: I fancy the Dubs to take them. Jim Gavin has freshened up his team this year and I think they’re in a better position than last year when they looked jaded by August
@Brendan Farrell: they played Kerry in August last year, that game showed they were any but jaded. Fantastic game of football
Tyrone aren’t at the Dublin level, even if they suffocate the attack they don’t have enough to outscore them. Kerry are the big danger for them. Dublin winning 3 in a row is unacceptable in their world and they are gunning for them. There’ll still be some decent games getting there but it’ll be a thunderous all Ireland final.
Sam is staying put. Simples. Nobody is good enough to stop us. Fact.
@The Jacket: Kerry were good enough to beat them in the league!
@Sean Murnin: Hup the kingdom! Also if Dublin and Tyrone do meet, it will be a bloodbath, I’m one of those sadistic types that enjoys watching them batter each other up and down the pitch. Kerry for Sam though
@Sean Murnin: That wasn’t Sam though, Dublin have had Kerry’s number in the championship for the last 6 years…..we waited long enough for that to happen, mind.
@Sean Murnin: Because league form dictates how the championship is going to play out right?
@Ciara Baines: Well it has for Dublin from 2013 – 2016
I wouldn’t rule Kildare out against Tyrone if they meet. A couple of things didn’t go their way yesterday and I think they could cause an upset yet. Tyrone have the duvet to frustrate Dublin but this Dublin attack only needs a foot or two of space to cause damage. It would be some semi and could take it out of the winner ahead of a final.
It’s a mouth watering prospect. I reckon it’s set up for Kerry, safely on the other side of the draw.
There’s a reason why 3 in a row is so difficult to do. Dublin’s strength in depth could see them do it but I reckon the favourites would be Kerry, Dublin and Tyrone in that order.
@Cian Nolan: how could Kerry be possibly favourites.
@Phil Moran: well Dublin failed to beat Kerry in two attempts already this year. Kerry have won 3 minor ALL Ireland’s back to back and Kerry have the “easier” route to the final. So I can see why some people would favour them.
@TheSecretAnorak: the easier route can work against you. Kerry could be going into an all Ireland final without a real test against a battle hardened team
Hang on there, Tyrone beat Down, seriously when was the last time Down were competetive? Tyrone blew it against Mayo last year. They had 4 golden chances to level the game vs Mayo and missed each 1. So what suggests they can be serious challengers? I would like to see them challenge but the media are going into overdrive about them without any substance. 2 Ulsters titles on the bounce means nothing if you can’t make it past August.
Kildare could rattle.tyrone yet
Going by the headline neither team have to play a quarter final
Tyrone could certainly beat Dublin but they would need to be at their best to do it. I have nothing but respect for the Dubs. A great team but the gap has closed and i’m sure Tyrone would relish a match against them. Tyrone have it in them to beat this Dublin team.
Come on Tyrone
@billy Dorney: bitter rebel
I missed the quarter finals….I should have got sky and eir!
STUPID ARTICLE AND VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO THE 4 OTHER COUNTIES.
@Declan Brady: No need to shout!
@Ciara Baines: LOUD NOISES!!!!
@Thomas McGilly: No its not the other 4 counties don’t have a chance
@phil: It is, doesn’t matter if you would bet the house on em. A news article shouldn’t look past the next hurdle. It’s ok for us joe soaps on the bar stool to make assumptions.
@Declan Brady: dead right. Par for the course for this “journalist” I’m afraid.
The draw is nicely set up for Kerry to get through for another handy one
@John Brennan: yeah though they will be beaten in the final dublin has the edge better players in every position
C’mon T’rone!!!!
I’m a true believer in getting what u deserve dublin have the strength in depth to bet Tyrone but dublin have to up there game show that they want the 3 in a row and make history up the dubs
A tight game no doubt, tyrone will make it a dour affair and they will fancy their chances.
One game of top class hurling is better than a whole championship of this adulterated garbage. The biggest laugh of all is calling it football, there isn’t one half decent footballer amongst the lot of em.
@Leonard Barry: you were a serious footballer yourself I believe Len!
@Leonard Barry: until the injury got you!!