Fizz of excitement as Football Championship comes to a head

As the All-Ireland Football Championship reaches the
quarter-final stage, Jacqui Hurley and Rory O'Neill are joined by
Enda McGinley and Tomás Ó Sé to preview a mouth-watering weekend
of football.


Tomás understand why Donegal and Jim McGuinness have made a big
deal of the gap between the Louth game and this Saturday's
meeting with Monaghan, but he knows the messaging is different at
training.


Monaghan come in as one of the form teams in the country but in
need of a 'statement win' at Croke Park - Enda wonders if they
truly believe they can win an All-Ireland.


Tyrone, on the other hand, despite playing no better than
Monaghan, will truly believe they can beat Dublin and claim Sam
Maguire. The battle around the middle will be key in Saturday's
second game, with Tomás suggesting Dessie Farrell's men were slow
to adapt to how new rules affected kick-outs.


Sunday's first match is Galway v Meath, and in Matthew Thompson
Tomás reckons Galway have the best young footballer in the
country.


While Meath have shocked Dublin and Kerry this summer, Enda says
both defeated team were 'flat' against the Royals and it will
take a performance above and beyond what Robbie Brennan's men
have done thus far if they're to take down a battle-hardened
Galway.


And finally to the clash of All-Ireland champions Armagh and
Kerry. Despite the loss of their first choice midfield, Tomás
gives his own county a real chance of causing an upset - if the
middle eight perform to their best, the form of David Clifford
will keep them in the game. All the better if they have Paul
Geaney and Paudie Clifford fit and firing.


For Enda, it will hinge on how Armagh's super-structured defence
of the arc handles Kerry's multi-pronged attack.


See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.