GAA Podcast: 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.
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