The 2024 All Ireland Senior Football Championship (Sam Maguire Cup)

Galway struggle in Croke Park, I’d expect Dublin to win comfortably enough to be honest

The semi-final draw is even more restricted than the 1/4s.

In the Semis, all repeat meetings will be avoided if possible, while the 1/4s only avoided Provincial finals and group meetings.

If Derry, Armagh, Donegal and Galway win, a repeat meeting can't be avoided as Armagh will have played all 3.

If Kerry, Armagh, Donegal and Dublin win, I.e. the four favourites, Armagh can't meet Donegal (and thus Kerry can't meet Dublin) as Armagh met Donegal in the Ulster final.

Back in Croke Park,knock out football with two weeks to prepare I expect them will be more slick than sloppy against Galway.

Galway have often had more natural forwards than now, but as has been pointed out, their injured/recovering men, Sean Kelly, Tierney, McDaid, also add solidity and dash to the middle-third area, creating a better platform for the forwards to make scores.

Quite surprised at the dismissal of the Rossies' chances next weekend. Armagh are no world-beaters by any means and Ross have capable scoring forwards; winning in Omagh can never be discounted that easily.

Yawn

1. Most of their forwards have either been injured or playing injured all year

2. Galway play 3 out and out defenders in their full back line. They're all good defenders but none are completely comfortable attacking and they nearly always stay outside the attacking zone. So rightly or wrongly every single team brings 15 back into the defensive 45 and says to Galway 'break us down with only 11 attackers v 15"

Now whether that's Galway's fault for not committing these defenders to fully attack or the oppositions fault for bringing 15 inside their 45 is up for debate. But that's how Galway games end up being cagey, nothing to do with the efficiency of the forwards

It can be discounted on here if you're a bitterly disappointed Mayo man though 🤣

That is true, but it's an indictment as much as anything else of how football has gone now. None of the games this weekend were free-flowing or high scoring. It's a characteristic that practically all sides now play with 15 behind the ball when defending. No surprise that the best games this weekend were the Tailteann Cup where defences were more open and a bit looser.

Dublin occupy too much of the headspace of the Mayo team and especially supporters. Was at the League game in Castlebar earlier this year when they won for the first time in ages, and it was like they had won the All-Ireland.

They would be Spurs if they were a Premier League team.

Surprised to see Dublin v Galway on GAAGO

Perhaps it's to try and boost the attendance.

Donegal v Louth at 1.15pm on Sunday, Croke Park will be quiet enough at that stage I'd say.

where are these fixtures ?

I would say Dublin by about 7 v Galway based on their previous meetings in the league etc.

There always seems to be some sort of doubt v Galway re the fitness and/or form of Walsh and Comer.

It is the one thing I think the Dublin set up do not get enough credit for, keeping players injury free/getting them fit. Jack McCaffery has been superbly managed for example.

How are Gannon and Comerford getting on?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.irishmirror.ie/sport/gaa/gaelic-football/gaelic-football-news/dublins-paddy-small-opens-up-32697551.amp

20 hamstrings in 5 years. Not sure I'd be quick to return to that medical team.

Referees announced

D Coldrick - Derry v Kerry

J McQuillan - Donegal v Louth

S Hurson - Dublin v Galway

M McNally - Armagh v Roscommon

Comer missed the entire league. Introduced slowly back. Sub against Sligo. Brilliant against Mayo. Fine against Derry. Ankle stood on. Trying to protect the ankle a little put pressure on the hamstring and he strained it 🤷‍♂️ not sure the medical team can do much more than that other than not play him at all. I've referenced Small as they have similar builds with similar issues. Some people are just made that way.

How many top professionals across the water with probably multi pound medical teams can't keep their players fit?

Shane Walsh seems to have crept into this conversation some how. Comer is injury prone. That is a fact. Shane is carrying I'd say 3 injuries at this stage. But in his overall career he has missed very few games in the last 10 odd years. 2024 might be a disaster for him but in general he's usually on the pitch. Been asked to play through the pain currently but again what else can be done but not play him.

Frustrating yes. But a lot of Galway injuries have been rehabilitated fine. Tierney/McDaid/Kelly/Glynn/Mulkerrin etc. (Etc could go on a while as we had a massive list)

dublin win incoming, Hurson has it in for galway. a complete boll*x